New Frames!!!!

It's been weeks, no, actually months, since Mr. Adrian finished my picture frames. Well, after Christmas, a new baby, life....I finally finished them today!!!! I've had the pictures all ready for them since November! I'm a very prompt and timely person, can't you tell!

The decorative part is a decorative molding made of poplar that I found at Lowe's. The outer part of the frame is pre-primed pine that we got from Tupelo Lumber. They are made to fit a 11x14 sized picture.

I don't know how Mr. Adrian made these, he showed me all the neat tools and gadgets he used, but really, it went in one ear and out the other. I was just so amazed at how great of a job he did!

 I began by staining the poplar with a gel stain.{Minwax: Walnut} I used two coats.

 Then, months later, I used some dark brown craft paint and painted the white, pre-primed outer part.

Using a foam brush I quickly painted it on in the direction of the grain. And then, with a paper towel, I quickly wiped it off, using long strokes to make it look like old wood.

 I roughed up the edges with some sandpaper and this is how they turned out....

 Looks good, doesn't it!!!

 These are the pictures Amanda, over at Reflections by Amanda Smith, took of the boys back in October. Where's the third...well, when I get Carrie Ann's newborn pic printed, it'll go up there too...probably by Christmas!

I linked up over at Cheri's party over at:

and with the girls over at:

I heart my new Cricut!

     For Christmas my sweet sweet sweet friend, Mrs. Debbie, gave me a personal Cricut. I have no idea what it is or aware of it's full potential, but I do know, it came in very very very handy in creating projects for Carrie Ann's nursery! I do know it is a machine that is like a little computer that cuts out letters and pictures or whatever you program it to cut out of paper, vinyl, etc. {A lot of scrapbookers use it, I'm not a scrapbooker, go figure, so I am really new to this} Anyhoot, Melissa and I have had a blast this past week exploring all the crafty things we could do with it!!! {Who in the world is Melissa you ask? Click here to find out}
     Months ago I found this idea in a Pottery Barn catalog that I thought would be fun to replicate. I'm talking about the glittery DREAM dangling across the windows.

All this project cost us was 2 bottles of glitter and a can of spray adhesive. We double teamed them and had a 40% off  for one bottle of glitter and for the spray adhesive. Using the Cricut, we cut out the letters for Carrie Ann's name and a Robin to go in the middle using the Storybook font. We used some cardstock that was already in the craft closet!

 

We coated each letter with spray adhesive and then with glitter. To get really good, sparkly coverage, we repeated the steps, spraying the letter again and re-glittering.

You'll have to wait until the Nursery Tour {coming soon} to see why we made the robin blue}. After letting the letters completely dry, I punched little holes in them and strung a thin brown satin ribbon through them. It's the perfect touch to C.A.'s nursery!!! Thanks for my Cricut Mrs. Debbie!!!! I heart it!

Melissa: Partner in crafty-crime!

     So glad to have Jim back home after being gone for 3 days! However, Melissa and I got A LOT done! It's the greatest thing in the world to have a partner in crime when you are nesting and feeling oh so crafty!!! Melissa is an Ole Miss girl out on break with nothing better to do than hang out with me and my circus and help out while I am {supposed} to be off my feet! It's so much fun having someone giving an honest opinion when you are creating something than the usual "sure hun, looks fine to me." Melissa was full of energy and great ideas for Carrie Ann's nursery. Tonight I'm gonna share two of our projects with you. When the room is complete, I will give you an official TOUR!!!! 

     Here was our first project --this adorable ballerina inspired bow holder. I borrowed the idea from someone else's blog or facebook album...not sure who's exactly. If it was your's, thanks for the idea!!!

     The entire project cost around $7 and here's how we did it!  I started off by tracing a tank top of mine onto some left over foam board I had in the craft closet. Then, using scissors {I recommend an exacto knife, it makes a much smoother edge}, cut the top out.

     We found a fabric at Hobby Lobby that was on sale 30% off and that coordinated with the nursery. I bought half a yard and only used half of it. I cut it out about an inch and half larger than the foam board. I cut slits to allow for curves and tight places. I sprayed the foam board with spray adhesive {which I had from another project} and pressed the foam board down firmly.

     Then I turned it over, folding the edges and securing them to the foam board. You might have to cut slits to allow for curves and fabric overages in some places.

     For the skirt we cut some red tulle that I had from Christmas. Melissa cut some longer, some shorter and we staggered them along the waistline of the top.

     Using a hot glue gun, we put a thick row of glue along the waistline. Then we gathered the tulle at the waist and pressed it down firmly {Warning: HOT glue is HOT!!!} We placed three strips of red satin ribbon spaced out along the waist.We found these cute yellow flowers to coordinate with the nursery. They were our big ticket items at $1.67 a piece and sadly not on sale at Hobby Lobby. {We were both already using 40% coupons on other items! heehee} We de-stemmed them and glued them on top of the tulle and the strip of ribbon.

We scallopped the bottom of the tulle and added a red ribbon to hang. And WahLAH!!! Now all it needs to be finished is a lot of little girly bows!!!! {they clip onto the dangling ribbons}

Canvas Wall Hangings/Home Decor