Crayon Rain

I tend to have ideas/plans for projects for days (or in the this case months), sometimes even already owning all the supplies, before I actually sit down and complete them. I've had all I needed for this project since July. Over the summer I taught an Arts and Crafts {I nicknamed Pinterest Camp} class for elementary school students and I had them make the original melted crayon canvas. I was so lucky to score a Bed, Bath, & Beyond bag full of crayons from the first grade team at my school, so I was set for many, many projects.

I knew I wanted to do the melted crayon project and take it to the next level. After some research, and pinning, I found many projects who used it as "rain." So, out of my bag-o-crayons I pulled out only the blues and grays and began my project. This project literally takes less than an hour.

1. All you need is a canva in whatever size
    you want, crayons, hot glue gun, hairdryer      
    and a picture.

 2.  I used a picture of Brandon and I that
      could be cut and drawn to hold an
      umbrella and print it to the size you
      want. 

 3. Cut the picture out.

4. Trace the picture onto the canvas and add
     an umbrella.

5. Use an extra fine point sharpie to line the 
    picture and a Vellum Writer pen from
    Michaels to fill it in.

6. I used a smaller canvas, so I broke the
     crayons in smaller pieces and hot glued
     them to the top.

7. Using painters tape (which didn't work
     great) I taped a notecard over the top of
     the picture to keep off the wax.

8. As you melt it, the crayons splatter, so
     cover your silhouette with tape to
     protect it. 

9. Take your time and use a lower setting, it melts fast!

The finished product! If you noticed it's going a different direction. My first one fell into the "pinterest fail" category, the tape did not do a great job of protecting the silhouette on it's own and it melted onto the picture, so my second time around I was very careful about not allowing the wax to drip onto the tape, and because it's a smaller canvas I decided to turn it so the crayons had more room to melt.

No Sew Drapes

Drapes really pull a room together and are necessary for that early morning/late afternoon sun, but nice ones can be pricy. Following a blog's instructions at The Yellow Cape Cod, I was able to make my own fabulous bedroom drapes! I've also been really into stripes over the last year...

 You will need:
1. White Panel Drapes from Target (on sale for 26.99) I
     was lucky to find them in a pack of two, usually you
     have to purchase each one individually.
2. Brown cotton fabric from JoAnn's (1.49 yd)
3. Fusible Stitch Webbing from JoAnn's (3)
4. Brown Ribbon from JoAnn's (4)
5. Iron

I measured out 10 inch panels and marked the spots with paper clips. 
The size was perfect for a 42 inch curtain. I was able to make four panels.

 I sealed the back of the fabric using the fusible webbing. The instructions say to use water when ironing. After doing this every few inches of the fabric and ribbon, I found it not to be a very successful in the "sticky" situation, so plan B. I ended up doing it without water and it worked just as well, and was faster!
Place the ribbon over the fabric and seal with fusible webbing using the iron.

 TA-DA! We have fabulous and trendy drapes for half or less the cost of store-bought. Please ignore my inability to hang things straight, when it was all said and done I probably added 4 holes to each side and it's still not 100% straight.

First "Pinterest" Projects

Like every girl on the planet, I discovered and became addicted to the website Pinterest last summer and have no clue how I survived before it! From crafts and DIY's around my home, party planning, teaching, and now wedding planning, there is no way I can go back to a world without it. I have always had an interest in crafting and creating and Pinterest helps bring it to life. 

You can follow my boards at: My Pinterst Boards

Pinterest came along at the perfect time because I had just moved into a new apartment with my fiancé, Brandon, in August 2011. It was my first big girl apartment and was a blank canvas for me to really decorate how I had always dreamed! I knew I wanted art above our bed and the couch in our living room, and I knew I wanted to create it myself, so I began my search. 

The first idea I came across was from an etsy store and I knew it was perfect. Because it's been over a year since I made it, I can't find the exact product, but this is close: Esty 

Brandon is a huge Beatles fan, and has converted me over the last three years; it was the perfect addition to our first room together.

The project together was under $20 and it is all hand drawn and cut. I don't own a fancy printer/cutter (maybe someday), so most of my work is done on my own. The frames are from Wal-Mart and the paper is card stock from Michaels in brown and white. I experimented with block letters on Microsoft and printed off the size/shape that I needed and traced it onto the white paper. I traced it backwards to avoid having to erase the pencils marks, I cut them out, and glued!

My second wall project was for our living room, above the couch. I knew I wanted something painted and larger and again, thanks to Pinterest I found this from JCPenneys and knew I could make it.

Using coupons and my teacher discount :-) I hit up Michaels for three vertical canvas', and acrylic paint in ivory and white. 

 1.) Painted each canvas with a couple coats of ivory and let dry over night.

 2.) Using the white paint, I let myself free draw the branches keeping the original picture on my phone to help guide me. Each one took me about an hour (or as I say, one Jersey Shore or Real Housewives)

3.) I let dry again over night, and touched up as needed. I didn't smooth out the paint to give it that "textured" look.

Hope you enjoy my first, and not last, Pinterest project!