Thanksgiving Nested Boxes

While we were on vacation I got to visit lots of cute, unique little stores filled with lots of Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations -- yes, Christmas.   And while I was so inspired by seeing all the beautiful decor for Christmas; Thanksgiving does come first -- so I focused my boutique-shopping-inspiration on a cute little Thanksigivng project.  I was SO happy with how it turned out I just HAD to share with you guys!

Here's a list of the materials you'll need to get started:

Nested Paper Mache box set:  $3.65 (at Joanne's with a 50% off coupon)
Scrapbook Paper in Fall Colors and Patterns:  $1.20
Metal Book Plates:  $1.95
Mod Podge of your choosing
Paint Brush

Each box will get three different types of paper:  one for the top of the lid, one pattern for the side of the lid and one pattern for around the box.

Knowing that, you'll need to measure each box lid, lid side and side of base and cut your paper to those measured sizes.

Once you have everything cut paint some Mod Podge on the lid top and lay your paper on top of it.  Then go ahead and paint the Mod Podge over the paper.  Then let it dry while you Mod Podge the side of the base.

I found it was easiest to do the lid side last -- but I think you could do the paper adhering in any order.

Once the paper is on and dry, it's time to add the book plates with the Thanksgiving words of your choosing. :)  I could only find silver book plates, but I just didn't like the look of them on my boxes -- I needed them to stand out a lot more.

So of course I spray painted them -- the solution to everything, right?!  I also had to bend them slightly so they matched the curve of the box.

Once the book plates were ready I attached them with some brads and inserted my printed words.

The boxes are done!  Now stack them up....

 and maybe add some ribbon to the top.

With Thanksgiving around the corner I think these cute little boxes are just the decorations I needed!

 

Linking up to:

Mondays:Between Naps on the Porch ; C.R.A.F.T; Craft-O-Maniac; Keeping it Simple; Mad in Crafts; Making the World Cuter; The DIY Showoff; The Girl Creative Tuesdays:  All Thingz Related; House of Grace; I'm Topsy Turvy; Lucky Star Lane; Sugar Bee Craft Edition; The CSI Project; These Creative Juices; Today's Creative Blog Wednesdays:  Blue Cricket Design; Creations by Kara; Debbiedoos; Domestically Speaking; My Backyard Eden; Night Owl Crafting; Seven Thirty Three; Someday Crafts; The Thrifty Home; Trendy Treehouse Thursdays: Beyond the Picket Fence; Craftastical!; Fireflies & Jellybeans; House of Hepworths; Life as Lori; Somewhat Simple; The Shabby Chic Cottage Fridays:  Chic on a Shoestring; Finding Fabulous; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Frou Frou Decor; Frugal & Fabulous Design; It's a Hodge Podge Life; It's Fun to Craft!: Just a Girl; Remodelaholic; Simply Designing; The Shabby Nest; Tatertots & Jello Weekend:  A  Little Lovely; Be Different Act Normal; Funky Junk Interiors; House of Thrifty Decor; I Heart Naptime; Kuzak's Closet; Under the Table & Dreaming

Rustic Photo Board Display

Well I FINALLY have a project to share with you today.  This is a little something I put together a while ago -- so I haven't actually DONE any sort of home improvement/crafty project in like THREE weeks.  Seriously.  I walked into Joanne's last night and I was there for over an hour -- as if I had never been in a craft store before.  I was finding all kinds of things to make and craft.  I'm sure I looked a little on the nuts-o side.   But I was feeling some withdrawal after being on vacation!

But enough of that -- let's get to this long-overdue project!  

A few months ago we went on a our annual family vacation to a lake up north, where my very talented hubby took this picture:

It's turned into one of my absolute favorite pictures -- it's so beautifully framed and the colors are just perfect.  Like I said, I have a talented hubby!

I wanted to frame this picture, but I didn't want to just throw it in any old frame -- it's a special picture and I wanted to do something special to it.  So I decided to make a distressed photo board. 

I started out with a 16 x 20 print of my photograph (which cost me about $17.00 -- but I'm sure you could find a better deal if you looked around for coupons and online shopping codes).  I also used a pallet that we had in our garage from a Menard's Delivery earlier in the summer.

Now comes a little bit of math -- I cut my boards to be 16" long (the same height as my photo I ordered).  I decided to cut five boards to stack across and left an equal amount of spacing between them to be a little more rustic looking.

I laid all my boards out on a flat surface and used a strait edge to keep them even while I used a screw as a spacer to equally space all my boards (real technical, I know).  Then I took another board and laid it across all my boards and nailed it in place -- this is to keep my measured 16" boards in place.

So when I was all done assembling my boards it looks something like this:

Now comes the fun part -- adding the photo.  I used Mod Podge (of course!  Would I really use anything else!?!)  and attached the back of the photo to the boards, and then I went over the top.  Don't worry about the edges really laying flat -- we'll fix that later.

Once it was Mod Podged on (and not fully dry) I took the end of a paint brush and scored my picture where the gaps in my boards are.  A word of warning though -- be careful that you don't scratch the picture when you are scoring -- just a light scare should do the trick.

Let the Mod Podge dry, and you should have something like this.  I originally planned on stopping here, but I just didn't like it.  It needed a little something more.  

 It needed to be more rustic.  And what doesn't say rustic like distressing?  

I ripped my photo around the edges to give it a more natural feel.  I didn't worry too much about keeping the edges strait since I wanted it to look unintentional.  

Then I took a clothe and my favorite dark walnut stain and rubbed it along the edges of my photo, the edges of the boards and then along the sides of the boards. 

NOW it feels finished.  I'm not sure where to hang it yet; but I'm thinking MAYBE in our newly refinished sun room.   You could do this with any picture you wanted to though  -- it's a fun way to make a special picture stand out from the rest.

 

 

Linking up to:

Mondays:Between Naps on the Porch ; C.R.A.F.T; Craft-O-Maniac; Keeping it Simple; Mad in Crafts; Making the World Cuter; The DIY Showoff; The Girl Creative Tuesdays:  All Thingz Related; House of Grace; I'm Topsy Turvy; Lucky Star Lane; Sugar Bee Craft Edition; The CSI Project; These Creative Juices; Today's Creative Blog Wednesdays:  Blue Cricket Design; Creations by Kara; Debbiedoos; Domestically Speaking; My Backyard Eden; Night Owl Crafting; Seven Thirty Three; Someday Crafts; The Thrifty Home; Trendy Treehouse Thursdays: Beyond the Picket Fence; Craftastical!; Fireflies & Jellybeans; House of Hepworths; Life as Lori; Somewhat Simple; The Shabby Chic Cottage Fridays:  Chic on a Shoestring; Finding Fabulous; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Frou Frou Decor; Frugal & Fabulous Design; It's a Hodge Podge Life; It's Fun to Craft!: Just a Girl; Remodelaholic; Simply Designing; The Shabby Nest; Tatertots & Jello Weekend:  A  Little Lovely; Be Different Act Normal; Funky Junk Interiors; House of Thrifty Decor; I Heart Naptime; Kuzak's Closet; Under the Table & Dreaming

Birthday Chalkboard

Frames Frames Frames -- I can NEVER get enough frames -- or chalkboard paint for that matter.

And with that winning combination, let me share with you today's project :)

Last month was my bestie's birthday.  And not only has she been my best friend since high school, she's also the loving soul behind One Girl, One Beautiful Life.   She had JUST moved into a cute little apartment and I wanted to give her something decor-esque, but also something she could USE too.  Enter the chalkboard frame.  I started with this find from a local thrift store.  The frame had cute little designs on it, so I snatched this puppy up.

This framed print reminds me of the one I used for my fabric whiteboard a while back -- I wonder if they were some sort of set?!?!

I removed the frame and spray-painted it green (one of her favorite colors) and then I painted the glass with my beloved chalkboard paint.  I also took some ribbon (the same I used for my welcome sign) and attached it to the back and tied it on top for a pretty bow.  Ready for the final project?

I also gave her one of those cool chalkboard pens ....which are AWESOME!  Isn't that green fantastic!?!

I just LOVE finding unique frames....I seriously could have my whole house covered in gorgeous, character-filled frames and never get tired of them.   I think Becca likes the frame too. :)

Linking up to:

Mondays:Between Naps on the Porch ; C.R.A.F.T; Craft-O-Maniac; Keeping it Simple; Mad in Crafts; Making the World Cuter; The DIY Showoff; The Girl Creative Tuesdays:  All Thingz Related; House of Grace; I'm Topsy Turvy; Lucky Star Lane; Sugar Bee Craft Edition; The CSI Project; These Creative Juices; Today's Creative Blog Wednesdays:  Blue Cricket Design; Creations by Kara; Debbiedoos; Domestically Speaking; My Backyard Eden; Night Owl Crafting; Seven Thirty Three; Someday Crafts; The Thrifty Home; Trendy Treehouse Thursdays: Beyond the Picket Fence; Craftastical!; Fireflies & Jellybeans; House of Hepworths; Life as Lori; Somewhat Simple; The Shabby Chic Cottage Fridays:  Chic on a Shoestring; Finding Fabulous; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Frou Frou Decor; Frugal & Fabulous Design; It's a Hodge Podge Life; It's Fun to Craft!: Just a Girl; Remodelaholic; Simply Designing; The Shabby Nest; Tatertots & Jello Weekend:  A  Little Lovely; Be Different Act Normal; Funky Junk Interiors; House of Thrifty Decor; I Heart Naptime; Kuzak's Closet; Under the Table & Dreaming