Getting Crafty: Putting up Pictures

As we settle into our new home I am trying to transform it from house to home.  At our last home I never really got around to putting family pictures on the wall.  Not sure why - it just didn't really happen.  Honestly, some of it was busyness and some of it was expense.  Then a friend of mine gave me some guidance on how to display family pictures - of all sizes - on the cheap.  WAHOO!!  So here we are.

I am not very good at organizing my pictures so I spent a ridiculous amount of time culling through them to pick out some favorites - of kids at different ages and stages - to print.  My friends who print lots of pictures recommend Costco and they are VERY reasonably priced.  I got a few 12x18 for $4, but you can get large 20x30 for just $10.  I wanted some irregular sizes so I got a bunch of 8x8 as well.

You may be wondering, how are you going to actually get those ready for the wall without spending an arm and a leg on picture frames - especially the odd sized ones?  Here is my friend's idea - foam core!  Yes, it's that simple.  Here's the breakdown.

Supplies: 

- pictures
- xacto knife and good blade
- foam core (I got mine for a buck a board at dollar tree - 20x30 - they probably aren't acid free though, use a coupon at Michael's or Hobby Lobby if you'd like)
- mod podge (what I used) or spray adhesive (what my friend used)
- ruler (okay, I didn't use one but someone more particular might)
- pencil

How to: 

1.  Use the Costco website to upload, crop, and prepare your pictures and order them in the sizes you want.
2.  Lay your pictures out on the foam core and try to fit as many as you can.  If you cut it really straight you don't have to leave any space in between them.
3.  Trace around the picture edges with your pencil. Remove the pictures.  If you do a lot at once of different sizes you might want to label them somehow so it is easy to match them up again.
4.  Use the xacto knife to cut out the foam core to your desired shape
5. Use mod podge - but you could use spray adhesive - to cover the foam core with sticky stuff.
6. Lay your picture on top and press it down.  Let them dry for a while before you actually try to hang them up.

To hang: 

I decided to get Command Poster Strips to hang mine and they seem to be doing well so far.  The boys were very excited to wake up to new pictures on the wall.  I still have one big layout I want to do - but need to do other projects (like laundry) tonight.

There are other ways you could use this same technique - for example:

- To cut out and create letters for your kids initials (use cloth or scrapbook paper to cover them)
- To do other cut outs - clouds, superheroes, etc.  You could either paint them or use other materials.

So, there you have it.  A great project for helping make a house your home on a budget!

Craftier than I thought

I'll blame it on our internet connection going down the week before Thanksgiving.   When the internet goes down you start actually taking stock of your time and surroundings.  I realized that I have way too much fabric around my house and so I started to sew again.  Christmas always gets me in a sewing mood.  Most of the people I know have just about everything they could ever want or need so taking some time to sew them something is special.  Plus, it's fun to actually finish a project and make something useful or beautiful.

So since just before Thanksgiving I have moved things all around my house to help myself and the kids to get more organized.  Husband doesn't feel a need for organization because he feels responsible for his clothes, toiletries, books and videos, and sometimes his tools.  My kitchen makes more sense and I was able to move all my sewing, crafty stuff into one spot.  I have way too much for someone who hasn't sewn in a year or two.

I am trying to decrease my stash. So, in the past month I have made five mason jar Christmas cozy's (teacher gifts), two baby quilts, 4 kid messenger bags and helped make one full size quilt.  My husband is happy that I have a hobby beyond looking at curriculum.  I am now in the process of making "pillow shields" for my sons, especially since they have repurposed all of our boomwhackers into swords (not to mention their light sabers).  I am also going to attempt to make quilts for their beds out of materials they like in hopes that it will sort of help their room look more complete and give them inspiration to make the beds.  One can hope.   I am also attempting to crochet my youngest's stocking - but I am not following the pattern very well so we'll see how it turns out.  That is probably why I prefer making things out of granny squares instead of following a pattern.  We might have to revert to that.  I'll work on posting a few pictures soon.

This also  means I have spent way more time on pinterest than I should have but we are all taking a break around here.  After that nasty cold spell the temperatures are up into the 60s and 70s again so we are going to a park a day and enjoying really nice, but not so Decemberish weather.  I am glad we are just reading and reviewing over Christmas I hope it relaxes and refreshes us for the new year!