arts and craft Archives - Page 8 of 74

DIY Quote Sign with Faux Shiplap Detail

This month I will teach you how to make this DIY quote sign with a faux shiplap detail. It’s a home décor sign with a quote that you can choose! Quote signs are so popular right now and for good reason. They are a great way to express your specific style using a unique sentiment that appeals to you.

DIY Home Décor Sign with Faux Shiplap Detail

Hey all! This is Kristen from In Her Garage with another tutorial for you. I have made several signs and I believe this is the easiest way to make a sign that is inexpensive while looking clean and finished. The best part about this home decor sign is it looks like you made it with shiplap, but you really didn’t!

The sign in this tutorial measures 48” wide x 16” tall x 1 ½” deep. If you feel comfortable modifying the dimensions for the size sign you need please feel free.

Note: Please read through all the instructions before beginning the project.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

1/8” x 24” x 48” tempered hardboard or backer board
2- 1 x 2 x 8 common pine boards
Paint for the sign background
Stain for the frame
Paint markers, fine and medium tip
Lead pencils
Saw-tooth picture hangers

Tools:

Prep:

Paint the backer board the color of your choosing. You need to this first for adding the faux ship-lap detail later.

Instructions:

Cut the frame pieces for the sign.

Using your miter saw or circular saw cut the frame pieces from the 1x2x8’s.

You will need:

Two 16” boards
Two 46 ½” boards

Next cut the groove for the backer board to sit into the frame pieces with the table saw. Raise the table saw blade 1/4” and set the fence to 1/2”. Carefully run each board over the blade, face down, so you are cutting a groove into the board that is 1/4” deep. Use a push block over the top of the board so you are not running your hand over the blade.

Now, move the fence over slightly, about a 1/16”, and make a second pass in each of the frame boards to make the groove wider.

Paint or stain the frame pieces whatever color you like. I used a 50/50 mix of Varathane’s Special Walnut and Briarsmoke stains. Set these aside and let dry.

Cut the backer board:

The backer board will need to be 1/2” taller and wider than the inner dimensions of the frame making the backer board 47” x 15”

Adding the Faux Shiplap detail

To add the faux shiplap lines, raise the saw blade just under half of the thickness of the backer board, about a 1/16”. You can eyeball this by laying the backer board next to the blade (for safety, unplug your saw during blade adjustments). Raise the blade to the desired height.

Next, set the fence to 3 ¾” and run the backer board over the blade to cut a line partially through the board.

Move the fence to 7 ½” and repeat

Move the fence 11 ¼” and repeat one last time.

Now you have 3 shallow horizontal cuts that mimic the look of shiplap. Super cute!

Adding the quote to the backer board

First, you will need to choose a quote. I chose the quote “Love Never Fails” and it will be printed on plain printer paper. I use Microsoft Word to create the template.

Note: I chose not to use my Silhouette for this because this is a large sign and I wanted to keep the printed paper as a template for future use. Plus, I didn’t want to waste vinyl!

In a word document set the orientation to “Landscape” and the Margins to “Narrow”

Type the quote of your choosing. Choose the font you want to use. There are a lot of free fonts available. I typically get mine from www. fontspace.com. The specific font for this sign is First Choice and it can be downloaded for free here.

Highlight the entire quote and start increasing the type size until you have the size you want. The size of this lettering is 350 pt.

Keep in mind standard paper is 11 ½” wide x 8” tall (landscape orientation) which should give you a rough guess as to how it will appear on your backer board.

An entire word will not fit on one page for a picture of this size. You will need to piece them together later.

Print out your quote and tape each word together

Using a lead pencil scribble over the back of the letters. Are you seeing where this is going? You probably remember this transfer trick from 2nd grade.

Once the back of the letters are covered with pencil, flip the paper back over and tape it in place to the backer board.

With a sharp pencil follow the outline of the letters until the entire quote is outlined. This will transfer your quote onto the backer board. It will be faint, but you should be able to see it without a problem. If it’s too faint, you haven’t pressed hard enough while outlining.

Using the fine tip paint marker trace the outline of the letters.

Using the medium tip paint marker fill in the outlined letters. Yes!! You’ve just painted a quote!

Assembling the Sign

Slip the backer board into the cut grooves in the frame boards.

Using 1 ¼” brad nails, nail the frame in place in each corner with two nails.

In the top corners of the back of the frame add the Saw-tooth hooks for hanging the sign.

That’s all there is to it!! I highly recommend watching this video where I’ll show you all the steps to make this DIY quote sign with faux shiplap detail:

Now you have a completely personalized quote sign you’ve made yourself!! Bask in the sense of accomplishment! Show off your sign to all your friends. But be prepared for the request from your friends to make more signs for them.

Find more projects and inspiration In Her Garage and follow my DIY journey on Instagram and Facebook.

Hi! I’m Kristen, from In Her Garage, and I am a self-taught woodworker and DIY fanatic from Minnesota where I live with my husband and our two daughters. Between being a wife, mom and, registered nurse, I try to make as much time for DIY as possible. My love for building came after our family built our current home in 2015. After we moved in, we needed furniture and instead of spending massive amounts of money to order the pieces we wanted I decided that I would build them myself. I started with a buffet table plan from the fabulous Ana-white and quickly set out to remodel my entire home office.

Since then I have started a side business building furniture for the people in my community. I love hearing my clients talk about the pieces they wish they had whether it be a rustic buffet table, a one drawer side table, or a toy box and then making it a reality for them. While starting my small business it made perfect sense that I would document my building journey so I simultaneously launched the In Her Garage blog and I love sharing my plans, tips and tricks.

Making something beautiful with your own two hands through a little preparation and determination is an amazing feeling and I hope to bring inspiration and know-how to those looking to tackle a big or small project.
I am so glad that you found me here and please feel free to connect with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to see what I am working on right now.

March 18, 2020/0 Comments/by In Her Garage

arts and craft

25+ Art and Craft Boredom Busters

With the world looking at impending quarantine and school closures, I bet you’re wondering how you’ll keep boredom at bay. Have no fear, I’m here to share a bunch of DIY art and craft ideas you can do with (or without) children. I hope some of these projects brighten your day. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these craft projects.

25+ Art & Craft Boredom Busters to Keep You Entertained During Quarantine

If you’re on a quest to keep the kids entertained, I have more than 25 Boredom Buster DIY art and craft projects for you and your kids. This list should give you something to do over the next few weeks. Just a note that you may not have all the materials for these craft projects, but I urge you to think creatively about what you do have on hand and what you can substitute. If you find good substitutes, please share them in the comment section. Thanks and stay safe everyone.

Painting with Alcohol Inks has easily become my favorite mindless craft project. You don’t have to worry about perfection, just blow your stress away with this art.

I had a blast making these bracelets with my nieces. With some assistance, even little kids can make their own DIY Leather Word Bracelet.

Have some leftover plain fabric? Consider making beautiful Kids’ Thumbprint Envelope Pillows to keep or gift to someone special.

Here’s another sewing project sure to please the kids that love their stuffed animals. Let your child design their own Monster Dolls and then sew it.

Speaking of sewing, if you’re trying to skip over these sewing crafts because you don’t know how to sew. I have 25 DIY Sewing Projects to Help You Learn to Sew.

Oh, what to do with all those broken crayons? Wait, don’t pitch them! Why not make Melted Heart Crayons and then use them after they cool to make fun and colorful designs?

Have a bin of single socks? Time to use up those solos and make cute sock snowmen! My mom came up with this project and I love how adorable her snowmen turned out.

This was one of my favorite art projects involving nature. Take the kids for a hike in the woods and collect items to make Sunprints.

While you’re on that hike in the woods, look for some blooming flowers to make Pounded Flower Art Paper.

I still use these Glass Bead Magnets on our fridge. The best thing is they are so easy to make and the kids will love choosing their own pictures to use.

If you liked the Glass Bead Magnets, you might like this upcycled bottlecap flower magnet craft. Add photos of the kids or other images inside the flowers.

With summer just a season away, why not make a colorful Summer Garden Flag using a placemat (or leftover fabric.)

If you liked the summer garden flag, you might really like this state pride garden flag.

Learn how you can make your own Sea Shell Memory Game with the kids and then let them play the game. This is an easy craft you can make using almost anything you have lying around if you don’t have seashells. Use bottle caps, or just cardstock paper.

This DIY Dragonfly from a Whisk and Skewer was a fun craft project to make with my friend’s kids. All it took was a skewer and a whisk.

Have some plain pieces of fabric or tea towels lying around? Why not make Potato Block Prints to decorate plain tea towels or cover stained ones.

If you have washi tape and a full recycling bin, you have at least an hour worth of time spent making these Easy Washi Tape Vases.

Little ones always seem to get bumps and bruises. This adorable Boo Boo Bear Ice and Heat Pack is a cute project you can make with your kids (and they can be comforted by it after their next fall.)

If you have some extra yard sticks (or scrap lathe wood), you can make these stylish DIY Yardstick Stars.

Spring is here and this is the perfect opportunity to dress up a plain wreath you have lying in storage. All you need is some scrapbook paper and buttons to create this one-of-a-kind Spring Paper Flower and Button Wreath.

This was a really fun project I created with the kids one summer. If you don’t have plain shirts or RIT dye, use fabric and watered down acrylic paint. Anything goes with this fun Spray-Dyed Shirts craft project. Best of all, you can get the kids outside (to keep the mess to a minimum.)

The weather isn’t cooperating for outdoor activities today? Why not create this temporary Indoor Hopscotch with Painter’s Tape.

Sure the holidays are months away, but you can still make fun little Wine Cork Deer or other animals using this simple tutorial.

Want to get creative and make a storage solution at the same time? If so, you’ll love these creative block pen, pencil, or paintbrush storage blocks. The block construction is probably better left to an adult but the kids can safely decorate these blocks.

Have a plain (or stained) shirt laying around? Why not let the kids go to town making Doodle Shirts.

One of my favorite crafts that takes almost no effort are these Decorative Glass Jar Votives made with recycled jars and scrap paper and tissue paper. But, you can decorate them with anything you have on hand thin enough to be seen through.

Still have some leftover jars? Why not paint them with chalk paint and add some fresh flowers to cheer up your day (or a friend’s day.)

Mailbox looking a little dull? If you have car magnet material, you can make this Custom Painted Magnetic Mailbox Covers.

Still looking for more things to do? Why not organize those craft supplies with one or more of these Creative Art Supply Storage Solutions.

Do you have some great boredom buster ideas to share? Please share them in the comments below. I know we could all use some good ideas to keep busy over the next few weeks.

Share this post by pinning or sharing it on social media to help others keep their sanity during a quarantine event.

March 14, 2020/0 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, DIY, fabric, Sewing, Tutorial

Easy DIY Hand Warmers You’ll Want to Take Everywhere

Since most of us are in the full swing of winter, I thought hand warmers would be the perfect DIY project for your weekend. Learn how to make these Easy DIY Hand Warmers You’ll Want to Take Everywhere!

Easy DIY Hand Warmers You’ll Want to Take Everywhere

Friends! I’m so excited to be back today with a new project for you – these cozy little DIY hand warmers. This is a great way to use any leftover fabric scraps you may have laying around. Sometimes a fabric is just too beautiful to throw away.

I have tons of leftover fabric pieces that I’m always repurposing into something new. These DIY hand warmers are perfect because you don’t need a lot of fabric to make them. And they take no time at all to complete.

Read on for the full tutorial.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Cotton Fabric (I had some leftover fabric I purchased on Etsy)
Sewing Machine
Fabric Scissors
Uncooked rice
Spoon to use a scoop

Instructions:

Step One: Cut Your Fabric

Take your fabric and cut out a rectangle roughly about 3.5 inches tall by 8.5 inches wide. Don’t worry about the measurements being exact, we can even it up later. Just make sure you have a rectangle like shown above. This is the basic shape and you’ll see why in a minute.

Step Two: Fold your Fabric in Half and Sew Two Edges Closed

Now that we have our rectangles cut, take each one and fold it in half. This will make a little square. Note: Make sure the print sides of the fabric are facing each other. (If your fabric is only one-sided, you want to make sure the non-print side is facing out, and the pattern is on the inside.

Pssst: that’s why we cut the rectangle shapes in the first step – it’s just one less side to have to sew!

You will find that you have three open edges on your fabric square. Sew the two parallel edges closed. For added strength, sew each edge several times to ensure it is closed tightly.

Now flip your little square right sides out. The stitches will be on the inside. And now you have a cute little pocket!

Step Three: Fill your Fabric Pocket with Rice

Spoon some rice into the open edge of each little fabric pocket. You really don’t need too much here. Make sure to leave enough space at the top to comfortably sew the open edge closed after filling. Do not overfill your pocket.

Because I wasn’t too concerned about it looking perfect, I folded the open edge down to close it while sewing. And that leads us to Step 4!

Step Four: Sew pouch closed

We are almost done! All we need to do is close up that last open edge. You can sew it up by tucking in the raw edges and stitching over top. Or create a neat little fold and stitch on top, as I did. Just make sure it’s sewn tight so no rice falls out.

And that’s it! These little DIY rice warmers take all of five minutes to make and they are so handy during the chilly winter months!

How to Use DIY Hand Warmers

Now that we have our cozy little warmers, we need to “warm” them up in the microwave.

I heat my warmers anywhere from 10-30 seconds in the microwave. I would start with the lowest amount of time and increase the time slowly. These rice warmers can get very hot, so be careful! And please keep a close eye on them as they are heating at all times. It takes some experimentation to find out what the perfect temperature is for you.

These hand warmers can last a fairly long time. I had one still giving off some heat after 30 minutes! They will naturally cool down after a while. Just reheat them as needed.

These hand warmers are perfect to take on walks. Before you leave the house, heat them up and tuck a few in your coat pockets to keep your hands nice and toasty. Or, grab a few to take to the neighborhood park with the kids. I’m always cold sitting on the park bench watching my kids play!

You can also use these at home. Tuck them under your feet or under a cozy blanket for a real cozy treat! I’ve actually made larger versions of these as heating pads in our home. My kids love them. It’s the perfect soother for a bellyache or leg ache. And bonus, the larger ones hold heat much, much longer.

If you like this tutorial, check out my post on making scented rice sachets.

Stay warm folks and I’ll meet you right back here next month!

~ See More of Karen’s Tutorials ~

Hello! I’m Karen, the creator of the Home Decor and DIY Blog: Decor Hint. I’m a Native of the East Coast, but I currently live in beautiful Seattle with my hubby, our two wonderful children, and our spunky wheaten terrier.

You can usually find me with some sort of craft in one hand and a coffee in the other. And I’m always rearranging furniture or moving lamps from room to room. I have a passion (read: obsession) for decorating, DIY, and gardening. In short, I love making my house into a home.

Like many, I’m inspired by what I see in home decor magazines, but I’m not so inspired by the price tags. Consequently, I love finding and creating beautiful budget-friendly home decor items. In a head to head competition, I bet you’d never know the difference between the designer items and my DIY creations! Many of my DIY projects focus on sewing, crafting, upcycling and organizing. Some of my favorite projects have been making pretty wreaths, sewing my own tassel hand towels, and crafting these trendy wood bead garlands. I can’t wait to inspire you and spark your creativity through my DIY projects.

You can always connect with me on Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.

Still have some scraps of fabric? You could make these adorable gift bags.

February 26, 2020/1 Comment/by Karen Decor Hint

accessories, arts and craft, Birdhouse, blue, Centerpieces, Crafts, decor, Decorating, Holiday decorating, Home Decor, Paintbrushes, painting

Faux Blue Bird Eggs and Nest

Can you think of anything more spring-like than a nest full of blue eggs? Today I want to show you how to make Faux Blue Speckled Bird Eggs and a Nest!

Faux Blue Bird Eggs and Nest

Spring has arrived in North Carolina and I want to dance and sing and tiptoe through the tulips. Now that Valentine’s Day has come and gone, it is the perfect time to start decorating for Easter! A nest of Blue Speckled Bird Eggs makes a beautiful centerpiece! Mother Robin sure does create beautiful blue eggs, but we’d never think of disturbing those precious eggs.

Instead, I’ll show you how to turn regular chicken eggs…

…into a beautiful nest of blue speckled eggs to decorate for Easter or Spring.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Eggs (5-6)
Egg Carton
Rubber Gloves
Bowl
Old Toothbrush
Acrylic Paint: (at least have White, Black and Robin’s Egg Blue)
Paint brush
Paper Bag
Paper Plate
Pasta Maker, Paper Shredder or Scissors
Plastic Drop Cloth
Hammer
Nail

Instructions:

It’s time to get messy. Put down a drop cloth or tarp to cover your work area (and beyond.) First, I’ll show you a magic trick! Learn how to remove the white and yolk out of eggs without breaking the shell. Rest an egg inside the empty carton. Gently tap a nail into the top of your egg.

Turn the egg upside down and put another hole into the other side. Typically you’ll need one hole slightly larger.

Pucker up and blow through the smaller hole until the egg white and yolk drain out the larger bottom hole. (Of course, you’ll probably want to save the eggs for omelets or scrambled eggs.)

Once you have emptied your eggs, clean them off. Then close your egg carton and flip it upside down to create a raised support for your eggs.

Gather your blue, black, and white acrylic paints. Paint the egg a robin’s egg blue color and allow them to dry.

Put on rubber gloves. Pour a small amount of black acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Add a little water to create a runny consistency. Dip the toothbrush into the paint mixture. Aim the toothbrush at the eggs and stroke your finger along the bristles to spatter black dots all over the eggs.

Allow the black speckles to dry and repeat the process using the white paint.

While the eggs are drying, pull out your pasta maker. (Am I the only one who never uses my pasta maker for making pasta?) Cut the paper bag into sections wide enough to fit into the pasta maker.

Feed the paper bag through the pasta maker to shred it. (You can shred the bag with a paper shredder or scissors if you don’t have a pasta maker.) Arrange the shreds into a nest form in a bowl, urn, or basket.

Set your faux blue bird eggs into the nest and admire your beautiful Spring décor!

This centerpiece can be left out until you are tired of looking at it. Then store the eggs in the carton and bring them out again next year.

Have a great week! I hope the weather is warming up where you are!

Pin for later!

February 24, 2020/18 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, decor, Decorating, DIY, Do It Yourself, Holiday decorating, Tutorial

DIY Jingle Bell Garland

I’m always looking for ways to simplify my holiday decorating and re-use what I have. This DIY Jingle Bell Garland project is perfect for that! Perusing the holiday collections at my favorite home stores gave me the idea of making this simple bell garland. It’s a lovely nod to Scandinavian decor if you like that style.

Hello, Pretty Handy Girl Readers! Now that the holiday season is upon us, I thought it would be fun to share an easy DIY project to help you decorate your homes this year.

All you need are two inexpensive items to make this. (You might even have them already. Hint: Look in your gift wrap stash!)

That’s right – these bells are actually cheap gift toppers from Target. Yes, they are functional and they sound beautiful (like Jingle Bells!)

This garland will take you all of ten minutes to create, and another five to hang it up. How’s that for simple, inexpensive, and quick!

Let’s get creating!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Bells (Brass gift toppers from Target or Amazon/craft stores)
Scissors
Baker’s Twine or Jute or Pretty Ribbon

Instructions:

Follow these steps to make lovely little bell garlands. I’ll include tips for hanging, decorating, and storing as well.

Step 1: Cut a long piece of string

Whether you are using baker’s twine, jute, or ribbon, cut a long piece to get started. My piece ended up being about 30 inches long. You can always snip any excess off at the end.

Step 2: Thread your bells on your string:

Time to thread those bells on! My gift toppers came with a little loop to attach them. I’m sure your bells will, too. All you need to do is tie a little knot to make sure they stay. You don’t want the bells sliding all around on you.

I decided to space my bells out a bit, but you can also string them close together. But, if you do, you’ll need more bells!

Step 3: Hang up your garland

Once all your bells are knotted and secured on the string, it’s time to hang it up.

Initially, I was using scotch tape. However, my garland kept falling! (Consequently, I’ve been hearing a lot of fallen jingles in this house today). I ended up using 3m clear light clips and they are not falling anymore. You can tie both ends of garland onto the light clip and hang it up that way. If you are also decorating with garland, this helps to hide the clips as well. It has not fallen since! Yay!

Where to hang your bell garland?

Call me traditional, but I like these bell garlands draped across a window or hung from a mantel. They feel so Christmas-y to me!

Some other ideas would be to drape them across a mirror or over a pretty piece of artwork.
Have open shelving? Drape them on your open shelving like it was a mantel!

What about storing your garland?

After the holidays are over, it’s time to pack up all the decor! But wait — how do I store this garland without it getting tangled?

So glad you asked! I found the simplest way to store these garlands is to tape one end to a piece of sturdy cardboard, then wrap the garland carefully around the cardboard and finish by taping the other end.

It’s secure and it won’t tangle on you! You might also appreciate these 9 Holiday Storage Hacks for your other holiday items!

I love the way this bell garland turned out. However, I think a nice satin ribbon in red or white might be my go-to for next year. I love the contrast between the gold bells and the silky ribbon. In the meantime, pin this tutorial to share with a friend!

Looking for more Holiday Decorating Ideas? Check out these DIY frosted votive candle holders and this rustic Christmas tree crate.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Holiday Season so far! See you right back here next month.

~ See More of Karen’s Tutorials ~

Hello! I’m Karen, the creator of the Home Decor and DIY Blog: Decor Hint. I’m a Native of the East Coast, but I currently live in beautiful Seattle with my hubby, our two wonderful children, and our spunky wheaten terrier.

You can usually find me with some sort of craft in one hand and a coffee in the other. And I’m always rearranging furniture or moving lamps from room to room. I have a passion (read: obsession) for decorating, DIY, and gardening. In short, I love making my house into a home.

Like many, I’m inspired by what I see in home decor magazines, but I’m not so inspired by the price tags. Consequently, I love finding and creating beautiful budget-friendly home decor items. In a head to head competition, I bet you’d never know the difference between the designer items and my DIY creations! Many of my DIY projects focus on sewing, crafting, upcycling and organizing. Some of my favorite projects have been making pretty wreaths, sewing my own tassel hand towels, and crafting these trendy wood bead garlands. I can’t wait to inspire you and spark your creativity through my DIY projects.

You can always connect with me on Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.

November 27, 2019/1 Comment/by Karen Decor Hint