Author Archives: Lisa

About Lisa

Pinning the wilderness of my imagination, one Pin at a time. I love hiking, camping, watching my boys fish, and taking long walks with my yellow labs, Taylor and Mandi. I enjoy cooking when the mood hits, and not only have I published novels, but I'm the master of redesigning just about anything. I’m the DIY author who has made Idaho her home for 27 years, and I can't wait to spend another 27 years here.

DIY Christmas – Custom Wood Signs

I’ve been on a roll this week with making wood signs, let me rephrase that, custom wood signs for my family and friends that fit some of them to a tee. You’ve seen them, they’re all over Pinterest, knock-offs from Pottery Barn, Pier One and the likes, plus original creations with a little twist like my friend, Judy does over at Vintage Street Designs. She’s got a store on Etsy and sells them at a reasonable price too! I’m not up for selling mine, just wanted to make them for Christmas and do a number of other projects around the house. I was able to score my Cameo Silhouette for an awesome Cyber Monday deal.

So this post, it’s not really a “how to” kinda post, it’s more like this is what you can do if you have a vinyl cutting machine–the creativity is limitless!

As I mentioned, I scored my Cameo Silhouette on Amazon for an amazing Cyber Monday deal, and to my surprise, they’re still offering it as I’m posting. You can click here to check it out: Cameo Silhouette on Amazon.

Here’s what I got:

It’s an awesome starter kit that also contained a $25 credit to the Silhouette store, which I used every penny of it up! It gave me enough sample materials to complete a few projects and get the hang of things, but believe me I’m still learning.

To start off with I dug through my supply of scrap materials of wood, some of it from pallets and others from the remodels I’d completed, and put together signs all various shapes and sizes.

I first measure the length and cut 3 pieces of pallet wood.

I laid them out all nice and neatly in a row.

Then I used my nailer to add support strips on the top and bottom.

Then I took my sander and smoothed out the surface to try and make it as smooth as possible.

I then added a coat of paint in the color of my choice and let it dry.

I then used my Cameo and cut out the design onto the vinyl. I pulled off the letters, which left me with a stencil and then applied the application tape. You need this to transfer your stencil to your surface, it’s just too flimsy otherwise.

I then aligned it and used my spreader to push it onto the surface.

The fun then begins as you pull the application tape off. I found that sometimes the vinyl stuck really well to the surface, and other times not so much. So take care when you peel it off, go slow so you don’t tear the vinyl in the process.

This is what you’re left with, a beautiful stencil

I used a stencil brush and dabbed it onto the surface.

I also choose to mix mine up a little and stenciled “Christmas” in red paint and then added glitter.

Yup, a little glitter goes a long ways!

After the paint was dry, I peeled off the vinyl and here’s what I was left with. Pretty cute, right?

I got on a roll and the designs kept flowing!

So again, if you’re family or friends and reading this, act surprised when you receive your Christmas present this year. Off to finish the rest off!

Toodles!

DIY Christmas – Glass Ornament Decoupage

So I’m at it again, this time it’s glass ornaments I’ve had lying around forever. A few years back I found a pin on Pinterest showing old book pages being decoupaged to glass ornaments and I thought that would be pretty cool…until I tried it. In theory, it should have worked, but in reality it didn’t. Why? The old book pages were too thick to adhere to the glass bulb, so I tossed the idea aside until recently when I was cleaning out a cabinet in my office and came across the ornaments again. An idea struck me and that’s where it all started.

To begin with I gathered up the remaining glass ornaments.

Then the supplies of decoupage glue, tissue paper and glitter of course.

I cut my tissue paper into strips and then into smaller squares or rectangles.

I then pulled the ornament hanger clip off and found a straw to help hold it upright while I coated the glass bulb with the decoupage glue. FYI – your fingers will get coated with the glue and glitter.

Once the bulb was completely coated, I then applied strips of the tissue paper randomly over the surface ensuring it was completely covered. You will overlap the tissue, it’s all good in the end, I promise.

As I applied the tissue paper I spread more of the decoupage over the tissue paper to smooth it down.

Once it was completely covered in the tissue paper, I then sprinkled on some glitter because everyone needs a little bling in their life! Okay, besides needing bling in your life, I did it so it would sparkle when the Christmas tree lights and sunlight hit them.

Once dry, I then reattached the ornament hanging clip to the top and smiled at my creation.

Pretty cute, right?

And how do they look on the tree? Well, you tell me…

I liked them so much I grabbed some mini silver ornaments I’d used in the past and decoupaged them too!

Some made it to the tree while others became table top ornament decorations.

Makes you want to repurpose some of your old ornaments, doesn’t it?

Toodles!

DIY Christmas – Custom Decor Candles

Want to give your friend or family member that special gift that comes from the heart? Well, I got another idea for you to run with for your DIY Christmas – A Custom Decor Candle. Yeah, I know Scentsy is the big thing now, everything wickless, but sometimes your want to have a candle to add to your decor because it’s simply so beautiful. I have an easy way to either update your old candles, or create a magical gift for the family and friends in your life.

So I made these little beauties at the same time as I was Upcycling glass jars for Christmas gifts. I used some of the same supplies; ribbons, embellishments, old earrings and some upholstery tacks.

I started with some candles I purchased at Walmart. The large ones are scented, the smaller are unscented. Hobby Lobby had candles as well, but I was looking for the least expensive variety.

I gathered together my supplies.

Ribbons, tacks, some jewelry making supplies.

A few things from the paper crafting aisle as well.

Cuz seriously, who doesn’t want some bling in their life?

I then used the ribbon of choice and secured in the back with some upholstery tacks. They add a nice touch too, don’t you think?

After securing the ribbon, I embellished with a variety of my supplies.

A little paper crafting supplies with the flowers that I attached using a glue gun, and then some bling to dress it up.

I used a tack on the front to hold the tassel and key in place for this one.

And this got a little of everything.

And then I decided to mix things up by using some wire.

After adding a little bit of jewelry to the front, I secured it by twisting the wire on the back.

A little bling, a little ribbon and wa-lah! You’ve got yourself a beautiful handmade gift that will be cherished.

This little embellishment was an old earring from my niece that I added the charm to.

Now who wouldn’t want to display them on a shelf or tray in the bathroom? Or even in the living room or dining room.

Yeah, I’m gifting these away this year. So if you’re family/friends and you’re seeing this post, guess what’s coming your way!

Toodles!

Senior Pictures

Oh boy, I’m at it again, this time it was senior pictures for a dear friend’s son. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a creative outlet for me at times. Sometimes I get things all stored up inside and have to have a release! Yes, I know I write books and that should be enough, but it’s not, so sit back and enjoy!

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DIY Christmas – Upcycling Glass Jars

In December 2013 I published a post title DIY Christmas – Candy Jars, and recently the post and comments have taken off from sites like Hometalk and Pinterest. So, in an effort to keep things rolling, I’ve updated my DIY Christmas post to include gift ideas for all those glass jars once again. And boy oh boy are you in for a treat!

I collect things, what can I say? Now let me point out that I only collect things that inspire me, something I can reuse, repurpose into something different, an original creation/variation of sorts. Upcycling has become big, there are so many things you can do with old wood, glass jars, sweaters and the list keeps growing. It’s all about creating something unique and beautiful at the same time. My husband used to call it junk, but not so much anymore. Now? Now he’s like, “So what can we make this weekend so you can blog about it?” Crazy, right?

So since he’s been working super long hours this week, I’ve been upcycling glass jars for Christmas gifts and wanted to pass the inspiration on to you.

Well it all started with empty jars ranging from spaghetti jars, hot peppers, sauces, spice jars and a few drink jars thrown in just for the heck of it. And what came out of them is pretty awesome!

You think I had enough jars saved up? It was becoming a problem on finding space to store them without my hubby finding them and want to toss them.

I gathered up my supplies; ribbons, embellishments, knobs, and some paper crafting supplies.

Those lovely little do dads were in the paper crafting supplies area at Hobby Lobby It’s the bling that caught my eye.

Hobby Lobby had their ribbon at 50% off, can’t beat a deal like that around holiday crafting time.

To start with I selected my jar, in this case it was from sauerkraut, and no it didn’t stink because I always run my jars through the dishwasher and then let them sit for a while without the lid on so the strong orders disappear. I also soak my jars for a little while in warm water to remove the labels. I’ve found that an SOS pad works great at removing the sticky residue quickly and doesn’t scratch it. And for the really sticky stuff? I use Goo Gone and let it soak for just a little bit before scrubbing them off.

I picked my ribbon of choice and wound it around the jar securing it with hot glue.

Those lovely embellishments? Those were from my niece, they were old earrings she no longer wore and didn’t want. Of course I knew exactly what I’d use them for and snagged a few others as well.

Cute right? Since I had two similar jars I embellished them the same way. I saw them sitting on a bathroom counter holding cotton balls and q-tips.

The next step was to drill the holes into the lids and then spray paint them. I thought I’d like to change up the colors this time around and did some white, silver and the oil rubbed bronze you see above, but in the end decided I like the oil rubbed bronze best.

I also cut the screws down this time since I’d be handing them out as gifts.

Here’s an example of how I attached the ribbons, a little glue on the starting piece, then a little along the way to keep it in place. The strip of glue wasn’t needed, just a little dot to secure it is all you need.

And these lovely embellishments from the paper crafting department at Hobby Lobby added a little bit of elegance to them as well.

Once I got started I couldn’t stop!

I filled mine with bath salts that I’d purchased a while ago and added the scoop to them.

You could fill them with just about anything you wanted and give them away for Christmas gifts. Because who doesn’t want a homemade gift that’s simply beautiful? And might I add cheap to make too?

If you didn’t want to add a knob, you could also hot glue an embellishment on the top as well.

You notice those candles in the pic? That’s next week’s DIY Christmas blog post.

You see this little beauty? Watch for next weeks DIY Christmas blog posts to see what else I’ve been up to.

Fun Fall Decor – Mini Wrapped Pumkpins

Quite the title, right? Makes you wonder what I’ve done now? Well, let me tell you… Those cute little white pumpkins I bought at the grocery store looked like they needed something extra added to them, so I did. A little tissue paper, a little Modge Podge and you’ve got yourself a custom decorative mini pumpkin to show off.

I started off with mini white pumpkins, tissue paper (the thinner the better), and some image transfer medium. Modge Podge would work just fine for this application as well.

I ordered the cursive paper online on Amazon. It was exactly what I was looking for, plus Amazon carries a wide variety of them in different colors and patterns.

I then applied the image transfer medium, again Modge Podge will work just fine, to the outside of the pumpkin with a paint brush. This brush actually kinda sucked as it needed to use something like a chippy brush because it was softer. But this is what happens when this is the only cheap brush you have on hand, you use it cuz you’re just gonna throw it out later.