Blog Parties

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Pinterest Challenge Party-Summer

Boy is it hot!   Sure wishing I were at the beach.

I guess it is time to take down my 4th of July/Patriotic mantel and put up a Summer one.

I plan on using a few of the same elements from last years Summer mantel.  My favorite three items to be exact.  And since they were all knockoffs of stuff I had pinned to Pinterest.  I thought I would join in on the Pinterest Challenge, summer edition.

What?  You say that I am a day late for the party?  Well, better late than never I always say. 


My first entry into the Pinterest challenge is my "Life is good at the beach" sign.  Here is the original I found online last year that I pinned. 


I found it at Dean Miller.  The original is actually a metal sign that they sell for $19.99.   I loved the colors and it was exactly what I wanted for my summer mantel.  That is, except for the price. 

I like FREE better!  Hubby had 3 cedar fence boards sitting on the side of the house.  I asked him "pretty please" if he would cut them down for me to make this sign.

He was so excited that he jumped up and down for joy and clapped his hands.  Just kidding.  But he did say "yes".  In fact, he made me 2 wood plank signs.  The other one I still haven't done anything with. 


Here he is putting all the pieces together for me. 



Next I painted the board with some white craft paint.  I didn't want it to completely cover the board.   Then I used some aqua paint and painted 3 areas.   I pretty much copied the inspiration sign. 


I did more of a whitewash effect with the paint.  I wanted some of the original board to show through.  The best part about using cedar fence planks is the roughness of the wood.  Adds great texture.                       




I was then going to use a stencil for writing the words.  But you know how lazy I am.  I decided to just wing it and live dangerously, by free handing my words.  Scary!  But it all worked out.  Lucky for me.                  

I used a pencil to sketch my letters.  Then I used some grey paint to paint "Life is Good".  White paint for "at the" and red paint for "BEACH".  I then used a black sharpie to outline "BEACH".   I then lightly sanded it    and called it done.                                                                                                                                            




My next project was inspired by this image I found on Pinterest at Obee Designs. 



Aren't you crushing over these vintage SeaSide beach pails?  I know I have been ever since laying eyes on this image.                                                                                                                                               

I had to have one of these pails.  

I found one on eBay last year.  Yipee!  But wait, I'm el cheapo.  I'm not going to pay $100 for a vintage beach pail.  No matter how much I wanted it.  I guess I will have to make my own.  

Plus, I wanted an aqua blue stripe, not a royal blue stripe in mine.    And I wanted it to be FREE.  

                                                                                                                                        

Luckily, I had a plain tin pail in my stash that came from either the Dollar Spot at Target or from Michael's dollar bins a few years back.  So I painted the bucket with some red, some white and some aqua blue. 




Next I took my handy dandy Sharpie pen and lived dangerously again.  And wrote "Seaside", free hand.  The adrenaline was a pumping.    I girl can only take so much danger in one day.  I was fast becoming an adrenaline junky.  (OK, you can stop laughing now.)



Problem was, it wasn't looking very vintage.  So I shabbied it up a bit with some sandpaper.  And then used some watered down burnt umber paint and slathered it on.  Then wiped it off.   Much better. 

Still doesn't look like it's 100 years old.  But for free, I'm estatic.

And if you must have your own vintage Seaside beach pail.  I found you one on ebay.   It's only at $49.00 currently and closes in 2 days.  But if you are cheap like me.  You can make your own.  Just like me. 

My final Pinterest inspiration project is bunting made from a map.  Here is my inspiration pin from Five Brothers One Sister


I really liked this one.  But I wanted mine to say "Summer".  And to be in a slightly different shape.

Now I'm not that handy with making computer graphics.  In fact, I down right stink at it.  I have not a clue how it's done.  So I had to make mine the good old fashion way.

I got my neighbor to give me some of her old maps (again a free project).  Remember when AAA used to give you free road maps?  Do they still do that?

I drew me up a template for the shape I wanted on some card stock.  Used my template to cut out the map.

Now I just needed me some red letters that spell out "SUMMER".  


I then remembered I had these vintage letters saved on my computer.  I have no idea where they originally came from.  I cut and pasted the letters I needed to spell "SUMMER".  Printed them out onto cardstock.

Then I painstakingly cut out each letter & glued on top of my map bunting pieces.  

I then punched a hole at the top on each side and strung them on a piece of twine.

And WALA!  I had the "SUMMER" map bunting of my dreams.

I really like the "S" section of the map since I grew up in San Diego county.  



And just because I am nice, and some of you may be every bit as cheap as me, I scanned my Summer map bunting just for you.

I don't know how to make a fancy shmancy download.  But you can right click on the images below and save to your computer.  You know, the "I have not a clue how to use a computer much" kind of way. 






And there you have my 3 Pinterest challenge projects.  Now go check out all the rest and get crackin' on making your Pinterest inspiration dreams come true. 

Hopefully I will get my Summer mantel completed this weekend.  And even though I am reusing 3 items from last years mantel, it will look a little different.  Shall I dare say, even better than last years?  At least that is what I am hoping.  But the laziness monster is still possessing my body, so who knows what will actually happen.

It's still hot.  I still would rather be at the beach.  But I guess my pool will just have to do.  




Linking to:

Centsational Girl: The Pinterest Challenge  

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Finally! My 4th of July Patriotic Mantel


Hello!  Is anyone still out there?  It's me.  

Yes, I am still alive. I've just been lazy.  It is what I do best

Next to being a procrastinator.  




Since the 4th of July is tomorrow, and I am having a BBQ/pool party, I better get to decorating.  So far, all I have done is my mantel.  


I think it turned out pretty good considering all my Patriotic decor stuff is still up in the attic.  I just used what I had around the house (without having to climb up in the attic).  As well as some free printables from the internet.  And we can't forget some flags from the dollar bin at Target and the thrift store. 



Most of my frames originally came from thrift stores.  I just painted them and added chicken wire to some.  The frame on the left I got from the Western Eagle Bargain Store in Temecula.  I bought it on one of their half price days.  I think it cost me $2.50.  


Love this "My Country 'tis of Thee" free printable from HMH Designs.  I cut it down and clipped it to my chicken wire frame with mini clothespins.    I just found the star molds at the thrift store.  I got 6 of them for a buck.  
 

I made the book page medallion last year.  I just change out the center for each holiday.  I found some cute 4th of July tags at My Sisters Suitcase blog. 

This "America" printable came from Moglea.  I am not sure this was a free printable or not.  So now I am feeling quite guilty for using this.  But not guilty enough to not use it.  


These flags are from the dollar spot at Target.  I have a bunch up in the attic, but since I am so lazy, and they are so cheap, I had to get more.   And I know that is a run on sentence.  But I don't care.  That is how I talk.  If you are the grammar police, you can just go elsewhere.  I will write like I talk.  May not be pretty, but it's the truth.  

The glass beakers in the wood frame came from Lillian Vernon last year or the year before.  And of course, I got them on clearance.  You know I am too cheap to pay full price.  

Here is the left side of the mantel.   The chalkboard was made from an old cabinet door I picked up for a couple of dollars at the Habitat ReStore.  It is suppose to be hanging on the door that goes from my kitchen to my laundry room.  But again, that laziness thing, or maybe it's that procrastination thing.  Anyhoo, either excuse has kept me from hanging it up where it belongs.  So I get to use it in this mantelscape. 


This "Star Spangled Banner" free printable came from HMH Designs as well as the "My Country 'Tis of Thee" print I showed you earlier.

  
The pinspinner was another free printable from Allsorts.  



This Stars + Stripes banner was found at Paging Supermom.  I just love super easy projects.  And I love those who provide us with free printables to make these super easy projects even more.  Thanks to all of you out there who are super talented.  Which, I am not, but you make me look like I am. 

And one final look at my 4th of July Patriotic Mantel.  

I'm still toying with the idea of climbing up in the attic to get down my Patriotic stuff so I can decorate the rest of my house.  But then again, that might take too much effort.  You know how I hate working up a sweat.  

What are your plans for the 4th? 




Linking to:

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage