Christmas Gifts 2012

Here is the first of five that I will be making for Christmas gifts.  This one is for my nephew Brandon.  He is a sophomore at Tri-Center this year.  I really like the quote that his coach gave my sister for this:)

More to come soon:):):)

Distressed Jewelry Holder

I made this for my niece's birthday.  My dad cut me a piece of barn wood and I painted it with off white craft paint.  I then used my Cricut to make a stencil.  I painted each of the flowers a different color with yellow centers.  I added a quote and drilled the holes for the knobs that I found at Hobby Lobby.  After all of that dried I sanded it all down so that it looked distressed.  I sprayed clear shellac over the whole board and added the knobs.  One of the easiest crafts ever:)

Where are my Students?

  In an effort to keep track of where my kids are throughout the day I got this great idea from Mrs. Plummer.  My kids have a joke about me, I am sure, because I have a bad habit of telling someone they can go to the restroom or to the office and I totally forget.  I am forever saying, "Where did ... go?"  LOL!!!

Penny Table

   It all started when I drove by a garage sale. I saw this table and just thought it was neat and had potential.  I paid $5 for it, brought it home, and my husband says, "What are you going to do with that?"  I told him I had no idea, but that I liked it and it was only $5 so here it is.  Well, it immediately went to the garage because is smelled like smoke and was extremely dusty.  It sat there for about a week before I started in on the sanding.  As I was sanding I noticed that the top of the table was just a piece of junky plywood and so with Hunter's help I pulled it off and threw it away.  This is what I was left with.

   So I set out to sand the rest of the table down to the original wood.  It was a lot of work, but I just felt that it was the only way I could get rid of that smell.  As I was sanding we noticed that there had to be some sort of top inset into the table at one time.  Matt said he could put something back in there. 

Here it is mostly sanded down.  The legs and the drawer were the trickiest!






With a little help from Pinterest we decided to make the top a penny top.  (We really want to do this to our entry way floor but we are waiting for our new house first.)  Matt helped me glue in a nice, thin piece of plywood, and we started laying in pennies.  It was a family affair:) 

I think we decided there is $8.60 in change here.  The "R" is done with dimes.

   Next we set up a table in the basement, since it was 105 outside the day we decided to do this project.  We bought some two part expoxy resin at Menard's.  I can't remember what the name was but I know it was only $18.99 and it was by the tile and grout.  It is pretty messy and you will need something under the table that it can drip onto.  We used garbage sacks and some plastic boards that the expoxy does not stick to.  Matt bought the boards at Menards also. The plastic is a 2x6 but instead of wood it is white and plastic. 
  Now you have to be ready to pour and shape... & you need gloves!!!  We watched a bunch of videos online which helped a lot.  I opened a window and blew a fan out the window while we were working on it and when we finished for at least an hour or so.  This helped a lot with the odor.  It needs another coat but I think it turned out pretty well for now.

 

   Another challenge was the handles on the drawer.  They were pretty tarnished so I  went to Pinterest, of course.  I made a paste of baking soda and lemon juice and scrubbed my little heart out!!!  They are not perfect but it is better.  Then we put it all together. 

  I had it in my living room for a while as a coffee table, but it was just in the way.  I decided to put it next to my bed as a night stand for now.  Again, maybe if we ever move I will find a new home for it.  You will see the table here sporting one of my three antique double lamps.  (I love these lamps and Matt will not let me buy any more until I have more room:)  I love it and the drawer is much larger than my old nightstand.



WRITING TABLE

Here are pictures of my new writing table for school.  I painted the bottom to match my reading table stools.  Then I did the Modge Podge decoration on the top with the help of my wonderful Aunt Fritzi.  She has the big Cricut machine which I am saving up for!  I am very happy with how it turned out!!!

Before...

After...

Bucket Seats

Here are my buckets newly painted.  I really like the color! I hope they last longer than last year.  I don't know why the top color keeps chipping but if it happens this year I am going to buy new buckets;)

Buckets I made for my reading table last summer.  I love them.  I have a little trouble with the dark brown paint on the top.  It doesn't want to stay.  This summer I painted that part dark red.  I'm not sure it will last either.  The other bucket I made for my nephew's third birthday.  I passed on the family Lincoln Logs to him in it.  This bucket came from Jimmy John's, was white, and the paint is staying beautifully.  My classroom buckets came from Menards and were green to begin with.  I have a feeling I just need different buckets. Oh well, maybe next year:)  The lids also came from Menards. They are contractor "seat" lids.  I put a little batting on the top of the lid for cushioning.  Then I wrapped the material around and under the lid and glued it.  Super easy!