Crafting with the Kiddos {freezer paper stenciling}

My little "chickens" love doing crafty stuff.  I love that they're so creative!

This summer, once a week, I plan a "special" craft for them to do beyond their buckets of crafts and ideas.


The project this week...freezer paper stenciling! 


If you recall from this post, I recently freezer paper stenciled for the first time and loved it.  It was easy enough so I thought it could be a blast for my 6 and 7 year old.


I picked up some cheap shirts at Walmart for $3.47 each.  I already had the freezer paper and fabric paints.


The original plan was for the kids to draw out their design ideas on paper and then I would make them on the computer or "tweak" them a bit.  But, I decided why "tweak" them or try to make them look "neater".


The girls each drew their design on the freezer paper.  {They chose to make 4th of July designs}


I did the cutting out of the design as well as the prep work.

I gave them the quick "low down" on stenciling...set them up with paint and brushes...and let them go to town.

My opinion is that they turned out really cute {I especially like that they're very "kiddish"}.

They've already asked to do it again sometime.


Thanks for taking the time to stop by!  I'd love for you to "follow" my blog along!
-R.

Linking up to:

Grits & Giggles: I Made This     Polkadots on Parade     Sew Can Do    
 Ginger Snap Crafts     Handmade Tuesdays     Making the World Cuter Monday
Happy Hour Projects     Here Comes the Sun

Coffee Table Re-do {uber budget friendly}

Welcome.  Happy Friday!

I'm happy to share with you my most recent project...a coffee table re-do.  I am really mostly happy with how it turned out.  {We'll see if I actually keep it this way or re-do it again...my style seriously changes as quickly as the seasons!}

The best part of it all...{drum roll}...the entire "thing" cost under $20! {so cheap that I won't feel bad if I re-do it again next month.}

I ran into a couple "hitches" with this re-do {hence why I may be changing it}.

1. my paint colors weren't quite what they were intended to be. {my bottom coat was supposed to be a deep brown/gray but turned out a medium gray, and my top coat was supposed to be a really light, creamy tan/linen color that came out nearly white!}
2. while I do really like the table, it has now made me really dislike my sofas...{maybe recovering them could be in my future???}

So...here is the piece that inspired the whole direction of this project and the direction of our living room scheme.  

Here is the table before...REALLY not MY style at all.  I really didn't care for the tinted glass.  {I completely understand some people really like this style and finish of furniture, it's just not for me.}

Here is the table after...{sorry for the NOT great pictures...I really need to get in for my camera classes}

The process was quite easy and quick.  I started by cleaning it and sanding it down.  

Next, I used a primer and paint in one and did two coats {sanding in between each coat} of my dark gray {bottom color} that I wanted to sand down to {for that aged/worn down look}.

Then {much to my husband's confusion}, I went over it with my light linen nearly white color.  Once dry with the coverage that I desired, I lightly sanded corners, edges, and a bit of the top flat surfaces to "reveal" the gray until I got the desired effect.

The glass squares in the top threw me for a bit of a loop. I went through a few different "ideas" and "tests" before I finally wondered what would happen if I Mod Podged onto the pieces of glass.  I decided to just go for it.  I found a roll of wrapping paper that I liked and Mod Podged that onto the glass.

My Mod Podged glass tiles...

Of course a photo shoot in my house wouldn't be complete without being "photo bombed" by one of my children...

What do you think?  Too light...too white???

Thank you for stopping by!

-R.

Linked up to:

Happy Hour Projects    Polkadots on Parade     Grits & Giggles     Ginger Snap Crafts
Nap Time Crafters     Young and Crafty     Here Comes the Sun

Seeing Stars {Easy Tiered Skirt}

Welcome!


I love bright bold summer colors!  This summer I'm loving the emphasis of red, white, and blue {showing the love for the 4th of July and the 2012 summer Olympics}.

Do you ever get an idea in your head or just know of something you really want but maybe can't find it?  Or maybe you decide you will just make it for yourself but then can't find the right materials or items necessary to make it?  


It seems to happen to me quite often.  I had a skirt inspiration come to me last year {February 2011} for my daughter.  I knew it would be easy enough to make, so I set out to find the perfect fabric {I had a mental picture of this perfect fabric}.  I searched and searched but never found "the one".  I should mention that I have been looking for white or off-white cotton fabric with larger blue stars on it.


When I was doing my freezer paper stenciling the other day, I had one of those "aha" moments.  The thought to freezer paper stencil it onto white fabric crossed my mind...but I couldn't imagine cutting out all of those stars.  Then I thought to actually stencil it...but I wasn't to sure of how that would go.  So while digging through my craft supplies for my brushes I saw a packages of sponges and thought to "stamp" stars onto my fabric.


Here are my instagram pics of the stamping process...

 

 


After completing my "custom" fabric I was able to quick whip up this three tiered skirt for my daughter.

I'm really happy with how the skirt turned out.  I {kind of} wish that I had used a darker blue for the stars, but I can live with it.


Now, if I could just figure out how to get my kids to "happily" model for me and cooperate with me, I would be in luck!

I'm starting to think I might have to turn to bribery...  


Thank you for stopping by!
-R.

Linked Up To:

Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday