DIY {dresser drawer} Dog Bed

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Roeshel

As a part of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas team, I was excited that the May Challenge revealed using Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year…emerald! I knew it’d be the perfect fun color for the new dog bed I planned to make for CocoRosie. Pantone’s Emerald is one of those colors that would look amazing paired with navy, yellow, tangerine, coral, raspberry, fuchsia or pink. I decided to go girly for our new female furry family member.

She loves to lounge around outside, especially since we utilize our patio a lot during nice weather. Sunbathing is one of her favorite past times although there are occasions when she seeks shade and Italian Greyhounds are prone to sunburn because of the short fur. The hot pink parasol provides a bit of shade and a ton of cute-ness paired with Emerald and coordinating fabrics.

diy-dog-bed-tutorial

Materials I used:

old dresser drawer
paint (Valspar Signature Paint, semi-gloss, Pantone Emerald and Berry Brown)
FrogTape
furniture feet x 4 (also table leg plates/hardware if needed)
coordinating pillow or DIY cushion
matching parasol/umbrella
hardware to attach the parasol to the drawer (hose clamp or pipe strap)

What I did:

1. An old free/found dresser supplied the drawer. I gave it a good scrubbing. You may also want to sand your dresser drawer face board if needed or remove drawer handles for painting and replace when finished.

2. I simply drilled pilot holes in the wider dresser front and back bottom boards then screwed in the feet.

CocoRosie is only 10 lbs. and this worked for us. There is also hardware (table leg plates) for furniture legs sold in the same aisle at Lowe’s for a sturdier option (located near the decorative wood moulding).

3. The inside got a coat of Valspar’s Berry Brown.

4. Once dry, I taped off the inside using FrogTape, making sure the edges were sealed to activate the PaintBlock technology.

5. Next up, painting the outside two coats of the beautiful Pantone’s 2013 Emerald exclusively at Lowe’s.

I love the consistency of Valspar’s Signature line.

painting dog bed

I removed the FrogTape immediately after the second coat…

then let it dry overnight while I worked on a DIY box cushion…

6. Secure the parasol handle to the inside of the drawer using a hose clamp or pipe strap (however the box cushion I made has a snug fit and holds the parasol handle in place). I found that having the parasol positioned in the front of the drawer helps to be able to push it almost-flush against walls on the back side.

7. Pop in a pillow or cushion.

Seven or less steps. Easy as pie. A yummy (Pantone) Emerald and Raspberry indoor/outdoor dog bed.

Before…Don’t feel too bad, she does have access to patio furniture too. You’ve seen her on that patio daybed!

Now:

Up for providing shade…

Down for getting sun/overcast days…

No parasol for indoors…

I’m even thinking of personalizing it for her…

Result is a pampered pooch. Maybe now I’ll have the patio daybed to myself! How do you spoil your pets?

Of note:

*I do not leave the dog bed outside in the rain.

*Sharing here: The Shabby Creek Cottage, Tatertots & Jello

*See more fun DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app!

*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this project for using Pantone’s Emerald in Valspar’s Signature paint challenge, however the tutorial images, instructions and opinions are my own. Your dog’s behavior may vary. DIY results may vary.

FrogTape Earn Your Stripes Contest

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Roeshel

FrogTape “Earn Your Stripes” contest….win $5000!

As you know, I’m always using FrogTape around here on one project or another and a brand ambassador on the FrogTape Blog Squad.

Guess what?! I’m so excited to tell you! It’s that time of year – time for the FrogTape Earn Your Stripes Contest and I’d LOVE for a DIY Show Off reader to win the $5000 prize! As a member of the FrogTape Blog Squad, I’ll be participating in the judging process and looking forward to seeing your entry!

How to enter?

Visit the FrogTape Earn Your Stripes Contest page.

I KNOW I’ve seen some awesome projects from some of you using FrogTape! And it’s a great time of year to check off painting from your DIY to-do list, especially with this kind of incentive.

Need some inspiration? Here some of my painting projects using FrogTape…

Apartment Kitchen Herringbone Accent Wall

Chartreuse Door

Entryway Chevron Accent Wall

Family Room Christmas Reindeer Wall Art

Painted Steamer Trunk for Apartment Living Room

Stair Landing FrogTape Accent Wall

What are you waiting for? !

Good luck, friends!

*This post is sponsored by FrogTape.

Paper Mache Easter Egg craft

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Roeshel

A day with freezing rain isn’t my ideal spring day, but it is still officially winter. Spring. In like a lion, right? ::groan::

Fortunately, this dip-dyed {painted} paper mache Easter egg craft is a cheerful easy DIY project which aided in averting my eye from the cold, gloom and sleet outside.

I don’t think you really need a tutorial. But, since writing up a “how to” is what I love to do, I’m going to tell you what I did anyway.

Materials:

Paper mache eggs
FrogTape
DecoArt Americana acrylic craft paints

Wrap FrogTape around the paper mache egg to create a faux dipped line. Using my fingernail, I rubbed the edge of the tape to activate the Paint Block Technology to prevent paint from seeping underneath the tape, to create a crisp clean line.

Then I simply painted the bottom of my paper mache eggs using different spring-inspired colors:

Pull away/remove FrogTape while paint is still wet. It’s a little tricky! After I was done, I thought: “I should have used a set of tongs or something to get a better grip on my egg.” #hindsight

Allow paint to dry. (I just set mine on the cellophane paper mache egg packaging.)

Decorate!

Do you decorate with Easter eggs {faux or real} this time of year?

Joining Lana over at Making a House a Home for “It’s a Spring Thing” linky party where she shares her sweet little DIY playhouse for her little guy.

There’s another It’s a Spring Thing link party too! Fun! I’m joining the party by linking up with my best blog girlfriends too.

What are you working on? You’re invited to link up & share!
Joining the party with Amanda too!

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

Affiliate links for project materials:

Amazon.com Widgets

Accent Wall Before and After

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Roeshel

Patti (my youngest sister) is renting but has permission from the landlord to paint…and to be creative about it too. The entryway wall before had peeling paint…

I scraped and sanded until we had a smooth finish. Holes and cracks were patched using DAP’s DryDex (spackling that goes on pink, dries white) and sanded.

The walls got a coat of primer and a base coat in a neutral light gray color.

Using FrogTape Delicate (the yellow painter’s tape with PaintBlock Technology, safe for freshly painted walls) the next day, I created a chevron/zigzag pattern.

Then painted the zigzag stripes alternating a left-over darker gray paint and left-over gray-beige paint (the color under the tape is a lighter gray).

As soon as I were finished painting the second coat (while it was still wet), I removed the FrogTape Delicate.

Next up cleaning the dingy vinyl floor and decorating.

After (paint is still drying):

Patti just happens to work part time for a thrift store so she gets first dibs on all of the eclectic treasures (and has a good eye for what can be transformed). Lucky girl! If it was me, I’d never get out the door with a paycheck. I’d be trading those dollars for thrift store goodies!

Even though the wall now sports a busy pattern in 3 colors, the colors are neutral enough to work in some fun colorful accents and patterns. {All accessories found on Polyvore.}

teal, gold & gray

coral, black & gray

emerald & navy

gray & mustard

Looking forward to seeing what she does, how about you? Which color(s) do you like?

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

Quick, easy, cheap DIY vignette photo backdrop

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Roeshel

Small super easy DIY photo backdrop: Ever need to take some close up shots of crafts or seasonal vignettes for blogging purposes? Here’s a quick easy way to add some fun pattern and color to your “after” photos.

What you’ll need:

wrapping paper
FrogTape
scissors

Cut wrapping paper to desired size for background. Keep in place using FrogTape. FrogTape coordinated with my roll of narrow wrapping paper so it works well with my design in creating a faux “panel” and can be used in my photos but just a few pieces to tape ‘outside’ of your photo area works well too. It’s safe for use on walls (no sticky residue or damage) and easily removable.

Before:

Pottery Barn inspired “Happy Easter” eggs tutorial

After:

Easy peasy! Quick color and pattern for your photos. Now if I could just get the “photography” part done that simple!

Sharing at Home Stories A to Z’s tutorial & tips party.

Reminder that today starts another week of the Countdown to Spring Party!

Sneak peek of the project kicking off this week by Cheri at It’s So Very Cheri.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

How to install a tiled backsplash

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Roeshel

We’re finally shopping for tile for behind our stove area so I wanted to revisit how our kitchen has evolved and the tile we chose for our back splash as well as review the steps we took to install the tile. Our kitchen when we bought the house was outdated…

When we moved we only paint the walls green, inserted new SS appliances and range hood. We lived with it for 3 years then painted the cabinets and finally replaced the countertop with granite (Virginia Jet Mist). Working as time and budget allow sometimes mean waiting for the things we want.

We had a savings to get started on our dream kitchen (the dream where we have savings but the dream without winning the lottery.

The back splash:

Materials:
Venatino Polished Marble Tiles 12×12 mosaic, 5 Venatino Pencil Borders
OmniGrip Maximum Strength Adhesive
Tile Guard Natural Stone Penetrating Sealer
QuartzLock Grout - silver
FrogTape
Caulk

Tools:
Tile saw
Trowel
Float
Putty knife
Bucket
Sponge
Bucket
Paper towels
Rags
Caulk gun
DAP Pro Caulk Tool Kit

Back Splash Tutorial:

1. Apply caulk to gap where countertop meets the wall.

2. We used a DAP Pro Caulk Tools to make an even/straight line, but a using your finger (and water) works just as well.

3. Prep area. Cover countertop or clean as you go to protect the counter top.

4. Upper cabinets sit back further than the edge of the countertop. We wanted out backsplash to cover the entire area. We started at the edge of the counter for our backsplash. Decide how your tile edge will be finished. We used a matching border from the countertop’s edge vertically and ended at the bottom of the end of the wall cabinet. We mitered the joint where vertical meets horizontal.

5. Apply border and tile with OmniGrip Adhesive using a trowel. Coat the wall (can be done directly on drywall). OmniGrip is pre-mixed so there’s no guessing on consistency and this product works really well for a back splash.

6. To lessen breakage and crumbling when cutting (the vibration nearly pulverizes edges of the marble), we used FrogTape on cuts.

7. Apply pressure to ‘set’ tiles in place.

Another shot of how we ended the tile on the countertop/cabinet edge.

8. Let dry at least 2 days.

9. Seal tiles using Tile Guard. Wipe on with a rag. It dries within seconds.

10. After drying, prep area by covering countertops or clean as you go – dried grout {We chose Quartz Lock in a darker gray} will be hard to remove.

Have a bucket of water handy.

11. Apply generous amount of Quartz Lock to the float using a putty knife.

Quartz Lock is pre-mixed. We cover with a plastic grocery bag, then the lid with a tight seal and save leftover for a future project.

12. Add grout to spaces between the tiles, filling every gap, working in small areas going to next step and starting again with the next area. Smoosh it in the gaps.

13. Using a well-wrung wet sponge, wipe in a diagonal motion (except when necessary against countertop and cabinets), wiping away grout from tile. Grout should stay in the cracks and gaps, but be cleaned away from tiles.

14. Rinse sponge.

15. Repeat.

16. Let dry. Grout will hide imperfections/crumbled edges of marble tile. Don’t stress with tiny chips. Grout will disguise them. We have an old farmhouse, so our motto is “imperfection adds character”.

Before Grout:

After Grout:

Kitchen before:

Kitchen after:

We’re thinking of stainless steel tiles for behind the stove but I haven’t decided on the pattern or shape of tiles yet.

We just calculated that we’ll be in our house 7 years this summer. And we’re ready to put the finishing touches on the kitchen. About time, right? We’ll be removing the cabinets above the stove to install a proper vent. It means losing those two cupboards but more on a pantry coming soon too. What do you think?

I think the chef’s dream stove/range is on that ‘winning the lottery’ dream kitchen and he’ll have to make do with what we have but it’s functional. Sorry, Mr. DIY.

See more about our kitchen makeover at our Home Tour…

Sharing at Thrifty Decor Chick.

Valentine Mantel {and thrifty treasure DIY}

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Roeshel

Yes! I’m decorating the mantel for Valentine’s Day after all but it’s still not too late…

“Owl You Need is Love & Chocolate”

Valentine mantel

Back when I glanced at the thrift store junk stash, I saw two of these calendar displays. I can’t pass them up – wood, great DIY material. Ya know?

Bri had scored these fun wood cut out shapes. I snagged the ‘badge/crest’ looking one thinking it was a great owl-shape. {pardon the lighting in the dining room turned work station for the tutorial}

And a Valentine DIY craft and decorating idea was born.

Materials:

FrogTape
wooden calendar frame
badge-shaped wooden cut out
wooden heart shape
craft paints
wood glue

I started with tracing my camera lens cap for the owl’s eyes.

I drew a pencil line vertically down the center. Using 2 ” pieces of FrogTape, I created a chevron pattern on the owl’s body working from the center out…

Once the tape was burnished (rub the edges of the tape with a credit card to activate the FrogTape’s paintblock), I painted my pattern. Then immediate removed the FrogTape…

Once that was dry, I continued painting my badge to look like an owl.

I used FrogTape to protect the frame and painted the background white and let it dry…

My wooden heart was painted brown {FolkArt’s burnt umber}. Once everything was dry, I laid out the placement of the owl, heart and used adhesive stencils for my lettering…

The owl and heart were attached using Gorilla wood glue. I let the glue dry for about an hour.

Then gathered some decorative accents…

painted candlesticks Easter, decor, do it yourself, faux chocolate bar sign, wood sign, centerpiece

…and styled my mantel using thrift store candle sticks, an ampersand and a fun faux chocolate bar DIY from last Easter. Of course I was still in my pajamas and I asked Mr. DIY to pick me up a bouquet of pink flowers for my photo shoot and boy, did he ever…they.are.VERY.pink…. They’re perfect. My vase is embellished with clay tags and ribbon.

Did I mention that just regular days are like Valentine’s Day around here? Not only did he pick out pretty flowers for my Valentine’s Day mantel decorating, but he came home with these…

decadent chocolate cupcakes

He hadn’t even seen my “Owl You Need is Love & Chocolate” theme yet but he reads my mind. most of the time.

I’m not so into lots of Valentine’s Day decorating but hey, I am a fan of “Owl you need is love & chocolate”! Affiliate links for similar materials:

*This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

Thrift Store Find: Just add paint.

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Roeshel

Out of nowhere in January, we were blessed with a day of spring temperatures (60s after single digit temps) here in Pittsburgh but unfortunately, April showers came along with it. It’s the kind of day perfect for sifting through the thrift-store junk stash and finally working on a project.

I grabbed the dirty serving tray from the bottom of the pile…{luckily that dark area was only dirt…not mold or a stain}

and gave it a good scrubbing with soap and water…

then headed to the basement to give it a coat of spray paint (Rustoleum Heirloom White)…

Then I browsed some favorite blogs and caught up on emails while the paint dried.

Next I used my FrogTape in the .94 in. width to tape off the inside border…

and to create a fun bold imperfect {herrinbone} pattern…

making sure to use my thumbnail along the edges of the tape to ensure the Paintblock barrier had a good seal…

I filled in the design using an acrylic craft (Folk Art Burnt Umber) paint and a sponge brush…

and immediately removed the FrogTape…

Once the acrylic craft paint was dry, I gave the entire tray a light even spray of clear coat and let it dry.

Now time to enjoy watching the rainstorm from inside. The sitting room is all ready for a spot of tea,

planning,

and daydreaming…

Do you have a thrift store/yardsale stash full of treasures just waiting for a little DIY attention?

See this herringbone pattern using FrogTape on an accent wall.

Sharing: Thrifty Decor Chick – Before & After party

Home Stories A to Z: Tutorials & Tips

*This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

How to Flatten an Area Rug

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Roeshel

Every time I make the trip to Ikea, I have to resist the temptation to fill my cart with all of their luscious textiles. But on my most recent trip, I couldn’t resist the $19.99 Gislev rug…

…great price, pretty rug in a generous 4 x 6 size? Yes, please. I knew right away it’d help anchor the seating area in our little sitting room.

sitting room at Christmas

New rugs come packaged in a roll, which leaves both ends curled. Ugh! Don’t you hate that? Huge tripping hazard for sure. Normally, I add weight with boxes, furniture, books, even paint cans. But this small room is a high traffic area to our basement and that would create an obstacle course for sure. {and with a woodburner helping to heat this old house, trips to the basement are frequent in the winter months.}

Solution: I grabbed a roll of FrogTape and taped down those edges.

I let it sit for a day or two until we were expecting guests then removed it.It worked! FrogTape was gentle enough on our slate floor. There was no sticky residue when I removed the tape. Hallelujah! And the ends of the rug are now flattened…

Lalka is happy with her new comfy area rug in a room that gets flooded with sunshine…{I use FrogTape to pick up cat hair that won’t sweep up on this low pile area rug too.}

I’m trying this technique in the family room where the area rug curls up. FrogTape won’t hurt the finish on our bamboo floors either. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Does this happened to you? What do you use?

I’ll share the sitting room re-decorated later this week!

Sharing here: Home Stories A to Z: Tutorials & Tips

*This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

DIY Christmas Card Tree {card display/holder}

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Roeshel

Christmas cards have been arriving in the mail! It’s the best time of the year for checking the mail. Walking to the mailbox in cold temps, anticipating ‘good tidings’ and walking back into the house with a warm heart. Thoughtfulness and “Merry Christmas” delivered to our mail box. It’s just one more part of Christmas giving that makes my days merry and bright! We have two ways for displaying Christmas wishes. One is something I put together using scrap wood and trim pieces:

How I made it:

I gathered the scraps of moulding we had lying around, a 1×3.5 and a 4×4 scrap block. My 1×3.5 is about 21 inches long, the 4×4 is about 6 inches long. Adjust measurements for what fits your scrap wood.

I placed pieces on my 1×3.5 to get an idea of where things would go. I often use FrogTape as a measuring tool and in this case, I used it to evenly space my trim pieces by using them as a guide between trim pieces. I used the 1.88 in. width. I also left a small space above the “top” trim piece to allow room for gluing on a star.

I measured my trim to fit the 1×3.5 piece for the top of my “tree”.

I cut my pieces at a 45 degree angle.

And lined up each piece for cutting…

and cut each piece at a 45 degree angle.

All pieces are glued using Gorilla Wood Glue and clamped as well as screwed into place.

The 4×4 was glued and clamped to the bottom {back} and serves to make the Christmas card display free standing.

Everything got a coat of milk paint (General Finishes “basil”) and glaze with a dry brush with a spritz of Krylon Glitter Blast. {front and back} FrogTape was used to keep the 4×4 block of wood from being painted (I considered staining the wood block but see instructions below for my change in plans).

I spray painted small clothes pins and a wooden star.

Next I hot glued the clothes pins into place, staggering so cards won’t overlap by too much when displayed {FrogTape containers are great for storing glue sticks and keeping craft supplies organized}…

and the star on top.

My plan was to wrap the base using jute twine. But I’ve misplaced it, so I used a pretty wool yarn I had on hand, securing with hot glue.

It’s such a cute way to display Christmas cards and pictures of my nieces and nephew:

a little Christmas card vignette display…

Doubles as a candle holder: When I don’t have anything to display, I can flip it to the back side, add a votive holder and candle…

Quick and Easy DIY Christmas card/photo display: Our other Christmas card/photo display is a tension rod. I simply sewed a sleeve, added curtain rings with clips. It’s been displayed in our window frame, on a small book case and in a (non working) fireplace opening. Here’s a picture from last year:

I love this idea from Family Fun too – a tomato cage Christmas card holder…

for more creative ideas, see my HomeTalk Christmas Card Display clipboard…

Which do you prefer? How do you display your Christmas cards? If you have a do-it-yourself Christmas card holder, feel free to leave a link in the comments {and I’ll add you to my HomeTalk clipboard}.

Sharing here:

*This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

His & Hers painted pillow covers

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Roeshel

His & Hers Pillow Covers

I shared my painted upholstered chairs…

I also liked that the Serena & Lily chair {my inspiration for the stripe} had matching accent pillows.

I just so happened to have 2 matching pillow cases on hand. What are the chances? I have had them just sitting in a basket in my craft room along with the other supplies. I love when DIY project was meant to be! {Chairs are actually a light grey and the pillows are a linen color…but they look so well together!}

Materials:

FrogTape
two pillow covers
latex paint
acrylic craft paint
stencils

I measured the width of the stripes on the chairs and using FrogTape,I created the same stripe on the front of my pillow covers. I did insert a piece of cardboard to prevent paint from soaking through the back side. I filled in my stripe with the brown latex paint that I used on the chairs. I removed the FrogTape and let them dry. Then simply used stencils to spell out “His” and “Hers” (using an acrylic craft paint). I’ve read that you can set the paint with a warm iron.

I also liked that some of the fabric shows through for a worn look.

Awe…His & Hers

Now my chairs are complete! Christmas in the sitting room coming soon!

Facebook

*This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

Chevron Reindeer Games sign tutorial

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Roeshel

DIY Chevron Reindeer Games Sign

It’s officially time for Christmas decorating in our home! I know! By blogging standards, I’m late to the game. With a family room makeover in progress, it’s at a point where plans for completion can be put on hold until after the holidays and I can still decorate that room to be pretty once I put away the ladder and some tools. I really loved the chevron garden sign I made for summer {here}. I decided I wanted to create a fun colorful Christmas sign incorporating some of the fun colors in the fabric I chose for the curtains.

Remember the tabletop I replaced on the kitchen bar for the apartment? {If not, you can see my post on my DIY wood plank kitchen bar top.} Time to recycle it! I knew it’d be a great material for a DIY sign one of these days. Tabletop to holiday decoration. Why not? To prep for making a sign, I scuffed up the finish with sandpaper and gave it a coat of left over teal paint and let it dry. I’ll call it my “canvas”.

This is what the top looked like before:

kitchen island before

Tips for creating a chevron pattern using FrogTape:

It’s hard to explain how to create a chevron pattern words/pictures {next time I’ll do a video} but some tips:

My first row is measured. 5″ strips of FrogTape.

Depending on how it would line up, I creased the edges of the tape (non-sticky side) to create a line for cutting.

Cut on fold.

I placed the angled side on my center pencil line and cut the bottom flush with the bottom of the canvas and smoothed it into place.

I drew vertical lines with my pencil from the peaks and “v’s” of my first chevron row.

Once my first line was in place, I used a piece of FrogTape for spacing, I worked from the center out by placing another longer piece of tape angled from the center pencil line down to the right pencil line.

Then I pulled up a corner and folded it on the pencil line so I would know where to cut. Most of the time, the pencil transferred to the sticky side of the tape, creating a cutting guide.

I repeated those steps until I reached the top and finished.

I used pink and white craft paint to add more color.

My plan was to paint the blue area showing green and peel away the FrogTape, but I decided to keep the FrogTape in place. {Paint colors: Benjamin Moore Pacific, DecoArt Pretty in Pink “Hope Pink” and Americana Warm White, Green is FrogTape}

Using my Silhouette Cameo, I chose a reindeer from the online store and my Cameo cut it out {brown vinyl}. I created my letters for “Reindeer Games December 25th” using the software and chose the premium dark red vinyl and LDI Fancy Font. I peeled away the negative vinyl (the parts that are not the design) and applied my transfer paper. I made sure the transfer paper was secure by rubbing with a credit card.

Peel away the backing {the vinyl is transferred to the tacky transfer paper} and place on canvas. Rub the design with a credit card to get it to stick and peel away the transfer paper. In my case, all of the design wasn’t transferring, so I had to be careful and some of my reindeer was applied just as I would a sticker.

I followed the same steps for my lettering, however, knowing that the transfer paper was tricky for my project, I chose to use Delicate Surface FrogTape (the yellow tape) to help transfer my letters. This worked a little easier than applying by hand like stickers and kept my lettering evenly spaced and level.

I haven’t had time yet, but since I have FrogTape and vinyl on my sign, I’m going to seal everything with a coat or two of ModPodge. Ta-da!

Non-traditional. Colorful. Fun. I love it. It fits in perfectly with my eclectic colorful family room.

What do you think? I just sort of quickly staged for photos so I could share this today. I’ll be re-arranging, re-decorating. In fact, this mantel is even moving to another wall. More on the family room renovation and Christmas decorating coming soon.

I will attach a saw tooth hanger to the back and hang and rearrange but…I wanted to get this done to share and to tell you something important:

*I was not compensated for my review but I did receive vinyl and I participate in the Silhouette America affiliate program and will earn a percentage of sales when you use the code “SHOWOFF” for your purchase. This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Results may vary.

Party time:

Songbird & Cottage Magpie

Junked trunk to coffee table {apartment storage}

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Roeshel

Remember this past summer when I scored a lot of a LOT of steamer trunks?

Before…

With furnishing the small apartment on a SUPER tight budget, we decided that one of these trunks would make a great coffee table since it would also provide a storage solution for the tiny apartment space.

We started out by cleaning up the trunk. It’s not in mint condition, but my daughter appreciates imperfection and character too or well, the fact that it was a “free” solution helped.

We gave it a basecoat of white spray paint and let it dry…

We used two strips of FrogTape to preserve stripes of the white spray paint underneath two coats of aqua spray paint. Be sure to press down the edges of FrogTape before spraying!

More spray paint…

Then peel off the FrogTape while it is still wet {yes, you will get paint on your hands}. I don’t remember the first aqua-color we tried, but it was too swimming pool blue. DIY is sometimes a trial and error. So, we used the yellow FrogTape Delicate surface for the second try and Rustoleum Painter’s Touch Ultra x2 in Satin Lagoon. Much better…

And I always get so excited and want to keep embellishing and stenciling when it’s so easy and fun to do, but Ali liked the simple “Tiffany & Co.” look of white stripes on lagoon blue and who am I to argue with that because I have to agree…it’s pretty darn cute.

Painted steamer trunk cost:Great price for dual purpose, first apartment furniture. And the pop of color? Love it!

See all things related to the apartment renovation here!

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

Partying here:

DIY upholstered tufted ottoman tutorial {Wayfair DIY Challenge}

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Roeshel

Remember, oh I don’t know, 10 years ago (Just kidding. It feels that way!) when I started our family room makeover? Then we got sidetracked with an apartment renovation but since we’re wrapping up the last minute details there, the family room makeover is back on my DIY schedule. Of course that means a lot of DIY projects, decorating and furnishing and on that list was a DIY upholstered tufted ottoman.

Challenge: Have you heard of Wayfair.com? It’s the largest online retailer of home furnishings and decor, with millions of products for the home that fit any style and budget. They believe that getting crafty with your decor is one of the best ways to add a unique personal touch to your home. That’s why they created the DIY Blogger Challenge. I was invited to participate and had the option to choose from a coffee table, book case or pendant light. All fun products but I took one look at the coffee table and knew I wanted to create an upholstered tufted ottoman.

And as I found many tutorials and inspiration on Pinterest, I’m joining the Fall Pinterest Challenge as well. I have built an ottoman in the past {see my tips for building an ottoman} but tufting is a new experience to me and one I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. My ottoman upholstery/tufting experience:

Here’s what I did:

Furinno Espresso Coffee Table
4″ foam (This can be pricey. Use coupons or try foam from an egg crate twin bed cushion.)
batting
fabric (I purchased 1 1/2 yards. 1 yard for the project, scrap for button covers)
spray adhesive
tools: scissors, Sharpie, yard stick, drill, electric knife, felt tip pen, screwdriver

I started by laying the coffee table top on my foam and measuring just a little bit bigger (about 1/2 inch).

Using an electric knife, I cut out my piece of foam.

With a yard stick and measuring in halves, I made a grid on the foam with a Sharpie. Then decided where I wanted my button tufts to be located. I did 3 rows totaling 11 buttons (4 buttons, 3 buttons then 4 buttons).

I poked a hole where I wanted my button tufts using a screw driver. Then flipped my foam and poked through that side as well.

The screwdriver pushed out the foam, creating a small hole all the way through the foam.

I flipped my coffee table top back side up, laid the foam on top and using a felt tip pen pushed into the holes, I made a mark on the table top where I’d want to drill holes for tufting.

I drilled the marks, then flipped the table top over and cleaned up that side of the drilled holes by drilling through them again.

Next I used a spray adhesive to attach the foam to the table top.

Then covered the foam with batting (cut just a half inch longer than the edges of the foam and table top).

I covered the batting with my fabric. Again, measuring and cutting just enough to pull onto the underneath for stapling.

Tufting:

fabric scrap and button kit (or buttons for tufting)
upholstery needles
wax covered button thread
anchor buttons
staples
tools: stapler, scissors

I put together the fabric covered buttons I wanted to use on the top of my ottoman for tufting.

Then, I threaded the largest upholstery needle with the waxed button thread. (I had no idea what this was for when starting but learned through use that the wax helps hold the tufted button when the waxed thread is pulled tight.) I attached the fabric covered button to my threaded needle and started at the center of my upholstered table top. Locating the hole is tricky (I did lift my batting to help guide my needle). Find the tufting hole and poke the needle through the fabric, batting, foam hole and into the hole in the wooden table top, pulling the needle out the bottom of the table top.

Thread an anchor button onto the needle. Thread the needle back through a second hole in the anchor button and back up through another hole one more time. Push the button down towards the hole in the wooden table top. Pull tight.

While thread is pulled tight and anchor button is secure against the wooden table top, staple thread onto the wooden table top a few times using a zig zag pattern.

Leaving enough thread to tie a knot, cut the thread and put the needle aside. Tie a knot in the thread.

Repeat. I worked from the middle out. Note: I used random anchor buttons I already had on hand.

The front will look like this:

Move completed tufted table top to an area where it can lie flat. Pull the fabric tight around the sides of the foam to the under side of the tabletop and staple into place. Start in the middle of each side and smooth batting and fabric as you go.

Then work on the corners. Wrap them like a present. There is no wrong way, just try to create a smooth corner. Staple into place on the bottom of the table top. Be sure to stay clear of the pre-drilled holes for attaching the legs to the table top!

All done! For added security, I covered my buttons and thread with duct tape (not shown). Flip and admire your upholstered tufted ottoman cushion!

Assemble the rest of the coffee table as per instructions. Attach newly upholstered tufted top just as you would the regular top according to the directions. Assembly was extremely easy.

tools: screwdriver, rubber mallet

Accessorize: What I loved about this coffee table is that it has two bottom shelves and comes with bins! I gave the bins a little makeover using FrogTape and fabric paint and added chalkboard labels that I had on hand.

Now I have an upholstered tufted ottoman for the family room!

What do you think? Pretty easy and affordable. Visit wayfair on facebook here or on pinterest here.

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Disclosure: Thank you to Wayfair for the coffee table and the challenge and to Giftcards.com for providing the gift card for my project materials. This post was also partially sponsored and brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and project results may vary.

Linking up:

and more about the Fall Pinterest Challenge from these sweet friends hosting:

Katie from Bower Power Blog
Sherry from Young House Love

Sarah from Ugly Duckling House
Carmel from Our Fifth House

DIY Ceiling Mount Drum Shade Light Fixture Cover

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Roeshel

In the apartment: Staying within a very tight budget inspires creativity. The main floor of the rental had a boring light fixture and we wanted to do something a little more fun. A thrift store drum shade was a great solution and worked with existing ceiling mounted light fixture base. {peek of the thrifty gallery wall}

I originally purchased a steel nipple {are you giggling?! who decided that was a good name for hardware?} for a lamp kit, but it was too big in diameter to fit through the hole in the existing light fixture base. Lucky for us, True Value Hardware is within walking distance of the rental. So convenient. Great for finding last minute things and a huge selection of everything plumbing (and lamp kits too). I found that a ‘toilet’ plumbing piece {a rod threaded on both ends} was a perfect fit. We simply unscrewed the existing base, added a nut near the hole in the center of the existing base and screwed in the threaded rod and re-attached the base of the light fixture.

Next, Just center of the drum shade over the threaded rod and the finial holds it all into place.

But the ugliness is visible from underneath…

Solution: Measuring the diameter of the interior of the drum shade, I made a pattern/stencil from cardboard (tracing the interior of the shade).

We used the cardboard circle as a template for cutting plexiglass (2 circles). We found cutting plexiglass to be a challenge and cut a larger circle, wrapped the edges in FrogTape to help minimize cracking and chipping then used our Dremel Trio to cut the circle border on the FrogTape. Note: this project is NOT for perfectionists. Amateurs (like us) achieved a jagged circle but we’re okay with that.

Remove FrogTape and transparent protective cover from plexiglass. We didn’t get a smooth cut, but it’s not extra noticeable when placed into the drum shade and hot glue and ribbon or beads can cover the jagged edge.

We also drilled a hole in the center of each piece of plexiglass for the threaded rod.

I ironed my doily and cut out the center circle…

and put the plexiglass into the drum shade {plexiglass, doily, plexiglass}, resting it on the lamp shade supports (drum shade will be installed ‘upside down’). Note: You may want to use a spray adhesive on one side of the doily to keep it from sliding as you’re layering plexiglass, doily, plexiglass. I also used hot glue to attach a string of beads to hide our jagged cuts.

So pretty DIY ceiling mount light {a little off center, hence the suggestion for spray adhesive as noted above}:

Then just put the drum shade into place, secured by the finial…

We love how it turned out – but note: plexiglass is more expensive than we anticipated. So while it still worked out to be a less expensive option than a pretty drum shade ceiling fixture and prettier than a boob light, it wasn’t super cheap like I had planned. Approximate cost breakdown: plexiglass $25, drum shade $5, doily $10 + finial and threaded rod.

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We were chosen by True Value to be one of the members of the 2012 DIY Squad. I have been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY projects. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. I have not been paid to publish positive comments and no one has twisted my arm to participate.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience and project results may vary.

Tips for painting a herringbone patterned accent wall

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Roeshel

Apartment progress!

Herringbone Accent {on textured} Wall

I’ve shown sneak peeks of the apartment renovation progress and you’ve likely seen the herringbone-like accent wall in the kitchen area…

Base paint color: True Value Easy Care – Baby Elephant (soft neutral gray) & Accent color: True Value Easy Care – Sweet Honey

Since we own this rental space, I was able to get a little creative in adding a fun accent wall as a backdrop behind some open shelving. Before paint…

Yes…I have ‘plans’ for a DIY radiator cover but I must confess that I feel it’s a LOT ambitious and I’m scared. Working up the courage to give it a try sometime this month. Anyway, after paint {including painting kitchen cabinets and Rustoleum Countertop Transformations}:

The open wall space above the wainscoting was the perfect spot to display open shelving as a solution for more storage/organization in this tiny apartment. True Value’s Easy Care Platinum and FrogTape were all I needed to add some interest to a flat textured wall. The pattern also helps disguise the un-hidden pipes. I put together a quick tutorial video using my iphone {pardon the portrait orientation, poor quality…amateur videographer but working hard on getting better!} explaining how I achieved the herringbone pattern:

The wall was finished and I was so happy to be able to move forward on the renovation! Shelves are budget friendly Ekby shelving and brackets from IKEA…

{installation was super easy using the Master Mechanic Swift Driver!}

Woo hoo! painted accent wall And just when I felt super good about a little DIY success, something went wrong upstairs with the plumbing. The joys of DIY… I was just too exhausted and heartbroken to deal with it. My Mr. DIY fixed the plumbing issue in the bathroom above and Bri’s boyfriend, Steve, saved the day by patching the ceiling below. and I set about touching up the paint… Now, all done for real… If you missed it yesterday, I shared the hardwood floors before/after refinishing:

More apartment renovation, decorating and furnishing coming soon!

Painted Striped Curtains {apartment sneak peek}

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Roeshel

Painting Horizontal Stripes on Fabric Curtain Panels

Renovating, furnishing and decorating an apartment = very tight budget. With the main floor needing six panels, Ikea’s Vivan panels were a perfect choice. A set of two panels for $9.99 – what a deal! And they’re huge! 52″ wide x 98″ long. I love all white curtain panels but for the main living space, I wanted to add a little texture, neutral accent and simple pattern. I love horizontal striped curtains. We decided to go with three large neutral stripes, starting from the bottom.

Not according to plan: My plan was to do an ombre design from black, dark charcoal to light gray. I ended up with something a little different. Here’s how I did it, my suggestions on what I would have done differently and why my stripes aren’t ombre.

What I did:

Materials:

Ikea Vivian curtain panels
Paint (fabric paint or latex paint)
Sponge rollers (recommend trying foam rollers)
FrogTape
Tools used: yard stick, iron, sewing machine for hemming if needed

I started by pre-washing and ironing out wrinkles, then spread them out (one at a time) on the dining room table. I used a vinyl table cloth as a “drop cloth” for underneath the panel.

Using my yard stick, I started from the bottom and measured 12 inches, then drew a pencil line.

I used my FrogTape on the outside of my 12″ line to create a crisp border. For the next stripe, I measured 12″ from the edge of the FrogTape. Note: My straight tape lines extended past the panel to secure the edges of the fabric to the vinyl tablecloth to help prevent shifting.

I purchased 3 large bottles of fabric paint in black. My plan was to add white to lighten each stripe. However even three bottles of fabric paint does not go a long way with six curtain panels. I ended up using the black fabric paint for the bottom stripe of each panel.

Dip in paint, roll on cardboard/paper towels then roll onto fabric. My cheap rollers meant I had to go over it a few times but once the roller was saturated with paint, it went quicker.

Then…since we are on a budget, I used latex wall paint – which is the reason I ended up with a black stripe, gray stripe and greige stripe…not white ombre, but neutral! Tip: {figured this out after the fact}, water down latex wall paint for better absorption.

I used a sponge roller from the dollar store for each stripe. Tip: DO not use cheap dollar store sponge rollers. Invest a couple dollars in a better quality foam roller. My cheap sponge roller is part of the reason for a “suede” look…which we were okay with and ended up liking the look, but I also would have liked a more solid result. The faded look is pretty too and when time is an issue, it looks even better.

I painted each stripe, let it dry a little, then hung each panel to dry more thoroughly. So, with six curtain panels, it did take me a couple of days.

I wiped the vinyl tablecloth in between laying out each panel. (Pleasant time saving surprise: The paint on my vinyl drop cloth could be seen through the white curtain panels, meaning after the first one, I didn’t have to measure/mark each panel – I just lined it up on the vinyl drop cloth and taped where the previous curtains’ FrogTape lines showed through.)

I immediately removed my FrogTape once painting was complete.

Once all of my panels were dry, I measure the length and cut from the top, adding 3 inches to create a rod pocket (cutting from the top or bottom means one of those needs hemmed and I found painting from the bottom up easier). I love using curtain rings, but again, 6 sets of curtain rings adds up, and this is a budget friendly makeover.

cutting and measuring…

I creased the extra 3 inches with an iron,

then folded about an inch under and ironed that.

I sewed a straight line near the bottom of the ironed fold to create a rod pocket.

***I’ll share what I did with the “top” piece of the curtain panels soon – cutting from the top left me with 6 valances, just needing a hem.

I gave each panel another quick iron over and now they’re hanging!

Before apartment makeover:

Just a peek of the apartment windows before:

Door paint color is Valspar Gilded Pesto (beautiful chartreuse!).

Sneak peek windows after:

Side note: Since the tiny apartment doesn’t have an entry way or closet, I attached some coat hooks (Hobby Lobby) to a board and screwed it to the door – instant cute coat rack. DIY Show Off bag is from Nest of Posies.

Whatdoyathink? It might make more sense when you see the rest of the apartment, eh? Patience, my friends. I know – not one of my strengths either.

Note: I haven’t washed the curtains after painting, but I’m assuming all will be well – after all, the paint doesn’t wash out of my paint splattered DIY attire.

Update: More apartment details! We are still working on some finishing touches and last minute issues that have come up {the joys of DIY!}, so the reveal has been pushed back. However, there are a TON of DIY details and I’ll be sharing those over the next week or two {and while we’re on vacation}. We think it’s awesome and can’t wait to hear what you think! Little by little…we’ll work up to the reveal!

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

Kitchen Island Makeover

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Roeshel

We’re starting to furnish the apartment – on a very tight budget. An old inexpensive portable kitchen bar/island with bar stools is something we’ve had sitting around and the perfect size for creating a dining area in a tiny apartment.

But the old top was in bad condition. Pictures don’t show the pink stains (Kool-Aid, maybe or magic marker) and scratches…

I removed the top.

The frame was spraypainted white to freshen up an old scratched finish.

New top was made using alternating sizes of 1×3 and 1×5 pine planks cut to 40″ in length…a little bigger than the previous table top.

Boards were sanded.

I used wood glue to assemble the planks together…

Then clamped until the glue dried, wiping away excess wet glue.

I didn’t take pictures but I stained and used my Silhouette Cameo to make some ‘postage’ themed stencils at Ali’s request. Then sealed the top with about four coats of polyurethane and let dry.

The bar stool tops were sanded and taped off using FrogTape while frames were spray painted a fresh new coat of white.

I applied a coat of stain to the top of the barstools…

When that was dry, I used my Silhouette Cameo to create number stencils with a circle border. Using transfer paper, I applied the stencils to the top of the stools. (They didn’t stick to the shiny finish of the stain very well and took a little work to remove the transfer paper, but I managed to do it! I’d recommend staining after the numbers have been painted…although it will change the color of your paint unless you’re using a clear coat. Removing the vinyl also pulled off some of the finish…but that just added to the distressed character of the top of the stools.)

I painted in my stencils using acrylic craft paint and immediately removed the vinyl stencil.

I let the numbers dry over night and then applied several protective coats of Polycrylic, allowing it to dry between each coat (also lightly sand using a fine grit between coats).

So cute, aren’t they? Better pictures coming up in the apartment reveal. That’s where this kitchen bar set will be living. VERY SOON! Hurray!

Sharing over at Beth’s this week:

I LOVE my Silhouette Cameo – it’s my #1 way to create vinyl stencils. There’s also a special going on right now with the new Silhouette paper label kit! So cool – print and cut your own labels! There are so many fun ways to use this machine. LOVE that!

Enter the unique promo code SHOWOFF to get 1 CAMEO, 1 package of printable gold foil, 1 package of printable silver foil, and 1 package of printable white sticker paper for $269.99. (Savings of almost $57!) These are brand new Silhouette products that just got back in stock after they sold out after release, so don’t wait too long!

Use the promo code “SHOWOFF” and click this link to get this sweet deal: http://www.silhouetteameria.com/blog-special-media-1.aspx. The discount will run through the 30^th of September

~*~*~*~

The Silhouette America link is an affiliate link. I make a small percentage of sales. I share about my experience with my Silhouette Cameo in my own words.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

How to make a distressed chevron sign

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Roeshel

I wanted something bold to add to our summer mantel and decided a large distressed wooden chevron garden sign was the perfect focal point.

Materials:

scrap wood planks (I used two 1x4s and two 1x5s)
furring strip (cut into 2 pieces a little smaller than the width of my four 1x4s)
Gorilla wood glue
3 colors of paint (I used acrylic craft paint in white, green and brown)
glaze (or watered down brown paint)
Frog Tape Delicate (I used the 1.41 in. wide)
vinyl stencil (I created mine using my Silhouette Cameo)
(2) saw tooth picture hangers

Tools:

Sander (or sanding block)
Paint brushes
Clamps
Saw

Distressed Chevron Sign Tutorial: 1. I cut my scrap wood planks to measure 32 inches each. 2. Using Gorilla wood glue, I glued my planks together, clamped and let dry. 3. I glued two furring strips to the back for extra protection and added weights while they dried. You could also screw the furring strips into each plank.

4. Once all of the glue was dried, I sanded the edges of my boards.

5. Next I gave my sign a coat of white paint all over using a dry brush technique. 6. Once the paint was dry, I chose FrogTape Delicate (for freshly painted surfaces) and created a chevron pattern. I used a small piece of the tape to create spaces. 7. Once my FrogTape design was set, I rubbed down the edges and gave the untaped areas a coat of green paint. 8. Then a coat of glaze, brushed on, wiped off. I love that it gives it a summer grass/garden dirt feel. 9. As soon as I finished applying the glaze, I removed my tape and let the sign dry.

10. I love having a Silhouette Cameo (affiliate link below for a great deal) because I can create my own custom vinyl stencils, decals or lettering as needed. I created an cut out a garden quote with my Cameo and using transfer paper, applied the stencil to my sign (I also saved the letters as stickers to make another sign). 11. Using my brown craft paint, I gave each letter a couple of coats of paint. 12. As soon as I applied the last coat of paint to each letter, I removed my vinyl stencil and let the sign dry. 13. Attach saw tooth picture hangers to the back and it’s all done! I love how it turned out. Just the right amount of bold for my summer mantel!

{pallet shelving in faux mantel} A little inspiration for canning tomatoes this weekend… Summer is just about over (but you’ll be seeing this sign show up somewhere else very soon) and I’ll be working on putting together my fall mantel. And guess where I’ll be sharing? At the Countdown to Fall party coming up soon! Time to get your autumn projects ready and join in the fun!

The DIY Fall Festival will also be starting soon! Get a head start on inspiration for your fall DIY projects from previous years’ DIY Fall Festival parties. DIY Fall Decorating, Recipes and Crafts

I received vinyl to share this tutorial and will receive a percentage of sales from this SILHOUETTE end of summer PROMOTION: This promotion runs from August 23 through the 31^st.Using the discount code “SHOWOFF” will get you a nearly $75 discount when you visit this affiliate link:http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/blog-vinyl-5.aspx. Plus, all vinyl will be 40% off when you use the “SHOWOFF” promo code.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions and instructions are completely based on my own experience.

How to Make a Bean Bag Toss Scoreboard

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Roeshel

At mom’s pool on Sunday, you’ll find family members swimming, eating, laughing and a bean bag tournament in progress {also known as ‘cornhole’}.

There are two teams tossing bean bags. It’s similar to playing horseshoes except that bean bags are tossed to a platform with a hole. Points are earned when the bean bag lands in the hole or on the platform. Teams can also knock their opponents bean bags in or out. Game ends when a team has reached 21. Up until now, score keeping was done mentally but for Father’s Day, I made a DIY bean bag toss scoreboard.

Bean Bag Toss Scoreboard Tutorial

Materials:

1×3 wooden beam (my piece was about 6 ft. tall)
primer
2 colors of paint (I used latex semi gloss in white and mustard acrylic craft paint)
paint marker (in black)
FrogTape (I used the yellow Delicate Surface FrogTape)
2 small pieces of dowel rod (about 2 in. each) small enough to fit into the holes of:
2 small wooden wheels
Gorilla Wood Glue
2 thumb tacks
craft paint (I used red and blue)
Krylon Crystal Clear (Indoor/Outdoor protective clear coat – satin finish)

I cut my 1×3 to about 6 ft. and used the miter saw to make one end into a ‘point’ like a garden stake.

I applied a coat of primer and two top coats of paint (allow to dry between each coat).

Next, using a 2″ scrap piece of wood to measure, I drew pencil lines creating 22 separate ‘boxes’ (using the scrap piece means my boxes are approx. 2″, starting from the top and working my way towards the garden stake point. {shown measuring on unpainted wood…but…do this step after wood is painted base color}

Using FrogTape, I taped off every other “box”, starting with the bottom box so it would be painted with the accent color (yellow). I made sure I rubbed the edges (burnished) for a good seal on the edges of the tape. Since I had just recently painted the white base color, I used Delicate Surface FrogTape because it’s safe to use on freshly painted surfaces (but at least 24 hrs) since it’s has a more gentle adhesive.

Interesting FrogTape fact: FrogTape is the only tape treated with patented PaintBlock Technology. PaintBlock is a super-absorbent polymer which reacts with latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint bleed.

Tape on the ‘outside” of the pencil lines for every other square to be painted an alternating accent color.

I gave each accent colored box 2 coats of paint and immediately removed the tape after the second coat.

Once that was dry, I used a paint pen/marker to number “0″ to “21″ going from bottom to top in every box.

While paint was drying in the steps listed above, I worked on the ‘point markers’. I painted (two coats) one dowel/one wooden wheel set red and the other blue. TIP: In hind site – use Gorilla Glue and insert the dowel rod into the wooden wheel and allow to dry before painting (painting them separate will make it harder to fit the dowel into the wheel hole).

Once glued, painted and dried, I added a push pin (coordinating color) into the dowel rod where in the center of the wooden wheel to give it a more finished game piece look.

Back to the scoreboard: Once my painted numbers were dry, we drilled holes (that fit the dowel rod) into the side of the numbered sections. Choose a bit that will go all the way through. When finished, I pushed a screwdriver into the holes and rolled it around a little to smooth out the drilled space.

Sand a little and touch up paint.

I gave the score board and score keeping pieces a couple of coats of Krylon’s Crystal Clear. Dries in 10 minutes and everything has a protective coat.

I also used a little wax on the end of each dowel rod so they would fit into the drilled holes for score keeping a little easier.

Now, bean bag score keeping is more accurate and no one has to ask “what is the score again?”

Does your family play this game at summer get-togethers? What do you think? Purchasing a scoreboard online ranged from $25 to $90! My DIY version was less than $20 and coordinates with the Steeler’s themed bean bag toss at my mom’s. Just in time for Labor Day picnics and a family reunion.

Note: We will add a piece of gutter spout into the ground for holding the scoreboard in place but it could also be pounded into the ground, attached to a bench, etc.

This is a sponsored post brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Need some FrogTape project inspiration? Check out the FrogTape blog squad with projects being updated/added frequently for more ideas!

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Tag Archives: FrogTape

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Thrift Store Find: Just add paint.

How to Flatten an Area Rug

DIY Christmas Card Tree {card display/holder}

His & Hers painted pillow covers

Chevron Reindeer Games sign tutorial

Junked trunk to coffee table {apartment storage}

DIY upholstered tufted ottoman tutorial {Wayfair DIY Challenge}

DIY Ceiling Mount Drum Shade Light Fixture Cover

Tips for painting a herringbone patterned accent wall

Painted Striped Curtains {apartment sneak peek}

Kitchen Island Makeover

How to make a distressed chevron sign

How to Make a Bean Bag Toss Scoreboard