Painted Storage Box Craft

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Roeshel

Organizing the desk top / homework station for the back-to-school season? A small storage box keeps school and homework accessories within easy reach but not on display.

Materials:

FrogTape® Multi-Surface
acrylic craft paints and foam paint brushes
spray laquer
wooden box from craft store (or DIY)

What to do:

Tape off a design using your FrogTape. Stripes, checkers, plaid, triangles. So many options!

Using a credit card, gift card or just your own thumbnail, burnish the edges of the tape. Meaning: make sure the edges of FrogTape are good and stuck down with no gaps.

Now the fun part: paint each section. YOU customize colors to coordinate with decor or season.

While paint is still wet, carefully remove FrogTape. Then let the paint dry.

Give it a quick light spray of lacquer and let dry.

*Optional: embellish with washi-tape and decoupage, add a drawer knob, drawer pull or leather handle, adhere something from the junk drawer or little plastic animal using hot glue, add vinyl decals or stickers. Get creative!

Use as a pencil box, for keepsake treasures, to store note or recipe cards, for organizing an essential oils collection, to tuck on a bookcase filled with bookmakers and highlighters, to keep cords handy or for a unique way of wrapping gifts.

It’s perfect for storing 70 15ml Young Living essential oils (more if you’re mixing in 5 ml sizes). Great idea for incentives, prizes or gifts – and YOU customize it to coordinate with your home.

Disclaimer: I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.

Silhouette Scrap Wood Wall Art

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Roeshel

I recently shared the DIY coat rack we’re now utilizing in our sitting room above a vintage trunk used as a bench…

See who loves to rest here? It’s a tiny little Italian greyhound named Rosie…

One more picture. She’s just so stinkin’ cute!

and I’m loving this scrap wood turned silhouette art placed above it. Rosie approves!

Materials I used:

scrap 1 x 6 pine boards
RustOleum Ultimate Wood Care (kona)
RustOleum Ultimate Polyurethane
Gorilla wood glue
picture hanging hardware
vinyl decal (I used a greyhound shape)
white acrylic craft paint

What I did:

I cut my pine boards so that they all measured the same 30 inches long then sanded the edges.

Next I used wood glue and clamps to create a large wood plank canvas. Let dry.

I applied my vinyl decal to the center of my wood canvas, burnishing the edges using my thumbnail.

Then using a foam brush, I applied the stain in the same direction as the wood grain.

After a few minutes, I wiped away the excess stain, again in the direction of the wood grain, with an old rag. Let dry one hour.

Then I removed the vinyl decal. I was hoping that there wouldn’t be any seeping but there was. No problem! Change of plans. Sometimes DIY doesn’t always go according to plan.

I used a small craft paint brush and white acrylic craft paint to fill in the unfinished portion of the greyhound stencil. Let dry.

I then applied a coat of the polyurethane over the stain, brushing on in the direction of the wood grain. Add picture hanging hardware to the back and hang to display.

Perfect complimentary wall art for above the coat rack.

DIY Book Ends

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Roeshel

Back to school time! Time to restock the desk area for homework assignments and school projects. Add cute set of DIY book ends to perk things up.

As a part of the Michael’s Makers team, I have the opportunity to create a monthly themed project. This month’s challenge is “Back to School”. A bit of a ‘challenge’ when your nest is empty but these will work in grand-baby boy’s nursery too. 😉

What I used:

4 wood blocks
wood glue and clamps
scrapbook paper and scrapbook cards
multi-surface acrylic craft paint and foam brush
gloss finish decoupage and foam brush
{thin} washi tape
letter A
letter Z
hot glue gun & glue

What I did:

Start with applying a bead of wood glue to each block to create an “L” shape. Clamp, wipe away any excess glue and let dry.

Once glue was dry, I removed the clamps and applied a ‘white wash’ look using a foam brush and multi-surface acrylic craft paint. I only applied one coat so that the wood grain still showed through. Let dry.

Cut scrapbook paper to size for inside of the “L” shape and the outside of the vertical wood piece. I used scrapbook paper and cute patterned scrapbook cards.

Apply a coat of decoupage to one side at a time as a glue. Place scrapbook paper onto decoupaged surface. Smooth out air bubbles. Apply another coat of decoupage over the scrapbook paper, sealing it. I brushed on the decoupage in the same direction as the wood grain. Repeat decoupage + scrapbook paper to all sides. Decoupage will go on with a ‘milky’ look but dry transparent.

Add washi tape to sides, smooth out bubbles/make sure it’s adhered. Apply a coat of decoupage to seal. *There’s also the option to apply the decoupage before the washi tape to act as a ‘glue’.

Apply a second coat of decoupage to all surfaces. I let mine dry overnight.

Attach wood “A” and “Z” using hot glue gun. Wouldn’t they be cute with succulent planters, plastic animals, vases, figurines instead too?

Once hot glue sets, you’re good to go!

Ready for keeping school books within easy reach and an organized desk top. Useful, functional book ends that coordinate with your home office, library, reading room, craft room, nursery or homework station…love it!

See MORE ‘back to school’ crafts from these blog friends:

An InLinkz Link-up

Teachers – It’s time to start planning for the new school year and Michaels has all of the ideas and supplies you need to create a one-of-a-kind classroom, plus you get a 15 percent discount on all classroom purchases!

In addition to the products available for teachers, parents and students can find organizational tools to keep on track throughout the year as well as project ideas to personalize school supplies

Check out Michaels’ Back to School Pinterest Board to find fun and creative project ideas to kick the year off right!

As a member of the Michael’s Makers team, I receive a gift card to complete and share fun craft challenges.

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Category Archives: Home Accents

Painted Storage Box Craft

Silhouette Scrap Wood Wall Art

DIY Book Ends