DIY Project Parade

How was your weekend?  Productive?  Definitely here…so productive in fact that I’m ready for Monday to be Saturday so I can have a weekend!  Anyone reading have magical powers to make that happen?  No?  Doesn’t hurt to ask or dream.  But here is one of the things I checked off my DIY To-Do list this weekend:
My Decorative Plate Wall…
I put up some decorative plates although I’ll be taking them back down to re-paint the dining room walls  (dining room makeover in the works!) but sometimes I can’t wait to see how something looks…do you get that way?  We’ll call it eager.  Not impatient.  🙂
The plates I made are strictly decorative.   I printed my images onto Avery 8 1/2 x 11 inch clear mailing labels.

 
I found a bowl that was the right shape of the flat part of the plate.  I traced the image on the clear mailing label (centering around the image) and cut it out.


Peel off the paper backing and place onto the center of the plate.
Easy, right? 
Rub out the bubbles.
If there is a stubborn bubble, use an xacto knife to make a small slit and rub again…bubble gone!
I‘m sure by now you’ve heard of dischangers to hang plates.  They make it so easy. I love that you can’t see a brassy plate hanger.  They’re reasonably priced and easy to use too!

Disc Hangers from $1.00
Using a finger, wet the back to activate the glue.  Place on the back of the plate (if you have a design on the front, make sure that it’s place appropriately).  Let dry over night.
To hang my plates, I laid out a pattern that I liked on the back of a sheet of wrapping paper.  I traced them and labeled them so I’d know where each plate goes (to use as a guide after the nails are in the wall).
My wall is plaster.  I used a pen to mark onto the wall through the wrapping paper where the nail would go.  Then I mark a dot on a piece of tape and line it up with the hole on the wall then hammer into the tape. Using tape with a very sharp tiny black nail (I think it’s actually an upholstery tack), ensures that chunks of my plaster wall don’t crumble.  Remove the tape once the nail is in place.
 
And finally – my wall of plates!
Tip:  If you note that your dischanger is crooked with the design on the front of your plate, use a small piece of poster-tacky-stuff on the back to straighten it on the wall.  I may be speaking from experience.  I’m sure you noted that with my technical term “poster-tacky-stuff”…maybe.
What do you think?  I love this look.  Is it original?  Nope.  But it IS original to my friends and family and that’s who sees it.  🙂 

As I mentioned, my plates are purely decorative and this would work for plates that can’t be heated  and only dusted with a dry cloth but Jenn from Rook No. 17 discovered an amazing product for using transfer images on ceramic dishes.  Check out her post here.  Speaking of Jenn, random.org chose this as the winner of the Gorilla Glue Giveaway:

Congratulations Jenn! It’s your lucky day!  🙂

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So…care to share your DIY project?  I’d love to see it! 

SHOW IT OFF!  What did you DIY lately?
The DIY Show Off

If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:
  1. You must use the button above and link to this post to share the linky love.
  2. Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
  3. Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
  4. If you notice your link has disappeared please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today with a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

    DIY Project Parade

    What a week!  I have a number of different projects going at once! I am loving it!  But dreaming of days off and sleeping in, being served breakfast in bed inspired this DIY project.

    Materials:
    Old cabinet door
    Wood filler
    Sandpaper
    Paint and Primer (Dutch Boy  – Color:  Lake Champlain)
    Milk Paint (Antique White)
    Deco Art (Pearl White)
    Cutting Edge Stencil (that I used on my daughter’s walls)
    (2) Cabinet pulls
    Deft Clear Gloss Wood Finish
    Adhesive Felt

    Tools: Foam brushes, Sanding Bug, Drill, Scissors

    Here is the cabinet door (before) from any ugly vanity we removed from our powder room.  I removed the brass pull and hinges then gave it a bath.
    I grabbed the first screwdriver I could find.  We have more screwdrivers than pens.  Seriously, we can never find a pen but screwdrivers sure are handy.  I need a screwdriver with ink.  Looks like this one is used to open paint cans.

    I sanded both sides and wiped it down. Isn’t this sanding bug so cute?  Works great on a small project like this too! Since it’s not real wood, sanding took some of the faux wood paper off, but I just kept sanding until it was as smooth as I could get it.  One of the things I love most about DIY is the amazing transformation and the little imperfections that make it one of a kind. 

    Then I remembered that I needed to fill the holes.  So, I did and sanded again once the wood filler was dry.

    These Painter’s Pyramids sold at Rockler were really helpful and allowed me to paint on newspaper in the dining room.  They kept the door up off of the newspaper and table.  It’s been so hot and muggy outside so this allowed me to pain in the comfort of a cushioned seat and a/c.  So handy!

     

    And I wiped it down again before painting. I used foam brush and Dutch Boy Paint/Primer all in one.  It took 2 coats. I’m a paint snob and I was very impressed with this paint! Zero VOC and eliminates household odors (isn’t that cool?).  LOVE the color too (Lake Champlain) so you’ll be seeing this in future projects! 
    I like the easy to open plastic lid (although it takes some muscle to get it open the first time – insert Mr. DIY’s help at this point).  The easy pour spout was cool too!
    Once the 2nd coat was dry, it needed something in the center.  I taped down my Damask Cutting Edge Stencil.  The entire stencil was too large, but I only used the portion of the stencil that fit my area.
    Using a small amount of Milk Paint on my foam brush (I kept wiping it off on a piece of cardboard), I dabbed the areas of the stencil. This was the first time I have used Milk Paint.  I love t
    hick paint and was like pudding.  It looks good enough to eat or maybe that’s because of milk in the name and pudding’s main ingredient? Milk!  I DO NOT advise eating your milk paint though.
    Once that dried, I wanted to give it a little glam so using another foam brush, I added Deco Art Dazzling Metallics Pearl White to the stenciled area.
    Then it was a few days before I got back to it but when I did, I sanded the edges a bit to distress it.
    Spray both sides and edges with the Clear Semi-Gloss Finish to help protect the wood/paint.What a beautiful finish!
    Next mark the areas that need drilled for the handles.  Drill the holes for the handle in the middle of the left and right edges. Attach the handles. Or have a handyman do it for you because you’re cleaning up all of the DIY materials and supplies before guests arrive for a party you’re having in a few hours.  Of course, that’s my experience.  My day was chores/DIY and hosting a party but I’m crazy like that and love when I can squeeze DIY into my schedule.
    After the handles were attached, I traced circles onto a piece of adhesive felt, cut them out and attached to the bottom side (1 in each corner) to prevent scratching surfaces.
    Ta da!  All done.  A junk door becomes a pretty tray!



    I‘m donating my Trash to Treasure Tray to the 7th Annual Trash to Treasure Charity Auction in St. Cha
    rles, MN, The auction, hosted each year by the Pfarkel Sisters of Junk {Re}defined (in photo above), donates all net proceeds from the auction to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  If you have a project that you’d like to donate – there’s still time (although very little!)  Click the button below for more details!
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    It’s also time to vote on your favorite DIY project over at the DIY Club! 
    My tray above used at least one of the DIY Club sponsors and it would qualify for September’s DIY Club Contest. How about yours? If so, it’s so easy to enter and the prizes are awesome!  
    Click HERE to vote and get the details!

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    Now, my favorite time of the week!  
    SHOW IT OFF!  What did you DIY lately?
    The DIY Show Off

    If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:
    1. You must use the button above and link to this post to share the linky love.
    2. Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
    3. Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
    4. If you notice your link has disappeared pleaseadd the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today with a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

    DIY Project Parade and a GIVEAWAY!

    Thanks for all of your sweet comments on our exciting news!  We can’t wait to share MORE DIY projects involving this old house and fixing it up with you!
    ~*~*~*~
    This giveaway is now closed.  
    $25 PHOTO JEWELRY MAKING GIVEAWAY!

    Have you noticed this sponsor on my side bar? 

     
    PHOTO MAKING JEWELRY is giving YOU a chance to win a $25 gift certificate! Awesome! How?  

    1. 1 Entry = Visit http://www.photojewelrymaking.com/.  Come back and comment what you love!  (Leave your email address if you can’t be reached via your blog.)
    2. 1 Additional Entry = Blog, tweet or gossip about this giveaway on Facebook.  Come back and share the link.

    Giveaway starts NOW and ends Wed. at midnight EST.  Winner will be chosen by random.org (only comments following giveaway rules will qualify) and announced Thursday, 8/12.

    ~*~*~*~

    MOM – if you’re reading, stop right here and come back after Thursday!

    Photo jewelry is a great gift idea – if you can part with it! Very affordable, DIY, easy and personalized.  I love personal gifts and my mom’s birthday is this week so I made her a photo bracelet with pictures of her favorite things – her beautiful grandchildren. 

    The kit arrived with everything needed including a CD with a program to help resize the photos. I chose the Mother’s Day Scrapbook Bracelet (here).
    Once the software is installed, I followed the directions to resize my photos.  It was super easy!

    1. Once the PDF is open, click “file” then “print” then “properties” .
    2. Set paper to “glossy”/”photo”.
    3. Change paper size to 4×6.
    4. Load 4×6 paper into printer making sure the glossy side will be the printed side.
    5. Click print!

    Let the printed photos dry for a few minutes.

    Cut out your photos.

    Using a fingernail, peel the adhesive backing off and place the photo in one of the photo holders on the bracelet.  Repeat until you have all of the “sticker photos” placed.

    Now, peel off the Krystal Clear Itz covers and place over each picture (they’re adhesive also).

    I love how the pictures look under the “bubble” cover.

    Now it’s time to hook the bracelet together.  One end has “claws”.  Push open with your thumb and hook to the other end.  Be careful!  It’ll pinch you!
     1
     2
    All done!  Isn’t this pretty?  My mom is going to love it!
    I also made this pretty necklace (here).  I love it!  
    I used one of my favorite images from 
     *Olive Rue has a “try before you buy” HERE
    *Buy one image from Olive Rue and mention this blog – get another image free!

    *Order 5 items and mention you’re are ordering for a DIY project to participate in the DIY Club Inc. monthly contest and get a free image!


    (Have YOU entered the contest?)
    My project qualifies because I used one of the sponsors listed at
    the DIY Club Inc.  How about yours?  Check it out!
    Awesome prize package!
    What do you think?
    It’s so simple.

    ~*~**~*~

    Show off your DIY projects too!

    The DIY Show Off

    If you’d like to link YOUR DIY project post to The DIY Show Off Project Parade:
    1. You must use the button above and link to this post to share the linky love.
    2. Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
    3. Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
    4. If you notice your link has disappeared pleaseadd the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today with a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

    DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!