DIY painted foam playmat becomes wall art

The long weekend here means catching up on some little projects that kept getting put off. Remember when I painted a foam playmat, thinking it’d be a great kitchen/cooking mat?

before…

painted playmat tutorial, DIY kitchen mat, Gorilla tape

after…

{painted foam playmat tutorial}

How to paint a foam playmat, floor mat, do it yourself, DIY, vintage restaurant sign, aged, distressed, lobster, beachy, New Orleans

It looks great there, doesn’t it?

DIY, tutorial, painted floor mat

It really does. But, Mr. DIY is the cook and he’s not always neat, if you know what I mean. Food flies everywhere.  And you guys – it was just so pretty. I’ve never painted anything so large that came out so well and I just couldn’t let it get covered with food and smashed down by grown up weight and feet and ruined. I’m so proud of that painted playmat. I’ll make another for this area with a farmhouse theme, I promise.

In the meantime, we have this huge blank wall at the barn patio…

barn patio makeover

Know where I’m going with this? It can be affordable huge DIY wall art too and looks awesome here…

barn patio after

and just for fun, here is what this covered barn area looked like when we bought our house…

and now…

painted foam playmat

And there will be more projects here on this covered patio area {with better lighting and pictures} as I update this space. It’s great for entertaining: cook outs, picnics and bon fires. It’s a cozy comfortable place to relax and get away from the house too, to curl up with a good book with some privacy, even in the rain.

I love the way the playmat fills up the huge empty wall. What do you think?

DIY Show Off - FacebookDIY Show Off - TwitterDIY Show Off - PinterestDIY Show Off - Feed


Beach Towel Rack

Warmer weather around here means mom’s pool is open! Woo hoo!

rubber ducky, pool

Mom’s pool is right off of their basement/entertaining area with a covered patio (from the deck above).

I recently came across this free standing towel/magazine/blanket rack but didn’t love the price or that the little kids might view it as a jungle gym or that it’d be another obstacle cluttering up the yard or patio.

Free Standing Blanket/Magazine/Towel Rack

{Amazon affiliate link}

“Not-in-my-budget” and “not quite what I had in mind” makes me look for do-it-yourself options. I considered making this but while visiting my mom one day, I realized one wall of her covered patio area is a big blank canvas and mentioned to her that she should create a DIY towel bar stretching the length of that wall for hanging beach towels to dry. I thought maybe galvanized pipe and elbows.

But when I recently headed over to mom’s, she had a prettier option secured to the concrete block (masonry bit and screws)…

double curtain rod to towel bar

It’s a large double curtain rod from Lowe’s! {I get my creativity from her.}

curtain rod towel bar

It’s perfect for hanging beach towels to dry out of little ones’ reach {pardon “grandma’s playground for the little grandkids”}.

curtain rod beach towel bar

I just thought it was a really great idea and makes an otherwise wasted space useful and no more hanging beach towels on back of patio chairs to dry!

DIY Show Off - FacebookDIY Show Off - TwitterDIY Show Off - PinterestDIY Show Off - Feed



Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner of the UPrinting die-cut business card giveaway is:

I am trying to market my products with some local vendors, so I would hand them out at those initial meetings. Thanks for offering this great giveaway!

Doreen

CONGRATULATIONS, Doreen! I’ll contact you via email.

If you’re a blogger, it’s a good idea to have business cards on hand. Are you attending any blog conferences this year? I’m going to this one:

Haven Conference 2012

Do you try to explain to family and friends and acquaintances or people you meet that you have a blog? I find that having a supply of business cards in my purse is really helpful with introductions and explanations.

In the past, I’ve ordered my business cards from UPrinting.com. I simply upload my logo and create/design online. I loved the quality of my last order…

DIY Show Off blog business cards

with a new blog design and attending the Haven conference on my schedule, I’m ready for another order.

DIY Show Off header

UPrinting is my go-to place and now they’re offering one lucky DIY Show Off reader the chance to win business cards!

business card printing

Prize Details :

  • 250  Die Cut Business Card Printing for one(1) winner
  • Sizes to choose from : 2 x 3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×2″ Rounded Corners, 1.75×3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×3.5″ Leaf, 2×3.5
  • Rounded one corner, 2×3.5″ Half Circle Side, 2×3.5″ Oval, 2.5″ Circle
  • Paper to choose from : 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
  • 6 Business Days Turnaround
  • *Free shipping for US residents only

How to enter:

  1. Leave a comment telling us where you’ll hand out your business cards. Which UPrinting business card design do you like?

Optional Giveaway Entry Requirements: (leave a comment for each entry)

Giveaway starts today and ends Wed., 4/25/12 at midnight EST.
Open to US residents only.
Winner will be chosen randomly on 4/25 and announced shortly after.
Good luck!

*This DIY Show Off giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com.