Christmas Cards 2021!

 Hello everyone! I have been working on Christmas cards since Halloween. The couple weeks before that, I was hard at working creating my Halloween costume.

This was our first year doing a wheelchair specific costume, and had to honor my hubby's job as a concrete superintendent. He loves cranes, so I came up with the idea and we all worked to make it happen. Fun trunk-or-treating event at our church made for a great day!

Anyways, I just finished all 110 Christmas cards! I will take the weekend off before tackling the addressing envelopes and figuring weight and postage. How do you make sure your thick cards have enough postage? Leave your tips in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until Next Time~

Shari

DIY Leftover Wood Sign Project

Once you have done a few household projects, you end up with a stock of leftover wood scraps, opened cans of stain and other goodies like that. Back in 2018, we added a much needed elevator to our home. (needed due to my physical disability). I had stain left over from that, as well as other projects in our home, like these walnut stained crate shelves in our bathroom:

Not the best photo! Walnut stained crates.

Anyways, I had plenty of wood and stain, and a problem! The elevator I mentioned, has a door that looks just like all the other interior doors in our home, so people often pull on the handle to go in. Unfortunately, the door locks (to keep people from walking into the elevator pit), and when people try to open it, they usually yank harder trying to get in, when it doesn't immediately open. I decided to make a sign so that people might see it, and ask what door they should open, before the door or hinges get damaged. (we have some strong friends!)

My elevator with cherry stained cabin.

I tried my hand at gluing and clamping my wall plaque while Chad was working.

While the glue was drying, I tested all the colors of stain I have on the yellow birch wood scrap pieces, and tried to figure out with one I wanted to use.

Treated the wood with wood conditioner, and then alternately wiped all the stain colors across the sign.

I used 5 of the 6 stain colors I tested. Everything but the ebony stain. I just wiped with the grain and let dry briefly before using the next color, lightest to darkest. I finish with three coats of topcoat.

Next, I gathered all my vinyl sign supplies for my Silhouette (had to buy these because it is my first time using vinyl). I also bought the hubby a keyhole bit for his router to make the groove on the back to hang the sign up, but he is working a lot right now, so this will be finished and hung this weekend.

Ready to design and cut.

I used transfer paper to get the vinyl image from the Silhouette page to the wood sign. It was easier than expected! Now that I have some vinyl, I will definitely be making some more things 😃

I am happy with the way it turned out!

The letters are slightly crooked, which I knew almost instantly when the vinyl hit the sign, but it doesn't readjust well. Any tips you can share on making sure you get it lined up right on the first try?

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen this project. I worked on two wood projects this week. This scrap of wood with a lot of grain and a knot, has been sitting in my craft room for a few years, since my daughter made beer carriers, and thought I could use this.

Having some rubbing alcohol on the brush and wood made the ink spread smoothly.

I used alcohol inks to stain the wood. It dries quickly! You have to spread it fast, using the rubbing alcohol to keep it moving, and then wipe off the excess. The ink stains the wood nicely though!

Share your tips or projects in the comments!

Until Next Time

~Shari

Chaise Lounge Chair Made Into A Tool Belt?!?

 Yep, you read that right! A few years ago, I solved a problem we had with a chaise lounge chair (shared that recently here). I stored away the leather and planned to do something with it it one day. Well, that day is finally here!

Pinterest is full of ideas, and when I saw a DIY handmade leather tool belt, I knew what I would make with my leftover leather from our chair. 

Pile of leather scraps

Rotary Cutter to trim leather scraps

I drew up a sketch of what I had in mind, and took my measurements. Then I realized I didn't have enough big pieces of leather, so I would need to sew together some smaller pieces. I came up with a plan to make the tool belt pouches with a belt. I cut the sections and assembled them with a few drops of glue, to hold it together before stitching.

Supplies: Leather cord, needles, awl, and Liquid Glass glue

I hand sewed the tool belt

I measured each stitch and marked the spot with the awl. It was HARD work getting it through two layers of leather just by forcing the awl through, but I got it done. (I am no quitter haha) It took three days to get all the stitching done because my hands needed a rest in between sections.

Leather Tool Belt Detail View

Hand Stitched Leather Tool Belt Details

I had a very small piece of black leather left over from a craft projects ages ago and it was the perfect coordinating accent color. It was a much thicker leather piece, and thus even more difficult to sew through!

All done!

It fits great, and holds a few things, which is all I needed it for. Sometimes, especially when doing mosaic projects, you just need several tools handy, and this keeps them close without taking up counter space.

Complete DIY Leather Tool Belt

That is all for today! Off to the vet to get my doggy a check-up. What are you doing today? It is beautiful weather in Chicagoland, so we will be chilling outside for a while after the doggy doc. Enjoy your day, and be crafty!

Until Next Time

~Shari

DIY Wood Project Part 2 - Wall Shelf

If you missed part 1 of our DIY project, you might want to go check out the Silhouette storage shelf my husband, Chad, built. This wall shelf was another idea I got since we had some lumber leftover. I wanted to store my printer paper and supplies on the wall above the printer, to save the coveted closet shelf space for crafting supplies!

This post will be short, and I encourage you to revisit the link above for more details and see the products used.

I took matter into my own (impatient) hands, and sanded the shelf while the hubby was working.

After wiping it off, I added the wood conditioner, and stained the yellow birch wood shelf with the pickled stain, to match my Silhouette Cameo storage shelf. (The smaller wood item behind the wall shelf is another little project I came up with, and will be a different post soon. I HATE to waste the expensive wood!)

Just needed to wait MANY hours and do all the topcoat layers, and have Chad hang it on my wall. I asked him to use the metal wall shelf brackets we had, partly because I like metal and wood together, but mostly because I am cheap and want to repurpose old stuff we had on hand.

Craft Room Organization

I still have to fill up the new shelf with office supplies, and reorganize my craft closets (yes, I have more than one!) I attempted to share a few storage ideas form my craft room a couple year ago. I recently added a new shelf unit that my husband made for my Silhouette.

I thought I'd share a few of my organization units along with the finished shelf today.

New matching shelf for office paper and supplies

Below is a sampling from my craft room storage solutions. Stamps, punches and mixed media supplies are tucked out of the way in the closet. My craft room was a bedroom, so I just removed the doors and added shelves.

Working on reorganizing craft closet shelves with office supplies gone.

I keep my Big Shot cart next to my craft work table. I can easily grab it, or just use it right where it is located.

Sizzix Big Shot Die Storage Cart

I made organization/dividers for my dies from old plastic notebook covers!

All of my markers and papers are within reach of my desk area.

DIY Wood Marker Storage Unit

Paper Storage Cubes

$1 Shoe Bins from Home Depot for Embellishment Storage!

Lastly, I have a binder that I stamp the images from every set of stamps I buy. First, it makes me get them inky right after buying them so I fight the regret urge to return them! Secondly, I categorize them with binder tabs to quickly find a category, instead of aimlessly flipping through all of my stamps when looking for inspiration. I add the brand, stamp set name, and the storage box they are in, so I can locate them easily.

3-Ring Binder with Simple Tabs for Stamp Organization

I would love to hear your helpful storage ideas! Share a tip that helps you find your crafty stash in a hurry.

Until Next Time

~Shari

Remember That Time?

Years ago, I started a craft blog with my daughter, and it sort of fizzled out over a few months. I have blogged a few times sporadically, and tried to be consistent, and failed. Health issues sometimes complicate my crafting time (read all about it here). Hopefully I will keep posting on a fairly regular basis, so check back often to see what crazy project I am working on!

This was a project we did a few years ago, and had included in the original blog, but thought I would revisit it. I may be working on a leather project currently with some of this leather that I have hung onto for far too long! I never imagined I would be a craft hoarder, but here I am killin' it 😉

We had this chaise lounge chair that was getting too hard to "climb" into with my mobility issues, so I took it apart. Our motto is "adapt, improvise, and overcome" and that is what we did here. The first picture is HORRIBLE, because I failed to be sure the photo was good before I started destroying it.

Chaise lounge "before"

Removing the feet first

Removing the back cloth bottom

Finally getting a look at the inside

Flipped it over and decided where to cut

Hacksaw!

Peeling back the padding and leather

 

Hard part is done!

Two separate pieces

Removing the excess fabric

Reconnecting the fabric with a staple gun, and reattaching the feet.

Finished smaller chair, and another bad photo!

Meanwhile in the garage....

My amazing hubby who goes along with all my crazy ideas! <3 

Working on a making footstool out of a wine crate I snagged.

Sewing the leather to make a cover for a footstool

Making feet for the footstool

Almost finished!

Now to make the top!

Some leftover padding from the chair

Cut to the correct size

Staple gun to assemble the layers, and voila!

Easier to sit on and stand up!

Thanks for dropping by! Just wanted to share an old project, and when I use the remaining leather next week, you will know where it came from!

Until Next Time

~Shari