Make Prints into Oil {looking} Artwork

I was working on the design of our living room makeover. Trying to figure out is I'm working in our old art into our new design and it's been driving me crazy. 

We have a huge framed oil paint looking piece of art over the couch. I purchased it at Ross years ago for 100 bucks and started researching the piece. Turns out it's an "enhanced print" that retails framed for $275 to $650! Wowza! 

When I was looking up this artwork I thought it was an oil painting. I quickly learned it was not, as this particular oil painting was worth $16,000! What I had was called an "enhanced print".
I researched what that term meant and it's basically a print that has been brushed with a medium. 

This process makes it look WAY more expensive- like it would be worth 1000's rather than 100's! (maybe a bit of an exaggeration?)

  I decided to experiment and try to make my own enhanced print.

I started with a print I wouldn't mind messing up. Someone gave me this one, so kinda perfect for my little experiment.





Here's my what I started with:
a print, a brush, a bottle of medium, a bottle of texture and something to mix it together
- all of which I already had.





 I took the print out of the frame and mixed some medium with the texture which thickened the medium up considerably.

After the first coat it looked like this and truthfully I was thinking I ruined the print. Ahhh!


But thankfully it did dry clear. Like this. (I'm sure all you artists are cringing! Sorry!)
  
I decided it needed two coats to really build up the texture and look like brush strokes.



You want to make sure the strokes go in many different direction.

Also, make sure it is thinker and thinner in places.

 
Here's the end product next to the inspiration piece for comparison.

I think it's pretty darn close to the original. It has the same shine and varying texture.

I call it a success and I'm ready to try it on something bigger and maybe more expensive! Isn't this the perfect solution to a frame with no glass? I am thrilled with the possibilities!

Check it out Yo! I got me another feature!

Thanks for checking out my project!

- Becca -

I party everywhere!

Tools are for Women Too, Chic on a Shoestring,  Tip Junkie,  At the Picket Fence, Shabby Nest, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Simply Designing,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Petite Hermine, Craft Envy, Stories of A 2 Z,  Hope Studios, New Nostalgia, Sugarbee Crafts, Ask Anna Moseley, DIY By Design, Passionately Artistic, Women Who Do It All, House of Hepworths, L Bratina, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Chic Cottage,  Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Its a Hodge Podge Life, Just a Girl Blog, Simply Sweet Home ,  Inspiring Creations Blog, On the Verge 6, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, All Thingz Related, Saturday Mornings,  Poppies at Play, The Girl Creative, Type A Decorating, At Home With K, Elements Interiors, Some what Simple, Today's Creative Blog and  Stuff and Nonsense.

A Baby Shower {in images}

Not to throw anyone under the bus- but I didn't get to take the shower pics. 

Just work with me, k?

Talked about these easy peasy cake toppers here.

HOORAY GERRET! Talked about these here.

Bummer pic- but more about the design of this here.

BAD pic, but made these here.

Yummy popcorn in pretty paper cones.

More about this here and here
and even here!

Talked about making these here.

a

Pom Pom disclaimer- The ceilings were vaulted and I wasn't able to pick exactly where they needed to go, since Z and buddy were standing on the BACK of a folding chair to get high enough., basically risking life and limb to even get them up! 
{thanks Hunny}


Please stop by again sometime!

- Becca -

I PARTY EVERYWHERE I CAN!

Tools are for Women Too, Chic on a Shoestring,  Tip Junkie,  At the Picket Fence, Shabby Nest, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Simply Designing,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Petite Hermine, Craft Envy, Stories of A 2 Z,  Hope Studios, New Nostalgia, Sugarbee Crafts, Ask Anna Moseley, DIY By Design, Passionately Artistic, Women Who Do It All, House of Hepworths, L Bratina, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Chic Cottage,  Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Its a Hodge Podge Life, Just a Girl Blog, Simply Sweet Home ,  Inspiring Creations Blog, On the Verge 6, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, All Thingz Related, Saturday Mornings,  Poppies at Play, The Girl Creative, Type A Decorating, At Home With K, Elements Interiors, Some what Simple, Todays Creative Blog and  Stuff and Nonsense.

Paper Flowers + Mother Nature

Mother nature completely ruined, uhh showed up, uhh- blew my Spring Centerpiece out of the water.

This is what she's looking like these days.

Muy bonita, right?

- Becca -

I PREETY MUCH PARTY EVERYWHERE!
Tools are for Women Too, Chic on a Shoestring,  Tip Junkie,  At the Picket Fence, Shabby Nest, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Simply Designing,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Petite Hermine, Craft Envy, Stories of A 2 Z,  Hope Studios, New Nostalgia, Sugarbee Crafts, Ask Anna Moseley, DIY By Design, Passionately Artistic, Women Who Do It All, House of Hepworths, L Bratina, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Chic Cottage,  Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Its a Hodge Podge Life, Just a Girl Blog, Simply Sweet Home ,  Inspiring Creations Blog, On the Verge 6, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, All Thingz Related, Saturday Mornings,  Poppies at Play, The Girl Creative, Type A Decorating, At Home With K, Elements Interiors, Some what Simple and  Stuff and Nonsense.

Thrifty Gift Idea (Mother's Day/Visiting Teaching)

I received this plaque for my anniversary a few years ago. I decided to make 5x7 versions for my monthly visiting teaching handout as it's two of my girls' birthdays this month and the third gal is a mom and I will be seeing her right before mom's day- I thought the temple that is meaningful to each of them would be a perfect gift.

I started with a piece of scrap alder from Home Depot that costs me $1.01-yeah seriously! I had a pic of my happy face but switched phones and you'll just have to imagine it.

I had the guy there cut the scrap into 8 5x7 pieces. The sanded the crap out of it with 80 grit and then 220. It took the entire Nate Berkus show AND an episode of Dancing with the Stars to sand it to my liking.

 
Make LASER copies of whichever photo you want to use (inkjet prints will run). When I was looking for the free temple pics online I found that someone had done this idea before. If you go to The Idea Door you can find some variations of this as well as TONS of temple pdf files. I sized them down to 4x6 and put two to a page so it would cost less-it's 59 cents a page for color copies at Kinkos.

Then I did two coats of black craft paint. After it's super dry, you'll apply either glossy or matte modge podge (for paper) to the wood surface and then to the back of the picture- starting in the middle and working towards the edges.

The wood should look almost dry when you apply the picture to it. You'll want to press it onto the wood for 1-2 minutes and make sure no bubbles form.

 After at least 15 minutes you can do a second modge podge coat on top of the pic, this is where I had to be careful with the bubbling. Keep pressing down working from the center towards the edges- there are tools to do this, but fingers work fine.

Let the boards dry overnight, in the morning the modge podge may still feel tacky to the touch. You may then use a clear acrylic finish spray paint which fix that and make it look more professional.

Mesa, AZ Temple

Salt Lake City Temple

Laie Hawaii Temple

Although I chose a religious picture of the LDS temple because I wanted the message to be family oriented, i.e. "Families are Forever"-
you COULD do this with any print you want, a family photo or whatever.

You could also layer cute card stock or scrap book paper under the chosen picture.

For Z's and my moms we'll buy a stand to give as  part of the gift.
For the other women I'll just wrap a bow around it and call it good.



Thanks for dropping by!

- Becca -

I'M A PARTY ANIMAL!
Tools are for Women Too, Chic on a Shoestring,  Tip Junkie,  At the Picket Fence, Shabby Nest, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Simply Designing,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Petite Hermine, Craft Envy, Stories of A 2 Z,  Hope Studios, New Nostalgia, Sugarbee Crafts, Ask Anna Moseley, DIY By Design, Passionately Artistic, Women Who Do It All, House of Hepworths, L Bratina, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Chic Cottage,  Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Its a Hodge Podge Life, Just a Girl Blog, Simply Sweet Home ,  Inspiring Creations Blog, On the Verge 6, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, All Thingz Related, Saturday Mornings,  Poppies at Play, The Girl Creative, Type A Decorating, At Home With K, Elements Interiors, Some what Simple, Todays Creative Blog and  Stuff and Nonsense.

➷ 1$ Diaper Cake ➹

This was not the post I planned for today- I had spent hours on a project set to "debut" today but still need to take pics (it's been very rainy). My efforts were foiled when our baby HUGE FAT CAT threw up IN OUR BED last night. UGGH! No pics of the bedroom now-
THEN this morning I FAINTED! Like, what? Who does that? Now I am achey and feel sore and have to send out a less exciting back up post.

Anyhow, awhile back I mentioned that I was going to do a diaper cake. I'm working on the shower with a friend so we came together to decide on this idea for two reasons. One: she had the extra diapers of a style that wasn't working for her daughter. Two: I wanted to create balance for the table and was worried about not having enough height. 

I've shared my inspiration picture- and there are a ton to chose from. I mean the Internet is filled with ideas! I knew I wanted one more decorated and less "diapery" as I figured it would look more cohesive. We  used newborn diapers and did sort of two and a half tiers held together by a baby powder bottle. Each diaper is rolled and secured by clear (hair) rubber bands. We had planned to use wide ribbon but then had an idea to use card stock- which we still had plenty of. This way it would cover the diapers, provide a a nice smooth surface and we could return the ribbon.

We got the grass from Hobby Lobby at a 50% sale so it cost us a buck.
Diapers were some that my partner didn't like and wasn't gonna use- so they were upcycled.
Stickers and card stock were already purchased for the the pennant,
gift bag, and cupcake toppers.

Grand Total: 1 Buckaroo!

Thanks for reading!
- Becca - 

May be linked up at these awesome parties:
Tools are for Women Too, Chic on a Shoestring,  Tip Junkie,  At the Picket Fence, Shabby Nest, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Simply Designing,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Petite Hermine, Craft Envy, Stories of A 2 Z,  Hope Studios, New Nostalgia, Sugarbee Crafts, Ask Anna Moseley, DIY By Design, Passionately Artistic, Women Who Do It All, House of Hepworths, L Bratina, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Chic Cottage,  Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Its a Hodge Podge Life, Just a Girl Blog, Simply Sweet Home ,  Inspiring Creations Blog, On the Verge 6, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, All Thingz Related, Saturday Mornings,  Poppies at Play, The Girl Creative, Type A Decorating, At Home With K, Elements Interiors, Some what Simple and  Stuff and Nonsense.

Tray Chic

I have this tray from Target- I believe it's 5 years old and was purchased on clearance at Target for maybe 9 bucks? I used to have it on an upholstered ottoman in case we needed somewhere to put drinks and such. Now I have it on a leather ottoman and together they act as a permanent side table.

Well, you really can't even see the tray, it blends completely into the ottoman.

So, I want to fix it up- make it stand out. I thought about painting it, but I'm not really a distressed wood kinda gal. I like the way it looks, but in my home I just like things to be a little cleaner looking. So I started online browsing for inspiration.

Here are some possibilities.

I'm thinking about a treatment on the bottom of the tray and keeping the sides the original brown.


My two favorites for this project are the map and the book pages Although I do love the orange chevron pattern one.

P.S. It's actually  a baking sheet and can be found on Martha Stewart Crafts. I'm thinking another project for another time!

  Back to this tray, I've already started browsing maps online and it looks like finding the right size may be a chore but the price is right as most are under 10 bucks on ebay!
I've also been searching Graphics Fairy for printable maps- they have quite a few options.

 - Becca -

Craving Chocolate?

These projects and two of my three go to favorites. Whenever we are throwing a party or need a little treat to send to a friend I resort to chocolate confections. I have over 20 trays to make and decorate your own pieces of chocolate, suckers, or pretzels. You can find these at any craft store and even Walmart has them seasonally. I try to buy them right after the holiday and have found amazing deals.

For the baby shower I'm throwing I wanted to do something a little more simple as I'm hoping for an elegant look. I'm doing dipped marshmallows on sticks and dipped pretzels. I'm gong to use white chocolate and simple white sprinkles for decoration. 

When you're doing these projects you can use any chocolate but most need some modifications. So for convenience I tend to use melting chips if I have them. You can melt them in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove top.

I've done both- I usually do the stove for a large quantity so the chocolate can stay warm. But if I only need small quantities at a time the microwave is much easier.

I decorated the end of the marshmallow sticks with some baby wrapping paper over card stock. I wanted a pop of color as I knew the platter was going to be white, as well as the food and sticks. 

 Buy pretzel rods and  large marshmallows, each costs about a buck.

Just put your marshmallows on the candy sticks- which can be purchased at any craft store I usually buy a couple when they're on sale. You'll dip them in the chocolate and I use a little scoop/spatula to cover them as high as you'd like.

It depends how you're going to display the marshmallows, but in this case I knew I was going to have them on a platter. So I shook off the extra chocolate and dried them marshmallow side down. I've also had them in a bowl with flower foam in it to display like a marshmallow bouquet.

Same idea with the pretzels, dip them in chocolate, spoon it up as high as you'd want it and them shake off the extra over the sauce pan and lay them flat to dry.

I had planned to be finished at this point but thought they looked too plain. Usually I use sprinkles or colored chocolate and didn't realize it would look so plain. 


 So I put a little blue food coloring in the white chocolate and drizzled it over everything!

 This was the final result. I was a lot happier with the blue accent on top.

This was a super easy and fun project. They taste so yummy and there's so many fun ways to display them and I always get tons of compliments. (not to mention it costs me less than 4 bucks- yahoo!)

- Becca -

Linked up at Simply Designing,  I Heart Nap Time, Craft Envy, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Stuff and Nonsense, Shabby Nest, Tatertots and Jello,  Eements Interiors, Funky Junk Interiors, Nifty Thrifty Things, Fire Flies and Jelly Beans, Some What Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence and finally Fingerprints on the Fridge.

Flower Tutorial

 Here's the "how to" on the tissue paper flowers.  I tried a lot of different variations and for me this was the winner.

Start with a Square piece of tissue paper. I used 3x3 inches.

Fold it diagonally in half.

Then fold it in half two more times.

Easy right?

Now cut where I've put the red dotted lines. Make sure the side with all the loose ends is the side you are cutting.

If you are only using one color of tissue paper and want to incorporate a pop of another color this is the point that you want to outline the same edges you've just cut with a marker color of your choice.

At this point I layer two cut outs and make sure none of the edges are overlapping. Then pinch the flat bottom and  and roll.it around one of the branches. I just used white twist ties to secure it when I had it arranged to look the way I wanted.

Okay, now for these little buds I started with a 2x2 in piece of crepe paper (tissue for the tutorial). 

You want to fold it in half.

Then fold it in half again. 

Then I cut the lose edge side of the square into scalloped edges. (I didn't draw on them, that's just so you can figure out these crappy directions!)

After you cut out the scallop/petal shape you should have something like this.

You want to form into a cone shape around the end of the twig. I used a dab glue for this one.

I hope you like it as much as I did. Especially for Zero Bucks!

Sneak peak of the shower!

Thanks all you peeps for having these awesome parties- and maybe, just maybe someone will read this blog!!


Linked up all over the place at At Home with K, Tip Junkie,  Reason to Skip the Housework,  Decor to Adore, Simply Designing, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, French Country Cottage, Stuff and Nonsense, Simply Sweet Home, Inspiring Creations , Creation Corner, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Creating Really Awesome Free Things,  Petite Hermine and Fingerprints on the Fridge!