Mr & Mrs Pillows

So my younger brother is getting married, and we are having a bridal shower this weekend for his fiance.  So I have been thinking about what I  could make, and came up with these:

This is what I started out with:

These pillows I got from Ikea

Then I also found some fabric from there, and it was the perfect kind, and what do you know... it was on sale 1.99 a meter!  So I bought 2 and a half meters.

I found on this other website that you can use Freezer Paper for this kind of project!  I didn't even know what freezer paper was or looked like, but sure enough it was down my grocery store aisle!

Now when I was finding a font I liked I had a choice between 20 fonts and can you believe I could only make it as large as it shows on my printer paper below!  So, I had to draw it by hand with a ruler onto the dull side of the freezer paper.

Then I used an exacto knife to cut out my letters.  I did this on top of a cereal box so I wouldn't cut my table (not that it would matter, my table is in pretty rough shape!  Didn't you see the photo with the pillows on my table!).

Then I put the shiny side of the freezer paper down on the fabric and ironed it on to the center of my pillow.  The iron makes the paper stick so that all edges of my stencil were flat for when I started to paint.

I bought this fabric spray at Walmart (I didn't see any other choices then the spray, but it worked great!)

I sprayed my letterings and let dry for FOUR hours.  I kept peeking I was so excited to just work on it.  After four hours I peeled it off, and was very pleased at the minimal out of line splotches.

3 hours of sewing (I am sure that is not a normal amount of time for anyone else for sewing a pillow, but ... I wanted it perfect), and I had fabric flying in all directions!

But here is the happy little pillows that my sister in law to be will be getting for her gift:

I left the edges raw for a casual look.

Cost:

Pillows: $5.99 each

Fabric: $4.50 (for 2 1/2 meters)

Fabric Spray: $4.97

Freezer Paper: $5.00

Total: $20.46

And I am happy to say that this was so fun and now I have enough fabric spray and freezer paper left over to do some more projects with them!!  Why didn't I get more fabric that was so FUN!

Bulletin Board

My little niece is having a birthday party.  Thank goodness for the advance notice, because I really enjoy making gifts.  I like to test my creativity.  So here is what I came up with for her 5th birthday.  Actually, this project I saw at my favourite store (Homesense), and I thought, "that is a cute idea, I bet I could make it for less".  So this is the version I came up with.

I started with a cork board that I found at the thrift store, along with this picture frame.  It's funny because the lady I was paying at the till was going on about how soothing a lighthouse can make you feel (which is the picture in the frame).  Well, she was rambling on, and on, so I stepped in and gently (so I wouldn't crush her feelings) and told I just wanted it for the frame.  She just said, "Oh, well that's nice too!"  So does she really like lighthouses, or was she just making polite conversation, or does she just want to get rid of the thing altogether so she's making it sound better than it is...?  Anyways, I bought it.

When I got them home (sorry for the bad lighting, but I did it at night) I ripped out the picture from the frame (Anyone want a lighthouse?), and broke the frame off the cork board.

I measured the inside of the frame.

And cut it using a utility knife.   I cut the backside, and the front, so that I wouldn't ruin the cork.

After I had the cork board the size I wanted I got this stamp from the dollar store that I liked the pattern of, and I used a paintbrush to put it on the board.

I didn't blot it because it hardly left a mark on the board when I did try to blot it.

I just used whatever pattern to put it on the board.  I wanted the cork to be predominant, so  I scattered the stamp in an orderly way.

After that, I primed and then painted the frame for the board a aqua blue that I had leftover from the project here.

Now... onto make the pins for the board:

I bought these hair elastics at the dollar store.  I thought they would add just the right amount of glam to the board.

I used pliers to pop the backing off the jewel.

And thank goodness, I have finally located my glue gun.  I found it in my bathroom drawer of all places!!  I glued the jewel onto a thumb tack.

Okay, the reveal:

Stamp, jewel, picture... perfect!  Although I am not giving her the picture.  This one is my daughter, I put it here to show you what it could look like with a photo, or you can use it for artwork.

Cute.  So the one I saw at Homesense was just as good as this one, and it didn't come with pins.  It was $19.99.

Let's compare costs:

Cork board: $2.49

Picture Frame:  $4.99

Stamp:  $1.00

Pins: $1.00

Primer and paint colour:  Already had on hand.

Total:  $9.48

I win!

The good thing about my niece being little still, is I can get away with giving her things to decorate her room (which did I mention is a blue theme) because everyone else will probably be getting her toys!

I am linking up to the parties on my sidebar.

His & Hers Hooks

So, onto the second bridal shower gift...  If you missed the first, it's here.  I started out with these two wooden plaques that I got at the Michael's Craft Store.  They were $2.69 each.

I primed them and painted them white.  I figured I would make the project a black and white theme, since that is what she is going with for her wedding colours.

I remembered a stamp I bought that I love, and hadn't used for anything yet, and this was the perfect project to use it for.  I painted the stamp with black paint and blotted on paper towel to make it a lighter more distressed shade.  Although, this picture I have posted below was before I decided it needed to be lighter (I had to make a quick fix!).

I bought these knobs and two back plates at Home Depot for $1.48 (knob), $.98 (back plate).

Of course I wanted these to match too, so I painted them black as well.

I had a friend make some vinyl up to say "HIS" "HERS", and the little stinker wouldn't let me pay for it!  But supposedly it would only cost a couple bucks (so keep that in mind- still cheap)

Lastly, I drilled a hole in the back to screw in the knob and back plate.

Okay...   ahh, are you ready for it!

Voila!

And there you have it!

I forgot to mention that I am putting a thing on the back (I can't think of the name of it - but I know what it is in my mind), so that you can hang these on the wall, and with the little knobs you can hang anything off them... towels, bathrobe, jewelry, ties, whatever!!

I am pleasantly pleased with myself.  Cute!!!  Well, enough of me, I hope you get inspired!!

Cost:

Wooden Plaques: $2.69 each

Back Plate: $.98 each

Knob: $1.48 each

Stamp: Had on hand

Leveling Hanger (the hook on the back): $1.49 (set of 6)

Vinyl: from a friend

Total: $11.79

I am linking to the parties on my sidebar.