LOVE Marquee Sign

It's been awhile, I know!  Like almost a year!! haha.

So I have been in love with the all Marquee signs I've been seeing, and just knew I could make one for way cheaper  than they sell them for.

My Mom bought some plastic round bulb lights * I could only find the link to the clear glass at Target on sale for $3.99, regular $14.99! (I know hey!  I asked her to get me some too at that price!), and she wanted me to make a marquee sign for my sister's birthday.  Well I didn't have time, and her birthday came and went, so my Mom just gave her the lights if she wanted to make it.  Well an idea finally struck, and my sister came over one day and away to work we went!

My sister (Shawna), found the letters at Michaels Craft Store for about $1.49 each.

They were already white so we didn't paint them.  We had 25 bulbs, and four letters to spread them out, so we placed an X in pencil where we thought they should go.

We then dropped in on my husband at work who has all the tools, and helped us cut them and nail them with a nail gun. He also had glue to secure it all.  We used 4 2x1's going across the front, and 1x1's to cap a border around the sides.  

We used a scrap piece of MDF and cut to fit the back to hold all the boards together.

Then we let my husband get back to work and we went to my garage to do the rest.  We placed the bulbs to see how it would look.

Then we started drilling.  My sister held the board steady, while I drilled. Teamwork!

We did it over a garbage pail to support the board, and our drill could go right through without any damage to who knows what.

Lets just say we burned through a drill bit (as in it was smoking it was getting so dull), we let it cool down and tried again, but we didn't really want to start a fire on our lovely board, so we patiently waited until we got another one.  Then we were back at it!

On the back I used a bigger drill bit, so that the cord could push in a bit.  It was too thick to just squish the bulb in, so this was necessary. 

Yay!  The fun part!  We put the bulbs through the holes to try it out!!  We didn't secure the letters down because the bulbs hold them in place.

Final product:

Blurry, but I only grabbed the one shot in the dark'

I almost cried when I handed it over to Shawna to take home:(  I am determined to make another one for my girls room, but I have to wait to get a good deal on those lights again!!

We didn't stain the wood like we originally had intended, but left it natural because we liked the colour, and it will age nicely.  

Have you tried making a Marquee Sign??

Cost:

letters- $1.49 each x 4 (Michael's)

wood- $15 (roughly) (Home Depot)

MDF- Free (thanks hubby)

Lights- Free (thanks Mom) Target

Total: 20.96

Easy Thrift Store Chalkboard

At Christmas (I know, this is a little late!) we exchange names among my siblings for gifts. I drew my sisters name, and we both have a passion for all things Jane Austen!  So I was searching up ideas, and came across this book which I never got to read but I heard from her that it's a fun book:

The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman

See, she just moved out on her own, so who couldn't use a little Jane Austen advice on life?!  

I also thought I wanted to make her a chalkboard (there, I finally got around to my point!) for her new place.  Who doesn't need a chalkboard.  They have cute ones out there on sale, but I was on a budget for this Christmas gift so I had to work magic to stay within that budget.  

I searched the thrift store and came across this old calendar box for $3.99!

Have you ever had one of these calendar boxes in your house?  Or do you still??

I picked out a pretty blue acrylic paint that I already had on hand, and coated the entire board except in the middle where I was going to put the chalkboard paint.

Next I found this recipe to make chalkboard paint on pinterest:

I cup of acrylic paint + 2 Tbsp grout.

I cut this recipe in half for my project and had lots!

Did you know that you can buy chalkboard paint in the store. $8 for a tiny can, or you can make it with a few supplies on hand!

After painting the chalkboard paint on I waited for it to dry, and rubbed chalk all over it to break it in.

Here it is:

I did my best at making fancy chalk letters.  Not as easy as others make it look!

Does this quote make anyone else smile?!  

I think it is such a funny line especially the way Tom Hollander says it!

What a cheap project to make:

Calendar Board: $3.99 (thrift store)

Acrylic Paint: Free (on hand small craft paint tube)

Grout: Free (on hand)

TOTAL = $3.99

So, will chalkboards go out of style soon?  It seems like they are everywhere!

And yet, I still don't have one in my house...

How to Make a Shelf From a 2x4

My sister knew I was on the lookout for some gorgeous mirrors.  Ever since I saw this on the pottery barn website:

source

So she called me up one day saying she found some beautiful mirrors at my favourite store (Homesense), and was describing them over the phone.  Anyways she bought them for me, and not for a great price, but when I saw them I was so in love with them that I kept them anyways.

BUT... first I wanted a shelf under the mirrors for going in my dining room, so I started looking around the house.

I found a stash of wood in my garage, perfect!

I found a 2x4 and started sanding...

I used Minwax American Walnut to stain the shelf.

p.s don't use bare hands when staining (lesson learned!)

Even a plastic bag is good enough when you don't have gloves.

I haven't put a sealer on it yet, but I have satin finish Varathane to use on it. Which you just use a paint brush to brush on.

I had considered buying a shelf from Ikea, but after spending money on the mirrors, I decided the shelf had to make up for the cost, and I am happy with the rustic look.

The anchors holding the shelf were cheap ones from Walmart that were white and I painted black.  I didn't think they were a great choice but  they were only 99 cents each, where as the others were $7.00 each. No way was I spending that much on 3 anchors.  Besides I like them now, and think the look of them is perfect (kind of like barn hinges).

Okay, you want to know the cost of the mirrors (I would if you were writing this post).  $35 each.  Worth the money! I love them!

So there you have it!  My new dining room...

WAIT, something is missing...

There.

A wide open space for my baby to ride in!  

(it had been raining for a week)

P.S.  Dining room table is my next project.  Hopefully soon, as we are eating on the floor!

Cost of Shelf:

2x4 wood:  free

3 anchors: $3.00

Stain: borrowed from sister

Total: $3.00

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!

Fireplace Tiling

So, I wanted this fireplace in my bedroom, to fill a spot and add some coziness to the room.  I bought the fireplace last year off Kijiji for $40.00.  But it was just a frame, and stayed that way for about a year.  I wanted to get some glass tile to put in it, so I kept my eyes out for some.

So, to start I searched for glass tile.  I found them for $18.00 a sq ft at most places! Yikes! Then I found a shop that sold them for $1.99 a sq ft!  And guess what... they were the same kinds!  Phew, I just saved myself over $200 for this project (*wink- as if I would ever spend that amount on a small project!)

I picked this tile which was the closest to what I had in mind.

But I didn't want the black.   SO what did I do?  Grab a few sheets of tile, and PICK out all the black!

My hubby found some extra particle board from a work project, and he found just my size.  We cut the sides, and screwed them on to create this:

I set it out to make sure I had enough, and to cut them to size.

And got to work on the tile glue.

My daughter nabbed my camera, but did pretty okay with it.  She got me laying the tile down.  Yes, I am doing this on my bedroom floor.  Wouldn't you?

So now, I have gaps I have to fill with the extra tiles I bought.  Good thing they were only $1.99 a sheet. I started to fill in all the missing spots.  I wanted this to be mostly grey and white.

Once all was in place it is time to grout. 

(p.s. I waited OVERNIGHT for the glue to dry before I started grouting.  I am an impatient person, so I was proud of myself for doing the full wait!)

I got my grouting equipment:

Sponge -Lowe's 99 cents

Box of grout- Totem- 8.99

Trowel- Hubby's

Set out my fireplace insert...

Added the grout.  (This was surprisingly fun.  I think I like tiling!)

Had some unexpected help from this one:

(who also got into paint as well- notice the red eye!  BATHTIME!)

Wiped it down lightly once.  Let stand for an hour (again with the patience!  Remarkable!)

Then wiped it down clean and that was ALL!

My hubby says I didn't need to seal it because it is decorative and no water will be getting on this.

And all is well.

Yes, those are my Christmas decorations.  And No I don't still have them up, I am just late posting this.

I am thinking of filling my fireplace with tall candles, or a white berry wreath.  

What do you think?

Cost Breakdown:

Grouting equipment- $9.99

Particle Board- Free

12 tiles - $24.99

TOTAL: $34.98

I'm joining in the Winter party at:

What a better way to warm up winter than a fireplace!!