My Sweetest Things

Mod Podge. Love it! Super Fan I am. Years ago when we moved into our home I wanted to add a special touch to the walls. Something different. I decided to add some art in unexpected places. Switch Plates! Now that would be a conversation piece.  Many different types of papers can be used. I bought some textured art paper and pulled out my old Dali Calendars.They turned out great and I was thrilled with the results.

After living in the house for nine years I was ready to redecorate several rooms in the house. First came paint and next came the decorative switch plates.

Switch Plate Cover, Exacto Knife, Mod Podge, Foam Brush

Arrange cover on paper and leave room around the edges so you can fold the paper behind the cover.

I brushed two coats of Mod Podge on the top.

Place cover face down over the paper. Use Exacto knife to make a small cut in the middle for switch.

Fold paper back and apply more Mod Podge to secure it to the cover.

Use the pencil and gently rub around the rectangle to smooth the paper out.

Make cuts and fold over the back of  the cover.

Brush Mod Podge all over the back to secure the paper.

I set the cover on a container so the sides would not stick to the newspaper I was working on when the cover was drying. After it is dry, flip over and add two layers of Mod Podge to the front.

When the front is dry, use the pencil to poke holes for the screws.

Here is a second one I did using layers of a Dali calendar. I added some sparkle to this one!

When both covers were completely dry I used Low Odor Clear Finish to protect them.

I did not want to use the white screws that came with the cover since they would not match the artwork. It had to match!  I went to Home Depot looking for “artsy screws” and the nice gentleman at Home Depot looked puzzled when I tried to explain to him what I was looking for. We came up with these screws in Brown which worked well.

Tada! This beauty is in my Bedroom by my closet door. Salvador Dali – Mae West c. 1934

This beauty is in our downstairs bathroom. See how those Brown screws fit really well?

Here you can see a cover I did years ago for our bedroom. Not some old boring white switch plate cover! That’s another Dali! Three Young Surrealist Women Holding in Their Arms the Skins of an Orchestra c.1936

These are the covers I did nine years ago! I wanted you to see that they hold up very well. All of these covers are in high use areas. I added sequins and sparkle paint to some of the covers. If you use sequins add a small drop of Mod Podge to where you want the sequins placed and use tweezers to place it on top of the drop. You will spray with the clear coat to set it when the whole cover is finished.

I still have a few more covers to make and I am still working on my bedroom makeover. That’s new paint you see on the walls. They were Burgandy before!

Now, what to do with that mirror?

It’s all good ~ Donna

I recently moved my computer out of my bedroom and into a small corner of my husband’s office. I read that letting go of the T.V., computer, and exercise equipment gives you better energy…better Feng Shui. Sounds good to me so out it all went. Well, not the T.V. yet. That’s a hard one to let go! When I got the computer all moved I felt I needed to make the space mine with personal touches. It was perfect timing last week when I came across the blog A Nerd Like Me. I whipped a Memory Collage Frame that Evan shared and then I saw the Cork Board she put together. It seems we both have the same items hanging out in closets! I knew the cork board was going to be just what I needed in my little space.

Imagine all the things YOU can create with those items hanging out in your closet!

It’s all good. ~ Donna

Throughout our trip to Germany I saved and collected maps, train tickets, coins, and other small paper items for keepsakes. I am working on an album for the photos but was not quite sure what I would do with my collection. I bought a photo box to store them in but then I came across a blog post by A Nerd Like Me. Evan the blog author returned from a trip to Italy and came up with the idea for a memory collage using an unused picture frame. I happen to have a lot of picture frames in closets just because I know I will use them someday and someday finally came, so Saturday afternoon I created a Memory Collage. I love the result!

This picture I have had for years and recently took it down and kept it for the frame. It is gold with a crackly finish and I choose to change up the color of the frame from gold to brown.

I removed the paper lining, the back cover and the glass.

I lightly sanded the frame and applied one coat of Burnt Umber.

While the frame was drying I gathered the items I wanted to use for the collage. I created a small 5×7 picture collage using Picasa and photos from our trip. It is so easy to do and once the collage is created Picasa has a feature where you can send the photo to a local printer. I choose Walgreen’s by our house and one hour and $1.99 later, the photo was ready!

When the frame was dry I arranged the items and glued them on the back cover of the frame. I used a map as the background and glued all the paper items around it. I used hot glue for the coins and coasters.

The final result!

I love it and it makes me smile. It’s nice to glance at it and remember such an incredible trip! Thanks to Evan and visit her site A Nerd Like Me. She is fun and crafty with great ideas to share. I’m starting her Cork Board project today!

It’s all good ~ Donna

Two very special ladies in my life, my Mom and Grandma celebrated their birthday’s and I wanted to give them something special. Molly Monkey is the cutest and I thought she would make both of them smile.  Larissa is an Atlanta peep with a wonderful blog mmmcrafts. I made my first Molly in August 2009. You can take a peek here to see how I made her. She received many oohhhs, and ahhhs from family members and I have many more Molly’s in my future. Thanks Larissa for sharing her as she has brought many smiles to our family.

My Molly in the Middle. Grandma’s on left, Mom’s on right. All sitting pretty!

Molly in Grandma’s arms.

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma! You are so wonderful and I am blessed to have you in my life.

I have to mention that the red beaded necklace she is wearing belonged to her mom.  She shared a story of how her mom

would get dressed to go to the city and she would wear that necklace. Love, love.

It’s all good. ~Donna

When I was 12 or so, my dad signed me up for sewing lessons during the summer.  Sears Sewing School in downtown San Antonio.  I remember going to the sewing section and picking out all my supplies. I had a wicker basket with pink fabric and it held all the tools I would need to start my new craft.  I remember the sewing room being cold and I was the youngest person there. We went through sewing basics.  How to thread a machine, sew simple stitches and cutting patterns. That part was not so difficult. Our summer project was a summer dress of course. I picked a blue and white gingham fabric.  I have since questioned my fabric choice. I am so not a fan of blue and white gingham. Anyone ever see me in it? Nope. Never.

I pinned my pattern to the fabric and began sewing away. I really had no problems with it at all. Well, I thought I had no problems until I was required to turn it right side out. Then I realized there was trouble. I sewed the entire piece wrong sides together. Nice.  Even better was that I had to model it for the class. Yes, pretty plus girl in a blue and white gingham dress inside out. As Tim Gunn would say…”Make it Work!”

I was blog browsing and came along this sweet site mmmcrafts.blogspot.com Larissa is a local girl. Shout out to the Atl! She has wonderful, creative crafts on her blog and she shares them so graciously. It was on her site that I saw Molly the sweetest little Monkey and knew right away I wanted a Molly of my own. I printed the pattern, which you can find here.

I can sew. I went to Sears Sewing School. I have sewed once in 30 years and that was a pillow. Straight stitches. The pillow came out great. This should be no problem! I went to JoAnn’s to pick up my supplies. It took me over an hour just to pick the fabric! I spent a Friday night cutting out the pattern, cutting fabric and setting up my 1958 Kenmore Sewing Machine. (It belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I am lucky to have it!)

I had a wonderful time with the project. I learned new skills. Bias tape? Yup. I know what that is. I will say the seam ripper was my best friend during this project. (Thanks Betty!)

I photographed the entire process of course and yes as always I have entirely too many photos but it was an opportunity to work on camera skill as well and work it I did!

Thanks again to mmmcrafts for this wonderful Molly Pattern!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Here’s Molly!

Believe in yourself, Motivate yourself, Congratulate yourself.

It’s all good.

~Donna