Teacher Appreciation Week: Watering Can Flower Pot Gift (Free Printable)

Did you know that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week?  Totally is..and you're not too late to celebrate your child's teacher.   (And hint, hint Mother's Day and the end of the school year are just around the corner, too.) This is a really quick, easy, and inexpensive teacher gift..plus I'm making it easier since I'm including some free printables. Plus, I asked my cousin - who's a teacher - what one of the best gifts she ever received from a student was and she told me a potted plant with a sign reading: "Thanks for helping me grow."  So there you have it...this is a total win!

Free Faux Chalkboard Signs Tutorial {Plus a Free Printable}

A few weeks ago I shared a fun little chalkboard sign I made by using an old picture frame and painting the back with chalkboard paint and then writing with chalkboard markers.  One of the hangs up I had with the sign is that my fancy handwriting and chalkboard lettering leave much to be desired.  The feedback I received from all of you fine people made me feel much better...I'm not in this bad lettering boat alone.  

So today, I thought I'd share a fun and free ways to make faux chalkboard signs.  You read that right...these are not the real deal, but they look like the real deal.  They do not require any chalk, chalkboard paint, or handwriting.  All you'll need is a computer, an internet connection, and a printer. Sound like it's your kinda project? Yeah, me too.

DIY 'Let It Snow' Burlap Banner (Free Printables)

Alright, you guys..I know you're gonna be shocked, but I'm back with another burlap project.  I made a little Let It Snow burlap banner to get me through the winter, even after I take all the Christmas decorations down (that's the worst, isn't it?).

I'm making this bunting super duper easy for you, by giving you the free printables.  Even if you don't have burlap, this would look awesome printed on paper.  Alright, lets get started.

20 DIY Burlap Ideas: For the love of all things burlap!

I may be slightly obsessed with burlap for the moment  month  season year....but I promise you there is a good reason why.  Burlap, while it can be a real mess to work with, is one of the most versatile mediums (did I really just write 'mediums'?? Just trying to up my game from my usual 'things') I use to create.  I have made everything from toilet paper napkin rings to wreaths and pillows with burlap.

Since I love it so much I thought I would share my love of all things burlap today with a great big roundup of some really cool DIY burlap crafts and projects we've featured right here on 2IY...so here goes.  You can click each photo to be taken directly to the tutorial.

Fall Home Tour: 10 DIY Fall Decorating Ideas {for busy moms}

 

If you've been following along for awhile you know I've been decorating for fall since what feels like  the first of September August.  This year I made a lot of DIY fall decor so I thought I'd do a great big roundup and take you, my lovely readers, on a fall home tour.   Like a lot of you, I am a busy mom to two little ones, so I know DIY decorating ideas must be fast, easy and cheap.

You're welcome, in advance :)

Easy Fall or Autumn Burlap Banner (Free Printables)

Oh, how I love when the season changes and my decor must change with it.  If you've been following along you know I've been working on a few natural elements for my fall mantle like these Pottery Barn knockoff tree branch candle sticks and these gold spray painted (properly cleaned and dried) acorns.  I also recently picked up a big ol' white wooden pumpkin at TJ Maxx for the floor next to the fireplace, but I still felt like something was missing.

I decided to take a note from my July 4th burlap banner and make a FALL banner to complete the look.   My mirror above the fireplace isn't too large which is why I went with 'Fall', but if you have a larger space, you could also make an "Autumn" banner/bunting.

2IY June 2013 in Review

It's July 1 so you know what that means? Yup, it's time to look back at some of the best and most popular 2IY projects from last month.

The stenciled lamp shade was far and away the most buzzed about projects in June.  The Ikea hack was also among the easiest.  I simply bought a gray shade, taped a stencil to it, and had at it with some white craft paint and a sponge pouncer.  The results were incredible - and the reaction slightly overwhelming.

Some of my personal favorites from last month were the Pottery Barn-inspired Stars and Stripes Burlap Bunting, the dowel and pot toilet paper holder, and the personalized "Home of the Brave" sign.  It's great to recreate someone else's idea and use it for inspiration, but when it's something that comes from my own brain cells firing - I get super excited. 

Pottery Barn knockoff: Mini Fourth of July Hanging Burlap Banner

I don't know about you, but I love a good Pottery Barn knockoff, especially when it costs mere cents.  That's exactly the case for this mini PB-inspired Fourth of July Hanging Burlap Flag.

PB's Original Burlap Hanging Flag

The project is actually very simple - so simple
PB's $34.50 price tag will leave you shaking your head.  Here's a list of supplies (as always, I have gathered them into a shopping list for you on Amazon so you can order them all or just what you need).

• Natural-colored Burlap (9"x11")
• 12" Dowel
• Jute rope, twine, or ribbon
• Printer/Computer
• Freezer paper 
• White acrylic paint 

To start, I used Pottery Barn's large flag as a reference to create the pattern on the computer.  Now because you are going to print this out on your printer, the flag will only be as large as a regular size sheet of printer paper (it is possible to make it slightly longer, but I'll get to that).  Because I am basically obsessed with Powerpoint and it's simplicity I used ol' trusty.  I've turned my template into two free printables so you can simply open them up, download and print.  (You will notice the star is on a separate printable.  That is because, as I explained here, the only way to print white is to print it on white paper, which of course we are not doing.  So... the star is perfectly sized, but you will have to add the star later as a stencil...but we'll get to that.)

DIY Kids/Guest bathroom wall decor (Free Printables)

Two years after moving into our fully-flipped-minus-the-kids-bathroom-house I am starting to spruce up their space.  We plan to eventually re-do the bathroom by updating the floor, tub, toilet, vanity, paint, and adding a double sink - but for right now they're little corner of the world is kinda blah.

The colorful shower curtain helps the white walls...but it's not nearly enough for me to say it's "decorated."  Last week, as I was making this monogrammed chevron baby gift I had the idea that I could make something similar as kids bathroom decor.   Due to how the free printables from For Chic Sake were created, I could not add any more than three letters to the existing printables.  So I created a new set of my own chevron printables just for this project....yes, first world problems, I know! 

DIY baby gift: Monogrammed Chevron peg frame

My best friend from college and 3-year roomie just welcomed her second baby this week - another girl - and I immediately got to work on a baby gift for her.

With her girls almost exactly three years apart - I know she probably doesn't need many baby clothes or gear or blankets or useless silver plated booties.   Plus, I'd much rather make something so it can be personalized.

I immediately knew that I wanted to use this awesome monogrammed chevron printable from For Chic Sake that I had come across a few weeks ago.  I've been dying to use it for a project, but just hadn't found the perfect use for it - until now.  

 

This was one of those projects that just kept evolving as I was working on it.

At first I was just going to frame the monogram, like in the above example.  But then I remember I had the last of my three ugly old shadow boxes still tucked away.   (I mean if this doesn't go to show that you can turn an ugly duckling into a swan, I'm not sure what does.) I cleaned it up and spray painted the wood box and the back. (Click here to see how I used the other two to frame my daughter's first ballet shoes and an old family recipe from my late grandmother.)

Handprint art gift idea for "Hands Down Best..." (Free Printables)

Okay so I'm a little behind here...so stash this adorable DIY Father's Day gift idea away for next year - and by that I mean "PIN IT" now and do it later.   This gift is definitely last minute do-able.  Heck, I ran to Walmart on Friday at about 10:30 to get all the supplies and we had it done and ready for daddy by noon.  So here's what you'll need:

• Wood Board
• Metal Clips
• Fast Drying Spray Stain
• White Acrylic Craft Paint
• High Gloss Sealer (optional0
• Computer/Printer

Start by staining the wood board.  If you have time, it's much cheaper to use regular rub on stain, but for last minute people, like myself, this fast drying spray on stain will do the trick.   This was actually the first time I used spray on stain.  I liked it for its ease and fast drying, but it's pretty expensive for a small bottle that won't last you too long.

4th of July burlap party banner decoration (Pottery Barn knockoff on the cheap)

There's not much that gets me more excited than pulling off a Pottery Barn knockoff on the cheap.  This Fourth of July Burlap Party Banner is so easy and inexpensive to make.(Of course, if you're drooling over it, but don't have the DIY motivation - no worries! It's now available in my Etsy shop in three different sizes).


Pottery Barn's version (on the right) is no longer available (all the more reason to DIY for this July 4th decoration), but when it was available it sold for a pretty penny.

I ordered two yards of burlap from Joann Fabrics website.  Honestly, it's just easier for me to order stuff online than it is to drag a 4 year old and a 2 year old to the fabric store.  Kill me now...Anyway, shipping was .10...yes, 10 cents and the burlap was on sale!

Aside from the burlap, you'll need freezer paper (look for it near the wax paper in the grocery store), a computer and printer and some rope, twine, or jute, and spray adhesive is optional.

DIY July 4th decorations: Personalized wood sign

NEW: Now on sale and fully customizable! Scroll down for details. 

I don't usually decorate for July 4th, but this summer I want to put some USA pride on my mantel.  I thought and thought and came up with this cute DIY wood sign that I think will be the perfect start to my July 4th decorations.

So here's what you'll need

• Piece of wood (mine is about 13.5" x 3") but you can make it any size you wish
• Primer 
• White and blue (or red) acrylic paint
• Sand paper and/or sander
• Painters tape
• Wax Paper
• Card Stock
• Spray adhesive
• Computer/Printer
• Credit Card

Get a piece of wood -- could be a plank from a pallet, could be a 2 x 4 could be a piece you find in the back of your basement (this would be the case at my house!)

Free printable labels: Thought bubble labels in two sizes

Who doesn't love them some free printable labels? I created a set of super cute thought bubble labels that can be used in a variety of ways.  I mod podged them to glass jars and use them for craft supply storage, but you can use them however you want.

They are available in two sizes and I two different sets - one let of printable labels that are pre-filled with craft related items and another blank set that you can customize.

You could use them for kids art supplies, on canisters in the kitchen, in the pantry or to labels storage boxes in a medicine cabinet or linen closet.

 

I'd love to see how you use the thought bubble labels.  Just share a link to you blog post with a picture in the comments section below. 

As always, thanks for stopping by 2IY. 

Posted by: Melissa