DIY Front Door Wreath

A few weeks ago we went plant shopping and dressed up our front porch with some potted plants.  My planting project then led to this wreath project because all of the new beautiful flowers on the steps left our door looking plain. So then it was time to get crafty! 

So here is how I made it...

Flowers and wreath were purchased at Michael's. 

Numbers were purchased at AC Moore. 

These flowers are fake hydrangeas. There is one colored and four neutral. 

 I also wanted to dress up the door hanger and make it look a little more rustic so I glued burlap ribbon to it. 

First I painted the numbers. A few coats of paint were needed to completely cover the numbers. 

Then I cut the stems off the flowers and green wire was used to hold the flowers to the wreath. Simply string the wire up through the wreath around the flower and then back through. 

The numbers were a little bit more of a challenge because the wreath surface was not flat.  Some of the numbers I just hot glued directly to the wreath.  Some of the numbers were a little temperamental so I created the method below to secure them.  I took three medium sized strands of wire and folded them in half. Then I put a dab of hot glue and held the wire until the hot glue set.  One the glue was try I weaved the wires through the vines in the wreath and then secured the wires in the back. 

and ta-da...here was the final produce!

I used the green color to complement our purple door but you could also use a pale yellow or rustic orange color to complement dark purple.  I might have to make an orange one for the fall :)  

Decorating and Picture Hanging: Easier Than You Think

Decorating and hanging pictures can sometimes be challenging. I have realized with some recent finds that it doesn't have to be! Purchasing a picture hanging kit will give you help when you are trying to mount pictures in a fashionable manor. Follow this link, Bed Bath and Beyond, to see just one example of a kit that gives you paper templates to use and reuse to create perfect works of art! (Where can you find that table? IKEA)

The many different paper templates allow you to easily see what you like and what you don't like. You can also add in other objects such as these letter "Mr. & Mrs.". 

Its easy to hang pictures going up steps using paper templates!

Use some tape to secure the paper to the walls while you decide their best place to go. Once you have decided that all of the paper templates are where you want them, just put screws right through the paper. You can then rip the paper, carefully, off the wall (not all at once!).

Its best not to tear all of the paper off at once. This will make you forget which frame goes where. Doing each picture one by one insures that you will have the right picture in the right spot. 

Pre-Christmas Shopping

It seems like every year Christmas starts earlier and earlier. This past Christmas season (November 10, 2012) I was able to participate in the tradition with Jackie as she searched for all of her Christmas goodies. 

I quickly learned Home Goods is a store Jackie loves. This store is very unique, because you can go there twice in the same week and find something different. It is not uncommon to go twice in the same weekend either. During busy times this store can become like Costco or Wegmans on a Saturday afternoon. Make sure you have a cart so you can block other carts. This allows your shopper to examine merchandise. Without this blocking technique it could be very dangerous. Only the strong survive! 

Ikea is another store that has seasonal goodies Jackie loves to buy. Although similar to Home Goods, Ikea's larger store spreads out the shoppers for safer shopping. The stick-man was my idea and a great addition to our office. Scroll down to see what the stick man is doing today!

No he didn't fall over. He is just getting his push-ups in.

Gary and Joey introduced Jackie to Crate & Barrel. She had never been there before and we left with lots of things. 

A Day of DIY Projects

Today is the 2nd day of spring break and already Will and I have completed many of our home DIY home projects that we put on our "To Do" list.  We started out the day painting a "As Is" chair from Ikea that was only $9.99.  It was perfect for a little corner desk that Will had refinished a few months ago.  

Before

After

Then we started working on a monogram project with inspiration from a monogram flag that my Mom had given us as a present.  We started out by buying a 4ft x 2ft board from Home Depot and then we cut it down to a 3ft. x 2ft piece.  After that we painted it a off white color that we had gotten for $2 on the mistake/returned paint rack at Home Depot.  After we painted it tan we taped the trim to frame out the monogram design.

Once it was taped we used a technique I had read on a blog to make crisp, clean lines.  We took the same paint that we had been using and repainted the area that we were about to paint black.  This extra coat helped fill in any spaces that might not have been covered perfectly by the tape.  After that was dry we painted the black trim and peeled off the tape to reveal the clean lines because of that extra coat of tan.

After the trim was done I found a google image of the flag and Will enlarged the image in Paint.  He then printed the large image on several pieces of paper.  I had to cut and tape the image back together so that it would be large enough for the area inside of the trim. 

Next, Will scratched the back of the design with a pencil.  Once the back was covered with pencil I laid it on the board and traced the black design.  When tracing it on the board it left an outline on the wood.  From that outline I painted the image and ta-da it was done!

For our last project of the day we finished up a quick project to frame our first house key.  I typed up the title, left space for the key, and then under the key I typed up our new home address (sorry you don't see that part in the picture).  I had painted the key red a few days ago.  We glued it onto the paper with super glue and in just a few minutes we created quick and cheap knick-knack to help fill our empty walls.

It was a busy day of doing little projects to make out new house feel homie once we get to move in.  Tomorrow it is back to wedding planning.  Will and I are going to try a cake up in Frederick, MD and then meet an officiant.  Later this week my Mom and I are going to pick out invitations.  This spring break is defiantly a week of getting things done! :)