handmade

March 12, 2014

DIY Monogram Photo Collage

Here’s a fun, easy, and inexpensive DIY project that you can make for anyone. I mailed my last Christmas package mid January (don’t judge), so that means I can share the “how-to” with you here on the blog.

Hobby Lobby has all of my favorite papers, embellishments, and tools on sale all the time. And that’s good when your crafting on a budget. This project only cost me $1. to make. That’s not a typo. Keep reading and I’ll tell you how to make your own monogram photo collage.

Supplies Needed:

*Chipboard Letter (This one measures 7 3/4″)

*Various sizes of photographs

*Mod Podge

*Spray paint

*Foam brush

*Scissors

*X-acto knife

*Fingernail filer (metal ones work best)

Hobby Lobby always has these chipboard letters on sale for 50%. With the discount you only pay $1. The spray paint I had on hand, but this particular brand was from Walmart and I believe it costs a little over a $1. You don’t have to use a name brand for this project.

When I first made these monogram collages I attached black cardstock paper to the backs. Spray painting them is so much easier! Remove the price tag from the back, place down a barrier in between your work table and the letter, and then apply one layer of spray paint. Make sure that you hold the can about 6 to 7 inches away from the letter. That’ll prevent the paint from creating puddles on the chipboard. Use any color you like. I choose black because the photos are in black and white. Let it dry for about 30 minutes.

Do you have an account with Walgreens online photo lab? I use them all the time. If you signed up for the promotional emails they send out frequently then pay attention to them. Every now and then you’ll get one for a free collage. Watch the dates that they are valid. Their offers are usually only good for three days or one day only. The black and white collage above was obtained through one of their free offers. You can upload 20 photos. The range of sizes are perfect for this project.

While your waiting for the spray paint to dry, cut out all of the photos and lay them on your crafting table.

Arrange them in the order you want them to be attached to the letter. I alternated depending on the age in each.

I always use double faced tape for my adhesive. You can also use Mod Podge for this part. Attach the photos to your letter so that all of the chipboard is covered. You will find that overlapping them is helpful. I attached the larger images first and then utilized the smaller ones to fill in the spaces. When the whole letter is covered I take an x-acto knife to trim off the excess and then use a fingernail file to smooth the edges.

If you used Mod Podge as your adhesive, let it dry for about 30 minutes to an hour before doing this next step. I used the double faced tape so I’m ready to move on.

Using a foam brush apply a layer of Mod Podge to the entire letter. Gloss or matte, whichever you prefer. After the first coat is dry I added one more layer.

When it’s completely dry I flipped it over to sign and date it.

All done! I’ve made six of these so far for gifts to my nieces and nephews. A nice keepsake for the parents as well. Get creative with this idea. You could also use the last initial for your family and incorporate family photos.

Until the next project…

January 18, 2013

DIY: Smash Book Covers (Update-Completion)

This post is so overdue that I almost didn’t want to share it now. Why? Because I was up until 3AM on Christmas Eve finishing these three books. And I’m still working on three more for my other niece and nephews who live out of town. {bad girl} I told myself that it was too late to share because the holiday is over.

But, what made me decide to go ahead and share is that this is the type of project that you can make anytime of the year, not just Christmas. Birthdays, Easter, Just Because, etc.

They turned out awesome. Exactly like I visioned them.

Book lovers please close your eyes for this part. I found six old books at an antique store all the same size (somewhere close to 5 x 7). I cut the front and back covers off leaving the pages attached to the spine. They’ll get used later for some handmade cards. The ring binder clips were purchased from Hobby Lobby. Much cheaper than what the local office supply store was selling them for. It pays to price check before buying.

I love working with chipboard. Any shape or color, I love it all. It’s the first thing I look for when entering the craft store. Even if I don’t need any.

Spelling out my niece and nephews names I positioned the letters on the front covers. Aubrie’s already had a design so no color was needed for hers. For the boys I used spray inks. Use an empty shoe box, it helps control the mess of ink from spreading on the counter.

Using hot glue and a few other coordinating chipboard shapes I put together the covers. Rubberstamps filled in the empty spaces (refer to the opening image).

Sorry, I forgot to take an image of the inside of the book covers. You can see them in the photos below. It’s real simple. I covered the inside with a piece of patterned paper. They were signed and dated on this portion.

Remember my earlier posts when I was doing the prep work for the pages? Click here and here if you missed those. Eight pages (of recycled boxes) is what I decided on for each book. Front and back that makes 16. Doesn’t seem like a lot at first, but trust me it’s enough for one book. Truthfully, these books take time. But in the end they are SO worth it. An adorable keepsake they’ll have documenting a part of their life.

The rest of the book is up to you. Be creative. I was fortunate enough that my sister visited over the summer {sigh} so I was able to accumulate a lot of photographs of the kids. Not sure what to use when putting the books together. Some ideas are right here. The possibilities are endless. I’m simply sharing a sample of what I used.

My Dad used his drill to create the three holes that bind the pages together with the covers. It worked awesome. I held the book together tight and he lowered the drill press to put the holes in. Recommendation: These books have three ring clips in each. And that works great, but for the other three that I’m making four ring binder clips will be used. It’ll give the book just a little bit more stability. Again, three work, but I’m going to try four. Ribbon is another option in place of the clips.

Along the edge of each sheet a strip of sticker paper about an inch wide was attached for extra reinforcement. I’m speaking of the side that you will be drilling the holes into. For Cooper’s book (above) The letter C (rubberstamp) was used for his name. I alternated the C with other stamps. You could also use patterned paper cut into one inch strips. Again, be creative.

This was a good project for me because I was able to use all the scrapbook paper that I’ve been collecting over the years. I say collecting because when a buy all the pretty paper I store it in a nice container for safe keeping. Fellow craft geeks can relate with this statement.

Stickers? I like to collect them as well. Dig your stash out and use them throughout the pages.

I waited until the last minute to put them together. Why? Because I work better under pressure. Seriously, why do we wait until the last minute? I have no answer. The photos were sitting on my table for months and all of the prep work was done as I posted each update.

I’ll be working on the other three this weekend. It’s fun making six of them because it allows me to try different techniques with each one.

Now that most of my nieces and nephews are using pencils and crayons perhaps I’ll make them journals using this same concept. We’ll see what I come up with. I’m still saving all of my boxes and my stash is quite large. From time to time my sister sends me a box of her recycled boxes to add to the pile. Most grateful for those as well. Along with the boxes of Trader Joes cookies she includes in the package.

Leave me a comment below if you ever made a smash book. Would love to hear what tools and supplies you used.

April 4, 2012

Recycled Beadboard DIY Project

LOVE IT! Something old with something new

This recycling project has been on my list for over 2 years, seriously! I picked up the IKEA towels during my first visit to their store after dropping off my sister at the airport in Chicago (Julie, you will know how long this has been).

And can you believe that it took us less than 30 minutes to complete from start to finish? When I say us I’m referring to my dad. I presented the idea to him and asked what tools he had available to help me out. I had the blueprint in my head, three vintage spoons, and three super cool cotton linens with hooks on them. The only piece I was missing was an old board. My mom suggested using beadboard. My dad found a piece in the basement and it was the perfect size. I used sandpaper to give it a distressed look.

Beadboard with three vintage spoons

I don’t have much experience with tools, especially those with power, so I left that part for my dad. Using a hammer he flattened the spoons. As you can see in the photo below it gave them an even more aged look.

Spoon on the right flattened with hammer

Using his vise tool he tightened the spoons in place and bent them back with a clamp to create the hook.

I eyeballed a location on the beadboard for each spoon to be attached. As with my handmade cards, I hate to measure. I just wing it!

Almost done…

He added the hardware to hang the finished piece. I asked him to sign the back. I suggested that he should make some more to sell in the Vintage shop in Galena, IL. I got the same smirk from when I asked him to sign the board. Perhaps I’ll just get some additional spoons and place them on the workbench.

I thought about hanging photos from the hooks as well. Making a frame out of transparency paper around a photo. Then adding a hook with fishing line. Lots of possibilities.

Total investment = $5.30.

$5. for the three IKEA linens and .30 cents for the spoons (antique store). The piece of board and hardware was given to me.

A BIG “thank you” to my dad for helping me with this project.

P.S.

I’m trying to convince him to help me build a sofa table. Just a few simple pieces of wood for the base and legs along with some nails. I’m sure there’s something out there I can recycle and create the table. I need it for in front of my picture window in the living room. My dogs love to jump into it every time there is movement outside. And the exercise bike and tv trays that I have there now don’t look attractive at all. I’ll keep you posted on what I find. Any suggestions? Please share in the comment section below.

P.S.S

Another goal off of my resolution list has been met!

Enjoy your evening.

~Jennifer