Rustic LOVE Sign from Barnwood

If you have been around here any time at all, you know that I love barnwood signs.  I didn't have one yet for Valentine's Day.  So I just had to make one.  My rustic love sign....

I cut out a heart from brown paper.  The letters came from a pack of post it letters for poster board signs.  

For this one I tried out the crackle finish from Martha Stewart.  It is available at The Home Depot.  I will warn you that the directions say to apply over a primer.  I didn't.  I wanted the barnwood to show through the cracks.

 The Martha Stewart product is THICK.  It needs to be applied like spackle with a putty knife.  I just used my pieces to mask the area off I did not want painted.  I did not even tape them down or anything.

Apply an even coat and then sit back and watch the magic.  As it drys, it crackles!  Lovely chippy paint in one simple step.

 You can see the crackle in this up close pic.  Plus the barnwood peeking though!  Yippee.....I heart rustic...

 I added this to my Love banner and DIY tobacco basket.... 

 I will talk some more about this area and Valentine's Day decor next week...y'all stay tuned!

 Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.

Posted at the under $100 party on Beyond the Picket Fence.

Posted at the Open House Party on No Minimalist Here.
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Linking to the V-day party on Hoosier Homemade.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage

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Hide the toys in plain sight...

I discussed one way to tame the toy clutter yesterday.  I have another tip for you.  Hide those toys in plain sight!  Can you tell me where the toys are in the picture below?

Yep I have a little parking garage under that covered table...

I made the original slip cover for the table here.  It was short and showed off the table legs.  Then I found a lovely image on Pinterest of a table with a tablecloth for toy storage.  I cannot for the life of me find that image now.  If you have it and want to link it in the comments, I will be more than happy to give credit where credit is due.
At any rate, I just sewed another longer skirt on my original slip cover and made it where it would open in the front...

See the original one is still under there and you can just catch a glimpse of some bumpers...

I added ties so we can have the cover open or closed...

So when company comes, all you see is something neat and orderly.  Best part is my son loves to park his trucks in here.  Yep...that means he LIKES putting them away!

 Posted at Get Your Craft On on Today's Creative Blog.

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~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage  

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Autumn Pillow from a placemat

I have an infatuation with the super easy placemat pillow.  I made one here and here...and guess what?  I am at it again!  This time an autumn pillow from a placemat...a super simple 5 minute craft that you will love... 

You will need a placemat, seam ripper, and poly-fil.  And something to sew closed the opening you are going to make.  You could even hot glue it if this pillow is just for looks. 

I got my placemat at Big Lots.  It was on sale for $2.30.  :)  Now that is a budget friendly pillow! 

Use your seam ripper to make a hole in one side.  Just big enough to stuff your pillow through...

Start stuffing with poly-fil until you like the way it looks... 

Then just sew your opening closed with your sewing machine or by hand.  Or use some hot glue...I won't tell... 

To make a pillow with this much detail from scratch would take hours.  This craft will take you 5 minutes but you can impress all your friends with your craftiness... 

These are cheap and easy enough -- you can have one (or more) for every season!  Get to the store and pick out your placemats today! 

Posted on Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch.

Posted at Just Something I Whipped up on The Girl Creative.
Posted at the Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.

~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

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Make your Own Tobacco Basket -- oh yes I did!!

Ever since Kimba got her tobacco basket I have been on a mission!!  Don't know what a tobacco basket is??  Check out all her obsessive photos here!  So what to do...what to do...  I mean I can't spend that kind of money on one....I would faint!! :)  So I made my own tobacco basket...DIY time girls!!  I created my own version for $1...yes a buck! :)  Are you ready to see how I did it?? 

First of all gather your inspiration!  Search google images for tobaccao basket and come up with great pics like this these...

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Tonja's Gatherings

Aaahhhh...yes just what I am craving!!  I needed a base...something to start with.  Yes it took me a couple of months to find.  But I found this at the thrift store for $1!!  It is some sort of flat basket.  About 20 inches square. 

I figured I could work with it.  Yes it is the wrong color, wrong texture, just wrong.....but bear with me!!

I began by removing some of the vertical and horizontal pieces.  I removed 2, left 3, removed 2, left 3...etc.  Vertically and horizontally...

I then realized you could push those pieces and move them..hmmm.  I pushed my "threes" together so they looked more like one large strip instead of little puny ones...

And after that was done I was left with this...

Okay shape was getting better....color not so much.  So first thing I did was do a couple of really thin and completely uneven coats of spray paint.  One in a light tan and one in white...

It totally did not cover all of the original color.  Just a LIGHT and UNEVEN coat of both.  And I did both sides of the basket...top and bottom if you will.

Yep I still wasn't sold on the color.  I wanted more of that worn, been in a barn for too long look.  So I broke out some craft paint.  These are the colors I used for the entire thing.  (You love my polka dot birthday plate don't ya??)  I mixed and matched these colors.  I ended up using a little more brown.  But the other colors this is all I used for the entire basket front and back.  The key is to put the color on lightly with a dry brush.

I just picked colors dabbed a little on my brush.  Then made long fast strokes on the basket blending the colors in.  I randomly placed the colors on.  No rhyme or reason.  And when I was happy with it I stopped.

A lot of the images I googled has some sort of stamp on the sides.  So I added a few letters on the side for our state.  You would have to look to find them but I thought it was a nice touch.

Now it was hard to take pictures of but can you see the various colors all blended together. 

Looks more like it spent years in a barn huh??

So where does one put a faux tobacco basket??  On top of my vintage sewing machine is where mine landed for now!

I must say...I smile when I walk past it everyday!!  I must show off my new pitcher for a minute.  $1.20 on clearance!!  Score!!  It it like a really pale yellow!!  I can spray paint it later if I tire of that color.  For now, I love how it adds a touch of sunshine!!  And if you missed my faux pottery barn wooden dough bowl tutorial -- you will want to make that little gem too!  It is there with the wood spools in it..

And that little owl on the right came from a great etsy shop called Gnome Goods!  I love mine!!  But onto the star of the show...that basket!!  :)  I truely love the way the paint turned out.  And yes it is not authentic...but for $1 it will do for now!!

If I run into the real deal for a steal of a price...you bet I will bring it home!!  But this one will satisfy my cravings for a while!!  I get to look at this gorgeous faux finish daily...

So have y'all been dreaming of tobacco baskets??

Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.

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~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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Leaving it Rusty...

Have y'all heard that Miss Mustard Seed and Funky Junk Interiors are having a Copy Me Challenge??  Yep they are challenging all of us to copy them!  It starts when MMS gets just 25 more followers!  So I have to post this Funky Junk copy to prepare...

I got this rusty old milk can.  It is a smaller version (about 1/2 size) and it completely gorgeous!!

And I thought about painting it...yes painting it.  Then I channeled my inner Donna...

Why cover up this rusty goodness???

I added in a vintage, rustic croquet set and proudly displayed her rusty glory!!

Cause after all...that is what Donna would do! :)

Do you have your copies ready??

 Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
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~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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A Slipcover for My Coffee Table

At Christmas, I had a piece of a white sheet thrown over this coffee table I have.  I really liked the bright white.  However, I am just not committed to painting it.  Soooo.....the slipcover was born.....

I have had this set of tables for many years and they are really nice!   I don't use this one as a "coffee table" anymore but rather for displays.  I am just afraid if I paint it I will tire of it and be back to stripping paint.  So here is my before....

This was an easy one y'all!  I took canvas drop cloth and literally cut it right on the table to the size I wanted....

I literally used the length of my scissors to determine if it was the same all the way around...no measuring tape for me! :)  Course if your table is square or rectangular this step would be way easier.

Then I took one looooong strip of torn canvas for the edge.  Yes tear if for that lovely frayed edge!  Mine was about 6 inches wide but that can vary.  I ripped my canvas into 6 inch strips then sewed the ends together so I had a very loooong strip.  Then just sew it to the table cover piece.  Every few inches I made a pleat.  No measuring, or pinning, or exact science.  Wing it!  It will look great!!  After you finish sewing your pleats all the way around just cut off your long strip at the end and put a pleat there so that your raw edge is hidden! :)  Mine is at the back but you would never know it if it were in the front...

And when you get done....throw it on your table and you will LOVE it! :)  I love that white look without the commitment of paint!

Perfect for a family photo display don't ya think?? 

 Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
Posted at the under $100 party on Beyond the Picket Fence.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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