A tutorial on how to DIY wallpaper with old sheet-music. 
{Of course you could use any vintage papers that are pretty or have special meaning to you.}

DIY vintage paper as wallpaper!  YES! 
I love the way it looks, I love the nostalgia it brings along....  I just love it....

My favorite part of this very fun music wall is when Beth, my pianist friend, comes over, sits down, and starts playing the wall!  She plays short passages from Beethoven, Braum, Bach, folk-music, finger exercises, etc. etc....    They're all on the wall!  I love it....
I could listen to her all day...!
{We play a little bit too, but not like she does....  }

Over the last summer I had collected some vintage sheet-music at thrift stores and estate sales, and always selected those which had the most yellowing....
Then in the fall it was time to wall-paper the wall behind the piano.

We had a little bit of a sneak-peak of the wall
with the post I did on the potato sack stockings.
I am just now getting around to posting how I did it.  {Sorry!!}

I learned quite a bit along the way, and hope that my mistakes and tips will help you out when you paper your wall with vintage music paper or other old pages of some sort.

I had no idea that I had WAY too much musicpapers so now I have LOTS left-over to so something fun with...  :)  Yay!

And now I will tell you how I did it! 
It took me two days beginning to end.

I started by thoroughly cleaning the wall, then painting over it with primer (the wall WAS a deep red: very popular ten years ago....heeheehee). 

These are some of the things I learned along the way (the hard way, unfortunately):

• Using Mod Podge or wallpaper glue makes the sheetmusic very wrinkly.  You might like that, but I didn't, so I removed them, scrubbed the wall clean again, and started over.
• I thought I would like the removable tape, so I could reposition the pages, but alas:  ALL the pages that I used the removable tape with had to be redone, because they were falling off!
• Double sided tape is a little bit spendy, but to my surprise the least expensive variety that I found (Target-brand) was the tape I liked best (for this project)!  Good news!

P.S.  I want to paint my piano.... What color do you think I should go?

• a stack of old paper (book pages, magazine pages, sheetmusic, letters, receipts, etc.)
  
• double-sided tape ( I used 7)
• scissors
• spackling knife

Go through the slides below for step-by step instructions and tips.
Also read the tips above.

Partying with these bloggy friends.... & the Charm of Home, Coastal Charm, Savvy Southern Style, Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, The Shabby Nest, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, Between Naps on the Porch

Yay!  I finished this fleece and denim rag quilt for my son.  He loves it! 
It is nice and warm, and looks great in his room. 

These are a few tips to keep in mind before you start your jeans and fleece rag quilt:

• Make sure your sewing machine can handle several layers of denim.  Not all machines can.
• No need for batting: denim and fleece are both very warm.

• Special rag-quilt scissors are available at your local sewing store.  They are well-worth your investment.  (Use a coupon!)
• Though this quilt is easy to make, it does take a lot of time, so be ready for that.
  
• There are pockets on both the front and back of this quilt, which I did on purpose.  However, as it turns out, my son did not like that:  he thought they should appear on the front only.  Just something to think about before your start sewing.
• I like the looks of this quilt, but if I was to make it again, I would use two solid colors of fleece, rather than one solid and one print.  It would have given a more ageless feel in my opinion.  
• Hitting your finger with a hammer really hurts!  And will hurt for several weeks, so be careful! (Yes, that is experience speaking...! ) (Find out how hammers are related to quilt-making in the slideshow below....)

Go through the slideshow below to see step-by step direction on how to make your own denim and fleece rag quilt.

I link up to a number of these bloggy friends.... as well as to the Charm of Home, Coastal Charm, Savvy Southern Style, Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, The Shabby Nest, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, Between Naps on the Porch

Here it is:  the long awaited tutorial for the skirt made from upcycled neck ties.... that I introduced to you in this previous post.

I love this skirt.  It is so fun to see some of the ties that my husband used to wear....  Not gone, just used in a different capacity..  :)  It's like a memory-quilt, except it's a piece of clothing....

This skirt is a size "small" but thanks to the t-shirt waistband, fits SOOOO many different people.  It is so fun to see how great it looks on many different figures. 

My friend Elly Gray agreed to be my model for today, and I am glad she did!  We had a fun time outside (even if it was a bit cold), and we got some cool pictures.  She is a gifted and creative person and a wonderful mom to three terrific kids.

Doesn't she look great?

The skirt looks totally different when you turn it to show off different ties,
and combine it with different colors...  Isn't it great?

Follow the slide-show instructions below for easy step-by-step directions to make your own tie-skirt with t-shirt waistband.

About five years ago I came upon a wonderful large paper map of Idaho.  (yes, you are right, I got it from a de-junking pile at an elementary school!) 
My husband has a passion for the back-country of Idaho where he has spent many a summer hiking, camping, canoeing, working, fishing, you name it.....
So I was super ecstatic to find this map. 
But alas, I didn't really know where to hang it, and I couldn't figure out how either....
The only thing I could think of was framing it, but I really didn't want to spend the $$$$$$ on that custom framing job....

So there it sat, rolled up in a closet for YEARS!!!!!

Well, it finally hit me:  I figured it all out....
I would hang it roll-down school-map style!

And now our map hangs happily on the wall in the living room.  And I like it there!

It was super easy to do and I spent less than $10 (on the two dowels)
(the map was free.... )
I would have hung the whole thing on a cord at the top, but our ceilings aren't super high, so I wanted to save the space.

If we ever move to a house with taller ceilings I will probably add that....

:)

Anyway, I really like the way this map looks on this large wall.
The colors are simple and calm.  So peaceful for our living/family room.  Perfect.

The library catalog?
I bought it about a year ago on Craigslist. 
It was kinda pricy, but in great condition...  so I couldn't just resist it....

I was so excited that two milk-crates fit PERFECTLY underneath the card catalog!
I use them for my magazines:  Ensign on the left:  New Era and Friend on the right....

I took pictures as I put this map together.  I couldn't believe how easy it was. 
So the tutorial follows....
Hope you like it!
:)



(Note the number love on the vintage shoe makers form....  Love it!)

• How do you like my map?
• What would be your number one map choice?
• Which country/state/city?
  

Materials Needed:

• Large Map
• Two Dowels
• Masking Tape
• Duct Tape
• Two Nails

 
Tips:

• I bought my two 48-inch dowels at Ace Hardware.  I was so lucky: they were the exact right length! 
• After staining the dowels I let them dry for a couple of days before attaching the map.
• I would have used white duct tape, but I didn't have any, and when I checked, the yellow did not show through, so........ I just used what  I had on hand...)
• Position the back side of the map correctly in relation to the dowel using tiny pieces of masking tape.
• Go right over top of the masking tape with the duct tape.
• Use just a skinny edge of the duct tape on the dowel (we wouldn't want it to show on the front....)
• Push down firmly
  
• Don't go all the way to the end:  we don't want to duct tape to show....
• Place one dowel at the top, and one at the bottom of your map. 
  
• Hang your map using two nails:  one on the left top, and one on the right top.

Your map will hang very nice and straight (the weight of the bottom dowel keeps it from rolling back up)

Watch the photos below for some visual instructions:

The quote: "I can do Hard Things" is attributed to  Elaine Dalton. 

She said:  "I had a small plate inscribed with a motto that read, “I can do hard things.  That little plate bearing that simple motto gave me courage. But now if I could change that motto, it would read: “In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things.””

Read the original talk here....




I believe "I Can Do Hard Things" also fits in perfectly with Philippians 4: 13

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

I made one for my friend as well, however, she wanted one in the more tan/brown tones.  So using the same techniques as in the tutorial for the black/white sign, I made the above sign for her, using brown/black as the first layer, and tan as the second.  I hope she likes it!  
Crystelle

Make fancy-schmancy Mod Podge wood hangers for yourself, or as a gift.  They are super easy to do, and they are super cute....

Decoupage hangers are great to have on hand:

• In the closet:  clothes will not slide off....
• On the wall:  to display important papers, cards, kids' art

I was asked to come up with an inexpensive, easy and quick craft to make with the Relief Society women in my church and this is what i came up with.  I took pictures as I went along, so follow the tutorial at the end to see what I learned....

Have a great day!
Crystelle

This is what you will need: 

• wooden hanger
• Mod Podge (or similar)
• fabric with fun print,
• tissue paper (matching color)(the kind you use with gift-giving)(mine was "used", which is just fine)
  
• paint (matching color)
  
• brush

The pictures below will show you step-by-step instructions

Linking up to several of these party friends.....

OK, I just couldn't refuse!  I was walking around in a thrift store and lo and behold, I came upon a wooden pizza reel.  It was just slightly used....  Immediately my mind said EAT!  {like it says all the time anyway.... lol!}

So I picked it up.  Paid $1.50.
Took it home and got started right way. 

Now, I forgot to take a 'before' picture because I was so excited to get goin'.... 
It happens...  a lot.......

I finished it up in no time flat {OK, I had to let it dry overnight ~ twice}, and hung it up in my kitchen....
Where it is right now, and it is VERY HAPPY there, I might add!!!

OK, now about my kitchen.  We bought this early 70's home because..... well, I don't know really why we bought it.... It had a LOT of issues...  YUK!  Anyway... 
We have done a lot of work on it, and with every project we get more exhausted, BUT the house gets a little bit nicer...  Imagine that....

So two of the original GREAT features of this house are in these pictures:  My number one FAVORITE {of course} is the retro oven...  In fire-engine red...!
WOW!  How lucky did I get!
And the good thing is ~ it actually works GREAT!!!
I love it.
It's a double oven, and really I only use the bottom one....
Ever.
OK, so maybe twice or thrice a year I will use the top oven. The only occasions for it are:  a big meal where I have to cook a LOT of food...
Or turkey:  it doesn't fit in the smaller lower oven...

The other unique aspect of this home is the huge brick wall that appears in the kitchen....
It's big....
and wraps around into the living room...




There is a tutorial slideshow below
{if you're interested}
WITH a blooper.....


better check it out.....!

Anyway, my kitchen and my EAT sign are very happy together...  
I took pics while I made the sign {it was SUPER easy}, and will add a tutorial later with some detailed tips AND a blooper {yes, I caught it on camera....}...

Have a very terrific day....
Crystelle
{Is there pizza in your eating future...???......}

I will have to tell you honestly:  What I DON'T like about this sing is that it says "eat"......  like my subconscious mind needs any reminding!  Or encouragement for that matter..........  I LOVE to eat!  don't you?

links:  Our Delightful Home, Serenity You, Little Becky Homecky, Say Not Sweet Anne, I should be mopping the floor, Skip to My Lou, the life of NOT so ordinary house wife, Craft-O-Maniac, the Gunny Sack, Lines Accross, Between Naps on the Porch, Be Colorful, Homemaker on a Dime, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Pincushion Creations, Winthrop Chronicles, Ladybug Blessings, A Diamond in the Stuff, Today's Creative Blog, Home Stories A to Z, a bowl full of lemons, not JUST a housewife, Homework, Miss Information, Uncommon, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Crafty Confessions, Crafty Texas Girls, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Printabellee, the DIY Dreamer, Doodles and Stitches, Chef in Training, Practically Functional, Tales of a Trophy Wife, Jaq's Studio, and these

My daughter is having a birthday in a few days, but we will not be together......  We will miss her so much... :(
During the summers she works in Rhode Island to earn enough money to make it through two semesters of school...
We are so proud of her for her hard work and the wonderful lady she is turning out to be....  and the wonderful young lady she has always been.
{We love her:  does it show....???}




That said, I put together a little care package for her:  just some simple little things she might enjoy.  We will celebrate her birthday for real when she arrives home {for a couple of days} next month. 

To make her birthday more festive for her made a super-simple little garland to decorate her bedroom with... It turned out pretty cute, if I say so myself!

This is how I made it: 
I went through my scrap fabric box and picked out a few cheerful happy colored scraps.  I was surprised at how little fabric I needed. 
I folded the fabric over {pressed the crease real quick} and cut out a triangle, square or rectangle at random.  sometimes I didn't even use a cutting ruler:  I just eyeballed it.

Then I folded each shape over a string of jute cord and sewed along the edges using a bright colored zig-zag.
In the little garland I made, I used orange and green thread. 
I must say I am really happy with the cheerful results!

• Cost: nada {nothing, zip} ~ I had all these things laying around and almost threw them away many times {for clutter control purposes, I'm sure you've heard of it....}
  
• Time:  less than an hour
• Result:  pretty dang cute happy cheerful celebration decoration!!!

linking to:  It's a Blog Party, Trendy Treehouse, Savvy Southern Style, House of Hepworths, the Shabby Creek Cottage, Somewhat Simple, the Brambleberry Cottage, Delightful Order, Our Delightful Home, SevenThirtyThree, a Creative Princess, Firefies and Jellybeans, Bear Rabbit Bear, Live Laugh Rowe, Two Sasters, Whipperberry,  Strut Your Stuff, Just Us Four, Happy Hour Projects, The Dedicated House