Leftover Burlap Becomes Bulletin Board

This little project was pretty exciting for me.  I saved a wad of cash and got something even better than my original want.

I saw a framed bulletin board at Hobby Lobby for $70 on Saturday.  Now, I would never pay that but I was considering the $35 when it went 1/2 price.  Ya'll know that you never pay full price at Hobby Lobby because everything goes 1/2 off sometime. Right?  But because I am a little cheap frugal, I decided to wait on it.  I'm so glad I did because as luck would have it, I came across a pinterest pin using burlap to make your own bulletin board.  Ding! Ding! Ding! Lightbulb moment!  There is this huge painting I stuck in the attic that would be the perfect frame.  Always always always keep your old decorating stuff so you can "shop the house" and repurpose things later.  Here is the picture in it's original form-

I pulled off the paper backing and popped out the print.  This was a steal at $10 from Old Time Pottery a few years ago.  It was a steal because the frame is heavy, sold wood, and it is huge.  I never was crazy about the picture but it served a purpose for a time.  

I covered the back of the picture with cork from Lowes ($10) and trimmed the excess.  Then I covered the cork with the leftover burlap.  I wrapped it around and secured it every few inches with my arsenal of choice, the glue gun.  If you don't get at least 3 first degree burns from your glue gun, you aren't really crafting. Tip: the cork is THIN. You may want to use the cork from an actual bulletin board that you tear a part.  The price is about the same. 

Pop it back into the frame and then use a staple gun to secure. 

 Then I found a hot guy with tools to change the hooks for me. The painting went horizontal but I needed the bulletin board to hang vertical. 

It's really helpful if that same hot tool guy will hang the board for you.  

Done. The $70 bulletin board for $10 plus leftover frame and leftover burlap. 

Labor Day weekend is over so I'll be taking a craft break now...but then again...there are so many ideas on pineterst...I may have to sneak in one or two more in the next few days. 

The Easiest Project EVER

This is the easiest project you will ever do.  In fact, here are the directions ON the project.

I used the leftover burlap that I had from the fall pennant garland but as I was thinking about this the options are endless.  Find the perfect fabric from a napkin, placemat, hankie, tshirt, scarf, scrap material, pillow case, sheets, even some great scrapbooking paper.  

I can see these all over...big message boards like this one...little message boards attached to bulletin boards or on doors or bathroom sinks with a reminder list for the kids.  

Pair it with a set of the dry erase markers and give it as a teachers gift.  

This project is literally so easy I felt dumb for not thinking of it myself!

Loving the Look, Hating the Pictures

This was our first attempt at the deco mesh decorating.  We went with a garland for the mantel and I have to say I love it so much more in person than from these pictures. Why does the color never turn out right?
Here are the steps.
Step 1- Buy or make a work garland.  I couldn't find one to buy at Hobby Lobby so I made one.  I used wire twine and pipe cleaners. I tied the twine to the table and door across the room so make it pull tight. Attach the pipe cleaners by twisting them every about every 5 inches. It ends up looking something like this:

Step Two- Using the large roll of deco mesh, start at one end and attach it by twisting the pipe cleaner.  Pull it down to the 2nd pipe cleaner to keep your poofs a consistent size.  

Create the poof by attaching it at the first available pipe cleaner like this-

Step 3- Add various other ribbons in a zig zab pattern.   

We chose a red burlap, green damask print, and a plaid.  However, after starting the plaid we decided we didn't like it.  No big deal, just pull it back off.  That's the great thing about working with this material...it is so easy to remove and start over until you have it like you want.  

Step 4- Add in picks of fall flowers, leaves, pumpkins, etc. etc.  We bought them in a bunch and then just pulled them a part. 

It is that simple!  Now, don't judge the top of the mantel yet...we are working on it...getting some ideas from pinterest to make it just right.  Don't judge the colors either. I'm not sure if it is the phone or the lighting or what but if you've been here you know that wall is a deep "barn red" and that is what the burlap is too.  I hate the way it looks pink here. Ya'll know me better than that, right?