Fabric Covered Bulletin Board

I love to pin things on a bulletin board. Probably why I seriously love the virtual bulletin boards of Pinterest. Check out my Pinterest Boards here. I wanted to add some bulletin boards to my Art/Craft Studio to pin up inspirational pieces or quotes. I didn't want a very big board - just something to tuck underneath my shelves.

Supplies

Cork Board(s)
I used two Quartet Bulletin Boards 5.5 x 14 - found them on Amazon

Fabric

Staple Gun

Velcro Command Hooks

Cut out your fabric a few inches larger than the board.

Line up the print (if needed). Staple the sides first and finish off the ends like you're folding the corners when you wrap a present. Trim any excess fabric.

Place your Velcro Command Hook on the back of the board. Because I was putting it directly on the fabric, I used my staple gun to secure it a bit more.  
What's nice with these is you can just pull the Velcro pieces apart and
adjust them to make sure everything hangs straight.

Home is Where Your Heart Is

I've discovered this to be so true when I moved last year. After living away from family for many, many years, I made the decision to move from a very big city (3 million+) to a sweet little town of 5000. As my folks grew older, I missed being near them. Even though we talked all the time, I wanted to be "in their lives" and have them be "in my life," not just for the big stuff, but for the everyday stuff.

My dad was facing greater health challenges and this big decision allowed me to be with him pretty much every day for the last six months of his life. 

My parents have always been the best cheerleaders in my life - always encouraging, always positive, always enthusiastic. I can only hope to be more like them - this blog is one way to share the joy they encourage me to see each day.

I created this sign from wood and paint and scrapbook paper. I even used the chop saw my dad taught me how to operate.

I hung this sign in my garage so I can see it each day when I leave my house and each day when I return. It's terrific reminder to look for the love and joy in each day.

Hope you find lots of love and joy today!

Create Your Own Customized Button Lampshade

I love me some buttons. I've got lots and lots and lots of them
(Can you have too many? I think not). I decided to spruce up a rather plain looking
lampshade with a few (more like 600) buttons.

 

For this project I wanted a variety of cream colored buttons in different sizes.
Headed over to Etsy and found just what I needed. 

Out came the glue gun. I have a love/hate relationship with my glue gun. Sometimes it is so sweet and helpful, and sometimes, when I'm not paying attention, it just burns the you know what out of me. You could also use tacky glue - you'll just have to hold the buttons in place for a little bit while they dry.

Learned (the hard way) it's easier to glue the shade and add the buttons to the
shade instead of putting the glue on the buttons directly. I put a row around the
bottom of the lamp and worked my way up staggering the sizes.

 As a final touch I tied a translucent ivory ribbon around it.
It weighs quite a bit so make sure to have a sturdy shade.

Have fun creating!

Love, Steph

 

 

Fun Way to Organize Your Buttons

DIY File Cabinet - Upcycle a Thrift Store Find

A Cheery Recycling Box

 With a very big blue recycling can in the garage, I wanted something that fit underneath the kitchen sink so I didn't have to trek to the garage every time I had something to recycle. After shopping and having no luck (didn't fit, too expensive), I decided to get out my handy Mod Podge and Do It Myself.

Supplies

1 Cardboard Box (to fit under the sink)

Scrapbook Paper (15-20 coordinating sheets)

Mod Podge

Paper Trimmer(or Scissors)
Foam Brush

Lettering (printed off computer, stencils, stickers)

  Cover your work surface. Cut the paper into various sizes of squares and rectangles.

Glue the paper down with the Mod Podge overlapping the edges to
make a pattern you like.  

(It definitely gets sticky so make sure to have some wet paper towels handy.)

Add some lettering, if you wish. I printed up a label on a medium weight paper using a Stencil font. (If you have a ink jet printer, make sure to wait until the ink is dry before you try to Mod Podge over it, so it doesn't smear.) You can also use stickers, stencil, etc.

When you finished your pattern, cover the entire box with a few more coats of Mod Podge and let dry.
I sped the process along with a Blow Dryer.
 

I also sprayed a few coats of Clear Gloss Spray Paint to add a little more protection.

Happy Recycling!

The First Step

Welcome to CreativeSteph13

Sharing a life of Creativity, Organization and Joy!  

Creative or Organized. Who says you have to be one or the other? I love to create things & I love to organize things. Why not embrace both?

As one of three daughters, I was blessed with parents who introduced me to so many areas of the world... art, music, cooking, travel, gardening, crafts and all types of do-it-yourself.

My "to do" list is a mixture of practicality and dreams. What needs to be done and what I hope can be done. From creating new pieces of art, to organizing something, to sharing it with others. 

I believe dreaming is just as important as planning.

I believe there is joy in every day - we just have to choose to see it.  

Big or small, it's waiting for us. 

I believe a little bit of organization can make life so much sweeter. 

I believe in sharing and I love to make people feel included.

We can inspire and be inspired by others. We can teach and be taught by others.  

I believe we can be organized, creative, or BOTH if we want.

So I find my bliss in both organization and creativity. This blog is all about that. I want to share new art pieces I've made, creative ways to brighten your environment, and ideas to make your life more organized. Hope you'll be a part of this fun journey.    -Steph