Rustic DIY Projects

This past weekend I dove head first into some new DIY projects courtesy of Pinterest.  Be on the lookout for images and tutorials on future posts.  In the meantime, if you're itching to do something creative here are a few ideas with links to get you started.  I'm loving the current DIY trends of using chicken wire, pallets, and burlap. 

Chicken Wire: Chandelier by Homedit/ Frames by Lemonade Makin Mama/ Monogram in Frame Beautiful Nest/ Bulletin Board by The Project Girl
Palettes: Coffee Table by Mama Stokes/ Shelf by Amanda Carver Designs/ Headboard by House Tweaking/ Coffee Table by Unstitched
Burlap:  Placemats by Pickles & Cheese/ Monogram by Fiber & Water/ Printing on Burlap Tutorial by Domestically Speaking/ Wreath by Hopeful Homemaker

Watercolor Edges Photoshop Tutorial

A couple of you all had asked me about how I got the watercolor-like edge effect on the links to the right side of fourteen feet ceilings and my wedding blog.  I compiled a tutorial to share on how I created the graphics.  It is really easy, and I know that you all are great at photoshop so I'm sure you'll come up with creative ways to tailor the tutorial to fit your style.  Feel free to share anything you create using this technique, I'd love to see it!

Step 1:  Open a blank photoshop file.  I've set up a square canvas size, 748x748 pixels large.

Step 2: Choose file>place to place an image onto your canvas.

Step 3: Using the transform tool, stretch your image to fill your entire canvas.

Step 4: Create a new layer.  Paint bucket the entire layer white.

Step 5: Load new brushes from Brusheezy.  Search for 'watercolor' in their search box.  I loaded the sets Watercolor Splatters & Dry Paint Strokes.  You can definitely do this technique with only one brush set, but mix and layer multiple brush sets together to add variety.  After downloading the brush set to your computer, bring them into photoshop by selecting the brush tool. Click the drop down brush menu, then click on the small round 'play' button on the right side.  Select 'load brushes'.

Step 6: Select the eraser tool, and choose one of your new brushes.  Erase away the white on the blank layer little by little using watercolor brushes.

Step 7: Continue using the eraser tool-be sure to vary your brush style, size, and opacity to give your image depth and make it look more like watercolor.  I erased away the middle horizontal section of my image, but erase anywhere you want depending on the image you chose.

Step 8: You can move your entire white layer to showcase different areas of your photograph.

Step 9: Add type, if desired.  A great website to find free, unique fonts is Dafont.  This font style is called Sue Ellen Francis.

Step 10:  Save your completed image and email it to me to be showcased here on fourteen feet!  Hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Handmade Valentine's Day Cards

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, these cute handmade card ideas will get you inspired to make a crafty card for that special someone.  I love the clean simplicity of all these ideas, and how they use found objects, such as fabric & ribbon scraps, buttons, and magazine clippings.

{Images courtesy of the purl bee, kwerner Design Blog, Martha Stewart}

How-to-Make Handmade Ornaments

Martha Stewart has some wonderful ideas for handmade ornaments...and directions are included on her website.  I would love to have a craft day and decorate the tree with some of these!  My favorites are the monogram glitter letters and the white string snow balls.

More Christmas Cards

I thought you all might enjoy some more ideas for handmade Christmas cards.  I went on a search for Stampin Up! blogs, and I found a few great ones.

Stampin Pretty features an entire gallery of images of cards.

Mojo Monday features a "sketch" of a card layout, then showcases multiple cards made from that template.  What a great way to use one layout to create many cards for all occasions, not just Christmas.

The Stamp Link is also great, with pictures of handmade cards as well as "card recipes" so you can make the card too!

Handmade Holiday Cards & Gift Tags

Over Thanksgiving Break, I finally had a chance to stamp a little bit, and I made some neat Christmas cards and gift tags.  I choose a color palette, and made many different looks with only a handful of stamps, ribbon, and punches.

These tags were so easy to make, first I stamped a simple snowflake on cardstock.  Then I used a tag-shaped punch to get the tag itself.  Next, I used a small round hole punch at the top, then threaded ribbon through.

On the back, I stamped a little saying on each one.

On this tag I stamped in light blue on white cardstock.  I used different sized circle hole punches to give the snowflakes depth, revealing gray cardstock behind.

For this gift card I used sage, burgundy, and ivory cardstock, along with sage ribbon to give these gift boxes a 3-D effect.

On the back I stamped a little snowflake as an added touch.

This card is made with a gray background, and eggplant and sage ink colors on white.  I used different stamps repeated on small sheets of white, then I cut out tree shapes.  I used a sponge around the edges of the trees to give them more depth.  Natural hemp and a simple "joy" stamp finish this card off.

Holiday Gift-Wrapping Ideas

I am always trying to find unique ways to wrap gifts for the holidays that are different, personalized, and simple.  I think these images do a great job of including that festive charm of the holidays, yet are also fresh and contemporary.  Here's some inspiration as you begin your holiday gift wrapping.

{Images courtesy of Bahraini Diva, Cute Indie Finds, Good Housekeeping, Geris Specialty, Creature Comforts, i tags, E how, Mi Spa}