Monthly Archives: July 2012

fake it ’til you make it sheepskin throw

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Happy Home, Tutorials

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Now before we get started you should know that nobody died in our apartment. As I was looking back at the photos from this project I couldn’t help but be reminded of a chalk outline from a murder scene. Or at least be reminded of an episode of C.S.I. where they have a chalk outline of a murder scene. I wanted to relieve any concern you may have that this post included death before you see my little project.

And now that I’ve started out morbidly and scared off anyone who might have otherwise been interested in a fake sheepskin throw I’ll get to it.

At Villa Russo our goal is to have a living room that looks modern but warm. Not easy, since most modern pieces have funky shapes and are made of odd materials. We do want crisp edges and fun pieces, lots of color and a very welcoming atmosphere. Since it’s the space that presents us as a couple to anyone who enters our home, the deal we struck is that John gets veto power on anything placed in this room. That being said, this little project currently lives on the back of the couch, but its stay may be cut short by mad with power veto-holding John. I love it. You must tell me what you think. As long as you agree with me, and I can use it as ammunition when world war 3 breaks out in our house over lamby. Deal?

Have I kept you in suspense long enough? You want to see what I’ve had up my sleeve this weekend?

Do you really want to see it?

You’ll have to wait!

Because I have to tell you all about it first. It would be cutting major corners if I let you see the finished product without making you endure 500 words on how to outline a dead body cut  out fabric and apply fray-stopper.

Let’s start back at Joann’s fabric store. Once upon a time, I walked into Joann’s. I was looking for burlap. Which is stinkin’ hard to find. I walked up and down (what I thought was) every aisle of fabric and still had to ask for help finding it. The burlap is another story for another time, but you need to know that I was looking for it because you need to know that in the 20 minutes I spent looking for burlap I managed to come across faux-fur. I died. Well not exactly died but my insides did this floppy-feeling stuff and my brain got all befuzzled and the next thing I knew, I was walking out with not only burlap but one teensy little yard of faux sheepskin. No harm in that, right? It’s a tiny little bit. I paid for it with a coupon. My lover would have to let me keep it, right?

WRONG!

He was mad. He rolled his eyes a lot. I can’t be completely sure, but there might have been steam rolling out of his ears. He definitely did not love the idea of faux sheepskin. But as with everything else, I just giggled and went ahead with it anyway. I was confident once he saw what I was up to he would also love it.

That’s when I named it lamby. Once you have a name, you’re attached and there’s just no option but to keep it.

So I gathered my supplies

Turns out I needed more supplies than this, but to start with I just needed three things. Wrapping paper, fabric, and scissors. I made out lucky like a four leaf clover that my wrapping paper and my fabric were within two inches of the same width. My wrapping paper was just a smidge wider. I rolled out one yard of paper, and got to eyeballing. That’s what I do best.

I ended up with this:

Doesn’t it just remind you of a body outline? Dun DUn DUN!!! Creeeepppyy!

Anyways, as you can see, it took some trial and error to get an outline I was happy with. I used a sharpie on the back side of the wrapping paper and drew what I basically wanted. Then I continued tweaking my original outline until I got fairly even arms and a proportionate head-like area. It didn’t have to be completely symmetrical, but I didn’t want one arm to be twice as long as the other or the head too shrunken or something strange like that. To make sure I cut along the correct outline I darkened my final choice and followed that one. No problem. Easy as pie.

Cutting out the fabric was easy as pie too. Easy as apple pie, or cherry if that’s your thing. I used a handful of straight pins to attach the wrapping paper to the wrong side of the fabric at key points. For example, at the end of each arm/leg and at least once down the longs sides. I was a little more careful here to get nice even cuts, but still just following the general outline.

So then I threw it on the couch. I was so happy. There was picture taking. LOTS of picture taking. A lot of cooing and “say cheese!” We even went all paparazzi with a little “over here!” and “over here lamby” and “you’re beautiful baby!” I ended up with quite a few hello-gorgeous-can-I-get-your-number shots.

And then disaster struck.

Something happened that I wasn’t quite planning on. Lamby started to shed. Bad. All over the floor, me, lover. She wasn’t exactly winning points with him. And we needed this to go well or she’d be gone forever.  So I did something to fix it. Of course, in my panicked state of mind I got no pictures of the process. At all. However since it’s basically a repeat of the above directions with glue, I think you’ll understand. I set lamby fluff side down on my painting sheet, and spray adhesived the living daylights out of her edges. Then I took some scrap white fabric (which thankfully was large enough) and laid it down on top of her. That means lamby’s bad side was facing the white fabric. I pressed down firmly, and let her dry for hours. Then I took my new friend Mr. Fray Stop and pressed a line of him into the place where the two fabrics met, following with a swipe of my finger to ensure it was pressed into the fabrics and giving a seamless bond. Once it dried, I simply trimmed the white fabric down so it couldn’t be seen peeking out from beneath lamby.

Miraculously, it solved the problem. She hasn’t shed a bit. Hurrah! I can go back to lovingly stroking her soft fluffy side and admiring her on the back of the couch for years to come.

Total cost for faux sheepskin throw you ask? Well it was only going to be $4 since I bought the fabric at Joann’s with a coupon, but the bottle of fray stop ran me and extra $3 so the total comes out to $7. I can handle that. Where else am I going to pay $7 for a nice big sheepskin? Nowhere. The answer is nowhere.

Isn’t she lovely?

worship wednesday: a big ‘ole slump

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Worship Wednesday

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

I haven’t really blogged much in the last month.

Actually it’s been almost non-existent the last two weeks. I feel like I’ve been in one big huge slump lately. Which is weird. I’m not really a slumpy kind of a girl. Lately though, I’ve really done nothing but go to work, watch too many episodes of my new favorite t.v. show, and sleep. No goals, no projects, I’m not even reading any books right now. I’m just sitting there, like a blob on the couch. Doing nothing.

I just couldn’t figure it out. Until this weekend. I have a confession. The embarrassing type. My confession is this: I have not sat down and truly spent time with the Lord in a while. It’s been a quick good morning prayer and that’s pretty much it. I’m not even keeping up with my daily Bible reading in order to finish the Bible in a year. I’m at least three weeks behind on that. So if you think this post makes me a little bit of a hypocrite, I understand. I need a gentle reminder to myself about how important time with the Lord is. How important daily time with the Lord is.

In Matthew Jesus said:

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

It’s my own doing, my very own fault, but I do feel weary right now. In the mornings I feel like even getting out of bed is an uphill battle. Jesus provides the answer right here in these verses. I can find rest in the Lord. His burden truly is easy and light.

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

In the above verses Paul is talking to the church about their generosity in providing for him. However, he clearly states that he has become dependent on Christ to meet all his needs, and it is Christ who gives him strength to get through whatever circumstance he may be facing. Paul faced all kinds of hardship. He was imprisoned multiple times, he faced religious persecution at all turns, and often just got up and went when God told him to. I think that Paul was oftentimes weary and heavy-burdened, but he had learned to come to Christ for rest.

So here is my challenge to myself. Self, take your slump to the feet of Jesus. Time to lay your head to rest in the comfort of a Savior whose burden is easy and whose yoke is light. Rejoice in the many blessings He has showered you with, and to worship Him with gladness. Now go, pick up your Bible and be refreshed.

it’s a gigantic picture of us!!!

10 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Happy Home, Tutorials

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

***Project submitted to Creating with the Stars hosted by East Coast Creative***


Creating with the Stars

“IT’S A GIGANTIC PICTURE OF UUUSSSS!!!!”

That’s what I said once it was finished. A phrase that threw us back a couple of weeks, to the first time we saw the blue square of painter’s tape on the wall.

John (somewhat condescending): “Eleeesseeaaa??? WHAT is that?”

Me (joyously, with arms raised dramatically): “It’s going to be a gigantic picture of uuuuussss!!!”

Conversations at Villa Russo go like that all the time. John asks with some hesitation what I have up my sleeve, and I charge full ahead like those bulls in Spain with whatever hair-brain scheme I’ve got thinking nothing could ever go wrong.

And this time, was no different everything went off without a hitch! I’m serious y’all. First try, first success. No tears. No emergency trips to Hobby Lobby. Just sweet success. So much success, in fact, that lover wants more art using the same technique. I float on cloud nine when he encourages more of something. Because usually, he is encouraging less. Which may be due to the fact that just about everything I do leads to disaster at least once.

Did I mention this project led to no disasters? Oh I did? Well it doesn’t look like you’re all giddy and doing a happy dance for me so I thought I would repeat it and give you a second chance.

There were NO (zero here people!) disasters during this project. Dancing yet?

No?

I guess I understand. But I’m dancing. A lot.

So with all that said, on to the gigantic picture of us.

It was really a combination of projects. The idea first began brewing when I saw this giant portrait tutorial over at Infarrantly Creative. I loved it, but didn’t have all the tools needed to cut out such a giant piece of wood. But my saving grace finally came from the ladies over at A Beautiful Mess. They made this photo transfer to canvas and I knew I had hit the jackpot. All I had to do was the canvas transfer on a much larger scale.

I started by gathering supplies. Staples was my first stop to order a giant print. Two dollars later, I had a black and white mirror image engineer print that was 3 ft wide by 2 ft high. John approved the photo I ordered. It’s one of my favorites. Shelly Weaver Photography gets mad props for snapping the shot. I love how she captured us in such a sweet moment of laughter. If you live in the Phoenix metroplex you need to hit this girl up pronto. You won’t be sorry.

Now back to my supplies. Using my hobby lobby coupon goodness, I picked up a medium sized container of gel medium.

 I think I ended up paying about $5.50 for it after the coupon. Score. So far this project was costing me $7.50. The last thing I had to snag was the canvas. Thanks to Michael’s and their 40% off coupon, I got a huge canvas for $15. And that’s it, total cost of project is $22.50. And remember how this project had no disasters? That means $22.50 is the final cost of this bad boy.

So with supplies in hand…

 …I was ready to get started. Please ignore how my chin looks like Jay Leno above. It does not look like that in real life.

My first course of action was thinning down the gel medium. It can be mixed with water to get the desired consistency. I decided it was way too thick to start with, so I mixed in water until I was satisfied.

 

 To spread I just dropped a dollop down onto the canvas and started spreading. I went in all directions to start. Up, down, side to side. Once the whole canvas was covered I went back over in a swirling motion to give a nice even coat of gel medium.

 This next part you’ll just have to take my word on. I got so involved in finishing I forgot to take any pictures of the process. Lay the photo face down on the canvas, and let it dry at least overnight. The next evening, take a spray bottle full of water, and working section by section, wet the paper, and rub rub rub!!

Warning: I ended up with a blister. Just one, thank goodness, but all that friction on your fingers might give you one too. Consider yourself warned. I’m no longer responsible for any injury or finger fatalities you may incur should you choose to try this project yourself.

To be honest, I used several different tactics to remove all the paper. I started rubbing off the paper in chunks with my fingers, then tried the whole scraping with a credit card thing, and then with a wash cloth. It took several rounds of wetting with the spray bottle and rubbing to get enough paper off that the image was clear. It does take off some of the ink, so be prepared. This is supposed to look like you found it in your great-aunt-gertrude’s attic, so loosing some of the ink is a really good thing.

Once the wetting is done and the piece is dry, Modge Podge over it to seal. Enlist husband to hang. Enjoy.

 My lover’s favorite part is where the swirling came through after the paper was rubbed off.

 This corner of the room is coming together. I just need to spray paint those drawer pulls, and get baskets for inside the glass half of the dresser. So close. I can taste it.

But for now I just love laying in bed and looking at my handsome husband’s precious smile.

 It’s really hard to capture the size of it on camera, but trust me it’s big. Very, very big. I’m so happy with this gigantic picture of us!!!

Psssssttt!! I’m linking up to the Pinterest Challenge on Young House Love, Bower Power, Centsational Girl, and Ten June‘s pages. Click on over for a landslide of fun (and impressive) projects.