Build a Framed Corkboard for Display,Build a Fancy Room Divider

Painting the
Living Room…
Walls
in
the
A few years ago, I painted the walls in my living room a color called
“Natural Bark”. I used the Colorplace brand (from Walmart) of interior
semi-gloss paint and at the time, was thrilled with the results. Over
time, I decided that the color was a little dark and making my living
room look similar to a cave. Plus, when I needed to take pictures of
projects for my site, they always came out a little yellow!
Matt had some paint left over from his living room and I really liked
the color. He is really good at picking colors of paint and swears he
had “help”. I don’t believe him, I think he’s just awesome that way
but won’t admit it…
Anyway, he gave me what was left over and the color is “Parachute
Silk” (an interior satin) by Behr.
I’ve never used really expensive
paint before and after the first coat, I could tell there is
definitely a difference! It hides everything!! Wow, I am a convert!
My living room walls had a chair rail around the center. Initially I
painted around it but now I’ve decided to remove it. I filled the
holes with Dry Dex (hole filler that goes on pink and turns white when
dry – a must have!), and sanded the line where the paint was with 220
grit paper on my sander.
Close up where chair rail was
removed
Once I was happy with my sanding and couldn’t feel the line, I painted
the wall. I did use two coats and am so proud of the results! I can’t
tell where the chair rail used to be!! Woo hoo!
All done!
Recognize the mirror? Stay tuned for a post on the shelf in this
photo!
Until next time,
Happy Creating!
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Build a Framed Corkboard for
Display
My boyfriend wanted a cool place to display pictures of places
we’ve hiked. He’s not a “fancy picture frame” type of guy and
suggested a large cork board with a wood frame. What a great
idea! I got to work drawing plans and building him an awesome
display piece for his wall…
Tools:
Kreg jig & 1-1/4” pocket hole screws
Drill
Saw – Circular, Jig or Miter
Router with a 3/8” rabbeting bit
Glue
Materials:
2 – 1×4 at 6′
Large Corkboard
Sawtooth picture hangers
Finishing supplies of your choice
Let’s get started!
The length of the corkboard is 36″. I cut two pieces of the
1×4 at 42-1/4″ which is the length of the corkboard plus 7”
(the width of the lumber times two) minus 3/4” (3/8” rabbet
times two). If it is slightly bigger, no problem! It is OK to
have a little wiggle room anyway! I cut two more pieces of the
1×4 at 15-1/4″ with the math being a little different. These
pieces are the width of the corkboard minus 3/4” (3/8” rabbet
times two) only.
Set your Kreg jig for 3/4” material and drill two pocket holes
in each end of the shorter boards. Place the holes at least 1”
from the inside of the frame to allow for the rabbet, you
don’t want the router to hit the screws! Make sure the frame
is square and assemble with glue and 1-1/4” pocket hole
screws.
Using the router and the rabbeting bit, set the depth to the
thickness of the bit. If the corkboard is a little thicker,
you will have to make two passes. In other words, if the bit
is 3/8” deep and your corkboard is 1/2”, you will have to make
one pass with the router bit set at 3/8” deep, and another
pass at with it set at 1/2” deep. My corkboard is 3/8″ thick.
I will make one pass with the router and glue it in place.
Finish the frame first before adding the corkboard. I stained
it with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Sunbleached, then
sealed it with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Matte.
The corners of your frame can be squared with a chisel or the
corners of the corkboard can be cut off. Glue it in place.
Once the glue is dry, add the sawtooth hangers to the back.
Hang it and now you have a great place to display your
pictures!
Until next time,
Happy Creating!
Find me on Facebook!
P.S. Remember the post about the Framed Mirror? I took the
other half of the mirror and created a shorter version. What
do you think?
Build a Fancy Room Divider
I really love those room dividers… There are so many options
for color, pattern, size, etc. but the cost can be outrageous!
Today, I will provide plans to build your own customizable
screen for very little dinero.
Tools:
Saw – Circular, jig or miter
Drill
Kreg Jig (for pocket holes) & 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
Screwdriver
Air nailer and brads
Square and pencil
Tape measure
Materials:
2 sheets of 1/4″ lauan (also known
Underlayment”), plywood, or hardboard
as
“Premium
7 – 1x2s at 8′
3 pairs of hinges
Optional knobs or drawer pulls
Wallpaper, Scrapbooking paper, Paint, etc.
** The materials listed make three panels, enough for one
divider **
Cut the pieces for the frames. Set the Kreg jig for 3/4″
material and drill pocket holes in each end of the shorter
boards. Assemble as shown in the picture using glue and 1-1/4″
pocket hole screws. Another option would be to use a brad
nailer for assembly instead of the Kreg jig.
Cut the 1/4″ plywood pieces. Plywood sheets are sold in 4′ x
8′ sheets. If the sheets are ripped to approximately 15-7/8″ x
8′, you can get three panels per sheet. Using glue and the
bradnailer, fasten the panels to the frames. Attach the hinges
and voila – a quick and easy project!
Sand thoroughly and finish as desired. the divider could be
painted, covered with wallpaper, covered with scrapbooking
paper in a patchwork manner, covered with vintage posters (a
Jimi Hendrix divider would be AWESOME!!) or just simply
stained.
Any questions? Leave a
[email protected]
comment
or
email
me
at
Until next time,
Happy Creating!
Add Feminine Style to a Comfy
Man’s T-Shirt
How to Girl Up a Man’s T-Shirt
I really love those oversized “Flashdance” type of shirts… If
you grew up in the 80s you totally know what I mean. If not,
well, nevermind! Anyway, today, I’ll show you how to girl up a
man’s t-shirt, and put your own design spin on a comfy
garment!
Supplies:
A Man’s T-Shirt (mine is an XL)
Fabric Paint
A Stencil & Stencil Adhesive
Scissors
Pins
Sewing Machine
The sewing part of this project is super-easy so if you’re a
beginner, don’t fret! You CAN do this!!
Pre-wash your t-shirt.
Pin the shoulder seams together. Make a semi-circle with your
pins about where you want to cut the neckband out as shown in
the picture.
Cut away the neckband.
Using your sewing machine, sew a straight stitch or decorative
stitch around the neck. This will keep it from stretching out
too much! You can use matching or contrasting thread – its up
to you!
I used Plaid Simply Stencils and metallic foil for the screen
print on my shirt. They have an adhesive back so the stencil
won’t slip. If you are using a regular stencil, spray stencil
adhesive on the back following the manufacturer’s
instructions. You could probably tape the stencil to the shirt
but it may still slip a little…
I applied the foil glue to the stencil and let it dry
overnight. Wash your stencil immediately after painting or
using glue!
After the glue is dry, the foil is applied and covered with a
piece of paper, then ironed. This heats up the glue and the
foil sticks to it. If you are using paint, use sponge
“daubers” (little round sponge brushes) to apply the paint.
Use and up-and-down motion rather than a side-to-side motion.
This keeps the paint in the cut-outs of the stencil and not
where you don’t want it!!
Here is another example of a shirt, this time with a pocket!
And that, my friends, is how to girl up a man’s t-shirt… No
need to raid his closet because men’s t-shirts come in a
rainbow of colors and are so inexpensive!