Thursday, April 22, 2021

DIY Mother's Day Plaque

     , ,  18 comments

 


Celebrate the special Mom in your life with a beautiful handmade Mother's Day plaque that she simply will fall in love with! How could she not once she sees it!
This is a lovely way of using spring flowers and pretty decorative trim. If pansies aren't her favorite, use any type of flower you wish to add colorful blooms. Plus, the trim is extra special with sparkly silver accents, too! And the best part, you can switch up the saying to one of your choice - maybe something sentimental like a love poem for mom! 

This Mother's Day plaque is so versatile, e 

Welcome to our monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop created by Chloe @ Celebrate & Decorate and Andrea @ Design Morsels!  I've teamed up with a talented group of creative bloggers to bring you lots of wonderful ideas, projects and inspirations! 


Let's begin with what you'll need to make this awesome Mother's Day Plaque!

Materials:
  • Cardboard
  • Printed message
  • Chalkpaint/spongebrush
  • Pencil/Scissors
  • Fabri-tac glue
  • 3ply twisted cord trim - 10mm
  • Faux flowers
  • Hot glue gun/glue
  • Parchment paper and clamp

Instructions:
First, find a plain oval shape to print - I'm using Word - and enlarge it to cover most of a 8x11.5" printer paper. Then, using a text box, create a message you'll want to say to your mother. Since my mom is no longer living, I'm just using the generic "Happy Mother's Day" greeting. But here's a chance for you to say just about anything you want to your mom. It can be something sentimental or even comical - whatever you like! Then print and cut it out.

Next, using the oval print-out as a guide, increase the size of the oval shape, leaving a generous border to wrap the cord trim on a piece of cardboard. Here, I'm using the back of a pizza box to draw and cut out the oval shape.
Then place the oval shaped wording on top of the cardboard to see how it looks. Cool, right!
Next, paint the cardboard using white chalkpaint and let dry.
Once dry, it's time to glue on the print-out using Fabri-Tac glue or one made for use with paper.

Then begin gluing on the cord trim at the top, using hot glue, following the outline of the oval shape.
It's best adding hot glue in increments to secure. You don't want the glue to dry before you have a chance to connect the trim.
As you near the beginning of the cord trim, apply hot glue close to the edge of the trim and .  .  .

hold the two pieces close together for a smooth fit until dry.

Then continue gluing on the cord trim close to the first row as possible .  .  .
adding hot glue and holding trim together as you add more trim rows around the oval shape.



Decide how many rows of trim you'd like to add. I stopped at five. I didn't want the trim to over power the piece. So I ended the trim in the same area where I started - cutting it at an angle and .  .  .
adding Fabri-Tac fabric glue to the end to seal the fibers. I wrapped the end with parchment paper and secured with a clamp until the glue dried.
Once the glue is dry, seal the end securely with hot glue to the final trim row.
Cut off the excess cardboard closely around the cord trim, following the oval shape.

Now to dress it up!


Begin gluing on faux leaves .  .  .


and flowers for a pretty decorative look .  .  . 


first, around the bottom and then .  .  .

on top!

What a beautiful and creative way to honor your mom with this lovely piece!

If you're coming over from Carol's @Blue Sky At Home, Welcome! I know you loved how she repurposed an old table! Up next, after me, is Mary @Home is Where the Boat Is sharing her adorable Bee Happy Wreath

Be sure to have fun and get inspired by all of the wonderful creations this month by clicking on the links below!

Monday, April 12, 2021

Decoupage Spring Table Mat

     ,  20 comments

   "Spring is the time of plans and projects"

                                                                     Leo Tolstoy

Celebrate spring by creating fun craft projects while at the same time adding beauty to your surroundings!  One way is to make an adorable spring table mat! It's a delightful way to provide a decorative accent feature that can dress up almost any area of your home - including the dining room, kitchen and living areas. And it's a great decorative accent piece that can be used anywhere, on any type of table, including buffets, side tables, end tables, sofa tables, coffee tables and of course dining tables, too. A perfect project for this month's Spring Crafts Challenge Hop! Just check how easy it is to make a lovely decoupage spring table mat:

Materials:

  • Natural Cotton Cord (100ft 8mm)
  • Gorilla Grip pad
  • Decorative paper napkins
  • Fabri-Tac fabric glue
  • Parchment paper
  • Matte Mod Podge
  • Paint brush
  • Clear plastic from a ziplock bag

Instructions:

Let's begin - to stop the 3-ply cord from coming apart, add a little fabric glue to the end .  .  .

pressing it together and let dry.
Next, add a dab of fabric glue on the center of the pad and lay the tip of the cord on top. Begin folding the cord together, adding fabric glue around the sides of the cord and on top of the pad to keep the cords and shape secure. I wanted the mat to have an oval shape, but didn't fold the center cord together long enough initially. I should have folded the cord together at six inches or more to maintain an oval shape while coiling the cord. The longer the folded cord in the center, the more of a oval shape is attained.
You can see the mat beginning to take shape! But the more you coil, the more the mat becomes rounder.
Continue adding fabric glue around the bottom and sides of the cord to hold the shape together and to the pad.
Once you've reached the size you want (19"), cut the cord at an angle and using more fabric glue, blend in the end to the side of the mat.

Then cut off the excess pad around the mat .  .  .

cutting as close to the mat edge as possible.
To make decorative cord trim for the mat, cut two 60" strips of cord. Secure ends with fabric glue and let dry, as before.  Begin coiling the cord, applying fabric glue to secure and placing cord on parchment paper to continue coiling.
Continue coiling cord into a circle and applying fabric glue until .  .  .
satisfied with size of the circle.
Then make a decorative curve with the cord and continue coiling cord for a second circle. Use the first coil as a pattern for the size of the second coiled circle.
Let dry and repeat for making a second decorative set - matching the size.

Then glue decorative coils onto the table mat .  .  .
matching placement on opposite sides.
To decorate table mat with napkins, cut out napkin designs .  .  .
and separate the plain layers of the napkin from the printed side.

Then lay out a design plan around the table mat.
Next, add a layer of decoupage to the cording - just enough for the size of the napkin design.
Then lay the napkin down on top of the decoupage, smoothing out the napkin. Use clear plastic to smooth down the napkin (as long as you haven't added more Mod Podge to the top of the napkin. If you have, the napkin might come up when removing the plastic) Otherwise, just use the brush to lightly smooth the napkin down along the ridges of the cord. 
Continue adding Mod Podge to the cord and applying the cutout napkin designs. 

Smoothing the napkin designs out as you add each design section .  .  .
using the paint brush to high-light the shape of the cording.
until the table mat is covered with the napkin design. Once dry, seal entire table mat with Mod Podge.

Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!


It's the 2nd Monday of the month and time for another Monthly Challenge Blog Hop!  I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you this monthly challenge blog hop, hosted by Beverly @Across the Blvd! The theme for April is Spring Crafts!

Meet the participants:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter