FALL Pallet Sign

 I'm in that stage of being sad Summer is ending, but also being 99% ready for Fall to bring it's cooler temperatures. So in an effort to welcome it in, I make a fresh new sign! In case you're not aware, Walmart (at least mine) has some pretty legit craft supplies that are an awesome price. This 

is not at all spsonsored, I just thought you should know that that is where I got this pallet board for under $5. Oh you betcha! Grab some paint while you're there to & let's get started.

You'll need paint in a medium grey, white & either black or a darker grey. I used black and my medium grey mixed to get what I was looking for.

 I wanted a little bit of dimension when I sanded the finished product, so I started with a coat of the medium grey.  Just one coat will suffice for the purpose.

 Then two-coat the white paint after the grey has dried completely. Then let that dry completely.

 I used my Cricut to cut out my letters, but you could use stencils or free hand or vinyl like me.

 This is where that darker grey comes in.  I wanted something dark, but not exactly black.  So I mixed the grey I used earlier with a bit of black to get the color I wanted.

 Let it dry, peel off your stencil & touch anything up that you need to.  For a final touch, use fine grit sand paper to rough it up a bit and show some of that grey & wood underneath.

It's just the thing my pumpkins needed to finish off a little fall decor.  I was struggling with what to add, since I realized a lot of my decorations that aren't Halloween are technically "Thanksgiving", and I'm not welcoming in Fall THAT quickly!

Fall Flower Crown

Just because summer is ending, doesn't mean the ever popular flower crown has to die with it.  So I present to you, the fall flower crown to fulfill your seasonal desire for flower crowns!

I grabbed a bouquet of flowers that had various flowers, leaves, berries, greenery, but you can pick yours out and mix and match as you please.  When disassembling whatever bouquets you purchase, be sure you're keeping at least one or two inches of the wired stem on the flowers.

After making my circle with wire & floral tape, I created the "center" of the crown by attaching a few of the large flowers, one at a time, securing them with floral tape.

Then you can add in smaller flowers and leaves on either side. You can use berries and branches to fill in empty places tapering to the back of the crown.

 Use it in a festive outfit, Halloween costume, or dress up your living room deer!  Anyway you use it, it'll be festive and gorgeous!

Faux Wood Stain

I love the look of stained wood, but sometimes it gets pricey to buy every color stain you want.  So when I'm looking for a certain color for a small project, I use this trick to fake a wood stain. And it's also nice because I can make it as thick/covering or as thin/slightly tinted as I want.

 Start by mixing equal parts water & paint.  You want it to be runny.  For this grey stain, I used a paint darker than the color I wanted to show up on the wood.

 Using a paper towel, rub into the wood. Just a little stain at a time, working it into the wood so that it can absorb it to get that stain-like effect.

  

 Use a paintbrush if your piece has ridges on the edge, like mine, to get the stain in there. 

 Be sure to use a clean paper towel to wipe off the excess.  Use wet one if you want to take more of the stain off or a dry on to just smooth away leftover color.

 To finish off this sign, I used a piece of vinyl & my favorite gold pen to color on the number 3.

Of course, just be sure whatever you do to finish up your own sign, you let the stain dry completely!

  I've done this trick with different shades of brown and black, but like I said before, if you're doing a big project or sign, it's best to stick with real wood stain.

DIY Vintage Pennant

When I shared my son's big boy bedroom, I promised tutorials & details were coming...and here I am still trying to keep good on that promise!  I made a big pennant banner that hangs above his headboard that's customized with his name on it. I had to make some other ones for a church activity & I knew it was the perfect opportunity to show you just how I did it, so you can make one too!

You can either buy you own prre-made felt pennant flag (from Hobby Lobby) or make your own.  It's the basic elementary concept...fold your paper hot dog style, make a straight line, cut, then trace onto your felt piece.  Just make sure your flag is wide enough to fit your letters.

When you're printing out your letters, be sure to flip it, so it prints out the mirror image.  Because we're taping it onto out peel-and-stick felt.  It can be bought in big packs, or single sheets for .99 at the craft store and it is amazing. It comes in the basic rainbow colors so you don't have to use white.  Using a few pieces of tape, tape down your letters to the paper side.

I like using my small thread scissors to cut them out, especially with the font I chose this time, to get into all those 90 degree angles.

When you're peeling and sticking, I learned the hard way with this font that a little at a time is the best method.  With my son's pennant banner, you'll see the font is totally different and it was easy for my to just peel off the whole back and stick. 

Once you've got your letters on, it's time to give it an authentic pennant look.  Cut a strip from your peel & stick felt and stick it right to the edge of the banner.  Then cute 4 small pieces, the same width, and place them as pictured below.

And you're done!  Customize it any way you want with colors and fonts or even shapes and logos!

There's a Sponge for That!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScotchBriteSponges #CollectiveBias

I've gotten to that point in life where I've started being picky about my cleaning products.  I have a favorite laundry detergent...dish soap...cleaning spray...I'm even biased about my sponges.  But when you're cleaning your kitchen a few times a day, you get to that point! Because you want something that is actually going to work & work better than other products to make your job easier.  There's no substitute for the yellow & green sponges from Scotch-Brite®...trust me on this one!  My love for these tough  sponges has expanded even more now with their products & they take me throughout my day with the right sponge for every surface, it makes me job easier.

 So start your week off with a trip to Target.  Already a great beginning, right?! (Be sure you add this deal to your Cartwheel to use on your next Target run! 8/28-9/3 10% Off 9 Pack of Sponges) Grab yourself some new sponges...I grabbed a fresh pack of Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge and also a pack of the blue Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, because sometimes you only need a gentle scrub.  And then my kitchen life changed forever... Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty sponge on a Soap Dispensing Dishwand?!  I don't know when I became the person to get so excited about a cleaning sponge, but I'm fully admitting I'm there.

 All throuhought the day, there's plenty to clean in your kitchen, but it's important to make sure you're using the right sponge.  While I love my heavy duty green sponge for caked on dishes, when you're cleaning your non-stick pots & pans, be sure you're using the blue Non-Scratch sponge, or else you'll scratch that finish and suddenly your scrambled eggs are sticking! But I do love using the Heavy Duty Dishwand on my crock pot when I forget to throw in a liner!

 When you're wiping down your countertops & sinks, grab the Non-Scratch if you need to scrub, or flip over to the soft sponge side to just give a nice wipe-down.  The same thing goes for your dining room table- don't scratch off that finish! 

After you've finished (for the moment) cleaning in the kitchen, be sure and really squeeze out those sponges.  Keeping them soaked will make them smell and last a shorter amount of time. 

Whether you're cleaning in the kitchen or around the home, there's a Scotch-Brite® sponge perfect for getting the job done in half the time!  And with all the time I spend cleaning, that might actually leave me some time to read a book!! Happy Cleaning, friends!
See ideas to help clean your biggest mess. Click here!