"P" is for Personalize

Everything gets personalized.

Trugs:

I've been doing a lot of personalizing these days.

step stool:

It's fun, easy, fast and makes for great gifts.

toy boxes:

more trugs:

addresses:

The technique I use is very simple.

* For an updated post on this how-to click here.*

Here's how:

1. Print out letters (font shown here is American Typewriter) and line up on piece.

Using a ballpoint pen trace outline of letters:

The pressure of the pen creates a slight indent in the wood.

2. Paint inside the indent:

The indent actually creates a tiny dam to hold the paint.

I use this technique on every wood piece I paint.

The look is clean and neat but still has that handpainted feel.

Detail shot on this Banksville sign proves that:

Wood and paint go hand in hand.

Up next, personalizing with fabric and thread!

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Lovely Crafty Weekend @ Lovely Crafty Home

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

"N" is for Navy

Navy wool pouch with gingham ruffle.

Seasons are changing and so are the pouches.

I took an old wool sport coat destined for Goodwill and made a classy pouch.

For money and credit cards, cell phone, cosmetics, anything goes.

Here's how I made the pouch:

1. Cut pieces:

blue wool - 1 @ 10" x 14"

lining - 2 @ 10" x 7"

interfacing - 1 @ 10" x 14"

ruffle - bias cut 2 @ 1.25"w x 20"l

zipper - 1 @ 9"

2. Iron interfacing onto wrong side of wool.

Make ruffles using long straight stitch off center and pulling either thread.

3. Pin ruffle into place 4" from both short edges:

4. Straight stitch ruffle to pouch down middle:

5. Place zipper at one short end, face down onto wool, then lining:

6. Using zipper foot sew zipper into place:

7. Pull lining over to reveal zipper back and straight stitch lining 1/8" from zipper edge:

This helps to prevent lining from getting stuck in zipper.

8. Repeat for other end using other side of zipper.

9. Now the pouch will be inside out completely.

Stitch sides closed starting at wool portion, lining up zipper ends and ending at lining:

10. Make wool ends square.

Open side seams, pull bottom edge fold to meet side seam and sew 2" into side seam:

11. Clip excess from bottom corners.

Turn pouch right side out.

Press lining side seams open.

Press up lining edge 1/2" all around.

12. Straight stitch lining closed.

Push lining down into pouch and press smooth especially around top edge near zipper.

Add ribbon detail to zipper pull.

A great way to reuse a wool sport coat and make something purposeful for many days to come.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Lovely Crafty Weekend @ Lovely Crafty Home

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

Textiles @ Freckled Laundry

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework

"P" is for Pumpkins

Jute wrapped pumpkins for Fall.

While Hurricane Irene was blowing outside I fired up the glue gun for some Fall crafts,

wrapping up all my styrofoam pumpkins and gourds with jute and twine.

Eventually these will make it to the mantel for Fall.

Here's how I made the pumpkins:

1. Gather your old styrofoam pumpkins and gourds, twine, and hot glue gun:

2. Pull out the plastic stems and discard.

3. Start wrapping the pumpkins either at the base or top using hot glue:

4. Keep wrapping and gluing, no worries about those 'hot glue strings' hanging as they only enhance the nature of the twine.

5. For the stems find a stick and slice short stems with an angled top:

6. Hot glue the stem into place with some woody curly bits:

7. I also used thinner jute on a few for contrast:

Easy project using supplies I already had on hand to update my Fall decor.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

Cottage Flora Thursdays @ Fishtail Cottage

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework

Weekly Challenge @ The CSI Project