"T" is for Thanks

Give Thanks painted sign.

Simple but so meaningful.

A daily reminder, especially for those young ones just beginning to read (and read everything everywhere we go!).

And perfect for Thanksgiving.

Here's how I made the sign:

1. Using a piece of pallet wood lay out the printed letters.

Trace the letters with a ballpoint pen making a slight indent in the wood:

2. Paint inside the indent left behind:

3. Layer up the paint colors: red, brown, black then highlight with off white.

Sand to distress.

Stain with Minwax special walnut.

Seal with satin poly.

The pallet wood has lots of character:

A simple project with a big message.

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

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework
Weekly Challenge @ The CSI Project

"F" is for Factory

A sign making factory.

I've been making signs lately.

It's much more efficient to make multiples of projects while you have all the supplies at the ready.

And since efficiency comes with my maiden name I was born to think this way.

These three large signs are going to the Spring Auction at the kid's school.

And these are posted in my Etsy shop.

Honestly I love making things and these signs were a good time.

For your kitchen:

(These are made from pallet wood.)

Even if you don't bake this would still look great in your kitchen:

As a collection:

The backs have sawtooth hangers, the larger signs have two:

Simple artwork that was definitely fun to make.

(For more signs with the tutorial click here to a previous post.)

I'm linking up to:

      

"P" is for Picnic

A picnic table for the kids, made entirely from reclaimed wood of course. 

I've been meaning to make a kids size picnic table ever since last summer when we spent so much time in the backyard.  With three small kids and only the adult patio table with enormous adult size chairs it was really difficult for them to have a place to sit (to eat, to draw, to play card games, etc).

Now they have a place more their size: 

I got to it with plans from Ana White's blog  for the Big Kid Picnic Table.  I did modify it a bit while going along in order to use the pallet and wood that I had on hand. 

I started with a pallet for the top and added some filler pieces to make a complete top:

Made the legs, seat supports and cross support from a 2x4 found in the garage from the previous owners:

Pulled the seat pieces from another pallet (this was the heaviest pallet I had ever seen with thick 2x pieces):

Seat pieces in place:

And we're ready for a picnic.

Now that winter is approaching we won't have much use for it but I'm all prepared for next spring! 

Definitely worth the $0 price tag.

I'm linking this post to Frugal Friday at: