Weathered Planked Picture Hanger Tutorial

Ok, so first things first.
If you haven't had a chance to check out my dining room reveal that I shared yesterday...you need to scoot right over and scroll through all that eye candy. 

Because it was a majorly awesome makeover project that I know you don't want to miss!!!!

Here, I'll give you a glimpse...

Umm yea. 

So get over there first and check it out :) 

Then come run back over here for this fun DIY tutorial on the picture hanger you see in the photos.

This is a super quick & easy project if you're looking for a fun way to display bunches of pictures. 

I wanted something I could easily rotate pictures out with and one that could hold a bunch.

So I put some scrap weathered boards to good use...

I laid the boards out and then used my table saw to cut them to varying lengths.

I wanted an asymmetrical look but if you're more OCD than me, make all your boards nice & even :) 

Then use two shorter boards on the back to screw them all together. 

I screwed in two heavy picture hangers on the back boards to hang it with since it was quite hefty after it was built. 

Make sure to sand your boards down to a nice, soft finish.

I love the different color tones that show through in these weathered boards after they're sanded down. 

I like to use a finishing wax for a buttery smooth finish and to make them gleam a bit but it's not necessary :) 

To allow for pictures to hang, use screw eyes at either end of the boards and screw them in nice & tight. 

Add bakers twine, ribbon or rope through them and tie to the screweyes.

My boards allowed for two rows that would easily hold 5x7 photos.

If you're going for more instagram-size photos, you could make more rows for your pictures. 

For my arrows on the sides, I used a piece of gold glitter cardstock and cut some arrows free-hand from it. 

Then attach with glue dots or hot glue. 

I like the extra bit of glam it gave. 

I used mini clothespin to hang my pictures from and they work fabulously!! I also added some sheet music behind a couple pictures just because :) 

You could definitely hang a ton on the twine & overlap your pictures for a more eclectic look. 

I love the rustic quality it brings to the room.

Mixed with a lot of color and other textures in the room, it stays away from looking too country and brings the perfect bit of vintage in!!

I hung it right below my artwork I made for the year-mark of Hubby & I being together. 

I love bringing a touch of handmade into each room of our house because it makes it so much more personalized and us. 

Don't be scared to get your hands dirty and make pieces that specifically fit your space & bring a bit of your personality into your space.

After all, you live in it so make it a place you love :) 

{For more dining room makeover details, check out the full post here.}

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Scrabble-Inspired Baby Gift

I totally have a thing for using old games in baby gifts.   

Remember when I used jenga blocks in my last baby gift? 

I think they're SO fun and add a little quirky touch that's perfect in celebrating a new little person!!

This time I used another fun game and absolutely LOVED the result. 

Check out how old games can become seriously cute: 

Are you thinking of all the old scrabble games you've seen at garage sales & Goodwill? 

Next time pick one up and store it away- they're perfect for a little extra fun in a project!!

This gift was so easy to put together & I love that it's simple but meaningful :)

This gift was for my husband's cousin, who we didn't know all that well.

So I had no idea what colors the nursery were in or anything.

I decided to go for subtle and easy to fit in with any color scheme. 

Supplies: 

*Old frame (Mine was a deeper frame than most)

*Spraypaint

*Scrabble pieces- letters for name & one letter holder

*Wooden Initial 

*Hot Glue Gun

I found this horrifyingly neon yellow frame buried in my stash in the garage: 

It got a nice coat of gloss white and was looking so much better. 

I let it dry overnight. 

I cut a piece of blue-ish grey scrapbook paper to fit in the frame & mounted it in. 

This was the fun part :)

I love seeing the whole thing come together!

I sprayed both the wooden initial and the scrabble letter holder in the same gloss white.

Then I distressed the letter holder for a little more charm. 

I spelled out 'william' in the scrabble letters & adhered them to the letter holder with hot glue. 

Super easy & worked perfectly!

I secured the wooden initial with hot glue directly onto the glass. 

The same went for the back of the letter holder. 

And now you have a way cute & whimsical way to display baby's little name!!

But you can't stop with just a cute gift right?

It's all in the packaging!!

I found a cute blue bin in the dollar spot at Target and snatched it up.

I added a wooden 'w' that was already white to the front. 

Super easy & cute container to give the gift in!

Not to mention it's bonus storage for the mom-to-be. 

What do you think? 

Will you be snatching up any old scrabble games you see next?? 

What I think is so fun about this gift is all the possibilities!
You could use your own last name for some fun wall art or even make one for a wedding gift. 

********************

I am SO Excited about what will be happening around here next week.

I'll be hosting my first ever Summer Blog Bash with some AMAZING fellow bloggers!

We have a lot of fun in store plus an epic giveaway that you won't want to miss!!

So make sure you're ready June 25th to party it up with us!!!

Linking to:

Tutorials and Tips @ Home Stories A to Z

Homemade Projects @ Tip Junkie

Show Me What Ya Got @ Not Just a Housewife

Link Party @ LIl Luna

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims

Under 100$ @ Beyond The Picket Fence

Live Laugh Linky @ Live Laugh Rowe

Party Time @ The 36th Avenue

Catch a Glimpse Party @ A Glimpse Inside

Friday Fun Party @ Craftionary

Link Up Liz Marie @ Liz Marie Blog

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Craftomaniac Monday @ Craftomaniac

The Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Jenga Love Blocks

Sooo...

I have a thing for jenga blocks.

Yup, I said it.

Not just jenga though.

Tumbling Towers, Falling Bricks...whatever you want to call those cute little wooden blocks,

I love 'em.

I've shared my obsession with these blocks in a couple projects here and here.

But this is the simplest, prettiest little project with them ever.

And I heart them very much.

Check out these cuties:

I put on my scrapbooking hat and dug through my old 'stash' of sticker letters and my ever-growing pile of paper...

and I started covering them up.

I wanted to keep the edges exposed because I liked the idea of the raw wood showing through...

The easiest way I've found for covering things is by lining the paper over the piece and then bending the paper around the edges to make a nice crease line.

That way I know exactly where to cut.

For these, I cut a little inside the crease to make sure the edges show.

I used one of my adhesive staples, mounting squares, to adhere the paper to the blocks.

I always seem to have bad luck with Mod Podge when it comes to small surfaces and thin paper...

so this stuff worked like a charm. 

I used sticker letters to make phrases on one side of the blocks...

and then used my old friend for the other sides...

my little label maker :)

Of course, little man jumped in on the action and decided he needed an impromptu photo session.

I take advantage of these whenever he's willing cuz soon, I'll have to beg him to be in front of the camera.

And then I took them outside for their little photo shoot...

In love.

I'm obsessed with how these pictures turned out...

don't be jealous of my blue chippy chair :)

No really, you probably shouldn't be.

The poor thing is falling apart.

Because dumb me didn't spray it with weatherizer.

I have plans to try and keep it around a little longer though.

Pwomise.

Here's the other sides with their sweet 'words of love'...

I have a thing for imperfections.

Probably because I know nothing we do is perfect so I like it when

imperfections show themselves as beautiful.

Like this little block...

Perfectly imperfect.

And my whole little stack of love blocks...

After this picture, they all came tumbling down.

Oh well,

 you can take the blocks out of the Jenga but you can't take the Jenga out of the blocks.

Don't try to make sense of that.

Just go with it :)

What do you think?
Have I convinced you to keep an eye out for old Tumbling Tower games?

I'm off to see what I can do with the rest of them...

Happy Wednesday ya'll :)

Linking to:

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Show and Share @ Southern Lovely

Sugar and Spice @ 733

From Dream to Reality @ DIY Dreamer

Creative Juice @ Momnivore's Dilemma

Share and Wow Wednesday @ A Turtle's Life For Me

Under 100$ @ Beyond the Picket Fence

Party Time @ 36th Avenue

Hookin up with HOH @ House of Hepworths

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Latest and Greatest Friday @ Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Friday Flair @ Whipperberry

Weekend Wrapup Party @ Tatertots and Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I heart Naptime

Saturday Seven @ Positively Splendid

Think Pink Sundays @ Flamingo Toes

Simply Klassic Sunday @ SImply Klassic Home

Craftomaniac Monday @ Craftomaniac

Craft Catwalk @ Embellishing Life

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming