Mason Jar Chandelier – Pottery Barn Inspired

Thanks to The Stories of A to Z blog, I found the perfect solution to my unattractive shade problem on my kitchen chandelier.

Be sure and check her out, she has some great ideas.

I am super excited about the project, I just love it! I have been looking for the perfect shades for my kitchen chandelier for some time, I have tried no shades, plain shades, toile shades, I even purchased the supplies with the idea to make my own. So far, nothing has looked right in my lightly French country decorated kitchen.

Here is a look at the iron chandelier with plain shades, the current look.

Here is what it looks like with no shades. Neither looks bad just there is no personality.

Now to give it some personality the only supply needed is mason jars. I had pint jars aplenty here but the lights on my chandelier were too tall for the pint jars. A quick trip to Wal-mart for a set of $8.00 quart size mason jars, and I was ready.

Screw the ring onto the mason jar and place on the chandelier, that is it. The weight of the mason jars are heavy enough to hold them in place. Since my husband has been known to hit his head on the chandelier before, I am going to take a spot of hot glue and tack down the rings to the chandelier for safety.

I have six mason jars left over and I have plans for them, I will post later in the week.

Picture Clip Art Rails

Total Cost - $2.00

 

Here is another idea I got from Knock-off Wood.  It is super easy  and cost very little to make.  I have a small hallway in my house leading to the back room and I had been planning on making a picture wall from some time.  Trying to design and purchase a large quantity of picture frames was never high on my to get/do list.  I saw this idea from Ana and knew it would be perfect for the hallway without the expensive. 

 

Supplies Used

1x2x8 - .97 from Lowes

Clothespins – 1.00 for a bag of 50 at the dollar store.

Paint – leftovers

Glue

Screws for hangers

Scrapbook Paper – for Memories Sign

 

All you need to do is cut the 1x2 into the length you need for your wall, mine worked out to 4’.  Separate the clothes pins, for painting.  It is easy to remove and replace the small metal piece, I promise.  Paint your rails and clothespins.  After they have dried, reassemble the clothespins and glue them to the board.  I glued mine every 6” alternating one pointing up and one pointing down. Screw the rails into the wall, be sure and mark your spot carefully so you will have a straight rail(not that I would have any experience).  Now add photos!  My son loves this, he can reach the bottom rail and every drawing he makes goes up.

 

For the MEMEORIES sign, I used 4 pieces of 12x12 scrapbook paper, and cut out the word memories with my Cricut at 9” in white.  I glued the letters to the paper and tacked the paper to the wall.

What to do with an old wood door? Make a Message Board

Message Board - $16.00

Supplies Used

Half of an Old Wood Door - $7.50

Chalkboard Paint - $8.00

Cork board – scrap piece

Paint – leftovers

Scrap 2x4

Vintage Door knob – came with door

I have had this half of a old solid wood door for a while and had been wondering what to make with. I have started building a small table for a nook in my kitchen and I thought the door will go above it perfectly. I decided the door would make an excellent message board.

It was super easy to make and inexpensive. I bought this door from Craigslist for $15.00. I purchased chalkboard paint by Rustoleum, it is tintable to any color, I picked traditional black. The chalkboard paint was $8.00 for a quart. I had the paint and cork I used already.

Old Door

I gave the door a fresh coat of white paint. Before adding the chalk board paint and corkboard.

I taped off the inset and painted with the chalk board paint, it took two coats. I had some left over cork I trimmed down and hot glued to the bottom part of the door. I added a scrap piece of wood to the bottom of the door to finish the edge and as a small shelf for chalk. I also did a light wash over the white in a royal blue to add some distressing and added the vintage door knob back in.

What happened to the rest of the door? I purchased the door to make a coffee table. We needed a new coffee table and I wanted something that would hold up to a six year olds hot wheels, legos, and other rough housing that he manages on a daily basis. This coffee table is what started my love of recreating new from old things. It was so easy to make, all we did is cut the door down, paint it and add premade legs. I think the legs were a total of $24.00. It is a simple table but perfect for this active household.

Popcorn Cupcakes

Here is a easy to make  cupcake for any occasion.  I love trying  new cake, cookie and cupcake recipes.  I had been wanting to try these popcorn cupcakes for awhile and this week I had the chance to make them.  I enjoy baking new things and then sending them to work with my husband so I don’t keep to much temptation in the house.

 

These were easy to make and look too cute!   All you need is:

cupcake liners

cupcakes

buttercream icing

marshmallows

yellow food coloring

small artist brush

scrapbook paper

First bake your cupcakes.  I used a doctored cake box mix.  I always add an extra egg, use milk instead of water and add a box of instant pudding to any mix.  I did not fill the liner but about half way, I did not want tall cupcakes since the icing needs height for the “popcorn”.

While the cupcakes are baking take your marshmallows and cut them half with a knife, then pinch one end back together.  This will give you a popped popcorn look.  It is not hard although it did take while to make enough for 24 cupcakes. 

After your cupcakes have cooled.  Pipe on icing or you can just use a spatula, looks don’t matter here.  You do need some height to your icing, to achieve a bowl full of popcorn.  Sorry I forgot to take a photo of this step.

Next put your marshmallow popcorn on the icing.  Take your yellow food coloring mixed with water and using a small artist brush, brush on the “butter”.  Finally, I used red and white stripped scrapbook paper cut into strips  to wrap around cupcake liner to create a popcorn container look. 

What a fun cupcake for movie night!  Next time, I am going  to find mini liners that are red and white stripped and make mini cupcakes. 

Photography – Bug Club

 

My husband and I both enjoy photography as a hobby. I am more the point and shoot quick shot type and he is the set up a shot, play with the settings type.  It works well we get a variety of photographs that way.  My son goes to Bug Club and this provided a perfect place to practice marco shots with extension tube settings.  Here are a few of the photos taken this last week.

The photos were taken with a Sony A200, 18-70 lens with 34m extension tube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEGO License Plate Holder

My son and I made this easy craft as a gift for Daddy. All you need is a license plate holder, Legos and hot glue. The license plate holder can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart, Target, etc for about $5.00. The only real expense are the Legos, they are expensive toys. We happen to have 1000’s of them; they are without a doubt my son’s favorite toy. I love them to because they spark your imagination and do NOT require batteries.

My son was willing to donate a few of his Legos for the project since it was for Dad. If I make anymore, I will have to purchase my own Legos. After choosing your Legos, next step is glue them on. That is all there is to it, Legos and glue.

Lego License Plate Holder

Back of Holder



My husband loved the holder and all the other engineers he works with think it is very cool; we have gotten lots of compliments. As a bonus, it makes it so much easier to find your vehicle in a crowed parking lot.

Barn Wood

Sorry, I have not posted this week. The family tagged along with my husband on a business trip. We went to Indiana and took a side trip to Lake Michigan. Along the way, I saw many old barns. I was the crazy lady with her camera out the car window, going down the interstate 70 miles an hour snapping pictures. Seeing all the barn wood, gave me so many ideas for craft projects. The main one is the farmhouse table from Restoration Hardware, http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1605030&navCount=3

I have loved this table for years but not the price tag. And then I found Ana, from Knock Off Wood posted the design to hack the table. I was giddy with excitement. I have been thinking about it for a few weeks, trying to decide what to make the table with. I really wanted to use reclaimed wood or old barn wood. There are a few people on Craigslist that sell barn wood, and I am sure it is a good price but it more than I am hoping to spend. For me part of the fun in being creative, building and making new things is keeping the price low.

I decided to place an ad on Craigslist, saying I was looking for barn wood, just enough to build a table. Within 1 hour, I got a response. A wonderful gentleman had an 80 year old barn that was blown down in a storm and was still on his property. He said we could come get whatever we wanted and pay him whatever we felt it was worth? How does one decide that? So my husband went out there to collect some wood. When he got there it was an interesting adventure


The barn had been blown over quite some time ago, it was overgrown. He heard snakes, and stirred up a wasp nest. He came home with chigger bites and covered in beggar’s lice. The wood was very wet and a great deal of it is warped. But there are some gems in all the mess, the rafters of the barn are large 2 x 6 oak boards. They are still attached to the apex of the barn and headers. He is going to get a chain saw and go back out there to collect some, they will be perfect for the table top. I think we will be able to get most of what is needed for the table.


He did bring a few pieces for us to see what kind of wood and work we are looking at.
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One of the many barn photos I took this week.

Patchwork Flag

Patchwork Flag
Total Cost – 4.50

I finally was able to finish the Patchwork Flag. Ever since I saw the one from Pottery Barn, I knew I wanted to try and make my own version. Theirs is lovely but at $299, would not even think of purchasing. Here is their patchwork flag, http://www.potterybarn.com/products/planked-patchwork-flag/ It looked simple enough to do and I thought it would be perfect for July 4th. Not sure where I will hang it after the holiday but I will find somewhere.

It wasn’t hard to make, a bit aggravating. After cutting all the scrap pieces into smaller ones, I spent 3 days trying to make the pieces fit onto the plywood. I am not a puzzle person! Once that part was done the rest was easy.

Supplies – I used all scrap wood and left over paint. I did have to purchase a pint of red paint.

Plywood – 24 x 24 – I think it is 3/8”
Scrap Wood – 1x3, 1x4, 1x6 and 1x8
Paint – leftover white and royal blue
Pint of cherry red - $4.50
Antique Silver glaze – craft paint and water

Tools
Table saw
Brad nailer


I had no rhyme or reason to the wood; I just cut a bunch of pieces different sizes and went to town. This could be why I spent 3 days trying to make it work. After I had all the pieces placed, I marked which board would be painted which color. I took a picture, so I would not forget where each piece went. I painted all the boards, and nailed them to the plywood. I cut a few different sizes of a star shape, using a cricut and used the negative image as a stencil. I then applied an antique silver glaze to the entire piece.

Placement of wood and marked for painting

Painted before the stars and gaze finish

Finished