Picture Frame Chalkboard

Picture Frame Chalkboard

I use my homemade chalkboard for a dinner menu.

What You Need:


Chalkboard Paint
Large Paint Brush
Large Picture Frame
Plywood Cut To Fit Into Picture Frame
Tape Measure




Steps:


1.  You can either cut your own plywood if you know how, or ask a store associate to cut it for you at a local home improvement store.  Make sure to measure your picture frame so you know what size to cut the plywood so it fits inside your picture frame.


2.  Paint your plywood with the chalkboard paint, I used about 4 coats for mine, letting each coat of paint dry before applying another.


3.  After 4 coats of chalkboard paint and the plywood is dry, put the plywood inside the picture frame, you now have a chalkboard dinner menu!




*Tip: You can also paint your plywood with magnetic paint before you paint it with chalboard paint so it can be used to hang magnets on, also.  I purchased my picture frame at the Salvation Army when they had a 50% off sale, I removed the old painting that I didn't want, the frame ended up being just $10.

DIY Postcard

DIY Postcard

Materials needed:

1 Piece of Printer Paper
1 Postcard Stamper
1 Large Ink Pad
1 Piece of Recycled Cardboard (the size of a postcard)
Double-Sided Tape
Scissors


Directions:

1.  Use your postcard stamper to stamp onto the piece of printer paper.  Cut out the stamped part of the paper (estimate) to the size of a postcard.  Write your message onto the postcard once the ink has dried (about 3 minutes).

2.  Flip the piece of printer paper over to the blank/backside.  Use the double sided tape to cover the entire back of the paper.

3.  Attach the taped portion of the printer paper to the brown/blank side of the cardboard.  Press down firmly to make sure the printer paper is nice and secure to the cardboard and smooth out any air pockets.  I used some cardboard from a soda box for my postcard because I didn't have any plain cardboard but I actually like it better this way.

4.  Use your scissors to cut the excess cardboard off of the postcard.

This is the postcard I made, yours will most likely look nicer since I ran out of ink and made my own using a combination of rubbing alcohol and gel food coloring and it was a little too wet/messy, but I don't think it turned out too bad with the homemade ink.

3-D Flag Picture

I made this little, patriotic picture to put into our guest bedroom.  The flag pops out from the words in the background and it looks really nice after you put it all together.  This project took about 5 minutes to do and was so easy!  I found the free printable and instructions for this project HERE.  Be sure to print both pictures 5x10, they will come out right.  Also, I used Kodak glossy photo paper to make mine (be sure to set your printer setting to the glossy photo paper for best results).  All you need is a printer, printer paper (preferably glossy photo paper), a hot glue gun and a glue stick for it and a 5x10 frame (I bought mine at Walmart for about $2).  For the back of the flag, I just used a piece of leftover scrap paper from the cut outs, rolled it up into a thick square and put a dab of hot glue on it to hold it together.  I also hot glued the finished square to the back of the flag and the background words instead of using a glue stick, double-sided tape would probably work too. 

Here is the one I made

First Time Making Soap

So I made my first batch of soap recently, and I think it turned out pretty good! It is still in the "curing" stage which lasts 3-6 weeks. Over this period of time the bar hardens so that it will be nicer and last longer. Also, by this time all of the lye will be gone from the soap (all true soap must be made with lye). For my soap I used olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil and castor oil. I made my soap using the "cold process" method. For more information on making your own soap and great free recipes I highly recommend reading the Soap Queen Blog.  You can find great soap making tools from Brambleberry and Wholesale Supplies Plus.  I also recommend the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Soaps" by Sally Trew. There is great information in this book on what types of oils you can use and what properties they add to the soap, as well as recipes. It was very easy and fun to make my own soap but be sure to research extensively on the proper use and procedures of using lye before trying to make your own.

Getting ready to make my soap, I am also wearing rubber gloves.  When using lye you have to be very, very careful.  If it comes in contact with your skin immediately pour vinegar directly on your skin before doing anything else and don't try to just wash it off with water, lye can eat through your skin.  Here is a great link on handling lye and a lot more videos on soap making.

Here is the soap right after I mixed it all together.

This is after letting the soap sit for 48 hours, now it can be cut.

All of the soap is cut and now must harden for 3-6 weeks.  It smells so good!