Quick and Easy Way to Hang Pictures

I was hanging some pictures in Con-Man's room and thought it might be a good technique to share. I learned this back in the day when I worked at the furniture store. We changed up the displays often; so we needed a quick way to hang the pictures that went with the furniture.


Do you hate those picture frames that have the 2 hooks on each end for the nails? I do, I never have picture wire and if I didn't know about this way to hang pictures, mine would come out crooked every time. So, try this next time instead:

Lay the picture you are hanging face down. Take some masking tape or painters tape (anything that is not very tacky so it won't peel the paint off the wall) and lay it over the hooks where the nails will go. Then use a pen to mark where the hooks are.

Close up shot of pen mark. Make the mark at the very upper point of the hook. Most are a triangle shape, you will want your nail to go at the most upper point.

Next peel the tape off the picture frame and tape it on the wall at the height you want your picture to hang. Use a level to make sure it is straight. 

Now just hammer 2 nails in at the points you marked on the tape. After you are finished peel the tape off the wall. You are left with 2 nails in the perfect position on which to hang your picture.

See, quick and easy!

I've worked a lot of different design-type places throughout school and so forth; so I've picked up a lot of little tips like this. I'll post them periodlically as I think of them. Or if you have a question about something let me know! I'll answer it the best I can.

Don't forget that it's Creativity Week at Seven Thirty Three Blog! I'm being featured today!!!

Creativity Week!

Don't forget that it's Creativity Week at Seven Thirty Three Blog ! I'm being featured tomorrow!!!

End Table Redo

In our house we have a sunroom. It used to be just a place for me to fold laundry and watch TV. But since Con-Man was born, we have been using the sunroom for our guest room. Most of the furniture in there is a mix of leftovers that didn't fit else where in our house. Like these end tables I found on the curb:

(Sorry about the bad picture quality! I lost the charger for my new camera and have been using my old one...)

I like the style of the tables, kind of retro modern. But the finish on each is pretty bad, Cheap wood laminate. I never thought anyone would really see them but me, but we've been having a lot of company over lately and have some more coming this weekend. So I decided it's time for a little sprucing up. 

I thought a pattern on top of the tables would be a nice look. This technique didn't take me very long, just 2-3 hours for the whole project.

I really liked the pattern on this image I found on the internet. 

I enlarged it on Photoshop.

Then cut the shapes out with an Exacto Knife. This took me the longest. I knew choosing a complicated pattern would take more time but I liked it. (Ugh my camera is horrible!)

I did then a light sanding so the paint would adhere better.

Next I painted the tops of the tables with some leftover paint I had. 

I matched up the templates and taped them down to the table. For a really clean look contact paper would have worked better, but then I would have had to cut the shapes out twice since my printer won't print on contact paper. 

Then I went to work with the spray paint! I used Rustoleum Heirloom White.

I think they turned out pretty cute! Not bad for finding them on the street, all this project cost me was $4 for spray paint!

Here they are in the sunroom.

Next project has to be recovering those pillows that came with the couch. Can you see them in the corner of the pic? They're pretty blah.

Linking here

Giveaway Winner

Wow what a week this has been! Thank you to everyone who entered the Necklace Giveaway, and thank you to all the new followers. I've had a great time perusing all you wonderful blogs and meeting new blog friends.

Now the moment you've all been waiting for; the drawing for the winner of the Glass Tile Necklace. Remember that you had to become a follower and leave a comment, or if you were already a follwer to leave a comment to be entered.


So without further adieu the winner is


The Craft Barn!
The Craft Barn is a new follower and their blog has lots of cute unique handmade items to sell. Check it out.
http://www.thecraftbarn-ny.blogspot.com/





Congratulations! Please email me your address (found on my contact page) and I'll send it right away.


Thanks again everyone! I had such a good time doing the giveaway I may do another one in a month or so.


I also want to bring attention to the fact that it's Creativity Week Seven Thirty Three . She is featuring lots of different projects everyday. I'm being featured on Friday! So excited!!


And for my next project I'll be fixing up these little beauties I found on the curbside. Can you believe someone threw these away?

Birthday Follow Up

Success! I can bake. I made Connor's Birthday Cupcakes and people actually ate them. Hooray! Here are some of the highlights:

Yum! 

The Birthday Boy in his Birthday Shirt I made him.

He actually refused to eat his cake in front of everyone. He chose to eat it on the floor when he thought no one was looking.

Putting some of my other creations to work.

So that was the party in a nutshell. Now I'm trying to decide what my next project should be; I have a few on the list. A desk for Connor, paint some end tables I found on the curbside, or a sewing project. 

Anyone have a preference?

And don't forget about the giveaway end soon! Leave a comment to get your name entered into the drawing.

Birthday Baking

Connor's 1st Birthday is tomorrow! I can't believe my little baby is going to be 1 year old. He's so grown up. ;..)

So to celebrate all of our family is coming in town. They never get to see him since we live San Antonio and they live in Houston and Baton Rouge. So I figured I wouldn't be able to do anything to creative this weekend except make Connor's cake! I don't have a lot of practice baking but I love to cook and have lots of inspiration:

My friend Angie has her own company Callooh Callay Creations where she's always making lots of yummy stuff.
http://twitter.com/calloohcallay09

 Or all the scrumptious cupcakeries here in town offer lots of eye candy as well.

Cupcake Couture

Or Saweet! Cupcakes

Anyway, I'm making myself hungry. What kind of mom would I be if I didn't atleast attempt to make my son's first birthday cake? I decided to use a recipe my mom gave me that I've had several times. The cake is so light and fluffy and the icing is to die for. I just hope I can make it the same way she does. Here's the recipe:

Vanilla Cake Batter

Makes about 6 cups. Prep 20 min.

(Add an additional 1/4 tsp vanilla extract if you don't have almond extract.)

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter, softened

3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. almond extract (I'm going to add a little more of each of these so its extra flavorful)

3 cups cake flour (I'm using Swans in the red box)

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with a heavy- duty mixer until creamy and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.

2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; add sugar to mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at medium- low speed just until blended after each addition. (Batter will be thick.)

I'm making cupcakes so I followed these directions:

Vanilla Cupcakes
Prepare basic Vanilla Cake Batter as directed. Place paper baking cups in muffin pans and coat with vegetable spray; spoon batter into cups, filling three-fourths full. Bake at 350 for 20- 25 minutes or until a wooden pick insterted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans or on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove pans to wire rack and cool completely; about 1 hour (Seriously 1 hour!!!) Spread tops with buttercream frosting. Makes about 24 cupcakes

Phew that's a lot of words, I think I need some inspiration to keep me going.

That's better!

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Makes about 2 3/4 cups; Prep 10 min

If you love frosting double the recipe

1/2 cup butter softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. salt

1 (16 oz.) package powdered sugar

3 to 5 tbsp milk

1. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

2. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 3 Tbsp milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, beating at a low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Beat in up to 2 Tbsp additional mild for desired consistency.

Hopefully Connor's cupcakes will turn out as good as those pictures. I don't want him to look back at his first birthday pics and be embarassed! Must...Channel...Cupcake...Goddesses...

I also uploaded the full article I got this recipe from. It was from Southern Living and had a lot of variations on the batter and icing. Yum!! Happy Baking!

Cake Recipe

And don't forget to check out my givewaway going on until Tuesday the 20th! Become a follower and post a comment. If your already a follower just comment!

Glass Tile Necklace

Do you ever go to the Home Improvement Store or Tile Shop and drool over the specialty glass tiles? Well I do. I would love to re-do my bathroom with mosaic tiles, but for now the cost is a little out of reach. I wondered if there was another way to bring these little beauties into my life without breaking the bank.

I received these tile samples from a rep at Interstyle Tile. They specialize in unique and specialty tile. The tile they sell is pretty expensive so I was excited to get some free samples. I wasn't sure what to do with them though. There weren't enough to make a mosaic or use for a table top (or redo my bathroom). I was trying to think out the box and thought they might make a cool necklace! My Dremel tool would be perfect for this project! I could use the diamond drill bit to drill a hole through the tile.

Just a side note- my personal opinion; if you are thinking about purchasing a new tool and already have the basics; a drill, mitre saw and sander you might want to consider a Dremel. They are so versatile! I've used mine for so many things I never thought I would. I was lucky enough to get one for my birthday. My husband knows me to well. Anyway just a thought...

To begin I taped the edge I was going to drill through. This will help the glass from shattering. 

I just want to stop a moment and mention safety again. Dremel doesn't recommend drilling through glass but it works so I do it.

Sadness- this is why Dremel doesn't recommend using the drill on glass. It can break. Tear..

Anyway I drilled straight down with minimal pressure. As in my previous glass cutting experience with the wine glasses I stopped every few minutes to dip the Dremel and the tile in water to keep them cool.

Some progress. It took about 10-15 minutes for me to drill the whole way through. Patience is the key.

Ugh- this picture didn't turn out well but it supposed to show the hole drilled all the way through. But success it worked!!

The finished necklace! I think its sassy and original. Where else could you get a necklace like this?

So I am giving it away! Just become a follower and leave a comment. If you are already a follower just comment to let me know; and maybe let me know what you think about the blog or what you would like to see more of. 

This Drawing is now over. Check back to see who the winner was!

 
 

Some progress

I wanted to bring attention to the fact that I've finally figured out how to add "pages" to my blog. I've been wanting to do this for a while but didn't know how. I thought you had to pay for it or something. But you don't- hooray!

Let me know what you think! Is there anything you would like to see?

Thanks!!

Birthday Shirt For Connor

Con-Man's first Birthday is coming up! I wanted to make something special for him to wear for his birthday. I have seen the shirts with the numbers on them and thought they were real cute. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on it since he'd only wear it once or twice. I took a trip to Walmart and got a T-shirt for $5. Then I looked for a fun font on Word. I didn't find the exact one I wanted but found one that was close.

I enlarged it with Photoshop and modified it a little.

I traced it on some old fabric leftover from some chairs I recovered.

                                                                                        

I could have ironed it on with fusible webbing but choose to wing it and sew it on without it.

                                                                                        

Using the embroidery stich on my sewing machine this is how it turned out. He looks so cute, I can't wait to for everyone to see him at his party!

                                                                                          

 

Sewing- Not just for my Mom

I'm in the process of sewing a shirt Con-Man's Birthday (pics to come!) and it got me thinking about sewing in general. My mom always sewed. She made Christmas dresses for us, Halloween Costumes, curtains and bedding for our rooms. She always told me how when she was in high school she would make her own clothes! When I was younger she tried to instill this skill in me. Every summer she would take us to the fabric store and have us choose a pattern and fabric for a summer project. 

I remember how boring I thought it was! I wanted to be outside playing, or watching TV. To me at that age sewing was for old people. Still my mom persevered, bought me my own sewing machine, and I did learn the basics.

It wasn't until college when I started my Interior Design degree I realized how useful and cool sewing could be. I started to take an interest again; making cheap curtains out of sheets for my apartment. Taking a thrift store prom dress and making silk pillows for my bed, purses out of T-shirts, ect. But I never did it continuously and always had to call my mom to remind me how my sewing machine worked.

These days ever since Con-Man was born; I've taken up sewing again

My mom  helped me make the crib bumper for his bed (she saved me a ton of money over buying something ready made from the store). I made the pillow and blanket.

            

This is a pic of the blanket with the Craigslist dresser I re-did for Con-Man's changing table.

            

We also made the curtains and pillow for the rocker.

Con-Man in the Pumpkin Costume I made him for Halloween!

                     
             

I've also been having fun making him little clothes. Only problem is that he doesn't wear them long. It's hard to find tutorials on sewing things for boys. Most of the cute stuff is for girls!

So while I'm getting better I still have to call my mom sometimes for advice and always have trouble remembering how to thread my bobbin. And tonight my thread kept breaking, and I always somehow end up sewing the front and back of my fabric together no matter how careful I am. Why do I put myself through this pain and anguish!? 

I guess its for that sense of accomplishment. The moment when someone asks you "Did you make that?" and you can proudly say "Yes!" I'm having fun relearning a skill and trying to learn new techniques. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though you haven't done something in a while doesn't mean you can't try it again! And maybe one day when Con is older he'll think it's cool his mom made things for him. And who knows, maybe some of my creativity will rub off on him.

Who or what inspired your creativity? Has anyone else let something fall by the wayside that they might want to work at again?