Potato Stamped Art

Last January, to start the new year off creatively, Spoonflower created a #7DaysofDesign challenge to help creators explore new mediums.  Day seven was block printing.  Since I didn't have block printing supplies, I decided to use a potatoes.  I loved creating this art and I loved the result.

I carved a line and triangle into potato halves.

Then I tried dipping them in ink and in paint.  I think I ended up liking the paint better.

I loved the texture and imperfections, I loved how graphic the black and white looked - I loved everything about it!

I was also excited when I saw something similar in Hobby Lobby and online at All Modern.

               

It look a while, but I finally put them in frames and hung them in my home.  

I love decorating with art that is personal.

Yarn-Wrapped Rope Rainbow

I saw these on one of my favorite blogs a week ago and I was OBSESSED with them and with trying to make one.

If you remember my post about Guest Room Planning, I thought it would go great in my guest room, which is black and white, with fun pops of color, drawn from this sign I bought on from the Etsy Shop Just Add Sunshine..

Step 1 was finding the rope...which was a challenge.  I thought all home improvement stores would have it, but I searched online and they didn't.  It was available from online retailers, but I wanted to see it before buying because it's hard to picture rope diameter.  I ended up buying mine at Joann Fabric - in the crafting supply aisle, but it looks like it's no longer available online in their stores.  Here is some white rope I found on Amazon that looks like it would work well - I think I'd try the 5/8 inch and 50 feet.  

For this project you'll need:

white rope

yarn, in different colors and textures

scissors

hot glue gun/glue

needle and thread

blue tape (optional)

Step 2 - Lay out your rope to determine what length to cut each piece.  This took quite a while for me to readjust.  I think because of the limited selection in the store, I ended up with 16 feet, when I had been planning mentally, I was thinking I should get 24-30 feet.  Mine turned out a fine size, so I would say anywhere between 16 and 30 feet would work.  My rope measurements are: Red: 30 in., pink: 29.5 in., orange: 28 in., yellow: 26 in., green: 23 in., turquoise 1: 22.5  ____  

Step 3 - Cut the rope.  Once I had my rope laid out, with 8 rainbow arcs, I cut the ends, while it was in place like this.

Step 5 - start wrapping.  Part of the look is leaving some of the white rope hanging at the end of each arc, so I measured two inches on each end and taped them with blue tape and then that's where I started and ended my yarn.  It takes a while to wrap, but you'll get into a rhythm that works for you.  I found that rolling the rope towards me and keeping the yarn taut by holding it in between my arm and my body worked for me.  

I think I wrapped the orange too tightly, so it ended up longer than expected.  I have no idea what happened with turquoise 1 - why is it so long?! 

I LOVE seeing the progress - every step of the way I'm so crazy about this project!  Since the wrapping makes your rope end up different lengths, I just taped or tucked in the ends of the yarn at this point, and waited to hot glue until the end.  

Step 6 - I readjusted once everything was wrapped and removed some yarn and cut some extra length of rope and then I hot glued the beginning and end of each yarn piece.

Step 7 - on the back of your rainbow, use a needle and thread to stitch together each arc at spaced intervals.

Step 8 - Sew on a piece of yarn for hanging.

I love it SO MUCH!

To give you a perspective about how big it is:

I LOVE the colors and textures this wall art offers.

😍

Upcycled Frame

I had bought this welcome sign at the Target Dollar Spot because I liked it's cheery colors.  My vague idea was to put it in a frame to elevate it from a bulletin board punch out sign to a cute piece of wall art.  But I discovered it was an odd size and I'd have to special order a frame.  So when out shopping at Goodwill, I found this frame that I thought my Welcome sign would fit in.  As you can see - it's definitely an outdated frame.  But it was unopened and wood and I knew it had potential!

I painted the frame with chalk paint.  Only 1 coat was needed.  I also painted the cardboard backing gray.  

Here are the other things that I think help elevate it - since it was a punch out piece of cardboard, there were perforations around the edge, so I got out a nail file and filed all the edges to make them smoother.  Also, I cut out squares of foam and used double sided mounting squares to attach the sign to the gray backing.  This gives it more dimension.  This project cost around $6 and I think it'll look great in my craft room!

Embroidery Hoop Bunting Wall Art

This project was actually really easy to make!  I bought an embroidery hoop from Michael's for only a couple dollars and I had all the fabric.  I used my rotary cutter and mat to cut little triangles for the bunting.

I used a pencil to faintly make lines and then I used my sewing machine to sew the two lines.

Then I used a q-tip to put a small dot of  Mod Podge on each flag, to keep them in place during sewing.  Then I sewed over the top of each flag.

I positioned it in my embroidery hoop and then cut off the excess fabric.

Thrift Store Score - Cafe Terrace at Night Wall Art

I found this framed Van Gogh print at Goodwill for around $3.00.  I've always liked it, so I bought it and put it up in my office.  

To buy this online would be $63.00!