Sweet Pallet Sign

I made this sign for the last craft show we had and I loved the way it turned out so I'm sharing it with you today.

What I Love Most

I make pretty home decor, but the truth is, what I love most about my home isn't what's in it.
It's the love and laughter we share in it that matters.
I guess that's why I wanted to make this pretty burlap sign. 

A Custom Mother's Day Gift

In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share with you this custom sign we made for a friend of mine.

She sent me the poem a while ago and asked if we could make something rustic for her Mother in Law.

Yeah... we do rustic. :)

I first laid the poem out in Adobe Illustrator to set the text  up in a pleasing way.

Then I cut a stencil.

I painted the leftover banner material with ASCP Old White and then Coco, adding some dark wax over that. I normally don't put wax on this material, but I just love Coco with dark wax on it. 

Next I laid out the stencil and painted the serif text in Graphite and the script in Aubusson Blue.

That part was done.

Next up, Eric made a frame with pallet wood. I asked him to make it slightly larger than need be so I could put a burlap matte around the canvas.

I stained the frame and, once dried, measured my burlap out and cut it, also cutting the inside portion out to about the size I wanted it. I then placed it on the back of the frame, making sure to check to flip it over before stapling to be sure it was relatively straight along the inside edge of the frame. I stapled it onto the back at the corners. Then I added the banner, stapling that, along with the burlap, along the whole edge all the way around. I trimmed up the inside of the burlap then, just to straighten the line a bit. 

My friend thinks her Mother in law will love it.

I certainly hope so!

I'm happy with the burlap matte.

I had never tried it before but it turned out really cute. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

Hope you have a great one!  

Sharing at Mother's Day Categorically Crafting Party at Someday Crafts

Love, Cherish and Adore Pedestal Signs

Today I'm sharing with you a quick little project made from frames and some old stool legs.

These little pedestal signs were created from 3 thrift store frames of roughly the same size. All I did to the frames was paint them with a  little Graphite ASCP, distress them and add dark wax. 

I also used Graphite on some leftover banner material from the shop where I work. 

I then applied a vinyl stencil (I must have had weddings in mind when I made the stencil. lol) and painted the letters with both Coco and Old White.

After that, I got out the staple gun and attached the banner material to the back of the frames.

Pretty simple process.

I pulled some old stool legs out of my stash in the garage and painted those with Graphite as well. 

I had purchased a few pieces from the Habitat Rehab store that we used for the base on these. And Eric cut a piece of wood for each so that they would be more chunky. 

The stool legs already had threaded hardware on the bottom so, after painting and waxing them, I simply drilled holes through the base pieces, added some glue to each and the threads themselves, and screwed them all together. 

Eric attached the frames to the pedestals with screws from the back, attaching one slightly lower than the other two. 

I then added some sisal and a button over the frame that was sitting lower on the base, securing it all with glue. 

I think they make a cute little set. :)

Everyone loves a good party!
Check my project out along with other great inspiration, at these great blogs...

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage, Mop It Up Monday at I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill, Pink Hippo Party at Pinkapotamus, Monday No Rules Blog Hop at A Sorta Fairytale,Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative, Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, Making the World Cuter Monday, Before and After at Thrifty Decor Chick (first Monday of the month), What's in the Gunny Sack at the Gunny Sack, Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House, Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life, Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin, That DIY Party at DIY Showoff, The DIY'ers Link Party at Home Coming

One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Transformation Tuesday at The Ironstone Nest, Monday Funday at Creatively Living, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm, The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch, Project Inspired{d}at Cupcakes and Crinoline, You're Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E, Transformed Tuesdays at PJH Designs, Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House, Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp Junktion, Be Inspired at Elizabeth and Co, Pretty Things Link Party at twelveOeight, Time to Shine at A Diamond in the Stuff, Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polkadot Giraffe, The Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking, Creatively Tuesday at The Rustic Pig, Show Me What You Got at Not Just a Housewife, Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles, Tasteful Tuesday at Naptime Creations, Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios, Trash 2 Treasure at Kammy's Korner, Fluster's Creative Muster Party at Fluster Buster, The Creative Spark at Clean and Scentsible, Tuesdays at Our Home at Our Home Away from Home, Homemade by You at Made to be a Momma, Trendy Tuesday at Sweet Little Gals

Wildly Original Link Party at I Gotta Create, Wow Us Wednesday at Family Home and Life, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House, What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants, Wednesday Whatsits at White Lights on Wednesday, What We Accomplished Wednesday at Green Willow Pond, Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence, Show and Share at Southern Lovely, Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style, Wow Me Wednesday at Gingersnap Crafts, From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer, Its' a Party! at A Creative Princess, Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Look What I Made Wednesday at Creations by Kara, Create and Share at The Trendy Treehouse, A Little Bird Told Me Link Party at The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Oh What a Happy Day Link Party at Not Done Growing

Party Time at The 36th Avenue, Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home, Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage, Share Your Cup Party at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Hookin' Up with HOH at House of Hepworths, Talkin' about Thursday at Designed Decor, Live Laugh Linky at Live Laugh Rowe, Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life, The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush, Made U Look Linky at Made in a Day, Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse, Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life, Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage, Catch a Glimpse Party at A Glimpse Inside, 52 Mantels, Creative Inspirations Linky Party at Embracing Change, Simply Create Link Party at Redfly Creations

Simply Creations Link Party at My Simple Homelife, Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed, Inspire Me Please Link Party at Liz Marie Blog, Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What Have You Redone at Redoux Interiors, Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home, Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove, Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted inThyme, Be Inspired at Common Ground, Faunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo, Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home, Junkin' Joe Vintage and Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market, Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Shabbilicious Friday Link Party at Shabby Art Boutique, Tickled Pink at 504 Main, Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House, Rustic Restorations Weekend Link Party at Homespun Happenings,  Great Idea Thursdays at A Handful of Everything

Saturday Show and Tell at Cheerios and Lattes, Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors, A Bouquet of Talent Party at Life on Lakeshore Drive, Strut Your Stuff Party at Six Sisters' Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy little Lady, Get Schooled Satuday at Too Much Time on My Hands, Power of Pinterest Party at Fox Hollow Cottage, Your Great Idea Party at Or So She Says, Overflowing with Creativity party at It's Overflowing, Craft Country Cottage Party at Old Red Barn, Saturday SHOW-licious Craft Showcase at Sew-licious

The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming, Sunny Simple Sundays Party at Sunny Simple Life, Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime, Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, It's Party Time at Three Mango Seeds, Restyled Sundays at Stylish Once Again, Silver Pennies Sundays at Silver Pennies, Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop at A Blossoming Life

The Key To My Heart Craft Challenge at Cocalores

Make a Wish (wall hook)

Here is another one of the little pretties we debuted with our repurposed shutters the other day.

A cute little pallet board hook for the wall. 

This project was easy as pie (which sometimes isn't really all that easy, depending on the pie. lol)

I found some pallet wood pieces in Eric's scrap bin last week. I picked some that were just about the same length and I glued and nailed them onto a vertical 4th piece of scrap wood on the back.

I love pallet wood because it always has nail or staple holes, gouges and miscellaneous flaws.

It's always so perfectly imperfect!

Once everything had dried, I simply painted on some Annie Sloan Barcelona Orange, then a little Ce Ce Caldwell's Johnston Daffodil and finally some Santa Fe Turquoise. I didn't distress a thing, just painted it quickly, hitting and missing wherever I felt like it. 

I just happened to have a few stencil letters that I cut apart and placed randomly and a little crookedly onto the board. Then used Aubusson Blue for the lettering. 

I used Barcelona Orange again on a double-hook I had lying around in my pieces/parts box. 

Finally I added clear wax to everything, then attached the hook under the lettering (and dabbed some paint on the screw heads too) and a little twine hanger off the back.

This little board matches our new shelf perfectly. 

Can you tell by my color choices lately that I am SO ready for spring? :)

(pssst.... I'm going to tell you more about those cute metal and felt flowers and the little repurposed vases later this week, so be sure to stop back by!)

If you haven't liked our facebook page yet, you can do that here.

And you can follow me on Pinterest with this link.

To get my new posts at bloglovin', just click this.

Have a great day!

A Chalkboard in Bloom

Today I wanted to tell you a little bit more about our spring chalkboard that was hanging next to our new mail holder made from a shutter that I shared yesterday. 

This little goodie was already a chalkboard. But, the surface was pretty much shot. You just couldn't write on it anymore.

We had this particular item donated to us by a woman who saw us at our very first show and loved our stuff. She just so happened to have a few things in her car that she was planning on taking to Goodwill that day. Instead, she brought them back to our booth and made a donation to On A Whim! 

People can be so nice :)

All I did for this piece was paint the chalkboard itself with Ce Ce Caldwell's Emerald Isle and then I used Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue on the frame and dry brushed some Ce Ce's Santa Fe Turquoise over that. I love the effect! 

I printed some letters off of my computer and cut around them. I then cut 3" x 3" squares out of some springy-green scrapbook paper I had and made them into triangles. I glued the letters onto those and I attached the flags to a piece of teal yarn I had picked up somewhere in a free bin with some blue flower brads I had laying around in my scrapbook stash.

I just love the combination of blue and green, don't you? :)

Live Simply... A Simple Craft Project

I purchased this little shutter at a local barn sale. It was previously painted black and I just wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. But, I figured I would think of something. And why pass up a cute shutter if you have the chance to buy one for cheap? :)

One day I finally decided to give it a coat of Annie Sloan™ Old White paint. It sure brightened it up from the old black that was on there. And, suddenly, I got inspired!

I had made previously some burlap flowers with vintage buttons from a tutorial I'd seen on Pinterest. I pulled those out and attached them to the shutter. 

I loved the simplicity of this little project. So I decided to add some simple text too. :)

I used my scrapbook stencils to pencil them on and then painted over the pencil with Graphite. 

Hope you like it :)

{and if you do, go ahead and like our fb page too...

on a whim on facebook

We're sharing this shutter at

Someday Crafts

Wildly Original Link Party at I Gotta Create!

Why Fight It? Just Let It Snow!

Seems like we've gotten more snow in the past week over in here in West Michigan than we have the entire winter! And this comes after some record warm temps not too long ago. But, after all, we pretty much learn to roll with the punches when it comes to Michigan weather! :)

Sitting here (under a warm blanket of course!), watching the snow fall, it feels like a perfect time to tell you about one of the simple projects we did before the holidays.

This little silver frame seemed like it was just waiting for bling to really  make it shine. I happen to love white glitter, just not the mess it makes as it flakes off onto the floor! lol. That being said, I though I'd give a technique I saw on Pinterest a try...

This frame already had a matte in it when we purchased it. I took some white glitter, mixed it with Mod Podge, then brushed it onto the matte. I was crossing my fingers that this technique would do what it was supposed to: glitterize my little silver frame with a non-flaky coat of sparklies! And it worked. Once mixed with the Mod Podge and dried on the matte, the glitter did not constantly flake off. Hooray!!

More than satisfied with the results of the glitter experiment, I turned my attention to the picture itself. I painted the backer in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ Graphite, then pulled out some rubber stamps. Using my favorite aqua paint, I stamped let it snow onto the backer. The imperfection of the rubber stamps with the paint give it a simple, primitive feel. And I love the aqua color with all that white glitter!

Now, I suppose, I will crawl out from under the blanket and get something accomplished! Too bad, because it's nice and cozy in here! :)

Love Was Made for You and Me

A Simple DIY Project from 2x4 Scraps

I just love using 2x4 pieces to make cute, easy decor. Maybe it's because we always seem to have scraps laying around. I mean, if you're going to reuse and repurpose as the basis for your business, why waste perfectly good wood scraps? :)

Before Christmas, we made the cutest little Pinterest-inspired snowmen out of 2x4 scraps. So, when I started working on some Valentine projects, I thought why not do something similar. 

This is what I came up with...

The hardest part of this project is getting the wood cut to the size you need. (I don't have a saw, so that's why this step is so difficult for me. lol) Thankfully, Eric can do this for me; unfortunately, he can't always do it as quickly as I'd like. Or, better put, I can't always get the cut pieces from him as soon as I'd like. Being in 2 different towns can often be a bit of a challenge. And I'm not really great with the patience thing sometimes. I mean, when I have a good idea in my head, especially one that I know is not going to take me long to put together, I just want to get it done so I can see the finished product! I'm not so good at waiting. :)

But, once the cut pieces were in my hot little hands, all I needed to do was first paint the base coat. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for the white blocks but didn't have enough Primer Red for the bottom. So for that I just used plain old acrylic paint in red. I let it dry, which doesn't take long on a bare piece of wood. I purposefully didn't put a thick coat on because I wanted these to be a little rustic.  

Next I applied my stencil. There are many options for getting the lettering on, but I prefer this method because I can cut any stencil I need out of vinyl. I applied a coat of paint in the reverse colors of the blocks and let it dry. I then put a thin coat of dark stain over the red because I thought it would richen up the color I had used. Really glad I did that last step because I love how that turned out. :)

The only thing left was to glue to the letter pieces onto the bottom block. I used Elmer's Wood Glue and clamps and let it sit over night.

And there you have it! Another quick Valentine project that you can customize however you'd like. :)

I'm sharing this fun craft at... 

Love Is Sweet and All That Jazz!

Wow. It has been ages since I've been able to sit down and write! With the holidays and year-end tax stuff and some other things I've been doing, I've been slightly preoccupied! So today I thought I had better make some time to write a quick post. I'll tell you right now, I picked a bad day for it! Too many things going on today for this. But, sometimes you have to just charge forward and get it done or it will never, ever get done! :)

I've been listing a few items on our etsy store, so I have Valentine's decor on the brain! Today I'm just going to share with you a few new luuuve signs.

It's amazing what a thrift store frame, some canvas and some paint can do!

Or some burlap and a few simple words...

You can even add a few scrap pieces of plastic into the mix and some string... :)

Hope you like some of our new products. Have a happy Wednesday! Now, I'm back to more painting!