Sunday, January 30, 2011

Subway Wall Art Tutorial

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First, I want to thank CSN Stores for graciously offering me another opportunity to review another one of their products. I have been browsing their website and checking out the large selection of modern rugs. I am really in need of a new outdoor rug for my screen porch - I loved the one I had but after several years of use it had really worn out and I threw it out in the Fall. Hmmm, so many choices!
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On to the tutorial...
I made this sign as a Christmas gift for my sister who lives in Chicago.  The inspiration for this project comes from a tutorial posted on Lil Blue Boo.  I followed her tutorial pretty closely.
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Supplies:
- 2' x 4' piece of plywood or MDF
- 1/2" x 1-1/2" moulding strips (total length of 12')
- wood glue
- finishing nails
- wood filler
- sandpaper
- paint
- contact paper
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1.  Use a saw and miter box to cut your wood moulding strips to size.  The goal is to crate a frame with the wood strips to add depth to the sign.
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Remember to "measure twice and cut once!"
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2.  Use wood glue to attach the moulding strips to the back of the board.
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3. For added strength, use finishing nails every 6" or so around the board.  Use a hammer and counter sink to recess the nails.
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4. You will want the front of the board to have a nice, smooth finish, so use paintable wood filler at every location where there is a nail.
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The front of the board now looks like this:
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And the back of the board looks like this:
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{ Please excuse my messy garage! }
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And the side:
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4.  Use sandpaper to sand the front and sides of the board.
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5.  Paint the front and sides of the board.  I used Olympic paint, color: Winter Mood, in an eggshell finish.  I choose not to purchase a separate primer so my board required several coats of paint.
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6.  I used AutoCAD to design the layout of the words I wanted on my sign.  There are lots of computer programs you could use for this - Photoshop or maybe even MS Word.  Once you are happy with the way your layout looks, take it to a Kinko's or copy center and have it printed out to the actual size of your board.
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7.  Draw guidelines.  Tape your paper to the board with a small opening at the edge.  Use a ruler or triangle to draw a dash at the edge of your board for each line of words on your sign.  Take off the sheet of paper and use a level to draw the guidelines all the way across the board.  Having these guidelines will make it much easier to line up your letter after you have cut them.
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8.  Cut your paper into sheets that will fit on the width of your contact paper.  Use spray adhesive to attach the back side of the paper to the front side of the contact paper.  My favorite spray adhesive is Super 77 by 3M.  Make sure to spray on the front of the contact paper, not the side with the peel-off adhesive.
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9.  Now grab a glass of wine or hot chocolate and get ready to cut out all of the letters.  This took me a few nights in front of the TV watching Christmas movies!  It's not hard - just time consuming.  It helps to use a small pair or craft scissors - it's easier to get into the smaller spaces of the letters.
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As you cut out the letters, place on your board.
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10.  After all the letters are cut, peel the contact paper off the back and attach to the board.  Use a scraper to make sure the letters are firmly attached. 
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11.  Paint the front and sides of board.  I used Martha Stewart Paint, color: Crevecoeur in an eggshell finish.  It took me a few coats to get the finish and coverage I wanted.
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12.  Once paint is dry, peel off letters.  I had to touch up areas of my letters where the paint had seeped through.
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I had planned on making this sign for my sister for almost a year, but of course, I didn't finish it until December 23rd - just in time!
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Here are a few shots of the finished project:
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I'm sharing this project @ Tatertots and Jello's Subway Art Party and at Funky Junk Interiors.
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Also linking to:
The DIY Show Off: DIY Project Parade

The DIY Show Off

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I hope you enjoyed your weekend!
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Going Around...

Have you noticed The Stylish Blogger Award making it's way around blogland lately?  Lucky me - my blog friend Barbara of hodge:podge passed the award on to me.
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Thank you Barbara!
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If you aren't reading hodge:podge, head on over there and say hello to Barbara.  Her posts are always beautiful and inspiring.  You will leave her blog with a whole list of things you want to make for your home!
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And then, I was also given the award by:
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Chihuahua Girl of Park Avenue Chihuahua
Suz + Sarah of well-to-do
Nanniepannie of Nanniepannie's Blog
Megan of Homemade Ginger
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Thanks ladies - you really made my day!
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The rules say you need to list 7 random things about yourself and then pass on the award.  A little about me:
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1.  My friends and family all call me Ali.  I go by Alissa @ work and on my blog.  Strange, right?  My Mom really liked the name Ali, after Ali MacGraw.  But my parents thought I needed a full name so they decided on Alissa.  Actually, my close friends don't even call me Ali - they just call me Al!  Just like the Paul Simon song.
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2.  I love getting mail and love a "good mail" day.  Seriously.  You know how there are lists where you can remove your name so that you don't get catalogs?  No thanks!  I love my catalogs, thank you very much.
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3. I am exactly 1/2 Polish (my Mom's side) and 1/2 Italian (my Dad's side). The best part - great food on both sides!
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{ Capri, Italy; August 2008 }
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4.  I'm left handed.  I don't know why but I've always loved being left handed.  Even though it's sometimes awkward - try using a can opener or cork screw as a lefty!  The only person in my family who is also left handed is my 10 year old brother.  Not my parents, sister, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins.  Isn't that weird?  I noticed really early on (maybe @ 6 months?) that my brother favored his left hand.  And sure enough - he's a lefty!  He golfs left handed, but not me.  My Dad taught me right handed.  Left handed kids clubs were pretty rare when I was a child!
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{ Lefty brother on the course; Summer 2010 }
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5.  In January of 2005, my sister and I went to the Presidential Inauguration of George W. Bush.  We even got tickets for our state's official ball.  It felt like such an honor and once in a lifetime opportunity to witness a moment in history.  It's something I will never forget.
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{ At the Inaugural Ball; January 2005 }
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6.  As a child, there were only three things I ever wanted "to-be" when I grew up - An artist, architect, or interior designer.
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7.  I love to grow things - house plants or annuals, or perennials.  It doesn't matter, I love them all.  My Grandparents had a huge garden with lots of vegetables and flowers and some of my earliest childhood memories involve that garden.
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{ My peony bush; Spring 2010 }
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I'm passing the award on to:
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Kari @ Adventures of One Crazy Lady

Emily @ Frilly Details

Dana @ Bungalow '56

Jenny @ Anything Pretty
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I always love reading the posts from these four ladies and I think you will too!
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Monday, January 24, 2011

Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop...Roasted Beet Salad

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Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!
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Last week I was out of town for work {which is why I wasn't able to visit many of your link ups from last week }.  Anyways, one good thing about travelling for work is that I usually enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant for dinner each night.  Somehow, I managed to order two salads with beets in them.  And then, on Saturday, I was still craving beets - so I made this salad at home.  I think it's a perfect salad for the winter months when there are not any fresh vegetables in season.
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Ingredients:
- beets (2 large would be enough for a salad to serve four)
- 4 cups mixed greens or arugula
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (goat cheese, Gorgonzola, or feta would be equally delicious)
- olive oil
- salt
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Ingredients for dressing:
- 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- 1 TBS balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt
- pepper
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
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Trim off stems, scrub beets, and place in baking pan.  Drizzle with olive oil and a dash of salt.  Cover with foil and place in oven.  Bake for 1 hour to 1-1/2 hours.  Test with a fork to see when beets are tender.  When beets are tender, remove from oven and let cool
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Place walnuts in a single layer on cookie sheet and toast in your oven @ 350 degrees for 3 -5 minutes.
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When beets are cool to the touch, peel of skins.  The skins will come off easily just by rubbing them with your hand.
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Cube or slice beets.
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Place lettuce in bowl and top with beets, walnuts, and cheese.
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Make dressing:
In a small bowl combine balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon, dash of salt and pepper.  Stir to combine.  Slowly add olive oil while whisking.  Continue whisking until all of the olive oil is combined.  The dressing will thicken and become slightly creamy.
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Pour over salad and enjoy!
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I'm looking forward to seeing what you've cooked up this week!

Starting next week, I will have the Tasty Tuesdays post up at 8:00 AM EST on Tuesday mornings.  I hope that's OK with everyone!
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{ Please remember to add a link in your post back to Tasty Tuesdays, or add the Tasty Tuesdays button }


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Pretty Dish Mats

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Last year I made this dish mat inspired by a post by Darby.  { See her full tutorial in PDF format right here }.  I've loved using my pretty dish mat - it's great to set dishes on as they come out of the dishwasher or for drying hand washable dishes.  A few weeks ago my sister mentioned that she wanted one.  So, like any good sister, I got to work and made one for her.
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Supplies for this project are simple - fabric scraps and and old towel.  I wanted to be able to make two dish mats from one towel so I planned the size of my dish mats around the size of the towel.
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Use a straight edge and rotary cutter to cut strips of fabric.  I used (3) strips cut to 7" x 20" and (2) strips cut to 3-1/4" x 20".
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Sew strips together using a 1/4" seam allowance.
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When your top is finished, iron seams flat to one side.  Next, I sewed a straight stitch across the top just to make the top a bit more decorative.  Darby talks about this in her tutorial in more depth.
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Place your towel and top right sides together, pin, and sew around edges with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Make sure to leave a 10" opening on one side so that you can turn your dish mat right side out.
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Trim around edges and turn right side out.  Press the open edges in so that you will have a neat, finished edge.
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Now sew all along the top edge of the dish mat using a 1/4" seam allowance.
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Dish mat is finished!
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The front looks like this:
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And the terry cloth on the back:
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After my sister's was finished, I decided to make another one for myself using up some fabric scraps.
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At use in the kitchen:
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Wouldn't these make a great hostess gift or house-warming present?
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Happy Saturday.....Hope you are enjoying your weekend and staying warm where ever you are.  It is a chilly 7 degrees here this morning!
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