DIY Lego Minifigure Storage Shelves Tutorial

September 2, 2013 by 28 Comments
 
Do you have little person living with you that is obsessed with Legos?  I do!!  We love the Lego Minifigures at our house!!!  I wanted to find a way to display and store them.  I think this works well and it has lots of room so we can buy more Legos!!!!
Supplies:
3/4″ wood (pine, MDF, etc.)
Lego building board (available at Lego store or Lego online)
utility knife
paint
Quick Hold E-6000 glue (or similar)
nail gun
Begin by cutting the 3/4″ wood into 1 1/4″ strips.  You can make as long you want.  Mine are 23 3/4″ long because that is what looked best on the wall.
Next cut the Lego board.  Using a utility knife, cut the Lego board every “3 circles”. 
Once they are cut, bend them a little bit to break them apart.
Paint the boards.
Glue the Lego strips down.  I used one and a half of the Lego strips on each board.

 Once everything is dry, measure the wall for placement.  Using a nail gun, nail the boards into the wall, making sure to hit studs.  Patch the nail holes and touch up the paint where the patches are.

My son made me this “Keith Urban” minifigure.

We just bought our series 11 Lego Minifigures today.  These are mine!  50″s girl and pretzel girl!!

Amanda

Filed Under: DIY, organizing, paint, projects, tutorial, tutorials

Ruby Slipper Handouts

August 2, 2013 by 3 Comments

I found these clear plastic “slippers” in the wedding section at JoAnn Fabrics.  They come 24 in a box for about $12.  I used my 50% off coupon so they were even cheaper!

 They measure 3.5 inches.

 I used Rust-Oleum Gloss Apple Red spray paint to turn them all red.

Mix red glitter into white glue.  Paint it on the slipper and then sprinkle more glitter on the glue.
Once they dried, I gave them a coat of gloss Mod Podge to seal the glitter.  

They look just like real Ruby Slippers!!

I wrapped them in cellophane bags and tied this quote from Glinda the good witch:

Amanda

Filed Under: crafts, DIY, girls camp

Stand in Holy Places Chicken Wire Frame

April 26, 2013 by 2 Comments

I bought this rather large frame at a garage sale for a few dollars.  I wanted to make it into some kind of collage/bulletin board.  I love chicken wire and this was the perfect frame for it.  All I did was snip the chicken wire with wire cutters the size of the frame.  Then I used a staple gun to secure the wire to the back of the frame.  Took about 5 minutes!!

For the past 19 years where ever we have traveled we have made it a point to visit the nearest LDS Temple.  I printed out photos from every temple we’ve been too….from Hawaii to New York!  Since this year’s mutual theme is “Stand ye in Holy Places”, I thought it would be fun to gather all the photos and create a memory board.

I found this graphic for free at Hang a Ribbon on The Moon.   I used silver binder clips to attach everything to the chicken wire.  The nice thing about this is it is so easy to switch out. The possibilities are endless!

 I have noticed friends who visit my home enjoy looking at all the different temples and where they are located….friends of our faith and friends of other faiths.  Having this hanging in our home serves a reminder of what is important in our family and what we should be focusing on.


Amanda

Filed Under: crafts, DIY, LDS Printables, projects

More about the Chalk Paint Piano

April 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I have had so many sweet comments about this fun chalk paint piano.  Several people have wondered where to purchase real Chalk Paint.  So, here is a little info about Chalk Paint: 

 Chalk Paint is actually a registered trademark of the paint Annie Sloan created in 1990.  The term seems to be used more loosely now as people have ways to make your own and I believe other stores carry similar products.

What is Chalk Paint?  It is called Chalk Paint because of it’s velvety smooth matte texture.  It is NOT chalkboard paint 🙂

Chalk Paint goes on amazingly well and covers great.  It’s really hard to explain how fabulous it is unless you just try it.  (no I am not getting paid to say this!)

Where to buy?  In my town, one of the antique booths at my antique mall sells the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint products.  If you feel you don’t have access to the paint, you can go to their website and order it.  Go to THIS website and click to find a retailer near you.

After I painted the piano, we used Annie Sloan’s Soft Wax with wax brush.  This is similar to a finishing wax.  It makes the piece of furniture feel amazing!  The piano feels like it has looked like this for 100 years!


Amanda

Filed Under: DIY, paint

Repurposed Window

April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 I love old windows!  I am always trying to find something new to do with them.  At the top of my stairs, I have 3 frames with pictures of my 3 children on their blessing day.  This window I found has 3 openings….hmmmm!

This is how you make a fabric mat background for your window:

Measure the opening

 Cut cardboard the size of your measurements

 I have 3 pieces the exact same size.  I used my rotary mat and guide, but I used a utility knife so I didn’t ruin my rotary cutter.

 Next, cut your fabric 1″ larger on all sides.  Love this Riley Blake print!

 Get out the hot glue gun – yea!  Glue all sides and pull the fabric so it is tight.

 It should look like this on the back:

 Front:

 You can put these on top of the glass, behind the glass, or instead of the glass.  I put mine behind the glass.

 I took each of the photos and attached them by putting push pins in each corner.  I didn’t actually put a hole in the picture, just next to it and the tack holds the picture in place.

 To secure the cardboard mat to the frame, use small nails and hammer them in each of the sides.

 Because this is pretty heavy, I wanted to hang it safely.  I used “D” rings and attached them with screws to the back of the window.  To hang it, I drilled holes where the “D” rings hit and used anchors and screws.  The “D” rings hook over the anchored screws.

I really like how it turned out!  Looking at my daughter’s photo on the left  (13 years ago) all I have is this snapshot I took of her in the basement (it was on film of course).  The date is even stamped on the side of the photo.  We’ve come a long way in photography!

Amanda

Filed Under: crafts, DIY, remake, window

Chalk Paint Piano

April 17, 2013 by 24 Comments
 Have you seen those darling pictures of painted pianos on Pinterest?  I love how they look – but who in their right mind would paint their piano????  While I was visiting my friend out in Virginia she told me she wanted me to paint her piano….gasp!!!  All I could think about was how I was not going to get paint on the keys, in between the keys, and how was I going to paint around all the intricate parts of a piano.  The best way to deal with your fears is to face them.  And so I did!!!
Here is the piano before.  When she told me it was free, I started feeling better.  Like, even if I mess it up, she’s not really out much money!
The first choice in the right direction was using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  This made all the difference in this piece.  It goes on like a dream, you don’t need to prime, and it has that old look which we wanted on the piano.  This quart of paint was just enough for 2-3 coats on the piano.

 The piano needed 2 coats and a light third coat.  I did it in one day.  I brought in a fan to help the paint dry faster.  I didn’t tape anything off.  I used a really good edging brush and was careful not to get it on the keys or drip in between the keys.

Here is the finished product:  It completely changed the look and feel of the room!!


 I lightly sanded the edges so some of the dark color would show through a little.  I didn’t distress it too much.  When the paint was completely dry, I went over it with Annie Sloan Soft Wax and applied it with the wax brush.  The Soft Wax is amazing!  It gives furniture such a warn, homey feel.  It feels like the piano has looked like this for 100 years.  It is hard to explain how great the wax is, you just have to try it!

We had fun decorating the top of the piano.  I dug this old painting out of her basement that she bought for the frame.  I love it!  The two fancy ladies sitting around the piano – who has a painting like this these days!

 We added the yellow chair for a little pop of color.


What do you think?  Are you ready to paint your piano?


Amanda

Filed Under: DIY, furniture, paint, projects

Painted Tea Cabinet

February 23, 2013 by 3 Comments

 I have been wanting to paint this cabinet for quite some time.  I can’t believe I finally did it!

 This is how it looked before.  It was stained one color.  Enter in Sherwin-Williams “Splashy”.  Only my new favorite color!

I decided to tackle this project at 10pm Saturday night.  That’s just how I work.  I took the doors off the hinges and lightly sanded – I mean LIGHTLY sanded.  This piece does not get a lot of wear.  I didn’t even prime (gasp).  I wanted some wood showing through.
 (Do you like the cereal boxes used to hold the doors off the floor!)
After it was painted I rubbed a walnut stain on the painted parts and then quickly wiped it off.  It took the “Splashy” down a notch and made it look a little more vintage.


 I bought some glass knobs which give it just the right touch.

 I added wallpaper to the back of the cabinet.  I cut the wallpaper to fit the dimensions on my rotary cutter.  I followed the manufacturers instructions on adhering the wallpaper.  It was quick and easy.

 
Whose ready for a tea party?

Amanda

Filed Under: DIY, furniture, paint, projects, remake

My Red Kitchen Has Got To Go!!

February 8, 2013 by 8 Comments

Welcome to the Jedi Craft Girl blog!  I am entering this post in the Creating with the Stars contest from East Coast Creative.  It’s such an exciting contest and there are so many amazing applicants!!
  
I have lived in my Southern California tract home built in 1989 for the past 9 years.  When we moved in I painted my kitchen red – Tomato Red to be exact.  Lots of things change in nearly a decade and the kitchen had to go.  Unfortunately, living in California is not cheap and neither are renovations.  It was left to me, my paint brush, and thrifty mind to fix this place up.
This is the after.  Ahhhhhh… just a sigh of happiness when I look at this photo! 
It’s amazing how big the kitchen feels now just by changing the colors.

 I removed all the cupboard doors, sanded, primed, and painted and painted and painted white.  Then I sanded and distressed the doors and frames so some of the red would show through.

For the pantry doors, I applied paintable textured wallpaper to the insets and painted them red then aqua.  A light sanding and you can see how the red shows through the detail of the wallpaper – love it!!!  (Click Here for the full details of that project)

 
I found this kitchen table on Craig’s List for $25. Whoo Hoo! It was honey oak.  I did a chalk paint treatment in white (click here for those details).   The chairs were given to me by a friend.  Four cans of spray paint in four different colors = HAPPY!!
Next up, a rolling cart I found on the side of the road.  I wheeled it home a half mile while on a walk.  Several coats of paint, distress, electric sander to the top and some custom mixed stain and now I have the perfect place for my Pyrex collection!
I love my big kitchen window.  I found this vintage looking fabric and sewed a pleated curtain with red pom-pom trim.  I nail-gunned it to a board then to the ceiling.   It gives it the perfect airy look.  I hung the custom hook board above and now I can display my vintage Strawberry mugs.


Sometimes I think my kitchen is too cheerful and colorful – like there should be a birthday party going on everyday in there!  But then I think – “What could be better!!”

Amanda

Filed Under: DIY, kitchen, paint, projects, thrifty

Guest Bathroom Finished!

November 21, 2012 by 2 Comments

 Welcome to my new guest bathroom!!  Finished moments before my whole family arrived for Thanksgiving!!!  It’s a small bathroom & hard to photograph 🙂

 The new vanity is Hickory.  We got rid of the 1989 banjo style vanity & counter top!  There was much celebration when that thing went in the garbage can!!

 I love the 1″ tile backspalsh.  There are different textures in the tile & every few often there is a stainless steel square!

 Of course I got to go shopping & get new towels!  That is the reward for all the hard work!

 I wanted something Christmas-y in the bathroom but I wanted to stay true to my new color pallet.  So I made this Elf saying picture – cute!

 The towel rack has been in the bathroom for years.  But I finally got smart and numbered them.  I hated not knowing whose towel was whose.  Now I know Ryan is #1 Sally choose #5 and guests are #3 and #4!!

 I purchased 5 different items to hang above the toilet.  A funky wire basket, a different shelf with doors, a big basket towel holder thing and this.  After holding them all up – I choose this mirrored cabinet from Lowe’s.

 I feel so happy every time I walk in there!!!

Filed Under: Bathroom, decorating, DIY, paint, vinyl

Bathroom Re Do

November 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s 4 days until the entire family arrives for Thanksgiving.  I decided it would be a good idea to fix up the 2 bathrooms they will be using!!  This is a Jack & Jill bathroom (so not my favorite).  My two girls share it has been HOT pink for the last 4 years.  Time for a change!!!  I haven’t photographed the finished product – I will soon – but it looks amazing!

The downstairs bathroom was a little more involved.  We purchased a new vanity & counter top.  When we got home we realized the plumbing hit where the drawers were – oops!  David had to cut out the wall, cut all the plumbing, move all the plumbing.  It only took 12 hours and 3 trips to Lowe’s!!

We got it all fixed and patched and painted.  He was putting on the back slash minutes before the company arrived!!

Filed Under: DIY, paint