Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Nap Time Freedom

I try to make most of my crafts during nap time. This is really the only time that I can have all to myself. Both of the babies sleep and I art out. Today I found myself looking to make something with materials we already had. This is a tight month for Cole financially so we are trying to be super frugal... Damn taxes! Anyways I found myself in the garage holding this really cool frame I got at a local thrift shop for $4. Then I grabbed one of the coffee burlap sacks and my white paint. It was in the depths of my garage when I had my ah ha moment and decided that I would make an art piece. I wanted to make something modern and not super frilly. At first I decided that I was going to make a monogram for our house. I went to Pinterest for some ideas when I saw this.....
This chick does pretty cool stuff. I definitely got some other project ideas from her too. You can check her out here. I then decided that I was going to draw and paint a deer (remember the nostalgia post from earlier about horns and deer and stuff) with our monogram down below.

I got all my supplies together... All of which I had, score!
My coffee burlap coffee sack- $0.99, frame $4.00 open white gallon of paint. Not pictured black paint, sharpie, staple gun and paint brush. I got a little ahead of myself.
 Then I traced my frame with a sharpie and cut out my burlap a little inside the sharpie line.
 I used my paint holder container as my template for the deer bust picture.
 Tried my best at free handing a deer. Not too bad Huh?
 I decided to add a little monogram in the corner... So sweet... Home sweet home.
Then I took my old black paint (probably from college) which was really dry so I added some thinner to make it spread better,
 I painted in all the negative space around the deer... Lovely
 Now lets take a second to give a little shout out to my Daddy. He loves that I am working with tools and just knew that I desperately needed a staple gun among other things so he got me one. I love him... Thanks Dad you are the best.
Then I took my new toy and my freshly dried painted canvas and stapled it to my freshly white painted frame. I was sure to pull in nice and tight.

And.... Wait for it.... Instant art all ready to go and the it only took as long as nap time lasted about 1.5 hours.
 It took me a bit to decide where I wanted to put it but in the end I decided to put it by the door. We had an empty space and I was able to fill it with a meaningful picture that hits home for both Cole and I. (Looking at these pictures makes me realize I need to fill in my oval better its not perfectly rounded. Touch ups for tomorrow.)
Here is a too scale shot. See it's a nice size piece.
 If I can do this so can you. It was easy super cheap and super doable for anyone. If you need more of a pep talk to get going let me know and I would love to pump you up. I guess this post isn't for everyone cause maybe some people hate deer or monograms, who knows. Tell me what you think, or if you have betters ideas for things to paint on burlap I really want to know.

8 comments:

  1. Your A-freakin-mazing! Love, love, love all your skills and craftiness! Xoxo-jess

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  2. A bird one of these would be SOO awesome, like a boss bald eagle silhouette, or a dainty chickadee-- perhaps a goose?

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    1. I figured you would have liked a bird better. I will have to polish up on my bird drawing skills.

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  3. You are wayyyyy cute! Wish we lived closer and we could craft together:)

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    1. We would tear it up crafting!!!! Not to mention I need crafting buddies.

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  4. LOVE this! I'm usually not a deer person, but I dig this. I also love that you're into monograms. So east coast of you?

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    1. Maybe Nora needs a head to flock her walls....

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