Just Beachy Monogram Shell Decor

Mom & Dad bought a place down in Florida in 2012 and have been fixing the place up ever since.  Perhaps some of the "Florida style" has rubbed off on me; I had a Pinterest-inspired idea for a Christmas present!

I have a board for all kinds of "monogram decor*" and I've made monogram gifts and have 2 projects in the works at home as well.  One of the styles I've seen is where you put buttons on a decorative background.  That gave me the idea to put shells on a canvas!

I started by using paint to make a beach scene (air-quotes) by using 5 different paint colors and basically blend the colors together for an ombre effect.

While the paint was wet I dragged the brush through a little to give more depth.  Not sure it worked.  :-)  Also, the blue paint has a pearl finish while the sandy colors are matte.

When the paint was dry, I hammered a couple of cable staples on the back so that the ribbon to hang it from could be changed easily, if so desired.  I ended up using a tan/gold thick ribbon.

I actually really love this now, and will probably add these to all the things that I need to hang, it if works.  I put these on the back of a black frame that I glittered, and it works very well (more on that in a later post).

I found the shells I wanted to use at Michaels and bought them on sale.  While I had initially wanted to use all-white shells, I'm glad I wasn't able to find that kind of an option, because I like that some of the shells I used have some color, some striations, etc.

I used Alene's glue (and have since fallen in love with it for other projects) and so far it appears to be holding the shells well.  I guess we'll know otherwise if Mom calls me because falling shells woke her up at night.  :-)

I got opinions from a few different people on the shape of the letter, but it was Rhyanne who suggested making the "B" a serif letter by adding the little shells at the top and bottom on the left.  Think she was right.  Without those, it looked like an "8".

The result:

This shows the depth of the shells from the canvas.  I especially like the starfish.  Someone said that it looks like it's running away!

Maybe we can convince Mom to send a picture once it is hung in her Florida house?

*I use an asterisk because I don't consider it a "monogram" when it's just one letter.  I always thought a monogram was all 3 initials...  But what am I going to call it?  "Letter decor"?  "Initial decor"?  Neither of those options are really the best...  So "monogram decor" it is.  <sigh>

2 for 1! Create-A-Craft and Around-The-House!

Welcome to a new segment on the old "And all the other stuff..." blog.

Create-A-Craft

Hmmm, I'll work on that logo more for next time.

Anyway, remember how in my first entry I wanted to share some craft projects with you?  Well, here's the first!

I went to Alaska wanting to get some nice magnets.  Seems like that's what I've bought on vacations - you always have them displayed, they're useful, they don't cost much, and they don't take up much space in your suitcase - so I wanted to get some from our Alaskan Honeymoon.  The crazy part is, well, they didn't have a whole lot of ones that I liked.  Or that weren't cheapy.  What to do???

I had read a travel blog to check out the "Alaska" section at Wal*Mart - same souvenirs for a smaller price tag.  It was true!  And I found some nice ornaments.  And one of them was just the magnet that I had been looking for...  Luckily, it had a flat back.

How to turn a Christmas Ornament into a Refridgerator Magnet

Here's what you need:

• Magnets
• Super Glue (or your preferred strong-holding glue)
• Ornament of your choice

First, you have to take off whatever the ornament hangs from.  This one had a little bitty screw hanger that I was able to use needle-nose pliers to take out.  So add "needle-nose pliers" to your ingredient list; they're also helpful for opening an O-ring or cutting off whatever.  

Next, figure out where you will place the magnets, and how many - you want to make sure it has a strong hold and won't fall off of your refrigerator, hitting your toe and making you cuss, because if the wrong people are around, that could be very embarrassing.

Next, use your glue - however the instructions tell you - on the magnet and then place glue-side-down on the ornament.  If you use too much glue, it will come out from between the ornament and the magnet.  For this reason, you may want to use a protective surface so you don't ruin your nice wooden table.  I chose the ever-popular Plastic Tote Lid.

photo credit goes to Rhy

Let the glue dry for the appropriate amount of time and viola

a really cute Alaska magnet!  Probably made in China...  Do you have any Christmas ornaments that you love so much you want to keep them out all year long?  Turn them into a magnet!  Then send me a picture!

I also have a wooden puffin key chain that I want to turn into a magnet, but it's rounded on all sides.  I'ma gonna need to get my hands on a sander or something to make that work.

Around-The-House

(notice how I didn't try for cuteness there?  I'll spare you until I actually make a logo)

We have a small place for 3 people to live, which causes clutter to really pile up.  That and I'm really not so good at the housekeeping-type chores.  Really not big on cleaning at all.  But the living room always needs to be cleaned up, and darn it!  I'm proud that I actually did it!

Before:

During:

Not a huge change, but noteworthy.  Notice how there is a "Before" and a "During" but no "After"?  That's because I'm not done.  We have pictures all framed and ready to go up on the wall.  I got 5 of them up, but have some more wall-decorating to do before the big reveal.  Stay tuned (in a few weeks probably) for the Final After reveal!