Easy Drop Cloth Crab Canvas

Written by: Grace

There are some of us who just have a thing for crabs. I am not just talking about a thing for eating, but a thing for displaying them. This love is akin to the obsession that many have for the Maryland Flag (remember my crab on burlap, which featured both the Maryland flag and a blue crab?).

Now, I am not judging; swing by my house and you’ll find nods to those crustaceans (and the Maryland flag).

The other day, I made an easy drop cloth crab canvas thing for one of my wonderful aunts. She recently sent me some gorgeous hand-knitted and crocheted scarves, and I wanted to send her a little thanks.

So I came up with this easy drop cloth crab canvas.

The pictures will tell the story, but here are a few tips for you folks at home.

I had an old canvas, which I spray painted because I wanted to make sure the old marks didn’t show through when I covered it with the drop cloth. You could easily use a new one, but I have a little stockpile of old canvases (and I am like Captain Planet, so I reused that ish).

I then covered the canvas with the drop cloth. Staple and pull tightly, and wrap the corners like you would a present.

Before I put paint to the drop cloth, I used chalk to outline my crab. I used a google image of the crab, and freehanded it. HOWEVER, you could print out a crab, trace over it with chalk, and then place the chalk drawing down onto the canvas/drop cloth to get an outline. This is a similar technique to how some people create those gorgeous chalkboard art designs.

I might just have to make another because I like it so much.

Who else out there gets this crab obsession?

13
Jul
2015

DIY Bookcase from Craft Crates

Written by: Grace

Remember a while ago when I was distressing craft crates? I wanted the crates to look weathered and old? Well, it was to make a DIY bookcase out of craft crates.

The boys’ book situation was getting out of control, and I wanted a bookshelf that wasfunctional, inexpensive, and pleasing to the eye.

This DIY fit the bill. I bought each crate for about $6 (withJoAnn’s coupons, of course), so before I bought the casters to be screwed on the bottom of the crates, this bookshelf only cost my $36.

Liquid Nail was my bff for this project. No tutorial is really needed. I weathered the crates, (read about it here), glued the crates together using an ample amount of liquid nail, screwed some mending plates on for extra support, and fastened some casters to the bottom.

Every once in a while I try to style this DIY bookcase from craft crates, but these books are on and off the shelf so many times a day that it seems like a fool’s task. Ehh, I’d rather the books be read than not, so I will concede this battle.

Regardless, the bookshelf came out cute. At least I think so.

04
Mar
2015

Fakin’ It– Weathering Wood

Written by: Grace

I love the look of weathered wood. There’s history and richness to it. I know I am not the only one because a quick search on Pinterest yields How-to’s, natural distressing solutions, etc (Side note: don’t you wish people felt the same about weathered faces?).

There are many tutorials out there that use steel wool, vinegar, sandpaper, etc. All of the tutorials look great. But… I am a mom of two boys and time is of the essence. So, I came up with a two step process that’s relatively easy, error proof, and quick.

What You’ll Need to Weather Your Wood

- Wood (I used wood crates from JoAnn’s)

- Stain (Minwax Dark Walnut)

- Latex Paint (Sample Valspar pot in London Coach)

- Paint Brush (I used a beat up one that I had on hand).

Here’s what you’ll do to weather your wood:

1. Take your project outside.Seriously. Stain is strong. I needed to weather 6 crates for a project. For the first two I weathered, I decided to weather the crates at 9pm on a Friday. Outside wasn’t an option. I opened all the windows (it was also in January), and I was still huffing fumes. Long story short, get your weathering wood on in a well ventilated space.

2. Start with the stain, and lighting dip your brush in the stain. And just slap on the stain lightly. You do not need to worry about applying it perfectly or evenly because the randomness makes it look more organic.