Photo Booth Props #2

I have a new wedding project to show you! It's another photo booth prop. The first photo booth props I made were these. And I just love them! But I know I need many more and figured I would DIY most of them because they are pretty easy to make! Today's are chalkboard message props. These are great because people can write a message to hold up in the pictures. 

I actually took a picture of all of the supplies, yet somehow it got deleted off my memory card. But, here's what you need and how to make them.

Supplies:

Two unfinished wooden plaques (craft store)

Two wooden dowels

Chalkboard spray paint

E6000 glue

This was so easy to make. All you have to do is spray the unfinished wood plaques with the chalkboard spray and once they are dry, glue the wooden dowel to the back! See, SO EASY!

And now you have some chalkboard message bubbles for your photo booth!

 

Can I just say how excited I am that there are only 138 days left!

Happy Summer!

Today officially marks the first day of my last summer ever. I cannot express the freedom I feel knowing I don't have to study a thing for three months. It's fantastic. In honor of my last summer, I've made a bucket list. For all of the things I want to do/accomplish this summer. And since I don't have a new craft to show you (yet), I'm sharing my extensive list with you!

Summer 2012 Bucket List

1. Plan a wedding

[source]

2. Take a day trip to Ikea in Atlanta

3. Disney World

[source]

4. Join a bowling league

5. Go to a shooting range

6. Lose 20 pounds

[source]

7. Finish a scrapbook

8. Start project 365 

9. Get tan

[Source]

10. Start a journal

11. Redo my blog layout

12. Spend time with family

13. Get published

14. Learn to sew

15. Learn new cupcake decorating techniques

[source]

16. Bachelorette party!

17. Have cookouts

18. Visit Auburn

[source]

19. Read a new series

20. Organize everything

And last, but not least. 

[source]

Happy summer and happy weekend!

Painted Planter

 Today I want to show you my new planter that's acting as my mini garden. 

Last time I was at my parents, it was my mom's birthday. But instead of me giving her lots of presents, she ended up giving me a bunch of stuff. Including some of her herbs and petunias. Which I was super excited about. I knew I needed something to plant them in (since I have no yard) and wanted to get creative with it. So I took my happy butt to Wal-Mart to get planters. I ended up with 5", 8.5", and 14" clay pots.

I had really wanted to paint them first, but I had to plant what she gave me or it was going to end up dying. This is how it looked to begin with.

Once I had some time to paint them, I began by spray painting the bottom of each one. 

 Then I painted the tops with some black acrylic paint. To personalize it a little, I decided to cut some black vinyl to add to each of the pots. I used a K for the top (the initial of my future last name), a 101 for our future apartment number, and I used a damask stencil for the bottom pot to make it a little prettier.

The stencil and I got in a fight, so it doesn't look its best. But, I decided I didn't really care since it was going to be sitting outside and getting rained on anyways. 

 

What do you think? 

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

DIY Bookshelf Upcycle

I have officially finished my big project! And by big, I just mean that it's the biggest project I've ever done. When the fiance moved into our apartment, we ended up getting two new bookshelves and couldn't decide what to do with his old one. My dad suggested using it in our kitchen since we don't have much storage space. It turned out to be a fantastic idea on his part. We really wanted to find a hutch or something similar with some cabinet space, but it ended up not being in our budget right now. Since we're both on med school salaries and all.

It was looking a little on the dingy side and the wood laminate look just wasn't cutting it in the kitchen. So, I decided to redo it. 

See what I mean: 

Mom gave me some old black paint they had stored in the garage a few days ago and after finding out the paint under our sink wasn't white like I originally thought, the black ended up saving the day! I bought a $7 can of primer, a few sheets of pretty paper to match the other decor in the kitchen, a roller, and two plastic paint holders. The primer I bought was fantastic because it didn't require that the bookshelf be sanded beforehand.

The first thing I did was take the back off.  It was just a piece of flimsy cardboard so it was pretty easy to get off.

The next thing I did was prime the entire piece. One coat was sufficient.

While it dried on the balcony, I went ahead and ModPodged the papers to the backing I pulled off in my first step. I was worried that the lines would show where I put the pieces together, but it doesn't show at all. I was pleasantly surprised! I also did a coat of Mod Podge on top.

Then I painted it with two coats of the black and nailed the backing on. And now I have a completely new bookshelf. Well, technically it's a pantry now.

I think Martha would be proud.

Also, I absolutely adore damask print!

Finished product:

I think my next project will be to work on some type of food storage system! Maybe some glass containers with some pretty labels? Hmmm. I'll keep brainstorming that one. 

Happy Thursday!