DIY Printer's Block Art

(Have you met my favorite vintage owl plate? :)

While this concept is nothing new, I love the idea of creating printer block art for yourself using the letters that you've collected over time, it has so much more meaning I think. I finally got enough letters in my collection to create my own piece of art. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

What you'll need for this project:

Deep frame or shadow box frame

Matting without any openings

Vintage printer block letters

Glue gun

Depending on how large your block letter collection is will determine what size frame you'll need. I used 19 letters and my frame is 20 inches square. I would like to do some smaller ones too, after I do some more collecting.

I went to Hobby Lobby's framing department and had them cut some matting for me without any openings. They do charge for the cuts but luckily the matting itself was on sale, so it wasn't too bad. I used matting because it's nice and firm, anything else would be too flimsy. I think another neat idea would be to use fabric or burlap on the matting if you are not into the modern look. Next, begin working on the composition of the letters, this is not an exact science, just use your eye to get the composition right. I have a combination of big and small wooden blocks and a couple of metal ones, so yours will depend on what you've got. I did some upside down and sideways to keep it interesting. I recommend occasionally laying the frame down on what you've done to make sure it's looking right within the frame. I have had this frame for years and it just so happened to be deep enough to accommodate the letters, but shadow box frames will work too. Once the composition is perfect, begin to glue each letter down on the matting, carefully picking them up and quickly laying them back down making sure nothing shifts. Carefully put the frame back together and it is ready to hang! It ended up being kinda heavy! I hung my new/old piece of art among thrifted plates and photographs....using the vintage letters and the modern frame is like music to me! Here's a bonus project; I found a scalloped plate while thrifting, sprayed it flat black and glued a craft mirror in the center, I love it and super simple! I love how it turned out and is quite the focal point. I am still working on a post specifically focused on creating a gallery wall, so be sure to look for that soon. Thank you for stopping by, I hope you're inspired to create some art!

At Home Thursday: DIY Driftwood Lamp

Do you remember all the driftwood I collected on Table Rock Lake? Well I decided to create a lamp out of all of it. I've been crushing on driftwood adorned lamps and mirrors for some time now, so I wanted to try my hand at creating one for myself.

This is a similar lamp that is $326.00, ouch that hurts, a little (ok, a lot) out of my price range.

I used a lamp that I already had, I bought this at Lowe's several years ago, for around $35.00. It is the perfect type of lamp to start with, skinny middle and modern shade.

This is all the driftwood I collected...I used two pieces of floral wire, wrapped with brown floral tape to hold everything in place. I don't want this to be permanent, you know how easily I bore. :)



I took the shade off and started holding the driftwood in place, finally using the wire to hold everything tight.

It took about twenty minutes, if that, and the shade was ready to go back on and it's ready to place.

On the studded dresser is where the lamp usually resides, so I put it back there. In front of Mom's antique mirror, now I'm ready for some accessories.






Artwork courtesy of Logan, milk glass vase of tulips, little eggs in a terrific turquoise color and a cute owl that I found at Kolh's of all places, I put him under a vintage clock dome.









Anyway, enough blabing, I love how it turned out....what do you think?







Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you are inspired to create your own driftwood lamp!

Interested in seeing my other DIY lamps?

Check these out:

Chippy Lamp

Brass to Black



Joining


Jen @ Tatortots and Jello

and

Stephanie Lynn @ Under the Table and Dreaming


Happy St. Patty's Day!

At Home Thursday: The Chair, Part 1

I would like to introduce you to my next really scary project. The occasional chair. This is a chair that I bought second hand in a thrift store in Carthage MO for less than 40 dollars and let me tell you, it looked better then than it does now after 5 years in this house.

I originally bought the chair for the master bedroom, but because we needed more seating in the living room, out it came...soon after the discovery of it's comfort, Keegan took it over and it became "his chair" Now, between food stains, candy wrappers, drink spills, dog hair, just plain and disgusting boy things, I am going to have to step in and try to reupholster this poor thing.

The fabric on the arms are thread bare and stained, I just have to try, it 's my duty!

Does this look scary challenging or what! Tufting? Really? I have been watching DIY vids on you tube, I am definitely going to have to get some supplies.


What I know so far is that I want to paint the wood white and then there is the question of fabric choices. I haven't found the perfect candidate yet, but I've been ordering fabric swatches online, I'm waiting for a few more, but these are the choices so far...just remember that the wood is going white.

So far, I've only chosen solids, I'm not sure why, I guess in keeping with the style of the chair. After all you can't really tuft just any fabric. I thought that the chocolate chenille (top right) was going to be the winner, but then I thought of green...as you can see, it's going to be a bit of a process selecting fabric, but it's a fun process! I am waiting on a couple more fabrics and doing some shopping, so here's hoping to a timely decision!

Close ups of the contenders:
Chocolate, Avocado
Both have beautiful texture and the chenille is so soft

Estrella Basil and Portsmouth Basil
I love the woven texture, but look at that velvety softness.....


...decisions, decisions.