Specimen Board

Ok, don't leave...Specimen Board may or may not conjure up a good mental image, but this is a cute specimen board!

I'm telling you, this is the last Valentine's Day project I'm doing. I mean really. Technically, I was using up scraps from making my heart ornaments for my Etsy Shop, when I came up with this idea.

Here's what you need:

Glassless {is that a word?} frame, I like black, but it could be any color or size..

Burlap

Cardboard or foam board, I used a pizza box

Fabric stiffener

Shipping Tags

Standard 3'' ABC stencils

Scrapbooking paper (of your choice)

Straight Pins

This is one of those projects using everything I had on hand

Cut the cardboard to fit inside the frame. Make sure it's pretty snug. I used an exacto knife and ruler, or if you actually have the glass {I didn't} use that as a template.

Next, cut the burlap the exact same size as the cardboard. Use the fabric stiffener to adhere it to the cardboard

If you have Mod Podge or even elmer's glue, that will do the trick too.

Be careful to pull on the burlap enough that it's pretty straight...you don't want it running down hill...

Using Shipping Tags, stencils, and scrap paper I created "Love". Depending on the size of your frame, you could spell out whatever!

Need more information?

Ok,

use the stencils to trace out your letters on the front of the shipping tags

hand-cut them out with the exacto knife (be careful!)

mod podge the scrap paper to the back of the tag, trim off any excess paper.

If you want to know how to stain your shipping tags check out this post.

Along with the shipping tags, I pinned on a heart and the word Sweet.

You can use anything you have on hand. I think this would be really fun to do seasonally or for everyday things! Ribbon would be cute instead of the string too.

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you're inspired to try a specimen board!

Visit Becca @ Blue Cricket Designs! Thanks for hosting Becca!

Shipping Tag Placecards

Do you remember my shipping tag place cards? Well I'm finally getting around to showing you how to do them. It's pretty cut and dry, but I think the result is very nice. I like the handmade feel of them. I think I just might get a nod from Tim Holtz, the tag master, himself!!! Just kidding, this is pretty elementary stuff for him! But if you have limited time, limited resources, and limited funds -this is perfect!

Shipping tags are available at any office supply store, very inexpensively. I purchased a couple of different sizes. I keep them on hand for quick gift tags, scrap booking, or leaving my husband little love notes...no not really-scratch that last idea...:)

In my rubber stamp collection, I have a number of leaf stamps, I selected the maple leaf in 3 sizes. Any motif of your choice would be fine.

Coffee staining is super simple, I feel kind of silly explaining it, but just in case you don't know......make yourself a 'coffee' bath (with instant coffee & hot water) in a bowl or dish large enough to completely submerge the tag(s) in. Be sure to have a kitchen towel ready to lay out the tags, I like to do a lot at a time and you'll need some space. After the tag has had a dip, and is laying flat on the towel, sprinkle some coffee crystals on while it's still wet...I like to wait a few seconds and blot off the excess liquid. After the tags are dry, which is a surprisingly short time, you are ready to stamp! Go for it!

I used actual printer blocks, but if you have alphabet stamps, that works great too. I used them on the smaller tags

I stamped the first initial of our names and then used a sharpie to hand write the rest



On the smaller tags, I stamped an entire name

This is a very simplified kind of tag. You can get as creative as you want. Can't you just see these on your Thanksgiving table?

So there you have it: Super simple place card tags in a jiffy! Thanks for visiting me!

Don't forget to get your name in the hat to win my Gingerbread Men!

Blogged for Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

and

Kimba at A soft Place to Land

Twiggy Tablescape

Welcome to another Tablescape Thursday! Visit Susan and all the talented participants at BNOTP!

Can you be inspired by your husband cleaning out the gutters?

The answer is YES!

We have a large elm tree in our backyard that has really been beat up by this Missouri weather. Justin cleaned out the gutters over the weekend and trimmed up a few limbs and I couldn't have been happier.

Luckily, I was at work, so I didn't have to actually help.......but I did get my cutters out and harvest some loverly weepy branches. It inspired my centerpiece and I even added some to my chandelier . Let's get started!

I have had these fall dishes for about 5 years now. I bought them at Wal-mart and I have never seen them again. I didn't buy all the accessories and wish I had! I did get these loverly serving bowls which I adore.

Coffee mugs and dinner plates complete my collection...I just love the embossed leaf and acorn...and of course they're green!

My centerpiece

I used shipping tags as place cards, I'll be showing you how to do these in a later post, be sure to stop back over if your interested....I tied them to the handles of the mugs, put the silverware and napkin in....love it! We always have coffee after dinner anyway....




Now you might be wandering what on earth is my candle holder......well....it's one of those folding steamer thing-a-ma-bobs...They open up to reveal a beautiful perforated surface in which to transform into a centerpiece....oh yeah, that whole steaming thing is good too....but I mean come on! It's much happier holding a lovely candle than steaming!

You may have noticed my new chargers, yes they are lovely, thank you.....

They are from the Mary Carol Home Collection (Love her!) There are square ones too!

Here's the whole dining room...I mean eat-in kitchen...Loving the twiggy chandelier and they are going to be spooky for Halloween too!

I found some burlap garland at Michael's.....very fun stuff....I have another project waiting in the wings for that stuff too.......come back soon if you're interested....

Thank you for joining me! I hope you're inspired!

Thanks for hosting Susan!

Sand Dollar Shipping Tag

Hi Bloggers, just wanted to announce I've recently listed some new items @ my Etsy Shop...Hope you enjoy!

Have a great Friday, Michelle