Easy, Knock-off Monogrammed Frames


 

I have always loved these frames by Marye Kelley. This one was a special gift and it matches the décor in my house perfectly.

Recently I was organizing my office and I found these craft frames I had tucked away. I knew I could very easily make some more frames similar to the pricier Marye Kelley frames.

The supplies you need to make these frames are:

Plain wood frame

Scrapbook paper

Exacto knife & cutting mat

Craft paint in a coordinating color to your paper (or gold/silver if you prefer)

Embellishment (sticker letter, vinyl monogram) or you can just print a monogram directly on the paper first.

Double-sided tape (optional)

Mod-podge

 

I started with this (above) wood frame from Michael’s.

I first painted a thin coat of a coordinating color around the edge of the frame and the window of the picture part. This paint will show outside the paper once it’s taped on and give the paper a nice, pretty edge.

Then I cut the frame for the window out of the scrapbook paper. This is the hardest part. I find the easiest way is to trace the inside of the frame on the back and then cut just inside it. Cutting the round corners takes some patience, but they don’t have to be perfect. *Be careful to make sure your monogram (if you have pre-printed one) is placed where you want it on the frame before you trace so everything lines up perfectly once its done.

 I love the large 12×12 frames but my printer won’t print on paper that wide so it creates a challenge if I want to add a monogram.  I considered making a custom monogram using a vinyl cutter (like a Cri-cut or a Silhouette) to cut the letters, but for this pink frame I went the easy way and just punched out a circle from pink cardstock. Then I added a white “S” sticker for my daughter’s name. For the smaller beige damask frame, I was able to print a monogram in dark brown on the scrapbook paper first.

To do this, I designed the monogram on my computer first. (I use Adobe  InDesign but there are many design programs available)

Then I printed it using my regular printer, printing directly on scrapbook paper cut down to 8.5 x 11 to work in my printer.

 When the paint on the frame is dry, I taped the scrapbook paper to the frame first with double-sided tape. I am fortunate to have a double-sided tapegun I use my paper/invitation business, but you can use regular double-sided tape, or even glue or modge-podge if you prefer.

Once the paper is on just where you want it. Adhere your embellishment with glue or more tape, then you modge podge over the whole thing. A thin coat should be all you need. Once it dries, insert your picture and you are all set.

With so many scrapbook papers to pick from, the possibilities for these frames are endless. I think this would make a cute personalized mother’s day or graduation gift, wouldn’t it?

 This frame has a picture of my daughter last Easter. Notice her basket and her precious sailor dress? I have to capture the fancy “dress-up” moments while I can. The pout with the fairy costume (below) is really more typical.

Thanks for stopping by~

 

 

 

Linking up to~

DIY By Design Swing into Spring

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now

Celebrations at Home

The Under $10 in Under an Hour Party at 320 Sycamore

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April Showers Bring May Flowers: My Front Door Easter Makeover

I am so excited to see all the spring flowers in full bloom and our cherry tree blossoming.  Spring is here and the Easter Bunny is on its way (at least that is what my kids keep telling me).  I wanted to update my outdoor Easter decor this year and create a festive spring welcome for all our guests, especially the Easter Bunny :) .

Over the past few years I have started to repeat my holiday decorations.  Maybe due to time, or simply budget constraints but my Easter decor left a lot to be desired.  I decided to take a bit more time and plan out my Spring/Easter decor that could last a few years without boring me.

I knew I wanted to incorporate both spring and Easter and love the rhyme “Spring showers bring May flowers” so when I spotted this adorable pink ruffle umbrella at JoAnne Fabrics for 60% off,  I had to have it.  I thought it would look amazing filled with some spring flowers although I have to admit, I normally would not have chosen pink!    Not only did I pick a pink umbrella, but I also bought artificial pink tulips at Walmart.  That umbrella is over loaded with pink but I LOVE it!!!

I tied it all together with a sage green tulle bow (left over from our Black, White and Green baby shower).    I have to say, I am loving the pink, especially against the black door.  It is festive, different than what I would normally do and it really captures the season perfectly.

 Now onto my two black urns that sit on my front steps.

I normally fill my two large black urns with flowers but as I said, my front door really needed a spring makeover and the urns are too pretty not to utilize.   So off I went to HomeGoods for some Easter inspiration and hopefully a sale item or two. I guess I started too late this season since there was very little left.

Luckily, I found these two rabbits that I guess were once a part of a topiary set.  At the end of the day I got a great deal but needed to get creative to make them work.

"Mr." Easter Bunny

"Mrs." Easter Bunny

I covered each urn with moss and placed multi-colored speckled eggs around the base.  I actually used long toothpicks to hold the moss and eggs in place.  Then I placed each bunny on a long wooden dowel and created my own topiaries.   One of the bunnies came with a wreath around “his” neck which I just loved.  Since I didn’t have the materials to match the wreath, I decide to create a “her” bunny by using some of the left over green tulle and a pink tulip.  I am loving my new and improved “his” and “her” Easter bunny topiaries.

Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

Linking up to~

Southern Hospitality Spring  Door Decor Party

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia’s Tuesday’s Treasures

Not Just a Housewife Show Me What You Got!

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Homemade Sharp Mustard~The Perfect Easter Hostess Gift & Free Printable Labels


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Seriously–doesn’t pretty much everyone eat ham on Easter Sunday?  And whether you’re hosting a crowd at your home, or perhaps planning to enjoy the day with friends and family, this mustard recipe is the perfect complement to your Easter ham.

Courtesy of my dear Aunt Diane, who is a fabulous cook, it’s a staple in my refrigerator at all times, and best of all, it makes enough that you’ll have some to keep, and some to share.

This is a great recipe—as stated in the title, this mustard is *sharp* and almost has a horseradish bite to it, which comes from the mustard and vinegar.  Yum!

Aunt Diane’s Sharp Mustard

3.5 oz. dry mustard (usually 2 jars/bottles)
1 c. apple cider vinegar
1 egg
1 c. sugar
½ t. salt
1 ½ c. mayonnaise

Combine the dry mustard and vinegar in a bowl and let stand for 8-12 hours (I’ll usually do this before I go to bed).  Beat the egg (I do this in a medium saucepan off heat so I make fewer dirty dishes), and then add the sugar, salt, and mustard/vinegar mixture.  Cook over medium heat until thickened.  Cool and then stir in the mayonnaise.  Pour into jars and keep refrigerated.  **I use Ball’s half pint, large mouth jars for this recipe; it will fill about 4 of them.**

Here are some gorgeous black and green  labels that Amy whipped up for us (thank you, Amy).  You can print these out on sticker or full-sheet label paper and stick them on the top of the jar, or try printing them on cardstock and tie them around the jar with a little raffia or decorative ribbon—I think they’d look great either way, and they’ll definitely dress up your mustard to make this the perfect Easter hostess gift.  I always have a few jars of this mustard ready-to-gift in my fridge; it’s a nice change to the typical bottle of wine or flowers that we usually take our hostesses.

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LInking up to DIY by Design Swing into Spring

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Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

The Bunny Blog Hop at DIY by Design

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Easter Mantel Decor


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Easter is right around the corner and everyone in my house is very excited. My 3-year old daughter asks me every day “Is the Easter Bunny is coming TODAY?! “

Easter is among my favorite holidays. I love the pastel decor, the celebration of resurrection and new life and the fresh, easter dresses (!) and the happy, “spring” feeling that comes at this time of year.

I don’t usually do much to my mantel, and having a new house it took a bit of thought to decide how to decorate my new (very white) mantel/fireplace. My house was painted all white (as you have seen in my kitchen HERE and my daughter’s room HERE) so I decorate with neutrals and texture to make it more interesting. Light blue is my favorite color,  so going that route was kind of an easy choice.

I made the EASTER sign out of a wooden plaque from Michael’s and traced some letters, then painted them. My daughter and I painted some kraft paper eggs light blue together, and Christy sent me the light blue cut-out of a bunny which I backed with scrapbook paper and framed.

This little green guy came from Pier One. Don’t they have the best Easter decorations every year?

I hope its feeling very spring-like where you are, I am SO happy it is starting to warm up here.

Here is a link to our Spring Giveaway for a cute monogrammed Burlap Tote!

And, did you see our new header? Yes, that’s us Magnolia Lane girls! Its a preview from our recent photo session with Jessica Oatman, we can’t wait to reveal our whole new look very soon.

XO,

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Dear Lillie's Easter Link Party

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Spring Craft Idea–Retro Decoupaged Easter Eggs


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I pulled out my Easter decorations the other day.  Yes, it’s still a month away, but my daughter wanted me to whip them out the same day I pulled down the Valentine’s Day decor, so she considers it quite late!  I don’t do a lot of decorating for the “minor” holidays (and sorry, all you Irish folk out there, but I don’t do a darned thing for St. Patrick’s Day besides drink a green beer), but I do have a few cherished Easter items that I love to put on display every year.

These decoupaged styrofoam Easter eggs that my mother made in the ’70s are still my absolute favorites.  One of them even has teeth marks in it from where I took an exploratory nibble back in the day–they really did look good enough to eat!

This is an incredibly easy project, even for those of you who are craft-challenged.  Begin with styrofoam Easter eggs, available at any craft store, in a variety of sizes.  You’ll also need a bottle of Mod Podge  (or other decoupage glue).  I usually use the matte finish.  If you’ve never decoupaged anything before, be warned that it can become addictive (check out this awesome blog for proof and some incredible tips and ideas!).

My mother used paper napkins for the project, and because they’re so lightweight, that’s probably the easiest thing to glue onto eggs without having a problem with wrinkles.  Obviously these are pretty awesome 1970s napkins, but we still have some great choices out there (Target and Hobby Lobby are probably my favorite napkin sources).  Scrapbook paper gives you an infinite variety of choices, too, but the thickness will make it a bit more challenging to work with.  If you’re not doing an all-over treatment, like polka dots or chevrons, then just trim out the pattern you want and glue it onto the egg using Mod Podge.  Finish with a dusting of clear glitter and you’re done (keep them away from kids like me who may try to eat them!).

I am also planning to use either old newspapers or book pages to decorate some eggs in the same way.  I might use the regular plastic Easter eggs instead of styrofoam and I’ll let you know if that works out as well.  Here’s a great picture that I pinned from Erin at LemonTreeCreations, and you can read her tutorial ~here~.

I’m going to give burlap a try, too, to add some interesting texture to my eggs, and what about wrapping a few in jute twine (like Sweet Bean Gardening did below)?  The possibilities are endless!

Twine Easter eggs from Sweet Bean Gardening

What neat ideas do you have for your Easter decor this year?

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Easter Bunny Tag Printable

Printable Easter Bunny Tags

I know I promised Raspberry Martini Recipe–and its coming!  I meant to post it for you Saturday so in case anyone wanted to “shake” some up that night, but our lives have been thrown into total chaos as we had to have our kitchen floor tile completely pulled out and replaced in the last 3 days. Needless to say, I am a little behind from having no access to my kitchen, not to mention totally surrounded by an inch of tile dust! But, my new tile is gorgeous so its well worth it even if I only get to enjoy it until my house sells…

So, since its coming up on Easter Week and for everyone getting ready to send in treats to school or having a celebration, here is a cute little tag you can use. Just print off and cut out (either with scissors or a 3″ round punch) and attach to goodie bags or little Easter baskets.

These were the cutest "carrot" goodie bags, I hope I can find them again.

Just click for your FREE Easter Bag Tags Printable!

(please do become a follower if you download our goodies, we like to know who is using them!)

And please enjoy the blessings of the Easter season.

{and stay tuned, I promise the Martini Recipe IS coming…}

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