Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
How to Make Your Own Wooden Chalkboard Welcome Sign + Free Printable Template
Hello Remodelaholic readers! Colleen here, DIYer behind Lemon Thistle. I'm back today to bring you a simple wooden framed chalkboard that is a fun alternative to a wreath. I've also got a free printable template of my ‘welcome' hand lettering so you can letter your own! This project is really easy to pull together with some basic tools and can suit almost any decor style.
You could use a chalkboard like this in your entry way in place of a wreath like I have, or you could hang it in a gallery wall with daily motivations, or in your kitchen for your grocery list- the possibilities are really endless! I have mine stationed in my recently renovated entry way and love how the scandi feel plays with all the other pieces I have.
How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Welcome Sign
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To make your own, you'll need:
- 1×12 board (cut to 11 1/2 long)
- 1×2 (2 pieces cut 11 1/2 long, 2 pieces cut 13 long, avoiding joints)
- Chop saw for cutting (or have these pieces cut at the store)
- Brad Nailer with 1 1/2 inch nails or patience, thin nails and hammer
- Drill with small drill bit
- Eye hooks
- Cotton rope (found at any craft store or here)
- Chalkboard Paint & foam brush
- Chalk or a chalk marker
- Printed Template (download here)
A note about the template: We've provided a couple of different sizes in the download, including a 13×19 size (like we've used on our other large format printables here, here, here and here) so you could skip the actual chalkboard part and just print and mount the sign using the easy method Cassity shared here and then finish framing it following this tutorial. You can use the same method with any of the sizes, too.
The first thing you'll need to do is cut your boards to size: one piece of 1×12 cut to 11 1/2 inches to make a square, two pieces of 1×2 cut to 11 1/2 inches, and two pieces of 1×2 cut to 12 inches. You could do this with a chop saw, a good ol' hand saw, or you could have the store cut them (Home Depot offers that service no charge in most locations).
Next, you'll want to paint your chalkboard paint. TRUST me and paint it before you assemble. I've assembled before painting other signs and regretted it. It's just way cleaner this way. It took two coats of Rustoleum Chalkboard to get it nice and opaque. Let it dry completely.
Before assembling, it's also good to season your chalkboard. You NEED to season your chalkboard if you want it to erase properly but I suggest doing it before assembling so none of that chalk dust gets caught in the corners. To season a chalkboard, you just use a piece of chalk and rub it over the entire surface in a couple different directions. Then take a cloth and rub it in really good! Wipe it clean and you're good to go.
To assemble, use a brad nailer and attach your short side pieces first, then add your long edges. These are 1×2 on edge for that inset look. I use 3 nails or so in the short sides and on the long sides, I use 5 (adding one into the ends of each of the short edge pieces). Then add your eye hooks! Since the wood is fairly thin, it's good to use a drill to make a pilot hole first. Then, just twist your eye hooks in and tie your rope on!
Now for the fun part… chalk board lettering! I love some freehand lettering, but I know that's not for everyone. I hand lettered this ‘welcome' and you can download it here to use as a template for your lettering (or, if you'd rather just print and go, follow this tutorial for the easiest and quickest way to mount printables to a board).
To use a template, just print it off, then color the back of the paper with chalk. Tap off excess then place where you want the design and use a pen to trace over the lettering.
When you remove, chalk should have transferred to the surface giving you an outline to fill in!
That's it! I love how perfectly neutral it is while still being interesting with the added dimension of the frame and texture of the rope. I have a feeling that this guy will be making the rounds around our home!
You'll also like:
how to make a handlettered holiday welcome sign + wreath
make your own reusable faux chalkboards for holiday decor
tips for perfect chalkboard lettering
how to build a freestanding chalkboard easel
The post How to Make Your Own Wooden Chalkboard Welcome Sign + Free Printable Template appeared first on Remodelaholic.
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Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
This recipe for chocolate pecan pie bars is absolutely amazing. The ooey gooey richness of the pie filling mixes perfectly with the chocolate. Then there’s the crunchy nut texture on top and the soft crust on the bottom that just holds it all together like magic. And yes, I’m calling this magic. Because it is.
The very best thing about this recipe is how impossibly easy it is! It does take a bit of time, but it's totally worth it. This is great for people who (understandably) haven't quite nailed the whole ‘traditional, flaky pie crust from scratch' thing.
Also, you get to dig in and knead it, which is up there with a massage and a spa day in my book. Had a bad day at work? Knead! Are the kids driving you nuts? Knead! I'm not saying it'll fix all the problems in the world, but there's definitely something to be said about working those hand muscles in a constructive way.
These delicious little bars are perfect for cookouts, family gatherings, outdoor events: anywhere, really! The fact that you can eat them using your hands without looking like a barbarian means that they go well at informal functions or venues with limited seating. Don't let that dissuade you from serving them at the end of a fancy meal. A fork isn't required, but can still obviously be very useful in capturing every last crumb.
Get the recipe for the filling here.
- 2 cups Pecan Halves
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 3 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp vanilla
- 3 oz dark chocolate chips
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup softened salted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1) Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper. Combine all the ingredients for the crust together, knead the crust until it forms a ball.
- 2) Using your fingers or the back of a spoon press the crust into the bottom of the pan.
- 3) In a medium bowl mix together all the ingredients for the filling except the pecans. Once it is mixed, pour it over the crust.
- 4) Next add the pecans to the pan. You can line them up or just dump them in. Press the pecan into the filling so that they are covered.
- 5) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecan pie bars for 40-50 minutes or until the bars are set. Let cool completely before serving.
More delicious recipes to try:
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
25 Unique DIY Fall Wreath Ideas
Fall is officially here and I can't wait to create pretty fall decorations for my home with the help of my kids. This year we decided to create something special and welcome our guests with a beautiful wreath for my front door. I looked all over the internet for ideas and I found 25 unique DIY wreaths that will add a touch of the season to your front door.
From wooden wreaths to corn husk wreaths and even crochet ones, you can create any of these lovely ideas with only a few materials.
Your doors are about to get a whole lot prettier with these unique DIY fall wreaths.
25 Unique DIY Fall Wreaths
In this post:
Page 1 // Page 2 // Page 3
Corn Husk Wreath from remodelaholic.com
Fall Hydrangea Wreath from simplydesigning.porch.com
DIY Monogram Fall Wreath from tidymom.net
DIY Fall Wreath: Rustic Burlap from blog.consumercrafts.com
A Perfect Fall Wreath {free Printable} from iheartnaptime.net
Crocheted Fall Wreath from repeatcrafterme.com
New Fall Wreath from confessionsofaserialdiyer.com
Tissue Paper Fall Wreath from happyhooligans.ca
Hexagon Wooden Fall Wreath Tutorial from cherishedbliss.com
Next up, 8 more DIY Fall Wreaths –>
In this post:
Page 1 // Page 2 // Page 3
More fun fall ideas:
The post 25 Unique DIY Fall Wreath Ideas appeared first on Remodelaholic.
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Monday, August 28, 2017
Completing the Outdoor Kitchen Project - Today's Homeowner
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Playful and Blue: Boys Playroom Decor and Inspiration
Hello again! Dawn here, from AD Aesthetic, and I'm back with another mood board for your decoration inspiration. Since I put together a girly play room for last month's mood board, this time I thought I'd put together something similar, but with a color scheme tailored a bit more to the boys. Here's what I came up with:
Playful and Blue Boys Playroom
Boys Playroom Mood Board Sources
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Rug | Baskets | Teepee | Frayed Edge Pillow
Never Grow Up Pillow | Growth Chart | Chair | Elephant Print
Gold Wall Decals | Pennant Banner | Felt Ball Garland | Elephant Lamp
Paint Color: Sleepy Blue, Sherwin Williams
For this space, I thought it would be fun to imagine the same room from last month's moodboard, but with a different design. So I stuck with the same Sleepy Blue paint color by Sherwin Williams, and kept the fun light fixture and metallic wall decals, but changed out everything else. It was a fun challenge, and I like how both of the rooms turned out!
I kept the color scheme to a fairly neutral palette of cream, gold, and wood tones, but brought in several shades of blue for some variety and interest. Mixing up textures, such as soft rugs and pillows, with shiny metallic accents and rustic wood pieces, gives the space depth and keeps things from feeling too stuffy— which is the last thing you want in a kid's play space!
If you like the moodboard I put together, here are a few more playroom inspiration ideas that I've gathered up for you!
Boys Playroom Inspiration
Image Source: @lenalidman | Photo Credit: @lenalidman
Image Source: Chango & Co.
Image Source: istome | Photo Credit: @erika_bader
Image Source: Milk Tooth | Photo Credit: @taslifewithmyboysblog
Image Source: Hobby Lobby
Image Source: Simply Sadie Jane | Photo Credit: Sadie Jane Sabin
Image Source: I Spy DIY | Photo Credit: Jenni Radosevich
Image Source: Lonny | Photo Credit: Aubrie Pick
As always, thank you to Cassity and the Remodelaholic team for having me back each month. I’d love for you to visit me over on my site, ADaesthetic.com, or follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram for more updates and inspiration. Have a great day, friends!
-Dawn
More playroom ideas:
red white and blue playroom
The post Playful and Blue: Boys Playroom Decor and Inspiration appeared first on Remodelaholic.
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