Altered Notepad Frame

Nap Time CreationsWhew!  It has really been raining lately!  I have had this project planned, but

needed to wait for the rain to stop so I could spray paint.  Today, the sun was

out and I grabbed my frame and spray paint box and ran outside.  I sprayed

my frame and came back inside to set up the rest of the project.  After about 

20 minutes, I decided to see if the frame was dry.... wouldn't you know it...

the sun was shining and it was raining!  That's Florida weather for you!

Anyway, my frame had dried enough that the rain didn't ruin it.  I grabbed it

quickly and came inside to start this long awaited project.

Here are the pics and how I did it.

I sprayed my frame white and rescued it from the rain!  Then after it dried, I

applied a layer of Mod Podge so the paint would look thicker (and older) 

when I sanded it.  Then when it was nearly dry, I applied a heavy layer

of acrylic paint.  I don't know why I am on a kick for turquoise right now.

I sanded down the frame outside (after it stopped raining).

Then I applied a layer of Mod Podge to the back of the frame and laid the burlap 

on top.  I applied more Mod Podge on top of the burlap and two pieces of ribbon.

Okay.... I have to give you a warning here!

To apply this cute little nest with eggs (that I found on sale at Target),

I decided to use super glue.  Do NOT use super glue!   It is not heavy

enough and you will end up using a different adhesive anyway.

In MY particular case, I used a hot glue gun.... thereby HEATING 

the super glue, which in turn created horrible fumes 

that burned my nose and throat (for hours!).  

Consider yourself warned!  

I created this cute little notepad on Adobe Photoshop.

(Have I mentioned that I {L O V E} Adobe Photoshop?

I typed the word "Nest" and the definition at the bottom and I found

this little bird picture when I searched bird clipart.

To make the notepad, I printed the paper I wanted in the pad and then 

used two brads on each side of the notepad.  I cut a piece of card stock 

(I used a piece with a print so you would be able to see it better) to use as

the back of the notepad.  Cut the card stock slightly smaller than the

size of the notepad.  You can see how I did that.

(...and I misspelled card stock on my photo... oh, the horrors!)

This part is a little tricky.  I hope I can explain it well enough.

I took a piece of twine and wrapped it around the back of the frame (the part

to which the burlap is Mod Podged).  Then, I hot glued it to the back.

In other words, if I flipped this frame around and you saw the back

of it, you would see the twine and the hot glue. . . (the ugly truth!)

I did that so that I would be able to slip the back of the notepad behind the twine so it would 

stay until I need to add more paper to my note pad.  At that point, I could easily 

remove it and add more paper to the brads and then replace it again.

Check it out!  I added a clothespin! Imagine that.... me... using a clothespin!  :-)

I hot glued the clothespin to the burlap so I could change the 

monthly calendar out when the month changes.

I also created this little calendar on Adobe Photoshop.

I used the same background on the calendar that I used on 

the notepad.  This way they coordinate! :-)

Here is the finished project.

I hope you enjoyed this project.  Maybe it will inspire you to 

create your own notepad and calendar frame.  

I'm hoping to hang this in my classroom (when I get one)!  

If you have a minute, I would {L O V E} for you to let me know what you think.

I love comments!  I'd also {L O V E} for you to follow my blog via Google Friend.

Until next time, be blessed!

:-)  Tonya

While you're here, check out my older posts.....

Linking to these parties...

Simple Home Life

30 Handmade Days

Just Us Four

Tatertots and Jello

Six Sisters' Stuff

Funky Junk Interiors

Family Ever After

I {heart} Nap Time

{nifty thrifty sunday}

Cherished Treasures: Sunday Blog Love

Twigg Studios

My 1929 Charmer

Photo Clothespins

Given my love for clothespins, I cannot believe that it has taken me so long to think of this! 

I have been trying to come up with some creative ideas for clothespins that were easy to make,

but something I had not seen before.  I have seen the Mod Podge scrapbook paper on clothespins, 

but I had never seen photos on clothespins!  So.... here we go!

First, I chose the photos that I wanted to use and then I resized them (3.25 inches by .50 inches) 

and altered them in Adobe Photoshop.  (I love Adobe Photoshop).  

After I altered my photos, I printed them onto card stock.  

Then I gathered my supplies {paper cutter, Mod Podge, sponge, clothespins :-), 

printed photos, super glue, recycled magnets cut to size).

Next, I cut my photos and I applied Mod Podge to the clothespins.

While I was at it, I couldn't resist making a few clothespins for my

potato chip bags.

If you put the Mod Podge on your paper instead of the clothespin,

it will make your paper wet and will cause tearing if you try to move it.

Apply Mod Podge directly onto the clothespin instead of the paper.

After you place your photo on the clothespin, apply Mod Podge to the top.

You can use twisted paper to keep the clothespin from closing so the 

Mod Podge will dry without sticking the clothespin together.

Once they are dry, you can use them however you wish.

I decided to add magnets to the back of three of the clothespins 

to stick them on the refrigerator.  I plan to use one clothespin for 

each of our kids so that if we need to leave them notes, we can 

just clip the note to the clothespin for whom the note is written.

So, these are my new photo clothespins.  

I hope this project inspires you to make use of photos you love 

that you may not be able to see everyday!

Please leave me a comment and let know what you think!

If you have time to type in your email address on the sidebar, 

I would {L O V E} for you to join my site! 

Until next time, be blessed!

:-)  Tonya

* P.S. - I linked this post to 52 Mantels and House of Hepworths and live laugh {linky}

and Southern Lovely- Show & Share and The 36th Avenue and The Shabby Nest and My Repurposed Life and 30 Handmade Days and Just Us Four and Fine Craft Guild