My DIY Celebration Banner

Here are all the details of how I made this cute pennant banner to celebrate my ministry partners.

Do you remember back in the summer when I showed a picture of all these vintage pillow cases?

Well they were the inspiration for the banner.  My partner development teacher told our class that we should find a way to celebrate along this journey.  I immediately thought of making a pennant banner, with each pennant representing a new partner.  At first I thought I'd use scrapbook paper, but then I realized I could use the cloth from old pillow cases.  I'd been seeing vintage pillow cases everywhere and wanted a reason to buy some.  Now I had a reason!

My first step (besides buying the pillow cases) was to make a template for the pennant.  I used a piece of card stock and made a triangle that was 6' across the top and 8' on the sides.  Then I cut open the pillow cases so that they were large, flat sheets.  I traced the triangles onto the fabric in a row, alternating the direction they were facing   This way when it came time to cut them out, all of the sides would be shared, equaling less cuts.

The cutting was the most frustrating and time consuming part of the project.  I used pinking shears, and I don't know if it's because they were old or because the fabric was old and flimsy, or both, but they were very difficult to cut out.

Before I started writing the names on them I made a few trial runs on a scrap triangle.  I tried different handwritings and placements on the pennant until I found what I liked.  I should also note that I bought a special pen for this.  I needed one that wouldn't bleed, and I was afraid a Sharpie might do that.  This pen is designed for writing on fabrics and I got it at Michael's for $2.99.  It worked great except for one of the fabrics that was really thin and flimsy.

Once I had all the pennants ready to go I attached some clear Command strips onto the wall and tied the twine to them.  Then I clipped them up using mini clothespins that I also got at Michael's, a 50 count bag for $2.99.

I love the finished product!  The names are written small enough that they don't overpower the pennants.  It brightened up that blank wall and is a great visual reminder of all the wonderful people people partnering with me on this journey.  And that's what I wanted, something that was simple enough that it would look like a decoration while still having a purpose behind it.

Christmas Cards - Present and Past

Since I've lived on my own, I've never found a way to display Christmas cards in a way that I like, until this year.  I looked at my green window one day, and it just came to me - attach two lengths of twine, and hang Christmas cards with clothes pins.  I sat down tonight and in about 15 minutes had it rigged up!  For the top piece, I just tied the twine around the two brackets used to hang it on the wall.  For the lower piece, I used two push pins on the outer-most edges and attached the twine to those.

Then I just hung the window back up and clipped up my Christmas cards.  I love how it turned out!  Very simple and Christmasy.

Since I took this picture I took all the extra clothes pins and put them in a little mason jar on the ledge between the kitchen and living room.

I also used a Pinterest idea to display Christmas cards from years past.  Over the years I've received many Christmas cards that include pictures, or are picture compilations themselves.  I love having them out during the season, but once they've been tucked away somewhere, they rarely see light again.  Not anymore though!  I pulled out all of the pictures, put them in order, punched holes in the corner, put them on a hinged ring, attached a bow, and set them out for all to see.  It's a great way to look back at pictures from year's past, and then at the end of this season I'll just add the new ones I've gotten.

A lovely little addition to the coffee table :)

Thrifty Thursday - Christmas Decorations

Way back this summer I did some redecorating, and replaced the apothecary jars I had in my bathroom with mason jars.  I hung on to the apothecary jars though, because I had seen something on Pinterest that I wanted to do at Christmas.  So last week I went on the hunt to find things to fill my jars with, and I started at Goodwill.  On their Christmas shelf I found two packages of ornaments, one for  .97 cents and one for $1.77, and then later I found a bag of pinecones for $2.97.  I wasn't sure if I would use all of it, but for that price figured it would be worth getting.  I also bought a pack of mini candy canes at Kroger.  

When I got home I just started sticking things in jars and rearranging them until I had a combo I liked.  And I felt better when I used something from all of my Goodwill purchases, since I combined both kinds or ornaments in one jar.  In all honesty, I know that bigger jars or smaller objects would look a little better, cause I could put more stuff inside, but I'm not going to stress about it, or go buy more things.  It's still fun and Christmasy, and because I already had the jars, cost me about $6.  And, I can get more use out of the pinecones, since they're not limited to just Christmas decor.

Summer Goals

I don't know if you can relate to this or not, but all week long I'm making a mental list of the things I want to accomplish once the weekend comes.  But once the weekend comes, I just want to relax and end up not getting a whole lot done.  I figure if I post my summertime weekend goals, it might motivate me more to get them done.  So, here's a room-by-room list of the projects I want to tackle before the summer is over!

Kitchen

Repaint this window with crackle paint, and then paint something on the glass, like I did here.  I think this time I want to use favorite quotes and lines from books.

Get something up on the wall above my sink.  I'm thinking either a shelf to put antique kitchen things on, or I might make some simple paintings.  Below are some images I've pinned that I might try to paint myself.

I think this one's my favorite!

Even though I don't like birds...

Living Room

Paint this little table; I'm not sure what color though.

Paint the coffee table white, and polyurethane the end table that I painted white last summer.  There are also knobs that I painted red that need to be put back on the end table.  I'd also really like to get a new rug, but it's not a priority right now.

 Bedroom

GET SOMETHING ON THESE WALLS!!!  I want to do some sort of photo collage  on one wall.  And I've thought about moving the pictures on the wall in the living room into the bedroom, and putting new ones in the living room, but it's just a thought for now.

I bought this vase and these sticks as soon as I moved in, because I wanted something to cover up the white cover of the breaker box.  I don't know why in the world they didn't paint it the same color as the walls.  The vase and sticks aren't "me" though, so I need to come up with something else.  I've thought about doing another painting big enough to hang up over it.

Put new fabric on my director's chair.  I know this one will get done; my mom is coming to visit in July and she's bringing her sewing machine so we can do it.

Bathroom

Paint my earring frame white and distress it.

And maybe getting new slippers should be a goal too...

Writing On The Window

As the title of my last post reveals, I like to rearrange things.  I also like to repurpose and redecorate things, and I've been at it again.  When I first moved in I had a window hanging up in my living room, which was then replaced with this painting of China, which had been a part of The Well's 365:24/7 series.

But recently I've wanted to put the window back up, but I wanted to spiff it up about.  In the past I'd thought about putting pictures behind the glass or pretty paper, but then I had the brilliant idea of writing something on the glass, and decided to use some of my favorite scripture verses.  I started by typing them up and finding a font I liked.  I wanted something cursive like but couldn't find any that I thought would work well, so I ended up using Just The Way You Are which I downloaded from dafont.com.  Then I printed them off and taped them to the back of the window panes.  This was the most frustrating part actually.  It was hard to get them centered and straight because I couldn't really mark on the glass to give me any reference points.  

But after they were taped in place I simply traced over the words with a paint marker, like this one.  If you like to be crafty and have never used one of these, you need to check them out!  They come in different sizes and are perfect for painting words on a variety of surfaces; I've used them on glass, wood, and canvas so far.  Even though I was using a fine-point marker, it was too thick to be able to mimic the font exactly, but I still like the way it turned out!  Since the words are white you don't really notice them right away, but I like the subtlety of it.  I think I'm going to do this same thing on the red window frame I have in my kitchen, but I'll try it in a darker paint color. 

And these are the verses that I used, in the original font:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.  Psalm 19: 7-8

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Psalms 37:3-7

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.  Psalms 119:1-8

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.  Isaiah 61:10-11

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:1-3

 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love it would be utterly scorned.  Song of Songs 8:6-7

Reading and Rearranging

I spent the beginning part of the afternoon at the pool.  Reading.  I started with some Sports Illustrated magazines and then started The Help.  Kind of a odd combination of material I know, but what can I say?  I'm a woman of many interests.  And I know I'm way behind in reading The Help, I just don't have time during the school year to do any reading just for fun.

This afternoon I did some rearranging in my bathroom.  Since I've moved in I've had cotton balls, q-tips, hair stuff etc. in these apothecary jars, but I decided I wanted to use mason jars instead.  

For a few days I had the jars up on the shelf, but I changed it again today.  I put them down on the counter, rearranged the pictures on the shelf, and hung up my earring frame that used to be above my dresser.  I want to repaint the frame white and then distress it, because the silver makes it too fancy for the look of everything else in the bathroom.  You can't see it, but everything else is brown and green and kind of earthy

The picture on the left is from my sister's wedding, after I gave my toast, and the one on the right was a card I got from a friend years ago that I saved and framed.  It says, "Let's go somewhere and pretend to talk while men check us out."  Ha, I love it!

And I'm definitely hanging on to the apothecary jars.  I already have an idea for Christmas, thanks to Pinterest!

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New Life for a Ladder

Last week when we cleaned out the basement at the office I found a little wooden ladder that I knew had tons of potential, and I couldn't wait to bring it home, clean it up, and give it new life.  Well those first two things ended up happening in reverse order.  I knew the ladder was dusty, but when I really looked at it, I realized dusty was an understatement.  The thing was caked in layers and layers of dirt, and there was no way I was putting it in my car like that, so I ended up cleaning it up at the office.  Look at the left side of the ladder compared to the right, so gross!

So much dust!

I had to do some rearranging, but the ladder is now in the corner of the living room.  

 

 Right now it's quite bare and boring, but I have plans to dress it up.  Over the weekend I searched "ladders" on Pinterest and found several cute ideas, and I want to do something similar to this.  I just need to find some 5x7 picture frames.

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And since the ladder is now in the corner of the living room, the little table that was there is under the cut-out between the kitchen and living room, which I like.  The plant that was there is now in the kitchen, which I'm not crazy about, but I'm running out of room for all my treasures!

A postcard I bought in China, a Milligan handbook from 1939-40 that I found at an antique store, a picture of me giving my toast at Amanda and Jonathan's wedding, and cotton from a field near my Granny's house!

I'm also thinking about doing this with the tobacco stake ladder I bought at an antique store several months ago. 

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And in the midst of all the moving and rearranging, I managed to dump a pretty much empty bag of chips on the carpet.