DIY Heart Shaped Photo Collage

I was skimming through some old pictures on my shutterfly the other day and came across this project. I was so surprised that I took a picture step by step, as if I knew I would one day have a blog to post it on!   At the time my husband and I were newlyweds and had just moved into our apartment. I was so excited to finally decorate my own house and make it our own. Like any other girl, I went to Pinterest for inspiration and found several wall art collages. I knew I wanted to incorporate our wedding pictures I just printed from shutteryfly do I decided on a heart. (You get 50 free prints when you sign up)   Heart shaped photo collage   Supplies: (52) 4 x 6 photos (8 vertical & 44 horizontal) (52) 4  x6 Cardboard frames ( I found a 3 pack at Dollar Tree) Black acrylic paint (if frames aren't black already) Foam brush Scotch tape (2) 5 ft of string ( I used yarn) 4 Push pins Pencil Spray adhesive Construction level (optional, I didn't use one) Measuring tape (optional)    Directions:

• After you've picked out your pictures, paint your frames black and set aside to dry
• Once they have dried, place a picture on the back side of the frame and tape. Repeat this process with all your pictures.

• Next lay out your photos on a flat surface, the floor worked best for me, and begin to arrange your photos. I started from the bottom then worked my way to the top, either way works.
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• After you have it all laid out the way you like it, measure the length of the collage with either the measuring tape or yarn.
• Take your measurement to the wall where you want the collage to be. Hold it in the middle of the wall vertically with your push pins and mark the top, bottom and middle. Repeat the same process horizontally. The place where the two strings meet is the middle, this is where your will start your fifth row.
• Follow directions on spray adhesive bottle. Spray the back of the first picture frame starting on the left side of the fifth row and center picture underneath string. The string should be right in the middle of the picture frame.
• You can move down your horizontal string to help you keep a straight line. You can move the string up and down and you move along. ( After the fifth row I continued downward then moved up, either way will work) 

     

Hope this post helped.

Thanks for stopping by:)

50 date ideas under $30

Photo Credit: Delaluz Photos

Ricky and I have been married for a little over a year and dated for FIVE YEARS TEN MONTHS which seemed forever! We went on several dates throughout this time of which many were repeated. You know the usual, dinner and a movie, or just dinner, the occasional shopping, art walk, or the ever to so popular take-out and red box. Don't get me wrong, I love doing all these things with my husband but it can become monotonous.

I think I was 18 in this picture. That was 7 years ago!

 

So in an attempt to bring some variety to our date night I made a list of different ideas mostly under $20! These can also double as great Valentine's  night out. Just take some chocolate covered strawberries and you're good to go. Some of these are specific to where I live but can be tweaked to your area.
Working on a printable version for you guys:)

1.   Grab a loaf of bread and feed the ducks at a Park

2.   Grab water guns and balloons at Dollar Tree and have a water fight

3.   Have a picnic  and sing our favorite songs

4.   Have a picnic at the a local park

5.   Go fishing (make sure you have a fishing license) 

6.   Watch the sunset with a box of ice cream sandwiches or hot chocolate

7.   Share a milkshake with two straws

8.   Go to Wal-Mart and buy each other a $10 gift and wrap it and give to each other at dinner.

9.   Build a tent in the living room and watch a movie with munchies

10.               Make smores

11.                Go the a local bakery and buy some cupcakes and eat at a local park.

12.               Bake cookies together.

13.                Decorate cheesy couple t-shirts and have a photo shoot

14.                Make homemade ornaments

15.                Go watch Christmas lights in a neighborhood with hot chocolate.

16.                Go bowling

17.               Pack dinner and lunch and rent a room at the island ($30)

18.               Have dinner at the island.

19.               Pack lunch and eat the pier then the dolphin watch ($30)

20.              Play mini golf

21.               Watch a play at your local high school play

22.               Go to a high school football game

23.               Go to the a basketball game at your local University or high school.

24.               Go to a baseball Game

25.               Watch a senior recital at your local University.

26.               Watch a play at  your local University or community college

27.               Go to a concert

28.               Go to a fair

29.               Go to a butterfly farm

30.               Go to the Museum

31.                Go to the zoo

32.               Go to a bird center

33.                Go pick oranges or any fruit from a place for locals

34.                Head to the farmers market

35.                 Head to the movie theater

36.                Walk your local nature center

37.               Go camping

38.               Go to the drive in

39.               Buy some steaks and have a candle light dinner in the back yard

40.               Go to a hockey game

41.                Play games at Peter Piper and share a pizza

42.               Head to the flea market

43.                Go to a small coffee shop

44.                Fly a kite

45.                Get some frozen yogurt and head to a local park and swing on the swings

46.                Paint some pottery at your local art shop

47.               Go to your local art show/walk

48.               Rent a movie and buy a box of pizza

49.               Start a puzzle

50.               Create a piece of art together with a canvas, paint and your fingers.

Hope this post helped Thanks for stopping by:)          

DIY Kitchen Chalk Board

I have always wanted a chalkboard for my kitchen to help with meal planning. It is also a great way to add wall art with out being too cheesy with "kitchen decor." As you may have guessed I am a Hobby Lobby junkie! I am ALWAYS there walking the aisles looking for inspiration and deals. I have found many kitchen chalk boards designed specifically for the kitchen but all have thing in common, they are all high priced. Now I am a bargain shopper, I try my best not to spend over $20 on decor. Why? Because I know that I can make it myself for much less.

This DIY project is quick and easy and only cost $6! A tip on shopping at Hobby Lobby is using their 40% off coupon on items that aren't already 50% off. I always check their news letter to see what items are on sale that week to make sure that I buy all my item either at 50% or 40% off.

Materials:

• 17"x 23" chalk board
• 60 piece pack of wood letters
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Painters tape
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks

Directions: 

First choose what phrase you would like on your chalk board and separate the necessary letters to spell it out. 

Next paint each individual letter making sure that every crevice is covered. Set them aside to dry.

           

Next line the black board with painter tape as close to the frame as possible and paint the wooden frame then set aside to dry.
While the paint is drying put glue stick in gun and plug in to start warming up
Once the paint is dry and glue is hot, begin to glue wooded letter on the edge of the chalk board.
You can place them either on the top or bottom or both like I did.

Now you can write your meals for the day or week. I think we all hate the feeling of not knowing what to make for dinner so this can  help you feel organized and have a plan for your meals.

    Hope this post helped. Thanks for stopping by:)      

DIY: $4.00 Mustache Framed Art

The mustache trend is very big right now. It's used in many different ways like party themes, apparel,and even decor. On one of my many trips to Hobby Lobby, I came across some really cool mustache framed art. I thought that it would look great in my bathroom wall and help make it more masculine for my husband but didn't want to pay $30 for something I can make myself. So here is a DIY project for only $4.00! 

Materials:

 2 Frames ( I used 11x14 frames from dollar tree)
 1 Black poster board
 2 sheets of white card stock paper
 1 (11) pack of mustache stickers ( I bought mine at hobby lobby and used a 40% off coupon)

Directions:

First cut out each mustache sticker so that way you can layout how you want them placed.

Next, using the back cardboard from the frame, trace out two rectangles on the poster. They should measure 11x14 inches.

Now cut a two inch piece of tape and fold in the two ends to create double sided tape.

Place in the middle of the white card stock paper.

Next turn paper around and tape it in the middle of the black poster board and place inside the frame.

Now the fun begins! Arrange your stickers on top of the glass in the order you would like. I did five on each frame. Position the other five stickers next to the frame you are working on to see how they look together.

Once you have the stickers arranged how you like them, gently take off the sticker and stick on the glass starting with the bottom sticker first. Don't place firmly until you are happy with the placement. If you'd like, you can use a ruler to measure out the space between the edge of the white paper and the stickers. I chose not to.

I started with the bottom sticker then placed the top one. This helped me arrange the reaming three evenly.   Again, make sure you are very careful when taking off the stickers. There are parts on the mustache that are thin and can be easily torn.

Repeat the same process with the other frame.

Total cost:
Frames: $2.00
Stickers: $1.49
Poster: $0 (already had)
Card stock: $0 (already had)

Total = $3.49 (with poster should be around $4.00)

Hope this post helped

Thanks for stopping by:)