{Courtesy of BHG}

Yep….it’s that time of year again, back to school! Instead of dreading it and moaning and groaning about it this year, we thought we’d put a fun spin on it! Next week’s challenge is all about “Back To School”…….show us how you stay organized, your creative teacher gift ideas,  crafty school supplies/crafts, etc. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

{Courtesy of Just a Girl}

{Courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors}

 

{ Fabric Covered Notebook…..courtesy of Imperfectly Beautiful}

One of my favorite things about back to school is making “happies” for our new teachers. For several years I have been making scrapbook paper covered composition notebooks. I usually pair it with a mini one for their purse and some personalized notecards. They’ve always been a big hit and I enjoy making them. But this year, I thought I’d try something a bit different. Instead of using paper, I decided to cover the books with fabric. I am loving the finished product! Let’s take a quick look at how I made these fabric covered notebooks…….

To adhere the fabric to the book and keep it from fraying when I cut it, I used Heat n’ Bond. It’s basically an iron on fusible webbing, also used for appliques.

I started by cutting a piece of fabric large enough to cover the front and back sides of the notebook.

Then I flipped it over and ironed the heat n’ bond to the back side of the fabric, per the product instructions. Once the two were adhered, this allowed me to trace my templates and cut out both pieces with no fraying.

Then I simply peeled off the protective backing, placed it right where I wanted it on the notebook, and ironed it directly to the composition book. A quick and easy project that also makes a nice personal gift!

I chose a coordinating fabric, cut a long strip, frayed the edges, and tied it around the notebook as a little embellishment. Now I want to make one for myself!

Doesn’t this make the cutest gift package? You can cover these notebooks in fabric or paper and they’re adorable either way. They are easy and inexpensive, but still personal and cute! People love ‘em and you’ll be the talk of the teachers with your swanky “Back to School” gifts!

 

Now, go and get your creativity flowing and come up with something spectacular to show off next week for the “Back to School” challenge. The winners from this week’s “Mod Podge” challenge will be announced Friday afternoon, along with the winner of the Plaid product prize pack!

It’s time for the Mod Podge Challenge!!

This is going to be so fun!!

Or should we say psychedelic fun — lol?

 

Our guest judge this week is Amy, the creative genius behind the popular blog, Mod Podge Rocks. I am a huge fan of mod podge myself and I concur…..it does ROCK! Amy decided to start her blog after having to search all over the place for decopauge inspiration. She said to herself, “what if these wonderful ideas and inspiration could all be in one place?” From that small idea, she made it happen and “Mod Podge Rocks” was born! When asked what makes her the expert and authority on mod podge, her response is this……..

“My favorite thing about this blog is that I get to bring lots of ideas and inspiration together in one place – making everyone who is featured here the authority!”

That statement right there is why we all love Amy so much. And the fact that she creates beautiful and amazing things with mod podge and shares the how to on every single one!

{You can click on each picture to be taken directly to that particular post}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who knew that you could actually use mod podge to screen print your own designs??? Seriously, isn’t that the best thing ever? Imagine the endless possibilities! Be sure and visit Amy at Mod Podge Rocks for daily inspiration on all things creative and mod podgy!

 

Now go and get those projects ready to submit on Tuesday for this week’s challenge…..

“Mod Podge”

As always, we are eagerly anticipating all the wonderfully creative ideas you guys seem to come up with each week! You never cease to amaze us and we seriously look forward to this challenge every single week!

What an amazing collection of Pottery Barn-inspired projects!

Rhoda loved your ideas —

“There were SO many great projects, I could easily have chosen 20!I really could have picked so many more & I hated having to pass some of these up.  I tried to take into consideration how much alike the things were to PB and also the time involved.”

Here are Rhoda’s favorites:

#59 — Knock off Chandy @ Dwelling by DeVore

Here are the Top 10 projects {in no particular order}:

#5 –Little Owl @ Nice Girl Notes

#17 – Mudroom Bench @ Pretty Handy Girl

#31 — Lamp @ Sweet Something Design

#43 —  Chandelier @ The Hand Me Down House

#52 — Typewriter Art @ Paint in my Hair

#76 — Pottery Barn Armillary @ Pregnant with Power Tools

#148 — Painted Bolster Pillow @ B3 Home Designs

# 65 — Christmas Pillows @ My Backyard Eden

#100 — Chair @ Just Makin’ It

#150 — Clock Face @ Lemon Tree Creations

Beckie’s Pick:

#48 — Nest Pillows @ Thrifty Parsonage Living

Amanda’s Pick:

#143 — Hanging Ladder with Lanterns @ Amber Lane Living

Jen’s Pick:

#95 — PB Boys Surfing Room @ less cake {more frosting}

Winners: you can get your Winner Buttons on this page.

And the TWO winners of the $20 gift certificate to

Say It on the Wall Vinyl!!

#115 — All About Ellie – who showed us her PB-inspired Lamp!

#87 — Krissy @ The Blueberry Monkey — who showed us her PB-inspired Silverware Wall Art!

Congratulations ladies!!!

A big THANK YOU to Say It on the Wall Vinyl!! for a wonderful giveaway! Please keep them in mind for cute vinyl!

And a HUGE Thank You to

Rhoda from Southern Hospitality for being our guest judge for the Pottery Barn Challenge!! Be sure to check her blog for fabulous decorating ideas and some “Southern Hospitality”!

Get your projects ready for next week’s Mod Podge/Decoupage Challenge.

It’s going to be fun!!

This post sponsored by Say It On The Wall.

I think Mod Podge might be the reason that I started blogging – LOL. I was on a mod podge kick and needed a place to keep my ideas. Over the years, I think I have tried decoupaging just about everything from frames and magnet boards to tables and trays to bar stools. I just can’t get enough of the stuff!

In honor of one of my favorite crafting mediums, I came up with a little project — my take on a Modern 3-D Fall Wreath.

I don’t know if you ever saw the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Christmas magazine a couple of years ago that featured Amy Butler standing in front of her front door? Well there is this incredible wreath there and you can just barely see it but it’s very modern with round spheres. Ever since I saw that wreath I have been thinking about making something similar with circles.

Here’s what you need:

A round wreath form — mine is 12 inches with a flat top and sides. I found it at Hobby Lobby.

Ribbon (about 9 yards for a 12 inch wreath)

Gorilla Glue

Paint that matches your ribbon

Small Dowels or wooden beads.

Round Wooden Craft Circles (also found at Hobby Lobby) I used 2 packages – approximately 30 circles of different sizes

4 different patterns of decorative paper

Glue gun and sticks OR Superglue

And of course, Mod Poge (I used Outdoor Mod Podge since my wreath is going to be outside)

Here’s what you do:

• Put a dab of Gorilla Glue on the back side of your wreath form. Put one end of your ribbon on top of the glue and pin. Then wrap the wreath form with your ribbon tightly, overlapping the edges until the entire wreath is wrapped. End the ribbon in the same way you started – by applying a dab of Gorilla Glue and pinning it until it dries.

• Take your circles divide the circles into four equal piles with the same sizes of circles in each pile. Trace the circles from each pile onto your four different papers. So you end up with the same number of circles and sizes for each of your four papers.

• Cut out all of your circles.

• Cut your dowels to three different sizes — 1/2 inch, 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch. You only need about 5 of the 1 1/2 inch sizes, then evenly split the 1/2 inch and 1 inch sizes to match the number of circles you are going to make. I used about 30 circles on my wreath. **note — you do not have to use dowels, you can use small wooden beads too. I used two different sizes of wooden bead – one was 1/2 inch and the other was 1 inch. I then cut a dowel for the 5 taller circles using a chop saw.

• Glue the beads or dowels onto the back of the wooden circle. Once dry, paint the backs of the circles and beads the color that coordinates with your paper. let dry.

• Mod Podge your paper onto each of the circles. I applied a thin layer of Mod Podge to each of the circles and then to the back side of the paper. When I had done all of the circles, then I put a top layer over all of the circles. Let dry.

• Then lay your circles out on the wreath to see what you want your placement to look like.

• Glue your circles onto the wreath. When gluing, hold the dowel straight onto the wreath for a few seconds until it is cooled or dry (depending on whether you are using Superglue or hot glue).

• Cut 2 different coordinating ribbon and wrap it through the wreath and tie at the top.

Now get YOUR projects ready for the Mod Podge/Decoupaging Challenge!

We have a Mod Podge expert coming in to judge the competition!

And we can’t wait to see YOUR ideas!

Plus –  stop by tomorrow to see who Rhoda from Southern Hospitality picked as her #1 Pottery Barn Challenge project and TOP 10! There were so many wonderful ideas – Check them out!

The TWO winner of the Say It on the Wall Vinyl prizes will also be announced tomorrow.

This post sponsored by:

It’s time to link up YOUR Pottery Barn-Inspired Projects!!

I am so excited to announce our judge for this week’s “Pottery Barn Inspired” challenge.The wonderfully talented Rhoda from Southern Hospitality has so graciously accepted our invitation to join The CSI family this week, and I am thrilled she’s here! If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Rhoda’s blog, you are definitely missing out. She is a fellow G.R.I.T……..”girl raised in the south”, like me and I just LOVE her! She is a true southern belle, with grace and manners, personality and style dripping from her pores. Just like the name of her blog, Southern Hospitality, Rhoda aspires to practice that same hospitality she offers  in her real life, on her blog as well . And let me tell you…..she delivers. I always feel at home when I’m there. She’s like an old friend you never have to catch up with…..she immediately makes you feel at home and puts you at ease. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite projects Rhoda has shared on her blog.

One of the things I love most about Rhoda is that she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. She loves a good DIY project, and she loves to share how she did it. Just look at those gorgeous picture moldings she installed herself in that stunning dining room! And I believe she was the ground breaker in using that beadboard wallpaper that is all the rage right now. She’s hung it in two of her bathrooms and on the side of her plain kitchen cabinets to add texture and architectural detail, and it is lovely. You’d never know it wasn’t the real thing! She is also an avid thrifter and THE yard sale diva. I absolutely love this gallery wall she put together with thrift store and yard sale pieces. It looks like it should be on the pages of a magazine!

This is her office space that she carved out of a small 6 x 9 space off the laundry room. It might be small, but it definitely packs a big punch! From the nailhead trim on that gorgeous curvy chair, to the chandelier and cafe shelves, to the sumptuous wallpapered accent wall…..every single detail is beautiful and timeless. So, if you haven’t had the chance to visit with Mrs. Rhoda and enjoy some of her “Southern Hospitality“, be sure to stop by and say hey!

This challenge should be one of the best weeks yet. We are all waiting with baited breath to see the fabulousness you all come up with. Don’t forget to come and link up your “Pottery Barn Inspired” projects Tuesday morning at 9 EST. There should be plenty of inspiration and eye candy to go around…..we’ll see you there!

This post sponsored by Say It On The Wall.

Absolutely Amazing Spray Paint Projects!

What a fantastic collection of ideas!!

Krylon was very impressed with your entries!

Thank you to everyone who linked up.

Here are Krylon’s favorites:

#62 — Urban Garden Mobile @ Bugaboo, Mini, Mr. and Me

Here are the Top 10 projects {in no particular order}:

#91 –Play Kitchen makeover @ Googiemomma

#41 – Headboard bench @ Twice Lovely

#137 — Outdoor Furniture Makeover @ Easypeasy Grandma

#123 —  Frome Frames to Clock @ The Hand Me Down House

#127 — California Wall Hangings @ Tattered and Inked

#153 — Amanda’s Mirror @ Organize and Decorate Everything

#43 — Jenn’s Chandelier @ Wanting What I Have

# 135 — fabulously Fresh Garbage Can @ At HomeWith The Hinsons

#42 — Eclectic Furniture Redo @ Twice Lovely

Beckie’s Pick:

#37 — Spray Painted Book @ Decor Chick

Amanda’s Pick:

#177 — Urban Outfitters Headband @ Kekka Laine

Jen’s Pick:

#105 — Retro Redo @ The Far Fifty

Winners: you can get your Winner Buttons on this page.

And the winner of the Custom 6-Pack of Krylon Spray Paint is the #1 Project:

#62 — Urban Garden Mobile @ Bugaboo, Mini, Mr. and Me

Congratulations!!!

Go check out Krylon’s new website, Projects In A Can — a unique site that offers consumers – from crafters and holiday decorators to home sellers and do-it-yourselfers – a forum to view projects, share ideas, upload their own projects and rate others’ work.

Add your Krylon Spray Paint projects to this website and show them off!!

• Creative Corner – Focused on crafters looking for creative inspiration for projects from home décor and gifts, to scrapbooking and celebrating.

• Transform Your Home– Focused on DIYers who prefer to revitalize rather than replace home items, providing ideas from indoor and outdoor living areas to recreation ideas.

• Holiday Style– Whether a crafter, a parent or just someone who enjoys the holidays, this site provides ideas for adding personal touches to your holiday celebrations.

• Ultimate Protection– Provides solutions for consumers who want to protect their investments – such as swing sets and patio furniture – from the outdoor elements.

• Movers & Shakers– For consumers ready to stage a home for sale, or for those looking to update a newly purchased home to meet their decorating tastes, this site provide easy, fast and inexpensive projects specifically created to boost a home’s appeal.

And a HUGE Thank You to KRYLON

who guest judged the Spray Paint Challenge this week!

Next week’s challenge

Pottery Barn-Inspired

We are so excited to see your Fantastic PB-inspired creations!!

Come back on Monday when we announce the Pottery Barn-inspired Guest Judge and Giveaway!!

This post sponsored by: