Another Altered Cabinet Door: NEST Sign

I mentioned in an earlier post how I love using cabinet doors for projects. I usually find mine at a local architectural salvage place and got this one along with a previous one for a donation of $5 ( for both) to Habitat for Humanity. 

We have a lot of blank wall space which I don't actually mind, but it's also great for when an idea does hit because  I haven't had to take something else down. This will hang in our TV watching area where we end up spending a fair amount of our time .  This is where I find out all of the latest intrigue on "Game of Thrones", say goodbye to my Sestras on "Orphan Black", see who's up to what on "Scandal" and "How to Get Away With Murder" and Netflix and chill.

We also read here when the TV's not on. We're homebodies so the them of "Nest" seemed appropriate.

Supplies: 

• Salvaged Cabinet Door
• Acrylic Paints
• White School Glue
• Printed Tissue Paper (Recollections)
• Mod Podge
• Adhesive Foil (I used Cricut Gold Metallic)
• Scrabbook Paper (C'oredinations Cream and Black) 
• Misc Embellishments
• Die Cut and/or Electronic Cutting Machine (Silhouette and Cuttlebug)

The wooden wings will be part of another post but I took a pic of the unfinished cabinet door with them so more on that later in the week. 

I painted the "frame" of the door with black acrylic paint (I used Craftsmart). Taped off the edges and then painted the interior with cream acrylic paint. 

I didn't worry about complete coverage of the interior because I knew I'd be putting the tissue paper here.  Cut the tissue paper to size and then apply using Mod Podge. 

Measured out my tissue paper before I painted

Using my favorite white glue technique, I crackled the frame of the door. Basically paint a layer of glue ; let dry until tacky but not completely dry ; paint over w/ contrasting color. 

Tip: You want to use long even strokes and go in one direction, not up and down. Back to School is the perfect time to stock up on cheap, white, glue! 

While that was drying, I laid out my design on my Silhouette Cameo, then cut the images and lettering using Cricut Gold Foil. 

Enter frustration. When I applied the foil pieces, the transfer tape pulled up the Mod Podged tissue paper in some spots. The nice thing about working w/ the tissue paper was that it was easy to tear some "matching" pieces and just repair those spots with a little more Mod Podge. 

I don't think you can really tell where I had to patch. I used my Cuttlebug to cut the flowers ( Tim Holtz Tattered Florals) rolled the edges and added rolled roses in the center. I rummaged around in my mismatched embellishment stash and found some swirly things ( technical term) that I painted to match and put on the nest image and the corners of the door. 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all! Did the week go by as quickly for you as it did for me? Now if the weekend would just not go by as fast!

Let's see some ideas from last week's party! 

I love a good makeover project so let's start with this tray transformation from A Sprinkle of Joy. You really have to see the before to appreciate the after! 

Here's another great re-purposed project from Much More Creative . Again, you're going to have to see the before :) 

With back to school activity underway, these adorable frames from Dazzle While Frazzled would make a great addition to any teacher's desk and what a nice way to start the year! 

No secret that I love both coffee and chocolate so these Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies from Jay Tried and True are right up my alley. It's like a mocha in a cookie! 

Now, let's see what you've been up to this week !

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Book Lover's Day Printable

HAPPY BOOK LOVER'S DAY

I have loved words and books since I can remember. I spoke before I walked , and one of the fondest memories of my childhood ( and my dad, who I lost way too early) was of being propped up in my bed each night with a book, while his voice played on a tape recorder stored beneath my bed reading me the story. 

He worked nights when I was very young and this was his way of tucking me in. 

Growing up, I don't remember going anywhere without a book, and while I have become a less voracious reader of late (thanks internet!) I still read as often as I can. My greatest joy is that I passed on that love of reading to my son who, like me, actually heard the words "No we are not going to the bookstore today" because he'd quickly burned through the last book we'd bought .  No visit home from Grad School is complete w/out a stop ( or several) to Barnes and Noble or the Amazon brick and mortar bookstore we have here. 

No surprise then that my BFF is also a voracious reader. This woman goes through books like I go through craft supplies. Non-stop!  I made this "Book Lover's Day" printable w/ her in mind and using a quote from one of my favorite authors: 

Click on the image to bring to full resolution, Right Click , Save As ( PC users). 

To quote one of my favorite characters, Albus Dumbledore, created by the phenomenal JK Rowling: 

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”

Sharing At: 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve once again! Sent my "baby" back to grad school this week to get ready for what will be his first year in the classroom as a TA working w/ undergrads. I am so thankful that we have a son who is off on his own as we raised him to be, but who also loves to come home and spend time with us!

Let's take a look at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party. 

I love books and reading and always have, so it's no surprise that I would also love book crafts and decor featuring books. Simply September shared some great ideas about incorporating books and book pages into decor. Love! 

The ladies from Lolly Jane shared a guest post from Pocket Full of Paint that I think is just stunning and looks like something you find in a pricey boutique. Check out this beautiful leather hanging. Not too early to start thinking of handmade gifts! 

Speaking of handmade gift ideas, Artsy VaVa shared a great one. A DIY Dried Flower Phone Case! How cool is this? 

Finally, while I'm featuring these adorable chocolate cupcakes from Nightchayde, you have to see the ADORABLE Woodland Shower these came from. Everything , from the invites, to the food, to the decor is too cute! 

OK let's see what you've been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

It's (almost) FRINALLY, FRIDAY! Woot. Welcome to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your creations. Here are some of the fun-tastic ideas from last week's party . 

Let's start with this upcycled sugar mold from Repurpose and Upcycle. Sometimes just a simple change makes a huge impact. I think that's the case with the grain sack paint stripes she added. LOVE! 

You don't have to be a watercolor artist to achieve a watercolor look like Lynda from Lynda Creates did with this card. Perfect for so many occasions and so pretty! 

This is probably my weakest skill as a blogger and I am on a never ending quest to improve at it. Thankfully Somewhat Simple shared some excellent tips from which we can all learn! 

These Double Chocolate Peanut Butter  Protein cookies look fabulous don't they? But do they look like they are healthy ( because c'mon COOKIES)? Well they are , so I can't wait to look for the chocolate protein powder that's in them! Get the details from Brooklyn Farm Girl. 

Now let's see what you've been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Flights of Angels Card

I usually don't name my cards, but this one is an exception. My son learned that one of the members of his PhD program and his wife recently lost a baby. It was a heartbreaking story and not mine to tell,  but my son asked if I would make a card for him to give to the grieving couple. Of course I would! 

I was going through my Silhouette image library and found this winged heart which struck me as perfect. And when I decided on it, a quote from Hamlet came to mind which became the name of this card. 

"Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!"

In this case I was thinking of the parents hearts cracking, and it would be "sweet princess" but you get the gist.

I decided to use a monochromatic palette of white, cream and silver so went to my paper stash and pulled out coordinating papers.

Supplies:

• Star Dreams Crystal Cardstock  ( base card, 5x7)
• Cream Glitter Paper ( Recollections, Michaels)
• Silver Paper (Recollections, Michaels)
• Pearl Foil Paper ( SEI White Elegance)
• Wing Charms
• Ribbon
• Silver Washi Tape

Cut and score card (5x7). Cut panels from glitter, silver and foiled pearl papers ( 4.75x6.75, 3.5x5.25, 3.25x5) and layer as shown. I added the silver washi tape to two corners of the pearl and silver layer before adhering to the glitter panel.

I cut two of the heart images from the glitter cardstock using  my Cameo and layered with foam dots then attached to the center of the card w/ more foam dots.

I glued two wing charms to the center of the heart as shown and then tied some vintage ribbon together, trimmed and glued to the center. 

No card can possibly heal what the parents are going through but I hope it ( and the words I know my son will write inside) will help ease their pain in some small way. 

 

 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all. Hope everyone's had a wonderful week. I've been on vacation and spending it with my Mom and son which is an incredible blessing. Time flies by so quickly and opportunities like like this are to be treasured. 

Let's see some of the great ideas shared at last week's party. 

Let's start with these Beer Bottle Tiki Torches from Craft Beering. You could use any fun bottles for these and imagination is the only limit!

Artsy VaVa is back with another fabulous transformation this time with a church pew into a gorgeous bench!

I haven't tried my hand at soapmaking but I do have a bunch of lavender on hand so this Oatmeal Lavender Handmade Soap from 3Winks Design looks like a perfect project to try. 

Finally, love both the name and ingredients in this Can't Wait Microwave Lava Cake from Culinary Envy. 

Now, let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up