Decoupaged Apple

Tags

apple, craft, decoupage, gift, home decor, language arts, librarian, teacher

A while back I saw this cute decoupaged project and put it on my to-do-list. I wanted to make something unique for my student teacher, and I thought this would be the perfect something special for her desk.

Decoupaged Apple

I cut definitions and synonyms from an old dictionary & thesaurus that was in my art project box. Words like: inspire, create, think, educate, etc… I used Modpodge to attach the paper to a papier-mâché apple (the symbol of education) and coated it with another layer before using a spray-on sealer.

Teacher GIft

And for my former math teacher days…
Language Arts = Words
Teacher = Apple
Words + Apple = Teacher Gift

Educate, Create, Inspire

What have you created recently?

 

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Parisian Café Tray

Tags

bed tray, breakfast, breakfast in bed, brunch, café, café tray, craft, decoupage, France, Paris, postaday2011, relax, relaxation, relaxing, tea tray, tray, tray table

My personal goal over my Christmas break was to take one day for myself. I’ve been back to work for two weeks and it still hasn’t happened. We spent an extra day over break in the Philadelphia area; a few days our plans were snowed out and we extended our trip to include some of the traditional holiday activities. My expat sister was home from Scotland, so it was good to spend a little extra time with her. It’s always hard to say goodbye and I was looking forward to a day of relaxation… but we were busier than we thought we’d be when we returned. I wanted our place to have a clean start before the New Year, at least I was successful at that.

Now, with Hubster working late nights, you’d think I’d have a moment for myself, but our schedule is just jam-packed. Back from a hectic weekend… I need a little relaxation. So while Hubster is busy watching football, I’m going to slip into the other room for a few hours… (which also means tomorrow’s post will be later). I’m going to load my new Parisian Café Tray with macaroons, petite fours, thé au lait, a bottle of Evian, a few fresh-cut flowers and a good book. My iPod loaded with Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. For me to truly have a relaxing moment, all my senses need to be submersed.

Parisian Café Tray

 

I purchased an unfinished bed tray at the craft store and quickly turned it into my Parisian Café Tray. I stained the wood in a dark finish and allowed it to dry overnight. I applied Mod Podge to decoupage scrapbook paper, black & white photos (from a calendar), and ribbon on the surface. I allowed it to dry in between coats and then sprayed it with a sealer.

This tray is great and I look forward to using it often (hopefully). It’s great for working on small crafts while I’m sitting in the living room or bedroom… Maybe Hubster will take the hint and serve me brunch in bed one weekend… that is if I ever get to sleep in…

How do you relax?

 

Pumpkin’s Buck – Wall Plaque

Tags

buck hunting, Christmas present, decoupage, gift giving, home decor, hunter's widow, hunting, hunting widow, Mod Podge, postaday2011, wall plaque, wood plaque, wooden plaque

Homemade Christmas
On the first day of Buck hunting season, Pumpkin and Hubster both got their bucks… I guess I’m not a hunter’s widow this year. It was Pumpkin’s first buck ever, and he got it with his first shot! A week and a half later, his picture and caption appeared in the newspaper in the “buck bragging” section. Hubster is having the antlers mounted, but I don’t like things like that displayed in the house. I wanted to preserve this occasion for him for years to come, so I used the article to customize a wall plaque for him.

I carefully cut out the article and placed it on the wooden plaque. I marked the area where the article would lay. Then stained the small wood plaque. I carefully cut a square of scrap booking paper and used Mod Podge to glue it to the plaque. Using Mod Podge I attached and sealed the article on top of the square. I glazed the visible scrapbook paper and article to protect them. I added a green picture mat around the article by gluing it to the plague, carefully centering it. At the bottom of the plaque, I painted ‘2010’ in a cream color. At the top I painted ‘”Pumpkin’s” 1st Buck’.

Pumpkin's Buck Brag Plaque

 

I blurred parts of the picture to maintain our privacy.

Pumpkin’s wall plaque was wrapped and waiting for him under the Christmas tree, he told me it was his favorite present this year out of everything he “ever got from anyone ever”. He loved it so much he made me a love coupon for a 10 minute massage that I’m allowed to cash in as much as I’d like to in the next year… he said I could even use it on my feet. Now, that’s love! ❤