LOVE String Art Sign

I am obsessed with the string art signs that have been popping up lately.  I figured it couldn't be that hard to make myself, so I gave it a whirl!

The materials are inexpensive (under $15) and it only took me a total of about an hour to make.

This is the sign I made for my daughter's nursery.

To Begin, you will need: 

- A wooden sign (I got mine at Walmart for under $5) 

- Paint

- Paint roller or paint brush

- Nails

- Hammer

- Ruler

- String or yarn (This roll of yarn was more than enough for my sign)

- Printer so you can print the letters/symbol that you want to make

1. I put 2 coats of paint on the sign and let it dry overnight. Meanwhile; I printed out and cut the letters I wanted to use for the sign and made sure they were straight using a ruler. 

2.  Start hammering the nails into the paper.  You can use as many or as little nails as you want.  I wanted to make sure you were able to see the actual letter so I put a bunch in.   

2.  Peel the paper up from the wood so you are left with just the nails. 

3.  Pick a nail to start at (I used the bottom left one) and tie a knot to get started.  Begin stringing the yarn around the outside of the letter so you have an outline.  I looped the yarn around each nail to secure the yarn.  

4.  Once you get the outline completed, take the yarn and wind it around different nails in different directions until you have a pattern that you are happy with.  I ended at the nail I started with and knotted the two ends together.  

4.  Here is an example of what mine looked like half way through.  

5.  I played around with the height of the nails until I got a height I was happy with.  I didn't want too much nail and not a lot of yarn.  It all depends on the look you are going for.  Once I was done, each nail was pretty much lined with yarn to the top.  

6.  And here is the end result! 

DIY Box Valance

I could never find the right 'window treatments' that I loved enough to spend the money on, so I figured I would make them myself!  If you can't buy it, make it!

I researched the idea 3 years ago when my mom had a huge window to decorate and we couldn't find anything big enough. 

This is my first DIY blog so bear with me! 

First step: Measure your window from inside edge to inside edge. 

You will need to add 1.5 inches on each side (To hang over edges of window)

and add 6 inches to each end for the corners & sides. 

It's much better to have more fabric then just enough! 

For example: 

Window width - 30 inches

plus 15 (3 + 12) = 45 Inches

Fabric is usually measured in yards so I would use a inches to yards converstion on google to fingure out how much fabric to cut.  45 Inches = 1.25 yards.

To begin, tools you will need: 

- Glue gun

- Extra glue sticks

- Pins

- Ruler

- Pencil

- Box Cutter

Materials: 

- Fabric

- Foam Board

- Batting

1. Let's get started!  You will need to cut the foam board into 4 pieces.  A lot of times I have to glue sections together, especially with the longer valances. 

 2. Use the box cutter to make straight cuts.  Fold the board at the cut and slice down the other side to make a clean cut.

 3. Voila! You have all your pieces for your valance.  I cut up a few extra pieces to use as reinforcers.

 4. Start glueing the pieces together.  You have to glue quickly because it dries fast!  Glue the side and adhere it to the inside of the panel so the edges line up.

(here is an example of one of the reinforements I made)

 5. Once all the sides are glued on and you have a 'box' (minus one side), it's time for the batting to be pinned on.

Pins should be entered at an angle so they don't poke through the other side. 

6. I usually start with the top side.  Make sure to pull the batting tight so there aren't any wrinkles. 

7. The corners are tricky!  Cut the batting so it can be easily folded.

8. Once all the batting is pinned on.  Line up the fabric and start pinning!  Make sure the sides are long enough to fold over the edges.

 9. Again, the corners are tricky.  Here are a few step-by-step photos to show how I folded the corners.

10.  Here it is! Finished Product!

 Before:

After: