Large Wall Art

I made this over the summer, but never posted it. I was going to wait and finish a few more things in our family room. I just haven’t gotten around to them.

Layla from the Lettered Cottage shared this flag over the summer and I was inspired.

I had a sunburst I bought for this room, but it looked so small on this wall. I thought of attaching picket fence boards and put the sunburst on that. I love her painting technique of dipping a paintbrush in water. It gave the wood the perfect look.

Here’s how I made it.

This was my first time using a miter saw. It is pretty easy to use. I figured out how long I wanted the pickets to be and drew a line where I needed to cut. These pickets were around a dollar each and I used 6 of them.

To use the saw hold down the trigger and pull down.

Put the board on the saw.

Without holding the trigger button from the earlier picture pull down the blade and make sure it is lined up. Now you can cut.

I painted these using Layla’s technique. I dipped my paint brush into the gray paint than I dipped it into my container of water and swished it around.

We had these scrap wood strips leftover so we used them to attach the boards.

We bought a picture hanging kit and than hung it up on the wall.

I bought these sconces at Marshalls and sprayed them white. I’m not totally in love with them but I felt the wall needed more than just the art. I wanted a big chunky wooden hurricane sconce, but couldn’t find any that was in my budget that I liked. I might just have to make what I have pictured in my head.

Janet

Halloween Yard Decor…Part 2

We put out our graveyard yesterday.  This year we decided to add a Circle of Dancing Ghosts and to make our house look like a creepy Jack O’ Lantern.

We made the tombstones in 2005.  I will tell you how to make them but I don’t have any pictures.

You need a sheet of 4’ x 8’ blue Styrofoam insulation.  Cut out the tombstone shapes with a steak knife or electric carving knife.  You must prime the Styrofoam, regular paint will dissolve it.  It is ok to paint after priming it.  We used black and gray spray paint and lightly covered with stone effects spray paint. Our tombstones say Ima Rotten, Yul. B Next, Justin Pieces, Myra Mains, Yetta Nother, Bea Ware, and a bunch of RIP’s.

   

To make the Ghosts you need 6 sheets, 6 five foot bars of conduit, and masking tape and plastic shopping bags.  Arrange the poles in a circle and hammer about 1 foot into the ground. Stuff the plastic shopping bags into a head.  Tape bag onto the pole.

Loosely tie fishing wire around the neck.  Tie the ends together with fishing wire to form the holding hands.

 

To make the scary eyes you need 1 package of orange tissue paper and two pieces of oak tag.  Place the two pieces together and draw your shape on the backside.  I used crayon it showed up well.  Cut out shape on both pieces at the same time. 

Tape the eyes to the window first.

Tape tissue paper over the eye.  Do not overlap the tissue paper it will show up at night.

We are having issues with our lighting scheme, two of our green floodlights broke.  When we have laid out our lights I will post an evening photo.

We are still thinking of a few more things.  These are very budget friendly decorations.  The ghosts were $18 and the eyes were $2.