Filed In: diy
diy striped heart painting for valentine’s day
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner but it’s not too late to make something special! This DIY heart painting would be a great Valentine’s Day decoration or just fun hanging somewhere in your home year round. Here’s how I created mine –
what you’ll need:
• 12x 12 square canvas
• heart stencil
• white acrylic paint
• acrylic paints in your preferred colors
• paintbrush
• water cup
• painter’s tape
• paper
• scissors
• ruler
• disposable plate or scrap cardboard to use as a palette
• paper towels, newspaper or a drop cloth to cover your work area
how to make it:
Begin by covering the canvas with white acrylic paint. You can skip this step since the canvas is already white but I think it gives the finished product a nice, clean look. Using the stencil, trace the shape of the heart onto a piece of paper and then cut out. Do this four times for a total of four hearts. The shape of my heart is approximately 5 inches wide and 5 inches tall. Next, arrange the paper hearts onto the canvas so you can see how it will be displayed. If your hearts are the same size as mine then there should be a half an inch on each side of the canvas, a quarter of an inch in between the hearts and 3/4 of an inch on the top and bottom of the canvas. The bottom points of the hearts should be touching in the middle. Now trace the hearts onto the canvas so you will know where to place the stencil later. Using the ruler and a pencil, divide the hearts you just traced onto the canvas into five one inch sections – this is for your stripes. Cut very thin strips of tape and using your pencil marks as guides secure the tape onto the canvas across the hearts. Apply a thin layer of white paint over the tape – this helps seal the sides of the tape and prevents the other paint colors from bleeding through. Secure the stencil to the canvas on top of one of the hearts with the painter’s tape. Choose five different colors and paint each one inch section a different color. It’s best to apply thin layers of paint especially around the edges of the stencil to prevent the paint from bleeding behind it. Do not remove the stencil until paint is dry. Move the stencil to the next heart and repeat. Once you’ve done all four hearts and the paint is dry, remove the thin strips of painter’s tape to reveal white lines. For a crisp, clean look, use the white paint to touch up any areas where paint bled through the tape or behind the stencil.
If you don’t have a heart stencil, you can make your own. All you need is stencil paper, a pencil to draw your shape and an exacto knife to cut it out. If you have a stencil, you may want to cover it with painter’s tape first so the paint doesn’t ruin your stencil.
If you’re looking for something a little quicker and easier, try making these super simple DIY treat bags from last year!
photo credit kate zitzer | more DIY projects here
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Share on Twitteralternative christmas tree ideas
A Christmas tree is definitely a must-have decoration for me during the holiday season. Unfortunately this year, with the move, we didn’t have the time or the energy to put up our traditional tree. While searching for fun alternatives, I found these 10 creative ideas. The list features a great range of sizes and styles. Some are quick and easy and others require some planning and assembly. The washi tape tree is one of my favorite quick and easy options, and I’d love to do something like the countdown to christmas tree. So whether you’re short on space, are away from home for the holidays, are looking to decorate in a more innovative way or you’re just a busy gal, here are 10 creative ideas for alternative Christmas trees –
diy easy hostess gift | painted wood bead coasters
Put a little bit more thought into your hostess gifts this holiday season and try this super simple diy! Homemade gifts are a great way to thank your hosts for the invite, and if you make them in bulk, you won’t have to stop and pick up a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers.
what you’ll need:
• 3/4″ round wood beads
• leather cord
• tape
• paint
• scissors
how to make it:
Begin by taping off the portion of the bead you would like to paint. Apply a thin layer of paint using a paint brush and let dry. String beads onto leather cord and tie ends to make a simple knot. Pull as tight as possible and double knot. Loop at top is optional for hanging. You can also add a third row of beads and use as a trivet for hot dishes.
photo credit kate zitzer | more diy projects here
make your own pizza party
Who doesn’t love pizza night? Especially when you’re making one for yourself with all of your favorite toppings! Making homemade pizzas has become one of our favorite meals. Over the last couple of years we’ve experimented with a bunch of different combinations and really mastered our pizza making technique and tonight we’re hosting a fun make your own pizza party for a small group of friends.
Here are some tips for hosting your own pizza party –
- Plan as much as you can in advance. This morning I set out all the bowls, plates, glassware, flatware and napkins. At our house pizza nights can be messy so I covered the table with a long sheet of kraft paper for easy clean up. I doodled some recipes on the paper but I also think it will be fun to jot down the ingredients to everyone’s pies. No need for a centerpiece, the spread of meats, cheeses and veggies in pretty little bowls will do the trick.
- Cut and prep all the pizza toppings before your guests arrive. Have everything chopped, measured or mixed together if necessary. Tonight we have roasted tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, fresh thyme, onions, italian sausage, diced chicken, basil, olive oil and fresh mozzarella. One of the best things about a pizza party is that the possibilities are endless!
- Lay everything out in separate bowls on a large table and mark each ingredient. It’s nice to let everyone know what’s available so they can build their own favorite combos.
- Plan for a few different flavors. Marc will be making a barbecue chicken pizza and I’ll be trying one with hot italian sausage and fresh thyme. If you want to do something crazy like pineapple and anchovies that you’re not sure everyone will like, I suggest sending it our first and then following up with a classic margherita or something simple.
- Cooking one pie (or two small ones) at a time is hard when you’re feeding a crowd so I recommend using a quick cooking recipe. We plan on making 6-8 personal sized pizzas (at least one per person) and popping them in the oven as soon as they are prepped. I bought the crust pre made but if you want to get fancy you can make your own dough. Small pizzas cook for 7-10 minutes. So by the time we get one pizza sliced and served the next one will almost be ready. Keep in mind that even a few extra minutes in the oven can make a big difference between soft crust and crunchy crust.
- Have something for guests to munch on while the pizzas bake. Toss together a simple salad or set out a cheese plate and some olives.
- Have a rimless sheet pan ready. We cook our pizzas right on the rack so the rimless cookie sheet makes it easy to slide the pizzas in and out of the oven. Serve pizzas on oversized wooden cutting boards right on the table so guests can dig in.
Have any other good tips for a make your own pizza party?
photo credit kate zitzer
a fall themed dinner party
Hosting small parties for close friends and family is definitely something I look forward to this time of year as the holidays roll in. There’s just nothing better than making a fuss over the people you care about!
This year I was inspired by a palette of early autumn colors – I used red, orange, gold and green for the tablescape details and florals. I wanted to create an atmosphere that was cozy and casual. I loosely arranged apples, pears and mini pumpkins down the center of the table and around large mercury glass pumpkins. Small touches included handmade place cards, diy napkins and candlelight.
Marc whipped up this apple cider sangria and we kept it simple with the menu – casual comfort foods such as chili, cornbread and baked mac and cheese. It was a really special evening and I’m so glad we’re making it a tradition – I’m so grateful for nights like this, close friends and I’m looking forward to many more parties to come!
photo credit kate zitzer
