DIY Chalkboard Ruler Frame

Well it's back to school time.  For us it's "start school time" as this year Lil Cinnamon will be attending preschool for the first time.  I know everyone says "time flies" blah blah blah but it really does. 

 

As I was browsing Pinterest I came across this DIY Chalkboard Ruler Frame from my friend Michelle and I knew I had to do it.  I'm really good at pinning things but not so good at getting around to doing them.  Nothing like a deadline to get me motivated.  Plus it seemed pretty easy and I'm all about easy.  The hardest part for me was finding a ruler that was long enough (usually they cap out at 12") or a yardstick that didn't have advertising on it.  All of the ones at hardware stores have the company's logo on them and that just wouldn't do.  I had to go to 8 stores to find the yardstick.    Started off at Michaels, Home Depot, OSH hardware, Ace hardware, Bed Bath and Beyond, Aaron Brothers, and Staples.  BTW found it at Staples - the very last place.  Everything else was purchased at Michael's or Home Depot.



 

 

 

I'm sure I could have used a piece of fiber board or something else but that would have meant getting it cut correctly and I don't have a saw for that job.  I know Home Depot will do it but that seemed like a headache so I just got this wood board at Michael's.  Not sure what it's for.  It's pretty heavy so I'm not sure Lil Cinnamon is going to be able to hold it herself this year.  I guess we will find out soon.

I painted 3 coats of chalkboard paint.  I measured the yardstick and had Mr. Sangria cut and sand them.  He was a consultant on this project.  :)  Then I just added one coat of wood stain.

Once the chalkboard paint is dry (24 hours) you need to prep the chalkboard by "smearing" chalk all over it and wiping away with a wet cloth.  Not sure why but I do as I'm told.

Then just Gorilla Glue the yardstick to the wood board and you are done!!  Easy peasy!

I've got 2 weeks to work on my handwriting for her picture!

Cheers!

Rosette Lampshade DIY



 

As I've mentioned before Lil Cinnamon's bedroom is a work in progress.  I purchased this lamp from Target months ago and always knew I wanted to add rosettes to it to add some color.  I looked high and low in every store for them and couldn't find them so I decided to make them myself.  It was so easy to do that I thought I would share it with you. 

 

I started off purchasing a yard of broadcloth (which was way too much, you could easily use 1/2 yard).  I cut these into 2 inch squares.  You'll need quite a few so cut away!

 

Take the 2" square and fold it in half.  To save time and energy I do 2 squares at a time.  If you do anymore they don't fold so nicely and become wonky.

 

 Then fold it in half again the other way so in essence you are making a smaller square.

Take that square and cut off the 3 points and round it out to make it look like a tear drop.

When you unfold your square you'll have what looks like a butterfly or flower.

If you doubled up the squares earlier you'll need to seperate them and work on each piece individually from here on out.  Take some thread and sew a small circle in the middle of the flower as seen below.

 

Then pull the thread so that it pulls the fabric up.  You've now completed one petal of your rosette!

 Then do the same thing again.  Pull the others closer to the first petal so it's easier to tighten when you are done.  Each rosette has 6 petals.  When you are finished with each petal sew them together at the bottom tip to keep them together in the long run. Once they are together it's easy to fluff up so don't fret if they look smushed or such while making them.  This is something good to do at night while you watch TV.  :)

 

When you are done with them all just hot glue them to your lampshade and you are done! 

 

And to show you what the top of her chest really looks like in real life when I'm not pretending that our house is clean for this blog.  You'll notice that all items are closely huddled together in the middle.  That's because if Lil Cinnamon can reach it she's pulling it down.  Ugh!

If you have any questions please feel free to let me know!  If you make this I'd love to see pictures!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

PS!  Linking up with:
I heart naptime Sundae Scoop  http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-80/

Flamingo Toes Think Pink Sunday  http://www.flamingotoes.com/2013/05/think-pink-sunday-no-113/

A Bowl Full of Lemons  One Project at a Time  http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/05/one-project-at-a-time-51413.html

Today's Creative Blog  Get your Craft On  http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-103/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20todayscreativeblog%20(Todays%20Creative%20Blog)

Skip to My Lous Made by you Monday  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/05/20/made-by-you-monday-153/?utm_source=feedly

Craft Exchange

 

At the beginning of the year were a ton of your friends posting about craft exchanges?  Mine were.  The idea was that you would post to your wall saying you would make 5 crafty items (anything that you like) and trade with 5 of your friends anything throughout 2013.  I didn't post it to my wall but agreed to exchange with another friend of mine who had posted on her wall. I decided to make her this bracelet.  It was incredibly easy.  A cuff bracelet, fabric or ribbon, a brooch, and hot glue.  I made this for Susie but may end up keeping it for myself or just making another.   The idea came from Flamingo Toes Crazy Easy Anthro Knockoff Bracelet.  To see her tutorial please visit here.  Her site has a TON of great tutorials.  It's easily one of my favorite blogs.  The bracelet and brooch came from Michaels and I had the fabric sitting around waiting to be used for a project just like this!

 

 

The button I had orginally decided to use wouldn't work so I found this brooch instead and I think I  like it even more.

I can't wait to see what I get in return from Susie!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Quiet Book Page

A few other moms and myself decided to make Quiet Books for our children who are all very close in age.  I chose to make a mailbox and letters.  We each decided to make 13 of the same page and then swap so that each child will have a complete book.  For various reasons the project was delayed a bit and to be honest I was dreading making my page when it came time to put it together.  But once I got going it was quite fun.  I haven't gotten any other pages yet but as soon as I do I will share the finished project.  Lil Cinnamon is obsessed with books and I don't really let her play with the interactive ones (pop up ones or paper) at this point as she's still a bit little and doesn't understand to not rip them.  But these are made of felt and are sewn on.  They are pretty much destruction proof!  And if for some reason she does manage to rip something off I can easily sew it back together. 

 



 

 

 

 

Letters from Grandmom and Grandpop waiting to be opened.

 

 

 

As I was making these I couldn't help but think that our children will be a generation who sees the mail be a thing of the past.  With email/Skype/Facebook etc taking over letters are few and far between.  Lil Cinnamon's grandparents send her postcards weekly so as she gets older it will be fun to see her await the mail delivery.  Ahh, to receive something other than bills!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Easy paper project

Mr. Sangria and I had a lunch date last week and walked into Paper Source.  Lil Cinnamon is 16 months old and I'm embarassed to say that her room is still not completely decorated.  While walking around we decided to get some wrapping paper sheets and frame them.  We have a map of Paris,  NYC, and the London Underground (subway or Tube as they call it). 
We love to travel so it seemed appropriate.  Good thing is that each piece of paper was ridiciously cheap so if I want to redecorate next week, no biggie. 

In my roamings of the store I came across these paper flowers.  They were inexpensive and seemed easy enough.  A quick project to full my DIY cravings as of late. 

 

Would I prefer to have fresh flowers?  Yes.  Will these do for the meantime?  Yes!  And plus these won't die.  Score!  I put them in my Lenox vase that I adore and I'm happy with the look although I may go buy another kit to really fill up the vase which I think will look better.  Perhaps after Valentines day these may go in Lil Cinnamons room on her dresser.

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

**I was not contacted by Paper Source for this blog post.  All purchases were made by me and all opinions are solely mine.**

OT: Being prepared

This is a completely off topic post but thought I'd share anyway.  Seeing the pictures of Hurricane Sandy on the news has been heart wrenching and has reminded me to make sure my emergency kit is ready and prepared.

I live in Southern California.  Home to many an earthquake.  In my 13 years out here I've been in a few but nothing too major, thankfully!  But I'm terrified of them.  TERRIFIED!  One would ask why I live in an earthquake zone if I'm so scared of them.  I had originally planned on moving out here for a few years to "live it up in the big city" after college but then I met my husband and his work keeps us out here so I guess I'm staying put for a while.  I've made it very clear that we are moving the day he retires but since we have a few years for that I might as well get comfortable.

I never had an earthquake kit until last year when the big earthquake/tsunami hit Japan.  Seeing all that devastation hit me like a ton of bricks.  At the time I was pregnant and I guess I realized it could have been us.  That week I ran out and stocked up on water and essentials, or so I thought. 

I was reading this blog post this morning and it got me thinking. Would I be prepared for an emergency given what I have in my home at this moment?  The answer is no. I have water, I have a flashlight, food, first aid kit, baby food, but somehow I forgot diapers and a change of cloths and shoes. And I'm sure there are a few other things I've forgotten. Which is why I'm signing up for this 8 week course. I think it will be very beneficial. If you want to sign up as well please do so.

Topics included will be:

Emergency Preparedness – “Emergency Survival Station”

• Week #1 – STORAGE (Shelving, Backpacks, and Bins)
• Week #2 – BASIC NEEDS (Food & Water)
• Week #3 – MEDICAL (First Aid Kit & Medicine)
• Week #4 – EMERGENCY BINDER & CASH (Important documents & a cash stash)
• Week #5 – SUPPLIES
• Week #6 – PET & HYGIENE KIT
• Week #7 – COMFORT (Clothing, Toys, Games)
• Week #8 – MY SURVIVAL STATION REVEAL & LINK PARTY

 

 





Happy Halloween

Greetings.  Halloween is right around the corner and Lil Cinnamon would like to share her costume that we made.  And by we I mean me.  I used this tutorial and it worked perfectly.  I did use a different poodle and I'm sorry to say I can't remember where I got it but you can google oodles of poodles easily (Dr. Seuss anyone?).
I was perfectly content on buying her costume this year and in fact had a costume that was given as a gift late last year but it was too small.  I went to exchange it but the store would only give me $1.67 credit for the costume.  It was the exact same costume from last year to this year but the tag gave it away that it was from last year.  I decided not to give into the corporate greed and kept the costume and gave it to a friend who has a baby a few days younger that Lil C but is much smaller. 
Mr. Sangria didn't like the costume anyway so I decided I'd whip up this costume.  I had all intentions of us all dressing up and was going to make mine as well but at the end of the day I'm tired and I didn't finish mine in time.  I may get a burst of energy and finish it in the next day or so but that's doubtful.  But in the meantime Lil Cinnamon had an early Halloween party yesterday so we got to get dressed up and it was so much fun. 

On a side note, we have family in NYC and Connecticut.  Hoping everyone is safe and sound.  Please keep us updated.

Cheers!