DIY Charcuterie Board

I made 12 of these as a part of a bigger project I HOPE happens this summer.  I did some research to find out what kind of wood makes the best cutter board, or-charcuterie board-whatever the purpose this will take.  

I bought some wood via Etsy, but when I proudly showed the slice to my brother he said it was wormy-which was fine with me, but he was able to get my some scraps (with his bosses permission), BUT-just a tip-if you are looking for wood and don't want to use your whole stimulus check-check out a place that works with wood (door stores etc) and see if they have scraps.  I cut down the slices, and some of them had splits (which was why they were rejects), so I tried to cut some fun shapes.  I'll move to fun handles etc on my next round.  

My brother let me borrow a drill bit and he showed me how to drill a hole, but then made me do the rest.  You drill half way (on another board below) until the tip pokes through the bottom, then turn it around and drill from the second side until the whole pops out.  

 I sanded down the boards and rounded off the corners.  Quality control swung by and licked saw dust like a weirdo.

I then used mineral oil and rubbed it all over the board and they are ready to roll.

Carrot Sign

In today's edition of  'quarantine crafts' I picked up a board I had drawn a carrot shape on months ago and actually cut it out using a jigsaw.  I sanded it down, painted it, added a ribbon and a stick.  My plan was to make a bunch of these for Easter, but with everything going on-all I had was one inside of me willing to be made.  Plus, I'm out of wood like this lying out back.
      Never fear, I have more wood in my garage to make into random signs and crafts.  BUT....before that I have a basket of strange things (grill brushes, old records etc) that are getting a coat of paint first.

Witchy Wood

Another quarantine craft finding it's way on my blog.  This was an old piece of wood in my back yard.  I cut the corners at the top off (b/c I saw something like this on pinterest).  I painted up my witch, added a button nose, some raffia hair (just glued down) and a ribbon.  I flicked the whole thing with a toothbrush covered with white paint.   I also got a stick from my yard (I nailed it in place) and added some raffia at the bottom for her broom and a little ribbon tie.  I just hot glued the ribbon to hold and the spider (also randomly in my garage).  And now-my random piece of wood is a random witch just waiting for better days and trick or treaters.

Christmas Tree Sign

     Normally I make these little signs randomly and I send them with my mom to her little antique booth and that's the end of that, but....quarantine.  So, I've now started posting all the random things I'm making on Instagram and now...the blog.  I have all these misc pieces of projects sitting around my house-in my garage, craft room, or (this piece of wood) my backyard. 

      They are things I've held on to thinking I'd do something with them someday.  I guess today is someday.  I wanted this sign to look like an old tree farm sign, so I painted it green, and then sanded it down to make it look 'rough'.  I cut out the word TREE FARM on my Cricut and pressed down the outline (not easy to do on rough wood-the more you sand, the easier that is, but-don't do this if you are a perfectionist).  I used a sponge paint brush and dabbed on some mod podge to keep my paint from spreading too much.  When that was done, I sponged on some white paint.  I then flicked it with white paint on a paint brush so there are speckles to make it look even more imperfect.  

      I added a random wooden tree I had left over from a mobile I made more than 4 years ago, added a wire, random fabric and a rusty bell and ta da.  Another piece of junk finds a new life.  

Sleigh Ride Sign

Another quarantine craft.  I had some old wood in my backyard I should have tossed a year ago, but...I decided to make a scrappy sign out of it.  I used my Cricut to cut out stencil using some old vinyl.  I used some left over quilt batting to make the gloves that I hung on the metal with a rope.  I tried to rough up the edges with a little sandpaper and I splattered white paint all over with a toothbrush because I always like how that looks!  I don't know why I'm stuck on Christmas crafts in March, but...there's nobody around to judge those decisions!

Pumpkin Sign

I found this box by a trashcan a few years ago that was weathered and worn, and it's original use was at question.  I took it home thinking it would make the perfect craft.  I promptly left it outside and forgot it and two (or three?) years later, the box had fallen apart, but there was a neat 'end' piece I used to paint a vintage-ish looking sign on.  I just free handed the letters while looking at inspiration via pinterest.  Now.....I just need a few pumpkins for my farm and I'm ready to Halloween.  

Donut/Bagel Board

Admittedly, I don't have an 'in use' photo for this board, but I decided not to wait to share, but....I will revisit this and add a picture of it in use soon!  I made this bagel board for something coming up, though I hope to be able to use it for lots of somethings (donuts) etc.  I found the board in the unfinished wood section at Hobby Lobby and, with my coupon, it was about 11 dollars.  I also bought 3 dowel rods.  

 I read that most bagels/donuts are 4 inches wide, so I measured the boards so that each hole can fit a donut that is about 4 1/2 inch from the next hole.  Then I had my brother drill holes into the board and cut down the dowel rod to 4 inch pieces.

 I like it because the dowels can be popped in and out.  If I just want to do 12 donuts or bagels, I'm going to put a sign or word across the top where the four dowels currently live.

I also have extra dowels in case I lose any, and my plan is to get some doilies, create a small x in the middle and push them around the dowel so the bagels aren't touching the board directly and getting it greasy.  Not gluing the dowels into the wood will allow easier storage, but I may eventually make these more permanent!
I could cover this with mineral oil if I wanted to make it more food safe, but for now, I think it'll work for it's next purpose!

Halloween Sign

I got a scroll saw a year ago as a birthday gift.  It took me this long to finally get it out and play around.....now I know what it's capable of.....and hopefully it won't be another year before I do another project.  

I used vinyl to trace letters I printed out with my cricut and then cut those out.  The middle is really tricky and requires pulling the blade off and on, so.....lesson learned.  I painted them orange, and glittered the longer word, and speckled the Hello with paint splatter (with a toothbrush).  

I found this round wooden slice at Home Depot, and I painted it white.  I then measured out some horizontal lines with painters tape, and then sprayed it with black.  

I should have mod podged it before spraying so it didn't seep under the tape, but.....I took a sander and went to town to rough it up at this point so it wouldn't be so stark and 'smudge-ee' looking.  I glued the letters down with wood glue, and then add some felt flowers.  

Bible Verse Sign

Last summer I put together a surprise nursery for a friend.  I wanted to do as much DIY as I had time for to save money.  I had her pin some different things, and one thing we talked about was a bible verse. I had her choose one for each gender.  My plan was to do a piece of subway art on this wood, but when I went through the whole template/mod podge routine, and even an attempt at handwriting it....I just could NOT fall in love.  I had a white mess of messy penmanship.  So, my wood got a white wash.  I painted and scrubbed it off with a damp paper towel in enough layers that I covered up my handwriting.  I then found this quote ready to cut on my Cricut on Etsy and I purchased it.  I rubbed it down on the wood and once it dried I sprayed a clear coat of clear spray so it would stay (I was worried mod podge would wrinkle it).  Last, I glued rope around the top and bottom.  I love the way it turned out....after a few trial and errors.

DIY Wall Art Arrows

I've been waiting to post this!  I recently did a friend's nursery...more on that soon.  The theme was loosely travel (her and her husband travel a lot) and I used mint, navy, and gray as the colors.  I'm going to be posting lots and lots of DIYS I included and the final room soon.  The deal was her and her husband did not know the gender, and I had her add some pins for both genders so I had a general idea of what she liked.  So...the gender and the nursery were a total surprise after birth.  

I wanted to add a few pieces that were really affordable, so I bought this piece of thin wood from JoAnn for just about 3 dollars.  

 I cut the wood into three even pieces, and I cut each week in half at a diagonal.

 I evened them out so they were all about the same side and sanded the edges.

 I then used a staple gun to connect the pieces and then I took some wood glue and put it down the seam.

 Next up, I sprayed them the colors I wanted.  I'm often too lazy to go get some gloves and this is what my hand usually looks like after a really good spray paint project...and I spend twice the amount of time it would have taken me to get gloves to clean my hand.  On the other hand, I have incredibly wrinkly hands and always have....I'm a fortune tellers dream.  Too bad I don't buy into that sort of thing.....

I put a little bracket on the back of the arrows to hang these up on the wall.  More on that soon.  

Aged Wood Angels Yard Art

I 'aged' some wood and blogged about that a few weeks back.  I went back over the wood with some white paint I watered down and then rubbed in.  I covered the whole thing with a sealant and then added a robe bow and a few berries.  I nailed these to a stake and one of them has made her way to my front yard as my newest Christmas decor.  I'm all about the rustic these days!  

Aging Wood

I've accidentally aged a lot of wood over the years....but that requires A)  Being forgetful B) Mother Nature and usually C)  Carpenter Ants.  So, said aged wood gets tossed.  This year I wanted to make some angels for my front yard (finished project coming later), but I wanted to have an aged look to the wood (I'm white washing later on top of the 'aging').  I googled a bunch of different ways to age, and went with the simple tutorial of steel wool (Brillo Pads) and Apple Cider Vinegar.  

 I soaked the wool in the vinegar overnight (a procrastinators dream project).  Then I took it out and just rubbed the wood down with the steel wool.

 It initially looked like the above pictures (you could see the lines of the wood starting to darken).  I let it dry for about a day and it was much darker.  I went over it a few more times b/c I want my angels well aged, but....I'd say that's a pretty simple tutorial that takes about a year less than mother nature and doesn't invite as many critters over to inspect your 'aging' wood.

Fall Wood Signs

 I bought a new jigsaw recently.  I was using one my brother left at my house over the last few years, but he took it away.  I also went all out and got a nail gun for my birthday (a gift from my brother)....and I currently still have his hand sander.  All that to say, I've been playing around with some wooden signs for the fall.

 Before I paint any sign, I've learned that a coating of exterior white house paint going on first (front and back) really helps the sign be weather proof, and additional paint layers go on thick the first time.

I always end my project with a layer of polycrylic paint (from Walmart) to add additional weather proofing.  The stakes I grab at the hardware store for just a few bucks...and everything is better with a raffia bow.  

Halloween Yard Signs

 I've been working on some new Halloween yard signs. These two guys are super simple and adorable.  I cut out a wobbly little shape and then used house paint to paint a basecoat for my ghost.  The exterior paint should help prevent the ghost from warping if there is a lot of rain this fall.  I then went back and added a few details and flecked on some black paint with toothbrush to give the white a little character.

For the witches hats I did some curvy triangles and then I could out the little hilly shape.  I bought a star at a craft store (b/c small wood is tricky to cut with a jig saw).  I used wood glue to attach it all together and then nails to reinforce the glue and add it to the stake.  I also put a coat of polycrylic over the whole thing to help give it another layer of weather proofing.

Uncle Sam Yard Sign

 Just a quick little blog post to share some signs I made for the 4th of July.  I cut out the shape of the hat/beard, and then another rectangle piece to nail/glue (wood glue) on top  I also found a start that was already cut at a craft store.  I don't have the right equipment to easily cut out shapes as small as the star.  I started with a base of house paint to help protect the wood from warping in the rain.

I painted up a simple face, and used the handle of a foam brush to dot the eyes on using regular ol' craft paint. I flicked black and white paint over the whole thing with a toothbrush.  I'm telling you, this is probably the most critical step for me, it just really makes everything look so much nicer.   After it all dried and I had nailed it to a stake (from Home Depot) I added a coat of polycrylic paint to help protect it from the weather.

Wooden Cross

Happy Easter!  I made a wooden cross this year for the yard.  I cut the design out of some plywood with a jigsaw and then I painted it with some white house paint.  I then painted over that with brown....and did a white wash (water and white paint) brushed on top of all of that to give it a streak-ie look.  I put a coat of polyurethane over the whole thing.   I nailed it to a yard stake and added a ribbon to the center.

Wooden Easter Signs

 I decided to add Easter to my wooden arts.  I created some bunny and egg shapes on wood.

Here's the thing I learned via the guys at Home Depot.  I wanted to make sure that my outside signs wouldn't rot easily (though...if it's outside it's going to go the way of the buffalo at some point).  The key to making it last longer is to use outside house paint (covering both sides and the edges).  Since it's made to be outside, it helps this wood last longer.  These were really simple to paint up.  It would be cut to make these the backs of bunnies as well with the tail 3D shaped.  I also bought stakes at Home Depot to pop these on, very simple.  I use a jigsaw to cut these out...or...in this case-my brother did b/c I wasn't in the mood and my wrist hurts when I do, but...the end results is worth it, it's just a little easier when some else does the cutting, which just leaves me to the painting.

5 Dollar Quilt Ladder

 I've wanted a ladder to hold the blankets and quilts in my living room for a long time now.  On a whim, I hopped in my car and ran down to Home Depot.  I had no idea what I was doing, but for a planless project, I'm pleased with the results.

 Looking at the wood at Home Depot I found 2x3 8 foot pieces for 2.14 each.  I had the guys in the back of the store cut it down for me down to five feet each.  With the remaining 3 foot pieces (one from each pieces) I had those cut in half again so I had 4- 18 inch ladder steps.  I also bought the totally wrong screws.  So, don't do this if you care about things like that, BUT....I wanted those fat heads to show on the sides.  It holds the wood well enough to hold my blankets, so whatever. Just make sure they are long enough to go through the 2 inch wood...been there, done that.

 I then measured down the ladder starting at 1 foot down b/c I wanted the top to be a little higher than the bottom for the hanging blankets and then I positioned the rest of the steps every 12 inches.  I drilled a hole into the outside edge and then screwed the screw into the wood on through to the step.  At first, I used this little guy...

 That took forever, so I then used this little thing.  I don't know what the names are, but....it made life easier.  You can also use a nail and just hammer away.

 I decided to put each 'step' on at an angle so that the blankets hang a little neater.

 I repeated the process with side too (much easier to do with side two).  June is in her cage at this point b/c she wanted to lick wood stain.

 With 4 something in wood, and a dollar in hardware, I then went to the craft store and bought this little can of dark walnut wood stain.  It didn't even take half of the can.  I also used a coupon, so it was less than 5 dollars.

 I painted the whole thing with a foam brush, and then rubbed off the excess with a paper towel (just follow the instructions).

Last, I took a sander and sanded the edges for an aged look.

This is going in the corner of my living room to store the 17 blankets I keep on the chairs to hide from all both weeks of winter that come through Texas.  OK, maybe more than two weeks, but when the thermometer reads less than 70, I'm under a blanket.