Minnesota Pride

Like most of my projects, this one was inspired while  browsing pinterest...

Here, here! Let it be known that I, Elise Marie,  LOVE the state of Minnesota. I love snow, lakes, Macgyver (yep, he's from MN), fishing, hot-dish  and most of all, the Minnesota River Valley of Southern Minnesota. Represent! **chest pounds self**

This plaque has a heart in the location of my hub's hometown, my hometown and our current place of residence. Here's how I made it:

Supplies:

• Wood plaque (I had this one in my closet for years, but I believe I found it at the hobby lobby for $2-3)
• Wood-burner
• Outline of the state of your choice
• Tape
• Ball point pen and pencil
• Staple gun (for hanging)
• Yarn, string, floss (for hanging)

First find and size an outline of your favorite state, thank you Google images. 

Next, cut the template to size, draw on your hearts, and tape the outline to the plaque exactly where you want it. 

Apparently I'm really bad at drawing hearts! See all those smudges? Took me WAY too long to draw 3 hearts... 

Then, with your ball point pen, firmly go over the outline and hearts. I went over each line about 3 times just to make sure it was embossed into the wood. Once the template is taken off the wood, it's almost impossible to get it in the same place so go over the lines a couple times, just to be sure. 

A bit hard to see in the picture, but once the paper template is removed, there should be an embossed image on the plaque.

Now comes the fun part! Burning the image into the wood.  Plug in the wood-burner and let it get smokin' hot. Then start tracing! Lightly trace the outline several times until desired darkness is reached. This is the first tracing.

This is after 3-4 passes. 

And it's done! Well, almost. I wanted to show my River Valley pride by hanging this on our wall. This plaque did not come with a hanging kit so, I rigged one up using yarn and staples (not kidding about the Macgyver thing...) 

Tape the yarn where you want it. 

Then staple and done. 

Seriously easy and FUN!  Showing off my Minnesota pride while saying  "I made that."  <3 

Over a Month! // Lights & Mugs /// Pinterest

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry.
It's been over a month since I've last posted.

This past month, I've been walking on eggshells to make it by, unfortunately; so I haven't had a whole lot of time to make anything new or fun.
I started a new job, a big-kid job.. the whole Monday-Friday thing. =]
I'll be back to cooking and crafting in no time!


[my latest deal]
I went to WalMart and Target today to get some fabulous deals on Christmas decor. I found LED lights at WalMart for $10. They are color-changing in 5 different settings, have a freakin' REMOTE, and look amazing in my living room. I love them!! At Target, I found more LED, warm white, for also $10! I love after-season sales. Always the best!
[my latest "craft"]
Slade and I are starting a journal this year where we will write back and forth to each other. I'm hoping it will help us always remember how strong our love is, no matter what stupid and silly little arguments come our way! It's going to be fun to also go back and remember things that we would've normally forgotten about that day. I'm excited to see our memories grow, as well as our 'young' love. =P
[gifted craft]
My also pinterest-loving sister made me coasters for a thank-you when I took care of their cats. They were easy for her to make and they are so fun to use! Much better than my crummy recycled tire coasters.. plus, way more durable! The colors she used add to my totally brown living room!
[my gifted craft]
I made coffee mugs for my two best girl friends, Shannon and Leah. Black matte coffee mugs, with silver and gold metallic writing on them. I also made mugs for Slade's oldest sister, Lora, and his mom, "Momma P"... A warmer tan, glossy coat, with black and gold writing.
For all mugs, I used a standard sharpie, then I baked them, two at a time (matching mugs), at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
It's seriously as simple as that! Again, a pinspired idea.

That's all I really have at this time.
I'll try to post more often in this new year!


How was your Christmas?

---I got a Keurig! Just what I wanted, but what I totally did not expect! - I was so shocked, I cried!
Love from the not-even-in-laws-yet is a beautiful thing, let me tell you.
My dear Slade got me a Wii! Which, yes, he's currently playing.


Thanks for reading;
hannahvictoria

Jewelry Holder // Pinterest

So! One of my first official Pinterest projects that doesn't include food!
My very own jewelry holder. = ]
I got my 'pinspiration' from these posts.. one, two, three.
This whole thing cost me under $6.00!

I went to the thrift store looking for a frame, hopefully with corkboard attached to the back of it! I found exactly that!!! It was kind of an.. ugly perwinkle-y blue color. Frame and corkboard were both painted. Best part? It was only a dollar!!!! I headed over to Hobby Lobby and found some fabric - 30% off!! A full yard was $4.86! 

I had some clear pushpins lying around, which is exactly what I wanted to use anyway. To put the fabric on over the cork, I would've rather been able to pull it out from the frame, but instead I just pinned it down in the 4 corners. I cut it down to size and folded the edges in so you couldn't see my messy cut-lines. I used a yard stick to keep the pins straight.
I counted out how many shorter necklaces I had, how many long, and what bracelets I wanted to hang. I'm going to make another jewelry older for my earrings eventually with the extra fabric I have. 

I haven't had a chance to hang it up in my room yet, but that's because Slade hasn't had time to help me lol.

I put shorter necklaces on top, bracelets in the middle, and long necklaces on the bottom row. That way, they can hang off the lower edge.
I'm so excited to hang it up and put it to use! It's going to go next to my scarves. Which I have 40+ of, because I'm obsessed with them.

This was an easy, fun, and completely affordable project to make! Once it's hanging up, it's not even noticeable that I just pinned it.
If you're going to make one for yourself, or even as a gift, I'll break it down for you!

Supplies:
-Frame/Cork board
-Fabric of Choice
-Pushpins or Nails
-Jewelry, of course!

Steps:
-If you need to paint your frame, do this first and let dry overnight.
-Measure and cut fabric
-Pin or staple to board
-Make row(s) of pins for hanging
-Hang jewelry

Seriously. It's that easy - my steps are almost too simple.

Thanks for reading! I hope you've been 'pinspired' to go out and make one for yourself!

hannahvictoria