decorating

How-to: DIY Decorative "Follow Your Dreams" Sign

DIY decorative “Follow Your Dreams” sign

Supplies:

1×3 wooden board, cut to 20″ long
pink paint & paint brush
paint marker (if you don’t have a paint marker, just use another paint color & fine brush)
pencil
small decorative stickers
hand saw
sanding block
staple gun and metal picture hanging wire

1. Start with a 20″ long piece of wood. I picked up a 1×3 board from the home improvement store- it was only about $2.50! I used a hand saw to cut it to about 20″ long, and then sanded the edge down.
2. First, I had to prep my paint. I diluted my pink paint with water (at a 1:1 ratio). By watering down the paint in this way, the wood grain will show through the paint, and it will create a distressed finish without any additional sanding! (I’m always looking for shortcuts like this!)

3. I painted two coats on my board, using long even strokes to achieve a smooth finish. See the wood grain peeking through?
4. I used Inkscape to type out my saying “follow your dreams” in a cute font, and made sure it was sized to fit the board perfectly. I also used an image of an arrow, because I figured it would complement my quote well! I then printed & cut out all my images.

5. On the back of the print-outs, I used a pencil to go over the words. I just held my pencil at an angle and colored in the whole back of the words.
6. Then I placed the print-outs (printed side up) right on the board & taped them down so they wouldn’t move. I then used the pencil to trace the letters right over the print-out. Then remove the print-outs.
7. I used the same pencil to fill in any areas that didn’t transfer well. This is a handmade item with an intentionally handmade look, so don’t strive for perfection! It’s the fact that it looks handmade that makes it so charming and lovely!

8. Finally, I used a paint marker to darken the words and arrow, but this is an optional step. I think it looks great with the words on the lighter side, as well!
9. I had picked up some stickers during my last trip to the Dollar store- just small round stickers. I didn’t know what I would use them for, but I added them to the arrow at the last minute to give it a bit more depth and interest.

10. I used a staple gun and some metal wire to attach a little hanger to the back of this. Of course, you don’t have to hang this on the wall. It would look great sitting on a table or shelf, too.

11. Place your sign on a nail in the wall, and admire your work. I think this sign adds a little extra flair to her room. And I love the message it sends her!

Here it is in her bedroom.

I’ve done so many projects in her room, including those DIY curtain rods, the DIY herringbone wall art, the thrift store shelf transformation, and the painted stencils on the wall, along with a ton more you can’t see in this picture.

I hope you found this tutorial fun & useful. If you’d like to see more of what I’m up to (everything from delicious weeknight recipes to kids’ crafts to DIY home improvement), I’d love it if you came over and visited me at Engineer Mommy! Thanks again, Sinea!

7 Ways to Make Lasting Holiday Memories

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The holidays all come with expectations.

We expect to make and eat lots of great food.
We expect to give and receive gifts.
We expect a certain amount of stress (some more than others) and its consequential fatigue.
We expect the budget to scream a little bit from the weight of all the “necessary” expenditures.

But do we expect to come away with tender loving memories? The holidays are really about being thankful for our blessings. They are about family and friends. We enjoy the holidays so much more when we create an atmosphere from which memories are birthed.

So, what do those memories look like? My recollections bring a picture of my “Grampy” dressed in his holiday vest. It was red plaid. With his thick white hair and happy eyes, he looked so regal. I can still see him carving the turkey at the head of the beautifully decorated dining room table. My dad continued the vest tradition where Grampy left off. Though there were so many great traditions about our family holidays, that one dominates my warmest thoughts.

Funny memories? My dear husband broke a tooth on his mom’s Thanksgiving turkey! It had been left in the oven way too long. She felt so bad about it. But we laughed. Chipping a tooth is no fun but it stayed a humorous memory that she got teased about for years. She was such a good sport (and to set the record straight, a very good cook.)

Oh yes, and in my family it was the Christmas tree that would fall over in the middle of the night. The trunk was crooked and it just didn’t want to stand up! Each morning we’d hear “Oh, no!” and one of my parents would “right” it again, decorations getting shabbier as time went on.

Child decorating Christmas tree; baby santa

So, think about creating some great family memories!

Sights: Make everything beautiful. A vision of “Christmas” typically includes twinkling lights on an evergreen tree. Add to it candles in the window and on the table, stockings hung over the fireplace “with care” and beautiful wrapped presents.

Engage your family in a series of “decorating moments.” Start the process now, pre-Thanksgiving, and have fun with it till the New Year begins. Decorating doesn’t have to happen in one day. Enjoy it as you string it along.

Sounds: Fill the air with music! Holiday music overflows with thanksgiving and joy. Turn on a radio station that plays continuous holiday songs or pop a CD in the player. Keep your home, and car, filled with the sounds of the season and remember to SING along! Engage your kids in singing the catchiest tunes. Everyone’s welcome. Musical talent not required!

Ducks 'n a Row holiday cookies; creating family memories at Christmas

Smells: Bake, Bake, Bake! Holiday food fills your home with a sweet aroma as you bake desserts and roast the turkey. Fond memories of going to grandma’s house have been built around these delicious smells!

Ducks 'n a Row: Holiday memories; family time; #Christmas #Thanksgiving #memories

Touch: Cuddle-time a must! We get so busy that we can forget to spend quality time close together. Everyone needs it: mom, dad, the kids…even the dog! It’s how we get re-charged. Read a storybook together. Snuggly blankets required. Schedule a pajama movie night with a great holiday classic. The menu? Popcorn and hot chocolate, of course.

Team work: Everyone has a part to play. Getting ready for the holidays includes anticipation of good things to come. Everyone should be a part of the preparations. Bake cookies together. Wrap gifts. Dust and pick up “stuff.” Even the littlest tyke can have some kind of job to do – with much praise included. Remember, a two-year old will dust like a two-year old!

Reach Out – who needs you? Your children and spouse need you, of course. Your parents, friends and relatives do, too. But, who else needs you? Is there someone you can think of who has no one at all? What can your family do to show them some love? Teach this giving-spirit to your kids when they’re young and they will reproduce it as adults. The giving spirit is not taught as much as it is “caught”. We all learn by doing.

Embrace the moment. Remember to step back for a moment and appreciate what you have. No matter the struggles and hardships life may bring, there is something you can focus on that says “life is good”. Think on that! And take pictures of these family times for future memories. Make a date with your kids to sit down and put these memories in a scrapbook while they are still fresh!

7 wonderful ways to make memories during the #holidays #family Share on X

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. What does that mean? Well, anything that you buy from Amazon by first clicking on an ad, link or using an Amazon search window on Ducks ‘n a Row will, at no extra cost to you, result in a small commission for me. In advance “thank you!” … Sinea

The Ultimate Entryway Makeover List: 9 Enhancements For A Grand Entrance

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Home owners know that entryways can be one of the most influential elements of home as they are the first area people see upon entering and yet; this space is often the most overlooked because they can be small, poorly lit, cluttered hallways that are easy to ignore. But it’s a good rule of thumb to recognize that every inch of home space can be made into useful and appealing living additions. Here is the ultimate entryway makeover list, sure to enhance that grim space for a grand entrance. With a little help from your home improvement contractors, you’ll have a great space in no time.

foyers and entryways are the first impression of a home #decor Ducks 'n a Row

1. Add Some Color

A splash of color on the wall can completely redefine the way a space looks and feels. Color has a proven influence on mood and feeling. For example, red increases a room’s energy level while blue encourages calm and relaxing states. If you’re looking to draw even more attention, add a patterned accent wall.

2. Light it Up

Illuminating an entryway that is otherwise dark and gloomy can transform the space into a more inviting, noticeable and useful area. Add a light fixture or replace the one you have with a higher wattage and decorative chandelier to shed a little light and welcome guests and family when they enter and exit your home.

3. Create Trendy Storage

Because your entryway is the first area entered into and the last area passed before leaving, it commonly collects such accessories as boots and shoes, jackets, hats, umbrellas and anything else needing dropped off while coming in or heading out. Create trendy storage by installing shelves or wall cubes, adding a bench with built in shoe rack and hanging jacket hooks. The space will transform into useful and appealing nook that’s more inviting and less cluttered to those coming and going.

4. Exhibit a Door Enhancement

A fantastic front door can work from the inside out to add value to the exterior of your home and interior entryway. For a custom approach, contact your home improvement contractor to install an exterior door that will undoubtedly improve the ins and outs of your entryway.

5. Expand your Entryway

There are a couple tricks to keep in mind if you’re trying to make the appearance of your small entryway seem larger. First, hang a mirror or create a display using several mirrors. They reflect space and enhance the appearance of a larger square footage. Next, keep wall color light. Darker shades tend to enclose spaces while lighter shaded will open them up. Lastly, contact your home improvement contractors to provide replacement window service or install a window that doesn’t yet exist. The gateway to the outdoors will provide natural light and help to open up the small space.

6. Convert to an Office Nook

For entryways with a little more space, make way for a small secretary and chair. Add a decorative wall calendar, hanging file storage and a cork board and you’ve got yourself the perfect area to sort mail, pay bills, draft shopping lists, cut and save coupons or organize the paperwork that normally gets lost in your home’s daily shuffle.

7. Develop a Display

Nothing leaves a lingering impression like art or photo displays. Let some of your home’s wall décor spill into the entryway to create a more welcoming environment that encourages a second glance and exudes your personal style. Framed photo collages, interesting graphics or unique pieces of art are sure to do the trick.

8. Configure a Focal Point

Add an element that will create a center focus for the space like a vintage inspired chest of drawers that can double as storage and sits on long legs for accessible additional underneath storage space.

9. Keep it Fresh

Adding indoor plants to an entryway will freshen up the space and invite positive, friendly and welcoming energy. They also make for great décor that doesn’t contribute to clutter or clash with color schemes.

This ultimate entryway makeover list will not only transform your space into a functional, organized and trendy area for your home but is achievable for individuals on a budget. Add a splash of color, a hint of light, some interesting yet useful décor and a fresh element and you’ve got yourself the kind of entryway that makes a statement. For exterior doors and replacement window instillation, contact your home improvement contractor.

Mark Watson takes a client-centered approach to operating Exterior Medics. His passion is providing homeowners with top-notch customer service, quality products, and superior remodeling experience. You can read more of Mark’s home improvement advice at http://www.exteriormedics.com/blog.

Photo credit:

Elegant foyer by lmjarrell on freeimages.com