9.22.2011

Cultivating my creativity.

I had an idea.  It was a borrowed idea from a few friends, 
Anja and April (who I have met in real life and think is spectacular).

My goal was to take an inexpensive frame and turn it into something extraordinary.

Here is the frame as it started. 

I put Jack next to it, so you could see how really large it is.



I went to Home Depot to ask what I needed to buy.  I left with sandpaper, a paintbrush, and paint.  Oh, and instructions to clean the paintbrush really well so that it would last awhile.

I sanded the frame down and painted it.  I was really impressed with myself.  I didn't make a mess, and it looked how I anticipated!

Then I cleaned the brush.  Except, I didn't know that the paint was oil based, because I didn't know that I was supposed to ask.  So I tried to wash my brush in the sink.  In case you didn't know,  water doesn't do anything to oil-based paint, except make a big mess.  My hands were stained, the sink was a disaster, and the paintbrush was getting messier with each drop of water.  

I yelled to Ben that we needed to make an emergency trip to Home Depot, immediately.  He had to come with me, because I couldn't drive with my sticky hands.  Since it was 7:00 pm, and the boys were tired, it was not the best news, and he said "you and your projects".   

I was not deterred.  We bought Mineral Spirits and it was all better.  Crisis solved.


This is my finished project.


The maps I bought from here.  The heart is located in the city we lived, and the pictures are family pictures when we left/leave that place.  The center is the Temple that we were married in.
I still need to paint the clothespins, but good enough.




I am really excited about the way it turned out.  


I even have another project in the works.
This one is a little more "involved".
This project is inspired by my friend, Emily.

Here is the before picture.




7 comments:

Anja said...

Em you did it! It's beautiful and YOU did it! See, you could tell that it could be something awesome and you made it into something awesome. great job!! super impressed!!! ps...sometimes i hate to admit it, but spray paint is way easier to use :)

Just US said...

I LOVE IT!!! What a great idea and how cute that your boys (and you of course) have great pictures of where you have been and the people that have meant the most to you at that place.

April Kennedy said...

that turned out darling! i love love love that frame. for my clothespins I just use the scrapbook distressing ink. it makes it pretty easy...but I do end up with brown finger tips! haha

Emily said...

Look at you, bein all crafty!! And my blog I never update is featured!! Love all of it!! Very cool!

Daniela Swider said...

Oh, so beautiful! Love it!

Jessica said...

Look at you Miss Crafty! Way to try something new!

Lisonbee said...

thumbs up. And I do love seeing some of my photography posted as the years pass :o)you are too cute.

BLOG DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS