DIY carpet sample rug (with step-by-step tutorial)

I have been itching to do a craft like this for some time now (I feel like I'm always saying that but it's always true.  I just want to craft ALL. THE. TIME.)  You know when you first have a baby and you think you are going to have all this free time to craft?  Haha... yea, that never happens now.  My toddler has recently learned how to get himself onto all surfaces of the house so I spend most of my days in a delicate balance between wanting him to explore his world and trying to keep him from killing himself.  It's super fun (it's hard to tell online but I actually mean that... most days.)

{Hint, Hint: He loves it so much already he dumped all of his toys on top & is playing on it}

Right now we have toys scattered across the house but as soon as it gets warmer, this mama is turning our enclosed front porch into a PLAY ROOM (whoo-hoo!)  It's going to be a gathering place for all the large toys, noisy toys and toys that we can just shut the door and not have to clean up every day (did you know we got our son over 1000 playpen balls for Christmas?  Mmm hmm, yep.  We are that crazy.)

You might remember me mentioning in my first post about my son's nursery that I haven't had the chance to decorate most of our house because my husband already had it fully furnished/decorated when we got married.  Because of this, I take advantage of any opportunity I can to decorate a room with a theme I love.  I've decided to go with a sort of camping/hiking/adventure/exploring theme for the play room.  I wanted something that was fun and appropriate for children without looking like a pre-school with shapes and primary colors.

That's one of my favorite quotes and a sort of inspiration for the playroom theme.  Love it too?  Click the links below to download a free printable or digital version for yourself!

Click here for the 5x7 size

Click here for the 8x10 size!


I have big plans for this room.  My first craft- a small rug for just inside the door (or maybe to set shoes on?)  Wherever it goes, it will be great!  At first I was going to do something like "B is for Bear" but then my love for hiking kicked it and I realized this is what needed to be done...

So cute and so easy to do.  Here's the step by step:

STEP 1: Obtain a carpet sample.

Head to your local carpet store.  Check out their stash of retired rug samples.  They are surprisingly cheap.  Ours run between $0.50-$1.00 depending on the size.  I recommend getting a short shag for this project since you are painting a design on it.

{My son really liked the longer shag so we got that too (it's $1 why not?!) for another use}

STEP 2: Cut out a stencil.

I designed the trail sign in Silhouette Studio myself, but you could use a pre-made design or even a stencil from the craft store.  I definitely recommend using something "sticky" though so the paint does not bleed under the stencil (even short shag carpet has dimension so it wont lie entirely flat unless it sticks).

Step 2 (cont.)
Here's a little trick to help your vinyl stick even better!  Take a blow dryer to the vinyl once it's on the carpet.  As it warms up, press down on the vinyl.  The vinyl will sort of "melt" onto the carpet and create a tight seal to prevent the paint from bleeding.  Don't worry, this doesn't make it any harder to take off later!

STEP 3: Paint!

Once the stencil is in place, paint the carpet!  I like to use foam brushes and dab the paint onto the carpet.  It doesn't really matter how you get the paint on though (as long as you aren't brushing it under the stencil) so do what you feel comfortable doing.

Let dry...

...remove the stencil...

...and viola!  You have a lovely carpet for your front door, play room, mud room, or wherever!  I have grand plans on another design for one just inside our front door.  These are so easy and fun- why not make more?

{You'r Turn!}
What design would you put on yours?  Are you more classic (like your family name), silly (like a sarcastic comment or quote) or would you follow a theme like I did?

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #5 {Vintage Clothesline Frame}

Welcome back friends!  For those of you who are new to Cut, Craft, Create- thanks for joining me!  Besides a few breaks for giveaways (because, how fun is giving away awesome stuff?!), I have spent each week of 2016 thus far showing off details from my son's nursery.  I hope these tips and tricks have inspired you not only to create a precious nursery but to use the ideas throughout your home.

If you have missed it so far, catch up on tips 1, 2,3 and 4 by clicking the links.

This week I wanted to show off one of my favorite elements from the nursery.  It is so simple to do but makes a huge statement!

Seriously, you need 4 items (and they are so easy to get!)
- Large Frame
- Twine
- Clothespins
- Romper/Onesie/ Dress, etc.

Funny story about the frame.  My husband was cleaning out one of our buildings that is full of junk from the previous owners.  I happened to walk past the truck and see this BEAUTIFUL frame tossed into the truck bed.  Not only was it a big frame but it is such a pretty off white/ivory color (it's hard to see in these photos because the lighting in the nursery is poor) and is naturally distressed.  My husband thought it looked like it needed cleaned up, I thought it was perfect.

All I had to do was grab some twine, tie it to the frame (nothing fancy, look closely, you can see it wrapped around the frame!) and voila!

When I first hung this up, I wasn't sure what outfit was going to hang in it.  I thought maybe the hospital outfit or one of his first little onesies.  However, at the baby shower my mom hosted, I met this handmade Peter Rabbit romper and it was love at first sight!  My mom purchased it from etsy for my son to wear and never thought it would become a staple in the nursery decor. (Because it's a non stretchy material and my son has one giant head, he never actually fit into it. *boo hoo hoo*  By the time he was tall enough his head was too big.  I think it would probably  have fit a more "average" sized baby.  The seller offered to return it but I love it hanging!)  I'm just glad we were able to display it this way so that such a beautiful piece was used in one way or another.

{Photo from my baby shower.  My mom made that personalized onesie and bib!}

Finish by hanging your outfit up using a couple clothespins.  You can buy a whole pack of them for $1 at the dollar store.  I painted these green to match the nursery decor.

{Loving this romper?  Head over to Cornflower Creations on etsy to see all of her designs for purchase.}

Want to make some super cute decorative clothespins out of the blank dollar store ones?  Check out this post from our wedding!

I positioned this lovely piece of artwork above the changing station (check back in future weeks for a tutorial on how to make your own!) and it's perfect!  Because of it's large frame it draws your attention and takes up a good amount of wall space.  However, because it doesn't weigh much, I feel comfortable hanging it above something that my baby is laying on!

There you have it.  Told you it was simple... and oh so lovely.  I only wish the photos did that old frame justice!

This would be a great decorating idea for another child's room or a "man-cave" (think favorite player's jersey!) as well as any other themed nursery.

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #4 {Wall Collage with SIX fun ideas!}

If you've been following along with us over the last couple of weeks you know that I have been sharing design elements that I used in decorating my son's nursery.  If you are new to Cut, Craft, Create, don't forget to catch up on the first and second posts.  Don't worry if you aren't decorating a baby's room- these tips can be used in all rooms of your home or even in your office!

Today's decorating tip is a wall art collage that takes common design elements and fills it with some unexpected details.

There are 6 parts to this design.  You can replace each of these details to fit your room/theme in particular to make it your own.


#1- Word Art (With AMAZING frame!)

I typed up words that I think of when imagining my sweet little boy growing up and experiencing life.  Some of these words were: run, play, dirt, curious, joy, adventure, and explore (my favorite word on there).  I want my child to experience life in all it's messiness.  I want him to explore his world and play in the dirt.  I also included his name to be positioned in the very center of the word collage (For the sake of not having his full name plastered across the internet, I changed it above to "Baby Thumper!"  Thanks photo editing!)

After typing up several of each word in different fonts and sizes, I printed it out on regular paper and cut into strips.  I chose to then tea-stain the paper strips (make unsweetened tea or coffee and then "blot" the paper with a sponge).  This is optional, I just like the look.  Let the paper dry before continuing.

To put it all together I made a backing that fit just inside the frame from a heavier cardstock.  Then using a basic glue stick (found in the scrapbooking or adhesive sections of any store) I stuck all those tiny little paper strips on to the backing.  Put it all together, hang and enjoy!

(Note:  Check out your local thrift stores, flea markets, antique shops, etc for inexpensive but beautiful frames such as this one!)


#2- Detail Memorabilia

For my son's Peter Rabbit nursery I opted to hang a "vintage" copy of the Peter Rabbit story with a crisp black frame around it.  The two pieces are not connected in any way.  The frame was hung as usual and the book was hung with a nail just inside the front cover.  I then stuck the front cover to the first page with a few Zots (glue dots) so that the cover didn't swing open but the nail is still "hidden".

For another room, you could use this idea to hang up your grandmother's necklace, a family crest, special ribbons, etc. The possibilities are endless!


#3- Large Focal Picture

I'm not going to say much about this because there are so many examples of this photo on Pinterest- such as this one, this one, and this one (which is a little different but I love just the same).  I wish I would have had my letter blocks to spell out his name across the bottom but ended up using large chipboard letters from my scrapbooking supply (again, I covered his name in this photo)

For a room other than a nursery, make a large print of a favorite family photo, an aerial photo of your home or even just something you like (think: stunning photo of the Grand Canyon, etc).  I recommend Shutterfly for photo prints and they have deals all the time where you can get a 16x20 print for free (just pay shipping).


#4- Inspirational Quote

I made this out of extra foam board I had from my anniversary map (never throw anything away- ha!), cut it to the shape I wanted, painted it with acrylic paint and put vinyl lettering on top.  We actually made this as a prop for one of our maternity photos and loved it so much it became a part of the nursery.

{Photo via J. Hendon Photography}

You could make your favorite quote, phrase or just something fun (like "whip it good" in the kitchen!) in the same way I did, or by creating a wood sign, painting a canvas or even printing on paper!   This one is so easy to personalize and if you find a sign in a store you like, even easier!


#5- Monogram Piece

We've all seen the different ways that these craft letters can be decorated and used.  Many times they are displayed in a nursery to spell out baby's name.  I suggest using only the first letter in a larger collage like this.  It's personalized and sweet without having their name everywhere (especially since his name was already present in a few other design elements shown already).

For another room, simply use the initial of your family's last name.  The year that you got married or some other significant date could be used as well.

{Love the engraved button with our last name? My mom ordered these for me from Pick Your Plum.  It's a company that features a few different items on super sale each day.  They probably wont have these buttons again *maybe!*, but it's definitely worth checking them out!}


#6- Smaller Photo Frame Set

Using some extra 4x6 frames I had on hand, I hung them in a horizontal-vertical-horizontal-vertical pattern along the right side of the collage.  These were all photos from the first few days of our son's life while still in the hospital.  One of just him, one each of him with mommy/daddy and our first family photo (which I looooove!)

It's easy to use this idea in any layout to make a "line" along an edge and bring together all the separate pieces a little better.

{Your Turn!}
Which design element is your favorite?  My son loves looking at the photos of him (#3 and #6) and touching all of the different textures on the wall.  This would be a great project for a large open space in a living room- personalize with family initials, special photos and important family mementos!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #2 and #3 (vinyl wording and light switch DIY)

I absolutely love my son's crib.  I love the shape.  I love the color.  More than anything, I love watching my son sleep (I mean, who doesn't love watching little babes snoozing?)  Decorating the nursery in the area around the crib was hard for me because I wanted it to be as perfect as that perfect crib.  I knew that the images surrounding the crib would be the last things my son would see as he fell asleep each night (and nap) and the first thing he would see when he woke. Whew... No pressure...

{Yea, he loves his stuffed animals. LOVES them.}

I'll be honest, I started making a baby mobile.  I didn't like any of them in the stores and thought I could make one better.  I couldn't.  That project took way too long to complete and I didn't end up liking it anyways.

Onto what I did make- vinyl lettering and a coordinating light switch cover.  I can't believe how easy both of these projects were and how BIG of an impact they made.  Simple and perfect.  Exactly what I wanted!

I cut the vinyl lettering with my Silhouette Cameo using the font "Great Vibes" and added stars in varying sizes.  The walls in the nursery are textured but after pressing the vinyl on with my fingers it has stuck great!  Everything continues to hold strong months and months later!

As for the light switch cover, I followed these basic steps: (Images pictured in tutorial are from a separate project so I could show you step by step!)

1. Print a photo on regular paper (or use a scrapbook paper that you like) large enough to fit on top of your light switch cover.

2. With the paper image side up, place the cover on top and trace the outline and holes with a pencil. Add a little extra to the outside border to account for the extra paper it will take to cover the "curve" on the cover.  You can always cut it off later if you have too much!

3. Cut out the traced piece- be careful with the small holes! (I prefer to only cut the hole for the switch and just poke the screws through their spots but that's up to you)

4. Cover the light switch cover with Mod Podge- enough to make the entire surface sticky without making it too "goopy".

5. Carefully, place the paper cutout on top of the light switch.  Make sure to press the paper down inside the hole for the switch and around the edges.

{See the little divot where I didn't cut the hole for the screw? I think it's easier this way and you aren't left with a "too big" hole.}

6. Let dry for a few minutes and then finish with a final layer of Mod Podge over the entire surface. 

7. (Optional)  If you want to paint the screws to match, do so while they are removed and let dry.  You only need to paint the heads.

I am *so in love* with this Peter Rabbit light switch cover.  Turns out, my little guy has developed quite the interest in turning lights on and off these days.  My husband and I know the day is coming when he will be able to reach this one by his crib and it'll be all over for our electricity bill!

Are you just joining us?  Head over to last week's post to learn how to make any design on a pillow in under 15 minutes!  Don't forget to join us next week for a GIVEAWAY!

Your Turn!
Do you have vinyl wording around your home?  What are your thoughts on the light switch cover?  I'm addicted to this simple transformation and have done it in my craft room as well (those were the step by step photos you saw)!  Share your projects with us in the comments below!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #1 {Personalized Pillow}

As promised, we are rolling forward with new posts and details about the nursery.  But don't start thinking that it won't do you any good to read on if you don't have a baby around.  On the contrary!  Each week design elements, tips and tricks will help you transform any room from "same old, same old" to something special made by you, for you!

This week, I'm showing you how to make a pillow in ANY design you wish... in minutes.  Not 1,465 minutes, like under 15 minutes.  Really. 

First, pick your fabric.  I wish I could tell you exactly what the fabric was that I used but it's just some scrap I have had for years.  Almost any fabric will work for this project unless it's got a lot of texture like a "fur".
Next, measure your pillow form or old pillow you wish to cover.  Add just a shade over 1/2 inch to each side.  Sew along 3 sides with 1/2 inch seam (leaving the fourth side open) and turn right side out.

Now is the fun part.  You can create any design you wish using one of two methods:
(1) Stenciling.  Using a premade stencil or by creating your own (for those of you much more artistic than myself) simply stencil your design onto the pillow with paint. 
--Note:  If you want to be able to wash the pillow- even spot clean, make sure to use fabric paint or acrylic that can be used on fabric!  I would personally recommend this even if you don't plan to ever wash it. 

(2) Heat Transfer Vinyl.  If you have a cutting machine like the Silhouette (or Cricut) simply cut your shape out in HTV and iron it on!  I am more familiar with the Silhouette program but I know that with it you can create ANY design you wish (not just pre-designed shapes).  To create a design that already exists but you don't own (like the Peter Rabbit image on the nursery pillow), in the Silhouette program you can save a photo from the internet and then trace it.  Always make sure to mirror your image if it has words or you want it to face the direction that it was originally.
--Note:  Don't forget to stick your HTV shiny side down on your cutting mat!

 

 

I love, Love, LOVE this Peter Rabbit design.  My son's nursery is Peter Rabbit themed and I wanted this pillow to match without being "too busy".  The crisp black lines look so lovely against the natural look of the fabric.  The sort of "broken sketch" design makes me swoon!

 

To finish it up, slide the pillow form into the case and sew the fourth side up!  I tucked the edges inside and sewed it with a  tight sort of whip stitch (I closed it up while riding in the car!) but you could hide the stitching better or even add a zipper or velcrow if you want to remove the pillow form in the future.

 



Your Turn!
I would love to see what designs you have in mind for your special home décor.  I'm thinking of making some for our living room with repeating shapes (like triangles) in a few coordinating colors!  I would love to see photos of your finished projects!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Happy New Year 2016 {and Nursery reveal}

Happy 2016!  Can you believe it's the new year already?  To catch those of you up who are familiar with the blog (or to introduce myself a little for those of you who are new) I have been away from Cut, Craft, Create for quite some time.  I've had a few "here and there" posts but haven't regularly posted since just before my son was born.  Well, he recently celebrated his first birthday and his second Christmas.

This photo makes my heart melt all over the place!

Although I still have trouble getting "computer time" while little man is awake, I've decided to take better advantage of the time I have after I put him to bed.  I miss blogging and sharing my crafty experiences with you.

In the last year I have become a full time stay at home mama (my husband refers to it as being a "Professional Domestic Operations Engineer" ha!) and have been busy trying to make our house a home and raise our son to be as happy and healthy as he can be.  Okay... and mostly just trying to put those STINKING DISHES away.  Seriously, anyone else have this problem? How do 3 people go through so many dishes?  Ugh... anyways, back to the post.

My mama and I have also started our own small business Chubby Bunny, Happy Home.  We're just getting things figured out but specialize in baby/toddler items and home decor.  We have always wanted to do this and are excited to start on our small business journey together.

{That's my beautiful mama and me}

 



My son's nursery was the first room in our home I was able to decorate from scratch.  My husband was older when we got married and already had a fully furnished house.  I've swapped things here and there in other rooms but the nursery was my blank slate.  Being the DIY-gal that I am, I created almost everything in there (minus the crib, dresser and glider) to create exactly the look I wanted (and for less!)

Over the next several weeks, I am going to share with you the details of the nursery.  Whether you are decorating a baby's room, for an older kiddo or just around the house, these ideas and tips will sure to help you along the way.

Please be sure to check back each week.  The photos on this post are snapshots of only a few elements.  Each week will include instructions, detailed photos and tips on how to achieve the look.  Here is a panoramic of the room to get a peek...

Some of the design elements I will be sharing include (but not limited to:)

- Details for a personalized frame display (includes 6 separate decorating ideas!)
- Personalized pillow that you can make yourself in MINUTES!
- Shelving decor that is simple but stunning to fit any room/theme.

- Easy DIY wall decor like collage photos and floating frame items.

- Fast & Easy way to add words/designs to a blank space on the wall.

- Making a themed light switch cover in minutes!

- Building a CUSTOM Changing Table from an old desk (removable top so you can use it for years!)

I'm so excited to share these details with you.  Seriously folks... I love this room so much.  So let's start off 2016 with a BANG!  Join me each week as I share the details of this room and in the weeks following with every day crafts for your home and life.  I love, love, LOVE to hear from you so please comment with your thoughts, questions or stories!

 

 

Your Turn!
Do you make new years resolutions, make some "plans" for the year or just wing it?  This year I sat down and made some goals (with specific details and "due" dates) because (1) I am working to continue our small business and need to have set goals and (2) am very behind on my scrapbook and really need to catch up.  Only a detailed plan is going to fix that problem!  I'm only a few years behind, that's not so bad... yet.

Don't forget to LIKE us on facebook to keep updated on new posts and follow along on our journey!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Valentine's Day String Globe {tutorial}

Well folks, we are halfway through January already; can you believe it?  Although I'm not as crazy about Valentine's Day as say, Christmas, Halloween or Independence Day... I always try to make a few crafts with love to celebrate the season and to inspire you to create as well!

I am crazy about those string/balloon globes that seem to be everywhere now.  I have been wanting to try them out for a while, so I added a little "love" and...

Love them?  Here's how to make them:

Materials:
- balloons
- string (I used thin jute twine)
- paper
- scissors or heart shaped punch
- Mod Podge

STEP 1: Blow up a few balloons to whatever size you want the finished globes to be.  Try to keep them "round" shaped instead of regular balloon shape.  Tie them closed and set aside.

STEP 2: Cut small hearts from the paper.  I chose to cut them out by hand (fold small pieces of paper in half and then cut the "half heart" shape and unfold!) but feel free to use a heart shaped punch if you have one.

Do this with multiple colors and sizes if you desire.  The amount of hearts varies on how full you want them to be on your final globe.  It is entirely up to you as it looks good either way.  I have between 5-10 hearts on each one of mine.

STEP 3: Wrap the string around the balloon to get an idea of how much you will need.  I ended up cutting a HUGE amount of string and then, because it kept getting tangled, ended up shortening it on the balloon.

I also wrapped it around my hand, thinking that this would prevent the string from getting tangled.  I. was. wrong.  It might still work if you can pull from around the loop instead of straight up but once it is covered in Mod Podge, it gets more difficult to untangle. 

STEP 4: Pour some Mod Podge into a shallow bowl and place the cut string inside of it, allowing the Mod Podge to cover all parts of the string.

This is about the time I realized that this craft was not going to be as fun as I had expected.  Given, I hate having anything goopy or sticky on my hands (I use a napkin to hold doughnuts and can't put hand sanitizer or lotion on my hands without washing it off... really) so I should have known better.

STEP 5: Set the balloons on a plastic bag or other surface where the balloons will be able to sit overnight when finished.  Next, slowly pull the string out of the bowl and wrap it around the balloon.  Try to tuck the ends of the string when you get to the end.

Looking back, I have a big piece of advice so listen up!  Try not to slop around the Mod Podge all over the balloon.  I thought that it would not make a difference but it made the finish product much more difficult to produce.  The more you keep on the string alone, the better.

Do you also see the Ernie (my dog) hair on the balloon?  Sneaky little guy got a few of those in while I was crafting.  Don't worry, they come right off when the balloon is popped!

Also try to keep your strings spaced out.  I ended up with a group of strings in one spot and although it doesn't hurt it, it looks a little sloppy.  That's probably because I had no clue what I was doing!

STEP 6: While the Mod Podge is still wet, place the paper hearts onto the string, pressing lightly.  If you need to add more Mod Podge to the back of the heart to make it stick, go right ahead.  Once finished, let it dry overnight.

I also found that the bottom of the balloon will still be wet the next morning.  Feel free to turn it over and let that last bit dry for a few hours or until it appears dry.

STEP 7:  Once dry, hold the balloon and pop it with a pin.  This could go very well or very badly (I did both) so pay attention:

{I asked my husband to pop the first one while I held it... I expected a loud POP!}

The WRONG way: When I popped the first one, I had not considered all the Mod Podge that was covering the balloon (here is why I said to try and avoid it!) It stuck to the sides and as the balloon deflated, it took the string with it:

...Yep, that's not good.  I managed to bend it back into a round (ish) shape but it would have been much easier if it had just worked the first time.

It also left large areas of Mod Podge in between the strings:

Not quite the look I was going for.  Learn from my mistakes please!

The RIGHT way:  If you have already covered your balloon in Mod Podge (mistake #1) there is still a way to prevent the above situation.  I give full credit to my amazing husband for suggesting that I try this on the next balloon.  Gently place your finger under the strings to release them from the balloon before popping it.  Be careful not to pop the balloon with your fingernail!  This also helps to break up the large sections of Mod Podge that would have filled the space between strings.

It's not perfect but it is much better.  Again, not making a mess of the Mod Podge in the first place should prevent this problem all together.

This time when I popped the balloon...

... it kept it's shape! Halleluiah!

Simply pull the balloon out from the top or wherever you are able.

{That's it!}

Add a string to the top if you want to hang it (sorry for the terrible picture- these are eventually going to hang in my office at work since I obviously have no good hanging spot for them in the house) or let them sit on a table or in a basket if small enough.

{Ignore the glare from the television... I just couldn't ask my husband to stop watching so that I could take a picture! He's been working hard all day.}

I like how they look lying down as well. Maybe I will make some mini ones for a table setting!

I still have some work ahead of me (especially on the first one) to remove all that left over Mod Podge. I repeat... learn from my mistakes!

I hope you have enjoyed this lovely addition to the string+balloons globe craft and have a very happy Valentine's Day!

 Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann