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Pinterest is sometimes too inspiring.  I was sitting at my computer one night not too long ago, casually pinning items on my obsession (pinterest of course).  I thought that it would be a good idea to pin some craft/diy ideas.  WRONG!  I pinned this pin and for whatever reason jumped right up and started gathering supplies and cutting up paper.  I hadn't planned on doing it... it just happened.

This is the pin:  It links to my projects board on pinterest because the link doesn't work but the original pin is much longer than this one... and you can get the idea from it.

Make your own Architectural letters

I started by using Photoshop to make an ampersand.  I found a shape that I liked using Gill Sans MT font.  After I got the size to fit a standard piece of paper, I changed the font color to white and used the effects menu to turn on an outline. 

I used the cut out from Photoshop as a template.  I used a folder for a base.  I left as much overhang as possible the width that I wanted the finished product to be.  I taped it together without focusing on too much perfection.  I had some beige cardstock that I decided to use as a cover.  I covered the edges first and covered the tabs with two more cutouts.

I liked the way that it looked.  I spray painted it black using what I had as far as the paint went.  I would prefer to have a more matte look on the finished product but as long as I have it faced where it doesn't reflect light too much I think it looks pretty good.

Homemade Sofa Shelf

Hiya.  I decided that it was about time to start thinking about the projects aspect of this blog.  I was thinking about potential projects when I realized that I have already done this one.  Mine doesn't look as nice yet.  I have not been able to find the lamps that I am wanting for my shelf.  This is the original Pinterest post:

Piece of wood from Home Depot cut to size of couch, stained, attached to wall with L-brackets

And this is my (work in progress) final result.  I didn't think about taking photos during the process of  putting it up, which is probably a good thing... it was a mess!

I do still have a Christmas garland with lights running along the shelf.  No my decorations are not still up, but I like the way that the lights give just enough ambient light.  We all need twinkle lights in our home.  They may go away if I ever find the lights that I am looking for. 

We'll see.

We did have to do something a bit different than the original pinterest idea.  My husband has a projector.  I don't get the need for it, but whatever.  I gave that arguement up a long time ago.  We needed a way to incorporate it behind the couch.  When we bought the pieces of shelving from whichever home improvement store it was (I can't remember at this point), I found this little riser shelf.  Actually it is supposed to be a shoe shelf for your closet.  The color is a dead on match though and I think that it works out perfectly. 

I went to dust...

But ended up making a wreath instead.

I am not really sure how the thought process went from dusting a shelf to making a pink and purple feather boa wreath for my daughter's sleepover... but it did.  

I started by cutting a circle out of a cardboard box that was just lying in my garage.  As you can see, it doesn't really matter if the circles are perfect.  If you are going to use this post as a tutorial to make your own wreath, please do not focus on perfection here.  No need. 

I then rolled up some grocery bags loosely and used clear tape to tape them to the board.  Again, do not focus on perfection.  I just wanted to add a little bit of padding to make the wreath look more full. 

These are feather boas that I confiscated from my daughter's dress up box.  I hate these things.  They came from the dollar store and they shed feathers all over the place.  You cannot stop it, nor can you contain it.  You can see some of the bare spots where the feathers have all fallen out.

The dark purple one was by far the highest quality one... it was still full and it was the longest.  I used it as the base and wrapped it all the way around the circled board.  I then took the multi colored boas and filled in the gaps.  I only had one light purple one and wasn't sure how to make it look like it belonged so I turned it into a sort of boa flower.

You can't really tell in the photo but the light purple one is hooked to the front of the wreath and not wrapped around the circles like the other boas.

This was the first wreath of this kind that I have made, and I am rather proud of it.  I hope you like it too.