Clock Makeover and Alphabet Letters

Out of neccessity I've decided to teach a little preschool this school year. I just couldn't find one for my daughter, but really wanted her to do one. I was looking at my playroom the other day deciding what I needed to get done in there to have it ready for preschool, when I decided that a clock would be good.

Inspiration struck. I took this clock I picked up from my MIL's donation pile:

I removed the hands, coated it in spray adhesive and laid it face down on a map I had tucked away in a drawer.

After smoothing any air bubbles out, I turned it over and with an exacto knife cut around the clock.

(I had a picture of this, but somehow it got deleted and I'm not at home to put the picture back in!)

Once the clock was cut out and the adhesive dry I gave it a light coat of homemade modge podge. You can make your own modge podge by mixing water and glue. Use less water for a thicker, shinier coat and more for a thinner coat.

I made my glue very watery. I didn't want it super shiny, I just wanted to seal the paper and make it a little stiffer to withstand sanding.

Once the modge podge is dry take a light grit sand paper and smooth off any jagged edges. After sanding I added numbers - I don't like to guess the time! I used vinyl numbers that allowed me to easily peel off and reposition the numbers. My MIL gave me the number sheets, but I think they are the kind you use on mailboxes.

And here is the final product:

The pictures aren't the greatest - I get horrible lighting in there :) But I have to say I LOVE how it turned out.

Even better - I used a map from where I grew up. See that lake? I swam there every summer.

Not only do I have a really cute clock, I also have a letter "O" to add to my wall!

I never thought it would take so long to gather letters. Using some things I had in my craft closet I was able to make two more letters.

Some extra fabric and canvas from a long ago art project.

Add a vinyl letter "Y":

More extra fabric, used canvas, and a wood "D":

 

(I stretched the fabric over the canvas and hot glued it in place. I also hot glued the "D" on.)

Only six more letters to go!

Paint Treatments on Furniture

For awhile now I have been dreaming of  a chest of drawers with an amazing paint treatment. Something for my entry, or maybe my family room, or maybe my bedroom...

                                       {House Beautiful - anyone else drooling? Isn't this amazing?}

                                                                                        {Paul Marra Chest}

                                                                             {unknown}

                                                                          {Horchow}

                                      {unknown - and can I just say that while I love the chest
                          and mirror I am not so in love with the lamps and velvet curtain? They're a little distracting.}

                                                                                                     {unknown}

                                                                      {unknown - Love this!}

                                                            {Adore Home Magazine}

                                                             {Architectural Digest Espana}

{unknown}

*Not sure why the alignment came out all wonky :)

Vintage Printable

I stumbled across the most amazing site today! Vintage Printables offers over a thousand vintage prints and downloadables for free! The prints are gorgeous. I couldn't believe the amazing color. I've already got five picked out for my entry, and more for around my house! Here are just some of the ones that caught my eye:

DIY Chandelier

There are a couple of DIY Capiz Shell wax paper chandeliers out in the the blog world. It's one of those ingenuis DIY's that we all see and think, "I never would have thought of that!"

{via Design Sponge}

The other day I got a catalogue in the mail and saw this:

{via at westend}

I instantly thought of the wax paper knock off and wondered if vellum would work as well. Think of all the color variations and combinations! It would be fun to try!