Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Industrial Spools and a Beadboard Sign

Today I'm sharing two fun projects from Megan. When she has time off from teaching, she really gets things done! I'm just way behind on posting. I'll let her fill you in on the details. Take it away Megan .....
 
Hi everyone!  I'm here today to share a few projects that I completed back in April over my spring break.  The first was inspired by a post at Apartment Therapy, which I had pinned quite awhile ago.  It was about unique ways to display jewelry and had this cool picture using industrial spools.


Luckily for me, my mom happened to have a few industrial spools that she said I could use for this project.  Thanks, Mom!


I began by lining the spools up on the wall and drilling a pilot hole.  Then I went back and drilled one screw on each side of the center bar.
 

All that was left was adding the jewelry.  This was certainly one quick and easy project.


I love having everything out within easy reach.  It looks beautiful and reminds me to wear them more often! 



For my second project, I wanted to feature a piece of art over my bed.  My mom was telling me about the signs that Korrie makes at Red Hen Home.  I love that she paints on beadboard rather than plain wood.  I think it gives her signs such great texture.  Here's one of my favorites from her Etsy shop.


I decided to use the same idea on my sign.  I glued together two pieces of beadboard because I wanted two lines of writing.  I wanted to use a tan background, so I mixed up a custom color with white and brown.  I put two coats of paint on the beadboard. 


Next, I printed out my quote and sized it up to the board.  I chose a quote that means a lot to my husband Liam and I.  It's from Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite writers, and we used the text as one of the readings at our wedding.  I wanted to use a typewriter style font to remind me of the typewriter that we had on display at our wedding.


By the way, if you are ever looking for unique fonts, you have to check out dafont.com.  I have spent hours browsing through all the cool fonts, and the best part is that almost all of them are free!  I chose a font called Traveling Typewriter.  I printed out my quote on regular printer paper, flipped it over to the back, and shaded over the text with the side of a pencil.


Then, I placed my text on the painted beadboard and began tracing each of the letters.  As you trace the letters, the pencil shading on the underside makes an outline of the letters on your board.  So cool!


Once I had my outline traced, I painted the letters with a small brush and some green craft paint.

 
 To give it that weathered, layered feel, I added brown tinted glaze on top.  I rubbed it away until I had a nice textured look.  The glaze settled into the ridges to really bring out the beadboard.


After a light sanding to bring out the ridges of the beadboard even more, it was done!


To hang, I drilled holes in each corner and connected them with a length of twine.
 


I love looking at the quote every day; it's a reminder to step back and appreciate the little moments that make life special.  Thanks for reading!
 
Thanks so much for sharing Megan! I love your sweet home. And that quote reminds me of one of the most beautiful days ever!
 
I'm linking to...

Photobucket http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
Catch a Glimpse Button

Photobucket
The 36th AVENUE
Beyond The Picket Fence shabby creek cottage A Delightsome Life
 

38 comments:

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Love your sign, Megan, and thanks for linking back! I have some spools lying around too...hmmm...

Cassie Bustamante said...

those are great!!! i love the spools!

Susie said...

It is great, it is. How clever young lady. Those spool tickled me pink. I love that idea.Smiles, Susie

Ali Richardson said...

Both of these projects are GREAT!!!

mesa posta said...

simplesmente lindo!!!
beijos

Shannah @ Just Us Four said...

These are both great projects. I love the industrial spools! What a great idea to use them for necklaces.

NanaDiana said...

Good projects-both of them. Love that sign- so much truth there-xo Diana

Unknown said...

love the spools, i was lucky enough to find one of these and i keep it in the cubby shelf i did. wish i could find more!

Pat said...

Adore the spool project...what a terrific idea.

Cyndi ✪ Blue Star said...

Ok, I'm on the hunt for spools now! Need those in my bedroom!!

Jo Coastal Home Love said...

Love love vintage spools, fab idea! Your sign is lovely to! Very inspiring :) Jo x

Our Pinteresting Family said...

Beautiful ideas, Megan! Great tutorial for the sign too.

Emily @ The Diligent One said...

Well, gee, I wonder where Megan gets her creativity and craftiness from?!

bj said...

These projects turned out sooo good...both of them.
I have some spools, too....thanks for the inspiration.
Over from Delightsome.....

Jessica | Petal + Ply said...

ohh. just picked up 2 of those spools at auction! great idea!

BeckyKay said...

What a couple of great projects!! Really fantastic!

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

Love the sign, love the spools!

Sally Annie Magundy said...

I adore the Vonnegut quote too, one of my favorites. Love the spools, so much fun and great idea.

Happy VTT!

Bodil said...

Love the idea with the spools, so much fun!
The sign was beautiful over the bed.
Bodil

Unknown said...

love the spools. I needed an idea to hang my kids reponsibility charts. This looks like just the idea I was looking for!

Artsy VaVa said...

What a great use for the spools! And, I love the sign!

Shabby Marilyn said...

Love the spools, have a few myself! Your signs are great, will have to try your tip. Thanks

Susie Bass said...

How lucky are you? I love those old industrial spools. And your blog is amazing, really pleased to have discovered it

Katie Drane said...

I'm so glad that I'm following you! Love the spools, what a clever idea. Thanks so much for sharing!

Katie
www.funhomethings.com

{northern cottage} said...

oh wow - thank you for sharing...these are fantastic projects

Laurel Stephens said...

I love both your projects, Megan. Your sign tutorial is great. I was startled when I saw your cute lemon fabric tote hanging on your wall next to your necklaces. My daughter recently picked out the same fabric to line a drawer I made for her bedroom to hang her own necklaces in. What a coincidence!

Good Time Charlie said...

Cute sign! And I love the spools as jewelery holders. I love those spools period. Thanks for sharing! -K

Kara @ Petals to Picots Crochet said...

I love those spools! What a unique touch!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Goodness these are great projects! Pinning both of them -- love the quote and the way you created the sign!

Fishtail Cottage said...

new fan! xoox

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Lovely! Now I know what to do with all my offcuts!

Stacey said...

Very cute projects! I adore your sweet sign!
Thanks for linking up this week!
Stacey of Embracing Change

One More Time Events said...

Great sign! What a great way to repurpose spools. Would love it if you have time come by and link up to share it One More Time...
http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2012/09/are-you-in-mood-to-party-share-it-one.html
Hope to see you there.
Tammy

Kathy said...

Inspired! Love the spools! I saw a few oat last year's Country Living Fair - wish I'd picked some up! The sign is marvelous - especially since the quote is special to your daughter and her husband - great tutorial! I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy

joyh82 said...

what a great idea for necklaces. Mine are always getting tangeled.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Your industrial spool jewelry holders are too cool, Megan!

Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Be sure to stop in tonight to see yourself featured.

Blessings,
Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to let you know I linked to this post. I couldn't resist doing something with that bead board sign tutorial (even though I did it differently) and I decorated a cute little stool with a fleur-de-lis. http://janmadeit.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/paint-with-fonts/

Thanks for the inspiration.
Jan

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

GREAT idea hanging the spools on the wall!! Love the sign too :)