Wire Picture/Note Frames How To!

So, a few years ago, I saw something somewhere that I thought was pretty cool.  So, of course, I decided I could do it just a bit better.  Or, in other words... Do it so I would like it better!

These have been really good sellers at my bazaars.

If you don't care about the how to, just skip on down the pictures...

First, you need to go to your local Home Depot or th equivalent.  Make sure to bring your teenage son to help.  Head on over to the big pile/display of 1x2's.   They come in 8' lengths.  Sometimes it takes a bit to find the straight ones in the pile but you can do it!  I usually buy 10 or more at a time.  They are usually around $1.00 each.  If you can't fit 8 foot boards into your car, have them cut it in half for you.

You can get one frame out of one 8' board but if you want it bigger than roughly 21" square you will need two.  Sometimes I decide the size I'm going to make before I cut them.  More often than not I decide as I'm cutting them.

Here they are all cut and numbered so I don't get them mixed up.

Next, sand the pieces just a bit...

Then Paint them



Sand them again.  The more you sand the more rustic they will look.

Then slap some stain on the pieces.  You can put them together first if you like.  I like to use Minwax water based stain because it dries fast and cleans up with soap and water.  I used to be able to buy it already in the color I wanted but now I have to have the clear base tinted.  I like to use American Walnut.

Screw them together.  I use my nail gun to put them together then screw them for more stability.  Don't forget the glue!

For the wire, I like to use "tie wire"  you can find it at Ace or Home Depot.

It is really greasy though so you should have an old rag or paper towels handy to wipe it off.  I cut my pieces then wipe them off.

Wrap the wire around something round.

Alternate the circles.

If you don't have a staple gun like this one.  You should get one or borrow one!  You will need an air compressor as well.  If you use a home hand stapler (the kind you re-cover chairs with) you will need to use several staples and hammer them down to keep the wire taut.



Stretch the wire and start stapling it into place

When you are finished, the wire will look all crooked and messy.  The beautiful thing about wire is that you can just bend it until it is straight and lovely.

If you want, you can cut out some stars or flowers or hearts and use them too.  I use my band saw to cut them out.  My scroll saw recently died.  More on that later...  You can also buy pre cut shapes at Michaels.

You can use clothespins or not to hold all your pictures and stuff.

So, there you go.  I'm going to put these in my wood etsy shop just as soon as I can figure out an easy way to ship them!





But..... I did it last time!

Recently, Garth and I decided it was high time for an actual job chart for the Walker Family.  Since our refrigerator is usually covered with pictures and things to not forget I needed a place to put a job chart. 

I thought about it and had a vision.

My vision didn't have these blurry cell phone pictures though.  Why didn't I just go upstairs and get the real camera?  Laziness.

So, first I went to Costco and bought a magnetic dry erase board for $19.99.  It looks just like this one but without the containers attached to it.

This is going to go in the kitchen and I didn't want that lovely aluminum frame to ugly it up so I took it off.

I purchased some pine 1x4's to make a new frame.
First, I needed to route the edges so they would look nice and route out the part where the white board would go.

Here they are, ready for cutting.

I cut the edges with a 45 degree angle so they would fit nicely together.

I painted the pieces black then sanded them so they had a nice rustic look.  As an amazing finish contractor who spends his days making things nice and smooth and pretty, my Dad doesn't like the word "rustic". 

Sorry Dad!

I nailed the frame together so it looks like this

Then I stained it with American Walnut stain and inserted the white board. 

I added some hooks and acrylic knobs that make me happy and hung it on the wall!

Within minutes, Gordon addes his touch.

Soon, I'll print some job charts and hang them on the white board with lovely magnets.  Once we decide we like the "format"  I'll have a friend cut some vinyl to make it official.

Gordon and Jensen are anxiously waiting......   Poor babies.

I Don't love Dogs.....

I really really don't love dogs or cats or little furry anythings. 
Why?
Waaaayyyy too many reason s to list.  really.



Last year, Garth's parents called to say they were going to serve a mission for our church in Taipei, Taiwan. 

The first thought that popped into my head was "we could take Penny"

What?  Where did that come from?  A dog.... in MY house?  For a whole year and a half?  Crazy.

I do believe my Mother-in-law was a little apprehensive about leaving her baby with her non pet loving daughter-in-law.  Her other one loves dogs.

I believe Penny and I have done pretty well so far.  She thinks I love her and I do like her a lot.  She is cute.

Little Penny is turning 7 soon if not already.  I think she was born in March.
She is a Trained Therapy Dog and really very well behaved. 

We've had her for 10 months now.  In those 10 months, she's learned to go potty outside. Yay!  She was used to potty papers at her house.  My in-laws live at the Running Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  Penny could be eaten by any number of bigger than her things.

She's taken over one of our family room chairs.

If there is a blanket on the couch she's gonna test it out.

She sleeps on Jensen's bed

Every morning she does this hoping for tummy rubs.  She usually gets them.

She believes all legs are for getting comfy on

We made her a bed for Christmas

This is her real Mom and Dad

We try to send pictures and videos to them often. 

I know My Mother-in-law Ellen misses Penny terribly.  They will be home in October and Penny will take up her usual position on Ellen's shoulders as she sits and reads by the window.

I might miss her.

A BIG change (for me) and a peek at my sewing room

About 20-ish years ago......

Rotary cutters and self healing cutting Mats were the things I drooled most over at the fabric store.  Garth was attending BYU and I was working and making about $6.00 an hour.  In other words, we didn't have a lot of moola so it was a pretty big deal when I purchased my first green cutting mat.  I wish I could remember what it cost way back then.  I can remember bringing it home and just staring at it with joy and anticipation.  I also had my new rotary cutter.  My very sharp new rotary cutter.

Over the years, I used and used and used them.  I made school clothes for Garth and most of my dresses and tops.  When our boys came along, I made them church clothes, play clothes, toys and big stuffed bear bean bag chairs. 

So, earlier this week there was a major tragedy...  I cut right through my faithful old green cutting mat!  I'd used some of the marking so many times over the years that they were hard to see.  The markings stopped "self healing" and were slowly just being cutt away over time.

Kinda hard to see but I cut right through on the left side there....

It now has a new home under my sewing machine.

I HAD to replace it so I went to Joann Fabrics armed with my 50% off coupon.  I stood there and thought and thought about which one to buy.  The ol Green Olfa mats were a whopping almost $60.00 so $30.00 with the coupon (yes, I can do some simple math!).  I looked at the Fiskars brand and it was about $10.00 less, double sided and already on sale so I could use my coupon on fabric.  So, feeling a bit odd, I got the Fiskars one.

Here is my new baby...

Beautiful.

I was a bit hesitant to make that first cut.  Kinda like putting a hole in your brand new house to hang a picture. 

I managed.

Ok, enough about that BIG change!






Here is a small peek into my sewing room....

My Baby.  See that pink paper over there on the left?  Those are my patterns that I designed.  Yes, me!

A work in progress...

I love the window and natural light!

A "bit" of my fabric stash

Some bags waiting to be photographed and listed on Etsy

a few more

The wall behind my sewing machine needs to be re-organized again.

Bag hardware and other things easy to grab as needed

I almost didn't add this one because it looks so messy.  Just ignore the poor turkey sitting sadly on top of my box of ribbing (t-shirt necks, etc.)  Off to the side there in rolls is my supply of oil cloth.   My awesome t.v. and roku box are there so I can watch netflix movies instead of Judge Judy all day.  Oh, and my zipper supply too.



bags in progress.

Well, There you have it.  A small peek into my almost favorite place to be in our house.  I feel a bit exposed.

I hope you are still awake!