DIY Tiled Patio Table

I'm so excited to share today's post!  Last week we came home from little league practice to find the wind had caused the glass top on our patio table to shatter.  What...a...mess!  There was glass everywhere--I'm still finding small shards (no backyard bare feet for us).  Instead of getting a new glass top for the table we decided we would use ceramic tile to make a "custom" top.  This project was fairly easy for my honey (I have a very handy guy) and we were able to get this beautiful table top for about $110 versus the $300-$600 a new glass top would have cost.

After stabilizing a cut of plywood to prevent warping, we were ready to layout the tile.  We used 15x15 ceramic tiles in a simple rectangle layout leaving space on the edges to add an accent tile border.

Using a portable tile saw, he cut a hole for the umbrella to go through.  Next, he used a material called thin set, which is a bonding agent, to adhere the tile to the plywood.  

After adhering the center tiles, we were ready to add the border accent tiles.  For these we used darker, smaller tiles (6x6) and cut them down to the correct size.  
 

After a few hours we had a like-new table!  I love the way it turned out and I really love sitting out  there in the evenings watching the kids play in the grass.  Thanks honey!  

My Latest 'Pin'spiration

Hello!  I thought I'd share a little project I did as a housewarming gift for a friend at work.  I got the idea for this jar on Pinterest (where else, right?!) and was so excited when I got the opportunity to make one--I jumped right in!   

Top front view of the jar.

After finding the perfect jar, the next step was to choose a color theme--easy enough--my friend's favorite color is purple.  I made crinkle paper out of purple paper scraps for the inside base of the jar and then added the goodies including a candle, a chevron-patterned nightlight, and a few other small toiletry items that may not be easily accessible during moving (cotton balls, bandaids, a nail kit, etc.).

Top view of the jar.

Next was the fun part!  I used my Sizzix scallop circle Framelits and purple paper scraps to create this cute little label for the lid of the jar.  I used foam squares to raise the second layer of the label and a paper piercer to add detail to the edge of the scallops on the top layer.  I stamped the sentiment using one of my Fiskars stamp sets with Paper Studio lavender ink.  To add a little dimension and embellishing to the sentiment I popped up a tiny purple heart with a lavender rhinestone in the middle.

Front view of the jar.

 
I finished it off with a ribbon around the edge of lid.  This was a lot of fun to make and even more fun to give!  I love finding ways to use up scraps and making crinkle paper is a great way to do that! I will definitely be using this gift idea in the future--the possibilities are endless...birthday, baby shower, house warming, new job, graduation...............

Thanks for stopping by...go create something beautiful today!

Sweet Butterflies

Today I'm sharing this lovely little 4x4 coordinating card set and matching box I worked on over the weekend.  At first I wasn't sure about the colors or layouts, but all in all I think the cards turned out very nicely and I really like the box.  I might add a handle to the box because without a lid it seems a little incomplete to me.  I hope you like it!


The first card has a really neat fold and is almost like a mini album.  I followed Mary Fish's one minute tutorial which can be found on YouTube or at her Stampin' Pretty website.  

Front of album fold card

Album fold card unfolding

Inside of album fold card

The next card is a simple Thinking of You card. 

Thinking of you

Th next card turned out so lovely!  I used a square punch on the front of this card and then the same size scallop square to create a border for the windows.  I then covered the windows on the inside with a layer of white card stock and was getting ready to toss the negative from the label die I used in the album card when I realized it would be great for the inside of this card. Make sense...probably not!  

Inside and front of the negative die card

The final card is a basic with a simple little layout.

Simple little card

And for the box!  I used Andrea Walford's template and added some butterflies, ribbon, and rhinestones!  Pretty!  This box easily holds all 8 cards and envelopes.  

4x4 card box

Thanks for stopping by...go create something beautiful today!

Thinking of You 3x3 Notecards with Box

After making several sets of Halloween and Christmas cards I decided to make a pretty little "anytime" card!  It's floral and sweet.  Hope you like it!

The supplies:

Basic White CS

Spring Fling DSP by DCWV

1.5 inch Circle  Punch by The Paper Studio

1.75 inch Scallop Circle Punch by Fiskars

3-in-1 Heritage Corner Punch by Fiskars

All Year Greetings stamp set by Fiskars

Sea Breeze Chalk Ink by VersaMagic (Tsukineko)

Pink Ribbon

This card measures 3x3 with the floral DSP measuring 2.75 x 2.75 and the corners punched using the 3-in-1 Heritage corner punch.  I wrapped the DSP with the pink ribbon and made a simple know.  I then punched the gingham scallop circle using the 1.75 scallop circle punch and then used a paper piercer to accent the scallops.  Using the VersaMagic I stamped the "Thinking of You" phrase from the All Year Greetings stamp set and punched it using the 1.5 inch circle punch.  Layer it all together and you have a very simple, but beautiful card!

I also made the matching box and coordinating envelopes to go along with this.  And the completed set looks like this:

Thanks for stopping by!

-Chasity

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I haven't posted in a while, but I'm back!  I'm trying to commit to posting my new projects as I complete them.  I'd like to post before, during, and after images to go with completed projects.  To start off, I'm in a very holiday mood lately!  I'll start off with a post of some cute little Halloween cards I made.  They are 3x3 cards and they have a matching box and coordinating envelopes.  

The supplies:
Black CS
Golden Yellow CS
Seasonal DSP by Cloud 9 Design
Real Estate Sign Large punch by EK Success
Dotted Scallop Edger Punch by EK Success
Tuxedo Black in by Memento 
Orange Pigment Ink by The Paper studio
Mini Rhinestones by The Paper Studio

First layer, black CS punched using scallop edger punch.

The completed card.

This is the completed box.  I found the instructions for it at
Dawn's Stamping Thoughts (one of my faves!).  

The complete set.
Included are six 3x3 notecards with coordinating envelopes.  

I hope you liked today's little share!

-Chasity  

Scrapbooking Article: Organizing Paper

Scrapbooking Article: Organizing Paper

Best Wishes for 2012!

It's a brand new year and I want to wish you a very happy, healthy, and blessed new year!  No new year's resolutions for me, but I am renewing my commitment to the Lord, Jesus Christ.  I want my children to know His love and to one day accept Him into their hearts as their Savior.  Gil and I registered them today for Calvary's Bible Island, which is their Sunday School program.  Ethan had an awesome time and couldn't stop saying, "I love church, I love church!"  Natalie cried a bit when we left her in her classroom, but by the time we returned she was happy as could be.  I left church today feeling very happy and very much at peace.  Jesus is our Lord and He makes everything okay.  If there are areas of your life you are struggling with, I can promise you that if you let the Lord into your heart, you will know that the kingdom awaits you and that our earthly trials are no match for His unending plan for us:  eternity with the Father.  Follow the link below to find more information for Calvary of Albuquerque.

Calvary of Albuquerque