The Pallet Sign Class

I cut back my hours 18 months ago because I felt like I was investing all of my time and energy in other people's lives and at the end of each work week, I was too short on both to truly invest in my own.  I wanted time with my husband, my family, my dogs, my friends and yah, it sounds selfish, but I wanted more time for me, too.  I wanted a clean house, folded laundry and a green garden.  I wanted a date night.  I wanted to go more places.  I wanted to take classes, learn new things and fill parts of my brain that have nothing to do with the nursing profession.  Life is short, create the life you want and truly live it, right?

 

I saw this pallet sign class in Februray and had to giggle when the only dates available just happened to be on 3 of the 8 nights I had already been scheduled to work that month.  Oh, the irony!  

I caught a short message on Facebook yesterday that there was still room in the class for last night. So I signed up.  A quick text to a friend and I'd found someone willing to give it a try with me -- even though she had no idea what I was talking about when I said it was a pallet sign class -- and even after learning that it was a two week class and neither of us could do the second class.  I can't stress how important it is to have at least a couple friends who can "wing it" on impulse and at the last minute with you.  It helps turn life from a scheduled event into an adventure!

Katie Homann is the smart, articulate and crafty genius behind the class.  She brings an energy into the room that is fun, spirited and knowledgeable. I love being around people that love what they do. She has a community page on Facebook named Reflection with her projects and classes through RAPRD.org (Redmond's Park and Rec).

I think she's pretty amazing and I love what she creates out of scraps and leftovers.  The class was AWESOME!  She called earlier in the day to make sure she brought the right supplies for me to create exactly what I wanted that night.  When I told her that my friend and I could only make it to the first class; she was cool with it, totally improvised and brought some extra stuff to send home with us so we could finish up our projects at home, even offering her own time and shop to us if we wanted it.

So, because I've had more than a few people messaging me about the pallet sign specifics, I thought I'd go over some of the details here - but I still think Katie's class is the best choice for locals.  She will even do private classes for groups of 5 or more for $40 per person.  Her tips, insight and help is worth the cost of the class alone.  She's absolutely great -- and knows her stuff!

 

The Basic Instructions:

It's a little difficult to show you the steps with a mostly finished product but I did my best to "recreate" the moment for you.



I borrowed this pic from her page to show you how she arrives in class.

We started with premade sign boards built from ripped pallets.  Katie went over all the specifics to teach which pallets to look for, how to tear them apart and how she assembles the individual signs.

(Heat treated pallets, a rip saw, a staple gun and a saw to cut everything to length and sander - though she said she'd created the same sign with just a hammer, nails and handsaw and sandpaper.) 

Did I mention she's amazing?


I can't get over the hanger.  It's made with a keyhole router bit and I can't wait to get one of my own! Until then, any picture frame hanger would work, too.

After choosing our premade sign boards, we chose the paint color for the back ground and learned some dry brushing techniques to maintain the rustic character of some of the wood.  Paint samples, a paint brush and paper towel is all we needed.

Katie also prepared some printed pictures with our names in different fonts to give us options for our design.  She uses a word processor and regular printer.  In class, we flip the paper over and coat the back with regular #2 pencil graphite.  In theory, we created our own transfer paper.  We cut up the designs and taped them to our boards the way we wanted them. We then used a ballpoint pen to outline the design, creating light transfer lines on our boards. Easy peasy but a little time consuming so it was nice to be able to finish up at home.

I was a little surprised that Katie prefers using a Sharpie to fill in the design.  She has also used a tiny paintbrush, but after seeing several samples of each and knowing my patience level with painting straight lines, I was all about using the Sharpie.  It gives the lettering a nice sheen and was pretty easy to use.

 

When the ink or paint is nice and dry, I went over it lightly with 150 grain sandpaper to give it a bit of a distressed look.  (Remember to go with the grain so you don't mess up your beautiful art!)

 

You can stop here if you'd like.

 

 

I almost did -- but I really like the aged and weathered look that glazing gives a piece, so I went on.  I applied a light coat of glaze with one rag and quickly wiped it off with another dry one to keep the coat light.  

 

And ... drumroll please:

 

 

 

I love it and think I might get a group of gals together to host one of Katie's private lessons -- with wine drinking and cheese nibbling.  Who's in?

 

 

One last pic just to show some size perspective to those who were inquiring.  

 

Lol - The next time you see this wall it might just be covered --- ooooohhhhhhh!  Think of all the wonderful wine quotes that could fill this spot...  I think my imagination just exploded with ideas.  If anyone needs me, I'll be in the shop, er, I mean garage...

Oh Deer...

I was scrolling through Etsy because while I like to make things on my own, let's face it - there are lots of people out there who have amazing talents and sometimes, I'd just rather have them make one for me...  Then I saw it.  The cutest little girl in the MOST adorbs reindeer hat that I have ever seen!!!  A photo came to mind with four sweet little girls, each with a matching hat.  There were two options: the pattern or I could purchase the hats themselves - but that was proving to add up into "cost prohibiting numbers" - so I bought the pattern and BEGGED my knit talented sister to oblige me with 3 -- no, make that 4, reindeer hats.

Let me preface the rest of the story by admitting that the pattern sounded complicated and used knitting needles and techniques that I had never heard of.  My sister was very clear when she accepted the challenge, "I only knit.  I DON'T crochet."  So when she went through the pattern and saw not only the techniques but the fact there was crocheting involved, she said, "I don't know, Aim..."  I giggled, handed her the bag of supplies and said, "You've totally got this.  Easy Peazy.  Either you'll figure it out or find a way around it."  So she did.

I had a hard time finding enough (or ANY) of the right color of yarn suggested by the pattern.  All I could find was much softer and less structurally supportive so she fought her way through that challenge, too, and the results are so stinkin' cute that I added on a 4th order for the girl's cousin!  She's likely a little too grown up for a reindeer hat but maybe she can wear it around her cousins over the holiday.

When you add on the fact that both families are big hunters, the little twist of irony makes it all even sweeter!  I can't wait to see the girls dressed in their gear!  

The pattern or individually sold hats can be found on Etsy by Two of Wands if you are interested in your own.

Define Naughty

I saw a sign last year and I should have bought it at that moment - but the size was wrong, the color was off and seriously, I'm not paying nearly $40 for an old, beat up piece of wood with some witty words scribbled on it.  I knew I could make it and do it exactly the way I wanted it for about $6.  I stopped at the craft store on the way home.  I found almost everything I needed except for the board.  No problem, I'll pick one up later, right?

My bag of craft supplies sat on the counter for days.  It got moved to "the mail pile" and then to the top of the bar.  Around St.Patty's Day or Easter, the same bag was then stashed into one of the cubby spots IN the bar and there it has sat for the remainder of the year.  Oh yes, friends.  For every project that finds it's way to fruition, there are at least 10 others in various states of non-completion stashed somewhere waiting for the right moment of inspiration and energy to connect.  I'm terrible.  I hate that I'm terrible but my 4th decade has brought with it a new level of self-acceptance.  

I found my bag of craft supplies a few days ago and couldn't help but giggle.  I had been to the craft store for a totally different project and a little chalkboard caught my eye.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it but I knew it would work for something so I brought it home.  Wouldn't you know?  It was exactly what I needed to complete the sign I wanted to make 12 months earlier!

You see how life tends to circle back to things unfinished?

So I finished making my sign, finally.  And the timing was perfect.  Not only did I find a matching sticker but I had recently received a shipment from the wine club and everything came together so perfectly, I couldn't help but forward on a photo to Naked Winery, which you will understand better after seeing the photo...

They sent me a message that they loved it and were posting it on their Facebook Pages.  So tonight I'm celebrating my 10 seconds of Facebook fame with a nice glass of Naked Merlot.  Personally, I think they should find someone to make some signs and sell them as a package deal with wine, wine rack and sign for the holidays.  I have a list of people I'd like to send a gift package like that.  

Hmmm.... Wait, I have an idea.

Christmas Wreath

A glass of wine, a glue gun, a giant container of Christmas ornaments and a styrofoam wreath form = easiest Christmas project ever.  Seriously.  

The Revolving Herb Tower

I saw a few different things on Pinterest that I thought I could combine to make something that would work for me.  These were the inspiration pieces:

 

 

So I gathered my supplies:  canning jars, paint, lazy susan, wood scraps, wood glue and duct clamps then went to work. 

 

 

 

I added a tray for rocks to help weight it down due to our wind gusts and detailed it with a monogram to personalize it a bit more.

Then I filled the jars with a gravel base, potting soil and seeded them with herbs.  I added chalkboard tags that can be marked with which herb is growing where and then altered if I replant with something different.  When the temps drop, I will bring it in for the winter.  I have 8 jars of tiny green sprouts!  It will be interesting to see how they grow.

This was project took more time than most due to the drying time of glue and paint between steps.  In hindsight, I wouldn't have used the scrap wood I had on hand.  It wasn't all straight or the quality I would want to use on a project that turned out this neat.  I'd opt for the quality stuff.  I think the hardest part was sanding off the fresh paint to give it the "shabby" look I was going for.  To a perfectionist, doing things intentionally haphazardly is not easy.

Antler Light Fixture

I have been working on lots of little projects to make our house into the home that fits us.  When we built it in 2004, we had a different future in mind.  We designed this house to raise a family.  Life has a way of changing plans in spite of our greatest efforts.  We adjusted.  We got busy.  The house got old and it's time for some updates.

So, I've been working to make this happen.  Not only was this my first real house but it was custom designed by a collaborative effort between me, Jeff, my dad who drew up the plans and Rocky, the builder -- plus anyone else who was willing to give advice along the way.  I love it too much to leave it but there are lots of little things I would do differently next time. 

We have an awesome wrap around porch but the lighting has always bothered me.  So much, in fact, that I'd rather just leave the burnt out bulbs in place and ignore them.  I've been keeping my eyes open for something that would speak to me.  After our trip to Jackson, Wyoming last winter - I knew exactly what we needed, I wanted a new antler light fixture for the deck.  I waited for the right fixture to go on sale for the right price and pulled the trigger.

Light fixtures are easy to swap out.  It's a matter of unscrewing things, matching like colored wires, screwing them back in and calling it good.  Usually.  Until there is an extra wire.  And a mismatched colored wire.  And the ladder barely reaches.  And you have to perform all of installation tasks 16 feet in the air with one arm because you are holding the 30 pound fixture with the other hand.  But after a 911 call to my favorite electrician, an impromptu trip to borrow my brothers ladder and a little bit of blood, sweat and tears -- the fixture was up -- and it's beautiful.

Before:

After:

The Salad Planter

I love Shanty-2-Chic's website and tutorials.  These sisters are amazing.  I found this plan on their site and thought it would be perfect to grow our own salad fixings while keeping them off the ground.

I needed it to be a bit bigger so I adapted the plan.  The hardest part was recalculating the leg length with the angle that I needed.  It brought me back to algebra, trig and geometry high school classes.  I was excited because this was my first project with my new pneumatic staple gun.

I stained it, blinged it out with some glass pebbles and landscaping cement.  I lined the boxes with plastic and drilled holes in the bottoms for drainage.  Filled them with moisture control potting soil and seeded them with different varieties of loose leaf lettuce mixes.

The top left photo is from Shanty-2-Chic's site and the size of the original planter.

 

 

 

 

The Tomato Tower

Another Pinterest Project:  DIY Vertical Planter Garden with instructions found on RufflesandTruffles.com.  (I really like her blog - she's smart AND funny!)

 

I tweaked it a little to maximize my space and accommodate large planters.

 

The risers are prefab and available at most home improvement stores.  They are around $25 each.  I used treated 2x4s and 2x6 for the frame because I knew that I'd be using plastic planters that would not come into contact with the wood.  I used screws and bolts to stabilize the frame.  I knew it would get heavy with soil, water and plants.  The planter boxes I purchased were extra large and I needed to cut the back edge down for a secure fit.  I also drilled holes in the bottom for drainage.  This wasn't a thrifty project.  With $50 for the risers, another $40 for the planter boxes, lumber, hardware and stain; I believe it was around $115-125 to build but it has certainly optimized space and has been a great way to add portable gardening space around our home.


Mid July



Burlap Wreath

If you are going to go to the trouble of staining the front door - know in advance that it likely won't stop there.  I think maybe I was spending too much time staring at the fruits of my labor because it started to look very, well, empty.  I searched home décor sights for something, though I wasn't sure what.  A few clicks at Pottery Barn gave me some ideas but the prices!  Yikes! 

(I spend money in time allotments now.  I don't see dollars and cents.  I see units of work.  How many shifts is that pretty, somewhat fragile, organic, welcome wreath really worth to me, anyway?  Yah.  It just wasn't THAT awesome.)

I perused Etsy and I still couldn't do it for the price.  The cheap ones were, well, CHEAP and the items I liked seemed to still be in the $100+ range. 

So I cruised over Pinterest just to see if something - caught - my - eye...  If you don't know Pinterest that likely won't make sense but for those of us that do, we know all too well that it can take you into an alter-universe where time simply disappears.  One moment it's 8 pm and you are waiting for a commercial to end before your favorite TV show starts.  You remember a recipe you saw the other night and take advantage of the break to look it up so you can pick up the ingredients in the morning.  You look up, the house is dark, the TV is off.  Everyone is asleep.  It's 2 am and NO...  You never did actually make it to the ingredients list of that recipe -- what was it anyway?  And who will have time to cook!  You need to get to bed because there are 13 super cool projects that you just found and must absolutely start working on first thing in the morning!!!

Ah, but I digress...  This is about a wreath, right?

Yes, you can find tons of instructions on Pinterest.  So many, in fact, that I'm not even posting the link.  There are thousands.

Mine is made out of a straw wreath base and about 2 yards of burlap cut into 3.5-4.5 inch squares and hot glue gunned into place.  I may have burned most of my fingertips past the nerve endings because eventually they quit hurting.  I found a cardboard letter and wrapped it with twine, holding the twine in place with a fair amount of glue.  (Also seen on Pinterest, of course.)  Then I embellished it with a bandana and USA flag and called it good.

It took about 6 hours from start to finish and about another 4 days to get all the tiny burlap particles out of the house.  It cost about $20 in the end and it discouraged me from starting any new projects for a few weeks -- and THAT likely makes it worth it's weight in gold.

The Outdoor Wine Bistro

A friend of mine posted this photo on Facebook - and I immediately fell in love with it!  I found a link on Pinterest and went to work!

Outdoor Pallet Wine Table

I didn't find specific instructions but it seemed pretty self explanatory.  I cleaned two small wood pallets, added a 2x4 for both additional support and extra shelving, stained them, used metal plates and screws to secure them together, and landscaping cement to adhere concrete pavers to the top.

I used the glass pebbles (from a floral department) with the same landscaping cement to add a bit of bling to the edges and added some "feet" made from a 2x8 to reinforce stability and make it child/dog proof.

The total cost of the project was around $25 but I had a few things on hand that I didn't have to purchase:

Pallets - free

Stain - I used left over stain I already had

2x8 - I used scraps I already had

2x4 - $3

Pavers - $6

Screws, Metal plates - $4

Landscaping Cement - $6

Glass Pebbles - $5

We love our table and use it much more than I anticipated.  This was an easy and very rewarding project!