Back to School Mantel

BACK TO SCHOOL

It's back to school time at our house. All my boys start back next week. I can't believe summer break is nearing an end. :( I really enjoy having my boys home for the summer. We have enjoyed lots of family time together. Since it's the start of a new school year I decided to create a mantel to celebrate my boys and encourage them to have a wonderful school year. I created this design using some things I had, and a few things that I purchased.

First I created the banner using my cutting machine. I then found this adorable ruler ribbon for $.99 at Hobby Lobby. You get six feet on the roll, which is a great deal. I picked up the tiny clips a while back, and think they worked out perfect to hold the cards. 

Close up of the details. I love the polka dot paper. I found this paper at Michaels Craft Store.

I found the writing tab slips from Michaels, they were 50% off and ended up being $.50 They came in a pack. I wrote each of my boys names on them for a personal touch.

I made this large "B" out of a cardboard B that I found at Joann Crafts. I covered it with some material that I had, and then outlined the letter with twine.

The large globe is a vintage find, I love it! I found this other metal globe at Target. I stacked the smaller globe on vintage books that I've had for a while.

This is an old frame that I painted aqua, shocking I know ;). I made these little banners to hang on it. I used some apple print scrapbook paper for the triangle banner. The other one is made out of alphabet stickers I found for cheap at Michaels Craft Store. I also found the grade stickers there. Those are the grades that my boys will be in this year. Just another way to add a personal touch. 

I found these addition cards in the dollar section at Target. I had these letter stickers and used them to spell out A,B,C. I also used this vintage frame that I painted aqua.

I am not a chalkboard artist by any means, but this is the special message I wanted to share with my boys. I hope you feel inspired to create a back to school mantel. Best wishes for a wonderful school year, and if you are a teacher then thank you in advance for all your hard work and dedication! 

XO~Gretchen

Aspire banner

So since I decided on my word of the year, I wanted to make a banner to hang in my studio space. I wanted to create something bright and cheery. I went to Hobby Lobby and found all the fabrics that I needed to make my banner.

They have a great selection, and some of them were on sale. Per usual, I bough a little extra, but I have another project in the works that I'll be blogging about soon. Don't you love that pink burlap? I just cut out a large triangle out of the pink burlap. The burlap will frey, so just be sure to clean up the edges before you finish.

Since I have been drawing block letters by hand since I was in grade school, I felt pretty comfortable tracing out the letters. I then cut them out by hand. You could always use a letter stencil, and trace them if you want. Or you may want to use your Cricut to cut out the letters, and use some pretty paper.

I then got out my handy glue gun, and glued each of the letters on the burlap pieces.

Then I used some aqua and white bakers twine to string them together.

And here is the end result hanging in my studio space.

I hung it on my gallery wall. I had to wait until the hubs got home to hang it a little higher. ;)

I love my gallery wall, it's filled with items I have created and collected.

This projected was completed in about 45 mins. It's really easy to assemble, and you could pick whatever word or phrase you want. I think I am going to make one for Valentines Day, and maybe use the word LOVE!

Hope you feel inspired to create something for your home.

XO~Gretchen