Elephant Baby Shower Banner

I am hosting a baby shower for a good friend of mine here in Mattawa in May and I didn't want to feel rushed with any of the details at the last minute so I've decided to start early!

The colors of her daughters Nursery are teal, grey and yellow with chevron.

I had seen a few banner on Pinterest and decided to take little ideas from each to make the perfect banner that can be put in Raylee's room later!

I used my Silhouette and printer for the entire thing.  I honestly don't know what I would do without it.

I would have no crafting skills.

This banner is so easy to make.  Copy it, change colors, do whatever you like, I just hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Letter D String Art

My sister watched Evelyn one day while I was at a Dr.  appt and I asked her if there was anything I could make her to "pay" her for babysitting.  She said she wanted a string art sign with the letter D to go above her little boys bed.  The colors of his room are Blue and Green so I got some pallet wood, string and nails and got to work!

I love this piece so much!  She hasn't hung it above his bed yet (we must be related) but even if she never does I think it looks great  on his dresser just like that!

As for me and my house

A friend I went to school with texted me a while ago and asked if I would maker her a sign with the scripture Joshua 24:14 on it and to make it out of pallet wood.  She sent me a picture of one she liked and I altered it a little bit to fit what we were looking for.

I wanted the sign to have a different length board for each line.  Who knew it would be so hard to find 2 pallets with the same kind of wood?  I built the base and coated it with Polyurethane so the grain would stand out.

This is the finished sign!  What do you think?

This was the base before I put the letters on.  I'm always amazed at how much of a difference a coat of Poly makes.

This was another base I made out of stained pine.  Now I just need to decide what I want to do with it.

A Sturdy Shelf

I am in LOVE!!!

 I love this shelf so much I want to make about 10 of them just for myself.

My sister in law bought a shelf like this at a craft show last year and when I saw it at her house I knew I could build it.

The supplies for this project were…

2- 2x6x6

1- moulding at 6 ft.

5- hooks

optional- Kreg Jig and PH Screws

I first cut my 2x6's one at 4 ft and the other at 5 ft.  drilled holes to connect them with my Kreg jig and it was as sturdy as can be.  

Next I cut the moulding edges at 45 degrees and glued it to the bottom 2x6.  My moulding had a bow in it so I ended up using my Nail Gun also it keep it in place.  I filled the holes with filler and then started the painting.  After putting on a cream coat I decided I wanted to glaze it with a brown tint also.

To hang this shelf I used 2 Saw Tooth hook at 10" from each side.

To make sure I put the nails in the right spot on the wall I always put a dab of toothpaste on each hook.

 This would be a great front entry shelf to hold coats, backpacks or cute decorations.

 I'm using mine to hold my cleaning supplies and aprons so they aren't hanging out on the floor!

ENJOY! I hope you make some of your own!

Glittered Deer Head

This craft is all over Pinterest and I decided it would be a cute addition to the Collage for Evelyn's room

This isn't where it will be I just needed to put it somewhere to take pictures of it

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the deer head.  It was a shape that was a mounted deer head and I just deleted the plaque from the background and cut out the design on some card stock.

The items I used for this project were

Gold Glitter

Super Hold Hairspray

Mod Podge

Canvas

A Perfect Printable

I am in the works of making a collage for behind Evelyn's crib to replace the chalkboard that is there currently.

I originally wanted to make an adoption quote printable but decided to make one that said what Evelyn is to me.

I want her to be able to look at it and know that it is something that came from my heart and that I love her more than anything in this world!

I made this to be an 8.5x11 so I could print it straight from my printer.

ENJOY!

Birthday Card

My cute little cousin turned 8 and was baptized  last week and I wanted to play around with the Silhouette Sketch Pens again so I made her this adorable Birthday Card.  

To be honest I remade this card 3 different times.  I didn't like it and would tear it apart and start over. 

ugh.

So frustrating.

  I don't feel I am very good with paper crafts but I'm working on it.

A Simple Valentine

I know you're supposed to post Valentines before Valentines Day but this year things have been crazy.  We decided to hop on a Plane and go to San Diego for some warm weather and got home 2 days before Valentines Day and I finished these Thursday night at 10 pm and have just been to busy to get around to posting them.

I used a Silhouette free pattern to make the arrow and used my sketch pens to do the writing. Easy peasy.

I taped a heart shaped box of chocolates on the back since everyone loves some chocolate on Valentines day.

A Valentines Day Arrow

I've started on Valentines for this year and am waiting for my Sketch Pens to come in the mail so I can finish!  I got started the other day when Silhouette had their free pattern for the week as a cute Arrow template!  I thought it was awesome so Evelyn and I took a walk to the Orchard by our house and got little sticks to hold them together.

After realizing how much I loved it I went out to the garage got a scrap piece of 1x12, a ruler and a bowl and drew an arrow.

With my Band Saw I cut it out, then sanded it really good with the Belt Sander and then got to painting!

I still cannot believe how easy it was and how awesome it turned out!  Jefferson said he was impressed which always makes me feel like I have created something incredible! haha

So, there you have it.  The love is this way.

DIY Adirondack Chairs and Table

I love Ana White. 

She's a genius.

She's amazing.

She's extremely talented.

The first project I ever build from her plans was the Rustic X Table

I had planned on using it inside my house as an end table but couldn't decide how to finish it so I made 2 Adirondack chairs to go with it to make it a yard furniture set!

I'm so creative! haha

TA-DA!!  I'm sure you've notice by now that picture taking is not really my thing.  Well Jefferson took this one but still.  I use my iPhone, so please, no judging!

I also have dogs that when you're outside think it's time to place. 

Even if your trying to do a totally awesome photo shoot. haha

Oh, and my grass doesn't exist.  It is on the to-do list this spring.

This is me saying, "This isn't going to work, is it?"

The awesome thing about these chairs are that an 18x18 or 20x20 cushion will fit it perfectly!

I am going to sell this set on Craigslist and would like to paint them to what someone would want.  If they want to keep them as the natural wood I still need to do a good sanding and painting.

DIY Hand Painted Sign

After my Pocket Change Signs I wanted to find another way that you could paint signs with it being even more crisp and clean.

I searched and searched and finally decided to give transfer paper a try.

I don't know if I just don't know where to look or what but geeze it took me forever to find it!

I finally went to Hobby Lobby and asked one of the employee's if they had any and she found me this.

Not exactly what I was expecting to find but it worked.

I printed off what the saying that I wanted and put the transfer paper in-between the wood and my printed paper.  I traced around the letters barely having to press down.  Use a pressure you would if you were just writing.

Then with Acrylic Paint I filled in the lines.  It would be better to use a transfer paper that is the same color you plan to paint but in my case I could only find white transfer paper and I had black paint on hand. Oops.  Oh well, I'll figure out how to plan one day!

Kitchen Island Ideas

I have a strong urge to build a Kitchen Island!

I don't have very much counter space and I've always loved islands.

I've seen a lot of industrial style islands lately and I have to admit, I am a huge fan!

via

I love how this island has the wood counter on the top and bottom

via

Galvanized pipe is what I want to use for the legs,  just like this!

Seriously, how awesome does this look?

via

This is how I want it to look but with the galvanized pipe.  It MUST have wheels that lock so I can move it around when I want to and then it can stay put so my little girl isn't moving it around.

So this combined with the Galvanized Pipe!  I don't mine the steel on this one either though, I could do this one.  Who know, I'm just brainstorming ideas, i'll probably change my mind again in a week!

Let me know what you think and give me some more ideas, the more the merrier!

Love String Art

I am so excited to post this project.

I've seen string art a lot on Pinterest and decided to give it a try.

With the pallet I took apart in my last post I made the sign using my Kreg Jig to hold it together.

I've seen Kreg Jigs on a lot of DIY blogs and decided to give in and buy the Jr. version.

Let me tell ya,

BEST INVESTMENT EVER!!

I love it.  I had to do some convincing while we were in Lowes to get Jefferson to let me buy it but once we got home and I showed him how it worked he kept saying how amazing it was!

 Ok, the first step is to print or free hand draw the lettering that you want onto the wood.  I printed and then nailed to nails to the paper and then ripped it off. I didn't really like the font I used so I free handed some of the nailing. 

I used embroidery thread and outlined the letters first before I got going with all of the zig zagging.

This project is super time consuming.  I think I spent between 3 and 4 hours on it (enter surprised emoji) (hint hint blogger)

It is just so cool! I love it so much!

Voila!  

If you would like to purchase this sign please visit my etsy shop! 

The Project Garage

How To Take Apart A Pallet

You know those piles of pallets you see all the time that you wish you knew what to do with?

Where I live they are everywhere! We get a lot of them too at our Dairy and I see pallet projects all over the place.

I've always dreaded taking apart pallets, a crowbar and a hammer just never really seemed to do the trick for me and would take me FOR EVER to take apart.

Well, fear no more I have the easiest way ever to take these bad boys apart!

On a side note am I the only one who wishes I could use Emoji's on my blog?!

Step 1: Find a pallet!  I had already cut up the back for a sign I made that's why there are some random pieces hanging from the back.

 Step 2:  Get a 9" Nail Embedded Wood blade for a Reciprocating Saw.  I got this one for about $3 at our Ace store

Step 3:  Attach it to your Reciprocating Saw

Step 4: Place blade in-between the 2 wood pieces and GO TO TOWN!!!

I seriously can have a pallet taken apart in about 5 minutes. No joke.

You will need a fresh blade every few pallets or so.  And again make sure it is a Nail Embedded Wood Blade, I have found these work the best.

Keep The Change

I am in the works of a big project so for my first "real project" post I will post a sign I just made for my Etsy shop!

I keep a jar in my laundry room for coins and random bills that Jefferson leaves in his pockets.

Random bills don't last in my pockets because I always find something to spend them on!

Some days Jefferson forgets to empty his pockets so I figured this would be a friendly reminder.

Here is the AWESOME finished product!

I had a scrap piece of wood in my garage and it measured 14x7.

I painted the wood with some Grey Valspar paint I picked up at Lowes today.

 The first one I did I printed off a piece of paper with a saying I want and traced around the letters with a Ballpoint pen.

You want to press hard enough that you leave an indent in the wood.

I then took a small paint brush and painted within the indentations in the wood.   

After I finished this sign I realized I didn't like  how unclean the lines were so I went and found another piece of wood and started a new sign. :(

Luckily I had a cute little helper

I headed to my computer made a new saying and with my Silhouette created a stencil so I could just paint over the stencil.  Much easier but if you don't have a silhouette or have a steadier hand than I do go for the pen and paper method!

I love how this turned out and hope a lucky buyer finds my Etsy shop and decides they HAVE TO HAVE IT!

I know this shop only has 2 items for sale right now but I promise it will grow! :)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheProjectGarage

Welcome!

Hello there!

       Welcome to The Project Garage.  I'll start off by telling you a little bit about myself and my journey to start The Project Garage and all of its goodness!

        My name is Karalee,  I am a mother to a beautiful adopted little girl and wife to an awesome husband who is always willing to go along with my "adventures".   I live in a small town an hour away from a Walmart, Lowes, decent grocery store and basically any store that would be needed to do any shopping!

        When I was in middle school and we had the option to choose whether we would want to take Shop or Home Economics; I made a mistake and took Home Ec.  Our shop teacher was missing half of a finger from wood working and I was not going to let that be me!  I have since discovered my love of wood working and I know it is in my blood.  My Grandpa was an incredible wood worker and made all of his grand daughters dressers before he passed away.  I still kick myself for not learning any of his tricks before he passed.  I hope I can make him proud with the projects I plan to do!

       This past year for Christmas my husband turned our garage into my paradise.  He came home with everything I could need and want to build all that my little heart desires!  Every day I can't wait for 6:30 to come around and my little girl goes to sleep so I can run out to my garage and start another project.

             

              I hope you enjoy this blog, my projects and all that inspires me!