Sharing the Love!

Our Love Those Family Faces winner was kind enough to share a picture of her finished project. Beth didn't seem to have any shortage of family faces to feature. Thanks for sharing! The display look fantastic and we hope that your family is enjoying the stories that each block holds.

Easy to Make Fabric Frames

About a year ago we stood starring at a stack of unfinished wood frames and a pile of gorgeous fabric scraps when we had one of those peanut butter and chocolate kind of moments...

What would happen if we tried putting the two of these things together?

We think our frames are every bit as fabulous as a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup AND they don't add anything to our hips!

Look for fabric with small patterns. We also found that fabrics with darker backgrounds were easier to work with than light colors.

We combined our frames with distressed pieces of metal for one-of-a-kind magnet boards. Finish a frame to match your decor. It's also the perfect way to highlight a holiday project with coordinating fabric.

Instructions for making these frames are also posted on our website.

First you'll want to gather:
Unfinished Wood Frame (our rim measures about three inches across)
Fabric (enough to completely cover the front of the frame)
Black Paint (spray paint or brush on)
Decoupage Glue (we recommend Mod Podge - Matte finish)
Wide Foam Brush
Razor
Sandpaper
Sanding Block
Distress Ink
Distress Chalk

Step 1:
Paint all the edges of the frame. We find that spray paint works great, especially when you're painting several frames at the same time. Over-spray typically doesn't affect your final project since you're covering the frame with fabric. Just be careful if you're using a light-colored fabric. Let the paint dry.

Cut your piece of fabric to be slightly larger than the frame.

Step 2:
Use the wide foam brush to apply an even coat of decoupage glue to the front of the frame. Be sure that the coverage is equally applied to all areas of the frame. The trick here is to not use too much glue, though not enough will cause the fabric to lift.

You'll need to work quickly since the glue will start to dry. Once all the glue is applied, pick up the cut piece of fabric and place it over the frame. We typically start in one corner and move in a clockwise position to make sure that fabric properly covers the entire frame. Try not to reposition the fabric more than is necessary. Smooth the fabric into place rubbing out any air bubbles that might appear. Rub your finger along the edges of the frame to ensure proper adherence.

HINT~ Be sure to lay your frame in front of you in its upright hanging position. This will allow you to properly place the fabric.

Step 3:
Let the glue completely dry. Use a razor to cut off the excess fabric around the outer edge of the fabric. It will cut easily if you hold the excess fabric taut while running the razor blade against the wood frame. Cut out the center in a similar fashion. Start in one corner by feeling the edge of the frame with your finger and creating a small incision with the blade. Once the hole is large enough, you'll be able to hold the fabric tight while continuing to cut away the excess fabric.

Step 4:
Sand all the edges of the frame. We like to use a sanding block (it saves the hands). Just wrap a piece of sand paper around the block and your sanding block will last longer. It is helpful to place the frame over a sink or between two tables especially when sanding the center of the frame. Always sand away from the fabric. If you're sanding the outer edge, start with your sanding block on the edge of the fabric. Slide it towards the back of the frame. Don't sand side to side. You'll notice little stray fibers sticking out; keep sanding! The inner corners can be a bit tricky. You might want to use just the sanding block (without any paper) to clean up the inside corners.

Step 5:
Distress the edges. We like to apply a vintage look to everything we make. Our favorite distress ink color for this project is Vintage Photo. You might want to experiment with different colors based on your personal preference and fabric choices. This pad wont fit into the inside corners of the frame. Use a cat-eye (like our favorite Chestnut Roan fluid chalk by Colorbox) to darken the corners.

Hint ~ A Q-tip works great for getting color into the corners of the frame. Rub a little ink color or paint on to the Q-tip and dab on the frame.

Step 6:
All that's left is to apply a a couple coats of decoupage glue and you're ready to enjoy your efforts. Make sure that you let the ink dry before adding glue to the top of the project. If ink streaks into the middle of the frame you can typically pull the brush back to the edge and remove it. As you apply the glue, the distress ink will darken the fabric; this gives instant age to your project and makes the frame look like it's been around for years!

Easy St. Patrick's Day Project

When I say easy...I mean super EASY!! Found this St. Patrick's Day Printable at Pumpkin Petunia. I think it makes a perfect way to spread some St. Patrick's Day cheer ...and it's one that I might actually do because it's so easy!

Project calls for shiny new pennies. Jo-Ann recommends checking with your local bank, but if that doesn't work, she includes a recipe for cleaning your own pennies. (Sounds like the perfect kid job!) All that's left is to print her downloadable template onto cardstock, cut out the squares and glue the pennies in place.

Everyone likes to share happy memories. Holidays make a perfect backdrop for memories because it's an easy way to pinpoint the event...and you can recreate the memory year after year in the form of a tradition.

Today is February 22. St. Patrick's Day is March 17. 23 days seems like more than enough time to pull off some sort of memorable activity that will create the type of family story that will have your kids telling their kids. I'm going to get started on this project. It's a perfect way to remember my grandfather 'Pops.' He had a little gate in the back yard that opened into a shopping center. He and I would go over hand-in-hand to buy the treat 'du jour.' I am not sure I can remember a single trip that did not involve him picking up a dropped coin. He loved to tell me "Find a penny, pick it up and all day long, you'll have good luck!

Wishing you GREAT luck in the making of your next family story!

Decoupage 101

Found a great post over at Design Sponge on the history of decoupage. Decoupage is actually a 20th century word that was derived from the French word decouper, meaning to cut out. It was considered the poor man’s art form to the Chinese inlay work. Ladies of the era would hand-color prints, cut them out with scissors, paste them to furniture, and then add multiple layers of varnish until the print was completely embedded. It was a time-consuming process, although it was easier and cheaper than the original inlay work done by the artisans from China & Venetia.

According to Amy's research, "At the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the ladies cut up original paintings by Boucher, Watteau and Fragonard in their quest for new decorations for their decoupage fans, boxes or screens."

OUCH!

This site also has some interesting decoupage information, along with great recommendations on books, should you feel the need to further study the art form.



I became fascinated with a concept that used a process similar to decoupage to cover six sides of a wooden block to form a puzzle. These puzzles would sometimes have 30 or 40 blocks in the set to form lovely images of popular fairy tales of the day. Because my husband has roots in pioneer heritage, I found it interesting to learn that western children didn't give up their much loved toy because they didn't have access to lithographs of their favorite bedtime story. Their parents used the wood blocks as a canvas for a painted version which usually portrayed images of farm animals or scenes of nature.

This gorgeous example is described to have come from the Germany in the late 1800's. Because the picture is copyrighted, I simply share a small portion of the puzzle. I found the aging process around the corners fascinating. This is the look that we try to replicate in our projects. Be sure to check out the puzzle here. I'll be jealous if you decide to drop the requested $148 US on the set. I've always wanted to see one of these originals up close and personal!

Stories by Me's roots began with this simple puzzle concept. I wanted to create something that would help my kids identify with their heritage. I had no proof, but I hoped that my great-great-great grandparents might have been lucky to have a set of wooden blocks to enjoy in their childhood. I knew that my kids LOVED puzzles and just might pay attention if I used pictures of my ancestors in the process!

Since my rough first attempt, I've probably made more than 50 puzzles to share with family and friends. (And that's not counting the 100's of puzzles I've helped other people make in class settings!) My blocks now feature family gatherings, favorite pets, a trip to Disneyland... all sorts of important events that need remembering. I love using wood as the base for my story!

Almost as distressed as the 100+ year old puzzle!Check out how to distress your project here.

I'm now dreaming of ways to incorporate family faces into the DIY project that Amy offers at the bottom of her post. (Be sure to scroll ALL the way to the bottom to get see the instructions!)

Mod Podge Plates

Here's another easy way to preserve a family story. Tell the story on a plate! These decorated plates aren't meant for eating on so don't grab your dinner dishes. Use someone else's best china! You know...the one-of-a-kind plates that you see at your local thrift shop or yard sales. It's an easy project. All you need is the plate, decorative paper, picture and embellishments. Oh, and let's NOT forget the Mod Podge!

Check out Cathie Filian's instructions here. Scroll down to the bottom of her post to see the complete instructions.Kia Howey, at Urban Paper Loft, created a few altered plates of her own. I love how she highlighted each picture with the personalized inscriptions.

Wish I had time to do something with this idea for Valentines Day. But I know my limitations...and trust me, it's NOT happening THIS week! But I do have birthdays and Mother's day to think about. Time to start looking for plates!

Memory Lollipops

How cute is this valentine? Studio 5 contributor Laci Davis shared some darling Valentine ideas on yesterday's show. I especially loved the heart-shaped lollipops. According to Laci, all you need are some heart shaped suckers (she said that she found these at a dollar store...3 for $1!), photos and glue. I think that that the bright pink background on the pictures really complement the project. If you don't have the perfect pink wall for a backdrop, you can add the color with a few simple strokes in PhotoShop.

Not only is this idea perfect for Valentine's Day, but imagine a wedding decoration with pictures of the bride and groom!

I want to share the idea at our next family reunion. I'm thinking....big (SWEET) display with all the family members pictures on lollipops. Kids 'earn' a treat by picking the correct picture to the story that we tell. A little sugar bribe just might be the ticket to keeping them riveted throughout the activity!

Mod Podge Shoes... Unbelievable!

Yes, shoes that have been crafted using ModPodge! I thought that I had seen every possible application --with the exception of recovering a functional, but less than attractive refrigerator (Come on Suni, you've gotta try it)! Lindsey, over at That's So Cuegly took an old pair of slip-on's and transformed them into something that's not only hip, but screaming couture!! Learn how to create your own here.

Believe it or not, it wasn't even an original idea. Oops, I Craft my Pants shared the idea back in September. Don't know how I missed it.

Personally, I'm one of the few women in the world that hates shoes. I'd rather go barefoot any day of the week! I share the idea simply as another way to use leftover Mod Podge from any of our projects. I doubt that I'll ever try to transform my shoes. Now, if these shoes had family pictures on them...that would be a different story!

Scrap Wood + Mod Podge = Super Cute Idea!

Love this idea from HowDoesShe?.com ...and wait, YES! it uses Mod Podge!!! I have 2x4's. Lot's of 'em. I have Mod Podge - gallons of it. I definitely have a few favorite things that need spotlighting. Gonna have to try this!

Mod Podge Project #17

So the #17 is completely random. I've lost track of how many different ways I've used Mod Podge over the years. I am amazed at ALL the creative people out there and how they are using Mod Podge.


Check out Somewhat Simple's tutorial on a Lost Sock board. I SO need one of these. I love the thought of those sad, mate-less little socks flapping right in front of my family's faces. (I used to get away offering a nickel for every match my kids could come up with. Sadly, a quarter or two isn't much incentive for a bunch of teenagers.)

I was at Suni's house today admiring their handwork on a kitchen remodel. The walls are now painted and all that's left is some trim work and final grouting. It won't be long before the appliances are moved back into place and life can return to normal. While I'm sure that Suni will just be thrilled to move the refrigerator out of its temporary living room location, she really, really would LOVE a brand-spanking new fridge to complement her new kitchen space. With all the great ideas we've come across reminding us of Mod Podge's versatility, I think Suni needs to experiment on her giant sunflower-yellow refrigerator. She did promise to take lots of pictures if she decides to tackle the project. I wonder if a gallon of Mod Podge will cover it?!

Mod Podge Wonders

It seems that my radar is tuned to anything Mod Podged. It helps that we have bottles and bottles of the white stuff all over the place. I should be updating my QuickBooks (bookkeeper, I am NOT). Surfing the internet is much more fun!

Lindsey over at That's So Cuegly has come up with some darling ways to recycle old into new. Just had to share another use for your bottle of Mod Podge!

How about turning hardly-worn old earnings into a brand-new pair!

how to's here

I also loved what she did to an old plate. Mind you, I wouldn't suggest eating off it, but it would make a fantastic display. Of course, I'm now dreaming of ways to incorporate family faces into the design. I share the picture of her tree plate, but you'll want to see her other inspirational designs here.

More Family Face Blocks Ideas

Did you catch our Family Face Blocks segment on KSL, Studio 5? It was fun sharing our block ornament ideas...even if I couldn't find half of my supplies. (Turns out that Brooke had already glued the missing paper to the block she was working on... Next time, I'll have EXTRA paper scraps!) Never have five minutes flown by so quickly. We completely ran out of time to share some of the clever ways to display the finished work... so here they are, in their limited glory!

5. Another Wire Family Tree option:
This idea goes along with the fabulous tree that got so much attention on Studio 5. We were a little worried about sharing such a costly, time-consuming project (turns out that we were in the minority!) so we looked around for another option that would be easy on the wallet and easy to finish! We found this metal tree stand at Rod Works. I think it cost around $10.00. You might have something similar at home already.

With Valentines Day right around the corner, I thought I'd feature wedding pictures of various family members. I finished the ornaments with fabulous-looking vintage paper and go-with-everything black ribbon, but some bright red and pink colors would also work great.


I love these pictures! We're not sure if the pictures on the left records my husband's grandparents wedding, but the time period and elegant dress are clues that it might. The couple on the right are celebrating an 1868 wedding. If you could see the detail in their clothing, you might notice that his suit is made out of same checkered fabric as her dress.


Family faces aren't the only thing to feature on these blocks. I thought the wedding announcement made a nice addition and it's a great way to document the actual event.

6. Gift Tags:

Here's another one of Erica's clever ideas... turn the ornament into a gift tag.

A dear, dear friend is celebrating the 21st anniversary of her 29th birthday. (Notice that I did NOT call her 50 years old!) We've had some fabulous memories along the way and I used the ornament to record a few of our highlights. (The sundae is in remembrance of a weekend get-away to San Francisco and death by chocolate!) This is the perfect eco-friendly gift tag... who could throw away the memories?

So that's what we've done with our blocks. What are you going to do with yours?

Remember that you have two more days to enter our drawing for your own Love Those Family Faces kit.

Love Those Family Faces, Give Away!

What's not to love about family faces? Ok, maybe some days are better than others to answer that question! Our Family Face project will help you preserve your special memories of those faces important in your life. Tomorrow we'll be sharing how easy it is to make the family face blocks on KSL, Studio 5. (Tune in at 11:00.)

Here's a sneak peak of what we're bringing...

1. Hanging Wall Decor - Scroll to the bottom of this posting for information on how to win your very own LOVE Those Family Faces kit.

For this project, I used 5 medium and 4 small block ornaments. All together, 36 pictures document those moments near and dear to my heart! I thought the metal hanger was perfect for completing the sentiment, but the blocks would look equally great hanging from a light fixture or curtain rod.

(We attached the metal plate to a floor easle for easy setup, but soon after the segment it'll be featured on a prominent wall in my family room.)

2. Wreaths and Garland -

We loved our holiday garland so much that we decided to continue the idea into the new year and create something Valentines'y'. Super easy and if you look carefully, you'll see just how verstile these ornaments are. Some of the decorative paper in this display say "Merry Christmas." Because the display space was minimal, I decided to use all black/white pictures. I changed out previously used green ribbon for red and voila ~ I'm now ready for Valentine's Day.

3. Say it with Blocks -

Let's not forget the stacking options. If there's time, we'll show off our Say it With blocks. Since we're so close to Valentines Day, we'll display the "All Because Two People Fell in Love" side.

4. Wire Family Tree -

This is the project that got Studio 5's attention. All together our wire tree holds 40 block ornaments...that's 160 pictures when the project is completed! We're not going to pretend that this tree is fast or easy on the wallet. Coming up with 160 pictures can seem daunting for some. Our kit costs 100 big ones, but it comes with everything ...you just come up with the pictures! Don't let our disclaimer discourage you from creating your own family tree. We think our tree branch version is just as meaningful and it's a great way to get your own family face ornament collection started.

So that's what we're bringing tomorrow for our brief moment in the spotlight. Who knows what will actually make it onto the segement. Believe it or not, this is just a portion of the list of ideas that Erica came up with. We'll work on getting pictures on these other projects and get them posted at a later date.

Are you ready to start making family face blocks? Instructions for making your the ornaments start here. We've created a video that shows you each step of the process. Last time we checked, the file was 858MB. The file is SOOooo big that we can't get it off our computer and on to the internet. We'll keep trying, so check back!

As we mentioned earlier, one lucky reader will get a complete Love Those Family Faces kit. It comes with 9 wood blocks (assorted sizes), glue, foam brush, sand paper/sanding block, distress ink/chalk, decorative end papers and ribbon, metal eye screws and the fabulous LOVE metal wall hooks for displaying your finished project. Just remember, you can't win if you don't COMMENT! Leave a brief comment about this project and we'll pick a random name on Friday, January 22.

Easy to Make Block Ornaments

Celebrate the faces of loved-ones all year long! Each block ornament displays four pictures - think of it as a mini book with four pages to tell each story!

The process is simple. (Coming soon, a video clip showing each step of the process.) Check your local craft store for supplies. We also offer ornament kits on our website.

For you to Gather:
Wood Blocks (We use 2" and 3.25" blocks)
Decorative Paper
Ribbon
Metal Eye Screws
Decoupage Glue - We like ModPodge's Matte Glue
Foam Brush
Scissors
Pictures (We recommend that you print these on regular paper using a laser printer.)
Sandpaper / Sanding block
Distress ink / chalk (optional)
Finishing Spray

Step 1:
Prepare your pictures. You have two options. Either print each picture to be at least as large as your blocks. Use the edge of the block to trace around each picture and cut away the excess. Or, you can use the Photo Wizard to get your picture to the exact size that is needed for this project. [Use the Block/Box - ORNAMENT option for the 2" block. Use the Block/Box - LETTER BLOCK option for the 3.25" block.] Need help using the Photo Wizard. See our demo. Still need help? We're only a mouse click away. Just email us at www.mythoughts@storiesbyme.com. Cut each picture to size.

Be sure to print your pictures using a LASER printer! Ink jet colors tend to smear when they get wet!!

Step 2:
The cut ends of the wood absorb more glue than the grained ends. Before beginning this step, apply a thin layer of glue of glue to the ends with the rougher (cut) surfaces. Let glue dry.

Apply a thin layer of glue to the first side of one block. Place picture over glue and press in to place. Remove any air bubbles.
Check for overhanging paper edges. It is important to WAIT for the glue to dry before attempting to remove any excess paper.

Once all of the picture are in place, add decorative paper to the top and bottom of each block. Don't worry about matching sides. A random look is great!

Step 3:
Depending on your personal taste, your ornament might be ready for finishing. If you like the vintage look shown in our example, sand all the corners of the block being careful not to sand across the picture.
This step gives the block a worn look, like it's been around for ages. We like to darken the exposed wood to make the project look even older!

Step 4:
Protect the pictures by adding several layers of decoupage glue over the top of the photos. This process is time consuming because you must wait for the glue to dry. Instead of glue, we simply add several light coats of a matte acrylic spray.

All that's left to do is screw in the eye bolt and attach a piece of ribbon!

That's all that's to it. Your first ornament might take a bit of time as you become comfortable with the process, but it won't be long before you can crank through the steps in a matter of minutes! Made a mistake? Simply sand down the offending picture and add another layer!

More to come. Next we'll share pictures of some of our ways to display the finished project.

This fun, easy idea has been shared at:

Mark your Calendars, 1-19-2010!

Out of the blue, we received a phone call from one of the producers at Studio 5, KSL inviting us to come on their show to share a project. Imagine our excitement! We've been trying to make the connection for over a year...and they call us! We figured that it's the perfect time to share our fun and easy block ornaments. (We didn't quite get time to share these when we were on Good Things Utah last month.)

We've heard from many of you that really, really wanted display a Family Christmas tree during the holiday season, but never found the time to get these made. Well, we're going to inspire you! Our dear friend Erica spent most of her day yesterday coming up with unique ways that we can display these ornaments 11 months of the year. THANK YOU Erica!!

Check back in the next couple of days. We plan to share our instructions for making the ornaments here on the blog, along with Erica's wonderful ideas for displaying them. Then tune in next Tuesday to Channel 5 at 11:00am. (We'll provide a link for those outside of our viewing area.) Our challenge is to NOT call these cute ornaments, ornaments. The producer thought that sounded too Christmas'y'. We're trying to train our brains to call them Family Face Blocks! Count how many times we mess us!!