Are you excited to decorate for Christmas this year? I am! We moved into our house December 1, 2012. With both Joe and I working full-time and raising our toddler twin girls with no family in town, the move was stressful. {I should also note that my husband, who I love dearly, insisted that we move ourselves. I will NEVER do that again}. We were so busy unpacking and settling in that we did not devote much time to decorating our home last year. This year, I am making up for lost time :)
Since this is our first home with a foyer, I wanted to start there. I could have hung a large wreath above our console table, but that seemed a little predictable. I really had no idea what I wanted to do. Last weekend, I had to go to Michael's to buy supplies for a different project and saw some adorable wood cut outs covered in fabric and I LOVED them so much, that I bought them without having a clue what I would do with them–they were .$99 each. {I rarely do that–I am hopelessly practical and usually only buy specific items that I am looking for}. I picked one in red that says “MERRY,” one in natural linen that says, “PEACE” and one in natural linen that says “SILENT NIGHT.” I also picked up a bunch of canvases that were on sale 5 for $14.99, a fantastic deal. I purchased them for an upcoming project, but they were such a good deal, I bought more than I needed.
Inspiration struck while I was sitting at my desk at work this week. Doesn't inspiration strike at the most inopportune times?! I wanted to run home and start creating these immediately, but like a good little lawyer, I regained my focus and pounded out work the rest of the day.
That night, after getting the twins down for bed {THANK GOODNESS they go to bed at 7:15}, I found our leftover chalkboard paint in the attic {leftover from the girls' chalkboard wall in their playroom, which you can see here}, and painted three canvases with the chalkboard paint. A special thanks to my good friend Raquel for our phone date that night, which entertained me while I waited for them to dry :) Each canvas required 3 coats of the paint.
I did not have a chance to complete the canvases until today when I put the girls down for a nap. I am not kidding you when I tell you that ALL THREE canvases took me only 30 minutes to complete. Anyone can make these.
I gathered everything I thought I might use and got to work.
I knew I wanted to use each of the fabric covered wood cuts outs on different canvases and decided to cover the canvases with lyrics from various Christmas songs. For each canvas, one of the wood cut outs formed one word of the lyrics, and hand wrote the rest of the lyrics. Then I used some Martha Stewart stencils {that I picked up for $6.99} to add some embellishments. If you can draw free hand, that is great–I CANNOT draw. Creative, I am. Artistic, I am not. I simply glued the wood cut outs on with my hot glue gun.
QUICK TIP: If you mess up or don't like what you have done with the chalk, wipe it off with a damp cloth and start over!
I also picked up a pack of birch stars for $6.99 and added a few to the Silent Night canvas. I also used one small star to form the dot of the “i” in “bright” on the White Christmas canvas. I thought it added a cute touch. I glued the wood stars on with my trusty hot glue gun.
It REALLY was that simple. I LOVE THEM! Take a look for yourself.
Cost of materials:
3 canvases @ $3.00 each
Stencils $6.99
Birch stars $6.99
3 wood cut outs (Peace, Silent Night and Merry) @ $.99
Chalk and chalkboard paint- FREE (I already had it on hand)
Total out of pocket cost: $25.95!
Well, my time is up. Avery just woke up from her nap so I am off to enjoy the rest of the day with my munchkins. Tell, me what do you think of the canvases? Will you make some of your own?
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Dawna Motz says
December 9, 2013 at 2:28 amLove this!! I think this is the solution I have been looking for! I will be off to Michaels for those canvases
Tasha A. says
December 10, 2013 at 1:26 amThank you, Donna! I would love to see how yours turn out when you are done with them.
Claire LiveLoveCreate says
December 7, 2013 at 9:26 pmGreat project !!
I would love you to come and share @ Craft, Create & Inspire linky party !!!
Look forward to seeing you there :)
http://livel0vecreate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/craft-create-inspire-linky-party-9.html
Claire x
Tasha A. says
December 7, 2013 at 10:09 pmHi Claire! Thanks for stopping by and for the invitation to link up. Heading your way right now!
[email protected] says
December 5, 2013 at 8:49 pmFeaturing you today over on my blog! Thanks so much for linking up to {wow me} wednesday.
Ginger @ GingerSnapCrafts.com
Tasha A. says
December 6, 2013 at 2:54 amThank you SO MUCH for the feature, Ginger!
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
December 5, 2013 at 10:45 amI love this! I saw those letters, too, and debated about getting them. Now I have an excuse to go back. ;)
I’d love for you to share this project with my readers at my Fabulously Frugal Thursday linky party.
Tasha A. says
December 6, 2013 at 2:50 amHi Barb! You SHOULD get them! I wish I had gotten more! And thanks for the invitation to your link party! Headed there now.
Mary Beth says
December 3, 2013 at 1:56 amThese are so pretty ~ I love the way they turned out, Tasha! Pinning :)
Tasha A. says
December 3, 2013 at 2:08 amOh thank you, Mary Beth! Thank you so much for stopping by and for pinning :) Have a great night!
Ila Pilon says
December 2, 2013 at 2:54 amAbsolutely adorable! These look wonderful!
Tasha A. says
December 2, 2013 at 3:01 pmThank you, Ila! They are so easy and fun. You should give them a try!
Cathy says
November 30, 2013 at 4:04 pmThis is just ADORABLE! I love it, and it caught my eye at the Tatertots & Jello party–I had to stop by!
I would love it if you stopped by our Facebook page, and said “hello!”
https://www.facebook.com/OurMiniFamily
Your fan,
~Cathy Mini
ourminifamily.com
Tasha A. says
November 30, 2013 at 7:06 pmThank you, Cathy! So glad you stopped by.
Carrie This Home says
November 27, 2013 at 10:57 pmI have a ton of blank canvases & I’d love to make this! Great idea! This would be the perfect Christmas craft. Pinning right now.
Tasha A. says
November 30, 2013 at 12:10 amSo glad to hear it, Carrie! I would love to see how yours turn out.
OneKriegerChick says
November 27, 2013 at 4:27 pmThese are really fun and I love how you used the stencils! You are right…Great Crafty Minds do think alike! Thanks for stopping by OneKriegerChick!
Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!
Ariean
Tasha A. says
November 27, 2013 at 4:42 pmHi Ariean! Thanks for stopping by to check mine out. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!
KC Coake says
November 27, 2013 at 2:52 amSuch a pretty idea! I love the contrasts of color and the idea that you can change the wording any time you want. It looks so pretty on your wall.
Tasha A. says
November 27, 2013 at 3:50 amHi KC! Thank you :). I am just so happy with how they turned out! You should give it a try. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Tara says
November 26, 2013 at 11:19 pmLove this! I think this is going to have to be my next project. Love the chalkboard look this year, it is everywhere! {pinning!}
Tasha A. says
November 27, 2013 at 3:49 amThank you, Tara :). Chalkboard ideas are everywhere this year, aren’t they?! I think it’s because it’s easy and SO forgiving to work with. No stress if you mess up, just erase and try again!
Michele Reynolds says
November 26, 2013 at 9:24 pmI’m a sucker for a sweet chalk board:) Pinned! Love the series effect. What type of canvas is it? Happy Thanksgiving and hope your Christmas is Merry!
Tasha A. says
November 27, 2013 at 3:47 amHi Michelle! Thank you for stopping by and for pinning this! The canvases are just the 1/2 inch thick pre-stretched canvases from Michaels. I scored them for $14.99 for a 5 pack! Look forward to following you!
Abby Lawson says
November 26, 2013 at 1:47 amThese turned out so beautifully! You are so creative! I love the 3-D elements against the chalkboard background. Thanks so much for sharing, Tasha!
~Abby =)
Tasha A. says
November 26, 2013 at 2:29 amHi Abby! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
[email protected] Cultivated Nest says
November 25, 2013 at 1:17 amThose are super cute! I love chalkboards!
Tasha A. says
November 25, 2013 at 1:39 amThank you, Manuela! I love chalkboards, too. They are so versatile!
Jessica Allen says
November 24, 2013 at 1:00 pmI can do this! I can do this! And I have canvases and chalkboard paint! Thanks for sharing this cute project!
Tasha A. says
November 25, 2013 at 1:37 amHi Jessica! Yes, you ABSOLUTELY can do this. Have fun and please share photos of your project with me. I would love to see how they turn out.
Christine Vandormolen says
November 24, 2013 at 3:14 amfollowing you through Bloglovin
Christine Vandormolen says
November 24, 2013 at 3:13 amHi Tasha, thanks for inviting me to see your chalk boards..I love them!!! I really like how you also used wooden letters and stars and not only chalk.Great idea!!!! Christine from Little Brags.
Tasha A. says
November 25, 2013 at 1:37 amHi Christine! Thanks for coming to check them out. I am following you through Bloglovin now, too. Can’t wait to see your future posts!