Inspirational Art

I write a monthly craft & DIY article for a local magazine. And, each month there is a theme for the magazine. I try to create a project that goes along with the theme, but sometimes it's hard!

The theme for the April issue was Focus On Fitness. 

What craft project goes along with that?!!! You may think of something right away, but this one took me a minute!

I decided to create art to inspire people just to get started on their fitness goals. Because for me, getting started is always the hardest part.

Supplies:

Frame

Paint

Rulers/yardsticks

Rag

Scrabble Tiles

Glue Gun

I painted a thrift store frame with black paint. I then cut yardsticks to fit in the frame.

I used a damp rag to add a wash of paint to the rulers. Doing a wash instead of painting the rulers allows the measurements and words to show through.

I used a hot glue gun to add the rulers to the frame. 

I settled on an inspirational quote, then I laid out Scrabble tiles onto the framed rulers to determine the layout.

I used a hot glue gun to glue down the tiles...

Wherever you need to find inspiration, this art will remind you to just get started!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage,  DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,   Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Domestically Speaking,  C.R.A.F.T., The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink Heels Pink Truck,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, Karen's Up On The Hill, Friday's Furniture Fix, DIY-Crush, Patina Paradise, Charm Bracelet Diva,

Spring Wreath

I don't know anyone who isn't looking forward to Spring!

 When I found this cute vintage child's rake I knew it would add the perfect touch to my Spring wreath...

To make this wreath you'll need:

18 inch Grapevine Wreath

Child’s Rake

Wire

Moss and other natural elements

Glue

Seed Packets

Twine

Chalkboard Paper with an Adhesive Back

Scrapbook Paper

Ruler

Pencil

Scissors

Hole Punch

Chalk

Start by wiring the rake onto the grapevine wreath. If you are unable to find a child's rake, use the head of a large rake.

Glue on moss and other natural elements...

Tuck a seed packet in with the moss.

Add seed packets to the rake tines...

Next, create a banner using chalkboard paper and scrapbook paper. Cut out triangles from the adhesive back chalkboard paper that measure 1 ½ inches wide by 2 inches high.

 Peel the back and stick onto scrapbook paper. 

Cut scrapbook paper slightly larger than the chalkboard paper to form a pennant. Use a hole punch to make holes in the top corners of each pennant. 

String the pennants onto twine.

 Use chalk to write “welcome” on the banner and tie it to the wreath.

Now, I'm raking in smiles when friends come to visit!

In the Fall, I think I will remove the seed packets and add these cute whimsical leaves from Patience Brewster...

That will give it the perfect touch for Fall. After all, rakes and leaves go together like flowers in Spring!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage,  DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,   Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Domestically Speaking,  C.R.A.F.T., The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, 

A Table That Really Measures Up

This table started out like this...

It was in rough shape! It had been outside under a carport for who knows  how long.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it when I saw it!

So, I gave it a coat of paint, then cut yardsticks that I had been hoarding collecting to cover it. 

My favorite yardstick is one from Travis Hardware...

Travis Hardware opened in 1952 on the square in Fayetteville, GA. It's long gone, but the building (now a restaurant) is still known as the Travis Hardware Building.

They sold a little bit of everything, as the yardstick states...

The yardstick is so old that the phone number only shows the last 4 digits...

I used one that was a little wider than the others and had a great saying...

And one was from a 1976 campaign for state representative...

And, I had to add the John Deere yardstick in honor of all my Georgia transplant friends from Michigan!

All the yardsticks are glued down using wood glue. They are lined up so that the yardstick on the bottom lines up with the same yardstick on the top. 

I have a few inches left over from each yardstick.

I wonder what I should do with those?!!!

I'm sure I'll figure out something!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, Bowdabra,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,  Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking,  The Kurtz Corner,     C.R.A.F.T.,  Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls,