Arts and Crafts Day!

So for those of you who don't know, I will be moving into a new apartment fairly soon and I have already gotten started thinking about how I plan to decorate. My friend Michaela and I were at Ikea and I saw some fabric that I thought could make really cool wall art. I had been on some craft website and got the idea to make a clock. So this past weekend was Casey and Michaela's Arts and Crafts Projects Day! She is going to be having a baby in about two months and wanted to make a name plate for the nursery. So last Sunday we decided to tackle my clock and her painting project.

Turns out the hardest part about my clock was the size of it. I knew I could get the clock movement at Michaels and I already had the fabric, but I needed something to attach the fabric to. I wanted something lightweight because the fabric design is very big... 3'x3' big. I ended up at Lowe's and a nice clerk helped me obtain a large piece of cardboard used to cover a door. He gave it to me for free so the least I could do was to buy some spray adhesive, so I didn't get something for nothing. If you ask Michaela she would tell you I should have given him my number but maybe I am too oblivious to notice when that situation arises.

Anyway, here starts the photographic evidence. I measured out the cardboard (twice) and then Michaela and I cut it up.


I also had to cut down the fabric - my mom is so proud to see me using a cutting board, straight edge, and rotary cutter - although when I showed her this picture she mentioned how I could correct my hand placement. While true, it wasn't that important for this project since I was just shortening the fabric, I didn't need a precise cut.


We set the fabric on the board to make sure it was the right size - it was!

And then it was time to use the spray adhesive!

Nobody said it would be a perfect job - but it works (edit: the spray adhesive does hold it in place, but doesn't seem to be a permanent hold so I am going to use super glue to make sure the fabric doesn't move)


Now all that is left is to add the clock movement and voila! a working one-of-a-kind clock for about...$10 fabric, $8 clock parts, $4 spray adhesive: $22 (priceless)

After about an hour break, we then tackled Michaela's painting project. We had bought wooden circles and some stencils and acrylic paint and each made three backgrounds. Then it took both of us to stencil the letters. but it looks perfect!

Margot will be born in June!