background

Monday, February 18, 2013

Valentine's Day Cresents

Hey all!

The hubs and I actually celebrated Valentine's Day by going out for a wonderful lunch on Friday, because an overcrowded restaurant or movie theater is not my idea of a good date. But even though we weren't celebrating, I did attempt some heart-shaped crescent rolls for dinner on V-Day. Unfortunately, they were more heart shaped before they were baked, but it was worth a shot.

I just unrolled the crescent rolls, and sprinkled with a little garlic salt and "pizza" mix shredded cheese, then rolled over the long corners of the triangle to create the heart. I baked according to the package instructions.







Even though these didn't turn out quite how I planned, I totally love experimenting with crescent roll recipes, don't you? In hindsight, I probably should have just used a heart shaped cookie cutter or something. Check out my cute little muffin pan calzones that I posted a while back, or browse Pinterest for infinite ideas! I keep these little bad boys in the fridge at all times.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Stairway Family Gallery

Oh. My. Blog. I feel like I haven't been here in FOREVER. But at last, after about 6 months of working long hours and a driving a long commute, I am now working part time as a college instructor, so obviously I can get back to important things. Like Lemon projects and blogging about them.

I've been itching for a family picture gallery in the staircase for sometime now. I chose all my own pics (no professionals) so I could easily edit and order what I wanted. I ordered all of my prints from Shutterfly (which I love) and had them delivered. I chose black and white or sepia prints. I showcased family pictures we've done in years past, right alongside vacation shots. I even threw in a few candids for good measure.

Being the frugal crafter/decorator that I am, I scored my frames from a retail store that was getting new displays. They had used these frames in the past and were getting rid of them. I saw my opportunity and seized it. I just had to remove the silhouette pictures in them, and clean them up a bit. Moral of the story: if you see a store with displays you like, ask the manager if they ever change them, and to let you know when they do so you can purchase (usually for pennies on the dollar) or take them instead of them getting thrown out.


All of the frames were either black or silver, and quite large (8"x10" or bigger), so I used a few smaller frames I already had to add to the collection. If you don't have the option for cheapo frames like I did, consider thrift or garage sale shopping for frames you like, then spray painting them all one color or color story (i.e. white, blue, teal, and tan for a beach theme, etc).

After my prints arrived, I took stock of what sizes I had, and the sizes of frames I had, then made a trip to Hobby Lobby for some pre-cut mats in black and white. If the pre-cut mat colors and sizes work for you, this is definitely the most cost-effective way to go. The Lobby of the Hobbies carries them starting at $1.99. Now, I did have square frames and square prints, but I got those cut in simple white mats for only $6 each.


After framing was complete, I set out to create my layout and get them up on the wall. I found lots of inspiration on Pinterest, natch. Be inspired here, here (cute ideas for more than just stairways), and here. You can also get very descriptive tips here. Pinterest and I have already done the dirty work for you. You're welcome.

So here's my stairway (excuse my spackle patches and monkey hooks from previous hanging attempts - those are getting painted later this week):

from the landing

from the top
Pretty much all the DIY sites or pins show making a template, putting it on your wall, then putting in your nails, blah blah blah. I'm more adventurous (or stupid) than that. I planned out my layout in the middle of my game room floor, taking pictures of each layout as I went so I could compare.



I then figured, based on the width of my frames and the spacing I wanted that I'd be centering each column of frames over every other stair. I picked the height (47") I wanted for the bottom frame in the left column and ran with it for the rest. Between frames vertically, I went about 3-4".


I hung all the bottom pictures, getting my spacing right, and then went up from there. Since I wanted each column centered, I used my level to align the monkey hooks (in my humble opinion, by far the easiest hanging tool) so the pictures would automatically hang correctly.


Note, my last two columns start at the same height because they are based off of the landing of the stairway.

And voila, my finished product for less than $50, frames, mats, and prints included! Not bad for my first foray back into the project world.



More lemons coming your way soon.