brought to you by the letter M

I was inspired by this post at Calamity Anne's Adventures last week, F is for Fleetwood. She altered a GIANT paper mache letter and it turned out really cool! I found some of those big paper mache letters at joann.com but being impatient (and crafty, hehe), I decided to make my own.

I found a fun tutorial for making your own paper mache letters over on Me Like Stuff. But, I was thinking, that is alot of work for something I am just going to cover in paper anyway...like I said, impatient! I don't want to wait for paper mache to dry!

So...I came up with my own design, using RECYCLED PRIORITY MAIL BOXES! Any cardboard would work, but I like the sturdyness of these boxes, and using scraps from several different boxes, you get a consistent thickness, texture, etc. I save used boxes, and cutting them in to manageable pieces makes them easier to store. For this project I broke out my stack of 7 x 7 inch squares.



First, I cut out 2 simple letter Ms, one for the front, one for the back. I just used a ruler and pencil, but you can use a computer to print a big letter and trace it onto your cardboard. Next, I cut 1½ inch wide strips of cardboard to fit all sides of the letters. I broke out the trusty glue gun and started gluing things together.




The hot glue was messy and squished out the sides. I just let it cool then used a craft knife to trim off the excess. My front and back pieces did not align perfectly when I finished, so I just trimmed away the extra, also with my craft knife.




TaDa! Chunky cardboard letter M! (Measures about 6½ by 6½ by 1½ inches)



I am loving black and white lately, so I chose this fab pattern from my scrapbooking stash:



One sheet wasn't large enough to do both sides of the letter, so I covered the other side in black. Now I can have two different looks, solid black or black and white:



I covered the sides with the remaining pattern paper:



Cute, cute letter M:



And because I can NEVER just leave well enough alone...I inked the edges with some Charcoal Chalk Ink:



The black side was a little to blah for me...so I took embellished with some of my ribbon yoyos.



Here's M with my paper rose ball and those black birds I love so much:



And the other side of M:



Costwise, this project was super duper cheap. I didn't have to buy anything! Recycled cardboard (free), hot glue and glue gun (on hand), paper (original cost, less than $1 for both cardstock and pattern paper) and chalk ink (on hand, optional, $2 new).

I think my little display is complete! I need to hang a shelf to place them on. I will share pics soon!

Went thrifting with my youngest sister this weekend and found lots of treasures. Here is a sneak peek of projects in progress:



Linking up with:

Whatever Goes Wednesdays Blog Party at Someday Crafts



Transform Tuesday Blog Party at The Pumpkin Patch



Look What I Made! Blog Party at Creations by Kara



Show & Tell Wednesday Blog Party at Blue Cricket Design



Be Inspired Blog Party at Room to Inspire



I Made It Blog Party on Everything Etsy



Get Your Craft on Thursday at Life as Lori



All Things Dreamy Blog Party on Sweet European Dreams



Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple



Hooking Up With House of Hepworths



Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans



I'm So Crafty Fridays at Fun To Craft



Hodgepodge Friday at It's A Hodgepodge Life



Saturday is Crafty Day at Along for the Ride



Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello



Crafty Crafty Ladies Night Link Party at Aly and Ash

blingy black paper rose ball

I've been working on this project off on an for a few weeks...kept getting distracted by other projects, like my daughter's last prom :O)

For this project you need:
Black Paper Circles
-I used black cardstock, punched with a 1¾ inch circle punch
A Ball to Cover
-I used a dollar store wiffle ball. You could use a styrofoam ball, just paint it to match your roses before you start gluing them on.
Rhinestones
-I have LOTS of rhinestones, but if you are low on bling, a dab of glue and some silver glitter in each rose center would work just as well.
Hot Glue
-Lots and lots of hot glue! Make sure to use low temp glue if you are using a styrofoam ball so it doesn't melt.




FIRST: Hop over to LOLLYCHOPS and watch the awesome video tutorial for making these easy-as-pie paper roses. Then make lots and lots of roses! Glue a rhinestone in the center of each rose.






Here's my dollar store wiffle ball (4 for a buck!). I wrapped and hot glued black crepe paper streamers all over the ball, giving the roses something to stick to (they tend to pop off when glued directly to plastic). I used black so if any of it shows between the roses, it's not so obvious.





Once you've got your roses and ball ready, just start gluing those puppies on! (puppies=paper roses).




Tada! I had lots and lots of hot glue strings all over when I was done...I just ran my embossing gun over the ball to melt them away. I think a hot blow dryer may work just as well.





Here is my paper rose ball chilling with those birds from last week...





Loves it! Hmm, I think one more project and I'll have my little display complete....check back soon :O)




Like balls? (ahem.) Check out my Mom's blog this week...it's proof that CMTA (creative minds think alike)! She made a ball too...and it's awesomer than my ball! I just want to play with it.

Pop on over to Make The Best of Things and see what all the fuss is about :O) And leave a comment! We loves comments!



Linking up with:

Whatever Goes Wednesdays Blog Party at Someday Crafts



Transform Tuesday Blog Party at The Pumpkin Patch



Look What I Made! Blog Party at Creations by Kara



Show & Tell Wednesday Blog Party at Blue Cricket Design



Be Inspired Blog Party at Room to Inspire



Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple



Show & Share Day at Just a Girl



Get Your Craft on Thursday at Life as Lori



I Made It Blog Party on Everything Etsy



All Things Dreamy Blog Party on Sweet European Dreams