We have a crazy schedule over here. Just simply nuts. Monday and Tuesday of this week we are back at filming! Ahhh! How is this my life?! It is so surreal! We are partnering with Rust-Oleum to film some great tutorial videos on all things STAIN. It’s gonna be great especially for those of you that are newbies to the world of stain projects. Get your notepads ready….I see furniture makeovers in your near future!
In other news…I think I am on the mend from my stomach bug. And while I am getting better….Will and LJ both seem to have caught it. Enter a whole lot of hand sanitizer and mommy guilt here. It’s so hard to deal with the idea that I could be the reason they are feeling badly. It literally breaks my heart. I’m just praying that they get better soon and doing whatever I can to help them recover. I’m determined to give them exactly what they need to get back to their normal-rascally-selves.
Lastly…I wanted to share this cute little state project. These wall hangings are adorable and personalized for that place we each call home. I did three little states….Tennessee (Jeremy’s birth state), New Jersey (my birth state) and Georgia (our babies birth state). If the budget is tight this year, you can make a ton of these out of 3/4″ plywood, stain and some claw hangers. First you simply print out the states (I found that if you google “________ outline” you can find tons of options. Then resize the outlines so that you print it out with the narrowest part measuring at least 8 inches across. Sometimes that means it will take up more than one sheet of paper.
I cut out the paper with scissors and traced it on the plywood. The boys also practiced tracing. Brantley (our neighbor) who is six told me that he traced everyday and that is why he did such an awesome job 🙂
We picked up a fine tooth blade for the jigsaw and I gotta say….do not attempt this project without it. It makes a huge difference.
Cut away until your state appears.
Then hit all those edges and planes with a sander. Aren’t these adorable already?! Like hello….I’m obsessed. I think I might hurt anyone who would take these away. Or maybe I would just jigsaw a new BIGGER one and hit them over the head with it to show my state of distress 🙂 Didja catch the pun there? no.um.ok.
At the end of the day, I stained them Rust-Oleum’s Weathered Gray. It’s one of my new favorite colors. Obviously. Because it’s NOT brown. But I can totally see these with the words VOLUNTEER, or PEACH, or GARDEN on them. It would even be cool to burn birth facts in the corners and give them as gifts to new parents. Ya know? Like birth weight, length and date/time. What a cool way to remember your big day entering earth.
What would you do? I would love to hear the ways to make these better….the options truly are endless. Time and date and location for weddings. Colorful quotes in paint pens. Even chalk boarding them and making them into cheese servers would be cute. Okay…your turn….what kinda state do you see your state turning into?
I’m from CO and state stuff isn’t as fun for us born here. #squareproblems
These are so cute! The only thing I might add would be a little heart over your respective hometowns?
I think they’d look even cuter with their edges painted (the 1″ part of the board). Like turquoise! Or something. 🙂
Already did this years ago and turned it into a clock! Clock kits are inexpensive and you can find them at hobby shops. Drill a hole and boom–adorable clock.
Thank you for sharing a pic of the Boyfriend shirtless!! 😉 🙂
These are awesome!! What a great gift idea too! Now if only I had a jigsaw 🙁
Adorable – what are you going to do with them? And aannyytime you want to post more shirtless pictures of Jeremy, please feel free to do so. Vavavoom, honey… va-va- vooom. 🙂
I lost all concentration on your craft talk with the hot pic of your boyfriend. YUMMY!
How cute! Serving trays, cutting boards, you could mark your city with a heart and hang it as wall art, you could even put “home sweet home” on them and hang them up, how cute! Since you have three, how about painting them soft shades of red, white, and blue and hang them in a grouping? You are right, the possibilities are endless. Glad you are finally turning a corner in how you feel, and sorry it has moved on to your family. These things usually make the rounds, don’t they? So don’t feel bad kiddo, I would have been surprised if it hadn’t.
I love the idea of a chalkboard or cheese tray. I’ve seen the cutting boards. You could eventually just to the entire US and put it on display. I love state shapes.
Does the fine tooth blade make the jigsaw work more like a scroll saw?
I just bought something like this on etsy! I had our anniversary date and a heart engraved into it. Just need to find a place to hang it now.
And how did I not know you were a Jersey Girl! I want details! North? South? Do you miss great pizza?
A cheese board is a great idea! My home state of CA would be perfect for that! Or an oversized USA puzzle to embarrass oneself and friends could be fun.
I’m going to ask my husband cut me out a Texas (shirtless)! WIN WIN!
Hope you are feeling better (and the boys too!)
Can I just say I’m floored that there was no reference to your hot boyfriend’s chest photo? ……and Thank you for that photo. 🙂
Love the states Katie! I want to make one of my home state (MN) and put a heart where we live with maybe the phrase “Minnesota Nice” (which is popular here) but I’m lazy… so I will drool over your boyfriend *ahem* your states instead!
Don’t be so hard on yourself about your boys being sick – they likely were the little carriers who gave you the bug in the first place. It is just inevitable when you have littles in the house! Hope you all get better soon, it is so hard when one of you (or all of you) are sick.
This is a beautiful idea. If only I could find the state of New York where I live made out of Marble. OMG, now that would be a fabulous cheese tray. For now the wood one is also super gorgeous.
****I invite you all to visit my blog Endevourly.com on Thursday, September 17 2015 to enter a super cute giveaway. I will be discussing Housekeeping Essentials + the giveaway that goes with it. You won’t want to miss it, specially if you’re into classy looking things for your home (for your laundry room?) (housekeeping basket?) Ehhh, yes, you won’t want to miss that at all. Cheers!
Katie? Your newly painted house is jaw dropping. I love the white, crisp moldings and the overall feel it sense too. It’s super fantastic. I can’t wait to see how you improve/decorate each space 🙂
Oh man. It’s obvious you’re not quite 100% yet. That Katie never would have posted a pic of her hunky shirtless hubby without commenting on it LOL 😉
These turned out so well. I love the way the cuts came out. I think it would be cute to turn this into a cutting board!
Ahh. Lost opportunity there 🙂
xo – kb
I know. I must be REALLY sick to miss an opportunity like that 🙂
xo – kb
South Jersey all the way! And yes. I would kill for a good slice here.
xo – kb
I have REALLY limited experience with a band saw and even less with a scroll saw…so it’s hard for me to make that comparison. I would say that it gives you more clean lines (especially if you go slower) and then you will also have more control because it makes finer cuts so details are easier.
xo – kb
I love the Jersey one! Where in South Jersey, Gloucester County by any chance??
Ha ha, I was going to say the same thing. I love all these cute state projects, but somehow an uneven square just doesn’t look wall ready.
Thank you Katie for continuing to make things. I really enjoy your blog.
Could you personalize it with font on the front to say something…maybe the state slogan…”Fresh Air and Fond Memories served daily!”
xo – kb
Ha! I was going to comment on the same topic. Mmmm mmmm!
I was born in Mt. Holly. We lived in Pemberton and then Tabernacle 🙂
xo – kb
The intricate detail you were able to get on the edges is amazing. They look great!
I would just like to request more shirtless pictures of your boyfriend. Please and Thank you!
Please please learn what the word “literally” means. Every time you misuse it you literally come off as an idiot.
If you add hook(s) one of these would be a great place to hang your keys! Would also be fun with the sides painted. If using as wall art rather than a more functional piece you can paint or burn (or even add metal embellishment) star shape where home town is…
You literally don’t know my personal use of the word literally. I make up my own meanings…and literally do not care if I come off as an idiot. literally 🙂
xo – kb
Yeah, Jersey girls!
I love the weathered gray stain look too. I like to mix a gray stain with minwax provincial (about half and half)… I think it ends up with a more realistic weathered look than the straight gray. Give it a try next time you have a fun little project like this! 🙂
PS. I love your blog! (this may be the first time I’ve commented though) My little girl is only a little younger than your LJ <3
Great tip!
xo – kb
Good answer Katie! Kudos to you for not lowering yourself to her level
It’s unfortunate that readers feel compelled to dissect each sentence that a blogger writes. Do you think she leaves like comments when she sees misspelled words, transposed letters, run-on or fragmented sentences?
FYI, I’m fairly certain that your readers don’t see you as “coming off as an idiot”. Rather, I’m willing to bet that they would agree that it is Becky who has unwittingly nominated herself through her unnecessary snarky and snide comment.