Another Cut Out Art Design

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We’ve already released two nature inspired faux bois cut out art pieces, and we’re ready to add another.  The design is similar to the Birch Tree Carved Initials Cut Out.

In a never ending quest for variety, we’ve added an oak pattern.  Without further ado, here is our newest addition.

Like its Birch brother, the Oak design features a heart with two customizable initials. 

This custom, one-of-a-kind, signed and dated original cut out art measures 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall, so it can be framed in an 8 inch by 10 inch or 8.5 inch by 11 inch format.

Of course, we have other art and pillows available for purchase in our Etsy shop, and we love custom orders, so please don’t hesitate to ask.

Magic Carpet Ride

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Last week, I was wandering through my second home Target, and I saw an abstract floral cotton rug for $19.99.  I thought it was a door mat size, but it opened to a 3 foot by 5 foot rug. 

I liked the pattern and the price was great, too, but I didn’t think Ben would like it.  (He seriously hates almost every rug I pick out, including our Flor rugs and our entry rug.)  So, I brought it home anyway, not quite sure of where it would land.  I laid it down in the basement bathroom and asked Ben to look at it.  Never one to disappoint, Ben did hate it.  So, I decided to return it.  Then, a light bulb went off.  What about in the laundry room? 

It’s a tight squeeze, but we can put the washer and dryer on it to help keep it in place. 

But, we’ll have to wait to use it.  We still need to tile the floors (did you notice the tile ended in that first picture?).  i had hopes of finishing the laundry room around Black Friday, when we looked at getting a new washer/dryer set, but Home Depot had hit their LG quota.  Hopefully next year.  Until then, here’s a shot of our ugly laundry room, because blogging and home renovating aren’t always pretty. 

Sadly, not much has changed since this post.

What about you?  Any deals you’ve found at Target recently?  Maybe your laundry room is just as ugly as ours?  Raise your hand if you want a new front loading washer and dryer!  (Me!)

Non-Profit Giveaway

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One of our readers contacted us to ask to help raise funds for a non-profit summer school program.  We offered to giveaway one digital print, customized with colors and text. 

You can learn more about the non-profit and enter the giveaway at PDX Summer School.

Pin Prick Art

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I’ve been obsessed with cut out paper art recently, so it’s only natural that I decided to give pin pricking a try.  To make your own, you’ll need:

A template

Cardstock or paper

Thumbtacks, pins or a needle

Cardboard or something else to punch into.

To start, I created a template in Photoshop, printed to regular paper and cut it to size.  I lightly taped my template on my cardstock.  Before I started on my actual design, I tested different pins, level of pressure, and working direction.  I chose to use a thumb tack on a semi-soft cutting mat working from the front. 

For a less subtle design, work punch holes from the back. 

Working on my cutting mat, I traced the design with the pin.  I decided I liked the design better as just an outline, but if you prefer, you can fill yours in. 

As you can see, the design is subtle, but I love the texture. 

If you like the template, you can buy one for $3.00 in our Etsy shop. 

The Crowning Jewel

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When we asked our readers to take a brief survey at the beginning of the year, we asked if you’ve seen something in our house that you would like to know more about.  One reader was wondering how the lighting in our master bedroom worked.  Let’s start at the beginning, the trim.

We decided to install crown moulding over the doors and windows of our master bedroom and adjoining bathroom.  Ben had a great idea, why not install rope lighting on a dimmer switch above each?  I said, “Sure.  You’re the one doing the wiring, so if it’s a pain, you have yourself to blame.”

You see, I have a tendency to come up with tedious projects that Ben has to complete, so this was all him.  Guess what?  It was a pain.  But I already said that.  Why was it a pain you ask?  Well, dear friends, because each window and door has a header above, made of 2 by 4s, to give the structure strength.  So, Ben had to drill through finished sheetrock, through each header, then fish his wiring through his holes.

Once he ran the wiring, it was easy.  Ben wired outlets, all set on a dimmer switch, inside each crown piece.

(Please disregard the dust, its there for moral support, though I did vacuüm inside for you.  Oh yeah, you see the traces of red, that’s not blood, it’s paint.  Yeah, Ben wanted our bedroom burgundy.  So, we painted it, then quickly painted it again).

Then, we bought basic rope lighting from Home Depot.  Home Depot has tons of rope light options, but we chose five 6 foot lengths.  Why 6 feet?  Rope lighting isn’t especially bright, so we decided to double up anything that was shorter than 6 feet.  Next, plug the lights in.  Luckily, the windows and doors don’t look any brighter than the closet.  After tucking the lights down in the crown moulding, Ben used plastic fasteners to keep everything tucked neatly in its place.

Here, you can catch a glimpse of the crown construction.  Ben cut the crown pieces to size, then applied glue to the joints and nailed in place.  Ben always goes a little overboard to make sure things he builds are super strong, so he cut scraps of wood to match the angle of the inside corners.  Then, he nailed the crown into the blocks and they’re like a rock.

The room glows with the lights on at night.

Please note:  If you are not an electrician or comfortable working with electrical systems, please do not attempt this your self.  This post is not a step-by-step tutorial, just a guide on how Ben created our lighting.  We are not liable for any damages or injury.