a place to hang your pretty things

Hello! 

This is my first blog post of my first blog. My basic plan is to post creative projects as they come to me, so that everyone can see what I've been up to. I'll try to offer helpful hints as well, so you all can try the projects at home! Some ideas I find on other blogs (which I'll include links to, naturally) and some ideas sort of just come to me. So, without further ado and jibber jabber, here we go!

The problem: I needed a place to hang coats near the shoe basket and key rack. I wanted something that would match the adorable key rack my Grandma gifted me, without being overly matchy. I found an unfinished coat rack at Joann's and bought it (with my 40% off coupon, of course). I covered it in strips of newspaper mixed with a water/mod podge paste. In the end, I didn't exactly like the way it looked. I took a very pale gray/blue paint, mixed it with water and white-washed the whole piece. Once it was dry, I pained leaves on it with a subtle gold paint. 

I loved the idea of the shelf on top, since it meant I could decorate the rack however I liked. I found directions for the paper mache birds in a magazine, which are made with cardboard and blown out eggs. I white washed those as well. The bottles were a thrift store find. The word home was unfinished wood that I painted blue, then gold, then sanded the edges so a little blue and natural wood would come through.

I really like the way it turned out, and once we stuck it on the wall, it was as utilitarian as it was welcoming!

If you want to make this at home, you'll need:

unfinished coat rack (local craft store)

newspaper

paint (white-wash color and accent color)

paintbrushes (one for mod podge, one for paint)

mod-podge (I used matte finish instead of glossy)

Good luck crafters!