Pinned it, tried it.: Clipboards

As I mentioned in my first post I wanted to include things in my blog about projects around the house.  I thought I would try out this format of "Pinned it, tried it" for some of my posts.  This could be anything from DIY projects, activities for kids, or recipes.

I have been eying these giant clipboards on Pinterest for a while.  If you're like me, you have kids' artwork displayed on the fridge and sometimes have a hard time picking and choosing what stays up there and what goes because anything created by those precious little hands is, well, precious.  Kids love to have their art displayed and it's one way to show you think what they've made is important.   I have one off those fridges with the French doors and an ice maker and I can't always fit the larger paintings on the doors.  I have also seen where people use picture frames to display artwork, but I needed something that would be quick and easy for change outs. 

Materials

Stain or paint grade board

Clips (found here)

Screws

Orbital sander

Stain and poly or pain

Brushes

Picture hangers

1st: Decide how big you want the clipboard.  I found a stain grade 16"x70 1/2" board and had them make the cuts for me. That gave me three boards that were 16"x 23 1/2".  Basically I found a board I was happy with price wise and just had them cut it into equal parts.  

2nd: I did a light sanding on the surfaces and then sanded down the edges and corners just enough to round them out a little so the board didn't look too new and some of the edges were jagged from the cuts. (I forgot to take pics during the process, but here you can see the rounded corners)

3rd:  Paint.  If you're going with a regular color, remember to prime and then put on a coat of paint.  For the stain, I gave it one coat, did a light sand, and then two coats of poly with sanding in between.  

4th: Attach the clips.  I just used one screw through the back circle.  Just make sure you choose screws to fit according to the holes in your clips and short enough to not drive through the back of your board.  These are 3" clips and depending on the size of your board and clips, you may only want to use one.  

5th: Add your picture hangers and attach to a stud in the wall. 

Can you tell I forgot to paint this one edge? :)

We hung our clipboards in the stairwell leading up to the playroom.  Not only is it an easy way to display and change out R's artwork, it frees up the fridge doors and decorates an odd space.

Pinned it, tried it: Projection Screen

I'm always checking out pins about fun things to do in the summer.  One of the suggestions that always popped up, was to have an outdoor movie night at home!  My husband has a projector that he used for his side business so all we needed was a screen. If you don't have a projector I found this pin on how to make on from your phone.  There are all kinds of ideas about how and where to set up a projection screen.  You can buy them or make them.  We had recently covered and screened our deck and I thought it would be fun to have movie nights out there.  

I did all kinds of research here and here and decided to make one ourselves to hang up on the porch.  

Materials

Fabric

Stitch Witchery (heavy duty)

Iron

Hole punch

Grommets and punch

Springs

Hooks

 You could probably buy a flat sheet from walmart but I had it my head that I wanted something durable and gray.  Why gray and not white?  I read here how if you can't control the lighting a gray fabric will help provide more contrast.  I scoured Joann fabrics and found gray ironing board material for $9.99/yd that was 50% off.  Bought 3 yds and the stitch Witchery and used a 40% off coupon.  I bought a couple other things not related and the total was under $25.  Not bad.  

1st: How big does your screen need to be?  This website had great information on how to figure out your sizes.  I based mine off of it and added an extra 2" just to be on the safe side and then added another 1 1/2" for seams.  The good thing about a projector is you can usually move it to adjust the sizes.  

2nd: Hem all four sides for a clean look.  Before I tried the stitch Witchery, I actually tried out duct tape on scrap because some of the websites suggested that for edges.  I'm so glad I tried it first because I could never fold it without it bunching up and making goofy creases.  Also, if you mess up, too bad because it's permanent.  So, I folded my seams and followed the directions with the stitch Witchary.  It was my first time ever using it and I had to play around with it a few times before I could get it to work.  I don't know if this was because of the kind of fabric I used, but I had to hold the iron on it for 20 seconds instead of the recommended 10.  I think because my fabric is specifically made for ironing boards it fortunately didn't burn the fabric.  Also, the stich Witchery is pretty forgiving,  if needed I could pull the seam apart and redo it if it shifted without ruining it.

 

3rd: Punch holes in fabric using a paper hole punch.  I did mine on the hems to keep them sturdy.  Then add the grommets and hook the springs through them..If a hole punch does not work for you, consider folding the corners down on the screen to creat a loop that will hold a rope.  You may want to use thread to make these because the stitch Witchery can come apart under weight.  

(Hole punch through the hem)

(Found this handy grommet punch at Walmart for $2.  Just use a hammer to punch the grommet.)

(The springs make it easy to remove the screen when we are not using it)

4th:  Measure out your placement for the hooks on your wall.  My hubby helped me out by holding up the fabric and adding the length for the springs to make sure they would keep the fabric taut once hanging.  We added hooks for the bottom as well, but you can skip it if you don't mind the screen a little loose.

Having this screened porch is still very new to us and we are really enjoying it.  I know we are really going to enjoy watching movies out here. How awesome will it be to snuggle under a blanket and drink hot chocolate in the Fall watching a movie?  

(Don't mind the tent)

 

Weekly Happenings

Sunday:  Spent most of the day relaxing.  My hubs pulled a muscle in his lower back the day before shimmy-ing (real word) on his back under our deck attaching a gutter underneath.  I took him to urgent care and they gave him all sorts of shots and pain meds to help.  He slept most of the afternoon and then was up moving around that night.

Monday: M was on his back meds so R and I drove him in to work and came home for breakfast and showers.  We then spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for new clothes for R.  He seems to hit his growth spurts in the middle of seasons.  If only he would grow right at the start of a season...wouldn't that just save money?  I really got some great deals at kohls with coupons and earning kohls cash.  I'm the one who will leave the register to find a $5 item to boost my total up to earn the $10 cash.  

Tuesday: R has been attending a church program on Tuesdays and Thursdays giving me time to do whatever.  I seem to have gotten into a terrible habit of laying around on Tuesdays and catching up in Netflix shows.  My current addictions are "Once Upon a Time" and "Switched at Birth".  I will then shower and do a fast clean staring at four to appear as if I'd had a productive day.

Wednesday: We had some out of town guests visiting with us.  I spent the whole morning cleaning (because I didn't have the time Tuesday) right up until they showed up.  My parents came over as well. We swam for two hours, came home and played outside and a few rounds of 3/13.  The hubs came home and grilled some amazing jerk chicken for everyone.  It so much fun having everyone over, especially in the middle of the week,

Thursday: R was off to his church program and I ran a few errands and worked on a projection screen project that I will post later. 

Friday: I gave R the power to choose what to do and he chose going to our little local waterpark.  It has two slides, a splash pad, a small lazy river, and a pool.  We spent four hours there playing.  He did not stop moving and I can't believe he didn't fall asleep in the car.  We came home and grabbed showers.  M came home and we headed out for dinner and a movie, "The Amazing Spidarman 2" at our $2 theater.  I was surprised that I liked the movie.

Saturday: R had a skating party to attend, so we shopped last minute for presents and headed to the party.  He skated and played on the indoor playground for 2 1/2 hours while I caught up with some great friends.  After the party I dropped him off for a sleepover at my parents house.  The hubs and I visited his sister in the hospital and her new baby girl.  I was a total baby hog, but I did let M hold her for a few minutes.  Then we went out for dinner and shopped at The Fresh Market for some delicious deserts to eat at home.  It was such a good day.

Trying something new

Hello.  My name is Jennifer and I am addicted to reading to blogs.  I really am.  After I check Facebook, I immediately check out my favorite blogs.  I am also addicted to Pinterest.  Other than my addictions to social media, I have been married to my best friend for almost eight years and we have (almost) a seven year old son.  We'll call the hubs "M" and my son, "R".  

I have always wanted to write a blog and I figured it's time I just go for it.  I hope to write some about my personal life, projects around the house, and recipes I've tried.  Let's see how it goes. :)