Name Display For My Classroom

Note: Bear with me if you've already seen this post (on my old blog, Always Write 2012). I am slowly but surely trying to transfer all of my DIY projects to THIS blog so people don't keep finding my crafts on my OLD blog. I want them reading over here!

The original idea I found for this on Pinterest is one that someone posted for a baby's room, but I fell in love with the idea and knew immediately that I HAD to have it in my classroom. (Note: I made these in the summer of 2012 and have already had them hanging in my classroom for one year!)

WARNING: WAY too many pictures were taken in this process, and I am sharing them all. Enjoy! :)

Basically, I wanted a sign that has my name on it to hang over my desk. When I saw this canvas idea, I was hooked. I bought 11 blank canvases (okay, I bought 12 because they came in packs of two... and it's always good to have an extra just in case something goes wrong, ya know). The canvases are 8x10 in size. I bought the same number of pieces of scrapbooking paper in the same pattern in 12x12 (so they are big enough to wrap around the canvases to give it the "real" canvas look. I bought wooden letters to spell out: "MISS VANNICE" to be glued onto the scrapbooking paper after it was glued onto the canvases. I also purchased metallic pink and teal acrylic paint to make the wooden letters pretty. (You will see all of this in the pictures below). I used Mod Podge to stick the paper to the canvases, and I used hot glue to stick the letters to the paper afterward. I think they turned out extremely cute, and I can't wait to hang them up in my new classroom! :)

(in context with the rest of the room... oh, how I miss this classroom! Moving sucks.)

So, what do you think? 
Would you use something like this in your classroom/office/house?
Have you ever made anything similar?

Painted Canvases

Most of you saw my anniversary gift for Dan in late February. I painted seven canvases and then painted quotes about flying on them. You can see them by checking out THIS BLOG POST if you missed it.

Anyway, while I was making those, I realized how fun it was, so I decided to make several more for myself. The only problem? You can only hang so many things up in your house without looking crazy, so I have these just sitting in my closet for now. Oops. I really do love them, though. A few friends suggested I open at Etsy shop to sell them, and I am going to do just that (but I'll post more about that later when it's all up and running). 

This is something I've found that I enjoy doing in my free time during the evenings (free time? as a teacher? you're right -- there's not much of it, but I make some time for myself). It's therapeutic, especially after a long day! I have many plans for more, so be on the look out! :)

Check out some of the canvases I have made so far. Some are better than others, and I can tell each one gets a little better as I gain confidence in what I'm doing. These are NOT posted in the order in which they were made... because I can't quite remember. 

Jason Mraz lyrics to a song that always reminds me of my relationship with Dan... we will be dancing to this song at our wedding for sure (although, it will not be our first dance song)

My favorite Bible verse

I love how this one looks like an anchor :) 

Thanks for looking! 

Anniversary Airplane Quote Craft

Today, I celebrated four amazing, wonderful years with the most handsome, marvelous fiancé anyone could ask for. That's right: February 25th marks my first date with Dan. Four. Entire. Years. Ago.

It's insane, really.

And time is flying. We get married in just 15 months! It's surreal, but I am oh-so excited!

For our anniversary, I wanted to do something for Dan that he would be able to enjoy for a long time. Since I had a few vintage airplane pictures framed for him for his birthday last year and a couple of his favorite pilots drawn for him and framed for Christmas, I decided to go with quotes about flying. Let me just tell you -- there aren't too many good ones. I searched and searched until I was completely satisfied with the quality and quantity that I decided on.

Instead of typing these out in Photoshop, which was my original plan, and framing them, I decided to try something new. I bought seven 12x12 canvases at Hobby Lobby and loaded up on acrylic paints. My result? Decent. I'm happy with them, and he seemed to like them, but I know this is a craft I will get better and better at over time. I had never painted on canvas before, so this was an experiment of sorts.

Oh, you want to see them? Of course I took pictures. Obviously. Check these out, but be nice. They're my first ones!

It took me a long time to make all of these painted canvases, but I'm glad I stuck with the project. I have made a few to hang up in my house too, and I will share those soon!