Idea Board

As promised in this pic (numero 6) there was one final project to complete for the DIY room.

And now it is done!

This Idea Board was inspired by the mobile that used to hang in this room.  (Check it out here.)  Although I really liked the mobile the style just didn't really work in the room anymore so I came up with a new idea to display my inspirations / project ideas / stuff I like. 

I made a quick trip to one of my favorite spots, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and I picked up a used cabinet door.  These babies can be used for so many great things (like this) and they are only one buckaroo.  Exactly my price range!

After patching up the holes from the door pulls, I painted it with the left over paint from my wall stenciling.  Then I strung fabric across, added some clothes pins and hung a little bit of this and some of that.  Stuck it up on the wall and the job was done.  $1 spent!

Now, in full disclosure I do have to tell you that their was one more part to this story.  And since I always want to be sure to share my unsuccesses with you as well as my successes I do have to spill the beans on the minor set back that went along with this.

You know that saying fool me once...fool me twice.  Well lets just say that I am again the fool due to Martha Stewart.  Yes...Martha is back.  I made the fatal mistake of giving her one more shot and I bought her magnetic paint at Michael's.  The original idea was to make the door magnetic and hang things with cute homemade magnets.  I followed her directions and applied 3 coats of magnetic paint under the purple coat.  But when I hung it up the force wasn't enough to keep anything in place and the magnets slowly slid right down.  I mean maybe 8 coats would have been enough but that is just crazy!  So a last minute change of plans led me to the fabric being hung across.  And left me with these cute button magnets which I already made and love.

But yet again a poor review for a Martha Stewart product.  I swear this is the last time I will waste my money on her!  (Please hold me to that!)

How do you show off your cards?

There are so many creative ways to display Christmas cards.  So many in fact that I just can't pick one, but the adorable family pics have already started rolling in so I better decide on something fast! 

But in the mean time I thought I would share a few of my front runners with you.  My first favorite idea is this from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour...



So what are those???  SHUTTERS!  Great, right!!!  She spray painted a couple of shutters red and stuffed them full of all her Christmas cards.  I just love this!

My next idea I stole from one of the dozens of Target catalogues that have shown up in my mailbox the past few weeks.  I don't even think this item was for sale.  I actually think it was just being used to sell photo cards, but it grabbed my attention and helped me come up with this simple idea.  Which unfortunately I have no pictures of.  So close your eyes and just picture it for me...

Take a wreath form (you know, the styrofoam kind).  Wrap wide satin red ribbon around it to cover up the styrofoam- perhaps using some glue along the way.  Hang the wreath with a green bow and then as those cards begin to arrive pin them to the wreath with small push pins.  Fill every inch of the wreath and hang it on your wall, door or put it up on the mantel!

I also really like the simple idea of hanging cards like a garland  or banner.  Here are a few of my favorites...

From Tilly's Cottage look at this great pom-pom ribbon



And from Centsational Girl, this looks great from far away




But look up close at how she is hanging those cards!



Jingle Bells!

And my final contestant, which I actually think is going to win out because I am so short on time and I have all the supplies, is this card holder made out of candy canes!  I found the pic here but can't seem to find much more info on it.  I assume you can attach a piece of cardboard to the back to make it stand up.  I will try and let you know!



So happy card opening and displaying.  Just 2 more weeks till Christmas!