Homemade Holidays: Cornhole Boards

Well Since January is over, I figured I could sneak in one last post about our Homemade Holiday.

This is actually a bit of a trio to be honest.  TSG and I love being outdoors when the weather is nice and when the boat isn't beckoning, we really enjoy playing corn hole.  Now, to be honest, I actually find the name of the game to be a bit on the dirty side.  It just reminds me of Beavis and Butthead when they talk about bung holes and cornholio. 

Image courtesy of:
http://www.musicskins.com/category/tv-movies/beavis-and-butt-head.html

Sorry to put that image in your head, but I just feel like I should share my distaste for the name of "corn hole"  I much more prefer BEAN BAG TOSS.  However, no one else seems to agree with me when we're playing.

Anywho...sorry I got off on a tangent.  TSG and I made our first set back in September.  These were a set that we could keep ourselves. 

Go Panthers and Pirates!!

Bags to match ECU

Bags to match Panthers

We built these boards using the method outlined on this website: How to Cornhole
The designs were placed on the board by handpainting.  I located the decals online and blew the images up to the size I needed.  You can do this by selecting poster print on the printer properties.  I taped the numerous pages together and then transferred the design to the board using transfer paper that I bought at A. C. Moore.  And then it was as easy as paint by numbers.  And by easy, I mean it took us 4 days.

A close up showing the paint strokes

What we learned from our first try:
1. Handpainting is tedious and takes a lot of energy and effort, but it gives the best results
2. A cornhole bag will not stay together if you only use a single cotton fabric layer and basic thread
3. If you keep the cornhole bags in the shop outside and in a plastic grocery bag, mice will eat through the bags and get to the corn

Fast forward to November and our second set:

Now, it literally pained me to make these, but they were for a very good friend and we enjoyed making a second set

We made two identical boards for this set

As a Carolina Tarheel fan, I had a difficult time not "accidentally" destroying the decal

For this set, we used vinyl decals that we purchased at the Murrell's Inlet Flea Market while on a mini-vacay.  They were a little expensive, but the ease of using them made it worth the money.  A few notes about using vinyl decals:

When you put the lacquer on, the vinyl bubbles up and makes you freak out.  But if you let it completely set up, the vinyl will lay back out.  We don't know why, it just does.  It will continue to do this for each layer of lacquer you put on.  We were putting on at least 3 and sometimes 4.  Make sure to LIGHTLY sand between each layer of lacquer.

The bags for this set also caused a minor issue:  Apparently the licensed fabric for NCAA schools comes in only 1 style.  So, getting creative, each bag had one side that was Duke fabric and the other side was the differing fabric.

One side Duke fabric / One side solid blue on all 4 bags for team A

One side Duke fabric / One side white with black polka dots on all 4 bags for Team B

This set was being made for a couple, so I chalked up the polka dot fabric to being the slightly more "girly" fabric, but I don't think they cared either way.

The bags for this set were made to be a lot more sturdy.  I made them with 2 layers of fabric, one canvas and one cotton.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO SEW THE COTTON FABRIC INSIDE OUT.  Trust me, I had to restich the same bags sometimes 2 or 3 times.  Also, I used a heavier canvas grade thread.  Unlike the first set of bags, the hole for filling in the bags with the corn was placed in the center of one side and not at a corner.  It was easier to double stitch on the outer part of the bag instead of whipple stitching them closed.  They held together better.

After realizing that, I went back are re-made the bags for mine and TSG's set.

And last but definitely not least, the ultimate in custom corn-hole boards!

Deer with a fall theme

The second board matched this one, the leaves were just placed falling down the other side.  The deer was also a vinyl decal.  The "W" was placed on the board using the tracing paper method that we used for our personal set.  The leaves were placed on by finding various leaf images on the internet and creating stencils using cardstock paper and then painted on with a stenciling sponge.

I used the same stencile multiple times.  Just make sure each layer is dry before starting the next and place all the stencils for a single color down before you begin painting, a "dry fit" so to speak

This is what I mean by sponging the paint on.  The bubbles tend to disappear after a few minutes, but lightly blowing on them helps too.

Here I am putting on the "W"  Notice the backwards "W" on the board to the left..Yea, I had to fix that several times.

This is what the leaf pile looked like when we thought we were done.  We decided it didn't look authentic enough and went back and freehanded in the veins.

BTW: This is what TSG does while I work...sexy huh?

This is what the Shadey 1 does while I work...if you look hard, you'll see the squirrel that she's stalking

Lessons learned while working on this set:
1. spray paint looks like crap, so take it from me, and just use the latex crafting paint.
2. don't try to construct these when the person that will be getting them for their Christmas present is visiting.

The bags for Team A

The bags for Team B

My sewing machine and I were in the middle of a heart to heart when I ultimately forego the top stitching and just kind of winged it.  Here's what you get.  It worked better than expected, it's just not as pretty.  

Oh, and it turns out, I didn't know how to properly thread my machine.  Lesson learned.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, BEAN BAG TOSS in action!

We like to call this the drunk man's horseshoes...no one gets hurt with hard metal objects and you can still hold a beer.  PERFECT

Or hold a drink...with a lid

All my love,
Meredith

Homemade Holidays Part 3 - Aprons

I had a wonderful weekend for Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.  No, it didn’t include any type of celebration for the man who gave the “I have a dream” speech.  Even though I do believe he should be given credit for the accomplishments that he made in the way of civil rights.

No, my weekend included a visit from one of my best friends from college.  We are often mistaken for sisters, which is not the case, but she is always welcomed into my home like a sister!  We spent the weekend watching football, making delicious crock pot recipes and overall just spending time together. 

 

I attempted to send her and her husband their Christmas present before Christmas, but I somehow managed to write down their old address, so their present came back to my house.  So I held onto it this time, since she was coming here, after all!!  Then, I made her model it for me and this post!

I think wearing it a little higher on the torso makes it look cuter!  And it'll cover her baby bump as it continues to grow!

I made all of my girlfriends an apron of their own using this tutorial.  I wish I could give you advice or tips on how I improved on the tutorial, but alas, there is nothing that I did that helped me make the pattern better.  And because I made 13 of these beauties, I really got a feel for my sewing machine, which I am still attempting to conquer!!  I did use a bar from my blinds to assist with turning the straps inside out instead of a turner-outer-thingy, since I don’t own one of those……yet!  One thing I did think was awesome about this tutorial...I learned how to stain on the grain of the fabric by tearing it!!  So smart.  I will be using this trick a lot!

Sorry I was unable to get a picture of each apron.  Because my Christmas celebrations spanned almost the entire month of December, as soon as I had one made, I was giving it away.  Sometimes I had it completed a whole 30 minutes before I handed over my latest creation to its new owner.  

I am hoping that a homemade apron by Meredith (that’s me!) will be a tradition that all of the young women in my life will receive each year.  As all of us are growing older and settling down with our own families, I think a little something like a cute apron keeps a little bit of classy in each of us!  Or maybe I’m just extremely old fashioned and think that a kitchen just doesn’t seem quite right without an apron, or a collection of aprons.

 

In fact, I remember that my Grandmother used to have an entire kitchen drawer dedicated solely to aprons in her home.  And I might be subconsciously trying to channel my Grandmother and her kitchen.  Aww…now if only I can channel those authentic, southern chicken ‘n dumplins!!

Best wishes for a wonderful week!

Love as always!

Meredith

Homemade Holiday -- Part 2

The Dwyer Family Crest

My family has a love for our heritage.  We keep misc. items around our homes that have special meaning to us and to those that have passed them onto us.  For example, I have my great-grandfathers binoculars from when he was detective in Des Moines, IA and my father has the handcuffs.  We profess to anyone who cares that we have firefighters, detectives, servicemen, Olympic athletes and hunters in our family.  So, to the say the least, we are VERY proud of where we came from.  

My mom and dad each have a tattoo of our family crest.  My sister has the lion from it and some day VERY VERY soon, I will also be getting one of the lion.  I already have one tattoo and as much as that teeny tiny one on my foot hurt, I’m not racing to get the lion placed on my spine at the base of my neck.  It just sounds painful, but alas, that is where I would want it.  I think I’m also scared that the tattoo artist won’t do as good as a job on my tat as he did on my sister's.  Sorry I don’t have a picture of their tattoos, but trust me, they’re done very well.

But anyways, since my family is so proud, and I’m so cheap creative, I decided that my ‘rents needed a way to display the crest that would be visible as soon as they bring you to the house.  And thus, here is the second installment of Homemade Holidays.  So I made them an authentic family crest for Christmas.  TSG was helpful as always.

                                                 

Here’s how it breaks down: 

1.     Use piece of plywood that you erroneously purchased for another project and fill in any imperfections in the wood with wood filler and sand

See the imperfection?

 .       Print out a poster version of the crest and cut and tape it to size.  Measure the size of the outline of the crest and meticulously draw same onto the ply wood and very carefully cut with a jig saw.  Have the paper poster taken from you by your ‘ol so smart future hubby who lays the poster on top of the ply wood and cuts through everything (meanwhile, you’re trying very hard to hold it in place for him since jig saws vibrate the paper out of place every ½ inch)

The wood filler has been added and sanded and the shape cut out

 

3.   Paint the now crest shaped cut out with white gloss paint and let dry.  Repeat until the ply wood seems as smooth from paint as you prefer.  We did two coats

4.       Lay your chewed up poster print out on top of the painted crest and trace the lions outline using tracing paper.  (This truly is my secret to intricate designs on our projects, yep, I cheat!)

a.       Only trace the outline because you’ll need to paint the lion red all over and will go back for black outlining and shadows afterwards

This is a horrible picture, sorry, but this is the printed out poster prior to cutting/chewing it with the jigsaw

5.       Paint in your lion in red and let dry

6.       Touch up the white areas of the crest with paint where the graphite from the tracing paper smeared

7.       Carefully outline your lion and add details for additional tufts of fur and shadowing.  Be careful not to go overboard!  A little goes a long way.  This is also where you should paint in the black things (I have no idea what they're called) on the top corners and bottom center portion.  I cut out a cardstock template for the longer piece and used a cap to crafting paint for the circles to trace onto my crest.

8.       Add two eye lag screws and wire to the back so it can be hung up.  Again, be careful not to get a screw that is too long and will come through the front of the board

VOILA!  You’re done and now you’ve created a true family crest that replicates how crests and shields were made in ancient times.  Well probably not, I’m sure they made them out of precious metals and intricate carvings, but you get the idea.

The Dwyer Family Crest

All my love!

Meredith

Homemade Holiday - Part 1

Since Christmas 2011 has come and gone, I can FINALLY share what consumed my December.  I literally mean, consumed every bit of it.  TSG was being awesome and even offering to help with the sewing projects (even though he has no clue how to work the sewing machine….Bless his heart!)

My first priority was to totally spoil my twin sister.  We had many projects on the list to get done for her, and obviously did not accomplish all of them.  However, we were able to do the biggies!

Sis was gifted with wine cork wall art.

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Now she just needs to hang it up

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The bottom was painted prior to adding any corks in order to hid the ugly wood color

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Sorry for the bad depth of field.  It was bad lighting and TSG was in a hurry that day

I was inspired by this:

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Sorry I don't know the original source for this, I found it and saved the image long before I started writing this blog or before I knew what Pinterest was

I wanted the corks to touch and not leave all the space in between. 

I started out by grouping my small circular corks in the center of the spheres and gluing those down and worked out from there.  It took some moving and grooving to get them all to fit and look symmetrical, but I think it came out ok.

Also, I thought the edges needed to be finished.  So I cut some 2x4’s down to size.  All the corks were hot glued on and the edges were CAREFULLY trimmed with a circular saw.  True Southern Gentleman (TSG) nailed everything together for me and after what seemed like a month (read, approximately 5 hours), we were done with Melinda’s first Christmas craft!

This is where we dry fit the frame and before paint was added

I think this craft cost me a little over $7.00.  I know, I know, she’s wicked expensive!  The cost included the sample can of paint from Lowe’s ($2.50), remnant pieces of 2x4 left over from other projects, nails and hot glue.  The corks were given to me over the last year.  Originally they were to be used for our wedding, but then we discovered wine isn’t exactly our poison of choice and might not match our personalities very well.

Next up for my beautiful sister was a wine rack that she could call all her own.

I used this tutorial from This Old House  I just decided to spruce up the look a bit with paint and thought I would get really creative and add an accent color to the front brackets. 

                What I learned:

                                Nailing those SOB’s in was a real pain in the arse for TSG

                                I wish I would have painted the interior of the box

                                Primer was an unnecessary step, as it still took 2+ coats of the white

                                I really need to invest in a 4-6 inch circular drill bit

See what I mean about painting the interior?  Just would have added that finishing touch, I think

This project was a tid bit more expensive:

                Painter’s box: $30

                Necessary Primer: $6

               

At first, I thought I was going to be really creative and Mod Podge some fabric to the front brackets for a really cool finish.  No go on that idea.  It was my first attempt at Mod Podge, so it was more of a learning experience.  1. Mod Podge is messy for me and I didn’t work quickly enough.  2.  The brackets were entirely too small and had too many curves for a beginner.  3.  I think I bought the wrong kind of Mod Podge.  I have other plans for this stuff though, so stay tuned

More Homemade Holidays post to come!

Linking up today...my first proper link 
The Shabby Nest

Love as always!

Meredith

Christmas Time

Okay, I'm going to try and post a little more often in December.  But everything I want to write about is what I'm making for everyone for their presents.  It's going to be a handmade holiday for Me and Jason. 

But to start off the Christmas spirit, I'll start with this Christmas survey.  I found it at this blog site: The Sunset Lane.  It took me a minute to figure out that it originally came from this site though: I Rock So What.


So here goes.  I would love to see everyone else's answers too!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate on 99% of my winter days, but I always make sure to get at least one cup of Egg Nog with a little something special to top it! 

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa most definitely wraps presents under the tree.  Stocking stuffers are left unwrapped though.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White is so pretty.  So definitely white.  It helps the colored ornaments stand out more.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.  Jason said you have to shoot it down from the trees, which is both tricky and unnecessary.  We do have a pretty holly bush or two outside the house.  Maybe I should bring some of it inside.

5. When do you put your decorations up? When I can get me house clean enough to junk it up again.  So probably right before the girls come over next week for a early Christmas get together. 

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Grandma’s sausage casserole and the orange juice that she makes you drink.  I love both, but it makes me laugh that Grams makes sure we have OJ on Christmas morning.  I guess it makes her feel good knowing that at least one day a year she can help with our Vitamin C intake.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Lying in bed with my sister and poking her until she woke up and swearing up and down that I just heard Reindeer bells.  She thought I was crazy, but I KNOW WHAT I HEARD!!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The one year that mom and dad forgot to sign some of the presents from themselves.  But I should have realized it when I was about 6 and we caught mom and dad still putting the toys out when Sis and I got up to go to the bathroom.  They did good though, claiming “we were just seeing what Santa got you before you did.  So hurry up or he’ll turn around and take them back since you’re not asleep.” Ha!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Oh yea, we go to Grandpa’s every year on Christmas Eve to exchange presents and stories there.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? It’s a mix of purple and gold ornaments (for ECU, Go PIRATES!) and hand me down ornaments (since I apparently didn’t own any when I was 21, thanks mom….I think) and funky ornaments given to me by friends throughout the years.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it!  It’s pretty for the 10 minutes that I want to be outside in it.  Then bluh!!  Get rid of the awful stuff.  Besides, when in NC do we EVER get just snow?  Too much ice and bad drivers for me.

12. Can you ice skate? I guess.  Been a few times, but we don’t have many rinks in driving distance around here and the lakes don’t freeze with thick enough ice to skate on.  I went with my best friend Em once though and played freeze tag.  She was taking a break and I didn’t know it until I was already going up to tag her.  She saw me and next thing I know, I slide tackled her.  It wasn’t very nice of my 15 year old self.  Oops.  Sorry lady!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really, because I like all my gifts.  The boom box with the Alan Jackson CD when I was 9 was pretty kick ass though.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Trying to stay focused on what the Holidays are really about.  It seems that every year, it gets harder and harder.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Snow Cream!  Does that count?

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Well, we can’t do it anymore, but calling and talking to my great-grandparents in Iowa and Arkansas was always really special to me.  And when I was a little bit older, seeing my Grandpa hand out money envelopes.  We always joked that he was the God Father.  It was never about the money, but the smile on that old man’s face when you gave him a kiss on the cheek.  Aww…shucks, I’m starting to tear up now just thinking about him and all my grandparents that aren’t here anymore.  I SURE DO MISS YOU GUYS!

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Of course I prefer to give presents.  But I would be lying if I didn’t say that receiving presents isn’t totally awesome too.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? They make pretty decorations, but otherwise….Meh.  They take too long to eat.  Small candy canes are a good alternative though.

20. Favorite Christmas movie?  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!!

Here are a few of my favorites quotes too:

            I hope no one I know sees me standing in the yard in my pajamas!

            Shitter’s full

            Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakuah, Kiss my ass, Kiss his ass

            Why is the floor wet Todd?! I don’t know Margo!!

And of course the best quote from the entire movie:

I don’t own this movie, but sure would love to have it in my collection *hint* *hint*

21. Saddest Christmas Song? Silent Night

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy

I would love to hear everyone else's answers.

All my love and here's to a wonderful holiday season!

Meredith