DIY Name Plaque

I am a chronic procrastinator!

There, it is now blog official.

Once again, I was attending a wedding this past weekend and didn't have a gift!

Talk about cutting it close...I came up with a brilliant project the day before the wedding!

 It's just a fact, my creative juices flow better with
a shot of panic.

And I'm being completely serious.

So, what was I going to do?

Well, a couple days before while perusing one of my favorite blogs, ReFashionista,
I came across a post where she made some adorable invitations
by sewing paper and fabric pieces together.

It inspired me!

I decided to make a name plaque for the newlyweds using that same idea.

After a quick run to our local thrift shop, I had just what I needed.

 

 I picked up this slightly beat up black frame 

with a cheep computer printed picture stuck inside.

 

And this old antique looking book with small print words.
Also, a few pieces of fabric scraps.

Then I set to work.

First, I typed up the last name in all caps, each letter in a different font.

I printed those out a plain white paper for a test run.
I wanted to be sure of the sizing and look before I printed them on the paper I intended to use.

Tearing some of the pages out from my book, I laid them overlapping onto the back of the picture board.
Then I started experimenting with how to arrange the letters.

 

Next came the material scraps.

I tried finding colors and prints that worked with each other

and were in the bride and groom's color scheme. 

 

 Once I liked what I had laid out, I reprinted the letters onto my stationary,

cut them out, and sewed them onto the material pieces using a zig zag stitch.

I was being particular, and decided I wanted the letters closer together,
so I trimmed down the fabric blocks until I got them to look like this.

When I was completely satisfied with it all,
I used a glue stick and glued down the pages.

Then I secured the letters in place with double stick tape.

Next, using a pair of scissors, I set to work distressing the frame.

It had a few scrapes already, but after I was done with my scissors,
it looked like it was supposed to be that way. :)

 

 Almost done...

 

Lastly, I twisted a piece of copper wire around a pencil to spiral it, 

then stapled it to the back of the frame.

 

 

Ta-da!

You can't see and fully appreciate how well the distressing of the frame
turned out from my poor photos, but trust me...it was beautiful!

I was oober pleased with my afternoon project,
it looked like something you pay good money for at a boutique.

Spent:
Frame: $2
Old Book for Background: $0.25
Material scraps: $0.10

Total: $2.35 (plus materials on hand)


Creativity pays off!