Pinterest Challenge - check!

I am alway thrilled when Sherry and Katie declare that the Pinterest Challege is back for another season.  It really helps me get off the couch and get my artistic juices flowing.

You see, when we moved into the house I was pretty dumbfounded by how to decorate this long hallway that we have in our entryway.  I have finally decided that I am going to make a gallery wall on the right.

Now I need to actually figure out what I'm going to hang on the wall.  I need to find/make a collection of items before I begin the layout.  Enter pinterest inspiration! I have previously pinned (and MADE) some string state art like below.

Some Inspiration

My Project

This time I decided to tackle a "B" for Baggerly.  I can already picture it hanging on our wall with some other art and pictures.

I started out with my materials:
1 board, stained
Print out of the letter B
Painter's tape
Brass Nails
Yellow string

Matt had previously stained the board for me, so that job was already done!  I simply taped down the letter and began hammering the nails in around the letter.  I left enough room for the string to wrap around the nails.

After the nails were all in I simply pulled up the paper around the nails.

I began wrapping the string around the nails.  I made sure to wrap a string around every nail and made the pattern pretty random.

When finished, I tied the string on a nail and it was ready to be displayed!

Currently it has found its home on the mantle.  Matt was impressed with my finished product!

Pinterest Challenge

I have pinned SO many things on Pinterest.  Some I accomplish and some I only dream about.  This past weekend I decided to take part in the Summer Pinterest Challenge that was crafted by Sherry and Katie.

Unfortunately, I had a Pinterest-fail and attempted to make a painting that turned out terrible.  I'm hoping I'm not the only one out there that has received a big fat "F" in the DIY world before!  Of course I decided that if at first you don't succeed, pick yourself up and try again do something easier.  

I decided to slow things down and take on a challenge that I could pretty much guarantee a success.  Enter: new pillows!  We have had the same ol' same ol' pillows on our couch for too long.  I found some fabric that was 50% off at JoAnn's and 4 cloth napkins for only $10 at Target!

cloth napkins from Target

I got to work on my sewing machine and just a short time later I had 4 new and (if I do say so myself) stylish pillows!

I'm using the fabrics as a guide of sorts for the colors that will be in our living room once we move into the new home.

I'm happy with the fact that it was a quick DIY project that brings instant gratification. 

Joey cozies up with the new pillows

And just for good measure...here is a baby picture with the pillows.