A bunch of neighborhood mamas came over again last week for what is becoming a monthly gathering of craftiness. So fun! As with the past couple of months, we decided ahead of time what project(s) we wanted to tackle, then gathered the supplies and headed to my house along with a tasty treat to share and craft away. [The neighborhood craft nights predate me; I just happen to have hosted the last few.]

The past couple of months, I’ve gathered weed bouquets for a fun free tablescape (you can see the last two here & here), but time was not on my side and, alas, I had no weeds to offer! I even forgot to take photos of the food, what am I doing with my life?!

Thankfully, the crafting all went to plan! This month, we chose to do oversized ruler growth charts (no doubt you’ve seen them all over pinterest) and my chevron initial door “wreath.”

I absolutely love love LOVED the way that the same project was done so many different ways.

 

I think my favorite was the walnut stained one with plastic numbers. The black numbers looked like wrought iron, and the combination was so refined and lovely.

Of course, I opted for something a little more worn-looking. You know my penchant for sandpaper, after all. Since I didn’t get mine done at the party–too busy talking, perhaps? What, who, me??–I did mine the next day.

I’d made mine to begin at 8″ high while everyone else started at 6″. [Must I always be different?!] But I love the way this height works aesthetically for me, enough off the ground and away from the floor molding. AND it affords my children the measuring space to grow to a whopping 6’8″. Splendid. Call the NBA.

We hung it in the kitchen. And y’all, there are a couple of other BIG reveals to come in the kitchen very soon, I hope. Stay tuned for those lovelies!

It’s a great spot because it’s not in-your-face for everyone who walks in our home, but is on the inside wall of our eat-in kitchen area, on the outside wall of the pantry.

Now the trick is hanging one of these. The other girls were going to use sawtooth hangers, but I wanted something less likely to shift, especially since my kids would be touching it. A lot. I hung mine just like I did the fence plank scripture art. Oh yes I did. See that screw head in the bottom right section of blue? This time it was a 3″ fence screw right through the board, drywall, and into the stud. I know it sounds crazy, but it does not matter that the screw is off center because it hugs the plank securely to the wall in just the spot I want it. I might add a second screw…But maybe not. I like to walk on the wild side like that.

Ahem, but I digress, back to the party! For the numbers, we used several different options: stencils, freehand, traced, plastic, and cut vinyl letters all got the job done. I love that variety.

Ordering precut vinyl from etsy or buying numbers from a hardware store are great options for those concerned about imperfections. The least expensive metal numbers I saw at Lowe’s were just under $1.50 each.

Everyone painted her board(s) ahead of time for the growth charts.

And it was a team effort when anyone got stuck. I love that!

The results were unique and wonderful.

And we were proud of our work.

Some chose to do the chevron door sign instead, with equally gratifying results.

Again, there was a variety of ways to git ‘er done employed for the initial part of the signs: freehanding, tracing, and wood applique.

Everyone even measured and painted perfectly, HUZZAH! Better than my messing up percentage rate!

I just love chatting and laughing and eating and crafting together!!

And it doesn’t take much to pull off a craft party, especially in the age of social media! We plan our gatherings using pinterest and facebook.

Want to start a craft gathering in your neighborhood? How fun would that be?! And what would you make?!! Wheeeee!