DIY Wedding Open House: M&M

Unfortunately for me, the photos I got do not properly reflect how beautiful it was....or what a labor of love it was!  But let's take a look nonetheless.

Vintage was the theme of the wedding, so we carried it over in a shabby chic vintage kind of way for the open house.  In all those months of my pregnancy that I was so sick, all I could do was lay there and feel sorry for myself, I dreamed this up....

So let's go over the details...I'll just share what we did, and then in later posts will come the how-to instructions for my DIY projects.

First and foremost, lighting.  We strung white lights (the large bulb outdoor Christmas kind...don't use LED, they look bluish-neon and ugly) from the deck to one of the trees.  We were going to do another two or three strands off the other end of the deck to a couple other trees on the other side of the yard....but we may or may not have blown those strands by overloading the circuit.  Whoops.  In addition, we had a floodlight on the food, and one off the corner of the deck to replace the light that we would have gotten from the strands we blew.  We hung purple and silver paper lanterns from the light strands, trees and deck to add some color.  

And we had candles EVERYWHERE!

To further set the mood, music is ALWAYS a must.  This was an open house, not a reception, so we weren't doing dancing, but that didn't lessen the importance of a good playlist.  To match the feel we were going for, I used mostly older tunes with a few of my favorite modern songs thrown in.  My playlist was as follows:

L-O-V-E, Nat King Cole

The Best is Yet to Come, Michael Buble

La Vie En Rose, Edith Piaf (I prefer the French version, though she does do it in English too)

Fools Rush In, Elvis Presley

Over the Rainbow, Harry Nilsson

Come Away With Me, Norah Jones

Never Saw Blue Like That, Shawn Colvin

You and I, Michael Buble
At Last, Etta James

Return to Me, Joey Gian

Dream a Little Dream of Me, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Moonlight, Sting

Anchor, Mindy Gledhill

For Once in My Life, Michael Buble

As Time Goes By, Billie Holiday

Unforgettable, Nat King Cole

All the Way, Frank Sinatra

The Way You Look Tonight, Tony Bennett

The Nearness of You, Norah Jones

Sway, Dean Martin

Guests entered through the side gate.  We had balloons at the corners of the chain link fence, and little baby jar lanterns hanging along the fence.

The sign-in table was at the immediate left after the gate.

I used a puzzle composed of photos of the bride and groom as the guest book.

Hanging above the sign-in table were mason jars that I stenciled their names out on.  Inside each jar was some tulle in the wedding colors (coral, lavender and splashes of aqua) and a battery-powered votive...so we wouldn't burn the deck down!  I hung them, staggered, from the underside of the deck with my trusty staple gun and some jute twine.

 

 The gift table ran at a right angle from the sign-in table,

and over that I hung baby jars with 'gifts & cards' stenciled on them, with battery powered tea lights.  Also hung with jute twine.

Tables, chairs and white linens we borrowed from our church.  For the centerpieces, I cut about 6 yards of tulle and folded it into a multi-layer square, then on top placed two tinted jars full of flowers, three jars of candles and framed photo of the bride and groom from their wedding day at the Portland temple the week previous.  These decor items were also spread out on the sign-in and gift tables, as you may have noticed.

 

The food....I took no photos of, since it wasn't my deal.  We decided to do a dessert bar, and I did bake a lot, but the table, while attractive, wasn't my work of art, so I just didn't even think about taking pictures of it!

And last but not least, the bride and groom.  The only photo I really got of them the whole night!

Mandy was wearing her paternal grandmother's 1940's wedding gown and her maternal grandmother's sparkly vintage brooch as a hair accessory.  She looked stunning.  And Matt looked alright, I guess.  :)  They opted not to rent tuxedos, so instead he bought a new grey suit.  Looked pretty snazzy.

So there you have it!  The event that absorbed me for months!

More posts to follow on all the DIY projects I did for this.  To see the rest of the posts on this wedding, click here.

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Ask Anna-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Pinkopotamus-The Girl Creative-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Etcetorize -Craft-o-Maniac-My Junk Drawer-Homemaker in Heels-Singing Three Little Birds-The House in the Roses-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Embellishing Life {T} Today's Creative Blog-Tip Junkie-Cherished Bliss-A Diamond in the Stuff-Sugar Bee Crafts-Vintage Wanna Bee-Reasons to Skip the Housework-The Kurtz Corner-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-Creative Itch-Not Just a Housewife-Rook No. 17-At Home with K-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Type A Decorating-DIY by Design-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Project Queen-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-Topsy Turvy-New Nostalgia-Measured by the Heart {W} Tea Rose Home-Someday Crafts-Lil' Luna-Creations by Kara-Sew Woodsy -Goodbye City Hello Suburbs-Blue Cricket Design-Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Very Merry Vintage Style-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Night Owl Crafting-Sugar and Dots-The Trendy Treehouse-Southern Lovely -Polkadots on Parade-Restore Interiors-Chatty Chicks-Ginger Snap Crafts-The Sasse Life-Fireflies and Jellybeans-Organize and Decorate Everything-Rae Gun Ramblings {Th} The Shabby Creek Cottage-House of Hepworths-The Brambleberry Cottage-The 36th Avenue-Yesterday on Tuesday-Saved by Love Creations-Momnivore's Dilemma-Beyond the Picket Fence-Somewhat Simple-Gluesticks-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Christina's Adventures {$20}-What Allie's Making Now-Tales from Bloggeritaville-A Little Knick Knack-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-Two Yellow Birds Decor-These Peas Taste Funny {F} Thirty Handmade Days-Just a Girl-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-Cookie Nut Creations-Making Lemonade-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-Sassy Sites-Kojo Designs-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Tidy Mom-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Bubbly Nature Creations-Home is Where My Story Begins-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Creation Corner-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama {S} Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy

DIY Wedding M&M: Little Boy Ties

I know, it's been a ridiculously long time since I posted anything.  Let's just say recovering from this wedding and regaining any desire to do anything has taken some time!!!

But let's talk about the wedding!  Today, I wanted to show you the ties I made for the little guys.  All the grown up men got the same awesome lavender paisley tie (I love paisley...but I didn't pick it out, yet another reason I love my new sister-in-law: she likes paisley), and I thought it would be nice for the little guys (i.e. the three nephews) to match, so I offered to make them matching ties out of grown-up ties.

So I bought two little guy tie patterns from the Little Gentleman's Closet, her bow tie and her regular tie patterns.  Michelle, the owner of this shop, is an old friend.  We met in our 7th grade music class, and I assure you, our friendship was definitely the only good thing that came out of that class!   These days she has two little boys, which inspired her to start this shop to begin with.  (You've got to check out her Halloween ties....I love them.)

Anyway, the patterns are great.  Very clear step-by-step instructions with lots of photos.  But since I was making the ties from grown-up ties, there is a couple extra steps I had to take.

One, take the ties completely apart.  Make sure you remove all threads. 

Two, iron out all the creases.

Three, I had to lay out the pattern pieces a little differently, so this is how I did it:

Other than that, I followed the instructions and they came out great.  I made two regular ties for the 4 and 5 year old nephews (my son is the 5 year old) and a bow tie for the 9 month old little guy, out of the scraps from the two other ties.

My son just finished pulling his all out of shape, so ignore his!

I was also supposed to make dresses for me and my daughter....I bought coral chiffon and white lining to make them.  I'd never sewn with chiffon previously.  It was awful.  I ended up scrapping the pattern for my dress and just making in essence a halter-style tent, which I then added white satin ribbon for the neck tie and to act as a belt over my pregnant belly, and wore a white shrug.  It actually looked pretty cute, and I wish I had a good photo to show you, but that's what you get when you're the one walking around with the camera. This is the best I have...shows my cute family, but not really my dress!

My daughter, I gave up and just made her a little bolero jacket to go over a white dress she already had.  Oh, and a cute clip using this basic method.  Of course, I have plenty of photos of her!

More wedding stuff to come, folks!

DIY Wedding M&M: Invitations

My brother-in-law Matt is getting married in two weeks.  TWO WEEKS!!!  He is getting married up in Oregon, in the Portland Temple, as his bride, Mandy, is from Eugene...where we lived when my husband was in law school, and where Matt now goes to law school as well.  Which means there will be an open house here in Utah, where he is from, a week later.  So needless to say, I have been all kinds of busy with preparations, both for the wedding in Oregon and the open house here.  I'll have LOTS to share with you after the blessed event is over, but until then, I thought I'd share their wedding announcement.

I designed it based on this invitation that Mandy really liked.  

I used the ever faithful Photoshop, and a digital stamp by Stampin' Up!  The fonts are the King and Queen for their names, and Tangerine for the rest of the invitation.

We got them printed with Catprint, for a fraction of what our inspiration would have cost!  Mandy paid $158.55 for 300 invitations plus white envelopes, 30 insert cards for those invited to the temple ceremony, and 60 insert cards for those invited to the wedding dinner.  Just 300 invitations alone of our inspiration would have cost $306.00, plus whatever for S&H.  Yet another reason to love DIY!

Mandy then took this lovely photo of the two of them, 

taken in my in-laws backyard before church when they were visiting (and that I prettied up a bit in Photoshop) and got 300 printed at Costco with a coupon for $0.09 a piece, $27.00 total.

So 300 beautiful custom invitations cost them a grand total of $185.55!  Now if only stamps were free.....

I'll be back in a couple weeks with all kinds of wedding ideas and tutorials to share with you!

Painting Cabinets (or Furniture) Without Sanding

Boy, do I have a lot going on right now.  A LOT.  I'm starting to feel a little better....still nauseous, but it's nausea I can push through and function still.  At least during the day....evenings are a whole 'nother story.

Anyway, a friend of mine has some furniture she wants to update with a little paint, and I told her I'd give her my shortcuts to doing it....and I thought I should just write a blog post and share it with all of you too!

So back in February, I woke up in the middle of the night and decided I hated my kitchen cabinets and I was going to paint them.  For long time readers, you'll remember I spent a few months when we first bought our house sanding down and restaining those very kitchen cabinets.  Truth is, I was never happy with how they turned out, but after all the blood, sweat and tears (literally), I couldn't bring myself to admit it until months later!

These steps are specifically tailored to kitchen cabinets, but they can be applied to furniture as well.
So let's get started.  First things first, remove all the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, remove the hardware and take down all hinges.  Tape around the cabinet bases.  Then put down some plastic in your garage and lay out all those cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

This is our replacement sanding step.  With painting, all you need to do is dull the finish enough for the paint to stick, whereas with traditional restaining, you have to remove not only the protective top coat, but the original stain as well.  Hence the agonizing hours of sanding.

You need a deglosser.

I used Klean-Strip's Easy Liquid Sander and Deglosser.

Wear rubber gloves!  Pour some deglosser into a styrofoam bowl and use a cheap bristle paint brush to apply it to each of your doors, drawer fronts and cabinet bases in batches.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then come back with those gloves on and a good old fashioned Brillo pad in hand.

Using the Brillo pad, scrub all the surfaces you coated in deglosser thoroughly.  By using the Brillo pad along with the deglosser, you are smoothing things out a bit as well as deglossing the surface.  Flip the cabinet doors and drawer fronts over and repeat.

The deglosser will dry leaving a bit of a white residue.  That's okay, don't worry about it.

Next step: Primer!

I used an awesome water-based product by Zinsser, their Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer, designed to stick to any surface.  It's similar to their Cover Stain Primer, which I used when I painted my laminate bookshelves...but it's SO much better since it's water-based instead of oil-based.  Get a good quality angled paint brush and get the primer into the crevices.  Then pour around half a cup of primer onto a styrofoam plate and roll a high density foam roller into it, making sure to get an even amount of primer on your roller.  Then roll away.  Repeat as needed.  I only did one full coat of primer, but I made sure it was a good one!

And onto the Paint!

I used Valspar Signature Colors Paint and Primer in One, satin finish in Dove White.  I opted for paint plus primer because I was painting fairly dark cabinets with gnarly dark grain WHITE.  Even if your situation is different, I would still recommend the paint plus primer.  Just to be thorough.

Use the same angled brush then styrofoam plate and high density foam method.  This ensures you get light even coats with no globbies.  'Cause who wants globbies.

ALSO!  If you have oak with gnarly grain like I do, make sure you get the paint into all the grain!  Use the end of your foam roller to really scrub it in there...

Otherwise it will look like a cheap, poorly done paint job (like one of the houses we looked at during the hunting process...one of those houses that you can't believe anyone would EVER buy....)

Repeat the process as needed, making sure it dries thoroughly between coats.

Last but not least, top coat.

I used Valspar Clear Protector.  This stuff is awesome.  Apply it the same way as you did the primer and paint.  I did two coats overall, then three to four coats on the backside of the bar (where my children stick their grimy feet) and on the cabinet bases/door underneath the sink.  Just something to keep in mind, higher wear areas would benefit from an extra coat or two.

Once the top coat is thoroughly dry, you can reassemble your kitchen (or furniture!).

And for kicks, here is my kitchen in its many stages in the past year.

Do you miss me?

I miss me.  A lot.  Right now I am a shell of my former energetic ambitious self.  I know, I know, drama much?

Truth be told, I'm pregnant again.  I unexpectedly got pregnant right after my miscarriage.  It IS wonderful.  And I'm sure when I'm not hovering over the toilet waiting to throw up all the time, I'll remember that.  :)  Everything is looking good with this pregnancy...and I just feel in my heart that this baby is here to stay.  Thank heavens.

We're in survival mode around here.  My kids have never watched so many movies in a week's time.  I have never watched so many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress in a week's time!  The good news is I should be feeling better in about a month.  Just have to keep on keepin' on until then.  And then not long after that the nesting bug will get me, and I'll have lots of things to share.  Can't wait.

So I'll see you then!

Farewell from me and my Peanut.

Can't You Feel Its Pain....?

Before I get to Fern Gully and my sympathies, an announcement.

Have you seen the retiring stamp list for Stampin' Up! yet?  Um, WOW.  The list has never ever been this extensive.  It's very likely that some of your favorites may be retiring, and some of these sets are only as supplies last, so you'll want to snatch them up!  Last chance to order is May 31st.  You can click on over to my website to order online, or shoot me an email at diykindagirl@hotmail.com and I'd be happy to help you figure out your order.

Okay, so now let's talk about Fern Gully.

So last spring, our very first spring as homeowners, we attacked our front yard.  'Cause it was awful.

This photo doesn't even begin to show the disaster state it was in (the owners moved out in August, we closed in February...months of neglect), not to mention the terrible landscaping.  I mean, who plants a tree RIGHT in front of the door?!  And all the shrubs and trees were situated in "mounds," as we call them.  Oh, and let's not forget the heart shaped strawberry patch in the middle of the yard.  Awesome.

Anyway, we tore out tons of shrubs, and one tree (which I tried to replant in another place...totally didn't work) and leveled the "mounds."  Except around the trees.  We couldn't, or the trees would be no more.  And I love trees.  I REALLY love trees.

However, the trauma of it all evidently took a toll on the smallest of the three remaining trees...and about a third of it died.  Plus the mound was especially terrible around that tree, and it was hard for my husband to mow.  So....after much difficult deliberation, I decided that my husband could cut it down, which he's been aching to do ever since we starting ripping our yard apart the first time.

I informed him of this as we were driving up to spend the day at his folks' house on Saturday.  Before we left that evening, he borrowed a saw, and when we pulled into our driveway, he got out of the car, opened the back, grabbed the saw and walked straight over to the tree and started sawing.

Just to shed some light on things, it was 7:30 PM, we had two small tired hungry children that needed to be taken care of, and the next day was Sunday, which for us means the Sabbath, a day of worship, rest and definitely no yard work.

His only defense: I had to cut it down before you changed your mind.

I guess he had a point.

Maybe it was Chrysta's influence at a young age (either that, or Anne's influence), but watching anyone cut down a tree leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  It was no different this time.  I'm a tree killer.

On the bright side. our yard is going to look much better....you know, once we get around to digging the stump out of the ground, leveling the "mound" and planting grass.....

Another quick and easy wedding gift

We've been in our house for just over a year now, and we've gotten a few wedding announcements from people in the neighborhood.  They have been so kind to include us, but since we didn't actually know their children (the bride or groom), we just felt like it would be awkward to show up.  So we haven't gone.  Until last night.  Our backyard neighbor's daughter got married, and since they are our neighbors and my husband has had some interaction with her as he's been serving with the youth in our ward (she was in Young Womens - ages 12 to 18 - just last year), we wanted to go.  (HOWEVER, my daughter spent the day having a series of meltdowns, and by evening I was exhausted and she was still sobbing like the world was ending, so my husband and son went without us!)

That meant coming up with another fabulous personal wedding gift.

I love making wedding gifts.

I was a bit short on time and brain power, so I turned to the Web for inspiration.  And found this darling print on Etsy (this seller has a ton of cute prints if you don't have the skills to make them yourself).

Now, to personalize it more.  I went to their registry, as I always do, to find out what colors they are planning to use in their home.  Then I took a closer look at their invitation, discovered neither one of them go by their full names, and that they had quoted a line from a song on the inside flap.  Bingo!  Perfect text for the background.  So based on all that information, this is what I came up with:

(I used Photoshop Elements to create the image.
Fonts - background: Traveling Typewriter Monogram: Century Names/Date: New Cicle)

Then I painted another garage sale frame with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor spray paint in Peekaboo Blue, and put it together.

Quick tip: to avoid having any dust sandwiched in your frame, after you clean the glass and it has dried, use some dust remover (basically pressurized air in a can) to blow away any dust particles, then quickly put everything together.

Final product:

I hope they love it.  I do!  Think I might have to make one for myself....

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Ask Anna-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Pinkopotamus-The Girl Creative-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Etcetorize -Craft-o-Maniac-My Junk Drawer-Homemaker in Heels-Singing Three Little Birds-The House in the Roses-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Embellishing Life {T} Today's Creative Blog-Tip Junkie-Cherished Bliss-A Diamond in the Stuff-Sugar Bee Crafts-Vintage Wanna Bee-Reasons to Skip the Housework-The Kurtz Corner-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-Creative Itch-Not Just a Housewife-Rook No. 17-At Home with K-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Type A Decorating-DIY by Design-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Project Queen-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-Topsy Turvy-New Nostalgia-Measured by the Heart {W} Tea Rose Home-Someday Crafts-Lil' Luna-Creations by Kara-Sew Woodsy -Goodbye City Hello Suburbs-Blue Cricket Design-Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Very Merry Vintage Style-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Night Owl Crafting-Sugar and Dots-The Trendy Treehouse-Southern Lovely -Polkadots on Parade-Restore Interiors-Chatty Chicks-Ginger Snap Crafts-The Sasse Life-Fireflies and Jellybeans-Organize and Decorate Everything-Rae Gun Ramblings {Th} The Shabby Creek Cottage-House of Hepworths-The Brambleberry Cottage-The 36th Avenue-Yesterday on Tuesday-Saved by Love Creations-Momnivore's Dilemma-Beyond the Picket Fence-Somewhat Simple-Gluesticks-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Christina's Adventures {$20}-What Allie's Making Now-Tales from Bloggeritaville-A Little Knick Knack-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-Two Yellow Birds Decor-These Peas Taste Funny {F} Thirty Handmade Days-Just a Girl-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-Cookie Nut Creations-Making Lemonade-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-Sassy Sites-Kojo Designs-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Tidy Mom-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Bubbly Nature Creations-Home is Where My Story Begins-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Creation Corner-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama {S} Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy

$2 IKEA clock redo

It's been awhile, hasn't it.  One thing after another has caused this blog to lie dormant.  First, I tackled an enormous project on a tight deadline.  Then I was pregnant.  And exhausted.  And just all around not feeling my best.  And then I had a miscarriage.

I'm still trying to heal emotionally, still trying to regain...myself.  I'm taking steps in the right direction, but it's often slow going.  But I will say that doing this little project today made me feel rejuvenated.  And hopeful.  Guess I need to get back to DIYing, then!

Without further ado, my $2 clock makeover!

I HATE that I can't see a clock from my bathroom.  How am I supposed to pace myself while getting ready, I ask you!!!  So I decided I needed a clock for the bathroom.  BUT, as most DIYers, I'm cheap.

Found this ugly little wonder for a buck ninety-nine at IKEA last week.

And I knew I could make it something beautiful!

First things first, take off the plastic cover.  Next, remove the background.  Then spray paint the red second hand (cover the other two) with a little Krylon Brushed Metallic in Oil Rubbed Bronze.  Then uncover the other two hands, and give all three a light coat of the same.

Then cover up the hands (cover well, spray paint can sneak in tiny crevices!), and paint the whole she-bang with Krylon Brushed Metallic in Sparkling Canyon.

Once the spray paint is dried, I used some acrylic paint, Americana in Bittersweet Chocolate (same paint I used for my latest wedding gift) to age it a bit.  Since the walls in my bathroom are a sage green, I didn't want to use a copper patina (as I did on my lamp redo last year) since that is an aqua color, so grunging it up with brown acrylic paint was the best option.  I used one soft cloth to rub it on, and another to wipe it off.  Do this in small areas, and work quickly, otherwise it won't wipe off very well.

 Now time for the new center!  I used an old clock face found in the digital scrapbooking kit Old Garden, by Etc. by Danyale.  I did have to enlarge the image, which typically affects the quality, but in this case it was fine.  In Photoshop, increase the image size to about 7.25 inches in diameter, then use the clone stamp to remove the hands.  Once you're satisfied, print!

I trimmed off almost all the brown around the edge to make it fit perfectly.  But keep testing and trimming until you get it right.

Then poke a hole in the dead center, and carefully slide the hands through.  I did end up tearing it a little to get the other side of the second hand through, but it fit in with the whole look and once glued down, it was hardly noticeable.

Make sure the 12 is on top (line it up with the hanging hole in the back), then carefully lift a few edges and use some Elmer's to tack it into place.

If you want to be done at this point, you can.  In fact, it might be better!  But since mine was going in the bathroom, and I was worried about the moisture going directly onto the paper, I opted to put the plastic cover back on.  As I feared, it scraped a bunch of the paint off on the insides.  But it's not very noticeable, and to take it off and repair it would mean a whole lot of work, only to most likely have it happen again.  So I'm just dealing with it!  No one goes in this bathroom except me and my husband, and I'll be lucky if he even notices we have a clock in there now!

And voila!  A cheap clock turned work of art!

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Ask Anna-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Pinkopotamus-The Girl Creative-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Etcetorize -Craft-o-Maniac-My Junk Drawer-Homemaker in Heels-Singing Three Little Birds-The House in the Roses-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Embellishing Life {T} Today's Creative Blog-Tip Junkie-Cherished Bliss-A Diamond in the Stuff-Sugar Bee Crafts-Vintage Wanna Bee-Reasons to Skip the Housework-The Kurtz Corner-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-Creative Itch-Not Just a Housewife-Rook No. 17-At Home with K-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Type A Decorating-DIY by Design-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Project Queen-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-Topsy Turvy-New Nostalgia-Measured by the Heart {W} Tea Rose Home-Someday Crafts-Lil' Luna-Creations by Kara-Sew Woodsy -Goodbye City Hello Suburbs-Blue Cricket Design-Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Very Merry Vintage Style-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Night Owl Crafting-Sugar and Dots-The Trendy Treehouse-Southern Lovely -Polkadots on Parade-Restore Interiors-Chatty Chicks-Ginger Snap Crafts-The Sasse Life-Fireflies and Jellybeans-Organize and Decorate Everything-Rae Gun Ramblings {Th} The Shabby Creek Cottage-House of Hepworths-The Brambleberry Cottage-The 36th Avenue-Yesterday on Tuesday-Saved by Love Creations-Momnivore's Dilemma-Beyond the Picket Fence-Somewhat Simple-Gluesticks-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Christina's Adventures {$20}-What Allie's Making Now-Tales from Bloggeritaville-A Little Knick Knack-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-Two Yellow Birds Decor-These Peas Taste Funny {F} Thirty Handmade Days-Just a Girl-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-Cookie Nut Creations-Making Lemonade-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-Sassy Sites-Kojo Designs-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Tidy Mom-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Bubbly Nature Creations-Home is Where My Story Begins-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Creation Corner-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama {S} Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy