DIY Silhouette Wall Art

DIY Silhouette Wall Art

We came up with this new idea for wall art in our tiny NYC apartment as we began creating our family feature wall in the kitchen! For under $25, we were able to create something truly unique & personalized & hope you love it as much as we do!

Materials:
Thick-stock paper (28lb or higher)
Pattered paper for background
Artist's Loft Canvas (Can substitute with anything sturdy that will fit within frame)
Picture Frames
Chalk Paint (Optional, but will need some black paint in it's place)
Hot Glue
Mod Podge
Scissors

Step 1: Take a photo of each family member from the side profile & import each into the computer. Print the pictures on thick-stock paper, & carefully cut out the silhouettes. It may take a few tries to get the size & cutting correct, but you'll get it!

Step 2: Use chalk colored paint to paint the silhouette that you've just cut out. It may take a couple of coats, but allow to dry between each coat. You can also wait until after step 4 to paint it!

Step 3: While the silhouettes dry, use your Artist's Loft Canvas to trace your cut for the background. You may want to allow an additional 1/2" on each side if you prefer to wrap the edges, but is not necessary (especially with thicker paper). Use Mod Podge to glue them together & allow dry. Once dry, apply Mod Podge with foam brush from one side to the other, keeping texture consistent. This will give the background a shiny coating that repels chalk that will be used to write on the silhouette.

Step 4: Carefully use Mod Podge to coat the back of your silhouette, and apply to the front of the Artist's Loft you just completed. Be sure to work from one side to the other slowly, and avoid bubbles by catching them early. Allow to dry.

Step 5: Apply touch ups. With the picture frames, reverse the original stock photo so that the white side shows. Close up the frame. Next you'll need to heat up the glue gun, & apply a few drops to the back of the finished silhouette & carefully center and apply to the FRONT of the photo frame. Nothing except the backing should be inside the picture frame.

You're finished, now just hang and enjoy! We love to use them to write notes to one another, or to-do lists. Hope you enjoy!

Our NYC Apartment Tour

We found our NYC apartment several months ago, what an adjustment! Still, it's totally worth the sacrifice to live in such an amazing city. Between the hustle & bustle, sounds, ease of transportation, and totally amazing things to do, we wouldn't have it any other way!

Making do in such a small space is incredibly challenging, but some creativity & letting go of a lot of stuff let us make the space as comfy as possible.


Watch Our NYC Apartment Tour on Youtube!

Tips for Moving to NYC (or any big city!)

We had a lot of people asking for some 'moving to the city' tips after recently relocating from Atlanta to NYC, so we thought we would put together a top 10 list! We learned a LOT during the process, and hope they're helpful to you, should you ever decide to take the leap to a big city!

#1    PLAN AHEAD!
            Moving to a big city can be expensive!! You should really try to plan as much as feasible before actually relocating into a city like NYC. This includes trying to line up work prior, leverage contacts or friends that may know the areas, etc. The more you can do before the move, the less expensive the move will be!

#2    Know your Budget
             Remember we said big cities can be expensive? RENT IS RIDICULOUS! Know your budget for rent that you can afford each month that will still allow you to eat, pay bills, and save some money on the side. The good news is that rent drops dramatically the further out you go from a metropolis, and NYC has a pretty darn good transit system (for being 100 years old)! Get to know the good neighborhoods and start talking to agents! You will need at bare minimum, first month's rent + 1 month security deposit (this is for excellent credit). Additional months security deposit will likely be required. When in doubt, plan for the worst & hope for the best. This is the most stressful part of the move!

#3    Try the "DIY" Apartment Hunt
             Great sites are www.triplemint.com (formerly suitey.com), www.renthop.com , &  www.nakedapartments.com . Utilize these sites, but if you're in the city, visit the neighborhoods and look for fliers that could be posted for available apartments!

#4    Job Hunting
             As soon as you possibly can, get out there and start looking for work! Sometimes you can snag a job in the city prior to moving, but that wasn't the case for us. Once we landed, we quickly started focusing solely on landing interviews. This is also a stressful time, it will often be difficult to find the company that you really want to work at. Sure, you can take the first job offer that you get, but only when you've finally found the right 'fit' will you really love your job.

#5    Know your Transit
             Important to know how you're going to get around! Do the math on a weekly metro pass, and see if it makes sense to buy vs. the per-ride fare. Learn the subway lines, stops, and which are the most convenient to the places you'll be commuting to and from each day. This was really important for us when looking for apartments. Convenience is key!

#6  DOWNSIZE!
              You're moving to a city where, unless you're a millionaire, square footage is SMALL! Before the move, go through your entire wardrobe, furniture, gadgets, and toys and determine what you really can't live without. Use Craigslist, eBay, local salvage shops, & friends to try and earn some money before your move. Believe us, you will be so glad you did! In situations where you just can't part with some of the items, plan on obtaining a storage unit when you get to the city. It was a shock to us just how expensive these storage units can be, and learned that prices are usually based on season and demand. Summer & fall are ridiculously priced, so think hard about what you really want to bring!

#7   Control your Food Spending!
               Ah, how convenient. Food on every corner, many places open well into the morning hours. What's the problem with that? Well, for one, it adds up rather quickly. Restaurants in the city are quite pricey, averaging $20-$30 a plate and higher for pretty basic food (when compared to what it gets you in the suburbs). This is a quick way to run out of money, and have nothing to even show for it! You will do your wallet a huge favor by being savvy about where you buy groceries, and religiously cooking as many meals as you possibly can. We love cooking a huge meal because we know we'll have lunches for the following day, maybe even dinner again.
Adding even more to the tab are drinks, where a domestic beer will run you $7-$8. Mixed drinks? Get outta here! PRE-GAME, you'll be glad you did ;)

#8    Become a HUSTLER
               If you came to the city & think you can sit back and coast for a bit, you're dead wrong. We learned first-hand on many occasions just how expensive (often unexpected expenses) the city can be, even if you've planned everything. Don't be above any job, if you need the money. Roll up the sleeves and serve some tables, tend bar, or get creative with bringing in money (keep it legal though lol). Don't go into debt when you can avoid it! The great thing about NYC is that there are so many people in their own 'hustle' that it almost feels unnatural to sit around. Make friends, make money, and make more friends. You'll never know when you need them!

#9    Explore the City
               You moved here for adventure, right? Well get out and seize the day! Although big cities can get expensive quickly, there are TONS of free or discounted things to get into. From concerts, window shopping (be careful), checking out the landmarks, or just strolling the streets, be sure you take time each week to go out and live a little. It's a beautiful place, get out there & enjoy!

#10    Have a Plan B..... C..... D..... E
                We're not referring to subway lines! ALWAYS plan for something to go wrong, because you may be surprised how you sometimes simply don't have control over every situation. Definitely have an emergency fund, but also line up possible alternatives for almost every big thing you take on. Moving? Something will happen that wasn't in your plans. Apartment hunting? Be ready for a hunt & some stress. Same goes for the job hunt. It doesn't hurt to become a bit more pessimistic than you were in your last town.... not negative... but don't take anyone's word on anything until they come through. You'll save yourself the disappointment, and you'll have a backup plan ready to go!

ATL Vlog: Bride to Be & Dentistry

We recently snuck down to Atlanta for Sheena's sister's big day! Congratulations to the Rayfords!! It was a great time, we were so happy to be a part of their wedding party!

Between helping with last minute wedding duties, & Dakota having some teeth removed (we call him gumby now lol), the week flew by. We made sure to capture some of the moments and share them with you below!

VLOG!!! 'Kids for the Weekend'

Our close friend Bradley came into town, we were so glad to meet up and see the city! First, we grabbed some brunch, then went to FAO Schwartz before it closed for good :( We had a lot of fun, then took the train to Brooklyn to pay a visit to the tourist trap, Big Gay Ice Cream. Line out the door, but well worth the wait. YUMM!

Check out our laughs and 'good times' by viewing the link below!

DIY Plyo/Crossfit Box

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back to the SpokenHome blog! We really appreciate the constant love and support from you guys with each video, update, etc. With that said, this video demonstrates how we threw together a "Crossfit/Plyo" box to accomplish more workouts that require this type of equipment. As we try to cut back expenses each month and live more efficiently, we decided to cancel our gym membership and just have a little "home gym." 

With Crossfit becoming the new rave all over the country, a ton of fitness programs are now including moves such as box jumps, plyo box burpees, box jump-overs, etc. Sheena has started trying out the DailyBurn series that you can subscribe to for a monthly costs, and the workouts involve equipment like dumbbells, medicine balls, yoga mats, and of course - a plyo box. These items do add up, so we felt like sharing an inexpensive tutorial on how to make one of these on your own and become a Crossfit/Plyo BEAST! ;-)

M A T E R I A L S :

3/4" Thick Pine Plywood | http://thd.co/1LoAxah

2" Construction Screws (Make sure Flat Top!) | http://thd.co/17CYZFD

Wood Glue | http://thd.co/1AZDDOT

E Q U I P M E N T :

Table Saw (Or have your home improvement store pre cut for you!)

Power Screwdriver (Impact driver is best for this job) & 1/16" drill bit

Power Sander (Or manually sand with sand paper) - 80 Grit Paper

Jigsaw (for handles)

E X P E R T  L E V E L / T I M E

Intermediate - Weekend Warrior / 30min - 2hr depending on cuts/tools

D I M E N S I O N S :

 12”H x 15.5”L x 18”W

{ Remember to account for the 3/4in thick plywood, which will affect sizes cut. Be sure to refer to the video to see this in action! }

Alrighty guys, these are your cuts. (First) Two side pieces, (Middle) Two additional side pieces, (Last) Top piece, aka the piece you will be stepping/jumping on. 

The next steps are probably most difficult, and thats just finding how you're going to begin assembling the box. We needed all four hands on deck for this one! Remember, this is also the best time to hide any stickers or imperfections by facing them inward. We LOVE personality in wood, so we looked for any knots or distortions and faced them outward!

Don't forget, this box is going to receiving a ton of impact from your workouts and need to stay solid!  There really isn't any way to 'overdo' it in these circumstances. Apply that wood glue to eat corner/side that you complete!

Once you've gotten it held sturdy, you want to drill a hole into the side where two pieces touch/connect. We are just pre-drilling right now for the actual screws. (This helps to avoid wood chipping and cracking during your screwing in)

Next step is creating a divot point right above the pre-drilled holes, to ensure that your screw will sit snug into the wood and not protrude. 

This is what it should look like! (Photo above)

Now we can go ahead and screw in one of those 2'' construction screws to lock the side in. Complete this same process on this same side. 

This is what your completed screw/side should look like so far.. (Photo Above)

Once you've completed all sides, go ahead and knock out the top piece! We doubled-up as you can see and we really like the look of this. This is probably also a good time to "step up" CAREFULLY (lol) and test your project. At this point we let it sit out to dry up all the glue in the sun. If you're not having any sunny days ahead, try to let it dry for at least 2 hours.

Time to sand! A power sander is going to be your best friend when it comes to giving your weekend projects that polished look. A few minutes with this baby and you'll have smooth sides, edges, corners, and no splinters!

This part is optional, but if you would like to add a handle to maybe lifting it up, burpees, mountain climbers, this is for you! Everyone's hand is different, so we recommend gripping your hand on the edge of the box and marking an inch and 1/2 wider. Here is what our box looked like after we measured Sheena's hand:

Keep in mind that its going to be a handle so it should be as wide as possible. But of course, start small and take off little by little to avoid making a gaping hole. 

When creating the actual shape of handle, we had to go Macgyver! Don't judge! This battery worked perfectly in getting us a rounded edge, just wide enough to grip. 

Once you've gotten to half circles completed, use a straight edge to finish off the handle shape. If you make mistakes here its okay, we can clean it up in a few steps!

 

For this step, Dustin had to use his Dremmel tool to create two small drill holes adjacent to each other. This will allow the jigsaw blade to fit right in to begin cutting. 

Here are two completed holes with the Dremmel. (Photo above)

This part was tough! Dustin had to put his full body weight on it to prevent shaking - this thing is pretty powerful. Any easier approach would be a drill saw that had the correct shape for your project. But we always say, use what you have as long as its safe! ;-)

One completed handle after the jigsaw. As you guys can see, its pretty messy, but in the next step that changes! 

Our Dremmel (aka, Master Splinter) is the sidekick to our power sander. A few minutes with this guy and the handles were completely smooth and evened out to perfection!

Touch up any additional screws at this point and double-check for rough edges/splinters. Also, placing your box on a flat surface and stepping on it slowly, will let you know if its uneven at this point. If so, simply bring the sander back out and try to smooth those uneven edges down. (This may take some time, but of course, WORTH IT!)

Dustin touching up the base of the box! (Photo above)

And thats it guys! You now have a brand new plyo box/child seat/storage container/step stool that you can totally customize to your liking! Always remember to seal the project once you're 100% done with color and decal choices.

We understand that DIY and woodworking may not come easy to most, or may just not be as easily accessible. We've gotten a few requests from friends and family regarding the plyo box, so feel free to reach out to us under our "Store" tab to request a box! We will only be making a limited amount and would be happy to talk about customizations! Thanks for stopping by and see ya in the next one!

Love in the details,

SpokenHome

(Dustin & Sheena)

Our Frames | DIY Magazine Art

Welcome back guys!

Due to previous requests we have finally uploaded a new video showing how we utilize hanging frames in our home and also a quick DIY project with magazines. Yeah, sounds odd but stand by! ;-)

Check out the $3 DIY Magazine Art here!

When it comes to hanging artwork there are no rules! We believe in hanging what holds significant value to you and your family without getting too tacky. Examples of unconventional artwork are:

• Artwork that your children made. It really doesnt matter if it is scribble or finely crafted double-rainbows, artwork made by children is not only adorable, but adds a cool touch to 'adult' decor. ( Try to use pieces that go with colors in the room you're decorating )
• Old sheet music, pilot logs, chemistry diagrams, etc. Showing/hanging accomplishments is fine as long as its done tastefully. Hanging every award you've had since middle school throughout your home will make you nostalgic, but everyone else weirded out. Hanging diplomas and such in an office space is totally cool, but beyond that - not recommended! Also, use alternatives to diplomas and trophies by using old sheet music that you have laying around or something visually appealing that you are really proud of.
• Good ol' fashioned purchased art. We know that not everyone exited the womb wielding Crayolas, so purchasing your artwork/prints is totally OK! The best places to snag them are your local craft stores. They tend to have blowout sales that start on Sundays and offer art for as low as $5! Take your time sorting through the lots, and check online resources for coupons. (RetailMeNot, Shopular, Coupons.com)

All in all, have fun with creating art! You can grab a piece of fabric from an old dress or shirt and make that into art as well by cutting it into a cool pattern. The project we demonstrated shows how to use an old magazine to quickly create artwork for your favorite space. Be sure to check out the tutorial and share your creations with us! Thanks for stopping by again and showing love - 

see ya in the next post.

Love in the details,

SpokenHome