Yay for Monday Made-It! (Stool and Welcome Sign)

Well, I did it!  I am linking up with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics for my first-ever Monday Made It and I completed TWO projects!!  For both projects I used scrapbook paper.  I love, love to scrapbook in my spare time.  Why?  It lets me be creative even though I am not artistic in the least!  I cannot draw to save my life (it is actually a joke with my students when I try to draw anything and they love laughing at me)........but I can use scrapbook paper, glue, and COPY borrow other people's ideas:)

So, I have recently started pinning two weeks ago when I first entered the blogging world (shocking, I know!).  I started seeing all these stools on pinterest that people paint and thought, I could NEVER do that!  This is from Laurie Cole Designs on pinterest....AMAZING!

Then, I saw this one on I Heart Elementary using scrapbook paper and I began to think I could redo my stool too!

So, I am extremely embarrassed to say that this is what my stool looked like for 12 years:

I started with my supplies (scrapbook paper, acrylic paint, mod podge, spray glitter, and foam brushes):

First, I lightly sanded the stool with 220 sandpaper.  Then, I painted the stool's legs and seat.  The legs took FOUR coats.  I didn't prime first though and I hope that doesn't come back to haunt me.

I used my Cricut Expression to cut a scalloped circled for the stool top, a center circle in a coordinating paper, and a black monogram "S".  My last name begins with S but I am also going to call this the Sharing Stool where students can share book reviews and adventures with Lilly, the classroom pet.  

I glue the S on the red circle and then mod podged each piece in place.  I mod podged the whole seat and as other people had stated in directions I read, the mod podge dries clear!  I had never used mod podge before and this stuff is amazing!

I sprayed the legs with glitter and then starting cutting scrapbook paper to wrap around the 8 rungs on the sides.  I made sure the seam was on the under side and held each piece in place tightly for 20-40 seconds.  It held firm!  Then I mod podged the whole stool 2x and the seat a total of 4x.  I also bought a clear varnish because I thought the mod podge might be tacky, but it really isn't!  I may still add it anyway.  Here is the finished project:

I love how the one piece of scrapbook paper says, "4th Grade". It makes me happy.  Can you see the glitter on the legs?
UPDATE 7/2021: I have since made more stools for my teammates and my original as well as theirs are holding up beautifully!! I did apply a clear coat of this Delta Varnish and it helps secure the Mod Podge for years!

More stools I have made-using craft paint like in the picture above, scrap paper, mod podge and varnish! I did NOT sand the stool before painting. It's super easy!!

My next project was originally inspired by Tara at 4th Grade Frolics and she gives her inspiration credit to Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten.  This was Mrs. Lee's sister's picture:

I just love the WELCOME sign idea and Tara's is super cute too!!  So, I set to work cutting circles on my cricut.  I used the circle on the "Going Places" cartridge and "Ashlyn's Alphabet" for the font.

Add caption

Note to Self:  See picture below with letters too large.  When using "base shadow" on the Cricut, the letters come out larger than the dimensions set!  I wasted a whole piece of paper...ugh!

Then, I got it right.  I used my two favorite adhesives-Beacon's 3-in1 advanced craft glue for the letters and Scotch's advanced tape glider to glue the circles together.

I still have to laminate them and string them together.  I love how they turned out and they will go with my owl themed door.  It will be eerily similar to Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten's picture (remember I said I can COPY borrow?).

Thanks for reading!  I can't wait to "borrow" some more ideas for next week:)