Create Your Own Dry Erase Board

I decided with our dedicated school room that I either wanted a dry erase board or a chalk board. I tossed the ideas back and forth for a month or so on what I really wanted. I knew chalk board was out as chalk is too messy and I didn't want to deal with that. So I started looking at dry erase boards and like many homeschoolers know, they are expensive!! So I was desperate to find a cheap alternative that would work just as good and save us some big money! I was not spending 100$ or more on this!

I went to Lowe's to look for something that would work. I started rethinking maybe I should just do chalk. We could always just paint with chalkboard paint right on the wall and that wouldn't be too expensive. I kept going back to the mess though. So while at Lowe's I did a google search for how to make your own dry erase board from Lowe's. The first thing to pop up was Marker board! 

I went right over to the isle it stated it was on and found this huge board that was 8 ft. long. My husband grabbed it and headed to the saw as they will cut it for free. Of course as we head that way we see the Saw Broken sign. So I started thinking what to do, how are we going to get this home and cut it ourselves. Is it even possible!? 

My next decision was not to get it, I would figure something else out. I then start heading out of the isle, low and behold I find a smaller piece!!! I look to see what the measurements are and they are an inch or two smaller than what I was wanting but it would work and I brought it home!! 

The total cost of this was $11.00!!! 

$10.00 for the Marker Board

and

$1.00 for the bulletin board borders from the Target Dollar Spot!

Figured I would share with others so people don't end up spending 100+ dollars on the same thing I put together for $11.00!!

Deco Mesh Wreath Tutorial

I have been in love with deco mesh wreaths for a while now and never could make myself make one as I had a hard time understanding the tutorials, even though they are super easy. I finally sat down to try to figure it out and decided I would make an easy tutorial for beginners like me! 

To start you need

A wreath form. I got mine at Hobby Lobby. If you can't find one with the pipe cleaners attached just buy a normal wire wreath and find pipe cleaners that you can attach yourself. 

1 roll of deco mesh in any color you choose. (5 1/2 x 30 feet)

Some type of accent ribbon ( I went with tinsel wired ribbon)

Decorations of your choice for accents

(I accidentally bought more than I really needed for this wreath but you get the idea from this picture.)

 Now let's get started!

To start you take your wire wreath and deco mesh. You will need the whole roll of deco mesh for this wreath so do not cut at any time. 

Take the end and scrunch the piece and twist the pipe cleaner around it. I started with my inner ring of my wreath.

 Now you just start making bumps in the deco mesh. Try to keep them the same length and bumpiness around the whole wreath.

 Go around the inner ring once and then go again a second time. Keep making the bumps as this adds fullness to your wreath.

 Once I had gone around the inner ring twice without cutting I headed to the outer ring. Continue doing the bumps just like your inner ring on the outer ring.

Go around the outer loop twice and you should be at the end of your roll. If not keep going because the more bumps you have the fuller your wreath will look. 

 At that point my main part of my wreath is done.

Next I added my tinsel wired ribbon. I just zig-zagged  it throughout my wreath to my liking using the same pipe cleaners that were on the wreath to begin with.

Then attach your accent pieces to your liking. I attached mine to the back and had it pop up through the center. (I later replaced it with some snowflakes for my Christmas decor). 

There is my finished Christmas wreath! I had so much fun making it! 

Have you ever made one of these? If not give it a try!