This turned out to be a very inexpensive project which was fun for both children and adults. I enjoyed it so much I think that I might make some more of these as Christmas gifts this year.
Supplies:
1. 4x4 inch Tiles - Any color and finish would work, but we used white glossy. You can use tiles left over from a home improvement project if you have them. We did not have any so we visited our local Habitat For Humanity store. If you are not familiar with this organization, they are known for helping to build and re-build homes for those in need. Their stores are like thrift stores but instead of clothing they sell used home improvement supplies. My husband and I like to check this store for items we need before buying from Home Depot or Lowes because we have saved a LOT of money this way and we have gotten quality items like floor rugs, bathroom sinks (for only $5.00 a piece!) and a replacement stove top. So we shopped there to purchase our tiles for only $.25 a piece.
2. Mod Podge - I originally had no clue what this was but I eventually found it in the glue section of my local craft store. I bought a 16 oz. bottle with which I used 4 coats a piece on 12 tiles and did not even use half the bottle. They sell it in a matt or gloss finish. I chose a glossy finish.
3. Polyurathane finish - You will find this in the paint section of your craft or home improvement store. I bought one 2 oz bottle with which I used one coat on each of our 12 tiles and I did not even make a dent in it.
4. Felt - Chose felt in a color(s) to complement the colors in your intended tile design.
5. White printer paper
6. Pencils and erasers
7. Colored pencils and/or markers
8. Paper cutter - for cutting straight even lines
9. Sizzors
10. Stencils (if desired)
11. Scrapbooking paper (if desired)
12. Paintbrush(s)
The first thing you have to decide is what type of design you want to put on your tiles. You have many options. Here are five that we came up with:
1. You can print out a photo (in color or black and white) onto regular white printer paper - not photo paper.
2. You can choose a design from scrapbook paper.
3. You can use stencils to transfer a design onto white printer paper.
4. You can draw your design free hand onto white printer paper.
5. You can find a picture or design from the world wide web and print it out in black and white or color onto regular white printer paper.
Regardless of the type of design it needs to fit into a square that is approximately 3 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches so that it is slightly smaller than the top surface of your tile. Once you have all of your designs completed and cut to the proper size it is time to prepare the tiles.
Lay down either a cheap disposable plastic table cloth or use a plastic trash bag to cover your table with. Wipe each tile to make sure they are clean and to remove all dust. Set the tiles on the plastic table cover. Then brush a coat of Mod Podge to cover the top of all of the tiles. While they are still wet apply your design to each tile and press and rub to remove any bubbles or wrinkles. The design will stick but it will be wet enough to also allow you to adjust your design if needed. Once your have your designs applied brush another coat of Mod Podge over the top of each tile again and allow some of the glue to brush over the sides of each tile as you do so.
Allow some time for this first coat to dry. An hour should be plenty of time. Then apply another full coat of Mod Podge. And allow to dry for another hour.
While the Mod Podge is drying cut squares of felt that measure approximately 3 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches.
When the glue is dry carefully pick up each tile and clean up the edges by folding/wiping any damp excess glue underneath to the back side of the tile and/or trimming to remove excess dried glue.
Turn each tile upside down onto a clean area of the table. Brush a coat of Mod Podge onto the underneath side of each tile being careful NOT to allow the glue to run over the edges. Then while the glue is still wet apply your felt and press evenly. Allow about a 1/2 hour to dry and then turn all of the tiles over once more.
The last step is to cover the top of each tile with a coat of Polyurethane. Once the poly is dry your coasters are complete. All of the coats of glue and poly should make your paper designs water proof since you will be setting glasses on them.
My sons have both grown to the age where they no longer used the wooden play set we had in our backyard. Since we live in a home on a postage stamp size lot every square foot is precious real estate. Therefore, I was ready to dispose of the play set so that we would finally have room for my much desired vegetable garden.
We first attempted to sell the play set on Craigslist. However, we only received one offer and we felt that it was much too low considering the fact that it was redwood and still in very solid condition.
Then my husband considered taking the play set apart and trying to sell as reclaimed wood but he had a difficult time finding a place to purchase it since it was not in the quantity they were looking for.
When sharing our predicament with a good friend of mine and whining about how I just wanted to be rid of the play set once and for all whether we got any money for it or not, she suggested that we take apart the play set and reuse the wood to build my garden. Well now THAT was a wonderful idea and I jumped right on it.
I searched on-line for designs for raised garden beds. It was very important for our garden to be doggy proof. I wanted to plant edible plants, therefore, I did not want our dog to be relieving himself in our garden, eating the plants and/or just playing around and doing what we call "crazy dog" and destroying what I would be working so hard to grow. I found a few pictures with features that I felt would work for our purposes and if altered could fit in the area we have to work with. Then I sketched out my ideas, thoughts and plans.
I took my ideas to my husband and asked for his approval and help. I knew that the project was more than I could handle alone. He has been out of work lately and therefore happens to have some time on his hands. It only took a little bit of selling to convince him by stressing just how much money we would be saving in this endeavor. And I think that at this particular time having a project was good for him to keep his mind and body busy with something until he finds a new job.
We spent an entire Saturday disassembling this very large piece of my son's childhood. It was bitter sweet because I was very much looking forward to taking on a new challenge of becoming a gardener, however, I was a little sad because it was just one more sign that my children are maturing and are no longer my little ones.
My husband has a gift for common sense and numbers and he really thought through the most efficient and safe way to take apart the play set. Just before the sun was setting we were left with a pile of wood separated into stacks by size and a large box of screws that we could also reuse. At this point my husband spent days taking inventory and measurements and calculating what it would take to build me something that would meet my needs and desires without having to buy any new wood.
In the end we decided on a 2 foot high "C" shaped raised garden with some separation between boxes to contain invasive plants. And we cut the support posts at 4 feet high to allow us to attach chicken wire around the top which will double as additional protection from our dog and allow a place for vines to attach to as they grow upward.
The remaining details just kind of came together from inspiration in the moment. My husband built the gate that swings open on hinges and has a clasp to lock out the dog. And he insisted on finishing touches like wooden caps across the top of the boxes as well as the top of the posts. My husband sprayed the outside of the wood with sealer and we stapled plastic lining inside the boxes to help the wood last longer. It is during this project that I was reminded just how much of a perfectionist my husband can be. If it had been left up to me I can assure you that it would not be as pretty or as finished as it is.
We covered the surface of the center area where I stand to work with pebbles and a couple of stepping stones made with hand prints from when my children were still small. And the icing on the cake, so to speak, is how we incorporated some whimsy left over from the play set in the form of the yellow plastic handle, ladder and yellow steering wheel. These finishing touches are a reminder of what can be accomplished from reusing materials instead of being so quick to dispose of them. But it will also forever feel like my children are still with me, even when they begin to pull away, as I know they must.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." - Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
