Nov 24, 2014

DIY Decoden Cell Phone Case - YouTube Video


I am a total Christmas nut, there's no hiding it! Because I love Christmas so much I wanted to make my own Christmas cell phone case using some of the new and fun products by Mod Podge. Recently Mod Podge launched a new item called Collage Clay that makes creating Decoden projects a snap!

If you haven't heard of Decoden, it is a popular decorating style which originated in Japan. The term "deco" is short for decorated and "den" is short for "denwa" which means "phone" in Japanese. Decoden, however, is not just limited to phones! People are definitely embracing this style and using it to decorate everything from e-readers, iPads, handheld gaming systems and even fingernails!



For this project I grabbed some fun and glittery Christmas candy ornaments, snowflake buttons, sparkle scrapbook adhesives, and of course Mod Podge Collage Clay. You can literally grab anything and everything that you would want to put on your phone.

DIY Decoden Cell Phone Case Tutorial


The collage clay will need at least one to two days to fully dry before using. Your finished product will be firm with a slight spring to the collage clay. It looks good enough to eat...but don't do that, I promise you won't like it!

Nov 12, 2014

Vecco DIY Rug Décor Design Contest - Win $2,500!

Show Your Texas Pride and enter the design contest from
Vecco DIY Rug Décor – You Could Win $2,500!



Calling all creators and DIY enthusiasts! If you’re creative, crafty and live in the Dallas/Fort Worth-area, Vecco DIY Rug Décor want to invite you and your fellow Texans to show off what Texas pride means to you, and it's all for a good cause. Vecco DIY Rug Décor and four local non-profit organizations are celebrating Texas Pride from the ground up, literally! Join them on Saturday, November 15th from 6 -10 p.m. at Vecco’s One Rug at a Time event to be entered for the chance to win $2,500 and help a local non-profit organization win $5,000!

Leading up to the event, four non-profit organizations (Dwell with Dignity, Dallas Area Fabric Artists, ArtLoveMagic and Groundwork Dallas) will participate in a special rug-making competition using Vecco DIY Rug Decor. Each organization will receive exclusive rug design kits, with instructions to design a rug that illustrates what Texas Pride means to them. The organization whose rug receives the most votes will receive a $5,000 donation from Vecco to help support their cause. Then, on Saturday, November 15th, you’re invited to join Vecco for an afternoon of live music, local area food trucks, and DIY fun for the entire family! A one-of-a-kind Texas rug mosaic will be on display to  benefit Dwell with Dignity. Each piece in the mosaic was created by a local Dallas artist and will be donated to a household in need. In addition, the Texas Pride rugs made by the Dallas art community will be on display. See the rugs in-person at the event, then cast your vote here for your favorite organization’s rug from Monday, November 10, 2014 through Friday, November 14, 2014.

The DIY fun’s not just for design professionals, however! If you are inspired by what you see at the event and want to try your hand at DIY rug décor, you can design and enter a rug in a special, second Texas Pride rug contest, just for individuals. Vecco will have supplies available for anyone who wants to design a rug and enter—simply be one of the first 100 visitors at Vecco’s One Rug at a Time event at Valley View Mall on Saturday, November 15th from 6 -10 p.m. Vecco designers will be on hand to provide instruction and tips to help bring your rug to life. When your rug is ready, snap a photo of your masterpiece and email it to onerug@veccostudio.com to submit your entry. Vecco will post it on a special Texas Pride board on Pinterest, so be sure to share the link with friends and family, and tell them to ‘Like’ your rug photo to cast their vote. The rug that receives the most Likes will win $2,500! Voting begins December 8 and ends on December 17, 2014. The winner will be notified by Vecco by email. If you want to learn more about creating a Vecco DIY Rug, this video is really terrific and super helpful!


For full details about the One Rug at a Time event benefitting Dwell with Dignity, please visit veccostudio.com/onerug
For more information about Vecco DIY Rug Décor, please visit veccostudio.com


This is a sponsored blog post; while the views expressed here were genuinely mine, consideration was paid to me by Vecco to post this story.


Nov 8, 2014

2014 Holiday Gift Guide - Gifts for Her - YouTube Video


The holidays are upon us and that means it's time to shop till we drop! Honestly, I'd be perfectly happy with no presents at all during Christmas. This isn't what Christmas is about after all, but if you do enjoy spreading cheer to others by sharing gifts, why not shop small business and support other hard working families like yourself? This year I encourage you to shop small business and not give all of your money to big business! Sure, there are some things that small shops don't produce as well as big business, but really, unique handmade gifts rock just as hard! This year I have rounded up 12 awesome handmade gifts that I found on Etsy. These would be perfect for the women in your life! Check out the video below to find out about all of the gifts! When you're done watching, check out all of the shop links below the video and you'll even find the shop discounts mentioned in the video! Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!!



Candle
Faithful Scents - http://www.faithfulscents.etsy.com

Druzy Wire Wrapped Ring
Lazy Owl Boutique - http://www.LazyOwlBoutique.etsy.com

Personal Serving Tray
Paper + Spark - http://www.paperandspark.com/shop

Watercolor Portrait
Lady Pair Designs - http://www.ladypair.etsy.com
Discount: 20% off with code KurtzCorner

Coffee Mug
Allie Ruth - http://www.allieruth.etsy.com
Discount: 10% off with code AUDRA

Layered Necklace
Landon Lacey - http://www.landonlacey.etsy.com
Discount: Free shipping with code KurtzCorner

Headbands
Wuthering Iris - http://www.wutheringiris.etsy.com
Discount: 20% off with code HOLIDAY

Soap
Bella Fresca - http://www.BellaFresca.etsy.com
Discount: 15% off with code GIFTGUIDE15

Fox Beanie
Queenie Leanie - http://www.QueenieLeanieCrochet.etsy.com
Discount: 15% off with code Gift15

Air Plants
Sea & Asters - http://www.seaandasters.etsy.com
Discount: 15% off with code ASTERS15

Wonder Woman Cuff
Avrocomy - http://www.avrocomy.etsy.com

Clutches
Yun & Yoonie - http://www.yunandyoonie.etsy.com



*I was NOT paid to do this video or blog post. All opinions are my own.


Nov 4, 2014

DIY Slouch Beanie - YouTube Video


If someone asked me to describe myself in three words I don't think sentimental would top that list. It's not something that I think about when I think of myself, but that couldn't be further from the truth! I have saved so many special mementos in the past. I have shoe boxes filled with movie tickets, wine corks, seashells, dried flower petals, and the list goes. Now, as a mother, I find myself saving things of my son's that he has outgrown, toys and mementos of his childhood. I'll save them until we have another child, until I have grandkids, or until the disintegrate, ha!

There are a few pieces that I love and I thought would be fun to repurpose. Things that I can wear and that, eventually, he can wear again, too! An easy DIY that I came up with is repurposing a sweater into a slouch beanie. This stars sweater made a fantastic slouch beanie and it was so quick and easy to make. Follow along below as I show you in a few easy steps how to make you own!

What You'll Need:
- sweater or knit top
- scissors
- sewing machine or fabric glue





Oct 13, 2014

Easy DIY Gifts - Watercolor Coffee Mugs - YouTube Video


As a DIY blogger/vlogger I am all about easy and beautiful DIY projects, especially if those projects can double as gifts! This fast and easy DIY tutorial shows you how to do both!

Once upon a time I learned how to do Marbled Nail Art, which turned out awesome! I receive so many compliments when I have my nails painted like this, so I thought, what else can I marble?? I wanted to do something that would be a good giftable item, so coffee mugs seemed like a no brainer!

For this project you will need:
- ceramic coffee mug
- deep plastic tub
- nail polish
- toothpicks
- warm water
- paper towels

See below for how-to video!





Oct 11, 2014

Easy DIY Halloween Decor - Sequin Spiderweb Pumpkin


I love Fall decor. Here at the Kurtz house Fall decor goes up around September 1st and comes down the day after Thanksgiving. I've never been a big Halloween decorations person, maybe that will change once my son is old enough to go trick-or-treating. In the meantime, I will enjoy working subtle Halloween themed items into my Fall decor.

If you love decorating for Fall and Halloween, hopefully you've seen these awesome foam pumpkins from Hobby Lobby. I believe you can also buy them at Michael's as well! These are great if you're like me and you get tired of spending money on pumpkins that end up just rotting on your doorstep. Yes, I know it's fun to carve them every year, but I'm just too practical lately and would rather have things that last for several years.

I decided that, rather than carving this one, I wanted to add some sparkle with black sequins and create a spiderweb pumpkin! For step by step directions, see the DIY video below!




Oct 3, 2014

Easy DIY Halloween Treats - Chocolate Eye Pie


Hip-hip-hooray!! It's finally October, and you know that means! Leaves are a changin', cool weather is rolling in, football season is in full swing and it's time to unleash pumpkin EVERYTHING! I just love Fall, don't you? Well, in honor of the first week of October I thought I'd whip up a fun and easy Halloween treat! The mini Chocolate Eye Pies are a great treat that you can make with your kiddos or throw together if you need a last minute party dessert.



What you'll need:
- mini pie crusts
- Jello chocolate mousse
- milk
- candy buttons
- white chocolate or yogurt cover raisins
- Wilton food writers
- Wilton cookie icing

How-to Video:



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Sep 28, 2014

DIY Arm Knitting - 30 Minute Striped Infinity Scarf


Hey gang! Are you ready for some more arm knitting action? It has been a little over a year since I posted my most popular YouTube video ever and I'm back with an updated DIY and updated how-to video!! My original DIY Arm Knitting - Arm Knit Scarf video was a smashing hit last Fall/Winter ringing in today with almost 3.1 Million views! I must say my video and editing skills have come a long way since that first video, but we all have to start somewhere, right?

Today's tutorial is a new way of arm knitting which includes steps on how to switch out your yarn to create a striped scarf. I really like this method because it creates a fun combination of colors when wrapped twice around your neck. You could even do ombre style which I think would look super cute! Make them for yourself or make them as gifts, either way I know you or your friend and family will love them!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

SCARF SPECS:
10 to 12 stitches wide, depending on how wide you want it
20 to 25 rows, depending on how long you want it

YARN:
Lion Brand Yarn - Wool Ease Thick & Quick
Super Bulky #6
Butterscotch Yarn
Snapdragon Yarn
Cilantro Yarn

TIPS:
- The tails goes around your thumb when you are casting on and will get shorter as you go. This is why we start with a long tail.
- You can use one skein of yarn at a time or two
- You can use any size of yarn, but you will need size 6 if you want it chunky like the one seen in the video



Sep 6, 2014

DIY Halloween Treats - Mummy Cookies


It's Fall, Y'all! I am so excited! It's still in the 90's here is Texas, but that doesn't mean we can't gear up for Fall! Today I'll be showing you how to create these adorable mummy cookies! These are great if you're in a pinch and need to throw something together fast for a Halloween party or an easy DIY you can do with the kiddos. With only three ingredients, it's win win win!

Things you'll need:
- Milano cookies
- Wilton candy eyes
- Wilton white cookie icing




Jul 14, 2014

Finger Knitting - Animal Ears in 30 Minutes!

Seriously y'all...how stinking adorable are these finger-knit animal ears?! Because finger knitting and arm knitting have become so popular here lately, I wanted to come up with something original that you could create with your finger knitting that wasn't a scarf, since that is what many tutorials cover. I thought these would be adorable for a newborn photo shoot. You could even use them as an accessory for a Halloween costume or just for dress up fun with your kiddos! They are fast and easy to make which makes them perfect for craft time as your little one naps or a fun craft for your older kids to make! Continue below for a materials list and how-to video!


Materials:
- super bulky yarn (size 6)
- scissors
- hot glue
- your hands

Instructions:
 



Jul 11, 2014

Baby Update - 6 Months Old


Another month has come and went, just like that, and little man will be 7 months tomorrow! I can hardly believe it. The hubby and I actually celebrated our four year wedding anniversary on Peyton's 6 month old "birthday." I thought that was pretty neat! We had a couple of first during Peyton's 6th month. We visited the zoo and went swimming for the first time, both great experiences! Peyton loved watching all of the animal at the zoo, especially the HUGE coy fish and goats in the kids zone. Swimming was a fun experience too, and we've been a few times now. I can't wait till he can walk and splash around in our community splash pad!

We also had fun making a father's day gift for my Dad! We bought a Dallas Cowboy's shirt (his favorite football team), then took pictures of Peyton in the shirt, and had a print made. We then gave both to my Dad! I think it turned out pretty stinking cute.


I'm learning a lot about being a momma bear, and find myself being a little too nice at times. I never realized how annoying it is when random people touch your baby!! I mean, I never was one of "those people." I would maybe touch my actual friends' baby's feet, legs, and hands, but only because I knew them. I am amazed at home many strangers think it's okay to just walk up to my baby and just start touching him! All my mommy brain thinks now is, "germs, germs, germs, stop touching my baby!!" Haha! I couldn't care less if my friends and family touch my baby, because I know them. I know they wash their hands and have enough sense to not rub their hands on my baby if they've been sick or touching something dirty. I actually had some woman with a "service dog," a HUGE, 8 month old dog sniff my babies legs and get way too close for my liking. All I could imagine was the dog smelling my dogs on Peyton, snapping, and biting his leg! This lady was old and didn't look like she could control him if he bolted. My hairdresser informed me that the lady just says he's a service dog to get away with taking him into public places that wouldn't allow dogs unless they were service dogs...great, that made me feel sooo much better (detect the sarcasm?). I didn't say anything, just watched very closely. I didn't want to be rude, but I'm learning I need to care less about being nice, and just let my momma bear instincts come out. We learn as we go, right?

6 Month Skills and Events:

+ Sitting up...wobbly, but still sitting none the less!
+ Eating puree three times a day
+ Loving our high chair
+ Banging toys on tables
+ Loves standing (with help)
+ Making silly sounds
+ Drinking water through Mommy's straw
+ Sleeping 10 to 11 hours a night



Jul 2, 2014

DIY Chalkboard Refrigerator


The older I get, the more and more I find myself turning into my mother...and I love it. I hate clutter and crave organization. I'd say those are two admirable qualities, especially if you're a mom running a household. It just makes everything so much easier! Thanks, Mom, for drilling that into my head :)

With that in mind, I wanted to create something that was both cute, functional, and could help us organize our grocery list and weekly meal planning. With limited wall space, I decided it would be fun to turn our fridge into our very own chalkboard! It's perfect for me to plan meals and a fun canvas for Peyton when he is old enough to play with chalk, win-win!

Total supplies for this project only cost me $25!

Here is a shot of the fridge before and after. Quite the transformation, huh?!


Supplies

- RustOleum chalkboard paint (From The Home Depot only $10 vs $25 at Michael's)
- foam roller (owned)
- twine/rope (two 50ft bags from The Home Depot $5 each)
- chalk pen (Amazon $5)
- super glue (owned)
- painter's tape (owned)

Directions

You'll want to begin by giving your fridge a good scrub to get any dirt or food particles off. After that has dried, remove your handles if possible. Next, tape off any areas that you don't want painted with the chalkboard paint. I painted everything except the button section on the front of my fridge. Now, roll on a thin 1st layer and allow that to dry for at least 30 to 45 minutes before adding a second layer. The directions call for 4 hours, but I didn't follow that, call me a rebel. Three layers of chalk paint was the magical number for me, but it could vary depending on how heavy you roll on your layers. You will also need to paint the handles, if you choose. Because my handles are plastic the chalkboard did chip off easily. So, my advice here would be to either prime them first or leave them their original color. Last, you will want to wrap them in the rope. Apply your super glue to the beginning of your rope and hold for a minute so that it will adhere to the handle. Once it is secure, begin wrapping, adding small amounts of super glue as you go until you have wrapped the entire thing. Reattach your handles and then you are done until the fridge had fully dried for 24 hours.

Wait at least 24 hours before using or priming your chalkboard. Before writing on your board, prime it with your chalk. You can use either real chalk or chalk pens. I like the look of chalk pens, but I will likely switch between the two. If you use real chalk, rub a piece of chalk on its side all over the fridge and then wipe away using a wet cloth. Your chalkboard is now ready to use!

Priming the chalkboard...still working on that second handle at this point.

Helpful tips:

- The chalkboard directions suggest using a magnetic primer first, however those have been known to contain harsh chemicals and A.) I don't want that on my fridge, which I'm sure my son will end up licking at some point or another (the chalkboard paint is non-toxic when dried) and B.) the fridge is still magnetic without it, so I wouldn't waste my time.

- If you use chalk pens on your fridge, they will quote-un-quote stain the chalkboard. Meaning that, if you leave it on the fridge for a prolonged amount of time, it will leave behind traces of white, even when wiped away with a wet cloth. The solution here is to get a Magic Eraser, wet it, buff the chalk pen away, and then dry with a clean cloth. Works like a charm and no white traces left.



Jun 25, 2014

Peach & Mango Green Tea Popsicles


It's the perfect weather for popsicles, but all that sugar ends up in all the wrong places. So, this summer I'm trading in the sugar packed popsicles and replacing them with sweet and nearly sugar and calorie free popsicles made from Crystal Light and fresh fruit!

This recipe is quick and easy with only three ingredient. These popsicles end up being more like ice pops, but they are still delicious and refreshing on a hot summers day. They also make a good replacement for those high fat popsicles that kids crave.

Ingredients:
+ 1 packet of Crystal Light Peach Mango Green Tea (makes 2 quarts of green tea)
+ 6.5 cups water
+ 1 peach
Directions:
Combine 1 packet of Crystal Light Peach Mango Green Tea with 6.5 cups of water. These packets come in a tube of 5 each making 2 quarts of green tea. The directions call for 8 cups of water, but I like to use less so that the flavor is a bit stronger. After the water and powder is combined pour the liquid into your popsicle molds and add slices of your peaches. Be sure not to overfill them and leave room for the fruit. Place in the freezer and allow to fully freeze about 4 to 8 hours depending on the size of your popsicle molds. Enjoy!



Jun 24, 2014

No Sew Fringe Scarf & Bikini Wrap


We all love quick and easy projects, am I right? Well, here is a great one that you can make for the Fall or Summer! If you don't like to wear scarves, no problem, use it as a bikini wrap! Don't wear bikini wraps? That's okay, use it as a scarf instead! Don't like scarves or bikini wraps?...well, ummm, wear it as a cape?

For this project you will need:
+ light weight fabric (31x31in or larger depending on how large you need it)
+ Lion Brand Fettuccini Yarn
+ scissors

You can use any light weight fabric for this DIY project. Just make sure that it is a fabric that does not fray, otherwise you will need to add a hem around the edges (which kind of defeats the purpose of a no sew project).

Show me your creations and I'll feature them on my Facebook page and Twitter page!

+ Instagram me: @AudraKurtz
+ Tweet me: @TheKurtzCorner
+ FB Page

Instructions:




Jun 18, 2014

Baby Update - 5 Months

Gah, I am a month behind in posting this, he's already 6 months as I post this, but we can't skip the 5 month update! I really under estimated how little free time I would have being a stay at home mom, but I wouldn't trade it! You experienced mommies are probably giggling at that comment, haha! For any of you who think stay at home moms just sit around at home and it's all sunshine and rainbows, with oodles and oodles of free time to do what you like (not that I thought that) you are sorely mistaken! This little fella keeps my on my feet all day long. By the end of the day my back is normally killing me and at least one or two extrmities have been covered in spitup or dribble at some point in the day. There's also daily cleaning, laundry, taking care of all of the bills, grocery shopping, cooking all of Peyton's food from scratch, cooking dinner, blogging and making YouTube videos (both are my way of earning extra income). Im sure there's so much more that I'm leaving out...anywho, this is about Peyton, not me, but seriously, I need to stay on top of these posts so I don't forget every precious moment!

5 Month Skills and Events:

+ Rolling ALL over the place
+ Rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy
+ Screaming at the top of his lungs (for fun)
+ Tons of belly laughs
+ Loves to be tickled
+ Sleep regression, but now back to sleeping through the night
+ Eating rice cereal
+ Tried homemade puree for the first time!
+ Loves avocado...not so sure about green beans
+ Loves splashing in the bath tub
+ Spent the night at NeNe and Gpop's house (my parents) for almost a whole week!




Bacon & Whiskey Caramel Marshmallow Toffee


Here in the Kurtz house, we take our bacon seriously. Bacon for breakfast, bacon for lunch, bacon for dinner... bacon, bacon, bacon with a side of more bacon! But seriously, I think my husband has a slight addiction, and because he loves it so much, I decided to add a twist to my toffee recipe and incorporate some of his favorite things for a Father's Day / 4 year wedding anniversary treat! Nothing says "I love you" quite like chocolate, bacon, and whiskey, am I right?!

Ingredients

40 Saltine crackers (about one sleeve)
1 cup salted butter (don’t substitute)
1 cup brown sugar
1 12 ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup whiskey
8 thick cut pieces of bacon
1 10 ounce package of marshmallows

Directions

Turn your oven to 400 degrees F and place your bacon in the oven, on a foil lined baking sheet, while it is still heating up. Cook your bacon for about 18 to 25 minutes or until crispy and set aside. Leave your oven on and turn down to 325 degrees F. 

While your bacon is cooking, take your largest rimmed baking tray & line it with foil. Line your crackers in rows making sure that they don't overlap. The crackers should pretty much fill up the entire baking sheet.

Next, make your caramel. Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a saucepan stirring in the brown sugar gradually. Once it starts bubbling, turn the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring continuously or it will burn.

Once your caramel has simmered for a few minutes, pour it straight on to the crackers. You want it to be pretty runny so don't worry that it isn't thick. Try to evenly pour the caramel over the crackers, don’t worry about covering everything, it will spread in the oven.

Place your baking sheet in the oven at 325 degrees for about 8 minutes. You want the caramel to spread out nicely over the crackers. It should be bubbling before you take it out of the oven.

While your toffee is in the oven, place your marshmallows and whiskey in a medium pot and heat over medium-high heat, stirring continuously, until melted. Once melted, turn the heat down to low and set aside. 

After removing your tray from the oven, pour your chocolate chips over the crackers right away. The residual heat from the oven will melt the chocolate chips. Let it sit for 5 minutes to melt. Once melted, use a rubber spatula to spread the chocolate chips evenly over the crackers. Quickly pour the marshmallow mixture over the chocolate and spread with a rubber spatula creating a marbled effect as you go. 

Next, chop you bacon and sprinkle over the top of your toffee.


Last, place your tray in the freezer for 2 to 4 hours to fully freeze. Once you remove your toffee, flip it over and peel off the foil. It should come off in one whole piece. You might have a few left over pieces here or there, but not to worry, it's easy to peel off.


After the foil is removed, use a large, sharp knife and cut our toffee in to pieces. Any leftover pieces should be stored in the freezer. Enjoy!






Jun 16, 2014

DIY Barn Door Headboard


The master bedroom, it's supposed to be an oasis for you and your spouse, right? Well, mine never fully felt like a getaway, a room that I was supposed to love spending time in relaxing. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my master bedroom before, but now I love my master bedroom! All it took was a new quilt, lampshades, and one awesome handmade headboard.

I really enjoy making headboards. I wish I could do it for a living, seriously! The hubby and I made our first one together two years ago when we moved into our first house. It turned out awesome for our first headboard! We still have it too. It's now residing in our guest bedroom and it looks great in there! Maybe it's the fact that our master bedroom is gray, the headboard was gray and the comforter was gray... it was just too much gray! The room felt too flat and too dark, even with our bright white curtains and pops of white and purple around the room. It just didn't turn out the way I wanted when I started two years ago. So, I decided it was time for a makeover! I really love cottage/farm house/rustic home decor. Not redneck...upscale farm house. I grew up in the country and I've always loved its charm. To capture that charm, I decided to mimic the barn doors that you would see on an actual barn or the sliding barn doors that you see nowadays in homes. The design is super simple, clean, and easy to make! I wish I had some sort of CAD software so I could give you a more detailed blueprint, but I don't, so I just threw together the simple blueprint you see below using photoshop.

For this project, there was very minimal cutting. Only 7 cuts to be exact. If you are satisfied with a 6 foot headboard, then you can start from here. If you want your headboard shorter, you will need to either buy shorter boards or cut them down to the desired height. Next, lay 8 x 6 ft boards on the ground, front side facing up (aka favorite side facing up!).


Next, take one of your 8 foot boards and lay it horizontally across the 8 boards you've laid down and mark the 8ft board to this width, then cut. These will become the cross boards for your barn door. Repeat this step two more times and you should now have six 4 foot boards that will go at the top, middle, and bottom of your barn doors.

Using your wood glue, apply a generous amount to the back side of your 4 foot boards and place at the top and bottom of your barn door. Next, find the center of your barn door and place your middle board there. There should be about 27" between the bottom of the top cross board and top of the middle cross board (see blue print above).

After your cross boards are in place, lay one of your 6 ft boards diagonally across your door and mark where you will cut. Using a pencil, mark the left & right side of where boards intersect, connect the lines with a straight edge, and then cut using your miter saw (see image below).

Once you have cut your diagonal board, apply your wood glue and place on your door. Repeat this step cutting the diagonal board in the opposite direction for your second barn door. This will leave you with one door having a "Z" shape and the other with a backwards "Z" shape.


Once your boards are in place, allow them to dry for 2 to 4 hours or until fully dry. It also helps to place a heavy object on top of the boards to help the to adhere since not all boards are 100% straight.

After your glue has dried, flip your door over so that the back side is exposed. Using your drill and 1/16 drill bit, drill eight holes (24 in total), evenly spaced across each cross board. Make sure that the drill bit does not go too far or you will drill straight through both boards. You only want to drill far enough so that your screw secures the boards together. Next, drill three holes evenly across your diagonal board. Once all of your holes are drilled, screw in your screws. Repeat with your second door.

Your doors are now assembled and you can begin sanding. For my doors I just did a quick light sanding before staining.
To achieve the same stain as my headboard, you will need the two stains above. Minwax Special Walnut 224 and Varathane Sunbleached. I purchased both of these at The Home Depot. You can use whatever color stain you'd like, this was just the combo I used.

To recreate the stain seen in my image, apply the Special Walnut first, brushing and wiping away as you go. Next, apply the Sunbleached stain, but do not cover the entire surface. Brush a few strokes and quickly wipe. I found it easiest to wipe, almost buff, in a circular motion. This will help you cover all of the board evenly. Finally, apply one final layer of the Special Walnut, allowing this layer to set for a few minutes before wiping.

Once you're finished, add any hardware, such as decorative hinges like I did, and allow to air out for several hours to a full 24 hours before bringing into your home. That's it, your'e done!
Because this door headboard is so heavy you will just want to prop it up against the wall and push your bed up against it. To prevent scratches and indentions in your wall place a small folded square of felt behind the edges that touch the wall.

If you use this tutorial I'd love to see your finished project! Feel free to tag me on istagram @audrakurtz, tweet me on twitter @thekurtzcorner, or upload a picture on my Facebook fanpage!