When I got my latest issue of the Ballard's catalog, I instantly fell in love with these typewriter key wall plaques. So simple, yet chic and fun! Then I looked at the price...$49 each. Yes, I said EACH. It would cost me $300 to spell this word. Ballards....are you insane???? Who are these people who spend $300 to spell a simple word? Apparently, they have way too much money and are really bored! So, I tore this page out of the catalog and put it in my idea folder.
My plan was to try and collect some similar frames from yard sales, thrift stores, etc. But I got really impatient and just couldn't wait it out any longer. I decided to use embroidery hoops, and at just 99 cents each the price was perfect. Again, I wish I had painted them black, but my severe impatience/ADD couldn't take it. I needed some instant gratification.
I used a scrap of linen material I had laying around, some black scrapbook paper, and my Cricut to recreate the $300 designer look. Guess how much it cost me? Less than $8.
What??? Can I get a witness? An Amen?
I am super excited with the way this fun little project turned out. My wall plaques are a bit smaller than the ones from Ballards. Theirs are 12 inch in diameter and mine are 8 inch...not much of a difference. Especially for a whopping $292, right? I've already started making another set, but with a twist. They have a whole different look and are stinkin adorable! I'm thinking about making some for my etsy shop if anyone's interested. But with those I will use fabric and applique the image onto the linen.
Bet you thought I'd forgotten about the winner, huh? Not a chance...I was just making you sweat! Congratulation to Laura Ingalls Gunn from Decor to Adore. You won the Mrs. Meyer's prize pack!!! Drop me an e-mail - imperfectlybeautifulms(at)gmail(dot)com - so we can get your goodies in the mail to you.
Linked to Kimm's Trash to Treasure at Reinvented
and Amanda's Decorating Dilemas Party @ Serenity Now.
73 comments:
This looks sooo fabulous!! How creative! I'll be featuring!
love this~ do you mind me asking what cartridge/font you used....thanks
I love, love, love it Amanda! So cute. What a great workspace!!!
The blog design is supposed to be done on Thursday. I hope it's cute. I'll keep you posted :)
XOXO
Jen
Oh my gosh! I saw these in Ballards, fell in love, wanted to make them but wasn't sure how. They look amazing. You are one smart, creative, thrifty chick. I'm so impressed. Can I copy? Please, please! THey really do look amazing!
Very cute! Using embroidery hoops was ingenious.
Great idea!! Beautiful work space!! Saving this idea!
I too saw those in Ballard and thought they were cute but crazy to spend that much money. You outdid yourself with these Amanda!!! I am setting out to copy your idea today!
Gorgeous! Great job!
So cute! Thanks for sharing! I want to do "FAMILY" for a collage in my dining room. Perfect!
What a great idea! I saw those letters in the catalog and thought the same thing!
I liked those in the magazine too, but you're right WAY too expensive...thanks for the idea. I'm guessing we'll be seeing them ALL over blogland now! Thanks for sharing!
Great job on these! I love how you made them out of embroidery hoops. Genius!! And Congratulations to your winner.
I'll give you more than an Amen ~ I'll give you an Alleleuia {I'm sure I spelled that wrong}! Love this Amanda! I like your desk area, too.
I want a set of these! Please let me know if you post them on your etsy site...you'll have a buyer! They would be perfect hanging in my design studio!
whoa! fabulous knockoff! I love it.
gail
ps wish I had a cricut :(
Woot!! Manders, they look amazing...and I like 'em better because you made everything yourself, even if you jumped the gun on the black paint, which I really can't blame you for.
If you have a chance today, could you link this up as a Solution to my Decorating Dilemmas party? I think this is a great way to combat Ballard's prices. I can't wait til my catalog arrives so I can get some inspiration (evil laugh). ;)
saw you on UCreate...these turned out great!
AMEN! :P
Shut the front door woman, I'm going to do these too!!!! I just tweeted about it. ;) I love yours!! So wish I had one of those cricut thangs.
woah! what a bargain. yours look practically identical. You can get 12" hoops - I think I bought mine at walmart. love, love, love it!
So cute. I actually like yours better than the originals -- the colors make it more interesting. Perfect!
Brilliant, Amanda! These are adorable! Now what are you going to do with all that money you saved??
I want your house.
Great job! Very creative! Come over and join my giveaway!
fabulous!
They look fantastic. A great idea for me to stick in my idea folder for when we get a house.
Great Project!
SO creative of you!!!! I like yours better even.
Nice! I love a good creative project AND a bargain! Good for you that you were able to save $292!
You did a fab job! When I saw those in the catalog I knew someone would recreate them for a "normal" price. Love it! You should put those in your Etsy shop, I'm sure they'd sell out.
I am so going to copy this idea!
That turned out so great! I'm working on updating my sewing space right now and if it EVER stops snowing I'll be able to go pick up the table I found on CL! Hope you don't mind if copy your idea to snazz up the wall above!
I saw these in Ballards too and thought SO cute til I looked at the price! I love Ballards stuff but the prices, jeez louise!
Nice job on the knock off, Love it! :)
I saw these in Ballards too and thought SO cute til I looked at the price! I love Ballards stuff but the prices, jeez louise!
Nice job on the knock off, Love it! :)
wrote about this on my blog and linked back to you! Hope that is ok! If not please let me know and Ill take it down! Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for linking up. :) I'm gonna have to feature this over the weekend 'cause it's so darn cute. :)
So, so cute... I love it!! Great idea! :)
Very cute! I've used embroidery hoops for a circle-artsy-wall hanging in my daughter's room. They're so versatile & easy to use.
AMANDA! You go girl. this is great. I've never seen anything like this. Unfortunately I'm trapped reading farm periodicals instead of cute little catalogs like this one! Hahahaha....
Just kidding. I love this. It turned out great!
Blessings,
Debbie
Amanda, this is FABULOUS!
It looks amazing! I like linen better anyway! And you can't beat the price. :)
~Kim
Thank you for showing this! That first image had me breathing hard. I wanted it! Then you wrote the price and I felt sad, then you showed yours which made me breath hard too! I'm so excited to do this!
Too cute! I missed it in the Ballards catalog. I love your thrifty duplicate. Much better than the original. I'm going to use your idea in my living room! Thanks.
Those are fabulous! They turned out so great! I'm totally gonna steal this idea!
As always,LOVE IT!
LOVE this! I've got that same page from the catalog in my idea file & I've been playing around with how to recreate this look. I never thought of the embroidery hoops. Awesome job!
These are so great! I have typewriter thang. :)
Oh I love this! Dontcha just love "reinterpreting" those expensive catalog companies. Gets me all aflutter!
so, do I get to be one of those people who say I knew you when? I love them and I am thinking that you are a genius! Rock on girl-rock on!
Ohhh AMEN! I love this. You are so craft and clever.
And can I get a woo hoo? Woo HOO! I have never been so excited to clean. :)
I love it! I want it! I HAVE to make it!!!!
Love it!
I love, love, love this! It is darling! I am adding it to my Friday Favorites! So cute!
Amen! That was pure genius of you! It looks fantastic!
SOOO CUTE! I've really got to get one of those Cricut thingees. LOVE IT!
Wow! Very cute and I love the price!! I will have to find an excuse to make some of these...
Amen!! (that's what you wanted, right? :))
I LOVE THAT!!! You are so stinkin' creative, I'd still just be moping that I couldn't have the Ballard version! Care if I feature this in the Trash to Treasure round-up?
Hey Amanda!
I just wanted to let you know we featured your new shop banner on Everything Etsy! :)
~Kim
I think this is better than the original (also a Ballard lover here) and I love how it's not on glass and circled in black, rather against white and in linen. It really looks better. What a steal and you are very creative!
Very clever!! It looks identical!!
Lisa
I love this!!!!!! I'm adding it to my neverending list of "have to make". :)
This looks sooo fabulous!! How creative! I'll be featuring!
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You got a big AMEN!!!!!! Love it! Very creative thinkin'!!!!
Fabulous!! Lovin' this idea!
AMEN, sister! I had the exact same thought with the Embroidery Loops. Very well executed. Ballards is insane...I am starting to get really pissed off with the unbelievable mark-ups.
Kacey @ Shes.No.Martha
I just found your blog and I LOVE your Ballard recreation! Thank you so much for your creative inspiration. Oh, and you have a new friend!:-)
Great idea with the hoops, love it!
Spectacular and so creative!
Awesome, just love it! Who are these people that would spend $50.00 on 1 letter? I think a person who doesn't have a creative bone in their body, way to go!
Only just stumbled on your fabulous blog
A girl after my own heart how do they come up with the high prices and adore your knock off's
Thanks for sharing the ideas
Love all your black and white a real favourite of mine
Hugs Suz x
I love doing stuff like that. Seeing something I love and then recreating it for the real budget! Cool idea.
I am so glad I found you blog! I love your style and can't wait to try out some! I am grabbing your button to share your site! hope you get a chance to swing by over at www.miamamiah.com. Have a great Friday!
This is so genius that I had to share it on my blog. Thanks!!
http://auntielolocrafts.blogspot.com
Lois
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