DIY weekend

Hello everybody,

I got married! I'm still so excited about it and can't wait to show you the pictures. I hope that it will only be another few days until they are ready! I can't explain in words what a wonderful day we had. It was simply magic.

For our honeymoon we went to lovely Tuscany in Italy. It felt simply like diving into a picture book; beautiful countryside with long winding roads lined by pine trees and vineyards to either side, romantic restaurants with candle light, delicious food and wine and sun, sun, sun...

What a great country and yes, I will share some pics with you.

But that will have to wait until next week. Today I want to share this DIY project with you.

My friend is having a baby shower tomorrow and she's recently asked me if I could make a note board in maritime style for her. She lives in Brighton so her house has a coastal feel to it.

I've just finished her notice board and here is how I did it!

1. Find an old picture frame. I got this one from a frame shop for a few Pounds.

2. Wipe the frame clean.

3. Sand it down slightly so the paint has some grip.

4. Apply one coat of dark paint. Best is t use black. I used Dulux Midnight Dream, which is a very dark grey.

5. Paint the back board whatever colour you fancy. I chose a very pale blue to go with the maritime theme.

6. Let everything dry.

7. Apply a coat of off-white paint to the frame. One coat should be enough as we will be sanding the frame down as soon as the paint has dried to give it more of a rustic look.

8. Alternatively you could wipe the paint slightly down while it's still wet, to get a similar effect.

8. Arrange your string on the back board.

9. Secure it with pins so the string stays in place.

10. Then use a staple gun to secure the string at the back of the board. It needs to be tight so it can hold the weight of cards and pictures later on.

11. Sand down the white coat slightly to give the frame a rustic, shabby chic look.

12. Clip pegs on the strings. They will hold pictures, cards etc. I found these cute maritime pegs on a small island in the Baltic sea. They complete the whole coastal theme.

13. Voila, here is your note board in maritime style.

Let me know how you get on.

Speak soon,

Nadine