When your family eats at home, what do you do to make it fun and special? When my kids were toddlers, my husband would say that he liked dining at his favorite restaurant, “Mommy-O’s”. This was great because it turned home-dining into a special treat! Now every restaurant has a daily special board (menu board) and here’s Mommy-O’s.
Menu boards are all the rage and I decided to jump on the band wagon. I think this tool will help me in so many ways: grocery lists, meal planning, food budgeting, etc. Here’s how I made mine.
DIY Menu Board
Next, you will need to decide what type of papers you would like to place inside your frame(s). If you look closely, you will see that my collage frame is weathered black. Looking around on Pinterest, I found this at The Scrap Shoppe Blog.
This was GREAT…..8 colored chalkboard backgrounds and I have 8 frames to fill! Here is how I created my “pictures”.
- I downloaded each of the backgrounds (they are .jpg files)
- I uploaded them into Picmonkey (chose edit photo and upload a background)
- I rotated my photo 90 degrees so that it was landscape oriented
- I chose “text” (the “P” on the left side bar) and the text I used was “Emily’s Candy”
- I typed up my text (font size 204 for the daily special and a larger font for the title) in white and centered it toward the top of my “chalkboards”
- Then I saved each picture as a *.jpg file.
Next, I needed to cut out my pictures so that I could frame them. I first needed to decide if my “Mommy-O’s Daily Special” would be oriented Portrait or Landscape. I oriented my pictures’ “cardboard” back portrait.
Then I placed it in landscape. I wanted to get an idea of how the “Mommy-O’s Daily Specials: would “center” onto the picture. I decided I liked how the landscape looked.
Then, using the cardboard back of the frame as a template, I drew/cut out the daily special and title pictures. After all 8 were cut out, I inserted them into the frame.
Here is a picture of the Daily Special (menu) Board taken inside. My lighting isn’t very good inside so I also took couple of pictures outside.
Here’s the first outside shot.
Here’s the second. Sorry for the glare in these outside shots.
Well, you’ll never believe it but my husband loves this. I like how the chalkboard look compliments the weathered frame while the colors brighten the board.
This is a super easy and quick project (the most time consuming part was creating the 8 pictures). I don’t know why I hadn’t created on of these boards sooner. Now, all I need is a dry erase marker so I can write the specials!
4 You
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
This looks fabulous and what a wonderful use of the backgrounds! Thanks so much for letting me know you used them. I will be sharing your project on my Facebook page!
mary_smith
Super Cute!!! What a great way to use the collage frame. I love it.
Rox
I love this! I used to keep a menu on paper and sick it on the fridge with a magnet. I’ve seen magnetic frames…thinking a collage like yours with magnetic frames will work nicely in my kitchen with little wall space. Pretty and practical!
Katie B. of HousewifeHowTos.com
This is an adorable idea! I love the “Mommy-O’s” name, too. How cute is that?
must love junk
So cute and clever!!
Susan
Al@PolkaDotsandPaisley
I made a similar one a few months ago (feel free to stop by my blog and check it out) but I’ve been using it for our weekly schedules. I usually have our meals on a separate sheet. I’m not sure why I never thought to include them on my frames but I’m going to start.
Someday I'll Learn
Thanks so much for sharing. I’d love to have you come link this up to our Teach Me Tuesday Linky – it’s brand new and in need of creative contributions! http://www.somedayilllearn.com/2013/02/18/teach-me-tuesday-5/
Jamie Dorobek
This would be so handy! Thanks for sharing and for linking up to Monday Funday!
Pride In Photos
What a terrific idea…your a genius!!! I am going to have to show my daughters this idea.
Mel@Mellywood's Mansion
Thats really pretty I love your take on this menu board
tumbleweed-contessa
I love this idea. I used to ask my kids for one meal of their choice each week. It made menu planning a little easier. This would have been perfect.
Thanks for sharing at Tumbleweed Contessa’s What’d You Do This Weekend? Be sure to come back next Monday with another great idea!
Thanks, Linda
Pamela
Love this {colorful} menu board. I think it will help me plan meals. My husband will want to fill it up–ha!
Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama
SO cute!! Love the chalkboard backgrounds and the colors! Such a cool idea Well done!
Amy
What a neat idea to use a frame like that! I’m off to grab those backgrounds now…
Adrianne at Happy Hour Projects
I haven’t ever seen a take on menu boards like this, I LOVE it, Marilyn!! Great work!!
Kadie
What a fantastic idea!! Love this!
Callie Powell
I absolutely love it. I’m putting it on my to do list.
http://calliescrafts.blogspot.com
Kara @ Petals to Picots
Very cute idea!
Cynthia Landrie
I have seen this done with a single frame, but never a multi frame like this. Ilove it!
Thank you for linking up to the In and Out of the Kitchen party! I look forward to seeing what you bring next week!
Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com
Tonia L
Awesome idea!I love the backgrounds you make. Thanks for sharing at The Gunny Sack!
Chrissy
What a great idea!! I have one of these for our schedules but this would make a great menu!! Would you consider sharing this and any other projects that you might have over at my Pinterest Power party?
http://www.thetaylor-house.com/2013/02/20/pinterest-power-party-7-2.html
Thanks!
Chrissy
Jocie@TheBetterHalf
What a cute idea. I think I saw this on FB or maybe pinterest and loved the idea. and i think i have one of these frames floating around my house! lol. Thanks so much for linking up!
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Shannon Barefoot
Love this – having a menu planner is the best and this is a super cute way to make one Thanks for sharing at The Weekly Creative.
Shannon@ Sewing Barefoot
Betsy @ Romance on a dime
Such a creative way to display your menu! Thanks for sharing this at Romance on a dime!!
Cathy Trochelman
This is great…as decor and menu planning tool!!
Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama
Such a cute idea!! Great use of the frame. Thanks for linking up to Artsy Corner:)
Brandye
SUCH a cute idea!! Maybe that would help me plan my week better!
Diana - FreeStyleMama
Very cute idea! I only need a single frame because I don’t always decide ahead of time! LOL!
Michele
great idea! And the last pic outside looks amazing with the glare. You can see the trees and it looks cool in the frames.
Here is my latest post:
http://www.mrsgardengirl.blogspot.com/2013/03/hooked-on-crochetno-pun-intended.html
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