Christmas Sparkle & Shine—and how to hide an unsightly control panel

Hi, everyone! Today I’m going to show you a little project I did to hide an alarm system control panel using MFT products. The panel is right in the way of some holiday décor I wanted to do on a chest in the master bedroom and it’s kind of an eyesore. We also have a thermostat on that wall and I found a perfect solution to cover that—which gave me the idea for this project. I found a chalkboard art piece at T J Maxx—it’s a box with no back and I got it to cover the thermostat. That left the alarm control panel sticking out like a sore thumb!

So, I got the idea to look for another piece like this to alter for the control panel. I found just the ticket at my local Marshall’s. I’m thinking there might be something similar, unfinished and cheaper, at a craft store but I wasn’t going to be able to get to one and I was on a mission ;-)

This was $9.99 at Marshall’s and perfect for my needs.




First of all, my DH sanded all the glitter off.




Then I applied a couple of coats of gesso (sorry this is a little blurry). Any primer would work.




Then I applied four coats of chalkboard paint.




I then stamped snowflakes from MPD Sophisticated Snowflakes with Sweet Tooth pigment ink and heat embossed them. I finished it off by sponging on more Sweet Tooth pigment ink to soften the black. Here it is again, finished.

Want to see what I’m doing with this project? Here’s the space most of the year. There’s usually some things on the chest, too, but I removed them so you could see what I’m talking about. UGLY thermostat and utilitarian control panel, am I right?




The snowflake box covers the control panel perfectly. It just hangs on the panel so it can be quickly snatched off if we need to get to the panel in a hurry.




And here’s the wall after it’s been decorated for Christmas. My T J Maxx box is covering the thermostat. I think it’s a really nice transformation, how about you?




Here’s a closer look at the NOEL letters. I covered them with printed Christmas sheet music and applied chunky silver glitter. The edges were sponged with Kraft ink.

Here’s a closer look at the wreath, made from pages from an old hymnal I picked up at Goodwill for $1. The center is a piece of Kraft card stock cut with Circle STAX Die-namics and a Snowflake Doily Die-namics cut from silver glitter paper. I sponged the edges of the cones with Kraft ink.

And there you have it! Sparkle and shine and a cover up! I hope
I’ve inspired you to use your MFT products in out-of-the-box ways
for your Christmas décor!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

MPD Sophisticated Snowflakes	Kraft Card Stock	Kraft Ink	Pigment Ink Pad Sweet Tooth
Die-namics Snowflake Doily	Die-namics Circle STAX Set 1

InLinkz.com

~Supplies~
Stamps: MPD Sophisticated Snowflakes (MFT)
Paper: Kraft card stock (MFT); printed sheet music, hymnal, glitter paper
Ink: Sweet Tooth pigment ink, Kraft ink (MFT)
Accessories/tools: Vagabond; Circle STAX Die-namics, Snowflake Doily Die-namics (MFT); gesso, embossing powder, heat tool, chunky glitter, Mod Podge, resin letters, hot glue/gun; wooden wall décor box