Valentines Garland

 

 

I posted this tutorital last Valentines Day but I thought I would post it again for kicks and giggles!!
FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS EASY PEASY!

And trust me it is. I don't do difficult things.

So let's get this party started!!

First pick out a old book, or go to your local thrift store and pick one out. Keep in mind what kind of pages you want to display. White. Antique. Big letters. Look for something that is out of the ordinary. Mine had big blue letters that I thought were adorable.

I'm sure it's illegal in some states to do this to books, so please be cautious! I almost felt bad when I was checking this out a lady next to me said "Oh good job on that find, I'm sure you will enjoy it. I did"

I just couldn't break her heart to tell her that I was going to tear it to shreds as soon as I got home. I'm sure it is a great book. Let's just say I am a super speed reader. 

2. Tear out your pages. My book was itty bitty and not a regular 8.5x11. But I'm guessing you could get a least one heart out of each page. So see we aren't ripping the entire book out!

Cut your strips into 1 inch thick strips.

See how cute those letters are? I made sure to have those be on my tops of my hearts, since you can't see the letters really in the center of the hearts.

3. After you have all your strips break them out into 4 groups.

1. 1 strip for your center

2. 2 strips for top piece

3. 2 strips for your middle piece

3. 2 strips for your bottom piece.

So depending on your size of paper you will leave numbers 1 & 2 above (so three strips total) alone! Don't cut them. So let's just say your strips are all 7 inches long. You will take your middle and bottom pieces and cut them. So your middle piece will be cut 1 inch down to 6 inches. And your bottom piece will be cut down 2 inches. Make sense? So you know have three different sizes of strips all one inch difference.

Grab your smallest strip (or the bottom strip and fold the end together. And hold it.

 

Grab your middle piece and to the same thing wrapping it over the top of your bottom piece. Hold it.

 

Finally grabbing your top piece and placing it around the other two. So you know have three strips with the ends all together.

Don't mind my nasty baby hands!! 

Then staple it together. So you know have 1/2 of the heart done. Stay with me now!!

So it should look like this. I stapled both my sides of the hearts closer to the top of middle strip. Then cut the bottom so it was a straight line. Then at the top I cut it so it was "Even Stephen" (sorry had to throw in a little Amyism) with the sides of the heart. This picture doesn't show that but you can see it on the ones below.

Then grab whatever string, thread, you want to hang it by and a big needle. No worries we aren't playing nurse today you will just be using the needle for the hearts. Then simply thread it threw all your hearts. Leaving enough string/thread at the end to hang it by.

 

 

And Fancy that!! You did it!!!! Pat yourself on the back, go get a fresh diet coke and watch Nate Berkus!! Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

See wasn't so bad was it??

$60 bucks on Etsy my booty!! We can do this for nothing or $3 from DI.

Glitter Deer.

I saw something like this on the P word....ya know Pinterest!  I thought well shoot I could do that and even better Liv could help me.  You know how little hands always want to help, in the most helpful yet not helpful way! So here is how you do it. 

First you need.  A image. (I googled deer heads and found one I liked).  Modge Podge or glue.  Canvas or scrap piece of wood, Glitter, paint, and brush.   I am talked easy peasy with this. Seriously we did this in a matter of 30 mins. 

First if needed sand your wood down on the edges.

 Paint your board or canvas the color of your choice. And yes I let her do this. My motherhood motto is, how will you ever expect them to learn unless you let them try.  (that includes painting)

 

Cut our your deer stencil. I started at the bottom and cut around. Keep in mind that you are using the interior of the deer head as your stencil so try and keep it pretty clean and cut as precise as you want. Then tape the bottom of your first cut, making it one piece again. 

 

Then use modge podge or glue, putting enough in the center that you think the glitter will stick. 

I also taped down parts of my deer to make sure it didn't move around.

 

I added a bowtie to mine to give it a little extra something something. 

 

 

Glass Jars DIY

I had the lucky privilege to go on Studio 5 the other day.

I really do love the opportunity to have an creative out and an excuse to push myself.

It's fun and it's stressful but I really try and have fun with it. I never know how long I will be able to do this. This segment was on Glass Jar's and Containers. It was a challenge to come up with something new that we haven't seen 428 times on Pinterest. But then I thought it doesn't always have to be something out of the box. Sometimes we just need a visual and a little explanation on how to do it and that's what I wanted to focus on. I truly believe that everyone can do crafts, yes sometimes they require a tool or to and maybe more than 15 mins but I really try to keep my crafts within a reasonable budget and things that everyone can do.  So let's get started. 

 

If you want to check the segment out you can here. Sorry I can't figure out how to link the video here.  http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=59&sid=22885352 

 

Metal Art - Have you ever not wanted to spend a fortune on those candle holders that look really expensive? Well you can make your own! Purchase metal sheets at Hobby Lobby for $11 (use their 40% coupon). Get your glass jars that you may not use anymore, paint color of your choice, metal cutters, and hot glue gun. Measure your wire to your glass jar. Paint it the color you want. I primed mine with Krylon white primer and then used different gloss spray paints. Give the metal plenty of time to dry (overnight if you can). Then glue your metal to your jar one side at a time, again giving it enough time to dry on both ends. Put in a tall candle and there you have your very own custom candle holder for dollars! 

 

 

Sewing Scraps - Have you ever thought to yourself "That's cute but I don't have the time or I couldn't do that"? Do you have 3 mins? That's how easy this is. For this you need a jar (I prefer the smaller mason jar) a scrap piece of fabric, and stuffing. First gather a small handful of stuffing, place your fabric over the top. Take your jar lid and tighten closing in the fabric ball. Pull your fabric tight to create a nice round ball on the top of the jar. Trim your fabric leaving a inch or two hanging out from the jar. Take the lid off and flip it over. Gather your fabric and hot glue in about 4 spots your fabric to the bottom of the lid, to create a secure top. Make sure it is glued in enough spots to stay but not to many that your fabric starts to gather and make folds. Put your jar lid back on and fill it with miscellaneous sewing nicknack's!!!

 

 

 If you have seen those amazing DIY mirrors I thought why couldn't you do that but on a vase. 

The tip is buy the Dollar Store plastic spoons and invest in some hot glue. All you need is your vase, spoons, hot glue, and ribbon if you want to put it on the bottom.  I bought pink spoons so I didn't have to worry about painting them after. Cut your spoons at the beginning of the handle (see picture below). Start gluing your spoons at the top of your vase/container.  Circle around until the first row is completed.  Begin the next row by staggering, like shadowing the row above. Continue with this pattern until you reach the bottom. Before you glue your last row, I added a strip of ribbon so that it gave a more finished look to the bottom of the vase.  Fill your vase with flowers and place on a high shelf for enjoyment!



 

 Kids Craft - getting kids involved in crafts can make for a whole different experience! This adorable snow globe can be make for a few dollars with the only supplies needed as a mason jar, glitter, distilled water, and your choice of snow globe visual. I bought this winter tree at the dollar store and the glitter at the craft store. Glue your object to the lid upside down. Fill your jar with distilled water almost to the top and add glitter if you would like. I found glitter with little stars in it that I think add a little extra to the appeal. Place your lid on tightly and turn upside down. You have your own snow globe that you created in a matter of minutes. You could create a collection of these and display them as Holiday decorations for years!

 

Light it up! If you have a love for lighting you can combine the two with a mason jar and lights to create a DIY craft. IKEA sells light extensions for $5. Grab an old mason jar with a lid and a low voltage light bulb. I wouldn't suggest anymore than 20 Watts. Using a hammer and a nail, make a hole in the top of your lid the size of the bulb extension. Place your bulb in the jar and hang from a ladder, roof etc for a party or gathering. You could also create small lanterns with your other mason jars by wrapping wire around the rim, placing a candle inside and hanging. 

 

 

Kids Craft - getting kids involved in crafts can make for a whole different experience! This adorable snow globe can be make for a few dollars with the only supplies needed as a mason jar, glitter, distilled water, and your choice of snow globe visual. I bought this winter tree at the dollar store and the glitter at the craft store. Glue your object to the lid upside down. Fill your jar with distilled water almost to the top and add glitter if you would like. I found glitter with little stars in it that I think add a little extra to the appeal. Place your lid on tightly and turn upside down. You have your own snow globe that you created in a matter of minutes. You could create a collection of these and display them as Holiday decorations for years!

 

Milk Glass - If you have seen those expensive and antique milk vases you know how beautiful they are. Would you like to save yourself some money and create your own? All you need is a vase, hot glue, and spray paint. The trick to this technique is gluing the dots on your vase. My tip is start at the top of your vase and figure out your spacing before hand. I did mine about 1/2 inch apart. When you hold your glue gun do a small dot and then as you pull your gun away from the glue slowly twist your gun in a circle motion and this helps create a perfect dot and helps eliminate those glue strings. Then you will prime your vase allowing time to dry and then paint it the color you desire. Typically most milk vases are white but you can also find them in pastel shades. 

 

Precious Goods - If you love to decorate for the Holidays but have a fear of little fingers breaking your precious decorations here is a solution. At IKEA they sell these glass cases. You can fill your glass pieces and decorations inside this but still showing them off for others to appreciate. You could display your nativity scene, glass villages, etc in this case. Little eyes will still wonder in awe of them but yet your items will be safe from harm! I even filled mine with dollar store town buildings and spray painted them to make them look a little more color coordinated.

 

Halloween Ideas

 

Witch legs

This is a sweet Halloween decoration that can be done with things around your house. All you need is an umbrella, pool noodle, socks, shoes, and wire.

#1 - Cut your noodles the length of your socks plus some extra for your shoes.

#2 - Roll your socks onto the noodle and put shoes on the noodle.

#3 - Get some heavy wire, double wrap it around the noodle at the top and attach to the umbrella.

#4 - I took some toole and tightly wrapped it around my shoe to keep it in place in the noodle as well as accessorize the look of the shoe.I tried using things that weren’t permanent so I will be able to use all of these items after Halloween for their regular use.

#5 – I poked a small hole in the top of the umbrella and using framing wire looped it through the umbrella to use for holding into a tree.

 

Witch fell in the cupcake

Take your favorite cupcake, add the straw of your choice and glue a picture of a witches shoe to the straw! There you have it, a comical dessert!

 

Witches broom

Don’t forget that witches have to get from here to there as well!You can make a witches broom by getting a stick and some raffia!By adding some ribbon tying the raffia to the stick you have yourself a simplified witches broom, great for a front door entry!

 Not a fan of carving pumpkins

Not a fan of the scooping out of your pumpkin seeds, you can always accessorize your pumpkins with painting the outside of them into your favorite Halloween symbol. Or even gather a few unmatched socks place them over the pumpkins to give a unique texture and look to the pumpkins. Top if off with some little witch’s hats. Or at local craft stores you can find witch shoes and by simply adding a $1.00 witch hat you can place your pumpkin, hat, and witch shoes to look like a little itty bitty witch.

 

4th of July Party

I LOVE THE 4TH OF JULY!

Here are some ideas for the best day of year! 

Easy Plates - Many of can relate to the shuffle we do trying to gather silverware, plates, and don't forget the napkin! So this is any easy solution to the plated cauose. Take your paper plates, hole punch one hole in the center. Gather all your silverware around your napkin and attach it to the plate with your favorite ribbon, jute, etc. Then you can eliminate the headache of forgetting or dropping something and focus on getting your yummy BBQ food.

Sparkler safety - Kids love fireworks, however it's can be a little scary for them. This is a easy way to make sure your kids can have fun yet stay safe. Take your sparklers and poke a hole in the top of your paper cup. Insert the sparkler with the handle coming through the cup. It creates an easy grip for kids to hold their sparklers yet helps calm their fears from getting to close.

Pots with Socks - If you have beautiful flowers but they just don't match your 4th of July party decor. You can quickly change that for as low as $1.00. Gather some holiday socks, cut the toes off and simply roll over your Terra cotta pots or jars for easy table center pieces that match your other party decorations. 

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream - Homemade Ice cream that is!!! Kids want to be a part of the festivities and this is the perfect way to do so. Have little hands shake and shake and shake the mixture to create your homemade ice cream. 

Ice Cream

2 1/2 quarts half/half

2 1/2 tbs vanilla

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

Mix all together and divide into small zip lock baggies. (About 1 cup per bag)

Then you take 2 cups of ice and 2 cups of ice cream salt. If you are using a mason jar to mix the ice cream then you will only put about 1 cup of each in the jar to give enough room for the bag to shake around. Enjoy!

Fruit Baskets - Do you have a stack of paper plates that will take years to use? Try this simple table craft to display your fruit for your party. Get one paper plate, ruler, pen, and scissors. Measure about 2 1/2' from the bottom to the center of your plate, Do this 4 times to create a almost square in the center of your plate. Cut along the 4 lines. Fold in each of the 4 sides. Then start with one flap and fold in, creating a box. Taking the next fold, with the flap inserting into the next section. Once all 4 sides have been folded in you should have a box. I hot glued a small dot to secure the basket in place. I added some decorating ribbon and added fruit for a quick and adorable display!

You can also see my tutorial here.

Cut off your brown paper sacks and serve individual servings of potatoe chips. 

Not a healthy portion as shown. I am aware of that!!!  It's a holiday go all out!

Corn on the cob grows in the grass right? 

So what a better way to serve it than in some!

Amercian pies are a great serving option for desserts. 

Walmart has these individual serving sizes for .88 a piece!

Star's in the yard - We can't forget the yard when decorating for the party. By gathering a poster board and your favorite star shape. Trace the star shape with a white crayon, Cut out the star. Gather some flour and head out to your sidewalk entryway. Place the poster board on the grass and lay a heavy layer of flour in the cutout of the star. The flour will make a decorative star shape in your grass. Don't worry with a quick swipe your flour with spread not hurting your lawn!!