Easy Peasy Inspiration Bracelets

***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 







Isn’t this a fun little bracelet?  Guess where I saw the idea?  Yep, Pinterest.  They take literally a few minutes to make, and are a perfect little accent for your crafty friends.

The silver beads are from Michaels and come in a package of 10, with “create",”believe,” and “hope” on them.  To make the bracelet, cut three strands of embroidery floss to about 12” and thread one of them through a bead.  Wrap the other two strands around either side, and tie knots to hold them in place.  Braid each side of the bead, tie a knot at the end, and you’re finished.

See, I told you it was quick and easy!

My hooligans have YMCA camp this week, so I was all alone for the first time in what seems like forever!  I spent the day shopping at the outlet mall (where I actually bought some shoes, shirts, and books for myself, in addition to things for everyone else) and checking out some small town knitting and pottery stores.

All in all, a very fun, if not productive day…but everyone needs a little me time now and then, right?  Hope you’re finding some time for whatever rejuvenates you!

Chalkboard Table Runner

***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 



Today, I’m sharing yet another thing I saw on Pinterest, but was too thrifty to buy…a chalkboard table runner for a buffet.  How ingenious is that, I ask you?  I like to have placecards in front of each item on a buffet, so guests aren’t wondering what they’re taking, but this is so fun for a barbeque or any casual party.  And at my house, they’re pretty much all casual.


And who knew you can buy chalkboard cloth?  Well, apparently it’s been around for years, according to the cutting table lady at Joann’s.  It’s pretty inexpensive, too…around $5 a yard. I made two of these for less than $10 (I used a 40% off coupon for the chalkboard material).

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1-3/4 yards chalkboard fabric
• 2 bandanas, or 1 yard of material for binding
• Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
• Paper plate and Sharpie
• Sewing Machine
• Iron and Ironing Surface
• Thread

1. Cut the chalkboard fabric in half lengthwise.  You can actually make two from the 1-3/4 yards, but it needs to be that long so you don’t have a seam in the middle.

2. Use a paper plate to trace rounded corners, then cut those off.

3. Make the binding:  ***If you don't want to make binding, you can buy it already made in the notions section...you'll need about 4-1/2 yards. ***

Cut 3” wide strips from your bandanas or binding material ON THE DIAGONAL.
Sew the together, right sides together, to form one long binding strip. 

Press those seams open.

Fold in half and press.

Fold each edge to the middle and press again.

This is what it will look like.  I made two of these, one with bandanas and one with blue calico.
4. Sew the binding around the edge of your chalkboard material.  Tuck the end in and sew.

5. Invite your friends over and let them marvel at your creativity!

Snuggly Tag Blankies

***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 


It seems I need small baby gifts frequently, for soldiers, coworkers, or friends.  And they seem to come in waves, so I needed something I can mass produce and be set for six months or so. Of course, I read there’s a Fifty Shades of Gray baby boom going on, with babies due in February, so who knows how many blankies I’ll need then!

I like to give these tag blankies for babies to use as teethers or tactile learners, along with a copy of one of our favorite books.  It makes a thoughtful, yet affordable, gift.


About ten years ago, “tag” things were all the rage…books, blankets, teething cloths, you name it.  I’m not sure if they’re still so prevalent, but I figured out how I could make them for next to nothing.  (In this case, next to nothing adds up to about $3, if I have to buy ribbons and can’t just pull from my stash.)

To make these, you’ll need some soft chenille-type microfleece.  One and a half yards of 60” wide fleece will make 6 blankets.  I always buy it on sale or with a 40% off coupon at Joann’s.  You’ll also need 10 or 12 different, closely wovan, fabric ribbons.  You’ll need two pieces of each, 4” long.

Cut two pieces of fleece 14”x14” for each blankie.  On the right side of one piece, fold each ribbon in half and pin he cut edges along the sides of the fleece.

I do this assembly line fashion, cutting everything then pinning all the squares.

Next, place another square of fleece right sides together with the ribbon pinned one.

Stitch around the edges, leaving a space about 3 inches or so not sewn.  Clip the corners, as shown above, then turn the blankie right side out, pulling the fabric through the unsewn part. Remove the pins, tuck the raw edges from the unsewn part inside, and topstitch around the entire square.


See?  I told you it was easy!  I try to make mine pretty unisex in color, since I make them to stock my gift trunk. You can make several of these in an afternoon (or an evening while watching mindless television) and when a baby is born, you’re ready to give a fabulous present!

Shazaam! Desk Redo

Just before school was out for the summer, the boys’ school had a few old desktops for sale at very reasonable prices, so I bought one.  Keyboarding is a challenge for our oldest, and I certainly am not crazy about letting him practice on my laptop or desktop. 

With this used computer, he can play practice games as well as games on CD.  He will not be able to access the internet, much to his chagrin.  Our internet here is a wireless card, where we pay by the usage for date.  Ack.  You can imagine how Lego and Netflix downloads would suck that up, if I didn’t have control over it!

But we needed a desk to put said computer on in his room.  We visited the local thrift shop back in June and found one that was perfect for our needs.  Sturdy and cheap. And not too large.  He picked paint colors (with a little guidance from the Stampin’ Up! Color Coach) and we bought sample sizes of a pale turquoise and a schoolhouse red. We also bought a craft size bottle of chalkboard paint for the top and new drawer pulls.


After we tried to give our kids e coli Sunday, I came home ready for a project.  We finally started on this one, and it went very quickly.


We painted it Sunday evening.  The hooligan got to help, since it’s for his room. Sadly, the only paintbrushes we could find were little sponge ones that I got 20 for $1 at Joanns.  But they worked fine.


Monday night, my GI Joe drilled some new holes for the top drawer handle, and we replaced the hardware.  Then an extra coat of the blackboard paint, just to make it thicker on top, and we were done.

I think it turned out wonderfully, especially since we spent less than $40 total for the desk and the supplies.  The drawer pulls cost more than the desk, by the way.

It reminded me of how much I enjoy refurbishing furniture…maybe I’ll add that to my list of things to fill my spare time!

Very Canny

I obviously have canning and preserving on the brain, since yesterday I made cards with Perfectly Preserved and today I have another canning related idea.

I found myself in need of a small gift for a friend (who, happily, loves chalkboard paint and Mason jars as much as I do). I was in World Market last week and saw packages of chalkboard labels.  Being a good little crafter, I thought, “I can make those myself!” So I did.


Ya gotta love that the humidity is so high here today that the jars fogged up immediately when I took them out onto the deck to photograph.  Hey, at least the drought might be abated somewhat.  We actually have had real, measurable rain three times in the last week.  Of course, my garden is hopeless at this point because something (I think chipmunks) ate all my plants TO THE GROUND. Despite the fence.  Oh, well. I’m too busy crafting to grow things, anyway.

But I digress...These are so very simple to make.  I just punched shapes out of the chalkboard vinyl I can’t quit buying at Hobby Lobby.  Then I repurposed a plastic sleeve and cardstock backing from a Stampin’ Up! diecut folder, cut a piece of Orchard Harvest DSP to fit it, and adhered the labels (with their backing still attached) to the patterned paper.


After popping that into the plastic package, I just punched another label (the green one) and write what these fabulous things were. I added a package of those silver-lidded canning jars I love so much, and there you go…a perfect little gift set.

By the way, a set at World Market was $3.99 AND had no heart put into it. So there. I DID make it myself.

Twenty Years Already?

My sister-in-law and her husband celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary yesterday.  My husband almost went into shock when I told him this.  Mostly because he didn’t realize we’re almost to nineteen.  He still thinks of us as a young couple, I think. Anyway, I hope my SIL opened their gift, since this post will ruin the surprise.


I’ve made a couple of these before, as a wedding gift and for myself. I thought it would be a perfect anniversary gift. I first saw these platters in a magazine several years ago.  They were quite expensive...well over $100, if I remember correctly, so I was pretty certain I could make a reasonable knockoff.

I enlarged the photo there as much as I could, then sketched from it. There are also lots of birch tree sketches on Etsy and other sites that you can sketch from, since you're not selling these and it's just for personal use.

 
Then I sketched it onto a piece of printer paper.  The hardest part of this project was finding a piece of carbon paper to transfer the design.  I had to take one from an old form from a move about ten years ago.


These are the paints you’ll need.  After painting your platter, let it dry 24 hours, then bake at 300 for 30 minutes.  The directions say it will be dishwasher safe, but I’ve never tested that. It is, obviously, oven proof.  Michaels carries this paint.  The platter came from Walmart, but I’ve also seen them at Target.

I've seen recently on Pinterest that you can use Sharpies and bake them at 150 degrees for 30 minutes, but haven't tried it.  I'm also not sure of how foodsafe that would be.


When you’re happy with your design, use a dull pencil and press hard to transfer it, using the carbon paper, onto the platter.  Then just start going over it with the paint pen.


See, it doesn’t look amazing yet, but the leaves can be strategically placed to cover any mistakes you make with the pen.  You can also use a razor blade to scrape off anything you need to. Not that I needed to and learned it that way or anything.


To make the leaves, dip a small paintbrush in the jar of black paint, then paint little leaf shapes.  Practice on some paper first.  It’s easy once you get the hang of it.


Add some lines in the bark and draw the heart with initials and the year, using the paint pen.  For the shadows, mix a bit of white and black paint and dab it on using a small piece of sponge or a cotton swab.  Again, practice a bit on paper before committing to the platter.

I love these paints for ceramics.  I have a whole set of sponged Christmas dishes that I made with red and green fifteen years ago, and they’re still perfect.  Of course, we don’t use them everyday, but still.  There are endless possibilities for things to paint with your personal style…try it!

Linking up to The Frugal Girls Chic and Crafty

“Serenity Soon” Glitter Bottles

I wish I had thought of these, but, alas, I found them on Pinterest.  They originally were designed to be bottles to help kids learn to center themselves and meditate, but they’ll be perfect for my hooligans as “serenity soon” bottles.  For the littler ones, it takes about 5 minutes for the glitter to settle, so they act as a timer for timeouts and give them time to calm down as they watch the glitter.

For the oldest, who has ADHD and mild Aspergers, they function to relax his mind and allow him to focus. All for a few bucks. Of course, the hubs and I also find them calming…kind of like watching an aquarium filled with fish, I guess.

The blue one just started settling, the green is done, and the pink is about halfway there.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• SmartWater bottles (smaller size), labels and goo removed, using Goo Gone and hot soapy water
• 3 oz (or so) bottle of glitter glue in your favorite color
• Small tube of fine glitter in the same color
• Alene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue
• E6000 (you didn’t think I’d do a project without it, did you?)

In the clean bottle, put the glitter and glitter glue, along with a bit (1 Tbsp or so) clear gel glue.  Heat about 2-1/2 cups water in measuring cup in microwave until very hot, but not boiling.  Add that to the bottle, and shake it like a madwoman until the glitter glue is no longer clumpy.  You’ll see what I mean.

Time it when you’re done to see how long it takes to settle.  The blue and green ones take about 6-1/2 minutes and the pink one only about four.  That’s perfect for my kids’ ages. The more clear gel glue you add, the longer it takes.

When you’re happy with the time, use the E6000 to glue the lid on. You don’t want sticky, glittery kids when they manage to open it, do you?

Also, the pink was more expensive glitter glue (because Walmart was out of pink) from the craft store and was much harder to blend.  So in this case, the cheaper, the better.  I think the dollar store has glitter glue, but didn’t have the fortitude to go there with three kids.

This would make a fabulous moms’ group craft, I think.  Counting the bottled water, the cost is about $4, but that’s because my glitter glue was $2 each. The SmartWater is important because they are the only completely smooth bottles.

The hooligans are completely fascinated with these, so much so that I called them Relaxation Bottles rather than Time Out bottles so they wouldn’t be trying for timeouts to get to play with them!

Find the original post from My Crazy Blessed Life here

Linking up at The Frugal GIrls
and Happy Go Lucky

Friendly Farewells

In this crazy military life we lead, we have become experts at saying, “See you later,” rather than goodbye.  Chances are, you’ll run into each other again somewhere, sometime.  Or at least you can pretend you will and avoid lots of tears.

Some of my favorite mementos are the hand-crafted gifts friends have given me as we PCS’d. (That’s a Permanent Change of Station, or a move to you normal, non-military types.) I always try to think of unique crafts that fit the friend to whom I’m giving the gift, and last year I made this for a longtime friend (whom I have been stationed with more than once, and plan to be again!).

I CASEd it from a Handmade magazine and it uses a sentiment from a Stampin’ Up! retired set.  I was mostly intrigued by these flowers and wanted to try them.  To make them, cut a rough, wavy edged circle about 2” in diameter (you can freehand it; it’s very rough).  Then cut a wobbly spiral into the center.  Again, rougher is better. Starting in the center, just roll it up. 

When one was rolled to my satisfaction, I put a dot of hot glue on a nonstick mat (or a nonstick pan will work) and stuck the rolled flower into it.  This is a pretty small piece.  I think the opening in the frame is only 3”x3".   It’s a great way to use up scraps of DSP, too.

I hope you don’t have to say goodbye to any amazing friends anytime soon, but if you do, here’s a way to send a little piece of you with them!

Repurposed Marker Organizer

My markers make me crazy!  They should be stored horizontally, since they are dual-tipped, so one end doesn’t go dry. Like everything else, I want to be able to reach them at any moment while I’m creating (which makes for a very cluttered work area, but so be it.). And, last but not least, I like having them in their Stampin’ Up! color families.

Recycling also makes me crazy.  It seems every glass jar I put in the bin ends up broken before recycle day, and I’m worried one of the hooligans will get cut. Don’t ask why they would be rummaging through the trash. I’m sure it happens.

So I repurposed these spaghetti sauce jars from Costco to make a marker organizer.  I cut a piece of polka dot DSP from each color family 3” x 12” and taped them in place.  I put some E6000 on each surface that contacted another jar when stacked (top and bottom of jars, basically) and wedged the four jars between two stacks of books to dry in this configuration.

After the adhesive was completely dry, I wrapped some hemp twine around several times, mostly because I liked how it looked.  It also helps hold them together a bit. 

This works pretty perfectly for my current craft room.  Who knows what will work when we PCS again, but until then, I’m happy with my solution!

Ready for the Fireworks!

We’re going to be in Oklahoma for the Fourth (without the hubs…apparently the Army thinks patriotic holidays are good recruiting opportunities or something…whatev), so we made these shirts to take with us.

The hooligans each made their own, while I made some for the Okie cousins.  

I first made these back in March after seeing them on the Martha show. Then we used green and orange for St. Patrick's Day (and because Princess Thundercloud needed those colors to match some pants).

To make them, just make dots with a Sharpie on a white t-shirt, then use an eyedropper to drop rubbing alcohol into the center of each cluster.  It just takes a few drops and spreads out in a very cool pattern.  We put wax paper inside the shirt to keep the marker from bleeding through when we drew on them.


When the fireworks dried, I drew some sketchy lines with a Sharpie, just to suggest the trajectory for the fireworks.

Super cool, we think...and with adult supervision and nerves of steel, totally a kid-friendly, instant gratification craft!

I'm linking this up at a few parties...check them out!

Happy-Go-Lucky
The Taylor House

Pinwheels!

I recently discovered the secret of everyone getting along in the car…kid books on CD.  I know, I’m late figuring this out, but I didn’t think they would listen, since they don’t listen to me or each other in the car.  It’s amazing how captivated they are! 

So what’s the connection with pinwheels?  I’m glad you asked. We were listening to a Nate the Great book and at the end are all sorts of nifty little crafts and information.  One segment described how to make a pinwheel, and it sounded super easy. And it was!

Once I made one, I couldn’t stop.  The kids even made them.  That’s how easy peasy lemon squeezy they are. Yes, I need to stop listening to kids’ books.



I used Stampin’ Up! cardstock to make this decoration for the front door.  It was, frankly, a bit too thick to bend without creasing.  For the sticks, I wrapped that cool paper tape from Target around dowel rods, then wrapped red and white bakers’ twine around that. To make them lay flat against the door, I tied monofilament line from each stick to a metal clip in the center, above the white pinwheel.  See it?  That’s also how I hung it on the door.

Then I wanted to make a garland for the mantel, so I raided the kids’ stash of construction paper.  I don’t think these will last through storing them, so it’s not important that they be colorfast.  I thought it was for the ones on the front door, since the sun would fade the construction paper in about 2 seconds.




How do you make them, you ask?  (Aren’t you just full of questions today?) Here’s how:


Cut your paper to a square.  The ones on my door are 8-1/2” squares, the garland is 6” square.  Draw diagonally from corner to corner, making an “x".”  Cut from the corners to about 1” from the center.  Punch a small hole (I used a 1/16” punch because I was using tiny brads) in the upper leftr corner, then the next left corner and so on. Also punch a hole in the center.


Push a brad through from the back of one corner.  Work your way around, tucking each corner under the brad so that the brad goes from back to front. 


When all four corners are on the brad, push it through the center and open the prongs to hold it.


To make the garland, I punched holes in two adjacent spokes and used brads to hook one to the next.
You could also put a cute stamped or printed circle image in the center, to cover your brad.

Please don't burst my little bubble of happiness and tell me I'm the last person in the world to learn to make these.  Even if it's probably true.

While these aren’t true pinwheels that will spin in the wind, they’re a fun, summery, inexpensive way to brighten up your décor!

Much Cleaner Than Their Actual Handprints

For Fathers’ Day, I wanted to make gifts that were similar to the fingerprint trees I made the grandmothers for Mothers’ Day, but more masculine.  I had seen an idea on Pinterest with handprints cut out of scrapbook paper, then Princess Thundercloud brought home a version for her daddy with her handprints in paint.

I decided to make ours incorporating a photo of each hooligan.


I made this much more complicated than I needed to, in retrospect.  I traced each of their hands on white paper and scanned it into the computer.  Then, using Photoshop, I deleted everything but the outline of their hand and pasted it on top of their photo. It would have worked to just print out a photo the approximate length of their hand, then traced their hand directly onto the photo and cut it out. Crafting is a process, right?

While I was doing the photo piece, the boys painted 11x14 flat canvases with some light turquoise paint.  They’re already primed, so it only took one coat to cover.  They were 3 for about $6 at Michael’s, I think. And I had a 40% off coupon, so dirt cheap.

After I printed the photos on matte presentation paper (not photo paper) and cut the hands out, I used matte Mod Podge to adhere them to the completely dry canvas and let it dry.  Next, I brushed a coat of Mod Podge over the whole thing, using a 2” brush with bristles (instead of my usual foam choice) and brushing first one way then perpendicular.  It gives the look of canvas on the whole thing.

Lastly, I used a Sharpie to write the message.  The hooligans signed the back.


I was planning to give the grandpas an easel with theirs, but decided I’d rather use a ribbon to hang them and finish them off.  My Crop-a-dile easily punched through the canvas, then I knotted the ends of a wide piece of ribbon on the back side of each hole.

The hooligans also helped me make some “Chubby Hubby” bars to send their papas.  The kids thought they were excellent…I thought they were a bit bland.  Maybe it was too many flavors or not enough of each…they were basically Toll House cookie dough with some peanut butter and crushed pretzels stirred in, spread in a 9x13 pan, then topped with more crushed pretzels, PB chips, and chocolate chips.

If you’d like to try them, you can find the recipe here, at Food.com.  Since those are all of our favorite foods, I’ll try them again, bumping up the flavors a bit more.

Hope you have a “hand-y” day!

By the way, I'm sharing this over at The Taylor House

First Day on the Job as Cruise Director

Well, school’s out, so I’m on my new full-time job…entertaining my hooligans for the next 3 months. Woo-hoo!  Actually, I am looking forward to having no schedule every day.  Of course, a week from now I’ll no doubt be making a countdown calendar to September 4.

To kick off summer vacation, we made a string maze for them to follow to get to their summer surprise packages.
They each had a different color string (red, white, or blue) tied to a popsicle stick with their name on it.  They had to wind them up to get to their gifts.

My GI Joe did the strings for the boys, and they were quite difficult in places…but the hooligans were remarkably patient.


Except for Princess Thundercloud, who frequently hurled hers to the ground and “Hmmph”-ed loudly. The boys were very willing to help her, which I thought was pretty sweet.  Again, it’s the first day of summer…that will change, I’m sure.


He definitely had the toughest one to follow.  He was feet from the prize and could see it from here, but kept winding.


The first to finish, he went off to help his siblings and waited to open his present.  Amazing!


Their loot included water pumpers for the lake, educational card games, lots of books and a couple of workbooks, art supplies, a couple of toys, and a candy bracelet (left from Halloween, but they didn’t care).  Oh, and they each got a whole pack of gum.  I’m pretty sure my kids would walk to town and back if they were promised gum. And "town" is 11 miles away.


One thing I included that they seemed to think super cool were these coupons for each of them.  This way, they can have time alone with one of us, and know that the others will have the same chance.  That doesn’t mean they won’t squabble about it while we’re doing it, but they thought the idea was great!

This little project took us about 10 minutes to string, then about an hour for the hooligans to follow their strings, wind them up, and peruse their treasures.  As usual, GI Joe had his doubts, but it proved a fun way to kick off vacation!

I’ve got to get back to impressing my new bosses with my entertainment skills…after I do laundry and go to the post office and Costco, that is.  Have a great weekend!