DIY Burlap Wreath

I've been wanting a wreath for the door and saw this one on pinterest.  I thought the burlap was cute and that it was great because it just used a wire hanger and not a wreath form.  I did mine a little different because I liked the look more (it seemed fuller/more structured).

Here is what you need:

A wire hanger

1 1/2 yards burlap cut into 3" wide strips

any other decorations

1- Bend your hanger out into a circle

2- untwist the hanger where it comes together
you can use pliers to help if needed

3- thread your burlap onto the hanger

(put it on, fold it over, and twist 180deg - hopefully the picture helps!)

4- keep going until it is as full as you want it

5- twist the top of the hanger back together

6- add any other decorations you want

Father's Day Handprint Craft

It might go without saying, but DIY Daddy is pretty handy around the house.

He also needs a few work shirts to get dirty in as he works.

Thus, our Father's Day Gift: a personalized Handy-Daddy t-shirt.

How to: Use craft paint and stamps to write out the saying.  (Clean paint off stamps quickly after use.) Then paint the children's hands and carefully place down on shirt, pressing each finger and palm down firmly, then lift straight up.  

Other possible sayings..."Zoe's Handyman", "Our Handyman", "Daddy's our Handyman", "Tyler and Emma's Handy-Daddy".

Top row: back of t-shirt.
Bottom row: front of t-shirt

DIY Storage Boxes

I have been on the look out for storage boxes/baskets that would fit into our awesome Mud Room Unit that we built.  I haven't found anything that is the right size.  I happily discovered that the boxes that milk comes in from Costco are just about right.

To make them into pretty storage boxes:

Cut off the flaps (I used a box cutter)

Mod Podge scrapbook paper onto the front (a 12x12" fit the width perfectly and I just folded the excess over the top)

Add a layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper to protect it

Note: I tried to smooth the paper out as I put it on the box.  I did find that when I added the Mod Podge on top, the paper bubbled up.  It did flatten back out as it dried.

I just put paper on the front since that is all that will normally be seen, but you could do all the sides if you wanted.

$0.30 storage boxes!!!  Wahoo!!!

Outdoor Rug a'la Paint

Today we were lucky enough to be invited over to a friends for a swim.

Which the kids absolutely love!

Any how....I really liked this idea of a painting a rug on the cement.

What's not to like.  Easily cleaned.  Water proof. Spill proof. Custom colors.

Just a really awesome idea that gets the idea wheels turning.

DIY Ornate, Colored Earings

It seems that bright pastel colored earings are all the rage right now.  Which gave me the perfect idea for a pair of my earings who's metal has become not so silver anymore.

Paint them, a bright pastel, to cover the metal and match a sweater.

Here we go.

1- Mix or find a craft paint of desired color.  (I mixed a true blue and lime green to get aquamarine.)

2- Use masking tape to cover the hooks.

3- Paint fronts using a foam brush and small amounts of paint. Let dry; help from the blow dry makes this quick. Hint: you can get unwanted paint bubbles out from between the metal by blowing it out or using a toothpick.

4- Do the same to the backside. Let dry.

That's it.  Take off the masking tape and you're done.

Pretty cool, huh?

Non-permanent Picture Hanging

Whenever I hang light weight things on the walls I use 3M Command strips because they're not permanent but they hold well.

I use the strips for hanging canvases (like above), wood words, foam-core posterboard backed portraits...anything light. And depending on the items weight i may use only 1\2 a strip.

When you want to take something down just pull it off VERY Slowly and the Command strip will do its stretch thing and release from the wall.

No nail holes.

Birthday Party Decorations

We have a Hello Kitty party planned for Miss Janey tomorrow, so I've been working on some special party decorations to hang around the house.

Hello Kitty String

1- Print out pictures themed to the party.

2- Cut out, and then connect by sewing--gently pull threads back as you sew a few inches, sew down a paper pic, sew a few more inches of empty thread gentle pulling thread back as you sew, sew down another paper pic....etc.

String of Tissue Paper Flowers

1- Make a handful of Tissue Paper pom-pom Flowers.

2- Before fluffing, attach tissue paper fans to a ribbon or string.

3- Fluff flowers and hang!

Tissue Paper pom-pom Flowers

I've made these tissue paper flowers a few times lately.  For Valentine's Day I made each of the kids a flower with a stem made from a pipe cleaner.  Now I'm busy making some to use as party decorations.

To make Tissue Paper Flowers:

1- Fold tissue to form squares, cut at folds.

2- Laying 8 squares in a pile, fold the stack like a fan, back and forth.

3- Staple through the middle of the 'fan', and cut edges to round off.

4- Fluff flower by pulling layers apart.

Not hard, but does take little time, especially if you are making several.

Try using multiple colors in 1 flower. 

Headband out of a Sock

You read correctly...a headband out of a sock, in just 3 easy steps.

1- Cut a 1-2in strip of sock, horizontally, from above the heel.

2- Cut strips every 1/2in., in same horizontal direction, leaving the last inch uncut.

3- Stretch, firmly, you'll feel some threads pop

And its ready to wear.

You can make these out of any sock, the color options are endless.  You can even clip a favorite hair bow or flower on for extra "cuteness".

Quick, Easy Hair Bow

Once in a while I can't find a hairbow to match one of the girls outfits, at the last second. And I don't want to fuss with getting out thread and the glue gun.  That's when I pull out a color matching spool or piece of ribbon and whip up a new bow.

Supplies:

Ribbon

Scissors

Bobby-pin

Fray-Check

Directions:

Take the ribbon and tie it in a bow, just like the second step of shoe tying, but don't do the first step of shoe tying--skip that and go straight to the bow.  Tighten the middle.  Even the loops. Cut the tails, even lengths, at an angle.  Fray-check the cut ends, if desired. Push bobby-pin through back side of the bows 'knot'.  

Happy wearing.

DIY Spring Wreath

I saw this super cute wreath and decided that I needed one.

Here is what you need:

A foam wreath form

(mine is 12" in diameter), instructions for how I made it are here

A skein of Lime Green Fun Fur yarn 

(I got mine for $3 at JoAnns with a 40% off coupon)

Straight pins with different colored heads

(I got these for $1.80 at Hobby Lobby with 40% off)

Daisy trim

(I had this on hand, but you could buy it at any fabric/craft store)

A ribbon to hang your wreath 

(this was from my stash too)

Take your yarn and wrap it around the wreath form.  Tie a not at the beginning to secure it.  Keep wrapping and wrapping until you make it all the way around.  I used the whole thing of yarn.  I kept the yarn close together, but not touching (maybe a little less than 1/16" apart).  Once you have it all wrapped, tie another knot to secure the end.

Now you are ready to add the flowers.  Cut a single flower from your trim and insert a pin through the middle.  Then put the pin in your nice "grassy" wreath.  Put in as many flowers as you want.

Then I tied a pretty pink ribbon around it and that was it!  A fun springtime wreath!  Now I just need to get a wreath hanger so I can put it on the door.

DIY Wreath Form

I saw this awesome idea and thought that for $0.60 I would give it a try.  To make your own DIY wreath form all you need is some Pipe Insulation from the plumbing department of the home improvement store (Lowes, Home Depot) and some duct tape.  

They had a few different diameters of the foam insulation, I got the 3/4".  It cost me $1.18 for 6 feet.  

I wanted a 12 inch diameter wreath so I used a 3 foot length of the insulation (I cut it with a serrated knife.)  Then you duct tape the ends together.  

I originally just did one piece of duct tape around it, but that started to come undone, so I added a few pieces of tape the long way, and then it stayed put beautifully.  I put some duct tape along the inside seam where you can split the foam open to put it on a pipe too, just to make sure that it didn't try to split apart in the future.

There you have it!  A $.60 wreath form!  Not too shabby!

It is not as rigid as the pre-made ones that you buy at the store ($5), but it works for me.