Christmas Series Day 12 - DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Noel Wall Art

On the 12th Day of Christmas

Santa brought to me

Shelly with "Dolan Diaries"

Her gift for us is a post on a

"diy pottery barn inspired noel wall art"

Check out Shelly's Blog Here

http://www.dolendiaries.com/2013/11/diy-pottery-barn-inspired-noel-wall-art.html

Christmas Series Day 7 - DIY Snowballs

On the 7th Day of Christmas

Santa brought to me

Dria with "DIO Home Improvements"

Her gift for us is a post on a

"Diy snowballs"

http://diohomeimprovements.com/blog/2013/11/28/diy-snowballs/

DIY Locker Chandelier

Here is my audition piece for "So you think you're crafty"

This piece actually ended up above my kitchen sink. I love it.

I have noticed over the last few years that there are more and more ways to individualize your lockers. I would have loved to have had some of the options out there, shag carpet, wallpaper, and so much more. I love, love, love chandeliers and have seen a couple versions but just didn’t like many of them. so when I found out that this project was school related it was time to bring on the glitter and glue and show what I was made of.

First things first I had to go to a couple different stores and look at everything, while I thought, hmmm can this work or maybe this will work. I was originally going to make it out of thick metal but then I came across a pack of forks and bingo, my idea was born. So I started with bending the prongs of the forks in different directions and then glued all 4 forks together, creating not only the frame but also the fun flourishes on the bottom. next i took hooks and glued them on the top and bottom of the base of forks, then ran out to the porch and sprayed the whole thing down with a bronze spray paint. Now I am just getting giddy. Next I found orange and brown beads and strung up 4 long strands to drape from the top of the flourishes.

To finish it all off I had to have a fancy ceiling base. So taking a lid from a italian crumbs container. I hot glued 6 more hooks onto the top of the lid and ran to the porch again to spray paint. I then poked a hole in the middle and using fishing wire strung the chandelier base through the ceiling base. So you are probably wondering how do you attach it to the ceiling of your locker. Easy. I glued 6 round magnets into the ceiling base and ta-dah It clicks right to the top of the locker. fun fun fun

- See more at: http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/page/2/#sthash.ZGiTncnE.dpuf

DIY Kitty Cubie

We recently adopted 2 kittens. So little by little I buy things for her. I was at walmart yesterday and noticed a nice kitty cubie, but they we're wanting more than I was willing to pay which was $15. So after looking at the construction of the cubie. I said to myself "I can make that and for less". 

I knew I already had material in my material closet that would be perfect for my little cutiepie's, so all I needed to find was the filler that goes inbetween the material. it felt thicker than regular batting. I first went to the craft section and found the perfect material, but again they wanted to much. this was a 42"x72" roll of 3/4" spongy batting for $17.00. I planned on making 2 cubbies but that would still make the batting $8.50 a piece. So I thought to myself this material feels like the egg crate toppers you put on mattress's. So off to the bedding aisle to look for padding. I found a 36"x72" sheet of egg crate foam mattress pad for $10. ($5.00 per cubbie) ok  SOLD. 

Material you need to make 1 kitty cubbie.

• Foam padding (I found the best deal in the bedding aisle)
• 1 1/2 yards of (2) different patterned/solid material (one for the inside, one for the outside)
• scissors
• sewing machine
• needle
• thread
• pins
• ruler

This is a photo of the padding I found in the bedding aisle at Walmart.

Fun, Fun, Fun material

First step: (this is for 1 cubie) cut 6 squares 18"x18" of each material. You will have 12 squares total.

Second step. cut 6 squares 17"x17" of the foam padding. To sew each wall. take a square from each material, put together rightside out. sew around 3 sides of the square and cut. Now take 1 square of padding and put inside pocket you just made. Once padding is inside, go back to the sewing machine and stitch the last side shut. Do this 4 more times. 

The 6th square is a little different because you will be putting a circle hole in the middle of this one. 

Do this square in the following order.

• draw a circle in the middle of the square. (the square consists of the front and back material)
• cut out circle (through both materials)
• lay on top of foam square and draw circle on foam square
• cut the circle out of the foam square
• flip top & bottom squares so that the tops are facing inward
• sew around the circle.
• flip material inside out so that top of material is on the outside now.
• place foam square in between the 2 sewn pieces. 
• use pins to secure material in place
• now sew all the way around the square sealing the foam square in.
• 
  

When sewing the finished sides together i used my sewing machine to sew the 4 sides together (sew the seams together) the top and bottom were a little to awkward to sew with the machine so i hand sewed the edges. 

 My kitties love it. I had a hard time keeping them out of it until I was finished with it. 

Happy Kitty Day!!!

Carrie

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Patriotic Banner

This was such a fun banner to make. 

plus it can be used for 3 holidays: memorial day, labor day and 4th of july.

This banner has a shield, 2 rosette's, 2 star's, american flag and hat.

the following photos shows you what each of them ended up looking like.

The materials I used to make these were recycled cardboard, scrapbook paper, ribbon, markers, sticky gems, glue, Bravisimo rosette's, glue gun, yarn, fabric and lots of creativity.

First thing you need to do is print off the pattern below.

There is a pattern for each design except for the rosette's.

Downloadable Pattern

Page 1

page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

To make this banner. print out the pattern above, cut all the pieces out, trace onto cardboard or any thick material you want to use.

Then pick out what scrapbook pages you want to use and start covering your pieces.

To cover your pieces place your scrapbook page over the area you want it,
then flip the piece over and carefully cut the excess paper off. it's that easy.

Now start layering and gluing your pieces on. add bling, distress the edges,
 outline designs, use pop up dots to add more depth, this is when you can
 add your own personal stamp to the pieces. make it yours.

once all of your pieces are covered and complete. glue it to a long strip of ribbon.
Tie more ribbon, yard, fabric onto the banner and your finished.

Here are photo examples for each...

Step 1: Apply red paper to the bottom 2/3 of the shield

Step 2: Apply blue paper to the top 1/3 of the shield

Step 3: add strips of white ribbon, start at the top of the red paper

 and run downwards and wrap and glue on the backside.

Step 4: Apply white paper onto banner cutout and then apply banner to shield.\

Step 5: Cover USA letter with star paper and then apply to the banner.

Step 6: Apply red pearls to the blue paper.. if you wish add more bling or swirls.

Step 1: Buy or make Rosette: This one is from bravissimo

 (you can get very cheap through ohmycrafts.com)

Step 2: Draw or cut out the letters for BRAVE, Color and apply to Rosette.

Step 1: Apply blue paper to the star cutout

Step 2: White paper (cut this star a little smaller than the blue one) apply on top of blue one.

Step 3: Red Paper (cut a little smaller than the white star) apply on top of white one.

Step 4: Outline the white star with a red marker.

Step 5: Outline red star with a black marker.

Step 6: Add gems

Step 1: Apply red paper to flag cutout.

Step 2: add white stripes onto red paper.

Step 3: mount blue paper onto cutout and then apply to red & white stripes.

Step 4: Add Gems

Step 1: buy or make rosette.

Step 2: Draw or Cut out letters for HOPE ( I applied gallery glass onto of the letters)

Step 1: Apply red paper to the bottom 1/2 of the hat.

Step 2:  Apply blue paper to the top 1/2 of the hat.

Step 3: Apply red ribbon, start at the bottom of the blue area and

 go upward and wrap around the top of hat and glue on back.

Step 4: Apply white paper to band cutout and then mount onto the hat.

Step 5: Cover all 5 Star cutouts with different paper and then mount onto

 the band in a fun fashion.

Step 6: Add gems & swirls.

To make into a banner, punch a hole into both sides of each shape. run ribbon through holes and make a knot. Then to add a little something more to the banner. apply yarn, fabric strips and ribbon.

Happy Crafting!!!

Carrie

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Yellow Bliss Road

Duct Tape Bead Tutorial

Today I am going to teach you how to make Duct Tape Beads.

As shown in the photo the supplies you need to make these beads are:

Duct tape, exacto knife, scissors, coffee or regular straws ( the coffee ones are preferable because of them having a smaller hole), ruler and a cutting mat.

The bead styles I am going to teach you are small & 

large flat, swirl and cone shaped.

Cut a piece of duct tape 7" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

for smaller beads you can get 8 strips worth out of this one piece

for larger beads you can get 4.  cut these strips longways (they do not have

 to be perfectly even). attach to the end of the coffee straw

 (always attach the wider end of your strip) and

 then just start wrapping around the straw. when you finish rolling

 the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. Bottom right photo shows you

 how the bead will look from the side.

Cut a piece of duct tape 9" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

then from top right to bottom left (on each half) cut diagonal.

Place wider side of strip on end of straw.

 then just start wrapping around the straw, making sure you keep

 it centered while rolling.  Always keep in the middle. If you go astray

 it is ok just unroll and start again. when you finish rolling

 the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. 

Cut a piece of duct tape 9" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

then from top right to bottom left (on each half) cut diagonal.

Place wider side of strip on end of straw.

 then just start wrapping around the straw, On this one you just need to make

 sure the left side of the strip is rolled on top of each other. that way you make the rest spiral on the right. If you go astray it is ok just unroll and start again. 

when you finish rolling the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. 

My top featured photo with the bracelet is easy to make. You need 2 Cone beads, 2 Small Flat Beads, 1 Large Flat Bead, 4 Pony Beads and stretchy cord.

Happy Crafting. 

If you have any questions, Please let me know.

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Making your own Laundry Soap

Making your own Laundry Soap is Easy as 1-2-3!

List of items you will need:

• 1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax 
• 1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean (This is optional)
• 2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap (You can also use Fels Naptha)
• 1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• 1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (This is 100% optional. You can choose any scent or company you like just as long as it is dry fabric softener)

Hypoallergenic option:

• 1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax
• 1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• any hard bar of soap that is hypoallergenic make sure you get at least 28 oz worth. 2 popular brands are Tom's of Maine and Kirk's Natural Original Coco Castle bar's
• 1 (3lb) Container of Oxyclean (this is optional, most people aren't sensitive to it, but if you are worried leave it out of the mix and just add a little in the 1st few loads to test. 
• 1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• 2 (32 oz) Purex Crystals for Baby (this is the pink bottle)

I have not tested the hypoallergenic recipe out. 

If any of you do please let me know how it works for you.

disclaimer: I am not a professional, this recipe was put together

from me researching the items and finding out it they are hypo allergenic.  

enjoy

The 1st step to making your soap is grating your zotes or fels naptha soap

bars. You can either hand grate them or chop it up in your food processor.

After I grated my soap. 

I grabbed a large container ( I used a medium sized storage container)

 and start layering my ingredients. I found it easier to add a little of

each and then stir, instead of dumping the entire bottle of ingredients

in and then have to stir like crazy to get it all mixed well.

After the layering and stirring process

(and all your containers are empty)

You are finished.. Yes I said finished

Either leave in your bucket or Like I did I put it in a fancy glass

container to place on my washer with a tablespoon placed on top.

 you will only need 2 Tbs for a regular sized wash load.

Price Breakdown:

Borax: $3.38

Oxiclean: $9.47

Zote Soap x 2: $1.94

Purex Crystals: $4.76

Baking Soda: $2.50

Super Washing Soda: $4.95

Total: $27.00 plus sales tax

Each wash uses 2 Tbs of this soap

roughly this makes 303 loads

for $27.00

.09 a Load

HypoAllergenic 

Price Breakdown:

Borax: $3.38

Oxiclean $9.47

Hypo Bar Soap x 2 $5.00 (high estimate)

Purex for Baby: $4.76

Baking Soda: $2.50

Super Washing Soda: $4.95

Total w/Oxiclean:  $30.06          Total without Oxiclean: $20.59

Each wash uses 2 Tbs of this soap

roughly this makes

 303 loads                                      280 loads

with Oxyclean                       without Oxiclean

.09 a Load                          .07 a Load       

Printable Gift Tag

Happy Laundry Day!

\

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DIY Mickey Head Embossing Folder

I recently purchased my first Big Shot for the sole purpose of adding a little more texture to my projects. I need TEXTURE and one way is embossing the paper with patterns. I received 2 embossing folders with my bundle. But hey if you knew me you would know 2 folders is not going to be enough for me, but at the same time paying the high prices on these folders isn't me either. So after doing some research on possibilities of making some folders on my own. I created a mickey head design, cut it out and mounted it. I think it is a good first try. I am going to keep fiddling with these and fill my folder box. 

To make these I used my cricut, cardboard from an oreo box, glue and tape to keep the 2 sides together. 

 Happy Embossing!!

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