Nick’s Garden Caddy (for Easter)

March 26, 2016March 26, 2016Leave a comment

As soon I walked into Target, a few weeks ago, I was stopped in my tracks by their adorable gardening

supplies for kids. (in the one spot area) I am a sucker for cute little things.

Sweet little metal tools and polka dot gardening gloves (oh my) and when I found the plain wood

caddy… I knew exactly what I wanted to use for Nicholas’ Easter basket.

Nicholas, as you may know, is my gardening buddy.

Instead of leaving the caddy plain (what fun would that be), I decided to paint and personalize the

caddy with a chalkboard on one side and his name on the other.

(I used Deco Art Urban Ink Stencil, 6″ by 9″, Sea Dogto stencil on his name.)

I went back to Target last week to see if I could find another wood caddy but sadly they were all out.

If you happen to spy one at your Target make sure to grab one, they make wonderful paint caddies.

Along with the Gardening supplies, I added tie-dye chalk (for the chalkboard), jelly bellys, a light up

ball and of course marshmallow peeps.

And… I didn’t forget little brother Warren. (I picked up all these goodies at Target)

In case your wondering… No this isn’t a sponsored post for Target. (but I wish it was)

*This post uses Amazon Affiliate links. I am a Amazon affiliate.

Speckled Eggs for Spring

March 23, 2016February 9, 20232 Comments

Now that I only have a teen-ager at home, we don’t do the dyed eggs anymore. (he’s no fun)

But… I still needed some soft pastel hued Speckled Eggs for Spring.

So… I grabbed a few of my Smoothfoam Eggs.

I gave the eggs a light sanding to remove the ridge and painted them with a soft chalky finish.

Like the name suggests, these eggs have a smooth finish making them perfect for painting.

The best way to paint an egg…

Use a small glass or candle votive to hold the egg. Paint one half of the egg at a time.

I especially like the look of speckled eggs, so I grabbed an old toothbrush for speckling.

Speckled the eggs by lightly rubbing the old toothbrush into brown paint and gently flicking the paint onto the eggs.
Make sure to wear an apron to protect your clothing. Flicking can be quite messy.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam™, The Crafters Foam.

How to Make a Mini Rose Topiary

February 24, 2016September 12, 2017Leave a comment

Maybe it has something to do with my short stature, but, I have always had a thing for

miniatures. My momma always told me “Good things come in small packages”.

(which I whole-heartily believed)

The Mini Rose Topiary is a project that can be easily adapted to make larger topiaries.

I just happen to like mine mini.

How to make a Mini Rose Topiary

Here’s what I used: (*affiliate link)

2″ White Smoothfoam Balls*
Mini Paper Roses (I used approx. 60 mini roses)
Glimmer Mist Chalkboard-Ruby Slipper*
4″ wooden dowel (approx. the width of a Tinker Toy stick)
green acrylic paint
paintbrush
fast drying craft glue
small wood spool
red and cream ticking material
crinkle ribbon
small wood heart

Directions:

Spray Roses and small wood heart with the Mistable Paint. Allow plenty of time to dry.
Paint the 2″ Smoothfoam Ball and the wood dowel with the green acrylic paint.
Poke hole into the end of the 2″ ball. Squirt a little glue in the hole and insert the painted dowel.
Starting at the top of the ball. Glue roses, one by one, onto the ball with a fast drying glue until covered. After the rose ball is formed, you may want to go back and re-mist the flowers for additional coverage.
Cover the wood spool with the ticking material and glue the end in place. Tie a small piece of crinkle ribbon around the ticking and glue the wood heart on top.
Insert rose topiary into the small wood spool.

TIP: Try making a topiary using larger Smoothfoam balls and silk flowers inserted into a pail, vase or containers.

The Mini Rose Topiary was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam™ The Crafter’s Foam.

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

You & Me Valentine’s Frame

January 28, 2016February 18, 2017Leave a comment

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner…

I wanted to share a simple little project that’s really quick and easy to put together.

A Valentine’s Frame using the You & Me Collection from Simple Stories.

This cute little frame, from Canvas Corp Brands, is only 6″ x 6″ and I love how versatile

it is to decorate. The larger section is perfect for a 4″ x 6″ picture and if white’s not your

style it’s available in wood stained. I added dimension to the frame by adding

cubes made from cardstock behind the “love you lots” and “pail of flowers”.

I dressed it up by gluing on metal corners from Tim Holtz.

Click on the pictures below for ordering information. (affiliate links)

Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links. If you choose to place an order using one of the links, I will get a small commission that helps maintain the cost of running this blog. Thanks!

After Christmas Family Fun Day

December 28, 2015Leave a comment

I love getting the chance to be with the family on Christmas. That in itself is a gift.

But… after all the Christmas Craziness is over, we like to take a day and have a little family fun.

I almost enjoy it more than Christmas. (it’s more relaxed)

In my hometown we have a small town square and parked in the square was this cute decorated

wagon. I knew it was the perfect spot for a family picture. I just had to wait until everyone was home.

The weather was good. (a little sunshine and a light snow would of been perfect)

It didn’t take much coaxing for me to get them to go.

They’re all good sports. (they knew I’d pout if they didn’t.)

After a few pictures, we headed to the local bowling alley for a Family Bowling Night.

It’d been exactly a year since I’d bowled.

The kids even got in on the action.

After spending such a nice and perfect day with the family, we woke to a winter ice and sleet storm.

So… today I will be staying in, relaxing and hopefully reading the new book I picked up.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing start to the New Year.

Homespun Rag Ball Ornaments

December 20, 2015March 25, 2018Leave a comment

This year, I wanted to do a small little tree for the dining room.

A simple homespun tree with strung cranberries and hand-made ornaments.

I had grand ideas and a galvanized pail.

But reality hit, a long with the cold and flu, which knocked me out for a week.

It took my creativity level down to a one.

And sad to say… My small little tree didn’t get done.

I did string the cranberries… (a first for me)

They were so bright and colorful. I loved the look and took lots of pictures.

After a week or so, the cranberries started getting a mushy.

So… I put them out on the tree in the front yard for the birds to eat.

It looks pretty out there too.

Next time, I’ll make them last minute.

For the Rag Ball Ornaments…

Instead of just wrapping the strips of fabric until it formed a ball,

I made the rag ball using a Smoothfoam 2-Inch ball*.

Supplies used: (*affiliate link)

- Smoothfoam 12-Pack Balls Crafts Foam for Modeling, 2-Inch, White*
- Fabric Scraps
- Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue*
- Paintbrush
- Twine
- Ribbon
- Sanding Block*
- Craft Glue*

Directions:

Lightly sand the ridge around the ball.
Cut the fabric into 3/4″ strips.
Apply Mod Podge onto the back of the fabric and adhere to the ball.
Continue until the ball is fully covered.
Add an additional coat of Mod Podge over the ball to finish and seal.
Poke a hole on the top of the ball and add a dab or glue into the hole.
Insert twine into the hole to use as the ornament hanger.
Embellish ornament by gluing a bow on top.

Wouldn’t a whole bowl of rag balls would be cute? (maybe next year)

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Smoothfoam and uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Merry Christmas Gift Bag

December 18, 2015December 17, 20151 Comment

Make your Christmas Gift Bags a little more special with iron-on letters from Joy.

Start with a plain drawstring bag. (Mine was from Canvas Corp.)

Replace the drawstring cording on the bag with red and white gingham ribbon and add iron-on

letters in red and neon yellow. (in person the neon yellow looked lime to me)

Glue white lace, rick rack, buttons and a small wreath to the front of the bag.

For a truly personalized gift add a name instead of Merry Christmas.

This project was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

Simple Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

December 17, 2015December 17, 20151 Comment

Every year I make a new Christmas Ornament or two.

As I was putting up the Christmas Decorations, I ran across this one.

The simple little felt Christmas Tree was one I made several years ago.

Still one of my favorites.

Put together using fabric glue. (with a little stuffing inside)

Simple, Simple, Simple…

Quick and Easy Stenciled Holiday Pillows

December 14, 2015January 11, 20163 Comments

Stenciled Holiday Pillows 2422

Add a little warmth and coziness to your home with Quick and Easy DIY Holiday pillows.

Today’s pillow projects have a couple of unique twists to make these projects super easy.

For the “Believe” pillow I started with a .79 dish towel that I picked up at IKEA.

To give my towel a creamy vintage color… I soaked my towel in a tub of hot tea.

I wanted my towel to stay light so I only left it in a minute or two.

Leave towel in longer for a darker brown color.

Rinse the towel in hot water and then throw in the dryer to set.

Iron the towel to make crisp and stencil the towel using the 12″ Word Xmas Tree stencil from Clear Scraps and dark red acrylic paint.
Fold the towel in half, stenciled side in, stitched the towel together and fill with a soft stuffing.

The Snowflake pillow is a No Sew Pillow. (I really cheated with this pillow.)

I used a plain 14″ x 20″ canvas placemat from Canvas Corp Brands which I stenciled with the Snowflake stencil from Stencil 1 using Tattered Angels Chalkboard Mists. Make sure to cover and mask any areas that you wouldn’t want sprayed.
Glue the ribbon, lace and buttons onto the placemat using Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive, 4-Ounce, tucking ends to backside of the placemat.
Glue place mat together and fill with a soft stuffing.
No Sewing Required. (for decorative use only)

Polka Dot Peppermint Parfait

December 9, 2015October 17, 2019Leave a comment

A Quick and Easy Etched Glass Project

I picked up some sweet green parfait glasses at a estate sale awhile back.

I’ve been wanting to do something special with them and thought they’d look cute

with some polka dots. (I mean who doesn’t like polka dots?)

The Polka Dot Parfait glass is a project you can make in under a half hour.

*FTC Disclosure… “This is a sponsored post. I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas. The views and opinions are my own.”

Here’s what you’ll need:

*Disclosure… This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Directions:

Measure the width of your parfait glass. Cut the vinyl to fit around glass.
Using a standard hole punch, punch random holes onto the vinyl to create a polka dot pattern.
Wrap the vinyl around the side of the parfait glass.
Make sure to burnish the vinyl to get out air bubbles and to make sure the all edges all down.
Wrap additional areas around the glass with removable painters tape to protect the area from splatters.
Apply a thick coat of Etchall® etching crème over the polka dots using the squeegee. (more is better)
Wait 15 minutes. Scrape excess etching crème from the side of the glass and return extra etching crème back into the bottle. (it’s reusable)
Rinse glass with warm water to clean.
Remove Stencil and dry.
Wash glass thoroughly before using.