Category: Tutorial

Smiley Face Graduation Pencil Topper

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What every Graduate needs.  A Smiley Face Graduation Pencil Topper. 

And because this little guy’s feeling really special, he needed a bow tie.

To make the Smiley Face Pencil Topper you’ll need:

  • 2″ Smoothfoam Ball
  • Sanding Block or Fine Sandpaper
  • Craft Knife
  • Yellow and Black Acrylic Paint
  • Pencil
  • Black Cardstock or Black Chipboard
  • Red Twine
  • Black Brad
  • Black Gingham Ribbon
  • Craft Glue
  1. Lightly sand ridge from the smoothfoam ball.
  2. To make the top of the ball flat, cut a small portion from the top of the ball with a craft knife.
  3. Paint the ball with yellow paint.
  4. Paint the top portion of ball with black paint and paint on face.
  5. Bore a hole into the bottom of the ball big enough to fit the pencil.
  6. Using the red twine, make a small tassel.
  7. Cut a 2″ square piece of black chipboard.
  8. Punch a small hole in center of the chipboard.  Insert ends of the tassel and black brad.
  9. Glue Mortarboard onto top of the Smiley Face.  Insert onto pencil
  10. Make a small bow tie from black gingham ribbon and glue onto the front of the pencil.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

The Cooker Guy

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Another fun kid friendly project with one of my favorite helpers.  The Cooker Guy!

Kids love helping in the kitchen and this guy’s no exception.  Whenever he catches me

working on something in the kitchen, a scooting chair is soon to follow.

The Cooker Guy

I’ve been told several times, “Grandma you need a kid apron for me.”

So… I decided we should make a special one just for him.

Misting the Apron

I purchased a small apron from Canvas Corp Brands.

They call it a Toddler Apron, but it’s plenty big enough for this 4 year old.

Stenciled and sprayed

We misted and sprayed the apron with various colors of Glimmer Mists from Tattered Angels.

We also used a couple of stencils to create designs on the apron.

Personally, I think it looks more like a Art Apron than a Chef Apron.

But really?  Who’s to say?  He’s happy and that’s all that matters.

Custom Letters

To make this apron special I used these really nice iron-on embroidered letters I received from

I used the Funky Style Hobo Font in white.

I like getting the letters in white so that I can customize them any color I want.

Make sure to check out their Creating with Joy Blog.  www.creatingwithjoy.blogspot.com

I asked Nick what he wanted his apron to say and he choose the words “Cooker Guy.”

Cooker Guy Collage

Here’s my happy “Cooker Guy”, doing what does best.  Helping out.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Joy® Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*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!

DIY Graduation Frame with Tassel

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DIY Graduation Frame 5398

Some years I don’t have any Graduations to celebrate. 

This year there are three.  One from High School, Two from Junior High.  (not mine!)

I decided to make a Graduation Frame to use as one of the gifts.

After the ceremony the Graduate can take out the greeting and add a picture.

DIY Graduation Frame Collage

For my frame I used:                                                                                    (*affiliate link)

  1. To make the tassel:  Wrap the red twine around a piece of chipboard several times.  The size of the chipboard determines the length of the tassel.
  2. Cut a piece of twine to gather and tie tightly around the twine at the top of the wrapped chipboard.
  3. Cut open the bottom loops from the chipboard.
  4. Wrap thin gold wire around the top of the tassel to imitate the look of a gold band.
  5. Trim the bottom of the tassel to even the length.
  6. Create computer generated greeting and insert inside the frame.
  7. Ink white chipboard numbers gray using the ink applicator.  Stick on front of the frame.
  8. Make a small garland from small 1/2″ strips of paper adhered to a piece of red twine.
  9. Adhere the tassel to the back of the frame with a small piece of tape.  That way the Graduate can reposition the tassel if needed after adding photo.

FYI:  When my oldest graduated from High school his younger sister also graduated from Junior High.  Four years later when it was time for her to graduate High School he was graduating from College.

SO….for all you young people thinking of starting a family. 

Don’t space your kids 4 years apart.  (The magic number is three.)  Just saying!

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclosure:  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!

Block Stamping on Canvas with Smoothfoam

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Both Canvas' 4913

I had this great idea to make stamps using Smoothfoam so that I could do sidewalk stamping with my

Grandsons.  After one messy (but fun) try, I decided it really wasn’t going to work the way I wanted.

So… I decided to use the stamps on a canvas instead.

(See Wednesday’s post:  The Good, the Bad and the Messy)

Handmade Smoothfoam Stamps 4837

I created the stamps using a Hotwire Foam Cutter.  You could also use a craft knife.

Because the original plan was to use them with the kids, I glued handles on the back.

I made flower shapes, leaves, squares and triangles.

Block Stamping Collage

Supplies Used:

  1. Prime canvas with acrylic paint.
  2. Sponge acrylic paint on the back of the Smoothfoam pre-cut square, stamp onto the canvas.  You may need to press the back of the canvas with your remaining hand to get crisper image.  Repeat three more times to create square background.
  3. Stamp flower and leaves.  Using a small Smoothfoam ball cut in half, stamp center of flower.
  4. Stencil words on Canvas.

Block Stamping on Canvas with Smoothfoam

Disclaimer:  This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

How to Make a Garden Butterfly Sign

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Welcome to My Garden Butterfly Sign 4758

How to make a Garden Butterfly Sign.

A fun technique using Black Sign Tags from Deflecto Craft Solutions.

According you my you tube account it’s been 4 years since I made my first video.

I guess it was finally time for my second one.  (let me know what you think)

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

Simply Beautiful Handmade Flower

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Learn how to make a Simply Beautiful Handmade Flower in a few easy steps.

To make the flower you’ll need:      (*affiliate link)

Disclosure:  This blog uses 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:

  1. Punch 3 daisies from each one of the punches for a total of 12 punch outs.
  2. Using the end of a pencil or skewer, round each of the petals up.
  3. Turn the punched shaped over and press down into the center.
  4. Glue two of the largest flowers together slightly off centered.  Add the third flower.
  5. Continue adding and gluing the next size flower and glue on top.  Repeat with the third size.
  6. Pinch the smallest flowers up tight and stagger and glue onto the center of the flower.
  7. Spray the finished flower with Glimmer Mist until you get the desired shade of color.
  8. Once the flower is dry add a small adhesive pearl in the center of the flower.
  9. Create card using Captivating Squares shapes and layers misted with Glimmer Mist

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

Glittered Bunny Egg

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Are you ready for Spring?

Warm Weather, Pretty Flowers and Sweet Little Bunnies and Easter Eggs.

My project today is a Sweet Glittery Little Bunny made from a Smoothfoam Egg.

Bunny Parts and Supplies 3178 Glittered Bunny Egg 3224

To Make the Glittered you’ll need:        (*affiliate links)

  1. Cut two bunny ears from the smoothfoam sheet
  2. Lightly sand Smoothfoam egg and bunny ears.
  3. Glue ears onto Smoothfoam egg.
  4. Paint with cream paint.  Paint inside of the bunny ears pink.
  5. Cover the entire bunny with a thin coat of mod podge and sprinkle with glitter.
  6. Insert micro brads for the eyes and heart brad for the nose.
  7. Draw small mouth with fine black marker.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*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!

How to make an Up-cycled Watering Can Wind Chime…

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Up-cycled Watering Can Windchimes 3679

My Version of turning Lemons into Lemonade.  (sorry Jim)

Christmas Water Can 1233

On my Birthday, a couple of years ago, my husband wanted to make my day special and

shower me with lots of little gifts.  Of all the places to shop, he choose to shop at a outlet

store in Southern Missouri that was filled with things that I wouldn’t have sold even when

I had my gift store in the 90’s.  (he’s no longer allowed to shop there)

This Christmas watering can was one of those gifts.

I honestly thought it was a gag gift.  (I may or may not have laughed)

I ran across it again when putting away my Christmas Decorations this past year.

Instead of throwing it out or giving it to Goodwill I thought I’d re-purpose it into

something I would use.

Shabby Watering Can Supplies 01328

My Shabby Watering Can Wind-chime                            (*affiliate link)

Supplies:

 Directions:
  1. Re-purpose a old decorative watering can by taking off the paper covering. Soak in water if necessary.
  2. Sand to remove any additional paper and to make smooth for painting.
  3. Spray-paint watering can and keys with cream paint.
  4. Puddle silver ink onto a piece of scratch paper by pumping the nib. Use the tip of your finger to rub ink directly onto watering can around edges to highlight and distress.
  5. Mask off the center of decorative stencil with blue painter’s tape, lay onto watering can.
  6. Rub silver paint onto stencil as in step #4.
  7. Wind thin wire around the end of a piece of twine. Insert wire into the holes in the spout and pull through to the inside of the can. Repeat for however many keys you plan on using.
  8. Gather the ends from inside the can and tie them altogether in a knot. Pull the opposite ends to bring the knot back through the spout. (The ends will now be hidden.)
  9. Tie keys on to end of each piece of twine.
  10. Glue bird inside of nest.
  11. Glue bird-nest inside of the watering can.
  12. Add adhesive pearl to decorative accent on side of the can.

Best for covered porches or decorative use.

Keys 3699  Bird's Nest 3701

Before you throw me under the bus…

I’m really not an ungrateful, insensitive person.  (really I’m not)

I love and appreciate my husband very much.  He’s the greatest!

(Phew…these are the days I’m glad he doesn’t read my blog)

*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!

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Spring Bling for your Garden

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Spring Bling for your Garden 3640

Add a little Spring Bling to plain boring terra cotta pots.

With Spring Fever setting in, I decided I needed a new flower to perk up the place.

I chose a pretty little African Violet that reminds me of my grandma.

Grandma loved African Violets.

In no time at all, armed with a few simple products, I transformed a boring terra cotta pot into

something sparkly and fun.  Just what I needed.

Spring Bling 3596

 To make my Spring Bling Pot you’ll need:      (*affiliate links)

  1. Start with a 4 1/2″ Terra Cotta Pot painted with black acrylic paint.
  2. Cut Black Damask tissue paper the width of the lower portion of the pot.  Cut the strip into smaller sections.  (my sections were 2 3/4″ x 1 1/2″)
  3. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to a small section of the pot, add tissue paper and apply another layer of Mod Podge over tissue.
  4. Continue adding tissue sections until the bottom of the pot is covered.
  5. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top of the pot to give it a nice shiny finish.
  6. Cut a strip from the Black Crystal Sheet to fit around the rim of the pot.
  7. Glue crystal sheet onto rim of the pot.
  8. Glue vintage button over seam for added sparkle.
  • FYI:  I could have used the Weldbond glue shown in the picture above which is a good permanent glue.  But, because of the weight of the crystals I decided to use my Quick Grip glue instead.

Spring Bling 3606  Spring Bling 3607

My Spring Bling Pot was created for and sponsored by Connie Crystal.

connie crystal logo

Disclosure:  I am an Amazon Affiliate.  If you chose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission that helps offset the cost of running this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Tattered Tangles: Happy Birthday Tag

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Tattered Tangles Birthday Tag 3368

Do you ever need a really large Birthday Tag to make your present “POP”?

Tattered Tangles Birthday Tag Close Up 3370

This tag uses Tattered Tangles a fun doodle art from Canvas Corp. Brands.

Tattered Tangles Collection is printed on a paper called Leather Paper making it

perfect for coloring and different paint techniques.

Supplies Used on the Tattered Tangles Happy Birthday Tag:

  1. Cut Tattered Tangles Birthday image down to 3-3/4″ to 6″.  Color image with colored markers.
  2. Add clear glitter glue to flame on the birthday candle.
  3. Adhere birthday image onto black cardstock.
  4. Adhere small scraps of teal and green burlap onto the corners of a 4-1/2 x 7-1/2″ piece of white cardstock.  Glue rick rack onto the top and bottom.  Layer onto another piece of black cardstock.
  5. Mount birthday image with foam mounting squares onto the burlap and white cardstock.
  6. Curl white curling ribbon and attach to the top of the tag with a small green clothespin.

Happiness Tangled Pack

Disclosure:  This project was created for and sponsored by Canvas Corp Brands and uses affiliate links.