InspireMe Crafts

Gotta Make It: Martin Luther King, Jr. T-Shirt (Freezer Paper Stencil)

"I have a dream that this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. " – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

***This is a re-post from last year because it was very popular and all his teachers wanted to know where I bought this shirt.  Now I need to get to it and make one for my little man :)******

I'm smitten and, no, I'm not referring to my husband or kids today (although I am always smitten for them). Freezer paper has done it. I was a virgin to the use of freezer paper until now ….and now I just can't control myself. I'm so giddy with all these ideas for projects in every room of the house filling up this little brain of mine. I can't wait to test them out. Let's hope the boys decide to cooperate the next couple of weeks so I can share! I started this project at 7:30 pm last night after the kiddos went to bed. It took me about an hour (not including drying time). So there is time for you to do this before Martin Luther King, Jr Day on Monday.

Since I was a newbie to using Freezer paper I turned to the internet and some other crafty people for help. I got the general idea from MADE and she also has great directions. Be sure to check her out for references and support. She even shows you how to take any photo and "posterize" it so you can use it as a stencil. Or you can do as I did and go to spraypaintstencils.com and print a free stencil already prepared.

MATERIALS:

Freezer paper (with foil and plastic wrap at store)
Xacto Knife
T-shirt
Fabric Paint & brush/sponge
Iron
Cutting board, cardboard or other hard surface you don't care about
Stencil
Tape

HERE WE GO….

1. Print out stencil or create your own. Refer to MADE's instructions to make your own stencil. I cut my freezer paper to 8 ½ X 11 and taped it to a piece of regular printer paper. Then I ran it through the printer so it would print on the dull side of the freezer paper. .

   

   (oh yeah…did I forget to mention that a glass of wine is always good while doing the project J)

   The bowl is there in case you have little pieces that you will need later. In this stencil I didn't need any later to complete the photo.

2. Place your stencil on a hard cutting surface. I don't have a craft cutting board so I used some cardboard. Tape the stencil down so it doesn't move. Start with the small pieces and start cutting the stencil out. It takes a while so I suggest cut, take a sip of wine, cut, take another sip, cut, get some chocolate etc. Before you know it, your stencil will look like the one below.

 

1. Take your stencil and place it on your t-shirt with the shiny surface face down and dull side up. Iron over the stencil onto the t-shirt. Make sure you iron it really well so there is no bleeding with the paint.

   

   

 

1. Place a piece of cardboard or something else in between the front and back of the shirt to prevent any paint bleeding through to the back. Take your fabric paint and apply to stencil. Let it dry. This is always the hardest part…not to peek too early. Doing it at night helped because it was time for bed anyway.

    

   

 

1. So first thing in the morning…..

   Remove the stencil. Tada! I had the biggest grin on my face and LOVE the shirt. Luckily, Lil Man does too. Now the hubby wants one. (note…check your paint directions to see if it needs to be heat set.)

   

   

   

It's never too early to start sharing the story with your children. Although my four year old is not ready for a detailed history lesson, he does get the gist of it. His explanation to us this morning was, "When Martin Luther King, Jr was a kid, the kids with yellow hair, brown hair, and red hair were not allowed to play together. So when he got older he wanted to change that. So now all the kids can play together."

Live and support the dream and keep the conversation going…these shirts are great to remind our kids and EVERYONE the importance of treating all people equal , with respect and love, and to stand up for the injustices that we see in the world. Give your child the gift to dream and the foundation to stand up for themselves and others….share Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s story.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

 

Creative Gift for a Friend

"Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea" – Henry Fielding

We all have some "tea-rrific" friends in our life and it is time for you to show them just how much they mean to you! This creative gift is simple and inexpensive and you can find everything you need laying around your house. In fact, the only thing I bought for this DIY gift was the tea.

I have a habit of keeping every spaghetti or salsa glass jar we have and now it is time for me to start using the mason jars in creative ways instead of collecting dust. The fabric and button were all scraps from other projects. With a little hot glue they can go a long way to decorating a mason jar for a gift.

My love for cheesy sayings obviously puts the "Thanks for being a Tea-rrific Friend" at the top of my list. The creative juices were flowing and there would be so many ways to package a Tea themed gift with this saying. Have you seen how many adorable teapots and teacups are out there?! Oh…and do you have a teacher that likes tea? Because "Thanks for being a Tea-rrific Teacher" with tea, a tea cup, honey stirring spoons, etc would be adorable. What about a neighbor? Brighten someone's day unexpectedly with something simple.

Be inspired, get creative and have fun!

Mason Jar Cupcakes

"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional" – Chili Davis

If you have been an InspireMe Crafts follower for a while, you know by now that if it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done! Once again, I waited until the last minute to get something in the mail to my sister for her 22^nd birthday (but it doesn't mean I love her any less…you got that sis?). The surprise package had to travel from Virginia to Idaho via good ole USPS so it was essential to get it in the mail on Friday. Thursday night I decided I would try out this cupcake in a mason jar thing, Friday morning I grabbed the supplies, Friday at 12pm I started baking cupcakes and at 3:45pm I was dropping them off at the post office. I guess the good thing about my procrastination problem is that you are guaranteed quick and easy project ideas.

I didn't have any time to research recipes and ideas, but I can only imagine the yummy possibilities. I had leftover Mason jars with chalkboard tops from my Mason Jar Drinks and grabbed boxed cupcake mix and frosting from the store.

1. Grab your jars.

1. Bake some cupcakes. Let them cool. I cut off the top portion. Placed first cupcake in jar.

1. Mixed up some frosting in her school colors. Place frosting in Ziploc bag, cut off corner, and use it to tube it into the jar for the first layer. Add another cupcake and layer of frosting.

Then sprinkles…

Off in the mail they go. I wanted to do the Cupcake in a mason jar because I thought it was cute… pretty simple motives. I am a pretty simple gal. However, it turned out to be a fantastic idea if you want to mail a treat. Obviously, mailing cupcakes to Idaho probably would have arrived as one large mushy mess with frosting all over the box (it wouldn't stop me from digging in), but not quite the look I am going for. Problem solved when you mail them in a mason jar! According to the birthday girl/official taste tester they were still fresh and delicious upon arrival (I did mail them priority mail so they would get there in 2-3 days). So far we have decided cupcakes in a mason jar are 1) cute, 2) practical, and to wrap up my argument that everyone should have cupcakes in a mason jar….3)it's just fun! I don't know why, but taking a spoon and digging in just made it seem like a whole new dessert and experience. A must try for anyone of any age.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Wedding Favor – Personalized Magnets

"A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you"

I just wanted to share with you some photos from my biggest magnet order yet! 200 personalized magnets for their wedding favor. She chose the backgrounds based on the fall color scheme of her wedding, chose the words she loved best and I got to work. Take a peek…

The magnet party favors are great for just about any occasion. Celebrating birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, graduations…whatever the occasion the magnets are a great way to send your family and friends home with a unique souvenir.

I can create them to your color scheme, but check out some of my current samples in My Etsy Shop!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Back to School Projects

"If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers" – Edgar W Howe

Little big man and I are both ready for school to start. He is so excited for Kindergarten (or is it the bus he is excited for? Or is it so he can have a break from me?). As a parent, I love the enthusiasm he has for learning and I just hope it continues to grow. In fact, I am a little jealous right now. I am one of those freaks who love school and can't wait until I can go back again. Don't get me wrong…there were the days (usually before a dreaded test) that I rather be doing other things and may even fake my temperature. The old school thermometer held up to the light bulb didn't fool the mom when it read 106 degrees. I am the perfect example that sometimes you can be book smart and not so street smart. Ooops….

Once college came and I had some choice in the subject of my classes, plus some great professors, everything changed. Here I am 30 years old and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Until then, I'm channeling that inner kid in me and dreaming of all the back-to-school crafts I could be making, but just can't find the time in the next week. In case you are lucky enough to find some free time check these awesome ideas out…

Back to School Wreaths…

Source

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Teacher Gifts…

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(Umm…Rolos and Hershey Kisses in this craft, woo-hoo!)

source

 

 

Yummy Treats…

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I'm still daydreaming….. but I think I am going to snap out of it and get to work on a little Back-to-School surprise for my kiddo. Of course I'll be back to share the surprise as long as the daydreaming doesn't take over again. I hope you have been inspired and that some of those sparks are going off in your own creative mind!

Be inspired, get creative and have fun!

 

Gotta Make It: Easter Egg Nest & Rice Krispie Treat Eggs

"For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born."  ~Alice Freeman Palmer

Rice Krispie Treats are a weak spot of mine and to be honest I don't think I have met anyone who hasn't been a fan of the marshmallow and rice cereal combo.  The Lil Man and I added one more step to include his favorite sweets....sprinkles and chocolate.  So if you are in need of a quick, last minute Hostess gift or a surprise for a special friend or family member, you'll definitely want to get started! 

RICE KRISPIE TREAT EGGS:

1.  Follow directions on package of cereal or marshmallows to make the treat.  Lay out wax paper.  While treats are still warm, place some butter on your hands and start shaping the rice krispie treats into egg shapes.  We did some bite size ones for the egg nest and some bigger ones to dip and sprinkle.  Once the egg krispie's have cooled, heat some chocolate according to the directions.  For the larger eggs we dipped them in and then added sprinkles.  For the little eggs, I used a cooking brush to apply the light blue chocolate to resemble a Robin's egg.  Place on wax paper and let the chocolate harden. 

EGG NEST:

MATERIALS:  Tuna can, yarn, glue, tissue paper

1.  Use an old tuna can (that has been rinsed and washed of course :)) for the base of the nest. If you don't have any left over tuna cans you could use a small bowl found at the dollar tree or even a plastic one.  Glue one end of the yarn to the can to secure in place.  Start wrapping it around and around until you can't see the tuna can underneath anymore.  Glue the other end of the yarn into place to secure.  Add some tissue paper to the inside.  Add egg krispie treats.  Give to a friend :). 

Enjoy and have a wonderful Easter! 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Have It: Hand Stamped Silver Spoon with Teacher Quote

"Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that will grow forever"

(above picture from jlynncreations Etsy shop)

I'm getting ready to order another one of these hand stamped silver spoons with the quote, "Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that will grow forever" from jlynncreations Etsy shop for our end of the year teacher gift. I bought one last year and the teacher loved it so it is time to start thinking about it again since the beginning of spring is here. She has great customer service and I've ordered other personalized items from her for Christmas. Just remember when purchasing things on Etsy that they are handmade so a lot of times there are 2 week turnaround times so plan accordingly J.

For our teacher gift I bought some flowers and a pot and placed the garden spoon in it. It was ready to give and enjoy immediately.

You could also create a gift basket around this with some seeds and gardening tools. Have you seen the adorable gardening tools they have out there lately? Plus I have seen vintage planting boxes at TJMAX that would be the perfect "basket". The ideas are limitless to go with this adorable garden spoon. Go check out her site here…..lots of adorable stuff!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Candles in Baby Food Jars (Denim & Diamonds Party Favor)

8 month old = lots of saved up glass baby food jars. I just kept adding them and adding them to a box knowing that they would get some use…eventually. This is what my husband loves about me most (yeah right) and why he often refers to my craft closet as the "crap closet". Well, this "crap" turned into something quite lovely and made a great party favor while watching my piggy bank. Who knew baby food jars would make the perfect size candle to give to guests? Here is what you'll need:

MATERIALS:

Candle Wax ( I used microwavable soy wax)
Candle Wick
Baby food jars
toothpicks
Tacky Wax
Candle scent (optional)

HOW-TO:

1. Make sure your jars are all clean with no sweet potatoes or apples left over J

 

1. Cut wicks long enough to tie around a toothpick and have the bottom of the wick touch the bottom portion of your jar. Use the tacky wax to secure the bottom of the wick to the bottom of the jar. Then rest the toothpick across the top of the baby food jar. NOTE: I had to return my original wicks because I did not get the right ones for soy candle wax. Make sure to check that before you make it out of the store.

1. After you have finished all the jars, place them on a cookie sheet with wax paper underneath (for easy clean-up).

1. Take your wax and follow the packaged instructions. Mine was easy….put it in the microwave for short intervals, stop and stir, repeat until all melted and the wax reaches a certain temperature. Then add the fragrance in.

 

1. Pour into jars and let set.

1. Cut the wicks to desirable length.
2. Decorate! I cut strips of some damask fabric and used mod podge to adhere and seal it to the glass. Then I took a ribbon and tied it around the middle.
3. Voila! Give it away or enjoy it at home.

I gave baby food jar candles away to my guests at my Denim & Diamonds party. The baby food jar decorations matched the invite and theme and added some pretty décor at the party until each guest took one home.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Chalkboard Heart with Sock Monkey for Valentine’s Day

"A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you"

I love chalkboard paint just as much as I'm in love with freezer paper right now. I saw this sock monkey and couldn't resist. A little red chalkboard paint to cover the heart, add a ribbon to hang it, and write a message….it really is as easy as 1,2,3 to make an adorable Valentine's Day gift. We made these for each of our boys so we can leave them messages to remind them just how much we love them (I'm sure the trillion kisses and hugs a day remind them, too). Can you find where the chalk is hidden? It's a perfect spot to make sure it is always near!

I have a few ready to ship if you would like to purchase one…just go to my ETSY shop or send me an email at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com. The sock monkey and chalkboard heart is perfect for children, teachers, and even adults.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It…with the Kids: Fabric Heart Valentines

"A friend is someone who knows all about you, and loves you just the same."

You might be wondering why I'm posting a Valentine's craft idea today, February 15^th. Right now your thoughts are trailing off to something like this… "Who is this woman? Duh! Valentine's was yesterday. She is a total mess, at least I know when Valentine's Day is." Well…yes, it is not uncommon for me to be a total mess with my thoughts and projects scattered everywhere, but for once I did have my day's correct. I was just a little behind and figured it is better late than never, right?!

For Lil Man's preschool class we made these fabric heart Valentine's. I'm definitely a novice sewer so no "real" sewing skills needed. A bonus right there! In fact my 3 year old did help with a lot of this. It was not a project that mom just put together and sent to school with her son. However, after about the 5^th one he was losing interest and mom did pick up some slack.

 

 

I started by cutting out a template from a piece of cardboard. Then I traced the template with a marker onto the fabric. I used two different fabrics…one for the front and one for the back. This is where your Lil One can start helping! Let them pick out the fabric. We found the heart fabric together and then we actually had a blue design for the back until Lil Man discovered a new fabric while wondering around in the fabric store singing some crazy song and putting on a show for the shoppers. He came across the red polka dot and said, "Mom! Mom! How about this one?" The best part is this lil kid is a bargain shopper! It was half the price of the original one we had picked out. He's a keeper J.

Once the hearts were cut out from the templates, we took one heart from each design and placed them together with the design sides facing each other and the backs facing out. I used the sewing machine to sew around the heart and leaving an opening at the bottom.

I turned the hearts the right side out through the opening and then lil man started stuffing the hearts like crazy. Prepare for a mess if your lil one is helping J.

Then we cut out some small rectangles from an off-white fabric. Lil Man used some small single letter stamps to stamp "Friend" on some and then his classmate's names on others. This was perfect because he was able to refer to the class list from his teacher to stamp the name. He can write his own name (at least we, his parents, can decipher it), but we are not at the whole alphabet yet. Stamping was a perfect solution to have him really included. We tucked the "Friends" pieces of fabric into the opening and then using a needle and thread we sewed the heart shut and the "Friends" tag on. This was lil man's intro to sewing. With Mom's help, of course, he helped sew a couple of the hearts shut.

Next we cut ribbon and placed the ribbon with the child's name under a button. Sew the button on with the name and ribbon under it and you are set to go! Oh, and then have your child write his/her name on the back or stamp it! Hand out to everyone and enjoy. Of course this could be done any time of year, but Valentine's was perfect. I was surprised at how much Lil Man really likes it. He hung it up right away and is very proud.

Just don't wait until the last minute to do it like me J. Have fun!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It…with the Kids: Valentine’s “I treasure you” Treasure Box

I know I've been MIA lately, but I've been on a mission. It is time to de-clutter and organize our household before baby #2 arrives and it has been a top priority. In the meantime, the house remains a mess as I decide what gets tossed and what gets labeled and a new home. The thought of another mess from a project was just too daunting the last couple of weeks, but I did find some time to work on a Valentine's craft project with Lil Man the other day. The best part is that I went through my craft closet (a.k.a crap closet, as my husband calls it) and pulled everything out from there for the project...so in essence I was staying on track by getting rid of some "crap". J

I had leftover treasure boxes from when Lil Man needed some creative poopy training , so we started with that as our gift box to decorate. Then we found some Valentine's paper and he cut them into small pieces, applied with Mod Podge and then sealed with more Mod Podge and a little glitter mixed in. Add some XOXO's on the front and you are set to go. I thought we were done with the treasure chest when that cheesy light bulb in my head went off. I had to add "I treasure you" on the inside to make it complete. See….I told you it was cheesy! Add some chocolate and of course this gift from your child will be a hit!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Wooden Heart Love Notes

"We need the power of love, not the love of power"

 

My hubby and I try to focus on the little things to show our love for one another and to catch the spirit of just how much we love each other.  It might be because we can't afford the $10,000 diamond ring, the new car, the fancy surprise vacation (although all those sound fabulous), but I think its for the better.  I know you think I'm crazy right now, but hear me out.  Its easy to pull out your debit/credit card and book a vacation, but its not necessarily easy trying to figure out a new, creative, and did I mention inexpensive way to show your love for your partner.  I'm sure someday we can surprise each other with fancy vacations in some tropical weather ( which I could really use 80 degree weather right now), but for now I am going to surprise my hubby with some fancy love notes. 

The inspiration for this Valentine surprise (that is actually great to do all year long) is from the infamous Necco Sweethearts.  Its that time of year where you see those sweet candy treats EVERYWHERE!  So I made some of my own using some wooden hearts that will save our teeth from some un-needed sugar.  The idea is that on Valentine's Day I am going to hide these surprise love notes in different places that he will discover through out the day such as his toiletry bag, car, work, near his coffee cup, etc. 

I used Mod Podge to put some pretty paper on one side of the hearts and then some letter stamps to write messages on the other side.  You may notice "SHMILY" on one of the hearts and some of you may know what this is and others may not.  I didn't know until my hubby told me and we've adopted it ever since.  It means "See How Much I Love You".  We heard a story of a couple who would leave little notes and surprises with "SHMILY" on it.  Something as simple as leaving it on the mirror when it is steamy for your loved one to see later.  Or a sticky note somewhere they may not be expecting goes a long way. 

You can be as G-Rated or R-Rated as you want with the notes, in fact you could even use these to put special notes to your kids in their lunch boxes.  Everyone loves a surprise...even the little ones!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Paper Christmas Wreath

I'm re-posting this because I just pulled it out of the Christmas tub to hang up last week and I still love it as much as when I made it.  It put that smile on my face so I thought I'd share.  I hope you are enjoying the fun and stress of the holidays as much as I am :) ! 

"Joy to the World"

Accidents happen...sometimes good and sometimes bad.  Luckily, this accident was good.  I was playing with some paper trying to come up with less labor-intensive paper tree ideas and ended up with a paper wreath!  I added some special photos and it is adding just the right amount of unique Christmas decorations to our house!  I used the same scrapbook paper that I used for my Christmas Paper Tree . I purchased the scrapbook paper at Target in a pack.  It included all 5 coordinating designs and plenty of it!

MATERIALS:

8x8 paper (10 pieces)
scissors
glue
stapler
Scotch Tape
ribbon
embellishments
photos

THE STEPS:

I tried the best I could to explain it...I'm still working on describing my steps as clearly and detailed as I can.  Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about it!  I love to get comments on the post or you can email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com.

The Holidays are here and Christmas is only 9 days away!  Its hard to believe, but that's what I saw on a sign today!  Take care....

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!!

New Wall Letter Design: Pink Birds to match Pottery Barn Penelope Nursery Bedding

Take a look at one of my new wall letter designs…

The pink bird with sage green accents was made to match Pottery Barn's Penelope Nursery Bedding (seen below). However, any girl who loves birds, pink, and green will love her personalized name sign.

To purchase a personalized wall letter ($22) you can go to:

1) My Etsy Shop:  Checkout with PayPal credit/debit.

2)  Custom Order Form:  Fill out form and I'll email you an invoice to pay with debit/credit through PayPal.

And of course, I love custom designs! Send me a picture of a room or the bedding used, and I'll see what designs I have available to match. I can be contacted at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com .

The order deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery is Sunday, December 6^th. After that date, I'll let you know on a case-by-case basis whether I can get it done by Christmas.

And, as always, thank you so much for stopping by!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Button Christmas Tree Tote

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other".  ~Burton Hillis

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had plenty of yummy food and time with family and friends! Now that my lazy turkey days are coming to an end, it is time for me to break out the Christmas decorations and let the holiday season truly begin. My first Christmas craft project this season is fun, inexpensive, and festive...you can't ask for much more than that! Use this Button Christmas Tree Tote as a gift bag or bring it with you to do all your holiday shopping… or even give it to a child to use as a school bag in December. Head to the store and pick up the following for the project…

MATERIALS:

tote bag
buttons ( I used 9 small, 12 large, 1 star – silver and gold)
thread
ribbon

HOW-TO:

1. Lay out buttons to resemble Christmas tree shape next to tote bag. I used small and large as well as gold and silver buttons.
2. One by one start to sew each button on to the tote in the shape that you laid out next to the tote.
3. Continue until you are done J.
4. Tie a ribbon in a bow and sew to where the handle attaches to the tote.
5. Use your bag as a gift bag or tote it around town.

I'd love to see your finished button tote bags and variations that you come up with! Just email to inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com and we'll share your creativity.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Giraffe Print Wall Letters

 

New giraffe print design available for monogram letters or the all-in-one wall letters. This design was done to match a giraffe print baby bedding with baby blue accents, however, any accent color can be used!

PRICING:

1 Monogram Letter - $14.95
2 Monogram Letters - $27.90
3 -Monogram Letters - $38.85
All-in-one: Name on Initial - $22.00

   

ORDERING:

To purchase you can either go to:

1) My Etsy Shop:  Checkout with PayPal credit/debit.

2)  Custom Order Form:  Fill out form and I'll email you an invoice to pay with debit/credit through PayPal.

After the payment is received, it takes about 7-10 days before the decorated wall letters are ready to be shipped. If you would like to see more photos of my hanging letters please visit my Wall Art – Photo Album on the right of side of the website.

Want your own custom hanging letter, but not giraffe print? No problem! Contact me via email at inspiremecrafts [!at] yahoo.com or via Etsy conversations and I can email you samples based on your color scheme.

The letters typically measure around 9.5 in in height (not including ribbon) and about 6.25 inches in width. Each letter varies a little.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Frankenstein Takeout Box

"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title". ~From Scooby-Doo

 

Our happy Frankenstein Takeout Box is easy, inexpensive, cute, and quick to make! We are going to fill them with some yummy and fun Halloween treats and give to Lil Man's pre-school teacher. Here's what you need to get started:

MATERIALS:

Green Chinese takeout boxes (found at Michaels or another craft store in the gift packaging area)
Black & White Felt
Black Permanent Marker
Wiggly Eyes
Brads
Glue & Scissors

HOW-TO:

1. Cut out black felt so that the top edge is flat and the bottom edge is in a zig-zag. Glue the black felt on the top portion of the sides for his hairline.
2. Glue two wiggly eyes on.
3. Push the brad through the takeout box to make a nose. On the inside secure the brad in place by separating the metal parts.
4. Draw a smiling face (or mean one if don't want a silly Frankenstein) and a scar above his eye with a black marker.
5. Cut out little teeth with the white felt and glue to the drawn in mouth.
6. Fill with Halloween surprises.
7. Give to someone special.

Enjoy!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Silly Monster Halloween Treat Boxes

Lil Man and I had lots of fun making these Silly Monster Treat Boxes for Halloween. Plus, every time he starts to show a hint of being afraid of monsters we just say "it's one of those silly monsters" and it seems to calm those fears before they jump out of the closet. All you need are some craft supplies you probably have laying around your house. Here is what you need for your next Halloween Craft….

MATERIALS:

Small Boxes with lids ($1 at Michaels)
Craft Paint
Craft Supplies (Wiggly eyes, felt, small pom-poms, pipe cleaners, straw, yarn, buttons, feathers, etc)
Markers, Glue, Glue Gun, Scissors

HOW-TO:

1. Paint your treat boxes your favorite colors
2. Start cutting, gluing, coloring, and get creative!
3. Fill with yummy treats
4. Give to your family and friends

Button Billy Monster

 

Triple Eye Timmy Monster

 

Pink Paulina Monster
(Lil Man's Creation)

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Ballerina Tutu Message Board

"Dancing can reveal all the mystery music reveals."

I just can't get enough pink lately and combine it with my love for black and white damask and you have a super cute craft project for this weekend J. This time the finished DIY project is a Ballerina Tutu Message Board. It takes a little time, however, I did finish it in one evening so it is definitely a realistic project to put on your to-do list.

MATERIALS:

1 piece of foam board
1 yard of fabric (you'll have leftovers)
3 yards of tulle
2 yards of thick ribbon (I used pink with black polka dots)
2-4 yards of thin ribbon (I used pink and black)
1 yard of 7/8 thick ribbon or elastic
Glue gun
Scissors

How-To:

1. Cut out your foam board in the shape of a leotard. I just eye-balled it with a pencil and then used an X-Acto knife. It takes a little persistence and makes a mess, but if you have a 3 year old they will enjoy it!

   

    

2. Lay your fabric upside down on a flat surface. Place your cut foam board onto the fabric. Cut the fabric around the foam board leaving a few inches all the way around.
   
   

   

    

3. Get your glue gun ready and start glueing away! Place some glue on the foam board and secure the fabric around on the back side. You may have to cut slits in the fabric going all the way to the foam board. Doing it in 1-2 inch sections will help.
4. After you have secured all the fabric, turn it over and look at the beginning of your masterpiece.
5. Next is the TuTu. This was my first time making a tutu so I referred to this YouTube video. It is very helpful and she can explain it way better than I can at the link below:

   How to Make A No Sew Tutu
   

   I did not follow her directions exactly. I used a thinner ribbon (7/8 inch) to tie my tulle to. Also I only used 3 yards worth since I was not going all the way around. I also tied ribbons around the 7/8 inch ribbon when I was done with the tulle to add some color and to provide a place to hang more things.

   

6. Once the tutu is made, tie the two ends in the back to secure it in place. I did it around the 'waist' of the foam board so there is a little foam board underneath the tutu.
7. Take your 3-4 yards of thin ribbon (I used bright pink) and wrap around the body part of your foam board. This provides some more color and places to hold pictures and notes. You can do any design you like!
8. Then take your thick ribbon and cut two pieces to the desired length for hanging. I did about 1 yard on each side. I secured one end of each piece to the back with the glue gun. Then brought the other two ends together to tie a bow. Now you can hang it!
9. Make one more bow with your thick ribbon and safety pin it to the front of your tutu.
10. Add some pictures (if you want)….it would be awfully cute just as decoration in a ballerina room or dance studio.
    
    

    

    Your ballerina will love this Tutu Message Board!

    
    

    Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Photo Magnet Bookmarks

When I posted my Magnet Bookmarks previously it only took a few moments for my biggest fan (my mom of course) to call and ask for one. Instead of using some pretty paper, I decided to use a photo of her favorite grandson (and only grandson). A simple request turned into a great gift for Grandparent's Day. I followed the same instructions outlined on the Magnet Bookmark post. However, I took it a step further to package the gift in a creative way. I went to the DollarTree and found a book. I then ripped out a page, displayed the magnet on the page, and just in case they didn't get it….added "A bookmark!". I then put it in a clear plastic sleeve to keep the photo safe. Of course I made a handful for all the grandparents and great grandparents…

You can do this very quickly so if you are scrambling for some Grandparent's Day gifts…you still have plenty of time!

Be inspired, get creative and have fun!

Gotta Make It: "Two Little Love Birds" Anniversary Gift

"There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love." 

 

I'm horrible at remembering birthdays and anniversaries.  Some could say it's because I'm a horrible friend, sister, daughter, wife, etc -  but I'm going to go with one of the below options...

1)  I take it one day at a time.  (So if I do remember, it is usually the day of and the card is just a little late.) 

2)  3/4 of the time I have no clue what day of the month it is.  (Its hard to remember a special day if you don't even know what special day it is)

3)  I'm unorganized when it comes to my birthdays and anniversaries. (I know there are millions of options out there, but I haven't found one that I stick to yet.  NOTE TO SELF FOR PROJECT:  My own birthday/anniversary organizer :) ).

Luckily, I met a handsome young gentlemen 9 years ago who's parents' anniversary is the day before my parents.  Even luckier for him, we fell in love, got married, and now I can proudly say that I am responsible for the one gray hair (or two) that pops up on his head daily.  I love my husband dearly, and I even love him more that its pretty hard to ever forget our parents' anniversaries since they are a day apart.  We even tried to get married that same August weekend they chose since they've had such success at loving bickering(30+ years for my 'rents and 40+ for his), but for a myriad of reasons....March 19th ended up being our date. 

To make a long story short, we remember our parents special day and instead of giving them their regular card, I made these "Two Little Love Birds" instead.  I used some chipboard birds that I covered in the black and white damask paper and glued a button on as an eye.  I used some single letter stamps to write out"To Little Love Birds" on a piece of paper that I taped to the inside of the plastic wrap. 

On the back of the birds we wrote:

"Happy Anniversary to our two favorite love birds"

My mom decided she was going to add magnets to the back to put them on the fridge....why didn't I think of that?  :)

So if you are thinking of doing something inexpensive and different than a traditional card, consider using some paper to adorn something pretty and give it to someone you love.  Maybe they'll remember your special day :).

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Creative Family Tree (with a beach theme twist)

"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. " ~Author Unknown

Christmas in our family can never be dull with the tradition of a White Elephant Gift Exchange. For the last few years there has been a new twist to the exchange....the gift has to be handmade.  That means no more pine-cones in a recycled popcorn tin (although some may argue this is handmade ).  Add a little competitiveness that runs in the blood and get ready for a no-mercy, fun-filled evening.  Unfortunately, I now Iive on the other coast from most my family, so I have not witnessed the exchange first hand in awhile.   However, on a recent trip home I snapped some pictures of an example of what comes out of these gift exchanges.  It still leaves me saying "How did you come up with that idea?". 

My aunt made her own version of a family tree and personalized just about every detail.   I don't even know what to call this family tree....except "Creative Family Tree"...with a beach theme twist.  Any ideas?  Anyway, the beach plays a large part in our family - we all love it, vacation there, and have fond memories.  So she started by making a little oceanfront 'village'.  Each section represents a different family.  She has every single person on there and a shop/deck/church/hotel is named after what that family member does for a living, hobby, etc.  We'll start with my aunt...."Joeleen's Junk & Beach Crafts".  Obviously she is crafty so its quite fitting.  I still look at this creation in awe.  She said it took them two weeks full of afternoons cutting, painting, gluing etc. 

 

So are you feeling up to making your own family tree...with a twist?  Go for it and, of course, please share.... :)

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun! 

Gotta Make It: Magnet Bookmark

"Why pay a dollar for a bookmark?  Why not use the dollar as a bookmark?"  - Steven Spielberg

 If I can make an everyday object pretty, well gosh darnet I will!  My random bookmarks of receipts, scratch pieces of paper or the book-cover flap were just not flying anymore.  The solution?  Magnet bookmarks out of some of my favorite paper. The magnets hold your bookmark in place and you can even place it to remember what sentence you are on if you couldn't finish the page. But the possibilities  don't stop with pretty paper.  Use a favorite greeting card that was given to you, a ticket from a concert, game or play, a photo, etc.  This project takes 5 minutes, so squeeze a little time in and whip-up some eye candy for your summer reads.

What You Will Need:

Paper (photo, card, ticket, postcard, etc)
Adhesive Magnets (I had business card magnets that I cut in 1/3)
Scissors

To Get Started:

1.  Fold your paper in 1/2.  You can use any size you want. 
2.  Cut your magnets to size if needed. Remove the adhesive protector from your magnets. Place one magnet on each end of your paper so that when you fold it they attract.
3.  Start using the magnet bookmark in your book

Magnet bookmarks are great little gifts for stocking stuffers, Book Club gifts, hostess gifts, or you could make one for Father's Day using a photo or some artwork from the kids.  I'd love to see some pictures if you decide to make some magnet bookmarks of your own.  :)

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun! 

Gotta Make It: Flower Gift Boxes

"We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers."  ~Seneca

 

I've been making a conscientious effort to avoid buying things that I don't have an immediate use for.  Luckily, I did not follow my own rules when I came across these flower gift boxes in the shape of a purse while doing some bargain hunting at the DollarTree.  Instead of saying, "Oh, those are cute" and moving my little tush forward, I stopped,knelt down to the bottom shelf and piled every color they had into my arms.  The ideas were limitless...flower girl gifts, Mother's Day brunch table settings, random gifts, birthday gifts, teacher gifts, thank you gifts....you get the point.  But you know what happened?  I liked them so much and I was so selfish that I held on to them forever because they were just too cute.  Well, I finally came to terms that a bunch of flower gift boxes sitting on a shelf were not doing any one any good.  Mother's Day was here and my son and I needed a gift box for our Snickerdoodles....the time had come to part with my beloved boxes :).  We filled them up with some scrumptious Snickerdoodles (recipe to follow shortly), personalized them with some notes and initial tags, and delivered them personally to some well deserving moms.  And my moms never cease to amaze me because they all "get me" and my quirky obsession with adorable gift giving things and truly appreciated these little special boxes...or maybe it was all about the sugar filled cookie inside....hmmm.

The moral of the story...break the rules sometimes (but know your limits)!  Although you may not be able to find these exact boxes at the DollarTree today, there may be another gem waiting for you to overstock on.  Or even better...you could even recreate these bright colored boxes. Let me know how that goes if you give it a whirl.  I'm sure my readers are always up for a challenge. 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Personalized Flower Gift Using Plant ID Tags

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into."  ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

 

April is always a crazy month of birthdays and anniversaries and I'm usually not as organized as I would like to be when the time comes around.  I usually try to bake something, but I knew on this weekend that I just had too much on my plate to get any baking done for the special birthday girls.  However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing because who doesn't love flowers?  I found these beautiful daisies already planted in the coordinating pots for a great price. Then I used some metal plant ID tags to write a special message to the recipient.  This was for a birthday, but it would also work well for Mother's Day or Graduations.  These Plant ID tags come with an erasable marker so I tucked the marker in the flower pot so they can re-use the tags. 

Quick, easy, beautiful, inexpensive and personalized....can't get any better than that.  :)

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!