InspireMe Crafts

Ballet Bag (Day 20 of 92 Crafty Days of Summer)

"Ballet is a dance executed by the human soul." – Alexander Pushkin

Being the only girl in the family I will always jump on the opportunity to go all out and make something "girly" since my boys aren't too receptive to frilly and pink. We had a birthday party for our friend (who also happens to be my ballet student) so it was the perfect chance to make something pink and pretty. I made this canvas ballet bag with the pink silhouette of a ballerina using the freezer paper technique I described in this Martin Luther King, Jr post. I added a cute clip on flower, ribbon, and some iron-on purple glitter letters.

I used the personalized ballerina bag as the gift bag. I added a ballet book, glitter wand, and a star sucker…oh and some pink tissue paper (as if I didn't have enough pink stuff already).

Stay tuned to MY ETSY SHOP…you may see some of these cute ballet bags for sale J. Have a birthday party soon? Think about turning your gift bag into part of the present.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Day 10 of 92 Crafty Days of Summer: Photo Editing in Picasa and Picnik

"The camera can photograph thought" – Dirk Bogarde

A camera really can photograph thoughts and here is what is going on in this rare family photo…

Me: This must be a dream. Are we really getting a family photo…with all 4 of us in it?

Hubby: IA happy wife makes for a happy life. What are the chances that this shirt is still white in 5 minutes?

Little Big Man: Uggghhh. Doesn't my mom take enough pictures already? Can't I just go play sports?

Little Man: My ear hurts. My mom has that same black thing he is holding.

For Day 10 of 92 Crafty Days of Summer Challenge I decided to finally do something with some of the photos we have. I truly am the Mamarazzi, but when it comes to doing something with the photos it usually involved saving them to a CD and then pull them out once a year to make a photo yearbook. That's it. I'm trying to come up with some new photo projects and ideas, but until then I wanted to get better at editing some photos. I decided to try Picasa because it was 1) free and 2) easy. The above photo I did with one click in Picasa's Picnik. Yes, 1 click! They have all sorts of pre-saved effects to use on photos. You can't go wrong and trust me, you do not have to be an editing pro to use it. I have no skills in that domain and I really like how the above picture turned out.

So if you have a few minutes download Picasa, pick a photograph and go play!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Killer Whale Birthday Party: The Birthday Boy Whale Shirt

"The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left".  ~Jerry M. Wright

The above quote cracks me up. ..it describes my son to the 'T'. The birthday celebration is for the big '5' and I have a feeling we are years from discovering that the volume knob turns to the left. His volume controls are loud and louder and nothing less. And recently is volume was cranked up to loudest when he insisted that the killer whale on his shirt needed to have white on it. Yet, after a good night's sleep he decided he liked it with the blue. Good thing I didn't act too quickly on fulfilling his wishes. J

I made this killer whale shirt using my new favorite technique – freezer paper silhouettes. I followed the same directions as shown here and as originally found on MADE's website for her silhouette President T-shirts.

To re-cap see below, but for detailed directions go here.

1. Print your photo onto the non-waxy side of the freezer paper.
2. Using an X-Acto knife, cut out your photo.

1. Place wax side down on t-shirt and iron.

1. Paint with fabric paint and let dry.

4 more days until the party and oh so much to do! I had all these grandeur plans to make some inexpensive games for the party like throw the ring on the dorsal fin, toss some fake fish into the mouth of the killer whale, a fishing hole, etc. Then reality hit and I realized there was not enough time and I've seen this kiddos play – they will be happy just running around at the park. I'm glad I had my reality check. Although, the games would have been fun !

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

 

Killer Whale Birthday Party: The Invitation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are about 10 days away from Lil Big Man's 5 year old party and I haven't done much except brainstorm. Oh – and hand out the invitations. My soon to be 5 year old has been obsessed with killer whales for a few years now so it is time we celebrate this love the right way. Unfortunately, there have not been too many killer whale birthday parties ahead of us. We found plenty of Under the Sea themes, but none (that I could find on the web) that focused primarily on orcas. So we are going from scratch. I started with the invite. It is nothing fancy – just some basic photo editing skills and the photo printer at Sam's Club. I figure we will be going with a blue (for the ocean water) and black & white (for the whale) color scheme for the party. You would think a 5 year old would not care about the color scheme, but this 5 year old has definitely made his voice heard about having blue for the water.

I thought I would post the projects as I go for this party and we'll see how it all turns out. We still have some decorations to do, the goodie bags, maybe some games, the cake and who knows what else. Hmmmm….where to start!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Chalkboard Silhouette (Denim & Diamonds Party Décor)

My other obsession right now is chalkboard paint and I am turning anything and everything into a chalkboard. The chalkboard silhouette for my Denim & Diamonds party just proves my obsession. At first I was going to make a stencil using freezer paper and spray paint the area with chalkboard paint. But that just seemed like a little too much work when it was the day before. Thank goodness for Michael's shipment of new stuff because they now carry chalkboard stickers that come in a rectangle size a little bigger than 8x10. With the chalkboard sticker, I just cut out the silhouette using a stencil printed from online, peeled off the back and attached it so my fabric covered canvas. Since this was a "bling" party where guests could try on jewelry I added some rhinestones around the silhouette's neck and a few from where her ears would be.

For some of the other decorations…

I made a table runner from some discount fabric and used the remnants to cover some canvases.

I took a clear vase that I'm sure we all have hanging around or you can find one at the Dollar Tree. I spray painted it white along with some branches. With leftover fabric from the baby food jar candles, I wrapped it around the center of the vase and scotch taped it into place. Yep….scotch tape.

From the branches I hung some beads to add some more "bling". We were going to hang some earrings from the jewelry line, but they were just a tad too heavy for the branches.

I hope you like some of the ideas from my Denim & Diamonds party sparked some simple but fabulous ideas for your own party! I promise that next time I have a party I will take way more photos!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Denim & Diamonds Party: Invitation

A couple weeks ago I hosted an evening out for my lady friends.  We had to start with the invite to set the theme...

I was also doing this party on a budget so as much as I would have loved to mail pretty invitations, they got the pretty invite via email instead.  

I combined a couple of my favorite things right now - silhouettes and damask - and you'll see them throughout the party.  The party turned out great, the only problem was that I didn't take any photos!  Can you believe that?  The queen of taking photos forgot to take photos of the evening...I was just having too much fun!  

Stay tuned for some creative personal touches that anybody can add to their party. 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

A Roarin’ Dinosaur Birthday Party

"Have a roarin' good time"

The Lil Man turned 4 last April and every time I look at his birthday party photos they make me smile - so I just had to share! He had so much fun that he has requested another dinosaur party for his 5^th birthday party, but I'm currently trying to talk him into something different. Wish me luck because whenever I suggest something he still sounds like a toddler who says 'no' to everything. This is going to require some creative parenting in order to get my 4 year old to think that an "Under the Sea" party was HIS OWN idea….am I dealing with a grown man?!? He has been obsessed with killer whales since he was 2 so I don't think it should be too difficult to sway his wants……we'll see.

I am a HUGE fan of Etsy and tell everyone about it when I have a chance. In order to make his party unique I tried to find as much as I could on Etsy. So I started off with his invites from Dimple Prints as well as the cupcake toppers.

Here he is enjoying his 4^th cupcake. Ooops….I mean 4^th frosting top. He only eats the frosting J.

A birthday boy needs his special outfit and, once again, Etsy delivered. Happy Family was a joy to work with and our family went all out with the theme....hence the cheesy matching! Although, I must say, as long as we don't wear them all at the same time we still wear the shirts (except me because it was a maternity shirt). I might have to order a new one!

Then we had table decorations. We placed buckets and shovels with the children's names on all the tables along with some dinosaur fossil replicas we found at Michaels.

Lil Man and his friends then went on a dinosaur dig. They took their buckets with them and went looking for their own designated area to dig for dinosaur fossils. Each one had a dinosaur egg and dinosaur fossil hidden in their area. I found the dinosaur eggs at Michaels and when you place them in water a dinosaur is "born". The dinosaur fossils were found at Oriental Trading. And my dinosaur diggers needed some official looking badges to enter the dig area J.

And the biggest hit of the party was the volcano. I wish I would have taken photos of it while I made it, but I was running short on time and just needed to get it done. Here's a quick summary of how I did it…..Find a disposable aluminum pan with sides on it to control the mess when the volcano erupts. To form the shape of the volcano I used some plastic bowls and cups and secured it with duct tape. Make sure the top has a shallow bowl so that it will 'erupt' and run down the sides. I used a small plastic cup that I cut in half so it wasn't so deep. I then added some paper mache to the outside to help form the shape. After it was dry I painted it with some brown paint and added sand and rocks. Each kid had a few chances to make it explode. I had a mini shot glass size cup I would fill with vinegar and a few drops of red food coloring and then the kids would pour that into the volcano that had about 1-2 tbsp of baking soda in it. Get lots of vinegar and baking soda because it will be a hit! I thought I had more than enough, but we ran out.

After some running around and opening presents the kids were off with their parents and their handy dandy gift bags.

If you are planning a dinosaur party I hope our party sparked some ideas to make it a hit!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

I've linked this party over at Under the Table and Dreaming

Gotta Make It: Moss Covered Wood Letter

"A smile is the universal welcome" - Max Eastman

Our front door has been naked way too long and was waiting to be dressed up with the right accessories. I was searching for a wreath, but remembered that I'd fallen in love with some moss covered monograms I had seen on Etsy and said to myself, "I can do that". You can find the materials all at your craft store. Here's what you need:

MATERIALS:

Wood letter
Moss
Ribbon
scissors
Glue gun

This project is messy so please beware and plan accordingly. It won't ruin anything, but the moss does get everywhere. I bought the moss at the craft store in the wreath area. I guess I didn't realize it was real moss because when I opened the package I was alarmed at the smell! I wasn't ready for it and it took me a little time to get accustomed to. I started by tearing off large pieces of moss and placing it on the letter. I then used the glue gun to secure it in place. Once I had the top part done, I worked on the sides. I cut strips of the moss and glued to the sides and then wrapped them around if needed and used the glue to tie down any loose ends. After the letter is covered in moss, hang your ribbon from the back and you are done. Pretty easy – just a little smelly and messy.

Check out these other ideas with Moss:

Good Housekeeping

Onewed

I hope your mind is racing with some ideas to use moss. Get to it and send us a pic!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Pre-School Routine Charts

"The less routine the more life" -Amos Bronson Alcott

 

I've never been a big routine/schedule person, but as I navigate through this thing called mommy-hood I am quickly discovering that life without routines can often be more difficult and less fun.  When Lil Man started pre-school back in September (yes...it has taken me this long to post the pre-school routine chart) my biggest worry was getting out of the house in the morning and having his head hit the pillow at night without major arguments, meltdowns, and being on time since I HATE being late.  

I searched stores and the internet for a pre-school routine chart without much luck.  I needed a routine chart that was flexible because I wasn't sure how my first attempt at making a morning and evening schedule would work out.  My son is a dawdler so I definitely did not know if eating breakfast in 15 minutes would be realistic or not.  In addition, I wanted a chart my son could read on his own.  The solution?  Using pictures, putting them on magnets, and using digital times vs a traditional clock to keep him on track.  

We started with two magnetic dry erase boards.  One color for morning and a different color for night.  Then I had an outline of what our morning and evening times would look like.  The best part was getting Lil Man to help with the chart.  I wanted to include him as much as possible so he would hopefully buy into this new routine thing.  He LOVED going around and taking pictures of everything we needed to do in order to get ready for school and ready for bed.  I also printed out some pictures of TVs.  Some were just a picture of the TV and others were a big 'X' through the TV so he would know when the TV was not allowed to be on.  Print out some times, and you are ready to assemble your pre-school routine chart with your child. We put all the pictures on magnets so they could be moved around as we decided some things would work out at better times or in different orders.  

So....did all the work pay off?  You bet it did.  Less nagging, yelling, battles and a more independent 3 year old - who could ask for more?!  Instead of nagging at him to go do something, I would ask what was next on the chart.  He would go look and go do it.  Of course, we had a reward system if he completed the chart every morning and evening so you can do what works for your family.  

A year later, they still hang in the same place.  They don't get looked at every morning anymore, but the same basic routine is in place and has made mornings and evenings a happy time in this household.  Plus mommy and daddy are happy. And we all know that happy parents is just as important as a happy child.  

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: Message Photo Blocks

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings". – Hodding Carter

Christmas is just around the corner and I'm sure you are starting to look for some ideas for personalized Christmas gifts for your loved ones. We originally made these message photo blocks for Grandparent's Day, but it would really work for any holiday!

I originally got the idea after seeing this blog post on Brassy Apple. Instead of framing the photos, I made photo blocks out of them. I did one block for each grandparent, so each block contains the picture of Lil Man with 'I', 'heart', 'U', and 'I heart U'.

MATERIALS:

1 wood block ( I chose a 4x4 inch)
4 photos (need the letters you want to take the photos). I had photos printed at store for top quality.
Mod Podge or your favorite decoupage
Black paint
2-4 Foam brushes
Scissors

HOW-TO:

1. Paint your wood block black (or your chosen accent color) on all sides. Let dry
2. Cut your pictures to size.
3. Apply thin coat of Mod Podge to back of picture. Adhere to wood block. Smooth out bubbles by using a cloth over the picture. Repeat on each side. Let dry according to directions on decoupage. Usually 20 minutes.
4. Apply coat of Mod Podge over the top of picture and block. You may have to do a couple of pictures at a time, let dry and then do the others. Make sure to get the corners and sides of the pictures as well.
Note: It helps to rest the block on a cup upside down or something similar so the Mod Podge doesn't adhere to the newspaper you may have underneath for dripping.
5. Let dry overnight.
6. Give to a loved one. J

I hope you enjoy as you prepare for the holidays!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It….With the Kids: Handmade Gift Wrap & Gift Bag

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift".  ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever get tired of going to wrap a present and having the wrapping paper at the end of its roll….just short of what you need to succesfully wrap your gift? Or how about this…you go to wrap a Birthday gift and you have 3 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, but no birthday paper. Ahhh!!! Have no worries because after we did this handmade gift wrap for a friend, I'm not sure we'll go back to store bought wrapping paper anytime soon. This was a nice creative twist to traditional wrapping…and thoughtful J. Lil Man had a birthday party to attend and in true fashion, we devoted plenty of time to picking out just the right presents, but not enough on how we were going to wrap or bag it.

My "Ah-ha" moment came when I looked up and saw a painting by Lil Man on his painting easel that had been there for a little while. I had him add some final touches to it and voila, we had creative DIY wrapping paper. If you don't have a painting easel with a roll of white paper, but do have that leftover Christmas paper, just use the white side of the wrapping paper to paint.

Then came the next challenge. We had this large flying disc thing-a-majig and did not have a bag big enough for it and wrapping it seemed too daunting for an 8:00a.m. project. We needed a handmade gift bag…

 

To make our handmade gift bag, we took some white paper from a roll of paper, cut a piece about 6 feet long, layed it on the kitchen floor, and started coloring with markers. Lil Man drew a humpback whale (see it J), some squigles, and his favorite –circles. We folded it in half and then used a hole punch to punch holes along the sides. We grabbed some scrap ribbon and tied knots thru each hole to secure the bag. Add a couple holes at the top and a ribbon to make the gift bag handles. And once again, a creative and handmade gift bag for that special someone.

Look at Lil Man! He is so proud of his creation and ready to give it to his lil buddy. Can someone talk this kid into a haircut?!?

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!

The Diaper Pirates: Creative Potty and Poopy Training

Lil Man is officially a pre-schooler, but before he could throw on his backpack and participate in show and tell, we had to overcome one obstacle standing in the way - Poopy in the Potty.  Lil Man had been potty-trained for a long time (even sleeping through the night in his underwear), but poopy in the potty was absolutely frightening to him.  So for way too long he'd say, "Mommy, I need a pull-up".  We'd slide one on, he'd go to the living room rug and the "poopy face" showing just how much he was working would takeover.  When he was done, he'd lay down and get his bottom cleaned, put on some underwear and be off on his merry way. He was happy. Me? Not so much. 

We tried everything...bribery, sugar, talking about it FOREVER, rewards, and at one point did not give him the pull-up when he needed it hoping he would go poopy in the potty.  But instead he decided to hold it for days until we decided to give in afraid he would hurt himself.  Needless to say, I'm sure we did several things completely wrong so this next time we were going to get it right. 

Lil Man was very interested in Pirates and we painted the pirate ship birdhouse one day as a project.  About a week later he was having a daddy-son day.  While they were out is when the magic took place.  The pirates had come to our house :). 

Here was the story the hubby and I were sticking with.....the Pirates came to the house and stole all his pull-ups for Poopy time.  In place of Lil Man's pull-ups in the closet, the Pirates left a note and a treasure map.  The note would say that after he went poopy in the potty he could go look for the treasure chest. 

Lil Man came home and told us he needed to go poopy.  I told him to go get his pull-up out of his room.  He went to get it and instead of finding his pull-ups there he found the ship with the note and treasure map.  I stayed in the other room until I heard , "Mommy! Mommy!  Come here.....look!".  We pulled out the pirate note:

I started with a cream piece of construction paper, ripped off the edges and used brown and tan ink pads to give it a worn, distressed and old look.  I added a few Pirate stickers just to make sure my 3 year old knew exactly who it was from :).

The note said:

*************

Ahoy, Matey!

Are you ready for a swashbuckling pirate adventure?  The Cap'n tells us its time for me hearty, Lil Man, to go Poopy in the Potty.  The shipmates have stolen your pull-ups and taken them out to sea.  Yarrr! But, Matey....a Pirate's treasure awaits you after you go Poopy in the Potty.  Cap'n says ye can open the treasure map after you go poopy in the potty.  Follow the map to "X" marks the spot for ye treasure!!

Farewell chump,

The Pirates and Cap'n Scallywag

*************

Needless to say he was super curious about where that treasure map would take him and what would await him in that treasure chest. 

The inside of the treasure map....

 

I rolled up the treasure map and used a Jolly Roger glued to a paper ring to keep the map rolled up.  Then Lil Man just slid it off to open the treasure after the big "Poopy in the Potty" event.

 

It took a hot second for Lil Man to start his treasure hunt after the big deed.  We followed the map until he came upon his mini treasure chest. I found a paper mache treasure chest at Michaels, painted it tan and added some gold glitter and pirate themed stickers. 

 

He opened it up to find a Pirate necklace, gum, killer whale stickers, and gold coins that the Pirate's had left him.  However, my killer whale obsessed son said "Look Mom!  Tickets to the Killer Whale Show (a.k.a. Sea World)".  As my son is jumping up in joy I had to break it to him that I was pretty sure they were just Killer Whale stickers...not tickets to the "Killer Whale Show".  Luckily, 3 year olds get excited over stickers as well and he seemed just as excited.  Phew! 

 

And as expected we celebrated in style. In our family we celebrate the little victories along with the large ones with a little song, a little dance, and a little silliness.  Lil Man is seen here singing his "Poopy in the Potty" song and groovin' away on our living room rug....proudly wearing his pirate necklace:). 

 

 Transferring the blame of the disappearing pull-ups to the Pirates instead of the sweet and innocent parents was key for us:).  We were on his side and helping him through something we couldn't control.  We went with the story and improvised.  Lil Man asked at one point why the Pirates needed his Pull-ups.  We told him that they tied them all together and threw it overboard to use it as an anchor and that all the killer whales in the ocean were swimming by and looking at them.  He thought that was cool.  Yay!

If you are getting ready to do the potty training thing or overcome an obstacle in the potty training process...good luck and make it fun! 

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: 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!

Custom Party Favor Magnets ...Now Available!!!!

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."  ~Oscar Wilde
 

As many of you know, I've got the Spring Cleaning fever and it hasn't stopped with just my "personal" life.  It has now poured into the business side of things, which includes getting some of the things I've wanted to do with the shop done instead of letting the idea or thought sit on a piece of paper. Adding the custom magnets that have been very popular for party favors to my Etsy Shop has just been waiting to get checked off.  So I will....today (that feels good!).  I have made a listing for the custom magnet party favors at MY ETSY SHOP.  It is for 30 magnets, however, I will do any amount.  You get to choose the color schemes, words, etc.  Typically 4-5 letters/numbers are the maximum that I can fit onto the magnet.  However, if you have something particular in mind, I will be more than happy to try it!  

SAMPLE WORDS:
Love
Hope
Wish
Joy
Dream
Sweet
Baby
Girl
Boy
Diva
Laugh
Fun
Play
-Initials-
-Date-
Thanks
4 Ever

These custom magnets would be adorable for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, stocking stuffers, End of the Year student gifts from teachers, etc. 

If you would like to order and are familiar with Etsy go to My Etsy Shop to purchase or you can contact me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com .

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Mod Podge Toy Tin

"Don't agonize. Organize." - Florynce Kennedy

 

Once again, the time has elapsed since I've been able to post some of the projects and ideas that cloud that little head of mine.  But with the urge for Spring Cleaning and organizing it was time to stop making the list of "what needs to be done" and actually tackle one of the projects.  As a result, I am able to cross off my first item which was turning an old Popcorn Factory tin into a toy storage bin for my son's trains and tracks. 

My husband's aunt sends us some yummy popcorn every Christmas from the Popcorn Factory...and every year the tin seems to get bigger (along with our waistline).  The tins are just too nice to throw away, but having Snow Men strutting their stuff around our house all year was just not going to fly. 

A quick trip to Wal-Mart solved that problem with some Thomas the Train fabric.  There is so much organizing to do, but it can get spendy to organize and buy storage containers for all the toys.  So my first mission is to look around the house and re-use and re-invent what we already have.  This project cost less than $10 and may even be cheaper if you use fabric and ribbon that you already have. 

MATERIALS:

Tin
Mod Podge & Foam Brushes
1 yard of fabric (s) - Add or subtract some depending on the size of your tin
Ribbon
Scissors
Glue Gun

TO DO:

1.  Measure the fabric to fit accordingly on the tin.  Leave enough excess on the bottom and top so it can be glued down underneath and on the top inside. 
2.  Use the glue gun to secure down one end of your fabric.  I drew a line with the glue gun from the bottom of the tin to the top and laid the end of the fabric there.  This secures it in place to help with the Mod Podge.
3.  Once one end of the fabric is glued, it will now stay in place while you add the Mod Podge.  Using the foam brushes, generously apply the Mod Podge to the tin.  Then lay the fabric over.  Smooth out bubbles.  Do one section at  time and repeat all the way around.  Follow the directions on the Mod Podge container for using it as a glue.
4.  Once the Mod Podge has dried underneath, apply a coat to the top of the fabric for the finish and protectant.  Let Dry.  Refer to directions on container. 
5.  I used the glue gun to attach the excess underneath the tin and on the inside of the tin for the top. 
6.  Add ribbon with glue gun if you desire.  You can also use different prints, etc. 

Enjoy rummaging through your house for old items to "makeover"!  And please do share :).

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Wall Letters - Made to Match for Butterfly Meadow by Kidsline

 

Here are photos of one of my latest "Made-to-Match" designs for the Butterfly Meadow by Kidsline collection.  If you would like a personalized wall letter for your child's room please fill out the ORDER FORM or visit MY ETSY SHOP.  They are $22 plus shipping and take about 4-7 days before they are ready to be mailed. If you have any questions please ask! 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

PLEASE NOTE:  Since this design, the butterfly has been discontinued so a different butterfly will be in its place.  Sorry :(

Gotta Make It: Photo Pillow

"I love you more today than yesterday...('cause yesterday you really ticked me off)"

 

Can you believe we've survived the holiday madness of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years? It was a busy household here and as a result I didn't have much time to start projects and share them with you.  But now that the Christmas tree is down and the string of visitors is over I've had the chance to look ahead to Valentine's Day instead of waiting until the last second :).  I'm trying to get Lil Man ready for Valentine's Day hoping that it will end the pre-nap and pre-bedtime question of "Santa not coming tonight?  Christmas all done?".   Lil Man seemed interested in the finished product of this project, however not as a decorative pillow, but as a football. And it didn't stop the Santa question tonight. Luckily, it wasn't for him and it was for the hubby who still seems amazed that I sewed the pillow.  The sewing skills are finally improving :).

I've had some June Tailor Quick Fuse Iron-On Inkjet Fabric Sheets (say that 10 times fast!) for awhile and I finally had the chance to use them!  Its really simple and if you have great graphic design skills you could have a blast.  My graphic design skills are a 3 out of 10 so we stuck with the basics.  A picture with one of my favorite love sayings "I love you more today than yesterday....cause yesterday you really ticked me off".  I couldn't sum up marriages and relationships any better. 

After you design it, print the design out and iron it on.  You are done!  They had tons of ideas for these  such as pillows (you don't have to sew one yourself, just go buy an inexpensive one from Wal-Mart/Target and start from there), aprons, scrapbook covers, t-shirts, computer mouse pads, backpacks, CD covers, Banners, etc. Its definitely an easy way to get a photo or design on to your favorite accessory. 

Have fun with these!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Wall Letters - New Designs

 

Instead of posting all the new designs separately I thought I'd make it simple and create a little collage.  These letters are whats been keeping me busy:).  New specialty designs include butterflies, Tinker Bell, music notes, Thomas the train, farmer themes and several beautiful designs in various color schemes.  There are larger pictures in my Hanging Letters Photo Album on the right sidebar if you'd like to see more pictures. 

You can purchase my letters through MY ETSY SHOP or you can also fill out the ORDER FORM on the left sidebar. 

I love custom orders so please let me know if you have a specific design you would like it to match and we can go from there. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

New Decorated Letter Design - "Kaylin" Purple and green flowers

 

This new "Kaylin" collection is now available on my Etsy account.  This adorable purple and pink flower design was specifically made to match the NoJo Razzle Dazzle Bedding.  You can check out my designs and place custom orders at MY SHOP.  In addition, you can always email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com to get started! 

I hope your holiday shopping is almost done!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Pink & Brown Bedroom Decorated Letters

 

Here are photos of an order from an ABC Baby Boutique customer.  They are surprising their daughters with this new room for Christmas.  Are you jealous?...I am!  Remember the letters are on sale until the end of November for $18 at my Etsy Shop.  I love doing custom orders to match your room or you can choose from some of the designs I've already done!  I think its now time for me to figure out Thanksgiving dinner since we're only a couple days away!  AHHHHH.....

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Cranberry & Pink Floral Letter

 

Here is picture of my latest custom hanging letter.  This design is now available at My Etsy Shop or you can always contact me via email with any questions!  They will remain on sale for $18 until the end of November.

I've given up on Thanksgiving, besides the meal of course, because I just have been too busy.  So now I'm focusing on Christmas to bring you some new and fun craft ideas for the holidays.  So stay tuned...

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

****UPDATE****  My last pink & cranberry floral design has been sold.  However, I have a dark red/light red version available and I'm always to willing to work with you individually to find the perfect match for your room just email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com.

 

Custom Decorated Letter - "Kenlee" Purple & Teal Stripes

 

Here is a photo of the first order through ABC Baby Boutique! They sent me a picture of the bedding and then I created the letter to match.  I think its going to be adorable in the room and add that special touch.  Take a look at other designs at My Etsy Shop, ABC Baby Boutique, or you can browse around my online photo gallery to the right.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!