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Crap I've Made
August 4, 2021Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by Floorigami. All opinions are my own. My sunroom is one of the features that really “sold” us on our house years ago. It’s a large, multi-purpose space attached to our family room that leads out to our back deck. The room is wall-to-wall windows and doors so it’s always bright and airy; a perfect spot for an art space and recording studio. The only downside to this area is that it’s not heated. So when I’m working in the sunroom during the Ohio winters, it gets C.O.L.D cold! Because we have a swimming pool, the floating flooring we installed about 4 years ago has not held up well to the kiddos walking in the sunroom drippy wet. And I may be a tad messy when it comes to my arts and crafts, too. The plank floor certainly doesn’t add any warmth to the room when it’s freezing outside. That’s why when I saw these peel and stick carpet tiles from Floorigami, I knew they were just what I needed! A simple, quick solution that covers up the current eyesore flooring while adding a layer of comfy, cozy vibes. Perfect! First, I feel it’s important to note that I installed these tiles myself in one morning! That’s with stopping to feed kids, switch over laundry, let the dogs out and all the other “mom” things I do during the day. To me, that is quite the feat!*Excuse me while I give myself a lil’ pat on the back* Really, this is a 4 step system. Seriously! Which makes it a doable project for even the most busy mom or novice home improvement DIY’er. And the tools? Crazy easy. Just grab a pair of work gloves, a carpet knife, a tape measure, marker, metal straight edge and a piece of chalk. Step 1: Clean, Clean, Clean! It’s important that the original flooring is clean and dry before carpet tile installation. I vacuumed first and followed up with a stick sweeper mop sprayed with floor cleaner to ensure the floor was dirt and dust free. Step 2: Time to use those elementary school measuring skills! In order to space out the tiles properly, it’s necessary to find the center of the room. Now, I’m no math magician and my measuring skills are most definitely sub-par, my friends. But I found this step to actually be a whole lot easier than I expected. Measure the width of the 2 longest, straightest walls. Where the 2 lines intersect is the center of the space. Taking a piece of white chalk and a straight edge, draw a line through the center of the room using the center mark as the guide. Step 3: Piece together the puzzle! I found it helpful to lay out tiles, upside down, using the directional arrows printed on the back to ensure the tiles were facing the right way. I chose to follow a simple pyramid technique – 1 tile placed in the middle of the center mark, subsequent tiles placed 6″ up and 6″ down on either side of the center tile. Laying the tiles that could attach without cutting, I stopped at each wall when I could no longer fit a full tile. It seemed easier to save all the carpet cutting for last. Step 4: Have fun! Now it’s time for the fun part! It was so cool to see the room slowly transform as I worked my way through the design! Once you have your technique and pattern figured out, as well as a handful of your tiles laid out, peel the liner from the adhesive on the back of the tile and, making sure your arrows are still pointing in the right direction, position the carpet snuggly to the next tile and press down to adhere. No kidding – that’s it! To cut the smaller sizes needed to fit along the walls, I turned the tile upside-down and marked the length or width needed using the straight edge and a marker. A carpet knife made cutting a breeze and the replacement stickers that were provided in each box were extremely useful for the narrow pieces that required cutting off the attached adhesive! I did find that a few strokes of the vacuum once installation was complete helped lift the fibers and hide any lines that may have been showing from the tiles. The finished result is beautiful, but what really seals the deal for me is that the carpet matches my dog. Just kidding! Although it is pretty darn funny! But honestly,  it’s awesome having the peace of mind knowing that if there’s an accident (I have 8 kids, 2 dogs, a swimming pool and have I mentioned I’m a messy crafter?) I can simply remove the tile that needs to be replaced – or deep deep scrubbed – without compromising the integrity of the rest of the carpet. Extreme Dance Parties on ultra soft carpet may commence! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
June 7, 2021Crap I've MadeOne of my favorite things about what I do (other than being able to do it right alongside my little and not-so-little people in the comfort of my homemade-ish home) is being a regular on The Kelly Clarkson Show. I’ve been on five times (4 times this season) and each time is just as exciting, just as rad and just as fun! Kelly and I have made sidewalk chalk, silhouette portraits, lava lamps and we even threw a baby shower together! And guys, let me tell you, she’s just as awesome as she seems to be on her show. A true daytime TV gem! And this last time we were virtually together, we created Homemade Rainbow Bubbles for her Splash into Summer episode! Watch the video below and print out the recipe to make your own Homemade Rainbow Bubbles with all the smelly smells! Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  6 cups Water1 cup Unscented Dish Soap1 tbsp GlycerinEssential OilsFood Coloring Instructions Mix the first 3 ingredients together in a pitcher or bowl.  Separate the soap mix into individual cups or containers (lidded containers are great to store the bubble solution for later use without worrying about spills!) Add a few drops of food coloring and essential oils into each individual container.  *I tried to match my food coloring color with the essential oil scent – yellow and lemon, green and eucalyptus, pink and strawberry, etc. You can even make your own bubble wands using pipe cleaners!  Big News! My book has officially released! You can find Crafty Family Ideas online at Amazon, Walmart or Target or wherever you shop for books.    Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 28, 2021Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by Rockler. All opinions are my own. I decided it was high-time I show our furry friends some love around the house. Well, decor love. Hugs, kisses, walks and treats they get plenty of from our big family! But, for years these poor dogs have had mismatched bowls randomly put on the floor for their food and water. The bowls got kicked around, the water often spilled, and the food seemed to always be all around the bowl, but not actually in the bowl. This weekend I upgraded their serving dishes for the cost of some table legs and a simple serving tray. They love their fancy dishes and I bet your pets will too! Here’s what I used: Bamboo Serving Tray (found at the stores, online or even at the Goodwill!) Peel & Stick Wallpaper (I had some left over from a previous project, but it’s fairly inexpensive to buy. Especially if you only need a small roll!) White and Gold Spray Paint Glue (I used Gorilla Glue. Just make sure you are using glue that works on wood and metal!) Rockler 6″ Hairpin Table Legs Here’s how I made them: I started by spray painting the tray white and the legs gold. Next, I measured and cut the wallpaper to fit the interior of the tray. After removing the backing, I slowly applied the wallpaper to the bottom of the tray (starting at one side and working my way across the base), making sure to press any trapped air bubbles out the sides with my hands. The final step was to attach the legs. Even though the legs came with sturdy screws, the bamboo tray is extremely thin wood. I opted to use glue in place of the screws. I allowed the glue to dry overnight. That’s it – it’s finished! I love a quick and simple project that serves as a useful and beautiful item for my family! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 16, 2021Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by UpStart Art Resin. All opinions are my own. We’re always looking for new ideas to add to our Family Game Nights around here. And these Dried Flower Tic-Tac-Toe Resin Game Boards and Colorful Dominoes are not only a great addition to Fam Fun Night, but they also look totally adorable on your end table or coffee table! As with any craft project, having all your supplies ready before you start is key to a successful finished product. And, for this project, protecting your workspace as well as your skin is a must. *It’s best to work with epoxy in a well ventilated area. Here’s what you’ll need: UpStart Epoxy Art Resin and HardenerUpStart Epoxy Mica Powders2 Plastic or Silicone Measuring CupsSilicone Tic-Tac-Toe Board Mold &/or Dominoes MoldPopsicle SticksGlovesFace MaskDisposable CupsDried Flowers Here’s how to make it: Step 1: Set out your clean and dry silicone mold onto a covered work surface. Make sure your gloves are on and your face covering is in place! Step 2: For the Tic-Tac-Toe Board: Using dried flowers and a pair of tweezers, place one flower, upside down, on each tic-tac-toe square. Remember, the bottom is actually the top of the finished game board! * My flowers were left over from a DIY flower press I made last year. But you can also purchase an assortment of dried flowers for crafts inexpensively online. Step 3: Measure out equal parts resin and hardener into silicone measuring cups. For the X’s and O’s, I mixed a 1:1 ratio of 100 ml resin and hardener for each letter. After stirring the epoxy mix in a disposable cup for 3 minutes with a popsicle stick (making sure to scrape the sides often), add a small amount of mica powder and mix thoroughly again. Pour colored mix into the molds. For the dominoes and the letters, pouring slowly is important as they fill quickly. A clean popsicle stick can be used to scrape any extra mix from the top of the mold. Lastly, use a heat gun held close to the top of the epoxy to pop any surface bubbles. * It’s better to add a small amount of color to your epoxy and add more to achieve desired color than to add too much at the start. * I chose to do the X’s and O’s in 2 different colors. If you’d like each letter to be a color mix, simply pour the first mixed and colored resin into both the X and the O molds filling them half way. Let sit for about 3 hours and then add your different top color using the same method as above. Step 4: For both game boards, I needed approximately 400 ml of epoxy mix each (both the resin and hardener measuring cups filled twice each). I did not add mica powder to the Tic-Tac-Toe mix as I wanted the flowers to really pop inside a clear board. As before, once the resin and hardener are combined in a disposable cup, mix, mix, mix for 3 minutes. Slowly pour the mix into the mold until full and use a heat gun to pop surface bubbles. * If you don’t have a heat gun, a toothpick can be used to individually pop the surface bubbles. * I did find that I needed to press the flowers back into place with a popsicle stick a few times in the first hour or so as they were insistent upon moving around in the epoxy. Step 5: Allow the mold to set a full 24 hours before removing. To remove the finished product, slowly peel the silicone away from the project. Step 6: Play! * In order to make enough of the X’s and O’s (4 each), I had to make 2 separate batches. Even though it took 2 days to complete the project, I think my girls would agree that it was totally worth the wait! I love all the bright colors in the set. Gives me major Spring Vibes! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 10, 2021Crap I've MadeI believe there is no better gift to bestow your children than the gift of reading. To learn to spend spare time losing oneself in a book is time well spent, for sure. So, in place of more candy this Valentine’s Day, I created these adorable Valentine’s Day DIY Bookmark and Tracker to go along with a handful of gently used books I found on Facebook Marketplace for under a dollar a piece!  These are not only a fun way to hold a little one’s place while reading, they serve as a record keeper for all the books they’ve read throughout the year!  I collected a few simple supplies to create these unique book markers. All I needed was cardstock (1 sheet for each bookmark), a sharp pair of scissors, glue (I used hot glue), decorative edge scissors, colorful yarn, hole punch and paint to decorate the front.  Start by deciding the size of your bookmark. I was using pink paper that was precut in a 12″x2″ size for the book tracker. I knew my sleeve needed to be a bit larger than that.  Next you will fold your cardstock to size. Make sure to allow a bit of space to cut the edge with decorative scissors as well as glue. Cut the extra paper as well as the decorative edge.  Fold the front corner inside the sleeve. Glue the bottom and right edge of the sleeve. Punch a hole in the top center – this will be to hold the tassel.      For the tracker – I chose to create a simple bullet list on the computer using Word, but you could create this with a pen and ruler as well!  To create the tassel, I wrapped a length of yard around my 4 fingers 10-12 times. With an approximately 6″ piece of yard, run through the top of the wrapped yarn and set the wrapped yarn down. Using another short length of yarn, knot the top of the wrapped yarn together securely. Cut open the bottom of the wrapped twine to create the tassel.  With the larger yarn that was run through the top of the tassel, knot the tassel through the hole of the bookmark sleeve.         I decorated the front of the bookmarks with washi tape and painted hearts and polka dots.  My kids adore these and have already begun filling the lines up with the books they’ve read! I may even make one for myself! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
January 29, 2021Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by Golden State Art. All opinions are my own. One of the best ways to add color and dimension to a space is by hanging a piece of artwork to your wall. But, framed artwork can be crazy expensive! My Simple & Swirly DIY Wall Art is the perfect solution! And everyone knows that a pretty frame really makes the piece! I chose a gold aluminum frame to go with this particular piece of artwork – I love it! This art is easy, inexpensive, completely customizable and totally adorable! Here’s what you’ll need to make your own: A Beautiful Frame. Mine is a 16″ x 20″ gold aluminum frame from Golden State Art.Modeling PasteAcrylic Paints3″ Round Sponge (1 sponge per each acrylic paint color)16″x20″ sized white foam board, mat board or cardboard (canvas board would be too wide for the frame, but regular paper won’t be strong enough to hold the paint medium we are using.)Bowls or containers for mixed paintSpoons Taking approximately 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup of modeling paste in one of your bowls, add a few teaspoons of one of your chosen acrylic paint colors. Mix well. Note: the modeling paste is a milky white color out of the container. It clears when dry. This step is creating a gel medium that will allow the paint to be applied in a thick coat that will retain its shape and texture. 2. Once you’ve mixed all your colors with the modeling paste, prepare your space by covering your table with paper and preparing a small bowl of water for your sponges. You will also want to plan your design. I’m going with 5 rows of colors somewhat evenly spaced. I am certainly not attempting perfection, but generally clean lines. If you are doing a random pattern, or want to overlap your colors, you will want to wait a bit in between coats to allow them to dry or your colors will mix. 3. Dip a sponge in the bowl of clean water and thoroughly ring it out. Wetting your sponge allows easier grip as well as smoother application of the paint. 4. Press your damp sponge in the first color of paint you are using. On a clean piece of paper or paper plate, apply the first coat of paint from the sponge. The first coat tends to be uneven and thick – so by applying it off to the side, you are ensuring an even surface on your board. 5. Paint your row of circles by placing the round sponge where you want it and slowly twisting the sponge in a complete circle. Carefully lift the sponge straight up. The twisting action will help you create a full and even looking circle vs. just pressing the sponge and picking it up. 6. Reapply paint to the sponge and continue to your next circle. 7. I think the circles look like popped bubbles at this point. It’s kind of cool looking, but not what I’m going for. If you like it, you can just continue with the steps above for each color and row of circles. I decided to make the circles more textured and fun! With the back of a spoon covered in the paint mix, I swirled the back of the spoon around the sponge circle creating a swirly design that almost resembles the top of a frosted cupcake! 8. Now, I just continued with the steps above for each color and row of circles. 9. Because this paint is so thick, the dry time is going to take a little longer. You definitely want to make sure you are giving it plenty of time to dry and set before you add the finished board into your frame! 10. Remove the backing of your picture frame and place your finished art inside. The tabs on this frame were super easy and fast to remove and replace! This DIY art is fun, colorful and looks right at home in this little reading and music corner I’ve created for my kids! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
January 12, 2021Crap I've MadeIf you’ve been around here for a while, you know my family pretty much lives on a budget. From grocery shopping to household upkeep, to holidays and vacations – practical spending is a must for my crew of 10. And, because of said family of 10, we have occasional need of furniture replacement. Don’t get me wrong, I try to get as much life as I can from our furniture. And I’m a firm believer in pride of ownership of all things. Meaning, a strict no eating or drinking rule on the couch mixed with an attempt to keep the dogs off (at least when I’m in the room. Otherwise, the dogs are on the couch as if they’re the Masters of the house.) and a regular machine washing of dirty pillows and covers. But, even still, a couch and loveseat can only last so long. This time, we opted to do our furniture shopping in-store as well as online. After many, many hours entering and exiting all the value/bargain furniture stores in and around our area, we found a sofa set that was sensible on the wallet, sturdily made and practical for our family. One thing I was certain about all along was my desire to add more color into my family room. Not so much in the couches themselves, but in everything around them. So a neutral shade of furniture was important for me. After all, I am a woman and I have been known to occasionally change my mind. A neutral colored couch set would be easier to accommodate any changes in décor I may decide to implement in the future. What can I say? I’m always thinking ahead! Step #1 Colorful Throw Pillows! One of the easiest and least expensive ways to add a splash of color to your living space is through accessories. And there’s no better accessory to a couch or loveseat than a few fluffy throw pillows! Most new couches come with a set of throw pillows made to “match” the fabric of the furniture. The ones that came with the set we purchased were gag-worthy, for sure. Certainly not anything I “loved”. So, off to Amazon I went! I chose to go with colorful pom-pom trimmed set of covers. I transferred the filling from the original, boring pillows to the new vibrant cases. The color mix and matching coordinated with the new armchairs we were adding. Which, leads me to step #2. Step #2 Online Bargain Shopping! Buying furniture online, sight unseen, can be a nerve-wracking and tricky experience. Obviously, it’s so important to make sure you’re reading reviews and researching the product. But even still, you don’t truly know what you’re spending your hard-earned money on and what you’re actually getting until it’s at your door. This is why I have an easier time purchasing such items from trusted sites like Amazon. Their return policy is typically excellent, their customer service has always been top-notch when we’ve needed it and I know I’ll get the item quickly (which will allow for a fast turn around and change of direction if I should decide it’s not what I wanted). I went out on a limb and ordered our accent chairs online and I honestly could not be more pleased. The accent chairs were really the place I wanted to add those pops of color and “Go Big Or Go Home” so to speak. By selecting a pretty bright blue velvety chair and a swivel plush yellow chair, my “fun” factor in the family room most definitely went up quite a few notches! Now, I must note, that these pieces did need assembled. But, I’m not afraid of power tools and the thought of putting the furniture together (it was actually quite easy) did not deter me in the slightest. Just keep it in mind when ordering from the internet. Step #3 Customize Your Furniture with Color! There’s not really anything that I’m afraid to paint. Most especially if it’s a second-hand piece or trash-night find. I’ve been known to give paint a good ol’ college try on pretty much any surface. So, when the couches arrived, the very first thing I did was paint the boring, dark wood legs. First, I sanded them a bit by hand to remove the shiny clear finish. Then I cleaned them up with a dry towel. Next I painted a few coats of white and once that was fully dry, I added a gold leaf layer to the front legs. This was actually the first time I tried my hand at Gold Leaf. Here is the kit I used. It was as messy as I suspected it would be (which is why I was so thankful I covered my workspace with paper beforehand), but otherwise quite fun to do! Here’s how I did it: Once my counter was covered, I applied a thin, even layer of adhesive to the sanded legs. They had to sit for about 20 minutes. Next, I carefully placed a sheet of the gold leaf onto one side of the leg. Using a clean, dry paintbrush, I slowly brushed the leaf sheet into place, smoothing out edges and corners. I continued to piece together the leaf sheets around the leg until it was fully covered. I wanted a bit of a ragged edge, so I did not use painters tape at the top of the leg where I wanted to keep white. If you would prefer a crisp line between where you add your gold leaf and the surface, painters tape would definitely be needed here. I was only concerned with adding the gold leaf to the 2 front legs of each couch. The back legs were simply painted white. After all 4 legs were finished with the gold leaf, I added an even layer of sealer. It took about an hour to dry before I was able to reattach the legs to the couches. *When applying the gold leaf, there may be spots on your painted surface that don’t seem to “take” the sheet. If this happens, just continue on with the sheet you are working with. You can always add a bit more adhesive (waiting the 20 minutes until it’s tacky) and piece together the gold leafing using the broken bits from the first application. As you can see in the second picture, the broken bits stick pretty well to a dry paintbrush due to static in the air. To coordinate with the gold leaf couch legs, I spray painted the legs of both of the accent chairs shiny gold (the blue chair had a dark color stain and the yellow chair was more of a bare wood finish). Once the legs were painted, dried and attached, I added a bit of whimsy to the bottom of the blue chair with inexpensive yellow 4″ fringe trim tassel. I stapled it along the bottom of the chair. You could also hot glue it on if you don’t have access to a staple gun. This is such a quick and simple step that really made the chair just that bit of “extra”. Step #4 Dress Up Your Curtains with Color! I didn’t want to change out the sheer curtains I already had hanging in the windows. I really do love the breezy feel they bring to the room and the amount of sunlight they allow to filter through. But, I wanted to do something to spice them up. These multi-colored wood bead curtain tie backs were just the ticket! These are easily made with wood beads painted your desired colored and a length of white cotton rope. Step #5 Personalized Artwork! There is no simpler and less expensive way to add colorful personalization to any space than adding children’s artwork. I mean, how many of us can actually claim to know the artists behind the pieces in our home? And if your little Picasso’s are anything like my little Picasso’s, the number of pieces and the creative possibilities are endless! Plus, seriously guys. Put one of their handmade pictures in a fancy frame, hang it on the wall, and tell me the smile you receive from that little face doesn’t make you want to cover your walls from floor to ceiling with their pictures just to keep getting that adorable grin from that adorable kisser forever and ever! If you’re looking for a more mature piece – be thrifty! Yard sales, thrift shops and second-hand boutiques are excellent places to find that perfect painting or illustration. Oh, and don’t let the frame deter you! Pay attention to the art itself. The frame is an easy fix by either replacing it completely or simply applying a few coats of magic spray paint. Step #6 Happy, Bright Lighting Matters! You can’t forget your lighting! I’ve kinda got a thing for lamps. I love them and have a whole lot of them (to my husband’s dismay. “Another lamp?” are words he has muttered more than I’m sure he would have ever thought possible in our years together). In my defense, I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever purchased a lamp that wasn’t clearance-priced or second-hand. But still, I can totally admit that we have a lot of ’em. I prefer a lamp light to an overhead light in the evenings and I can’t have a side table that doesn’t have a lamp on it. It’s just not done (sorry. I’ve been watching Bridgerton on Netflix. I swear the British accent and tone I most certainly don’t have is strong in me lately). Step #7 Don’t Forget to Color the Floor! Did I mention I have 8 kids? I’m sure I have. Did I mention having 8 kids is as messy, chaotic and dirty as it sounds? Both figuratively and literally? I’m sure I have. We purposefully have mostly hardwood floors in our home with the exception of the children’s bedrooms and the family room. I like having the carpet in the room we hang out the most in together. It makes for a soft spot to sit if all the couches and chairs are taken during movie night and, in my opinion, just gives a more cozy feel to the space. Similar to my views on the couch colors, I prefer a more neutral tone to my carpeting. But, an area rug allows me to go as crazy as I want with designs and colors! The fact that it’s easier to clean spilled milk from an upturned sippy cup off an area rug than out of the carpet just adds to the charm. This particular rug in our family room was an online deal on Black Friday and was a total steal for the size. Of course, I had been eyeing it for months (and months) waiting for a sale price we could actually afford. The wait was totally worth it and it pulls together the new shades of the furniture and accessories like it was meant to be here all along! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
December 6, 2020Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by Dremel Tools. All opinions are my own. As I was decorating the house for the holidays this year, there seemed to be so many Christmas decorations that my kiddos weren’t allowed to touch. Even our nice train track with the working engine is something they can only play with when Mom or Dad can help. I could tell they were feeling a whole lot of “well, this isn’t fun” feelings and honestly, it just didn’t seem fair. I decided it was high time to create an entire tree, from top to bottom, for my kids to decorate and play with. And this DIY Under the Tree Toy Train Track is just the final touch their Holiday décor needed! Plus, the track is incredibly easy to move around and store! Oh, and plus plus, it’s crazy inexpensive to create! Hometalk Starting with 2 pieces of 1″x3″x8″ wood pieces, we used a saw to cut (4) 18″ and (4) 7″ pieces. If you don’t have a saw, make sure to have your pieces cut at the store before you leave! We chose to cut the 8 pieces at 22 degree angles at the ends to create an octagon shape in the track. You will also need (3) 18″ pieces and (2) 7″ pieces cut to match the inside angles of the track for the back. These will provide a surface to hold your homes and trees. I spray painted the track a metallic gray and the back pieces white. Set the wood aside to fully dry. Next, we painted our wood and rectangle squares – which will be the houses – colorful and bright shades with acrylic craft paint. For the roof pieces, we painted our triangle shapes black. Using white puffy paint, we created a snowy shingle look in layers across each of the triangles. A bit of craft snow glitter added the perfect sparkle to our snowy rooftops! Using the hot glue gun, we attached the roofs to the houses. I prefer to “man” the glue gun during our family crafting time. I know first-hand how painful burns from the glue gun can be on your tender digits! Once the spray painted wood was dry, it was time to connect the gray track pieces to the white back pieces. Matching the sizes together (18″ track pieces with 18″ back pieces, 7″ track pieces with 7″ back pieces), we screwed them together from the outside of the back piece to the bottom of the back of the track piece. The Dremel Cordless Screwdriver made this step crazy easy for my little ones to help with! Hot glue the finished houses and tree shapes to the interior of the back piece and continue filling in with the shapes along the front and sides of the track. We wanted our houses and trees to be touching so that we could fit as many as possible on our track. To help hold the track together when in use, narrow strips of velcro did the job! Plus, the velcro makes it crazy simple to move the track around and store away. We found some plain wood cars and trains at the craft store and added a bit of paint to them to use on our track. But, the track is wide enough for most toy cars, really. It’s totally perfect and totally hands-on for the kiddos! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
October 26, 2020Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by WORX Tools. All opinions are my own. Christmas is right around the corner and my itch to start decorating my home is becoming more of a jolly, red, green and white rash. I can’t wait to deck the halls and make our spaces joyful. One of my most favorite parts of the entire Christmas season is all the lights. Houses, business and town gazebos lit up and sparkling, trees glowing in the night and icicle lights adorning front porches. Even though it’s cold and snowy, all the twinkling and shining just makes me feel warm and aglow. This Merry and Bright Marquee sign is perfect for any light-loving kindred spirit and will certainly put you in a wonderfully cheerful mood! Step 1: Paint Plaque White Spray paint the painter’s plaque white outside or in a well-ventilated space.  Step 2: Tape the Edges After the paint has dried, you will need to use painters’ tape around the top edge to keep it clean for the next step. Step 3: Add Glue Using a decoupage medium and a foam brush, apply a coat of glue along the side of the plaque.  Step 4: Glitter Up the Sides Making sure the plaque is over a tray or plate, sprinkle the glitter onto the wet side.  Continue working around the plaque, brushing on the glue and shaking on the glitter one side at a time.  Set to the plaque off to the side to dry.  Don’t forget to dump your extra glue on the tray back into your bottle!  Step 5: Paint the Letters With a gold sparkle spray paint, paint the front of each letter spelling out “MERRY & BRIGHT” outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. You could also use acrylic paint in place of the spray paint if you prefer.  Allow to fully dry.  Step 6: Mark the Letters Turning the letters over, mark where the holes for each bulb will go on the back of the letter using a black marker. Make sure you know how many bulbs are on your battery-operated strand beforehand so that you make the correct number of holes in each letter.  When making your holes, keep in mind the letters are thin wood that may split easily and staying in the center of each letter will prevent this.  Step 6: Drill the Holes Using the Maker X Rotary Tool with the 1/8” drill bit, drill through each black dot on the back of your letters.   Step 7: Mark the Lines With a ruler and a pencil, lightly mark a line 2” down from the top (for MERRY) and ½” up from the bottom (for BRIGHT) to use as a template for applying the letters.   The line will help you keep your words straight.   Step 8: Hot Glue the Letters Hot glue MERRY & BRIGHT onto the plaque, making sure not to cover up the holes. (If you do accidently cover the holes with glue, don’t panic! You will wind up drilling through it anyway in the next step.)  Step 9: Drill the Plaque Now that your letters are glued in place, it’s time to use the Rotary Tool again to drill through to the back of the plaque.   Step 10: Erase Erase any pencil lines you can see. Step 11: Velcro Battery Pack With a 2” strip of sticky velcro, attach the battery pack to the back of the painter’s plaque in the opening of the frame.  Step 12: Insert Lights Insert one miniature bulb through each hole, working slowly up and down the letters.  If you notice the lights pulling out of the holes in the back, a small piece of duct tape will help hold the pesky wires in place.  Step 13: Hot Glue Snowballs For a finishing touch, take .5” white pom-pom balls and hot glue them randomly across the front of the marquee sign to give it a snowy look.  Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
September 22, 2020Crap I've MadeThis homemade Cinnamon & Spice Potpourri brings out all the bestest smelly smells of fall and winter celebrations. It’s simple to put together, requires very few ingredients & makes an awesome and easy gift idea! I don’t know about you, but I love the interior of my home to encompass what’s going on in the seasons outside and all around it. Especially when there’s a nip in the autumn air and the desire to be cozy comfy under a soft blanket in your flannel pj’s holding a mug of something sweet and warm is strong. And the best way to bring that feeling inside is with something that tantalizes the sniffer. Blusters the honker. Sings to the bugle. (AKA – is really pleasing to the nose!) Once you make this heavenly potpourri, you’ll be tempted to stay home all day and just sniff the aroma all around you. I promise. Cinnamon & Spice Potpourri Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  1 cup dried orange & apple slices You can purchase them packaged and pre-dried. You can also slice your own oranges and apples and dehydrate them in a dehydrator or straight on your oven rack set at the lowest setting (250°) until dried out (about 2-3 hours) turning them every half hour or so. They will stick to a tray, which is why they should be placed directly on the rack.1 cup dried anise stars1 cup dried rosehips1 cup whole cloves1 cup cinnamon stickshomemade gingie kids from recipe above Instructions Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or container. Take a few really good sniffs to let the amazing scent settle into the depths of your nostrils. Potpourri can be set out in a bowl dry or placed in a pot of boiling water to simmer over the stovetop.For gift-giving, separate potpourri mix into smaller boxes or bags tied with ribbon for a perfect housewarming gift, hostess gift, Christmas gift or simple "Just Because" gift. NotesFor an adorable Christmas addition, mix in my Cinnamon Gingie Kids (below) to the potpourri! Cinnamon Gingie Kids Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  1 cup ground cinnamon1 tbsp ground cloves1 tbsp ground nutmeg¾ cup applesauce2 tbsp white craft glue Instructions Preheat oven to 200°. You can also omit the oven and let the ornaments air dry in a sunny spot for 4-5 days.Stir together cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Mix in the applesauce and glue. Whip the mixture with your stand mixer or just your hands for a few minutes until a ball forms. If mix is too gooey, add more cinnamon. If it's too dry, add more applesauce.Lightly dust your work surface with cinnamon. Roll out dough to approx. ¼ inch thickness. Using desired cookie cutter shapes, cut out dough and place on non-stick sprayed pans. Don't forget to punch a hole using a toothpick or skewer if you wish to hang them with ribbon or add a bow.Bake for 3 hours.Allow to cool completely. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
August 10, 2020Crap I've MadeOne of our many stuck-at-home-going-stir-crazy Quarantine projects was this bookshelf. I wanted it to match the home library we already have in the dining room. You can see it here. I totally love having a space for my own personal books, but I wasn’t loving how cluttered it always looked. I tried a few different ways to style the shelves and none of them left me content with the result. Plus, our Stick Figure Art (you can see those here), were always wonky and crooked. But, of course, I didn’t want just plain doors – blah! And wouldn’t it be so fun if said “doors” displayed all of my children’s priceless artwork?! So, off to Home Depot I went. I picked up 2 pieces of pegboard, some pine furring strips, brass door handles and brass hinges. After measuring the length and width of my bookshelf and dividing that size in half (while also allowing the space the hinges would take), I knew how large each door needed to be. For this project, I only needed two 48″x24″ prefinished white pegboard panels and (2) 2″x4″ pine pieces. I attached the cut pine to the outside of the pegboard using wood glue and a few wood screws. The panel was too hard for our handheld staple gun to go through and we didn’t have the right size nails for the air stapler, and honestly, I was entirely too lazy to go back to the store, so glue and screws were our next best option (screwed in from the underside of the panel, of course). Once the panel doors were constructed, it was time to sand and paint. I used a brush and acrylic white paint to paint the interior side of the pegboard and white spray paint for the front. After the paint was dry, I attached the handles. I knew the shelf sat a bit higher (and I’m not the tallest of folk) so I placed the handles a bit lower than halfway down instead of centered. Next came the hinges. I measured and screwed them into the doors first and then into the sides of the bookshelf. I ordered a set of inexpensive gold frames in multiple sizes, miniature bulldog clips as well as the pegboard metal prong hooks and Pegitz Pegboard Peg Locks needed to hand the frames. Now I don’t have to worry about the frames falling off when I open the doors. GAH! I literally cannot stop staring at the finished product! I even switched out the individual Stick Figure Art frames for a sturdy set of long gold frames to match the ones on the doors and keep those guys from getting all out of whack! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
July 14, 2020Crap I've MadeI know I’ve already shared all of my super Top Secret tips and tricks to camping in the great outdoors in my Tired Mother’s Guide to Camping with Kids, but I also wanted to share my recipe for Homemade Mosquito Repellent that is not only good for camping but excellent for use all summer long. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always disliked spraying my kids with drugstore mosquito repellent products. When I read the label, I feel like they’re full of unknown crap and the over the counter sprays tend to leave their skin feeling sticky and gross. Not a good combination of feelings on hot summer nights. I decided to try my own hand at a more natural, homemade option. Now, I should definitely disclose that I don’t normally use essential oils for anything in my home other than to put in my cute lil’ diffuser that I absolutely love as a “cover up the baby poop smell” air freshener. That’s it. I’m not rollin’ it on my armpits or behind my ears or any other place that may be unmentionable. I purchased a set of 6 cheapo oils on Amazon for like $9 to use in said diffuser. This was literally the only time I’ve bought and used essential oils for any purpose. I’ll definitely be using them a bit more now when I need to make a new batch of this mosquito repellent, though. Most of the oils in the recipe are fairly common to come across. I’ve seen them at the grocery store and at most drug stores. I did need to order the citronella oil online as that was the only ingredient I didn’t have on hand. (Yes, that absolutely means I had a huge bottle of vodka in our garage fridge. Don’t judge me, Karen. Sometimes alcohol makes me a better mother…) I promise you that this DIY Bug & Mosquito Repellent is clean, fresh and doesn’t leave an oily residue. Plus, you can make it in under 5 minutes (and it’s cheap to make – once you buy the initial supplies, you have plenty to make many additional batches!) Homemade Mosquito Repellent Spray Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  1/2 cup water1/2 cup Witch Hazel1 tbsp rubbing alcohol or vodka30 drops Citronella essential oil30 drops Lemongrass essential oil20 drops Lavender essential oil20 drops Tea Tree essential oil20 drops Eucalyptus essential oil10 drops Peppermint essential oil *the essential oil amounts and types you use are really up to you. I personally love the smell of the spray with all of the listed oils together. But, if one or two of these oils aren’t exactly your cup o’tea, just omit them (with the exception of the Citronella as it’s the main ingredient to deterring those pesky blood suckers.) Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
June 20, 2020Crap I've MadeNeed a quick do-it-yourself idea for Dad? Don’t panic – I’ve got you covered! Here are 3 of my favorite Dad DIY’s that you can make in a day! Locally Made Liquor Tied With A Duct Tape Bow These bows were crazy easy to make and are a great way to present a bottle of locally distilled liquor. Simply wrap a strip of duct tape around the width of the bottle. Then, for the bow, fold a length of tape on itself so the “sticky sides” are pressed together (mine were about 18″ long to start). Next I formed the bow and used a separate narrow strip of duct tape to hold it together. I attached the back of the bow to the strip of tape using a small piece of rolled tape. Sports Door Hanger Made with authentic baseballs and a mini bat, this door hanger is perfect for a sports fan! (click picture to take you to the full DIY directions!) Sports Beer Caddy Does Dad like to watch his favorite sports team’s games with friends and neighbors? Make him his own BYO beer caddy to take along with him! (click picture to take you to the full DIY directions!) Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
June 14, 2020Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by WORX Tools. All opinions are my own. Caring for my large family, instructing school at home, and basic every-day housekeeping tends to take up a majority of my time. I try to maintain our yard and flower beds to keep up the exterior appearance of my home, but sometimes the lawn just gets the best of me and the weeds and grass get out of hand! I decided it was time to tackle that side flower bed that has been left untended and unloved since we originally built our front porch (ahem, 4 years ago!) It’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” spots outside my home and it was past time I gave it a little TLC. I’ve broken down my flower bed makeover in 4 simple steps.  Step 1: Use a Landroid Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower I mean, a lawn mower that mows the lawn on it’s own and even returns itself to the recharging base when it’s finished? I think I’m in love! I can’t even get my kids or my husband to put their shoes away after they wear them!  Set-up is a breeze and took just about an hour. There’s a lot of pictures in the Quick Start Guide, which is great for me. I’m a visual learner and tend to speed through the words, not to mention there’s typically kids running all around distracting me, so the pictures were definitely my friends! Once we constructed the charging base or “garage” as my kids refer to it, we placed it on the side of our barn as it only receives the morning sun and was away from the play area.  After measuring 10” from the edge of all of our lawn and gardens, we installed the boundary wire using the stakes directly to the surface of the lawn. And thanks to the Anti-Collision System, this robo guy senses my fences and even my kids playground equipment and toys (that are typically all over the place!) He simply detects them and navigates around them. No worries about anything being run over or ruined if we forget to do a toy clean-up before mowing day! Step 2: Pull The Weeds I know there are a load of spray weed killers on the market that can be used in the garden, but I prefer a “greener” route. I use a lot of elbow grease and patience and pull the weeds out at the root. Plus, if you have little helpers, they consider this tedious chore quite fun! Just be prepared for many, many, worm and bug distractions! Step 3: Add Color These DIY Concrete Flower Blocks were the perfect way to add some visual interest and a pop of color to this flower bed without spending a lot of money on pots.  They were fast and simple to make – in under an hour I had these adorable blocks planted and in the garden! Taking 5 single, clean concrete blocks, I spray painted them yellow on the 4 sides and top. I didn’t bother with the bottom as I knew that would be sitting down in the soil.  Once dry, I filled them with potting soil and planted 3 annual flower bundles in each opening. Don’t forget a good, thorough watering for your newly transplanted flowers! Step 4: Compost Mulch This side garden was once full of perennials. Many of the plants were destroyed due to the construction from the porch addition. I planted some temporary blooms to the garden with annual flowers along the border until the perennials (hopefully) return to their original glory. The mulch compost adds a layer of protection against future pesky weeds and controls erosion – which is great since it’s on a bit of an incline – all while adding organic matter for good soil nutrition. Win, win, win! The end result is a flower bed that so many of my neighbors have complimented me on as they stroll by! It feels so good to check something off the bottom of the dreaded “To-Do” list! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 29, 2020Crap I've MadeThis post was sponsored by Aleene’s. All opinions are my own. I adore candles in my home and decor. Real, battery operated, tapered or tealight, I love ‘em all! These DIY Doily Bowls are a shabby-chic simple way to provide a gorgeous base for the candle of your choice. The warmer days have got me itching to visit the beach, and the beautifully trimmed lace doily filled with cool, white sand just screams “Boho Summer” to me. Aleene’s Premium Decoupage glue makes creating the look a breeze! Gather your supplies: Aleene’s Premium Decoupage  Small Craft Paint Brush or Foam Brush Latex Balloons (one per bowl – any color) Doily (paper or fabric) Twine Step 1: Inflate balloon.  Keep in mind the size of your doily (mine are approx. 12” round) combined with the size of your balloon will dictate the size of your bowl. Tie your balloon closed and place it – tie side down – into a container to hold it steadily while you work.  Step 2: First glue layer. After deciding on your preferred finish (I used glossy for the paper doilies and matte for the fabric), apply a thin layer of glue onto your balloon with your brush making sure to place glue everywhere the doily will lay.  Step 3: Place doily. Center the middle of the doily to the top of the glue-covered balloon and gently apply. Step 4: Final Coat. Add another coat of glue on the doily. This is a slow and steady process. You don’t want to add too much at a time as it could drip over your workspace and possibly rip if you are using paper.  * But don’t fret! This glue cleans up easily with soap and water and is very forgiving with mistakes! If you find that you’ve ripped your paper doily, push it gently back into place with your finger and add a thin layer of glue. Adding multiple thin coats will be more beneficial than one thick coat. Step 5: Allow to fully dry.  Many factors come into play here – from humidity to glue thickness – you want to ensure they are completely dry before moving on!  Step 6: Pop the balloon!  You could always untie the knot too, but that’s no fun! Warning – sometimes when the balloon deflates, it deflates the doily along with it! * But don’t fret! If the glue is still tacky, it may cause the balloon to stick to the inside of the doily bowl. When the balloon deflates, the doily folds into itself too! Don’t panic! Simply remove the balloon pieces from the inside and reshape your bowl. You’ll be surprised how easily you can reshape it! You may want to let it sit a bit longer at this point just to make sure it really is fully dry before adding your filler.  Step 7: Add bow (optional).  I just love the rustic feel of twine with the delicate look of the doily! Step 8: Add filler.  I used white craft sand to complete the soft, romantic, beachy look. But you can fill them with colored sand, small pebbles, coffee beans – whatever tickles your fancy! If you didn’t quite get as much of an even coat of glue as you thought, you may notice there’s a few small openings that the filler may get through. If you choose to not use filler, place a glass dish at the bottom of the bowl to keep the wax from dripping straight onto your doily. *But don’t fret! A small piece of paper towel or even paper cut to size to fit in the bottom of the bowl will prevent leaking! Step 9: Add candle.  If you’re worried about the hazards of a real flame, or you are using them at a venue with candle regulations, a battery operated light would be just as stunning! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 25, 2020Crap I've MadeSpruce up a pair of cheapo, plain dollar store sunglasses to make some crazy cool shades. All you need for these novelty glasses: foam shapes, felt shapes, small dinos, small plastic bugs, pom pom balls, googly eyes or whatever else you can find that can be hot glued onto the frame of your shades Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 18, 2020Crap I've MadeI have to admit something to you guys. I’m not the “Fun Slime-Making Mom“. I despise slime. I just.can’t.handle.the.mess. It’s not my favorite thing. When they bring it home from school or from a friend’s house, I cry inside. I rarely say yes when my kids want – no, beg – to make it. Even though we typically always have the ingredients. Phew. There. I’ve said it. Buuuut, these Bouncy Galactic Balls are more my speed. They’re simple to make, easy to clean up and make little mess during play. That, my friends, is what I’m talkin’ bout! Bouncy Galactic Balls Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  1/2 cup hot water1 tbsp Borax2 tbsp glitter glue or 2 tbsp clear glue with food coloring Instructions Mix the hot water and Borax together in a bowlDrop glitter glue into water. The glue will begin to harden. After about 15 seconds, grab the blob of glue and squeeze with your hands until there is no more liquid dripping out of the blob. Shape the blob into whatever form you like. Allow to air dry for about an hour and then bounce and squeeze away!As long as the water is still warm, you can continue to use the same water/Borax mix for different colored glue.If you do not want to wait for the blobs to dry, adding a tbsp of corn starch to the glue before dropping it into the water will quicken the dry time (but also clouds the color). Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 15, 2020Crap I've MadeHomemade Chalk Paint Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  1/3 cup baking soda1/3 cup cornstarch3/4 – 1 cup watergel food coloring Instructions Combine soda, cornstarch and water. Mix thoroughly.Separate into sealable containers & add gel food coloring accordingly.Soda and cornstarch will settle to the bottom of container. A quick shake or mix-up will fix it. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 14, 2020Crap I've MadeEver since we’ve been in Corona lock-down, I’ve been thinking about creating something with the kids that would provide a bit of personalized, fun color to my walls. These stick figure pictures did the trick! I made them using canvas panel boards and craft tissue paper – it cannot be regular tissue paper because the tissue paper must bleed color when wet. To begin, I lightly traced fun stick figures onto the canvas boards with pencils. I tried to make them match each kiddos personality (and hair!) Next, I let the kids finish creating their figures using permanent marker. My initial pencil outline was just to serve as a template for them to work from because I knew I wanted the figures to be similar in size. They were each free to change their arms, legs, clothing, etc as they saw fit. Once they were finished drawing their figures, we erased the pencil markings. I cut the tissue paper into different shapes for different kids in hopes of each piece having a slightly different look (I wasn’t quite sure if this would work – but it did!) Taking a cup of water and a cheap paint brush, we brushed the canvas with water, placed a tissue shape on top and continued with this process until the canvas was as filled as they wanted. Some of the kids overlapped while others did single, even layers. There really is no wrong way to do it! But, the more colors on top, the more color at the end! Once the canvas was filled with tissue, we painted a layer of water on top and set them aside for about 20 minutes. You don’t want the tissue to completely dry (it will be difficult to remove), just to sit long enough to thoroughly bleed the color. This may vary depending on the amount of water that was used. After peeling the tissue shapes off the board, we waited overnight for the canvas to fully dry. I chose to mount the boards in inexpensive white frames to dress them up a little. FYI: One pack of tissue paper was more than enough for all 8 of my kids to use. We actually still have quite a bit left over for future art projects! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 11, 2020Crap I've MadeAre you feeling the stress of all this social distancing?! These DIY Stress Relief Balls just may be what you need! If your fun and colorful DIY playdough from above has been all squished together into a not-so-pretty shade of brown like ours, this idea will give you another use for it! All you need are a few empty balloons, some yarn and a sharpie marker! Fill the balloon with the playdough we made here by stretching the opening with your fingers and having a helper push the playdough into the forced opening. I used about a 1/4 of a cup playdough for each balloon. Knot the balloon closed, tie yarn around the knot for fun “hair” and give your stress ball silly faces using the sharpie marker. Now go squeeze that stress and anxiety away! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 8, 2020Crap I've MadeThis Science Experiment is totally groovy! It was fun, educational and simple. Gather your supplies: Container – I used Downey UnStoppable laundry bottles, but a water bottle, soda bottle, mason jar would work. Really anything as long as it’s tall, clear and clean! Effervescent Tablets (AKA Alka-Seltzer), Food Coloring, Vegetable Oil and Water. Fill your container 3/4 of the way full of vegetable oil (may be simpler to use a funnel here).Add about 20 drops of food coloring to 1 cup water.Using the funnel, pour water into container.Take 1 effervescent tablet and break into 4 pieces. Drop pieces into bottle. The Science Behind It: The water is more dense than the oil, so the water sinks. The tablets release carbon dioxide which forms the bubbles that rise through the water and oil, creating the “Lava” effect. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 7, 2020Crap I've MadeSimple ingredients make for easy fun! DIY Playdough Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients  2 cups white flour2 cups water1/2 cup salt2 tbsp coconut oil3 tbsp cream of tartar Instructions Combine ingredients in a saucepan on stove top.Over medium heat, stir continuously until a large ball forms.Remove from heat and allow to fully cool.Knead cooled playdough and add food coloring gel to make desired colors.Store in ziplock bags or airtight tupperware. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 6, 2020Crap I've MadeFun Fact: did you know Girl Scout Cookie boxes make perfect postcards? As long as the card height is between 3.5″ & 4.25″ & the length between 5″ & 6″, you are following USPS postcard regulations AND the box also meets regulations for thickness!!!! Say whaaa? Glue on a colorful piece of paper to the front (or plain white printer paper; cut accordingly to match the cardboard) & have your kids draw a fun picture or design.Use a black marker to separate the message & address sections on the back (I added the address lines). Fill ’em out & mail ’em out or deliver to neighbor’s doors – if you really love them, I suppose you could maybe consider sharing your cookies, too. But that’s just a maybe… ♥️ Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 5, 2020Crap I've MadeWe made a volcano. Like a paper-mache, painted, Science Fair quality (okay, that may have been a bit of an exaggeration) volcano. It was red hot awesome. From start to finish, the kids made it; with a teensy bit of help from me. Of course, my boys made a last minute decision to double the lava recipe. Go BIG or go home, right?! Just kidding – we are ALWAYS at home. This is what – Day 397 of Quarantine? I can’t remember. I lost count. The first step was to cut the spout off of a plastic soda bottle. Really any small bucket or container would work – depending on how large you want the end result. Next time, we’ll probably prop the bottle on to an empty upside-down plastic bowl or something to give the volcano more height. We used an old yard sign as our base, but a large piece of wood or cardboard would do the trick! Next, for the “skeleton” of the volcano, we crumpled old newspaper and placed them around the soda bottle. I used painters tape to hold it in place (duct tape would work as well). There’s not an exact science here – just stop when it looks full. For the glue, I poured about 3 cups white craft glue into a cup or so of water and mixed it up. The popcorn bucket was the first thing I saw when I opened the cabinet. It was large, plastic and easy to clean! Next, take your left over newspaper pieces and tear them into workable strips. Dunk the whole piece in the glue mix, allow it to get soaked and ring it out. Start placing the wet newspaper pieces around the volcano skeleton. Allow to fully dry. We chose to paint the volcano in brown and green acrylic paint. Again, allow to fully dry. Create your Lava – 1 cup white vinegar (use food coloring to tint it red if desired). You will need 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Pour the red vinegar into the soda bottle. Dump the baking soda into the vinegar and watch the chemical reaction cause your volcano erupt! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 4, 2020Crap I've MadeWe collectively despise the Corona Virus. But, these cute germs are totally welcome around our house anytime! And they are a great addition to our Corona Chronicles! We made these adorable Germ Paintings using inexpensive watercolor paints, white paper and paper straws. Once you’ve brushed your watercolor on your page in a blob (make sure it’s really wet) blow it around with your straw. Let dry completely (only takes 10-15 minutes) and then add the eyes. Some of my kiddos drew them straight on the painting with black marker, while others drew the eyes on white printer paper using the black marker, cut them out and glued them onto the painting with a glue stick. You could even use googly eyes if you have them! No matter how you add the eyes, you simply cannot mess these guys up. They’re supposed to be wild and crazy. That’s what makes ’em so fun! Mom Bonus: Clean-up is incredibly easy!!!! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
May 3, 2020Crap I've MadeThese pretty portraits are so “Jane Austen” and also happen to be so easy to make! Supplies: Black Card Stock PaperSmall, Sharp ScissorsClear Tape or ModPodgeSide-Profile PicturePicture Frame or Wood PlaqueWhite Pen, Pencil or Crayon Depending on if you are planning on framing these or ModPodging them onto a wood plaque – your supply list will vary. I chose to ModPodge onto painted wooden plaques from the craft store (under $2 a plaque). The first step is to take a side-profile picture of your child (or pet). The lighter the background wall, the easier cutting it out will be. Next you will print out your picture in black and white on regular printer paper. Make sure you are printing the picture the correct size to fit inside your frame or on your plaque (the pictures seen above are about a 3×5 size). There are 2 ways to do this, but the outcome is the same. And in both cases, you will take a pair of small, sharp scissors and carefully cut out the profile picture. Pay attention to the details! You don’t want to accidentally cut off those adorable whisps of hair or those pouty lips – the little things matter most here! Traditional silhouettes typically end right around the shoulders and can be cut straight across or cut in an upside down “u” shape. Option #1: Laying your printed picture onto the black card stock paper, trace the profile. I like to use a white pen to trace, but regular pen or pencil would work as well, it’s just harder to see as you cut. Option #2 (as seen on The Kelly Clarkson Show): Laying your printed picture (picture side up) onto the black card stock paper, tape your papers together. Cut out the outline of the profile picture. I ModPodged the card stock onto the plaque and I love the result! Although framing in a mat would definitely be a simpler and quicker option. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
April 23, 2020Crap I've MadeThanks to all this extra time we’ve had on our hands lately, we moved a few gardens around in our backyard and created a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. To have a recognized Waystation, you simply need to add milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens or maintain natural habitats with milkweeds. That’s it! You can register your own Monarch Waystation habitat once you meet all the requirements at Monarch Watch here: https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/ We decided to add a bit of a Science/Biology Lesson into it all since the kids have been practicing School at Home, by ordering our own Caterpillars and watching them advance through their 4 life stages and then releasing the butterflies into our backyard garden. The kids are truly hoping to see our sweet butterflies again. While having our own Butterfly Waystation is certainly a cool and fun addition to our backyard, it’s certainly not necessary to growing your own caterpillars or simply planting plants that butterflies enjoy. There are many companies that help you bring nature indoors. We ordered our caterpillars from Insect Lore and we were very pleased with the caterpillars. There were 5 caterpillars in a cup. We ordered 2 cups and have 10 healthy, happy and alive caterpillars we are observing and learning from! DIY Butterfly/Hummingbird Feeder Of course, we crafted a little feeder to go into the garden when the time comes (and the snow stops falling). It was made simply with a standard-size mason jar, a canning jar lid and ring, a small 7″ grapevine wreath and some sisal rope. This is not only great for Butterfly Gardens, but really any place you are hoping to attract a beautiful butterfly or hummingbird. Drill or use a hammer and nail to pound a hole into the lid. Cut a 1″ strip off of the sponge and push it through the hole of the lid. Add water and sugar (9 parts water to 1 part sugar) to your jar and seal the lid. I suggest not using any food coloring as I’ve read it’s not healthy for hummingbirds. Knot and attach 3 strips of sisal rope cut the same length (mine are approx. 24″ each) in a triangle around the grapevine wreath. Gather the rope and knot them together at the other end. Slip the jar upside-down into the wreath until it’s a snug fit. Hang in your garden, on a tree, off your deck – wherever you hope to see some beautiful flying friends! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
April 7, 2020Crap I've MadeEven though quarantine has us stuck at home this Easter, it’s important that we try to practice old traditions and make new memories. I decided to stray away from the standard dip-dyed eggs (if I’m being totally honest, I’m not a fan of those lil’ fizzie tabs anyway. They’re so messy, they stain, the smell of vinegar makes me cringe while dramatically gagging and they are in general, a pain in my proverbial hiney. Phew. Feels good to get that Easter Scrooge-ness off my chest.) sooooo, since we have a teensy bit of extra time on our hands lately, we came up with a series of fun and different ways to decorate our hard-boiled eggs! Decoupage Easter Eggs Taking ModPodge, some Easter napkins and hardboiled eggs, we created decoupaged eggs that are totally adorable. Apply a bit of ModPodge onto the egg, place the napkin cut-outs (or pressed flowers, clovers, newspaper strips, tissue paper squares, pictures – let your imagination run!) on the glue and add another light layer of ModPodge on top. Let fully dry. Crayon Melt Eggs Using a craft heat gun (a hair dryer would do the trick, too!) Just gather up a few broken crayons, remove the wrap & melt the crayon, one color at a time, holding the tip of the crayon on the top of the egg, allowing the wax to drip down the sides of the hard-boiled egg. Tip: To hold the egg in place while decorating:  Using one disposable bathroom cup per egg, cut out the bottom of the cup.  Place cup upside down. Place egg right side up in bottom of cup. This will not only allow the egg to sit upright will using heat gun, but also collect the melted crayon drips – making for easier clean-up! Watercolor Eggs I’m not a painter, but these watercolor eggs were fun to make! Using a black sharpie, outline the stems and leaves. Fill in the flowers with pretty watercolor.Easy peasy! Or should I say Eggsy Peasy?! Bunny Costume Eggs These are a bit more detailed, but so fun. They were inspired by the old-school Cadbury Bunny commercials. I mean, Halloween at Easter? I’m in! Using felt fabric, cut an approx. 10″x1″ strip for the base that holds the egg. Hot glue (or craft glue) the strip into a ring approx. 2″ wide. The strip should overlap itself in the ring to allow a bit of extra support for the egg. Cut another strip about 6″x1/2″ for the headband. This strip should also overlap a bit in the ring before gluing. Trace and cut bunny ears in same color felt as base and the inside of the ears in white felt fabric.After gluing white felt fabric inside ears, attach bunny ears to interior of headband ring with glue. Add bunny nose, eyes and whiskers with black sharpie marker. Tip: for “floppier” bunny ears, cut longer ear shapes from felt and bend them over after attaching to headband ring. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
March 16, 2020Crap I've MadeFeed the birdies! This will make about a dozen bird feeders. You can halve the recipe to make less or double it to make more. But honestly, given the current situation and the fact that we’re all stuck inside (stinkin’ Corona Virus!) they make adorable gifts. Put ’em in a paper lunch bag – ’cause we’re certainly not using those right now – and place at the doors of your neighbors. Spread the happiness – feed the birds & make a friend smile! What you need: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour3 1/2 cups wild bird seed3 tablespoons light corn syrup1 envelope non-flavored gelatine1/2 cup watermason jar lids, applesauce jar lids, spaghetti sauce jar lids – you’ll need 12twine, yarn, string, rope, whatever you’ve got!parchment paper Mix the first 5 ingredients together thoroughly. Tie your twine onto your 12 jar lids. Make sure your strings are long enough to tie around wherever they may hang. A little piece of tape on the inside will help hold the twine in place while you’re filling the lids up. Lay your jar lids on a piece of parchment paper – newspaper will work just fine if your lid is closed in the back (like an applesauce jar lid or spaghetti sauce jar lid). Grab a handful of your birdseed mixture and smash it down with your hands into the lid (it will be sticky, so you may want to spray some cooking oil or rub a bit of coconut oil on your fingers and palm to keep the seeds from sticking too much). Allow the feeder lids to sit a few hours or overnight before hanging. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 20, 2020Crap I've MadeI love that there are so many rainbow decorations popping up everywhere. It’s like my childhood dreams of growing up to be Rainbow Bright are finally realized! But, I love a good, cheapo DIY even more than a revisit with my kidhood. And the other day while putting away my daughter’s hair ties and accessories (that were scattered all over the sink like they are every.single.night – sigh), I noticed that her headbands were all bunched together in a pretty way. Which led me to thinking how much it resembled a rainbow. Which led me to imagine how cute it would be surrounded by a bunch of round white clouds. Which led me picturing it sitting all pretty on the dining room table. Which then led me to this project. <— I swear, this is actually how my “artsy-crafty” brain works. It’s kinda scary-ridiculous, I know. So, I dug out rainbow colored headbands, grabbed a handful of her little teeny tiny black hair ties, a thin wood piece for the base, 2 small corner braces (same ones I used here), my trusty hot glue gun and I got to craftin’! First I stacked up the headbands in the order I wanted them to be in (ROY-G-BIV – obvs.) Next I attached them together with the little hair ties. After attaching the headbands to the corner braces on each side with more hair ties, for additional stability I hot glued each corner brace to the interior bottom of the stack of headbands. Using a screw driver and a small screw, I attached the brace bottom to the wood base. Gently pull the headbands apart so they ascend into an arch. Lastly, using different sized white foam and white felt balls, I hot glued them around the base of the braces to create exaggerated, puffy clouds. Bonus! It even looks good with dinosaurs!!! And I consider that a Win-Win!!! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
January 30, 2020Crap I've MadeI love plants. I love macrame. I love plants IN macrame. But, I had no place to put these beautiful combo pieces in my home. That is, until I built this beauty. 5 pieces of wood, 2 bolts and a few pieces of scrap leather is all it took! Total price – under $10! I started with 5 2×2 wood pieces that are about $2 a piece at Home Depot. I cut 4 of them into 5ft length to be used as the end pieces and the last piece approximately 3 ft in length for the top bar. I used my rotary tool to cut my pieces because the weather outside was crummy, but a table saw would work great. Or have them cut the pieces for you before you leave the hardware store! It is probably easier to paint or stain at this point in the project – before you put the stand together. I tend to do things the stupid hard way, so in true-to-me form I chose to carry the whole thing, completely put together, outside to spray paint. Once my pieces were cut and sanded lightly with a sanding block, I measured 7 inches in from the top, marked the spot, and drilled a pilot hole for the bolts. After the bolts were run through the 2 pieces and the hex nut was tightened at each end just enough to hold the “x” shape, I determined how wide I wanted the stand to sit and matched the 2 sets in width so the stand would sit evenly. Then I finished tightening the hex nuts to the bolts until they were super tight. I knew some of my plants that would hang on it were heavier in size, and also because I have little ones, I reinforced the top bar to each “x” end stand with wood screws to ensure the sturdiness of the piece. As a last addition, I took some of my scrap leather pieces left over from past projects, cut them into equal sized strips and used them to accentuate the stand. I attached the leather to the front legs and the top of the posts by screwing them gently into the wood. The 2×2 wood was a bit too wide for the s-hooks I had on hand, so I used the shoestring leather pieces to tie around the top bar of the plant stand to attach the macrame hangers from. Fun fact: bags of scrap leather can actually be purchased at the craft store. From shoe string-size pieces, some stained different shades to larger irregular shapes, the bags are actually a great value for a crafter! I am so in love with how it turned out. Very simple style yet a great statement piece. Cute and functional – my favorite! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
January 19, 2020Crap I've MadeIt drives me nuts when people are like: “Oh my gosh Kristin, you’re totally obsessed with The Pioneer Woman.” And I’m like: “listen Debbie, Karen & Judy. Just because I watch her on TV, follow her on all social media accounts, make her meals religiously, am curious about what she’s up to every day of her life, have written her 60-70 handwritten fan-mail letters, googled her phone number & call her Ree while referring to her, does NOT mean there’s an obsession.” Seriously, jeez. The term “obsessed” is used so loosely nowadays…. 🤣😆🤫 On an unrelated side note, I’ve been eyeing these Pioneer Woman bread boxes at Walmart for weeks. No, for months! Problem is, we don’t keep bread in the house long enough to warrant a bread box. One loaf only lasts us a day or two, so there’s no worry about the bread going bad or needing a long-term storage solution for it. Until, I decided to utilize it for another purpose! Now a messy, all over the counter, makes-me-crazy-daily problem is now solved! May I present: 🥁 (drum roll please) 🥁 The Pioneer Woman Bread Box Turned Charging Station Super simple supply list: Bread Box, Foam Craft Board, Cute Scrapbook Paper, Clear Tape and a Power Strip. Measure the inside of your bread box and cut a piece of foam board to fit snuggly inside. I chose to cover my foam board with cute – somewhat matchy to the floral design on the front of the box – scrapbook paper I had in my supply. But, wallpaper, wrapping paper, washi tape or even painting the foam board would work! Once your foam piece is cut and covered, you will need to drill a hole (or, in my case, 3 holes because I had a 1″ spade drill bit and honestly was too lazy to look for anything else) in the back of the bread box to allow the power strip to be plugged in from behind. Once you have all of your charging cords plugged in and pushed back, cut small squares from the bottom of your foam board to allow the cords to easily pop through. I only cut 4 because typically we don’t have more than 4 devices charging at the same time. Next, just push your foam board cover in the front to cover all the messy cord crap in the back! It really is such a cute and decorative way to clean up your counter space and downsize the cluttered look of all those charging cords! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
January 17, 2020Crap I've MadeThe simplest way to DIY a book ledge for any wall! Honestly, this project was completed months ago. I made sure to take clear, quality pictures of each step at the time of construction. And then somewhere between then and now, the amazing step-by-step pictures have been lost in the wide world of the interweb. Sooooo, I took crappy pictures of an already finished project to try my darndest to explain how the heck I made these things. Honestly, these DIY Book Ledges are a pretty simple concept. I used 1″ x 2″ furring strips, outside corner moulding and brass corner braces. That’s truly all it took. But, in an attempt to help you better understand the process, I will proceed below with my subpar pictures and most-likely even lower standard of explanation…. You’re welcome (and I’m sorry!) The first step was to measure the length of the wall I wanted the ledges to hang on as well as how many layers of ledges there would be. I also needed to make sure I knew the width of the books I was planning on displaying as I was hoping to use outside corner moulding pieces (these are traditionally about an inch or so in size) and a thicker book wouldn’t fit. These particular vintage books were a find on Facebook Marketplace and were all fairly thin, so my idea was perfect. Once I knew the length of the wall and width of the books. Off to Home Depot I went! After picking up 4 furring strips and the outdoor corner moulding (that I had found in the clearance section because they had been previously cut and each had a warped edge), I found the braces that were also the correct width to fit the moulding. I waited in line for quite a while on a Saturday morning to have these bad boys cut for me. I have my own saws at home, but it was rainy and cold and it seemed like an easier option to have Home Depot cut the trim pieces instead. It’s actually a pretty sweet service they offer at no cost to the customer and saves loads of time on your projects! Just make sure you are 100% sure of your desired length – otherwise you’re stuck with a wrong size wood piece that you’ve already purchased and brought home. The first step to actually constructing the ledges was to attach the furring strips to the wall. I decided to paint these white first (so they would blend in with the already white wall) and stain the corner moulding pieces to give the ledges a ‘warm’ look. Our walls are stucco and completely thin crap. Seriously. It’s a crazy pain to even find a stud and anything, heavy or not, must be attached to a stud. The function of the furring strips was to allow a foundation for the ledges that could be drilled into a stud and then be fully covered with the corner trim. This is a really odd angle of the underside of the moulding trim. Next, after waiting for the stain to dry on the wood trim pieces, I attached them to the furring strips using the braces. I used 3 corner braces per ledge – one on each end and one in the middle. Learn from my mistake and be sure to use a drill bit extender or else you will jack-up your wood like I did here. I personally consider these mess-ups to be a signature of sorts. Like, they say: “handmade slightly imperfectly by Kristin.” Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
December 27, 2019Crap I've MadeChristmas is over and a brand spankin’ new year is on the horizon. Whether you are entertaining a large crowd to ring in 2020 or just chillin’ at home with your fam, I’ve got a few DIY party ideas to share that are easy on time and the wallet (which is kinda great because personally speaking, the “wallet” is rather empty after Santa comes…am’i’right?!) These fun do-it-yourself New Year’s party decorations use up a lot of your Christmas stuff. But, even if you do have to go to the store for supplies, most everything you need will be on clearance! And this is all quick to put together – so if you’ve decided last minute to throw a get together, I’ve got you covered in that department too! *You better just put your hands up right now ’cause I’m giving you a virtual double high five, my friends* Tinsel Numbers Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle! Before you pack away the cheap shiny plastic-y tinsel-y stuff, grab an Amazon box (because we all know you’ve got a couple lyin’ around or a few more on the way!) and freehand block numbers 2-0-2-0 with a pen or marker. Make ’em big, make ’em small, make ’em whatever size you want! Cut out the cardboard numbers, hot glue some of that tinsel on top and you just made an awesome photo backdrop or fun table decor! Bell Balls Grab some clear, plastic ornaments and add a handful of little silver and gold jingle bells to make awesome and festive “Ringers” for the new year! These Bell Balls are perfect for little and big hands alike! Just make sure your ornament opening is large enough for your bells. *Oh, and if you’re giving them to really tiny hands, a dab of hot glue on the ornament lid after you fill them up will ensure the bells stay inside the ball!* Table Covers Why buy plastic table covers when you can use the rest of that roll of wrapping paper to decorate your tables? Make it fun and festive while using up those remaining paper pieces so you don’t have to lug the darn almost-empty things up to the attic for another year! Shaker Sticks For the big kids, a jumbo popsicle stick (painted or plain) with different sized silver and gold jingle bells hot glued on and adorned with curling ribbon make loud Shaker Sticks that ring in the new year in DIY style! Mini Wine Snow Globes When entertaining a crowd, sometimes mini bottles of wine are the way to go. These cute bottles satisfy everyone’s palate preference by providing a variety of flavors for your guests. Plus, less wine waste at the end of the night! Put the tiny bottles in a large glass bowl, add some faux snow balls and flakes and watch your guests “oooooh” and “aaaaaaah” over your Mini Wine Snow Globe as you sit back and sip your lil’ miniature drink. Wine Glass Stars Using inexpensive and sparkly plastic ornament stars, you can personalize your glasses in a uniquely different way. Simply remove the string for hanging the ornament and cut the star in half using sharp scissors. You may need to create a small hole in the center of the ornament with your scissors if your glass stem is thick. Slide your stem through the cut section and gently pull the star back in place around the base of the glass. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
December 8, 2019Crap I've MadeHere’s the thing about fruit at Christmas- we already know fruit is good for you. But for a present? I mean, you could give someone the gift of a big ol’ fruit basket. And maybe they would love it – or, you could give them the gift of an awesome Sangria Jar full of delicious fruit and wine. And they would totally crown you the “Best Gift Giver Ever In History”… I mean, I know the type of people I want to be friends with! (wink, wink) And FYI – if you come to my home toting an adorable drink dispenser with all the necessary ingredients to make a homemade Sangria, you might as well buckle up buttercup because you’re about to be my Best Friend Forevah! All it takes to make this gift of so much friggin’ glad tidings is one trip to the store and about 30 minutes of your time when you get home. Seriously, easy on your wallet and your time! Glass Dispenser Jar – mine were purchased at WalmartWood Spoon (If there’s no predrilled hole, you will have to drill a hole in the handle or simply place the spoon in jar if you prefer to not drill)Wine (white, red, whatever you or the recipient prefers just make sure the wine bottle fits inside the jar)Fresh CranberriesOranges, Apples, Lemons and LimesA small jar/can of cranberry juice or orange juice (optional) For the tag I used a wood craft slice, a black and white printed recipe on regular printer paper from my computer made on Microsoft Word and a layer of ModPodge under and over the cut paper to adhere the recipe to the wood slice. I have attached the recipe in a PDF format below. You may need to adjust the size before printing depending on the size of your wood slice (mine was approx. 3″ round). Christmas-Sangria-RecipeDownload Attach it with a cute ribbon around the mouth of the jar. Easy Peasy Cranberry Apple Orange Lime Lemon Squeezy. Right?! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
December 6, 2019Crap I've MadeThis DIY Snowman Cocoa Jar makes an adorable and totally unique gift! Seriously, a super awesome Christmas present! Bonus – it’s crazy easy to make and a perfect addition to a festive holiday kitchen ❤️ Gather your supplies, warm up your hot glue gun and buckle up because you’re about to make the sweetest hot cocoa display evah! Using 3 different sized glass jars (candy jars, terrarium/air plant jars, etc) black buttons, a strip of cute ribbon and all the hot cocoa fixins, I created this adorably cute Cocoa Snowman in under 30 minutes! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
October 20, 2019Crap I've MadeThese trees are so stinking unique. Unlike anything I’ve seen at the stores and actually very simple to put together! Using a handful of easy-to-find supplies (some even straight from your backyard), you can make these rustic and adorable Lamb’s-Ear Christmas Trees too! A wood slice, a stick, some twine, lambs-ear garland (dusty miller or eucalyptus both would look cute as well! I like anything that has a flocked-look), hot glue and floral tape are all the supplies needed. *tip*: I have 8 kids. So Mama don’t have money to throw around (I also haven’t slept in over 18 years but that’s a whole ‘nother subject). When making anything faux floral, if possible, buy the garland instead of the separate flower sprigs. It’s less expensive for more of the same thing! This message brought to you by a mother that has perfected the art of penny pinching, dumpster diving and making crap from junk. “Any way you want it That’s the way you need it Any way you want it” Make ’em tall, make ’em wide, make ’em any way you want! I made these for a stage presentation that lasted 30 minutes. I was done each time in about 15 minutes. Seriously. That quick. I wouldn’t lie to you, friends. I mean, who doesn’t love a quick Christmas DIY?! Start with a wood slice. You can find these at the craft store already dried and clean, or you can find them in your backyard or local park or trail for free (especially if you have a wood-burning fireplace and a husband that is crazy about picking up every downed tree within a 25 mile radius of your home for free burning wood….) Find your stick (again, either from the craft store or from the backyard) and drill a hole into your wood slice the same width as your stick. Add hot glue inside your drilled hole to hold your stick in place – make sure it’s straight-ish. Your stick height will be your tree height, so keep that in mind when picking out a stick as well as making sure you have enough lamb’s-ear for your project. I’ve made trees as tall as 28 inches high and 1 lambs-ear garland was plenty. Next, you will want to measure (I use that term loosely. By “measure” I mean hold up your garland and figure out approx. how long each piece needs to be) Using wire cutters, floral scissors or hedge clippers, cut the garland pieces to size. These pieces will be hanging upside down to create a more “tree” look, so make sure to leave an end piece of a few centimeters on each sprig for attaching to the base stick. With a dab of hot glue, adhere each sprig to the stick. I typically use 3-4 sprigs around the stick. If you get hot glue on your fingers during this step, I give you full permission to curse like a sailor if it makes you feel better. This here is a judgement-free zone. No one knows the feeling of 3000-friggin’ degree hot glue burning through the skin of your tender digits until they’ve actually had it happen. Tip: Some trees I use only one tier of sprigs. Others I layer up 2-3 tiers for a fuller tree. Once they are all glued on the stick, use the floral tape (in this case I used white floral tape to match the white stick) to secure the sprigs of lamb’s-ear onto the stick. Cover up the exposed floral tape with a line of twine secured with hot glue. This tree was made with a backyard stick and I love how it “leans” a bit. Not perfect, but totally cute. I also used 2 layers of lambs-ear for this one. A shorter layer on top and another longer layer underneath. The floral tape is hidden under the top tier. Both layers were attached in the same method described above, but I didn’t need to cover the second tier’s tape with twine since you couldn’t see it. I also added a string of twine along 3-4 inches on bottom of some of the taller trees for an added layer of texture. With or without the bottom twine, they are pretty. A pinecone hot glued on the top can be a fun addition to the rustic feel of these sweet things. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
September 26, 2019Crap I've MadeI love projects that are inexpensive to make and help feed our wildlife, too. What a perfect wreath to use on the front door in the autumn. Especially if you’re hosting a fall or Thanksgiving dinner. It would be adorable in the kitchen, too. Plus, this is a great use (other than baking) for those bruised apples you don’t want to just throw out but don’t know what the heck to do with! Apple picking is such a fun fall family activity. But sometimes those cute little hands of those cute little people put apples in the basket that haven’t been inspected and aren’t so “cute”. Here’s a simple use for them that isn’t baking – not that there’s anything wrong with baking. My thighs and I can both assure you that we love to bake. This is just a unique and different idea. And for me, the only cost here was the apples. Everything else I had in the workshop. Using an inexpensive metal wreath form, line the interior with fabric. I used burlap ribbon because it was already the perfect width, but any fabric would work really. (You could also skip this step totally if you are omitting the moss. The fabric adds a base for the moss to lay on.) I used green floral wire to attach the burlap ribbon to the wreath form. Hot glue the moss in clumps onto the fabric. It doesn’t have to be hot glued all over. Just enough to hold it in place. The apples on top will help stabilize the moss as well. Taking heavy duty wire, push the wire straight through the apples at different angles so the apples lay imperfectly. Once all the apples are on the wire, twist tie the wire to the back of the wreath. The reason we’re using such heavy wire, is because once it’s outside, this will ensure it stays together as long as possible. I strategically wrapped grapevine twigs and wired burlap rope around the exposed metal wire to conceal it in the front of the wreath. I used green floral wire to hold the twigs in place. Once the apples start to turn and bruise, take your wreath outside! Place it somewhere near a window so you can watch all the creatures enjoy it! And make sure to save your wire wreath form once the apples are gone. You can always reuse it! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
September 24, 2019Crap I've MadeUsing old ratty flannels and a worn pair of jeans from the closet (thanks to Marie Kondo for making me feel like a hoarder…) I created this one of a kind banner for my fall decor and the cost was practically nothing! I started with this plain wood banner from the craft store. They typically come packaged with the twine as well. Pretty sure I bought this one clearanced, but even at full price they are fairly inexpensive. Using a black marker, I traced the outline of the triangular banner on the inside of the flannels and jeans. Inside is important because it will hide your black lines on the finished product. Grab that Mod Podge! Yes, there’s Mod Podge specifically for fabrics, but I’m a “use what you’ve got” sorta girl and what I had was traditional Matte Mod Podge. Plus, I was still in my PJ’s on this particular fine Saturday morning and my hair was in a not-so-pinterest-approved “messy bun” so I was avoiding a trip to the store at all costs. I mean, seriously. Who wants to get dressed and tame their mane on a Saturday if they don’t have to anyway?! Using a foam craft brush, I applied a layer of Mod Podge to the wood, placed the cut fabric on top – black lined and cut side down – and applied another layer of Mod Podge over the fabric. Let fully dry. Using a screw driver or hammer and nail, make holes through the fabric that lines up with the preexisting holes in the wood banner. Hang this cute banner thang with the length of twine anywhere that needs a little touch of flannel-y fall y’all! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
September 19, 2019Crap I've MadeI had the privilege of Presenting at the Columbus Country Living Fair last weekend and it was absolutely amazing. I talked about flowers, houseplants and succulents, I met Annie Sloan and ate way too much food. I thought I’d share a bit of my “succy” talk with you peeps today. Rockin’ my Dollar Tree straw hat! #noshameMe – On the Main StageAnnie Sloan!!!!! First, I want to tell you a story. It’s a story about a girl. We’ll call her “plant killer” for fun. She loved all things green and pretty, but they didn’t love her back. Whether it be slow and agonizing or suddenly quick, the little plant babies died on her. Every.Single.Time. So, the “plant killer” gave up. This girl then had kids. Like, a lot of kids. And while she was shopping at the grocery store one day, she saw a beautiful little rosemary plant. It was aromatically gorgeous. So, on a whim, she bought it. Even her husband breathed a sad sigh of regret for this poor plant when he arrived home that evening – knowing it would most likely be living its last days in their home. But, buuuuuuuut, the plant survived. It thrived even. You see, the “plant killer” decided that day in the grocery store that she was going to try again. After all, if she could keep so many people alive in her home every day, why the heck can’t she keep plants alive? It was time to try again. Only this time, she researched and read and took notes and pushed up her sleeves and got dirty in the dirt. And she learned a couple things. I’m going to share these things with you today (because obviously I’m talking about myself!) To simplify, there’s 3 key points to keeping plants alive. Water, Sunlight and Temperature. If you take anything away from this post – other than you know my dark past of murdering plants – it’s those 3 things : Water, Sunlight and Temperature (which I forgot mid-sentence during my presentation. Ugh. Why am I so awkward…) Let’s talk about what we tend to do right with plants: We buy plants for all the right reasons. For the healthy air, calming effects and the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere they provide.  Here’s what we typically do wrong with plants: We tend to be Hover Mothers. Over-watering, over-fertilizing, over-analyzing our plant kids. Or, we go in the opposite direction of care and completely forget we even have plant kids to care for – sound familiar?  One of the most popular indoor plant breeds right now are succulents. They are known to be inexpensive, hardy and totally forgettable. Wait, whaaa? Forgettable?! Yep! You can literally forget them and they thrive. Ever heard of a lil’ plant called aloe? You can buy them practically everywhere. I see them at CVS all the time – they’re a type of succulent! If they can be sold on the top shelf at drug stores, completely forgotten and wrapped in plastic with very little to no natural light, imagine how simple their care and upkeep must be. Plus, you can actually make décor with them. From paper mâché box letters to living wreaths and wall hangings, succulents are one of the few plants that can be planted vertically, without soil and survive. Oh, and bonus! – their fallen leaves can be propagated – but more on that later.  Where to find them – nursery, greenhouse, Home Depot, Lowes, FB Marketplace, Amazon – always check reviews and deliver time before ordering online to make sure they plants will be healthy and the shipping fast. I prefer to buy them at my favorite local greenhouse so I can actually see and touch each plant I’m buying. Plus, the greenhouse is just so good for my soul. But, I’ve also ordered online and from big box stores in the past. How to care for them – Pay attention to where they are coming from. Most succulents are grown in a greenhouse and kept in a store. Either completely perfect lighting for their growth or little to no lighting at all. So, when we bring them home, putting them in direct, hot sunlight is actually damaging. Slowly introducing them to bright light will prevent dark spots or sunburn. Just like when we walk out of a dark movie theater on a bright afternoon, the sun can be too much. And always read the instructions! Anymore we seem to go to the internet for advice on our lives, but with plants, the key to their survival is written out for you on a tag on the plant. Read the gosh darn thing! If only the hospital stuck a little tag on the baby before we left to go home! I’d have that tag memorized from front to back! You not only need to review the tag, but you need to read the plant. Just looking at it will tell you how they’re feeling. If they’re wilted and soft, they’re over watered. Only water when the soil is totally dry. Whether that’s one week or 3 weeks, if the soil is moist, walk away. Once the pot of soil is totally dried out, you soak the soil thoroughly to the root and walk away again. I typically water them in the late afternoon/evening when they are in their rest period. The succulents will absorb water and nutrients the most during this period. Another common misconception about succulents is to mist them weekly. Succulents actually do not need misted. It can lead to fungal disease on their leaves. If they’re leggy and long-stemmed, they are reaching toward the sun and therefore not getting proper sunlight where they are located.  Morning sunlight is softer and best for succulents with an average room temperature of 50-85 degrees.  How to propagate them – Just like my house plants, I place my succulents outside in the summer. The sun, temperature and rain water are just perfect for them here in Ohio. They always seem to thrive and grow huge. By the end of summer, I have plants ready to be brought back inside and ready for propagation! If there’s anything I’m really good at, it’s makin’ babies! And with succulents, it’s easier than you think!  1) remove leaves. Cutting them off is a bit trickier as the cut portion has a difficult time establishing a callous where leaves that were popped off or naturally fall off produce quick callouses.  2) place leaves on a paper towel in the sun. No water. No fertilizer. Just put them someplace in indirect sun they can hang for a while. Eventually, after a week or 2 or 3 you’ll begin to notice little roots emerging from the calloused end of the leaf.   3) place rooted leaves on top of a pot of cactus soil. Soil Matters! Cactus soil is a thing and it is a necessity. The leaves will take root in the soil on their own. Following the rule of succulent soil – wet until completely dry, eventually the leaves will wrinkle and wilt and start to disintegrate into the soil to be replaced by the new, baby succulent growing from the roots. Keeping newly rooted succulents misted is the only time it’s okay to mist a succulent with water. Depending on how you are repotting them, succulents can be moved into soil or moss. Sphagnum moss serves as not only a flower bed but also a sturdy surface that allows the succulents to be placed vertically. The soil would just spill out, whereas the sphagnum moss stays put.   You can make your own sphagnum moss wreath. But, unless you already have some of the supplies – floral wire, moss or garden netting – it may be cheaper to buy a premade living wreath. Especially if you are only planning on making only one. Plus, the store-bought moss wreaths typically come with a heavy-duty chain hanger already attached which is nice and handy since these tend to be heavy.  I attached my sphagnum wreath to a grapevine wreath using floral wire and I love the rustic feel it gives! First thing you want to do is soak your sphagnum wreath. Place in a bucket or container of water for 15 minutes or so. While you’re waiting for it to soak, this is the perfect time to place your succulents in a circular shape similar in size to your wreath to figure out placing. Keep in mind spacing. Allow room for your plant to grow and spread.   Once your wreath is wet through, let it drip off a bit before moving it otherwise you’ll be working in a pool of water (squeezing a bit works too)  Using a super fancy tool (just kidding. A pencil will do just fine) make holes in your wreath large enough to fit the root of your succulent. No soil needed! Pull your succulent out of the pot and brush/pull off the soil gently. You literally only need to push the root into the hole you’ve created in the sphagnum moss. Taking a floral pin (or a paper clip if you’ve forgotten floral pins on your supply list) and push the pin through one of the bottom leaves and into the sphagnum. Once your wreath is fully planted – DON’T HANG IT! That’s right – don’t hang it! You need to leave it flat for a few weeks to allow the roots to establish. Once you’ve given it that time, it will hang beautifully and be a centerpiece to your wall or door.  FYI – plastic plant pot saucers are perfect for succulent wreaths similar to the one found here . They are an inexpensive but sure-fire way to make sure your wreath is watered properly. Every week or so, place your wreath in the water-filled form and allow it soak through. Rehang and walk away!  Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
July 30, 2019Crap I've MadeOur back deck was beginning to look a little sad. It had worn, sun-bleached chairs, no outdoor rug (they are SO stinking expensive!) and no table for books, drinks, sippy cups, swim goggles or “special” rocks my kiddos found in the backyard. It needed a makeover, but we didn’t have a lot to spend. So, I got creative. It took about a day and was worth every second! We started with these. They were dirty, cracked in spots and overall very “BLAH”. The deck gets really hot in the summer (especially for all the tiny feet – both human and furry – that walk on it). We needed a fix for that, too. And Mama likes an ice cold wine cooler while on lifeguard duty – we needed a fix for that too! This stuff? Awesome. Seriously. If you are hesitant to draw the scallop design on your own, this is your BTFF ( Best Tape Friend Forever) You can find it here. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Foss-Ribbed-Taupe-6-ft-x-8-ft-Indoor-Outdoor-Area-Rug-CP45N40PJ1H1/202042697 If you do want to draw the scallop on your own, I used a sharpie. Above is the link to the plain, cheapo rug I found at Home Depot. At only $18 it’s a steal! Using a quart of outdoor black paint I filled in my sharpie scribbles. The dots were made with a little circular sponge made for stenciling. Here’s a better view of the upper part of the sun shade frame. I used metal pipes on the outside of the frame, but for the inside, I went with PVC pipe due to the light weight. The height of the pipes are 7′. The width is approx 5′. The PVC pipes are 7′. You will need: (4) 1/2″ 7′ plumbing pipes (4) 1/2″ 2-3 ft. plumbing pipes (4) 1/2″ plumbing corners (2) 1/2″ plumbing connectors (4) 1/2″ plumbing flanges (2) 7′ PVC pipes I found these cheapo plastic hooks at Home Depot in the aisle with closet and shelving. They are screwed into the PVC with bolts and washers. The shade cloth I used I found on Amazon. It’s really nice fabric. Sturdy and totally worth the $18. Oh, and can we give a shout-out to Zip Ties puhleeeze?! Easy, inexpensive and totally works for holding the shade fabric exactly where you want it! The table was constructed in a similar way to the support buckets under the canopy frame. Each metal paint bucket was spray painted a copper color, an approx. 6 in. block of wood was placed inside the bucket, quick dry concrete was poured around the wood, and once dried, a 1/2″ pipe flange screwed into the wood to hold the pipe. The canopy buckets can be filled with garden rocks, dirt and flowers or just filled to the top with concrete if you prefer. The top was a finished pine circle from Home Depot. I simply bought it, stained it and top coated it. There is an approx. 3 ft plumbing pipe attached to the bucket flange as well as a plumbing flange on the underside of the tabletop. I lined this particular bucket with plastic and filled it up with ice. Because. Wine Coolers. I filled my back 2 frame buckets with rocks and the front 2 with flowers. I clipped a string of lights to those gosh darn amazing zip ties that I used to hold the shade fabric in place. For additional support (especially if you porch or patio is prone to strong wind) you could directly attach the support buckets to the floor of your space. Or tie down your pipes (similar to a tent). If you need me. I’ll be here. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
July 24, 2019Crap I've MadeAfter a good (and I mean really, really good) scrubbing, I took a tired, old plastic Little Tikes playhouse and transformed it into the sweetest little English Cottage-Style Playhouse you ever did see. Complete with a faux thatched roof! Seriously people – it has a thatched roof!!! I mean, if this cottage isn’t fit for a “Princess Fairy Goddess Queen”, I sure the heck don’t know what is! Here’s where we started. This house has been with us for almost 13 years. She has been endlessly played with throughout every single one of those years. Well loved, but she was worse for wear. There *may* have been a previous super crappy previous paint job by a frustrated and tired mother desperate to get her backyard looking decent before a birthday party about 5 years ago, but she definitely needed a facelift. Buying a “New” fancy wood playhouse wasn’t in the budget (let’s be real. Pretty much nothing is ever in the dumb “budget”) So, as always, I got creative. This step is the least fun. Taking it apart, cleaning and scrubbing the heck out of it and letting it fully dry. Ugh. Not a good time, but totally necessary. I decided to prime first using a can of primer in my paint sprayer. Was this needed? Heck, I don’t know. I’ve painted plenty of projects going straight for the spray paint and skipping the prime all together and honestly, they’ve been just fine. So, this is really up to your discretion. I can say, without a doubt, to make sure you get spray paint that specifically says it works on plastic. Otherwise, you will have wasted your money. And ain’t nobody got time for that! The outside was painted white, but I decided to add some pretty green on the bottom half of the inside. Some painters tape and newspaper did the job of separating the colors on the wall. Now the thatch roof! This was an idea I had floating in my head and had absolutely no idea if it would even work. But, boy oh boy, I’m glad I decided to just do it and see what happened! I bought an artificial grass rug from Home Depot. But, they have them at most home goods stores in the spring and summer. I measured the roof of the house and added a few inches on each side to allow hangover grass that could be tucked under the roof. FUN TIP: the best way to measure and mark artificial grass is on the back side using a piece of chalk. The best way to cut? A box cutter! I simply spray painted the grass with an even coat of brown. I just did one coat, though. I liked the green color through the brown. As you can see, I didn’t paint the top of the roof. I felt it was a waste of time. I did paint the edges using the same brown I used on the artificial grass so if it was visible, it would still blend. Using Liquid Nails, I attached the grass to the roof. And using extra garden bricks, I placed them on top to push the grass onto the roof until the glue was dry. Taking the extra grass that hung off the side, I tucked it underneath the roof and used a staple gun to keep it in place. FUN TIP: Flip flops are not good spray painting shoes…. Now, of course, I wanted to make this house adorable with allllll the accessories. I pulled out some extra pieces of scalloped vinyl trim left over from our front porch (’cause we don’t throw anything away. Ever.) I cut pieces to size that fit right underneath each window. I then used Dollar Store plastic fencing upside down and attached it on top of the scalloped trim. I honestly just winged this whole thing and got lucky with the way it turned out and that everything fit just like it did in my head. Because, trust me, my life typically does not turn out this way! I also used a spare piece of vinyl to go around the front window. I wanted to add a bit of thatch covering to this window and knew I needed something that could bend in the shape of the round window top but also be sturdy enough to hold and attach the artificial grass to. FUN TIP: Even though the house is plastic, I found attaching items with a staple gun and screws really worked well. I picked up a number “8” from the Habitat for Humanity Restore in town for .50 cents. Why the 8? Oh, I have 8 children. Yes, I really do. Yes, they’re all mine. Yes, I’m crazy. Yes, my house is a Circus Carnival Zoo. No, I would not have it any other way. I distressed the painted doors and shutters after I painted them because these seem to be the parts that wear the most on the house. I figured if I started the game off worn, maybe it would just add to the “look” as it weathered on its own. The addition of the window box (Dollar Aisle at Target), mailbox and door handle hardware (more Restore finds) and the faux greenery (Dollar General), helped to create a unique, cozy cottage for my girls that you simply cannot buy at a store. Especially not for $50. Am I right?! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
July 17, 2019Crap I've MadeIn the early years of our marriage, Edward and I would have spats over the amount of “stuff” he’d keep. Most especially after a big home improvement or DIY project. Our garage and shed would be full of spare wood, trim, screws and other leftover supplies. I would be so irritated. A lot of times I would win the argument and he would empty out corners and shelves to free up room for other junk we most likely didn’t need either. Then I began crafting. My crafting turned to painting, my painting to experimenting with leathers and woods, and I eventually learned my way around our power tools and saws. And you know what? He was right. Those extra supplies are 100% worth saving. What once seemed a nuisance turned to a convenience. What once seemed so pointless now seems to make total sense. Why get rid of good wood? You never know what you might need it for and when you figure it out, you’ll have it right there handy and you won’t have to spend money on something you already had. And I really do love coming up with an idea, scouring our garage, shed and workshop for pieces and parts and then creating something from a whole big pile of nothing. For example, my Little Black Greenhouse from last summer. This Veggie Stand project is no exception. Keep in mind, this was built from irregular, old and sometimes bent wood. So, it’s not perfect. I don’t claim to be a master woodworker nor a professional carpenter. But, I make crap from trash and save a ton of junk from entering the landfills. And I happen to have a talent for making said trash crap cute. So, there’s that too. Now back to the DIY: My idea was to have something small but sturdy to hold my little one’s veggie plants this summer. Once the idea was “planted” so-to-speak, off to the shed I went! Here’s what I found… After figuring out which pieces would best suit my project, I started cutting. List of the wood sizes I used for the Veggie Stand: 2 – 2×4’s 36″ long2 – 2×4’s 23.5″ long2 – 4×4 post pieces – 12″ long2 – 1×5’s – 12″ long1 – 36″ dowel rod2 – 1.5×1.5 – 10″ long2 – 2×4’s – 21″ long Now, please keep in mind a few things while reading these instructions. #1 – it was about to rain at any minute, so I was a bit rushed. #2 – I began the project in a rocky area of our backyard until I realized it was affecting the levelness of the stand (duh!!!) #3 – I absolutely, positively did as little measuring as possible. Why? I don’t know. I guess I didn’t really want to? So, I “eyeballed” every pre-dilled hole. #4 – these are scrap wood pieces left over from other home projects. They may have been previously cut width wise. The measurements I listed above might be a little strange and you may even find that you need to adjust the measurements to fit what you have or what you can find in the store. This instructional is really just to give you a rough guideline of how I built the stand. Drill starter holes in 1×5 piecesAttach 1×5’s to centered 12″ post pieces to make the “feet”.Attach the 1.5×1.5 to the side of each “foot”.Finished base pieces.Next add the 36″ 2×4’s to the 1.5 pieces.Predrill holes into your 23.5″ 2×4’sDrill them into the side of your standing 2×4’sUsing the 21″ 2×4 pieces, I cut angled supportsAttach the support pieces At this point, I could have been done. The stand could have been painted and ready to go. But, I decided to add a bit more detail to the piece. Because, why the heck not? Go big or go home! I added a top piece and decided to add a few planks on the bottom to serve as a base as well as additional plant storage. I also reinforced the 36″ 2×4’s to the bottom post pieces with heavy duty L-Brackets. The base planks helped to cover the L-Brackets. I hand painted it with a jar of Home Depot’s outdoor “oops” paint ($3!) for a good seal, followed by 2 coats of spray paint (I didn’t have enough spray paint in the color I liked and already had to do the entire project from start to finish. But, with a good coat of that “oops” paint in a similar shade, I needed way less spray paint. I actually still have some left in the can!) Once again, technically, she was finished. She was ready to go. But, BUUUUT, I decided to fancy her up a bit more. I found a little wood trim piece and an extra strip of scalloped vinyl trim from our front porch. I cut the vinyl to size with box cutters and stained the wood trim the same color I stained the dowel rod. Using these D-Rings from Tractor Supply, I ran the rod through. Now this girl was ready for her debut! I have to admit, I feel a great sense of pride when I see my girls and boys get so excited over something Mommy made “all by herself”! Oh, and PS, don’t tell Edward I said he was right…. I used empty milk jugs for our planters. After simply cutting an opening (and making sure NOT to cut the handle), adding some drainage holes in the bottom and filling with potting soil, we had our own (FREE) hanging pots! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
April 16, 2019Crap I've MadeUsing those sweet Daffodil Planters I talked about here, some amazing finds from the Dollar Tree and a bit of DIY, I made this English Garden Tablescape for Easter that will give you all of the Peter Rabbit feels. I found 3 large plastic “nesting” Easter eggs at Walmart recently. I loved their size (and their price) but I wasn’t in love with their look. So, taking the same napkins I used from the decoupage project here, I applied the technique to the eggs to give them a more charming appearance with Mod Podge, a foam brush and paper napkins! I desired a table full of flowers, but it’s still early in Ohio for a wide selection of fresh plants, so I opted to go faux. And Hobby Lobby was having 50% off their florals! I also found terra cotta pots at Hobby Lobby in the clearance aisle because they were chipped and cracked. Ummm, chipped and cracked is sorta my thang, so for .50 cents/pot, I was a happy mama! After a quick trip to Walmart (for chocolate bunnies and a bag of flaked coconut) and the Dollar Tree (picking up some floral foam, beautiful floral paper plates, matching floral square napkins, 12″ paper doilies and 6″ willow wreaths), I had everything I needed. I created the wood crate from scrap wood in my workshop that I painted off-white, but a few baskets from Goodwill, or even the terra cotta pots sitting exposed would have looked equally gorgeous. Placing the floral foam inside the clay pots, I began putting together my centerpiece. It was pretty simple to do as a true English Garden is a bit whimsy and wildly charming. There was no “wrong” place for each stem. Just wherever I felt they looked best. Next it was time for the place settings. The unfinished willow wreaths, sitting on top of 12″ paper doilies, were a perfect cradle for the beautiful garden plates. Tinting the bag of coconut green with food coloring, I used it as a “nest” for the chocolate bunnies placed on the square napkins. I kept the bunnies wrapped because I thought the foil wrap was just too cute, but if you prefer, they can be unwrapped and placed on the coconut nest in all of their naked bunny chocolate glory. The final touch of adding the fresh daffodils on top of the plates is probably my favorite part. This tablescape was simple and extremely inexpensive. Some of the projects (the decoupaged eggs and peat pots) take 24 hours advance prep and dry time, but the rest are simple and fast to piece together. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
April 16, 2019Crap I've MadeThis Daffodil Centerpiece is the perfect addition to any colorful table. Plus, you can give one to each of your guests. And they can literally be planted pot and all – I mean, does it get any better than that? These beauties look stunning in an Easter tablescape. And they are such a cinch to make, too! I found Daffodils at Walmart for $1/pot <—- what a steal! You will also need: Peat PotsPaper Doilies – 6 inchMod Podge I watered down my Mod Podge just a bit to make it easier to apply. I thought dipping the paper doilies seemed a bit simpler than using a foam brush. Taking each doily and working individually, you will want to dip it into your mod podge solution quickly, making sure it doesn’t fold in on itself too much. Quickly is key. You don’t want it too saturated as the paper will tear easily when applied to the pot. Place all of your peat pots upside down on a covered surface. Gently wrap your soaked doily around the pot. You don’t want to pull and adjust too much as this will also cause tearing. The goal is to set it down in place the first time and push in/gather the sides a bit. This was my solution for drying (which takes approx. 24 hours). I needed the pots to remain upside down, but for the doily to not touch anything. My extra spray paint cans were the perfect solution! Once the doilies are fully dry, transfer the plants over from their plastic store pots. These peat pots are just a smidge smaller than the original daffodil pots, but I wasn’t too concerned as I knew the daffodil babies would only be “living” in these pots a short time before they were buried in the garden, pretty doily and all. I just adore these gorgeous yellow flowers. They are perfect on the table and bring so much brightness to the setting. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
April 14, 2019Crap I've MadeTake me out to the ball game! It’s time for Cracker Jacks, Peanuts and Footlong Hotdogs, my friends! Oh, and of course, BASEBALL! If you are a Cleveland Indians fan, then this Makeover Monday Edition is for you! *I suppose if you are another MLB Team Fan (BLAH!) you could make this wreath as well by adding your own team decal* This DIY craft is a bit more detailed than my past projects and requires a little more time. But, don’t fret! It’s still Fast, Frugal and Freaking Awesome! And I have made a very detailed tutorial for you to follow along with, so anyone can make it! Here We Go! Batter Up! First, collect all the supplies: Leather strips (most craft stores have bags of leather strip/remnant pieces – similar to this)8 baseballs – you can find them here if you don’t already have used balls lying around.Mini Bat – I purchased mine hereWood Piece – Approx. 12×6 in size. here is the one I used. This plaque was already stained.3×10 Decal – I found mine in store at Walmart. Similar to this oneGalvanized Wire-approx 40″ – found at most craft and hardware storesPliersCordless Drill 1/4″ Drill Bit We will start with the Indians sign for the top. Adhere the decal to the wood and slowly peel the top layer off. Slow and steady wins the race here, friends. While removing the peel, I did find some of the letters ripped slightly, but they were small tears and barely visible once the project was finished. I also removed the piece of twine that was attached to the back of the pallet sign when it was purchased as I knew I would be using the leather instead. *NOTE: If you are planning on keeping your finished door hanger inside or out of the weather, you are finished with this step. But, if it will be exposed to the elements, I highly suggest a layer of Mod Podge as well as a coat of polyurethane spray. *Note: the mod podge will leave a “milky” appearance while wet. Don’t panic, it will dry clear! Using the 1/4″ drill bit, drill a hole in each corner of your wood sign (about 1″ in). Again using the 1/4″ drill bit, drill a hole clear through each baseball. Run your wire through each baseball until you’ve made a half circle with the balls back to back. Cut off the extra wire with the pliers, leaving approx. 3 extra inches of wire on each end. Using the pliers again, twist each end into a loop and secure by wrapping the end around the base of the loop. Cut 20″ strip of leather and run each end through the top drilled holes of the sign. Knot them in place. This will serve as your “hanger”. Taking 2 pieces of leather strip each about 7 inches long, attach the wire loops to the bottom drilled holes of the sign. Cut additional leather strap. Lastly, take 2 10″ leather strip pieces and attach the mini bat by knotting the leather around the bat and wire. This is most definitely a Home Run! GO INDIANS! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
March 26, 2019Crap I've MadeWhen March comes along, we seem to find ourselves itching for sunshine, warmer weather and just being outside. So, this Spring Break, we made it a point to get out of the house (even if it was a bit chilly at times) and get out in nature. I have been seeing these Bug Houses all over the place lately. They are readily available at almost any store, but considering what they’re for, I felt they were a tad bit pricey. So, of course, I came up with a way to make our own for FREE! All you need is an old birdhouse (I had a few lying around in the shed) and whatever supplies you can scrounge up from Mother Nature. I pried the front of the birdhouses off with a mallet and screw driver. It was pretty simple. They were both held on with nails and wood glue, so just be careful. Slow and steady wins the race on this one for sure! One front came off whole, the other broke. But, you don’t need this piece anymore, so it doesn’t really matter. To make layering the “stuffing” easier and separate the space, we hot glued a few pieces of spare wood along the inside of the birdhouse. This step is totally optional. The next part is the most fun! We went out in the backyard, we went on a walk and we took a trip to the park to find all of our “stuffing” for the inside. Pine cones, thick fallen sticks, branches and anything else we considered “cool”. When we got home we dumped out our treasures to see what we had. We measured and cut (broke) the sticks to size and I drilled holes in the ends to give a place for the creepy crawly’s to burrow. The final step was simply placing all of our supplies in the houses. We stuffed them full so there was no room for anything to shift or fall. The plan is to add them around our Frog Pond in a few weeks when it thaws. Hopefully the bugs enjoy their stay at our one-of-a-kind hotel! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 19, 2019Crap I've MadeThis is a super easy one, friends. Grab a clean tin can, a bag of moss sheets, your hot glue gun, a grapevine wreath and a filler (succulents, topiary ball, flowers, etc) and make this cute little baby in a matter of minutes! Gather supplies – grapevine wreath, can, sheet moss, hot glue and topiary ballOr succulentsCut moss sheet to fit around can. Hot glue on.Place mossy can on grapevine wreath.Make sure wreath is pushed up enough for the can to sit evenly.Place succulent topiary ball or flowers inside. Doesn’t this look wonderfully woodsy? Perfect for a fairy garden or gnome home! Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 19, 2019Crap I've MadeI saw a similar decor piece at a big box store and thought “I can totally make that way cuter and way cheaper.” So, I did! First, gather all of your supplies. You will need twine, faux flowers (for this project I used 2 bunches of roses – 21 flowers in all) a wood rod (around 30″ long) and hot glue. Cut your twine into 5 equal length pieces. Mine were approximately 18″. Knot your twine around the wood rod. Once you have your 5 pieces equally separated over the length of the wood piece, add a bit of hot glue under each knot to keep them from sliding around. Cut your roses off at the stem using wire cutters. You want to leave the thicker part of the stem in place for attaching to the twine. Here they are all cut. So pretty! Add hot glue to the stem and wrap the twine around it. I attached each flower to the twine by “eyeballing” the equal spacing each time. You can always measure the twine strips beforehand and mark the spot for the rose with a black sharpie to ensure they sit evenly. I wasn’t too worried about it and prefer a more random look. For simple hanging hardware: Hot glue small picture hooks to the back of the rod. One on each end.It is just beautiful and will be a perfect addition to my daughter’s room. This could be added to any space, really. A wall, in front of a window or even as a headboard. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
February 18, 2019Crap I've MadeThis greenery wall was so fun to make! It was way easier than it looks and only took a few tools other than the faux florals. I hit up the craft store when all floral and greenery were 50% off. I walked out with SO many goodies! I have been wanting to do this wall for some time now, and the price was finally right! I wanted a mix of greens. Some succulent and some leafy. They all look great together. You simply can’t go wrong with your greenery choices! The more dimension and color variety, the better! This stuff is the star of the show! You can find Plastic Garden Fencing at your local hardware store and it’s pretty inexpensive considering how large the roll is! (This was the smallest size roll my store carried) It’s typically either black or green. Obviously, I wanted the green color for this project. Here is a time lapse of the building process. It took less than an hour from start to finish. After measuring and cutting the size piece I needed, I secured the fencing to the wall by drilling a washer and screw onto all 4 corners and 2 spots in the middle of the fence piece. The plants stems were placed between the fencing and the wall through the holes. No adhesive. This way they are easy to move around and arrange, take down or clean. Like this:Like Loading... [...] Read more...
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