Lost Socks Tutorial

We always have at least 3 socks that don't end up having matches after doing the laundry. It drives my husband crazy. He was thrilled when I decided to make a "home" for these lost socks until they find their mate.

For this tutorial I am going to do something a little different, I am going to feature TIPS! along the way so that your project turns out better/easier than mine did. :)

First I started out with a little board I got at Hobby Lobby for a little over a $1.00, it's about 12 by 6 inches. (This was before I knew about Habitat for Humanity Stores where wood is 50 cents or less)

I thought at first I would paint it....

But then I thought it needed something else. Oh and please know the yellow wasn't that bright but I cannot figure out my camera settings to save my life, keep this in mind throughout all the other photos...



So I modge podged my favorite paper onto the board,

right over the paint. It's called Bo Bunny Double Dot Paper, Sunflower. You may not be able to see, but there are cute little dots on the paper.

How to Modge Podge:

1. Apply a medium amount of modge podge with a brush (i use those super cheap foam ones) to the board. Make sure that the board is COMPLETELY covered. But don't take so long that the modge podge starts to dry.
2. Put paper on top of modge podge. Use an old credit card or bone folder to smooth down all of the paper. You may have some modge podge come out on the sides, that's okay, just wipe down with a paper towel. Keep smoothing until there are no bubbles.
3. Let dry for approx. 10 minutes. Then you can put vinyl on top of the paper.
4. If you are going to "ink" the edges, this is the time to do so.
5. After applying the vinyl, put a very thin layer of modge podge on top of the vinyl
6. Let dry 15 minutes before handling again.

I "inked" my edges with Tim Holtz' brown ink. All you do is hold the ink pad at an angle and go along the sides of your sign. You will get a thin layer of brown on the edges. Depending on how you tilt the ink pad, you can get more or less ink around the edges. If you don't have an ink pad, you can use a brown marker!

I used the program SCAL and my Cricut to cut the brown vinyl. Click HERE if you would like to download my SCAL file to use for your own sign.

After modge podging, inking and putting the vinyl on the sign, I whipped out my hot glue gun to attach the clothespins.

TIP! Measure the distance between clothespins before you hot glue them so you don't end up with some being closer than others and being super annoyed.

While you have your hot glue gun out, use it to attach the picture hanger to the back of your piece of wood.

TIP! Do not use the little nails they give you on this thin of a board, they will go through the board.

(btw, this is the real coloring of the sign and my laundry room walls)

Your done! Now go collect your lost socks and give them a new home. They (and your husband) will be thrilled!

(see the difference in coloring? crazy camera!)

Button Heart

I really should be sleeping, made this great Valentine's decoration out of buttons! And she gives us a tutorial on making our own. Very cute!

LOVE Frame with Tutorial!

I have been sick in bed with a cold for a few days but my mind has been going full speed thinking of cute Valentine's Day decorations! Here's a little tutorial (my first) on how to make this craft from a Michael's $1.00 Frame. This is a perfect project if you have never modge podged before!

 

Step One: Pick a cute paper to modge podge onto your frame. The thicker your paper is, the easier it is to modge podge.

Step Two: Gather supplies.

Modge Podge, Paper, Paint Brush, Bone Folder (or old credit card), Exacto Knife, Scissors, Pencil, Wood Frame

Step Three: Trace around frame and cut paper out.

Step Four: Apply thin coat of modge podge all over frame

Step Five: Line up the edges of the paper and the frame, when straight, put paper down and smooth onto frame with bone folder or old credit card.

Step Six: After letting dry for 3-5 minutes, take exacto knife and trim any paper that is hanging over the edges.

Step Seven: Color in edges and sides of frame with black marker (I used a Martha Stewart marker) or paint the sides. Oh, and I've used a sharpie before and it works great too!

Step Eight: While waiting for your marker or paint to dry, cut out 6 hearts. I did mine in a program called SCAL (then later cut with my cricut) starting at 2.5 inches and going smaller. But if you don't have a Cricut, you can use Word or just free hand it! That's what I used to do. I cut 2 red, 2 with vellum and 2 with pink.

Step Nine: Your marker should be dry now. Put a THIN layer of modge podge over your paper that is now attached to your frame. Put frame somewhere you won't touch it.

Step Ten: Glue paper hearts together. I did 2 at a time with zig glue, straight down the middle. Then after they were dry I attached all of them together.

Step Eleven: Plug hot glue gun in.

 Step Twelve: "Fluff" the heart layers up.

Step Thirteen: Remember the frame you put out of your reach? Well your allowed to touch it now that it's dry. Take your hot glue gun and attach your heart to the frame with it.

Step Fourteen: Cut a piece of pink (or color of your choice) card stock into a 3.5 x 3.5 square to cover the opening in the frame. I used my big-bad-ATG gun (but a glue stick will work too!) to attach the card stock right to the square piece of cardboard Michael's already put in the frame.

Step Fifteen: Are you still awake?! Good. Now, cut out the letters L-O-V-E. I did this in SCAL. But if you don't have that program, don't fret! Use Word or free hand it! The font I used was Bookman Old Style. Tilt the "O" and glue your letters down on the pink square you just made.

Step Sixteen: Put pink square into frame and your done!

I hope that you will try this project, especially if you are a beginner and don't modge podge often. It's incredibly inexpensive and if you follow the steps it should only take 30-1 hour to complete. If you make one, please let me know,

 I would love to see it!

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Card Holder

My nephew was doing a magazine school fundraiser a few months ago and I participated by purchasing a years subscription to Martha Stewart Magazine. I know, it was a huge sacrifice ;) In the December issue (which was fabulous btw) she featured a Embroidery Hoop Christmas Card Holder or "Pinup Wreath" as Martha calls it. I knew immediately that I had to make it. I have always struggled to figure out where to put our Christmas Cards we get in the mail. Finally, an inexpensive and cute solution. I ended up using 2 because I ran out of space with the first one.

 I hung ours on a wreath hanger, on the back of the coat closet door, which is right inside the front door. It turned

out to be the perfect place for the Christmas Cards.

Here are some photos of ours.

CD Case Calendar

Over on Scrapbooks Etc, you can not only print off this little calendar but they will give you a full tutorial on how to make this cute calendar from a CD case!

Princess Crown & Batman Mask #2

My BFF Kara's kids are my adopted niece and nephew.

For Christmas I made Mira(2) a felt Princess Crown and Solomon(3) a batman mask. HERE is the link to the princess crown. It was really easy to cut out of felt and sew. I used

 my Cricut to cut an "M" out of purple fabric and then just ironed it on. It was really easy to cut the fabric out and

 I will definitely be doing it more often. 

 I made Solomon a batman mask because I gave him a superhero cape a few months ago and I thought it would go together nicely. The store was out of normal black felt but they had a black felt with texture that made the mask look really cool! HERE is a link to the original batman mask post where you can find instructions.

Check Your Pockets Laundry Sign

When my sister Farris saw THIS post with the laundry sign from the blog Love Stitched, she wanted one of her own. So I made her one for Christmas! The hardest part was finding a cabinet door. I basically asked everyone I knew if they had an extra cabinet door laying around, but no one did. Then my other sister suggested the "Habitat for Humanity" store. I had never been but I can say now that it's my favorite place! I didn't even have to paint the cabinet door or anything! I used SCAL to design the vinyl and had my husband attach the basket with super glue. He tested it out and it holds a wallet and a blackberry which is exactly what my sister needed. I thought about taking the door handle off but then I thought it would be nice to hang belts or a bag on for lint. I now have to make myself one of these. :) So my sister LOVED it and did a dance when she saw it. Yippy!

 

Puppet Theater for Annalee

When I saw THIS post from Dandee Designs, I knew I wanted to use her tutorial to make a puppet theater for my niece Annalee (age 4). I was really stressed about it because I don't have a lot of experience sewing but it was SO easy!! I think it only took about 30 minutes total to make it. I am excited to see if she likes it!

Here it is on the spring tension rod in our doorway

Here is a shot of the slit where the puppets come out

Wrapping Paper Gift Tag PRINTABLE.

Nannygoat has a great idea for a neighbor/friend gift AND included a free printable to go with it! How much easier can it be?! :) Such a cute idea!



Mason Jar Gifts.....

I have never thought to put goodies in a Mason Jar! So smart and cute! Check out, Or so she says for more photos!

Craft Stick Snowman

I love this craft idea for kids from Serving Pink Lemonade.

I know my older nephew would love this! And even better is that there is a full tutorial on how to make it.

Merry Christmas Printable

Here is another great FREE printable from At Second Street 

I love these!

 

Merry Christmas Sign

I wanted to make a simple "Merry Christmas" sign to put out this year. I took a piece of really thin wood from Hobby Lobby  and modge podged a piece of Bo Bunny Dotted Red Paper (my favorite paper ever) onto it. You can't see the dots in the picture very well but in person they are really cute and subtle. Then I took a black ink pad and "inked" the edges. After that was dry I printed out "Merry Christmas" in black vinyl and that was it, project done! Sorry it's not a very good photo but I think you get the idea. My inspiration was THIS board done by the Crafting Chicks.

A place to put your Letters to Santa!

Sassy Sites rocks! She took a plain pringles can

 and turned it into this....

You hang it on the wall and put letters to Santa in it, LOVE IT! Please go to their site for a full tutorial.

Freebie! Believe Banner

At Second Street has another fabulous banner that you can download and print for free! Remember the banner they made for Fall? They make decorating so much easier, thanks At Second Street!

Clever Neighbor Gift

Need an inexpensive yet SUPER cute (and clever) gift for teachers, neighbors, etc? Well, head on over to Crap I've Made and see the tutorial on how to make these.....

Christmas Blocks

I heart Naptime has some really cute Christmas blocks on their blog. I do believe I am going to have to ask my hubby to cut me a few pieces of this size to make some myself!

Perfect for Grandma

Eighteen25 just posted a great free printable for Grandma! It's really cute and would make such an inexpensive gift.

Juice Top Ornaments

Every Thanksgiving my Dad's side of the family gathers together and has a family reunion. At the reunion the "Aunties" and "Niecy's" exchange presents. They are homemade gifts and usually have something to do with Christmas, but don't have to. I have always wanted to participate in making something and next year I am going to!

I love these juice top ornaments from the Crafting Chicks and they would be perfect for the reunion. They have a full tutorial on their blog too!

Fall Jars

Choose to Thrive has a great tutorial on these Fall Jars. I love how easy they would be to do and how pretty they look.