Spring Sign

Back when we lived in Texas I was at my favorite thrift store and found 2 oval frames for only $1.99 each. It felt like I had won the lottery! I made THIS with the first one and I have been waiting to think of a cute idea for the second one.

Finally inspiration hit! Here is what I made....

I used a gorgeous blue and white dot paper for the background and then picked out really cute bright colors out of my cardstock scraps. I used SCAL to design and cut it out on my Cricut then simply used my glue pen to make the letters say on. I have been dying to try out Kiki's tutorial on fabric roses and finally I had a chance. While they do not look like hers, I am very happy with mine! If you make one be sure to email me a photo, I love to see your projects!

I will be linking this project up to THESE parties

Shamrock Tree Frame

Lindsey from Inspiring Creations made this super adorable Shamrock Tree from a $1 Michael's Frame. She gives a full tutorial on how to make one for yourself as well!



St. Patrick's Day Frame Tutorial

I had so much fun making THIS Valentine's Frame I decided to make another one for St. Patrick's Day. The total cost for the project was $1.50, love that! I purchased the wood frame at Michael's for $1.00 (they are always this price) and the scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby for 50 cents.

Here is a tutorial so that you can make it too: 

Step 1: Trace the outside and inside of the frame on the scrapbook paper of our choice. I did this on the back so that I didn't have pencil lines. Cut out paper and set aside.

Step 2: Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to entire

 top of the frame. The trick is not to wait too long to

put the paper on top of the modge podge and not to

put too much modge podge on the frame.

The photo above is what your frame should look like when the modge podge is applied correctly.

Step 3: Apply the paper you cut earlier to the top of the frame, use something (an old credit card, etc) to smooth the paper down onto the frame, working from the inside out. This will ensure that you don't have bubbles. If you have bubbles then you either put way too much modge podge or not enough. Let dry approx. 10 minutes.

Optional Step 4: Take a black marker and outline your frame. Let marker dry for 10 minutes before going to next step.

Step 5: Apply a thin layer a modge podge on top of the paper, in the photo above you can see what it should look like. If any bubbles appear, you can try to smooth them down but be careful not to rip your paper.

Step 6: While your frame is trying, glue a piece of cardstock on top of the square that came in the middle of the frame.

Step 7: Put something in the middle of the frame.

I chose to cut "Luck O' the Irish" out of the cricut

cartridge "Celebrate with Flourish". If you don't have

 a Cricut or this cartridge, anything St. Patty's Day

 related would be cute inside the frame!

Step 8: Your Done! Drink a diet coke (or your favorite drink) to celebrate! :)

HERE are the Linky Parties I will be joining!

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!)

Valentine's Matchbooks

Embellishing Life made these fun little notebooks that look like matchbooks out of paint swatches! Love it.



Conversation Heart Banner

I was inspired to make this Conversation Heart Banner after seeing THIS. I have a mirror right inside our front door and I thought it would look great on it.

If you would like to make one, here is what I did.....

Keep in mind if you don't have a cricut, you could easily do this without one!

I cut six hearts out on my Cricut at 5 inches in different colored cardstock. I used the program SCAL to make the phrases and then cut them out using my Cricut as well. To stick the letters to the hearts I used my Zig two way glue pen. Then, I punched holes in the hearts and tied pink polka dot ribbon through the holes. That's it! It was a really easy project and I love how it looks on my mirror.  

Click HERE to see what parties I am linking this project to.

Valentine's Box Printable FREEBIE

I love these Valentine's Day Boxes from The Giving Madam that are free for us to print and assemble ourselves! She even offers two versions, one that is good for giving to classmates and one that is best for loved ones.

Conversation Hearts

The Happy Scraps made the cutest Valentine's Day decoration! And it's made out of cardstock, chipboard and ribbon. I will be making this within the next few days and will post my version. I can't wait!



Valentine's Hedgehog Card

While looking at the submissions to the linky party on Someday Crafts I saw THIS and it inspired me to create this...

I am actually making several copies of this same card for all my nieces and nephews for Valentine's Day. My camera was not behaving so I'm not sure if you can really tell that the paper behind the hedgehog is a light pink.

Recipe:

Paper: I used my scraps so I'm not sure

Punch: Martha Stewart

Cartridge: Create a Critter, Heart is from George & Basic Shapes

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Size: 5x7 

Valentine's Poster with tons of uses! FREEBIE

It Is What It Is created this gorgeous Valentine's Day Poster and then discovered it has multiple uses!

Here are my favorite two, please see their website

for all of them and for the free download.

Easy and Cute Valentine's Day Cards!

Candy Bar Wrapper!

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!

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!

Always Kiss Me Goodnight FREE PRINT

I love this print! It's gorgeous and would be so easy to make yourself. Craftily Ever After has a great tutorial on making it and is so nice for giving the print to all of us for free!

My take on a "Different Kind of Wreath"

When my sister Francis saw THIS post she decided she wanted me to make her a "different kind of wreath" for her Christmas present. I made it back in August and it was very hard not to show her before Christmas. I found the frame at Goodwill and painted it. Here is a before picture....

and after......

She loved it!