Flowers for Spring

I've been wanting to make these hair clips forever. I saw them at the Purl Bee and here is a link to the tutorial. I know I don't have a little girl but perhaps they would make a good gift. They were really fun and fast to make.

Bow Ties

I saw this bow tie on U-Create and thought it was adorable. The project was posted on Papersnitch the Blog but it was a guest post from Living the Swell Life. I had another craft night and this project looked like fun. I usually only make one of something but this time I decided to make two and I was remarkably faster the second time around.

Easter

Casserole Cozy

A casserole cozy! So practical for church potlucks and bringing dinner over to a family in need. I decided to make one for my mom's birthday.

I got the idea from Homemade by Jill who got the idea from 2 Little Hooligans.

I took Jill's suggestion and used canvas belting for the handles and I ditched the Velcro and made ties instead. This was partially done out of necessity but I like the look of it too. Most difficult part was sewing on top of the insul-bright material because it tended to pull and scrunch but other than that it was fairly simple to construct.

The big ONE

I had one craft goal this year and it was this ONE. A gift for my son's number ONE birthday. I saw this first on Homemade by Jill and I fell in love. I loved it and it was the first ONE of its kind I saw. It seemed super ambitious but I decided to make it a goal for 2010. Now I am happy to say it's completed and it feels great.

Welcome to Matthew's home
The Entrance
I borrowed many of Jill's templates for the entrance. Pick the flowers or look for mail.
The Garage
Garage with truck parked outside. Window is open so you can peak out of the car. Car has squeegee and sponge in a bucket in the truck's bed.
The Side Yard
In the side yard you can peak through the window, shoot some hoops, or pick some oranges off the tree.
The Garden
In the garden you can pick some vegetables, pick the oranges, hang clothes on the clothesline and crawl through the secret hideout entrance.
Birds eye view
After many months and hours of cutting, sewing, and creating I got my reward. Take a look. It makes me smile.
I have to give credit to my husband who designed the truck and had the clever idea for a bird's nest and clothes line. He is awesome!

Land of the Free * Because of the Brave

Time for some Fourth of July Crafting. This is an easy fun craft that would be great to do with children. I saw this idea done for Christmas and Halloween so I decided to try it out for another holiday.
Take a look at these cute ones right here and here. I'll be making some of these when these holidays roll around.

To make these jars you will need:
Mod Podge
Tissue Paper
Napkins or paper
Tea Candles.
Jars. I used baby food jars.

To make add a layer of mod podge onto the outside of the jar. Layer tissue paper onto the jar. Spread another layer of mod podge onto the jar and place on decorative napkins or paper cutouts. When dry apply one more layer of mod podge. Add a candle and watch it glow.

Pretty as a Pearl- Purple Flowers

I learned how to make these felt flowers here. A great embellishment for clothing, a purse, a pillow or a huge craft I am making! I can't wait for the finished product to come together. I will say this project is not for me but for someone who has his first birthday coming up!

From this to that

My husband found this picture frame at church in a Lost and Found pile of things being given away. He thought it might work for his diploma but it didn't. It just sat around in our closet. I decided to turn this eye sore into something fun for my home. I got my ideas from various projects.

Idea for menu board here

Idea for picture frame here

Idea to give the wood an aged look here

Gifting on a zero dollar budget

Two weeks ago I found out my parents would be flying out for a couple days and I would get to see my mom on her birthday.

Last time I saw her on her birthday had to be 8 years ago. I began thinking big! I need to shower her with gifts.

Hours later my husband asked if I have checked our bank account lately.

Gulp

I'm informed we need to watch our spending for the rest of the month.

I hadn't bought anything for my mom yet so I decided I would create her gifts and only use things I have in our house.

So here is what I did for my mom's birthday on a zero dollar budget.

Garden Sticks

Materials: stickers, Sharpie, Popsicle sticks, and Mod Podge.

My mom loves gardening so I used leftover craft Popsicle sticks. I covered them with several layers of hard mod podge to make them weather resistant.

Scented Sachet

Materials: Tule, ribbons, dried roses, rose scented essential oils.

I used leftover ribbon from a taggie blanket and leftover rose petals and essential oil from a Church activity to make a sachet you can use in a drawer or closet.

Magnetic Picture Frame

Materials: Scrapbook paper, scrapbook letter cutouts, Popsicle sticks, magnet, tape and glue gun.

The scrapbook paper is leftover from the blocks I made for my son. I used Popsicle sticks to hold the picture and to allow other pictures to slide in and out. The magnet is from a fridge notepad I had used.

Ping Pong Ball!!

Basically we had a ping pong ball but we don't have a table. My parent's do have a ping pong table and now they have another ping pong ball but this one says "bring it". :)

A weeks worth of dinner recipes

I gave my mom seven dinner recipes that I enjoy making for my family for dinner. While they were here I made one of these recipes and she asked me to make sure I give her the recipe. No prob!

Necklace

Materials: Denim, beads, embroidery thread, mod podge, white thread.

I got my idea here. I used an old pair of jeans to make the flower. I covered the petals with mod podge to make the petals stiffer so that they would stick up more. The big wooden beads on the necklace are from a necklace I had as a little girl. I didn't have any necklace clasps so I just left lots of room with the thread to tie it.

Cake Pin Cushion

Materials: felt, buttons, pins, glue gun, magnet.

I found this tutorial here. Very easy project with a lot of fun ways to embellish. I wrapped an empty ribbon spool with foil to use as a cake platter. I put a magnet on the bottom tier to pick up stray pins with.

A History of Motherhood

Lastly, I recorded thoughts and memories I have of my mom while growing up. I wrote down memories from holidays, grade school, and different stages of life. I then called my grandma and asked her questions about being a mom, specifically being a mother to my mother. I also asked her questions about her mother and recorded everything I could. I love, love family history and the little details is what makes it so special.

There you have it. Luckily a mother's love is unconditional no matter how handmade or silly a gift is!

Headbands

Awhile ago I was perusing the $1 bins at Target and came across a 4 pack of small plastic headbands. I grabbed two packs. I don't really wear headbands that much but I like the idea of them. Seems like there is a lot of headband crafts floating around the craft blogs so I thought I would give it a whirl. I'm not the biggest fan of the giant fake flowers on headbands. It reminds me of the side pony tail I sported as a child that looked like a water faucet flowing just above my ear. We look back and wonder why that was a cute trend. But I admit I love the ruffles, and fabric flowers that are popping up everywhere in women's fashion. I'm OK with flowers in the hair, I just like the proportion to be more head than flower.

I created two headbands and I found the ideas here and here.

These projects are great because I didn't have to buy anything (besides 25 cent headbands) and they are quick, satisfying projects.

I used scrap fabric, buttons and a glue gun for each project. I have my mom to thank for my fabric. Moms are great ways to build up scrap fabric supplies and there are so many crafts out there where all you need is odds and ends of fabric to make something fun.