Tag Archives: DIY

12 Days of Creating: Marble Art

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Day 6 is unfortunately a few days late due to sickness here but I still would like to keep this up! Plus, it’s another fun one for kiddos… or adults :)Beautiful Wife (3 of 6)
Supplies used:

Canvas (could use paper too)

Paint

Marbles

Pan to work in

Beautiful Wife (2 of 2)Just place marbles onto the canvas.Beautiful Wife (4 of 6)Beautiful Wife (1 of 1)Shake, shake, shake it side to side.Beautiful Wife (2 of 6)

Chase {really} enjoyed this!
Beautiful Wife (5 of 6)

Beautiful Wife (6 of 6)

He was quite particular too ;)Beautiful Wife (1 of 6)

This particular piece was made for a silent art auction for Art & Justice League, a non-profit we work with. It was pretty fun to see Chase’s artwork up at last nights event!
Beautiful Wife (1 of 3)

The mighty dapper artist and his little brother at last nights silent auction.

12 Days of Creating: Felt Nativity Board

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Hi! Can you believe it’s already December 5th? Just 20 Days ’til Christmas! Today’s DIY is for the kiddos. Not necessarily the DIY part but the playing-with-afterwards part ;) Today we are making a felt nativity “board”.
DIYNativityandBoard-5I stumbled upon the {cutest} already-made felt nativity people at Hobby Lobby. The price reads $6 but I got it for 50% a few weeks back. But you’re in luck (if you really like this DIY) because I noticed in the ad that all Christmas’y things are still on sale right now!
DIYFeltNativityBoard Supplies used:

- Pre-made felt people (Hobby Lobby $3)

-Scissors

-Velcro (seriously not much at all, I used just 2 of those 4 strips you see here)

-Hot glue gun

-Yarn + 2 thumb tacks to hang it up (you could use whatever you wanted to hang it)

-Felt for backs of people (you can buy this for 4/$1 at Hobby Lobby)

-Felt for the board (I had to iron mine flat with no lines/creases)

-Cardboard for back (Totally optional. I actually decided against it last minute! If you’d like a more sturdy board, I would recommend that.)

DIYNativityandBoard-1This is another SUPER simple DIY:

Step 1: Glue people to felt (colour of your choice. I just used what I had leftover from Shai’s 1st birthday- teal)

Step 2: Cut out people

Side note: How CUTE is that Mary?! I just think that is the {perfect} expression ever for the momma of Jesus. LOVE her!

DIYNativityandBoard-2Step 3: glue small pieces of velcro to backs. A little velcro went a long way here!DIYNativityandBoard-4Step 4: (optional) I braided my hard to make it a little stronger to hold better.

Step 5: Glue back edge of felt over the yarn.DIYNativityandBoard-3

Step 6: Hang it and let the kiddos enjoy it!

Our “board” ended up matching the wall almost perfectly which was kind of a bummer. I just used what I had and it was either the cream or an obnoxiously bright red haha.

DIYNativityandBoard-1-2

The boys absolutely love it and I have found Chase telling Shailo (and then again today, with the little girl I watch) about “baby Jesus” which is super sweet to watch!

The board looks a little sparse at the moment and I was thinking once I could get a piece of brown felt I will make a barn for them to go in! The possibilities are endless ;)

Hope you are inspired!

12 Days of Creating: ‘Days Until’ Chalkboard Sign.

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Day 4 is one I’m especially excited to share because it’s one I feel many of you could really enjoy! I found a sign at Hobby Lobby that read “Days Until” but it was around $35 which was a bummer. I looked at the sign and really wanted it but not at that price. I knew I already had chalkboard paint (I’m a little obsessed with my love for chalkboards) and wondered if I could re-create my own! DIYDaysUntilSign-2

Supplies used:

Thrifted piece of wood or probably even a 2 x 4 – I searched the ARC and found this La Toilette sign (it is cute, but not at all my style!) for $1.50.

Chalkboard paint- there is also a spray paint kind but I prefer the can kind. It can be kind of expensive right off the bat ranging from $4-15 but I have used my can for multiple chalkboard project, some of which I will show you here.

Paint brush

Stickers or a cricut and vinyl – I just used what I had leftover from a previous project and it has stuck very well.

9a256c24195311e299e022000a1fb043_7I have already put our sign to good use. I LOVE it! And it’s so simple to make!

Steps:

Step 1: Paint it. (I put 2 coats on ours)

Step 2: Give it 24 hours to dry (I am not very patient but have learned that this is really important)

Step 3: Add words. You can also have it read “days ’til” or “sleeps until”. After I made it I kind of wished I had done “Sleep until” because that is what we say with Chaseyboy!DIYChalkboardFrame-1

Another use of the chalkboard paint. I decided to find a few pics I had on the computer to show you just how far that little can of chalkboard paint can go.

DIYChalkboardFrame-2See that HUGE chalkboard? Another example of the amazing little can, it even has 2 coats on it! (wall pic is pre- our crazy gallery wall. Hope to blog that soon.)
DIYChalkboardFrame-1-2

(chalkboard paint was also used in the little window)

I really hope you enjoyed today’s post! Would make a fun gift or just a great thing to have around for those who love countdowns to fun events/goals/holidays, etc!

xx, Jami

12 Days of Creating: Fridge Organizers (Gift Idea)

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Day 3 of 12 Days of Creating is a very simple and reasonable project to inspire organization. Practical and cute! This could be used as a lovely touch to your fridge or as a gift for a list maker (or those who need a little help maybe, like me :)) in your life.

Project 1: Cute Fridge To Do list

DIYFridgeOrganizers-1Supplies used:

-To do list- the $1 section at Target has the CUTEST notepads and to do lists, etc.

-Magnet – I bought a flexible magnetic strip with adhesive for around $3 at Hobby Lobby and there is more than enough for multiple projects!

I absolutely love the cute lists in the $1 section at Target however, the size of the magnetic ones are sometimes not a practical size for me and my not-so-small handwriting, especially with To Do lists/calendars. I found these cute notepads and thought why not make them magnetic for myself and as gifts! DIYFridgeOrganizers-4

And it is possibly the fastest DIY to date. Only 1 step: Add magnet to back!

Project 2: Fridge Chalkboard for the ForgetfulDIYfridgeorganizersCollage2

Supplies used:

-Chalkboard slate – I thrifted mine for 70 cents but I have noticed Walmart and Hobby Lobby both carry chalkboards too if you aren’t able to thrift one!

-Paint and paint brush

One of the most frustrating things I often do is forget what fruits and veggies or leftovers we have in our fridge before they go to waste. I am so upset with myself when I reach in the fridge and realize we have to throw away food. I was originally going to use the chalkboard in our bedroom just to write sweet notes, but I realized although that’s the cutest idea…I’m not sure the chalkboard would really be used much. HAHA! I decided it would be the perfect size and fit for a fridge chalkboard!

Another super simple DIY! 2 steps:

Step 1: Paint it (if you want to)

Step 2: Add magnetsDIYFridgeOrganizers-3

Now all I need is an automatic spell check in my head! Hehe :) Hope you are inspired to create and get organized. I stink at organization, that is a gift I did {not} naturally inherit from my momma unfortunately. So small tools like this really help me! I hope this helps you too!

(Please pray for our family? We’re all starting to feel under the weather. I feel so icky right now but thankfully I was able to take a few minutes to prep this post this morning when I felt much more alive! Anyways, g’night and thanks for popping by :))

12 Days of Creating: Embroidery Hoop Advent Calendar {DIY}

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EmbroideryHoopArt (2 of 2)I unable to sleep tonight which is a result of my back hurting and me taking a Midol in hope to ease the pain. Well, pretty sure my Midol has caffeine of powerful sorts in it. Or maybe my decaf Carmel Brulee Latte wasn’t a decaf tonight before the Parade of Lights we attended ;) I didn’t think caffeine had this effect on me, but apparently it does! YIKES. Anyways, I thought why not post the blog I had hoped to post yesterday anyways :) This is a step by step tutorial of our embroidery hoop advent calendar!

As today is December 1st, it’s not too late (it really never is!) to create/do an advent calendar.

I love creating a new advent calendar each year and this year I wanted something in our colours and that was really me. I searched my craft supplies. I had a ridiculous amount of embroidery hoops and this is what I came up with. Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired to create! (Tutorial photos are taken with my iPhone and the results with our Canon, so all of you photogs out there, please excuse the colour and quality difference ;))

Supplies used for entire advent calendar:

-Embroidery hoops: Embroidery hoops cost little to nothing at thrift stores here and hopefully wherever you are located! I used a few different sizes and shapes to create our advent calendar.

-Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

-Yarn

-Fabric (this is a perfect time to use those fabric scraps you don’t want to throw away)

-Fabric scissors

-Felt (4/$1 Hobby Lobby)

-Twine

-Mini clothespins (Walmart or Hobby Lobby – some of mine were from the $1 section in Target)

-Super gaudy/sparkly “garland” (also from the $1 section at Target)

-Foam stickers from Hobby Lobby

HGTV.COM and DESIGN STAR season 4 were on for most of this advent calendar making :) Just a little creative fun to watch while creating!

The Fabric Wrapped Hoop:

Step 1: For this particular hoop I cut my fabric a little less than an inch wide.

Step 2: I dabbed a small amount of hot glue to the hoop and pressed my fabric onto it.

Step 3: (not pictured here) I unscrewed the hoop for easier, quicker wrapping.

Step 4: Wrap, wrap, wrap.

Step 5: Glue end and cut excess material. And you’re done.

EmbroideryHoopArt (1 of 4)
As you can see in the above photo of the red and white stripped wrapped hoop, I added a piece to the middle and for this particular one I left the edges on the material for a fun touch. (sorry for the blur! Unfortunately I realized AFTER I took the photos that I had a smudge on the lens. BAH! ;))

The Yarn Wrapped Hoop.

Step 1: Unscrew hoop.

Step 2: Tie a small knot onto hoop.

Step 3: Wrap, wrap, wrap.

Step 4: Tie or glue end onto hoop.

Step 5: Add a fabric middle, or even a yarn strand, or leave it open.

EmbroideryHoopArt (4 of 7)

The Fabric {and} Yarn Hoop:

For this particular one I wrapped the yarn all around the middle as you can see pictured. Chaseyboy says it looks like a tire :)

EmbroideryHoopArt (1 of 7)

The Sparkly Hoop:

Step 1: Glue

Step 2: Wrap, wrap, wrap.

Step 3: Glue finish.

Step 4: Leave middle piece of hoop out.EmbroideryHoopArt (1 of 1)-2(Optional)

I glued a small piece of twine to the back so to hang the numbers from.EmbroideryHoopArt (3 of 7)

The Lace Wrapped Hoops:

Both the below and above hoops are just wrapped with lace!EmbroideryHoopArt (5 of 7)embroideryhoopDIY-5For the numbers:

Step 1: Trace circle onto felt (make sure they are big enough to hold your numbers first)

Step 2: Cut circles out (probably the most tedious task of this entire advent makin’ ;)

Step 3: Stick foam stickers onto felt. They actually stay SUPER well so you won’t have to worry about them falling off.

After you’ve hung your hoops on the wall…

Step 4: Strategically add the twine to hoops

Final step: Add clips and numbers.

(This particular advent does not have the advent for the day on the back of them. I actually have our family activity advent all planned out on iCal this year and each day we will take down one felt at a time)

EmbroideryHoopArt (1 of 1)-3

And, you’re finished! Even if you aren’t making an advent calendar,  at least now you know how to make some embroidery hoop wall art :)

Hope you are inspired to create this or anything in particular! G’night! (uh, hopefully, hehe)

Jami

Simple Fall Decor.

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I don’t know about you, but I am just blown away by how fast this fall – this year – has flown by! I mean, it’s Thanksgiving week already?! Whew.

I realize this post is a little bit late in coming, for the DIY-ers out there but maybe this some of this can spark ideas for your Thanksgiving this week or just ideas for next year decor. Here are some simple fall DIYs:

I was asked to make centerpieces for a non-profit event. It was super fun to think of ideas! I went with simple, because of the quantity and picnic-like because of the setting. Mason jars and used cans (washed) wrapped in muslin. Coffee filter flowers. Little candles wrapped with twine. Super simple but cute!

Painted pumpkins, little owl from the $1 section at Target, felt leaves hung from twine and little clothespins. Rug $5 from IKEA and hand painted: so many possibilities!Very simple DIY using nature, a wreath ($1 section at target), fabric scraps to make rolled flowers and a hot glue gun. This is my twist on an idea(found here via Pinterest) making a twig wreath. Chaseyboy even helped with this one.

Super simple and cute! I saw this cinnamon stick wreath idea not long ago on Pinterest that I might have to try out, since I love this one so much and will be sad to take it down!

I am SO anxious to get the ball rolling on Christmas decor! I have already pulled out our boxes of decor from last year and have begun creating new decor to add to this year. Favourite holiday of the year. And it’s even more fun now that Chase is so into helping out.

Anyone else excited about Christmas time?! The season and traditions?! The smells?! Hehe, can’t wait! Putting our decorations up this weekend you can guarantee.

painting with trucks.

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We started a fun tradition when Chaseyboy was a year old and that was, around each of his birthdays he would do a painting of some sort. This year the painting was especially fun for him! I am sharing way late, as he did this right after his 3rd birthday but here it is (all photos taken with my phone);
This year he painted with trucks (I saw a similar idea with cars on Pinterest!) He helped me choose 4 trucks to go in each of the 4 colours.

Super fun and really easy. What a cool project!!

We also made Thank You cards for his birthday gifts. I just cut copier paper in half, folded them in half and he painted them! Very easy and very fitting with his Cars themed birthday party!

If you have a boy or girl who loves cars/trucks this is the {perfect} craft! And could also make the perfect gift for a grandfather’s garage! ;)

Chasey-boy’s CARS themed birthday party!

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Me (months ago): Chase, what kind of birthday party would you like to have?

Chase: A Lightning McQueen party!

From that moment on I began to envision how I would put together a Cars themed birthday party. Don’t get me wrong, I find party planning a joy (hosting it, not so much haha) but when it came to this theme I was lacking in the inspiration department.  How Does She?’s blogpost said it best when she wrote and said, “Commercialized theme parties are hard to pull off without looking,…um,…commercialized.”  My thoughts exactly. At the end of May, Chase really got into Superman (not sure how, he just has a cup and a book, and when he’s a little older I  have for him a (thrifted) DVD that has a variety of Superman cartoons created over the years.) I was telling a friend of mine of how seriously tempted I was to manipulate the situation and do a SUPERHERO birthday instead because, that sounded way more fun to put together. I mean, if you have a pinterest account, you know what I mean… ;)

Anyways, I thought about it briefly but then went with what my sweet boy had initially decided. HE would {love} it and that was the most important thing. So I kind of dug up the inspiration from watching my son play cars- so we brought a cars mat and cars along, colour Lightning McQueen – so we had a little colouring station set up, watching him run around “so fast like Li-keen Mckeen” (as he’s grown up calling him) – so we did cardboard cars, etc. What fun!

Chase was BEYOND excited when he saw his cake. He spent time on Pinterest with me one day and helped me pick out his cake. He wanted a chocolate cake and one with a 3, a road, Lightning McQueen and Mator. I am a pretty lucky momma because my best friend knows how to really decorate a cake! She does the cake and I am able to pour my time and energy into other things, yay! (Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Chey!) Um, didn’t she do AWESOME!

We are always on a pretty tight budget and with events like this, it can either super bum you out or super inspire you. I chose the later (mistake I made last year was choosing to be a debby downer about it). Months in advance,  I went with thrifting for Cars themed things like the tires you’ll see below, all the way to a few brand new boxes of Cars themed crayons (a part of the party favors.) I also used free printables for the tables from another Cars party I found! And hit up the $1 store and $1 sections for any deals I could find in his party colours and theme.
He actually sung as everyone else did, hehe. Love this age!
Cupcakes aka Luigi’s Case Della Tires
Happy Birthday, Chasey-boy! Birthday boy wore a 3 (iron on) because I’m cheesy like that ;)

We did a tattoo booth “Ramone’s House of Body Art” and did temporary tattoos of Cars characters and also $1 store packs of pretty ones for the girls. It was a hit!(above photo from my phone)

Even Shai got one :)
(above photo from my phone) You can never go wrong with cars and a cars mat with boys and even girls, as I learned at this party!

(above photo from my phone)

I decided to just go for it when it came to the cars. Chase helped me chose which characters he wanted (we just did Cars 1 movie characters because it seemed more simple and I wasn’t sure how this would go.) I found the idea to do box cars off pinterest and free handed the faces and totally made up the sides/backs haha. Chase LOVED them!The races were a hit. I think we all could have done this for hours. So much fun and SO worth the time of making them. I actually sat painting the cars with my mom (she was a LIFESAVER and painted each of the boxes the solid colours while I did the faces, etc) and I asked her if I was being ridiculous in this party planning and how much I was enjoying it. She replied and told me she was the same way and that she didn’t think I was. I get it from her. My mom threw the BEST, most creative and fun birthday parties for us as we grew up. She’s my inspiration!
This year we asked friends and family for gifts that inspired creativity whether it be puzzles, books, colouring books, paint, playdoh… not going to lie, I am pretty excited about the gifts he got. We’ve had a ton of fun already!
While the kiddos were distracted by Chase opening gifts, the guys took full advantage and raced. HAHA!

Thought it would be fitting to make this shirt for Shailo. Go, Brother, Go! :)
Happy birthday, Chasey-boy! So many things to be said about you and our 3 years with you. Post soon.

DIY yarn wreath with rosettes

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Recently I instagram’d a photo of a yarn wreath in progress and there was interest shown in how to make one so the next wreath I did, I decided to photograph and share with you all :)

Foam wreath(sometimes you can get lucky and thrift a foam wreath. Or you can buy one at a hobby store for about $5), yarn (Chasey-boy got ahold of mine, can you tell?), felt, scissors and a hot glue gun – or fabric glue. (also a bowl and pen if you need help making a circle)

First tie a knot around the foam wreath. Then begins the wrapping… and wrapping and wrapping :) Just like in the above photos.

Decide what size you would like your flowers. For the medium flowers I use a medium sized bowl and trace a perfect circle. (for large you can use a large plate, bowl or like me, use a large embroidery hoop ;)) So, trace, cut out your circles and then make a spiral cut.

Your next step is to roll the rosette. I actually clip the smallest tip down a bit because it’s easier to roll that way. Then you roll it inward from the tiny tip to the wider end. Then you glue.

Glue the flowers onto the wreath. I first lay the flowers onto the wreath to decide placement and then carefully glue them on.

Then hang and admire :) (Please note that I didn’t straighten the flowers before photographing this wreath. I only noticed the few small scrunched flowers after the first photogrpahs were taken. You can see the difference between this photo and last photo you’ll see on this post)

So there you have it. A yarn wreath! Hope you’re inspired to create!

(If you don’t have the time or energy to make said wreath, it’s actually up for sale on my Etsy store if you want it ;))

DIY paper bag book

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I can’t take credit for this one! At the momma’s group I attend we actually made one of these this past week.  I love to make handmade books like I’ve shared on here before but never before have I used paper bags! I loved it and decided to make a few more of these books and then thought, why not take photos and do a step by step tutorial?!

Not to mention they could make a pretty cute Valentine’s Day gift and they are so simple, you’d still have time :)

I bought a package of 100 paper bags for less than $3 at King Soopers grocery store. (There are quite a bit of paper bag crafting ideas on Pinterest if you’d want to put the rest to good use :)

lay them on top of one another like this so the pockets are in between every other “page”.

you can tie your ribbon, lace or whatever you use however you want. i just chose this way.

and you’ve made a book! See, so simple! I’m sure kids would love to do these as well.

then all you’ll need to do is add content and pretties.

I love the little pockets in them. You could add a few notes or “surprises” in between them.

and then you’re done! Super easy and holds so many possibilities; quiet book, book of quotes/truths/verses, colours or number book for kiddos, valentine’s book, picture album, etc. So fun!

Hope you enjoyed!

{Happy weekend!}