Personalized Box Frame

This is my favorite project of the day!!  I was just about to throw away the box of a frame (another sweet score from the Thrift Store!), but I just knew I could do something with it.  Then it clicked -- A HA! -- another frame!

Materials:
-Frame box
-Another piece of cardboard
-Fabric of your choice
-Small clothespin(s)
-Hot glue gun
-Magnets (optional)

1. Gather your materials, heat up your glue gun and get ready for fun!
2. Measure the length and height inside the frame box, cut the cardboard to fit, and cut your fabric to be an inch longer and wider.
3. Position your fabric as you would like it and glue the edges down in back.  You can cut the corners off to prevent it from being bulky.
4. Place the fabric-covered cardboard inside the box and decide where to put the clothespin (you can put more than one in, of course).
5. Hot glue the clothespin(s) in place and adhere the magnets to the back of the box.
6. Clip your current favorite picture in the clothespin and hang up to admire!!

You know what I love about this creation??  Not only are you re-purposing things that would otherwise end up in the trash or recycling bin, but you also have an easy-access frame you can change out as often as you like.  Plus, I love having this fabric somewhere I get to enjoy it every day. :)

Family Fun Fund Bank

My Muse for this creation... an AFN commercial! Wish I could find it online to show you... its so silly, lol!

Remember the Ally Cat pillow I made for my friend's daughter?  Well today I made them another gift. 

Since my friend's husband is deployed right now, I thought it would be nice for them to have another thing to look forward to when he comes home.  So here is their Family Fun Fund piggy bank!  The kids can fill up the bank with change and when their daddy comes home they use the money to do something fun!

Materials:
-Clean baby formula container (you could also use an oatmeal container so the like)
-Fancy paper (I used an old gift bag I got at the Thrift Store for $0.25!)
-Ribbon
-Letter stickers (my QuicKuts came in handy again, pardon the pun)
-Glue
-Razor knife or sharp scissors

1. Measure the height and length of your container and cut the appropriate size from your paper.
2. Carefully glue the paper in place on your container.
3. Glue the ribbon along the top and bottom to cover any gaps... and make it prettier.
4. Make sure you have the right amount of letters to spell what you want (you could also make a special piggy bank for a child and spell their whole name, or if your little one is saving up for something special you could spell out "Puppy Fund," "Bike Fund" or "Family Vacation Fund").
5. Stick or glue your letters in place.
6. Using the razor knife or scissors, carefully cut a slit in the lid for the money to fit through.
7. Glue any decorations or letters to the lid.
8. Make sure all the glue is dry, and give to your loved one to start saving!

Memory Book Cover

This memory book was a sweet score from the Thrift Store... $3 for a brand-spankin'-new book!?  Niiice!

My mom is going to use it to keep the countless little scraps of paper bursting out of her address book.  We couldn't have her using some boring old maroon-colored book, now could we?  Nope!  So I grabbed my supplies and got to work making it pretty for her.

Materials:
-Memory/Notebook with a blank cover
-Scrapbook stickers
-Fancy paper
-Letter stencil (I borrowed one of my son's foam letter puzzle pieces!)
-Glitter glue pen
-Glue (I used a hot glue gun)

1. Trace out your letter onto your fancy paper.
2. Lay all your items on the cover and decide on the design you like best.
3. Apply glue to the back of your decorations and carefully put in place.
4. Trace your letter with glitter glue pen.
5. Make sure all glue is dry before adding your pictures, letters, recipes, memories, dreams and secrets to the book!

See?  Easy-peasy! ;)

Toddler Transition Sign

My Muse for this creation!

"This personalized sign smoothes your tot's transition from day to night and night to day. When she rises, help her turn the board to the "awake" side and greet the morning sun. Come evening, flip it over, so your little sleepyhead knows it's time to head for bed under the watchful eye of the moon."

I added some song lyrics to each side to add to the fun.  When we flip the sign, we ("we" being "I" for now) sing the songs.  

This is a tradition I already love!

 

Halloween Door Sign

This is just a simple sign I made for our front door.  The "H" and two ghosts are from a scrap piece of fabric, the letters are made with my QuicKuts tool, and everything else is construction paper and markers!

I put self-adhesive magnets on two small clothespins and since our from door is magnetic, it worked perfectly!

Halloween Votives

Finally!!  A use for the 20+ glass jars I have saved up!  

To make these fun and festive votive candles you will need:

-clean baby food jars

-tissue paper

-a glue stick (or regular glue and a paint brush)

-markers

-glitter glue pens

-tea light candles

1. Cut the tissue paper into small pieces.

2. Apply the glue to the back of the tissue pieces (if using regular glue and a brush, apply a coat of glue to the jar, then the tissue paper, then another layer of glue on top, if needed)

3. Using your markers, draw your desired images on top of the tissue paper.

4. Apply a decorative line of glitter glue on top of the jar

5. Place a candle inside, turn off the lights and enjoy!

Easy-peasy! ;)

My Bloggin' Buddy & His Art

My baby boy hanging out with me while I post some blogs.  So lovey!