Nothing makes your neighbors more envious then Festive Holiday Signage

Project 10: Festive Holiday Signage

This project started out on a whim.  There was not much back thought or planning in the start.   But then that led to the elaborate Easter sign that I just completed this afternoon.  I need to give a shout out to my Mom and Howie here because without them this project never would have happened.  (Power tools... I don't like to use them.)

Materials:

• Wood and a lot of it depending on how much you are making
• Paints
• Paint Brushes (You would be surprised how many people forget to get them)
• Decorations (Glitter is back!)
• White Glue (You know the stuff found in a bottle with the orange top...)
• Polyurethane 
• Metal Stakes 

Steps:

• First determine what shape you are going to need and create a pattern.  As you see in the pictures I have done eggs, clovers (3 and 4 leaf) and heart.  
• Trace the pattern on to the wood you are using.
• Drill a hole into the wood for the stake.
• Cut out the wood using various power tools.  (Thanks Mom and Howie)
• Sand any rough edges and the surface (a little).  (This I was able to do since the tools used to sand are not so scary.)
• Paint and decorate as desired.  I used paint, glitter and paper on the various projects.  I secured the paper with white glue.  That same glue was used for glitter and other decorations as well.  This is up to you so got nuts! :)
• Once everything has dried, probably best to leave it over night at least to make sure, apply a healthy coat of polyurethane.
• Flip over and apply poly to the other side. Let dry for 24 hours.
• Insert stakes.  These can be glued in as well if you would like.
• Place in front yard for all to see! :)

Things I Learned:

• It is easier to drill a hole for a stake in a square then it is a clover or heart. You are far less likely to drill through the shape too when it is a square.
• Glitter pens take longer to dry then loose glitter and glue...
• Those fancy paper cutting machines are a great tool!
• White glue drys clear and flat where glue guns do not... but it takes longer to dry.
• Power tools are useful, fast and scary.  BE CAREFUL!! (Or you will be needing those boo boo bunnies, see previous post)
• Use pencil when tracing your patters because you can erase that if you make a mistake.

As you can see from the picture I have states for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and now Easter.  I am sure by the end of the year I will add Halloween, Christmas, New Year's and 4th of July.  When that happens I will be sure to post and update for all to see.  If you come up with any ideas for stake share them in the comments for everyone!

Craft on my friends...

Bunnies Make Everything Better

Project 9: Boo-Boo Bunnies

This was a craft that I helped my mom with for a craft fair a few months back.  I figured that I would share it with you all.  My Aunt Laura had found the idea for them and suggested them to my mom.  They are really simple to make and a really cute gift for people that have small children.  I hope you enjoy making your own bunnies.

Materials:

• Standard Washcloths
• Rubber Bands
• Googly Eyes
• Small White Pom Poms
• Extra Small Pink Pom Poms
• Ribbon
• Decorations
• Reusable Ice Cubes
• Glue Gun

Steps:

• Take the washcloth and lay it out flat on a diagonal.  
• Roll opposing corners to the center. (Photo 1 and 2)
• Fold the rolled washcloth in half and pinch off a loop. (Photos 3 and 4)
• Fold the ends up towards the loop and place a rubber band around the end bump you made.
• Pull up the ends to form the ears.
• Tie a ribbon around the head of the bunny to cover the rubber band.
• Using your glue gun attack the eyes and the pink pom pom to the front as the eyes and nose.
• Attach the white pom pom to the back for the fluffy bunny tail.
• Use decorations to add flair to your bunny. (As you see in the pictures I have used small flowers)
• Insert reusable ice cubes in the back and heal boo boo.  

Things I Learned:

• As always glue guns are hot so use caution or you will be needing that boo boo bunny sooner then you think.
• Thicker rubber bands are harder to use. Find your typical rubber band and you should be good.
• Move the rubber band a round to change the size of the ears.  It won't be drastic but you can some times make them a little bigger.
• Make sure you use enough glue to keep the decorations on but not too much that the bunnies head is covered in glue.
• Measure your reusable ice cubes in the back of the bunny before you decorate in case you need to adjust.  

I thought that these were the cutest things that I had seen in a while.  You are able to ice a boo boo with out ice melting all over the place.  And what little kid does not love bunnies with googly eyes.  There a many adults that love them just as much too :)

Craft on my friends... 

 Photo 1

 Photo 2

 Photo 3

Photo 4

Finished Bunnies!

Creative way to use the tabs off all those canned beverages you drank...

Project 8: Pop Top Bracelet 

Yes, this is another find on Pinerest.  In fact it was one of the first things I ever pinned.  The only reason it took me so long to make it was the lack of supplies.  I don't drink a lot of canned beverages anymore (where was this when I was in college...)  Thanks to my Aunt I was able to collect all of the tabs that I needed.  She is a soda drinker so don't think there needs to be an intervention or something like that...

Materials:

• 15-18 tabs of soda cans (or any other canned beverage)
• 2 safety pins
• Ribbon that is 3/8 inch
• Scissors 

Steps:

• Drink several canned beverages and remove tabs
• Wipe them down so that they are no longer sticky.  
• Cut a length of ribbon.  The longer you cut it the better.  You will need to fold it in half so I guess about two feet.
• Fold the ribbon in half... :)
• Connect the safety pins to either end.
• Take the first tab and string the ribbon through the two loops in the tab.  One end of the ribbon through one of the loops and then the other. Make sure that you pull the ribbon so that it is up over the top.
• Stop it before you get to the end so that a small loop is formed.  You will use this to close the bracelet later. (Photo 1)
• Take the next tab and lay it over the first so that the holes line halfway up. (Photo 2)
• Pull the ribbon though the 2 holes of the over lapped tabs.
• Take the ribbon and feed it back up through the other side of the single tab on top.
• Repeat this layering until all of the tabs are on.
• When you get to the last tab make sure that the ribbon is on the bottom side.
• Tie a knot in the ribbon right next to the last tab. 
• Pull one of the strings though the loop at the other end and tie a bow to any size you wish.  
• Cut off any extra ribbon.
• Slide on to wrist and Rock it like a Model :)

Things I Learned:

• It is a good idea to check to make sure that the tabs are not sharp before you put them on the ribbon.
• It is almost impossible to complete this without the safety pins.
• The length of the ribbon will determine the bow at the end. (Longer is better)
• Make sure the ribbon is not twisted before you put the next tab on. 
• Some people paint the tabs with nail polish and things but I considered that too much work.

I was surprised by how much I liked the end product. It was interesting to me the first time that I saw it so that is why I tried it not because I thought I would wear it.  Now I am planning on rocking mine next week when I go see Elton John in concert.  I am sure it will look amazing too.  Helps that you can't tell that they are canned beverage tabs :)

Craft on my friends... 

 Photo 1

Photo 2

 Finished Product 1

Finished Product 2