Korker Bows

I recently found a tutorial from Pink Tea for making these korker bows, and just had to share it. I have everything to make some (it's surprisingly easy!), now I just need to find the time ;)

*Brittney*

DIY Wall Decals

Wall decals are totally "IN" right now, and I totally LOVE them! The problem is I'm not willing to spend much money on them. My solution, I made my own for WAY less $$! I don't have a Cricut machine, and I didn't use vinyl, but it's the same idea. This post from The Craft Patch is what inspired me, and although it's completely different, it got me to thinkin'...


I had a brown sheet that was perfect for this idea, a search on google, and some felt to finish it up would do the trick. Sorry I didn't take too many pictures again (didn't have this little blog), but you'll get the idea. If you have questions I'd be happy to answer them :) I'd still like to add more leaves, maybe add some more color to it, and I wish I would have made the trunk wider. Overall, I'm really happy with how this experiment turned out!

This is how I did it:
1. From queen size or full size sheet, cut out the shape. I'm no artist but I looked at a picture and did it free-hand (probably why the trunk turned out a little funny?)

2. Using push pins, I hung the now "decal" to the wall for placements. Then I used spray starch (like the kind you use for clothes) to adhere the decal on the wall (almost like wall paper). My decal is big, and I drenched the fabric, still had plenty of starch left over :) If you do this,make sure to re-pin the decal once the starch is on, until it dries. When it's completely dry, remove push pins.
3. From felt, I cut leaves/birds (or any other desired shapes). I didn't want to waste my time trying to starch-spray these to the wall...I put a little tape on the back, and stuck those little birdies up there! :)

I simply wiped any starch residue on the wall away with a wet cloth.
This works great for me since we are guaranteed to move in the next 6-18 months! The decals will peel off the wall with ease, leaving no residue! Perfect for renters on a budget, and a 3 year old girl who doesn't care about the imperfections!!!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do
Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
You're So Crafty Mondays @ Miss Crafty Pants
We Did It Wednesdays @ Sew Much Ado
Whatever Goes Wednesdays @ Someday Crafts
Idea Sharin' Wednesdays @ Women Who Do It All
Hook'n up with HoH
Pumpkin Seed Productions
*Brittney*

The Desire to Create!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

^This is my beautiful Mother :) The woman who "mold it(ME) into something of beauty..."

^These are my kids that make me a Mother and continue to inspire me to create :)

My Mom sent me a gift in the mail for my Mother's Day, "The Remarkable Soul of a Woman" by Deiter F. Uchtdorf. I found a few quotes that I just LOVE, well the whole book is FULL of them, great stuff I tell ya!

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. "

"Everyone can create. We don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty."

"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment .We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty..."

Isn't that so true! It is for me at least ;) You don't have to be a "crafter" to create, we can all create something of beauty around us. A smile on your child's face, a loving home, or a meaningful relationship/friendship. Hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day! I love you Mom, thanks for all your support.

*Brittney*

Refinished desk

I've been "needing" a desk for my crafts, and I found just the right one on Craigslist a few weeks ago, begging me to give it a make-over. You'll remember from this post, using the same yard of fabric to reupholster the office chair. Here's how the matching desk turned out! I spent $15 on the desk (shouldn't have paid that much,the picture posted on CL was MUCH different, but that's another story...) spray paint, a 1/2 yard of fabric and some Modge Podge! Not too bad to create a unique piece for my little creativity corner of the house :)

Before:

Some sanding, painting, cutting, and gluing...
AFTER:

I had been wanting to try using fabric on furniture, I'm so happy it turned out well :) Be brave, give it a try!

*Brittney*

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Sew Much Ado
Penny Pinching Party
Someday Crafts
Idea Sharin' Wednesday

Diaper Cake

There are about a million tutorials online for this project...BUT for the sake of building up my blog I thought I'd show ya how I do it :)

Supplies You'll Need
56- 63 size Diapers ( I use size 1)
lots of small rubber-bands and a couple large ones
receiving blanket(optional)
ribbon: at least 1 inch think
embellishments: flowers/buttons/bows

hot glue gun/glue
wooden dowel

*I use size 1 diapers so the recipient can "enjoy" the cake for a while before having to use the diapers. You can use whatever size you'd like, it will turn out the same :)
*You'll need 56 diapers if you want to use the receiving blanket for the top, and 63 if you want the entire cake to be diapers. Totally up to you.
*Get creative with decorating! Try replacing some of the diapers with wash cloths, rattles, bottles, bows, pacifiers, soap, shampoo, race cars...ANYTHING! It's fun to play around a little!
*Please excuse my rug/floor for the back-drop. I do a lot of my crafting on the floor where my kids are when they're awake. ;)
*For the small rubber-bands I picked some hair ties up at the dollar store, I got the flowers there too! The dollar store is a great place for the little extras like shampoo, powder...
*For a resourceful new mommy, she can use the ribbon for making hair bows, and the flowers to make clips. It's a gift that keeps giving!

Here we GO:

1.The prep work:

*Start from the top of the diaper (where it opens) and roll it tightly until you get to the end, then wrap a small rubber-band around to hold it securely. Repeat with ALL diapers :)


2."Baking" your cake:
* Once you have all your diapers done, start putting the "cake layers" together by grouping them in a circle with a large rubber-band to hold them all in place. Start the group with 1 in the middle, and 6 around(that will make the top layer).

*This^ would be enough for the top layer. This below is how you start the next layer, just add another circle of diapers. For the bottom layer add yet another round of diapers.

All 3 completed layers. Top layer=7 diapers Middle=19, and Bottom=37
You'll need the wooden dowel to hold the cake together, it's up to you if you want to put it in now or later.

Make it your own:
3. When your "cake" is done, it's time to embellish. You should have large rubber-bands holding the cake together. Start by measuring
Wrap the ribbon around the cake layers, with a slight overlap (for gluing together) and cut the ribbon accordingly.
Using your hot glue gun, place a dab of glue on the end of the ribbon, wrap around the rubber-band (pretty tight so it stays) and close the ribbon. Be careful not to get the glue on the diapers :)
I decided to use a receiving blanket for the top layer of this cake.
To add flowers, take the flower apart and glue the pieces together individually, that way it will be flush with the ribbon.
Add the flowers where you want them, and put your dowel in to hold the layers in place.
I wrapped washcloths around a few of the diapers, and replaced a couple with baby wash and a rattle.
Isn't it pretty!?!
Hope this helps :)
*Brittney*

Cake/Cupcake Stand

For my little man's birthday last month I wanted to have a cupcake stand, but didn't want to spend the money on something I wouldn't really use too often. I didn't take a picture at each step, since I didn't have this blog, but here is what I did:

Supplies You'll Need:
salad plate
dinner plate
platter
2 canisters (I used empty formula cans)
empty paper towel roll
Cardboard
Foam-board
Epoxy glue and hot glue gun/glue
scissors or x-acto knife (or something similar, I actually used a box cutter)
Ribbon
Buttons or other accessories

1 .From cardboard, cut 3 circles out using your plates/platter as your template. Cut down the paper towel roll to the height you want. Then cut the3 same size circles from the foam-board.

(pay no attention to the 3rd canister)

2. Glue the cardboard and foam board together to make one piece with the foam board on top. Don't expect your edges to be perfect, we'll cover them up :)

3. Using hot glue, wrap the ribbon around the canisters, paper towel roll,and the edges of the boards.
4. Measure out where the middle of your circles are and place the canisters in the appropriate area. (I measured, but ended up eying it, works just as well for me!). To attach the canisters to the foam board and cardboard, use the epoxy glue if using formula cans. Hot glue won't hold it...believe me ;) Do the same for the top with the paper towel roll.

5. Stack it up and embellish with buttons, flowers...whatever!

It's inexpensive enough to make one for every occasion :)

*Brittney*

Office Chair Face-Lift

I've had this little office chair for a few years, it's never been too pretty...but it does it's job just fine :) I just got a "new" desk off of craigslist that needs a face lift, so I thought I'd give the chair one too. I don't own a staple gun, so I used a...HOT GLUE GUN :) It worked like a charm, and holds up just great. Reupholstering is pretty self explanatory, especially for something this simple. Here's how I did mine:

1. Take the chair apart

2. Lay the seat and back of the chair on the fabric, both facing down. Cut the fabric big enough that when you fold up the sides, all the edges are covered. I only used 1/2 yard of fabric for the whole project.

3. Fold up all around the chair parts and pin in place. Careful not to pull the fabric too tight (but tight enough so the fabric is smooth) and with as few pleats showing as possible.
4. Go back and remove a couple pins at a time and glue the fabric to the wood/existing fabric piece. I did fairly small areas at a time, and held the fabric down until the glue cooled, making sure it was secure.
5. Trim the excess fabric., I didn't have to worry about it on this piece (the back) since it was going to be hidden,but the seat of the chair needed more.


6. Put the chair back together... and there ya have it!Not too bad for a little hot glue, and now it's not SO ugly :)
next week I'll show you how I use the other 1/2 yard of fabric to refinish my "new" desk :)

*Brittney*

linked up to:
Drab to Fab