DIY Christmas Candles

This was SO easy - I made these super easy and fun candles as Christmas gifts last year.  All you need is glitter (I used Martha Stewart brand, red and silver), red tape (the SUPER sticky kind), and candles (I bought white and red from Walmart for pretty cheap).  The hardest part was getting the glitter stripes in the same spot on the same style candles.  I found the best was to do this was to lay the candles down and line them up and tape them all before glittering.

Here is the before.

And the after.

Seriously SO easy.  You can do this! Thanks, as always, for checking in!

Kit complete!

I used to subscribe to a super awesome monthly kit club produced by the company Button Farm.  If you haven't heard of it, check it out here, it's fabulous and is always full of AMAZING and super great quality products.

I am finally getting around to actually doing (and posting) the projects from the kit and just had to share the amazing cards (and bags) I was able to make out of just ONE kit.  And I had enough scraps leftover to make at least 6 more cards (which I used to make wine tags previously posted about).

Thanks for looking! Do you subscribe to any monthly kits/clubs for paper crafting? If so, share which one in the comments, I'd love to check them out!

DIY Chalkboard Labels

I ordered some adorable chalkboard labels from a gal on Etsy with labeling my kitchen jars in mind.  Much to my dismay the labels were too large for the jars and bubbled and didn't allow me to use them.  Instead of ordering more and waiting around to receive them, I decided that I can just make my own!

I purchased some chalkboard vinyl from my local Hobby Lobby store for about $7.00 for a big roll.  I cut off a piece that was the size that I wanted to use and went through all of my Cricut cartridges looking for the right label design.  I found the perfect one on the Storybook cartridge which I used to make these 3" long labels.  I just LOVE how they turned out! ps: the jars were 50% off at Hobby Lobby right now too!

ps: my new FAVORITE find are chalkboard markers which write WAY better than chalk and can just be wiped off any chalkboard surface with a damp cloth or towel.

Stampin' Up Ornaments

I went to the lovely Lis Ljung's Stamp Camp a few months ago where we made the most adorable ornament (which is also featured in the most recent Stampin' Up holiday catalog).  I absolutely fell in love with the ornament and wanted to make some on my own to give away as gifts this year.  Problem was I didn't have pretty much any of the necessary supplies.  Therefore, it was time to get creative and figure out a way to make a similar ornament with what I had on hand. 

Here is the original

Here is my interpretation

As you can see mine has different components.  I don't have the die cut machine used for the original shapes, but I have the ornament punch and matching stamp set.  I also used a heart stamp and punch for the interior layer.  I hope you like my interpretation and thanks for looking! If you too would like to make an adorable ornament but don't have the right supplies don't get discouraged, GET CREATIVE! I would love to see what you come up with so please leave a link to your interpretation in my comments so I can check it out!

Post Halloween Post

So it's been a few days and I just didn't get a chance to get on here to give my post-Halloween update.  We ended up having 212 kids who trick-or-treated, just a few shy of last year.  We have some candy left over which means I have a stomach-ache.  LOL. 

We didn't dress up in costumes to pass out candy, but we did put some festive ears on. 

 Every year I give my husband a little Halloween treat.  Think he liked it?

I decorate our front porch - this year hubby tore apart some pallets we got for free and made a fence which he painted black for me to decorate on the porch.  My favorite decor of course are the jack-o-jars which are SUPER easy to make!

And I finally finished my fun wreath that I made!

Thanks for looking and I hope you all had a fabulous holiday!

Halloween/Fall/Thanksgiving Decor Part 2

I am so pleased with how my holiday tree turned out! I got this lovely tree courtesy of the Junior League of Riverside.  I was actually a part of the construction of the tree which we used for centerpieces for our ball 2 years ago.  It's simply Manzanita branches secured in a pot using Plaster of Paris and then spray painting the entire thing silver.  Quite easy.  At the end of the ball we had an option of a donation for the centerpiece.  You may recall I used these for my friend Caitlin's Bridal Shower which I hosted.

Anywho, I decided I will revamp the tree for each holiday (as I post them I will tag them all with the "Holiday Tree" label which you can access on the left).  This is my Halloween version! It features beads from Michael's, flower balls (you can view my past tutorial here), black paper bats made on the Cricut, spider webs from the dollar tree, black paper spiders made on the Cricut, white raffia to cover the base, pumpkin ornaments that my mother passed down to me, and some cool skeletons that were actually on a garland I got at the dollar tree.  I just cut the garland apart to make them individual ornaments.  Oh and the cool raven at the top, also from the dollar tree.  I love it so much and couldn't wait to share it with you all! Thanks for looking!! I love to read your comments, so please let me know what you think by commenting below!

Halloween/Fall/Thanksgiving Decor Part 1

My living room is all ready for the upcoming holidays and I just couldn't wait any longer to share some pics!

My mantle is all ready for Fall/Thanksgiving.  I finally finished the 3D paper pumpkins that are on top of the finials.  

And finally, the shelves over my couch have received a spooktacular makeover for Halloween! Funny story about the purple tilted candles.... those were normal purple candlesticks that I packed away in my Fall bins and put in the attic after taking them down after last year's season.  I put them in the Frankenstein vase (which you can also see in the photo).  Well, silly me didn't even consider that because it gets hotter than Hades here in Southern California, that they would melt.  So when I unpacked them the vase was on its side with the candles melted to the side of the vase and leaned over the top of the vase.  I thought it was quite perfect for the Halloween holiday.  However, I am quite worried that it won't be nearly as awesome for my Christmas candles which have also been in the attic for nearly a year.  Sigh.  LOL.

The shelves over my TV have been revamped for Fall/Thanksgiving.  Here is a before and after shot.

Most of my decor were garage sale finds, some of it was handed down to me by my mother, and very few of the items were actually purchased by me at a store or handmade.  Thanks again for looking and check back soon for more Holiday decor!

Halloween Crafts

Been working on decorating the house and some fun Halloween/Fall crafts of late.  Hoping to finish them up this week and get some photos up ASAP.  Here is a sneak peek - hoping to turn this into some sort of wreath. 

I can't believe it's October already! What kinds of crafts are you guys working on for the upcoming fall holidays?

Dr. Seuss Diaper Cake

Here is a fun Dr. Seuss themed diaper cake that I made for my dear friend Amy.  Amy and her husband Nathan welcomed baby Joaquin in August and I am just thrilled for them both!

Cake includes: baby bath wash, baby shampoo, diapers, pants, Dr. Seuss onesies, Horton softie, Dr. Seuss books, socks, receiving blankets, gift card, and much more!

Thanks for looking!

Football themed diaper cake

One of my bestest friends is a huge football fan and is due any day now.  She and her husband decided not to find out the sex of their soon to be bundle-of-joy, making coming up with a theme for a diaper cake more difficult.  I decided to do football because regardless of the sex, I know they will be a huge football fan like their mama and papa - if it's a girl we'll just add a few bows :)

Her shower was a few weeks ago and this is what I came up with. 

The details - included on this cake are the following: 
69 diapers
Burts' Bees baby wash
Glass bottle
1 Chargers jersey
2 Chargers pacies
2 Chargers bibs
2 pairs white socks
Pacie clip (football)
4 Chargers pennants
2 wood football decor pieces
Knit football toy
Knit football cap
Plush football toy
Brown and white striped football onesie
3 football burp clothes
football leg warmers
$25 gift card to Babies R Us

Thanks for looking!

Diaper Wreaths

I apologize for being MIA - I am trying to get back into the swing of things after a very busy holiday season.  I will be posting a few posts as catch up for what's happened in my absence. 

First, the day after my dear friend Caitlin's wedding I went to another dear friend, Amy's, baby shower.  Due to the fact that I was crunched on time I put together a wreath rather than a cake using diapers.  I had seen this idea somewhere on the internet a long time ago, but basically just created this using supplies I had on hand. 

I had a straw wreath, ribbon and diapers, which I used to create the base of the wreath.  I then added a stuffed pooh softie (the baby's room is pooh themed) and some other baby doo-dads (games, books and hair clips).  I think for my first attempt it turned out pretty well.  I am looking forward to expanding on this idea.  It's a little different then the ever increasing cakes, and I'm thinking it would be easier to ship and therefore may be a better possibility for etsy sales.  I recently purchased some goodies on Zulily - if you've never checked it out you MUST! It's a site that features daily deals for babies and women - up to 90% off! Check it out here.  Anywho, I recently purchased a bunch of clearance items that I hope to use on future wreaths - I'm thinking a Dr. Suess themed wreath would be an adorable gender neutral gift, don't you?

Amy has since had her beautiful baby girl - so congrats are in order to Amy!

Thanks as always for looking, and for staying with my in my absence!

Tutorial Tuesdays - a diaper cake

I know that I have posted diaper cake ideas in the past - but as I was making my dear friend, Christy's, diaper cake back in June, I decided to take a few photos along the way and do a mini tutorial for all of you faithful readers :)

Supplies

1 large bottle of johnson and johnson baby powder - or any brand, I just use this as its a preferred brand among most moms

A small round medium sized object such as a medium sized bottle, or bath wash, etc. for your top layer

2 large glue dots, foam adhesive, etc. to adhere the layers

1 box (80 count) of Pampers Swaddlers Size 2 - I use these because they have the least color on them so that your cake appears white, and most people get size 1 as gifts, so this way you know yours will be used for sure - both ladies I have made cakes for have thanked me for giving size 2 instead of 1.

Cake plate - cardboard or plastic, 10" or 12"

Rubberbands - lots of them, the normal size, not super large or small, brown so it doesn't draw attention just in case your cover doesn't cover them all the way

6 extra large rubber bands to hold each layer together

pearl head pins (this is what I use to pin the items on)

topper - something to top your "cake" with to tie in your theme

1 bag of raffia (any color) - I use this to add a little more texture to my cake by putting it between each layer.

Ribbon/receiving blankets/designer paper, etc. to cover your rubberbands - I use a combo of ribbon and receiving blankets, but may try paper in the future

goodies - goodies to adhere to your cake, they should be small, socks, pacifiers, gift cards, small toys, washclothes, etc. Anything too large will distract from your cake and cover your masterpiece!

Instructions

1) Adhere your powder to the cake plate using a glue dot or foam adhesive. Adhere your smaller object such as a bottle on top of the powder bottle using the same thing.

2) Roll your diapers.  Diapers should be laid out flat on their back sides (like you were going to place it on a baby) and rolled tightly from one end to the other.  Then secure the roll by wrapping a rubberband around the middle of each diaper - do not wrap too snuggly so that it distorts the shape of your diaper. 

3) Start with your base layer by placing diapers one by one in a circle around the powder bottle - diapers should all face the same way, seam in (towards the powder).  Your bottom layer should have 3 layers of diapers (so 3 rings around the bottle).  Secure each ring should be rubberbanded using one of the extra large rubberbands.

This photo is an example of one ring around the powder bottle for my base layer.

4) Once your base layer is completed, begin your second layer, which will have 2 rings. (Note, It also helps to drink a margarita while you assemble these assuming you are not expecting yourself, as you may notice in the back left of my photo, HA!).

Base and second layer assembled.

5) Assemble the third layer as described above with only one ring of diapers.

6) Here is where I add the raffia between by base and second layers and second and top layer. I find it easier to add at this point so that you can tuck it in and it easily stays in place without any additional adhesive or supplies.

7) You know will cover the rubberbands by wrapping either ribbon, decorative paper, receiving blankets, etc., or a combination thereof around each layer.  Generally by bottom layer is too large for the average receiving blanket, so I use ribbon on the bottom layer.

8) Decorate your "cake" with the goodies by adhering them with pearl head pins or ribbons. Make sure they are small and do not detract from your cake. 

9) Add your cake topper and voila! DONE!

I hope you all enjoyed my mini tutorial, and feel free to check out my girls version of my diaper cake here.

And a bonus photo of the shower invitation I made for the same shower, which was rubber ducky themed - simple but fun (IMO):

Oh and more photos from the shower taken by other people who attended:

My friend Jen made the cookies, aren't they adorable!? 

I also made the little silverware holder. Geez I love my Cricut.

Spring Wreath (my 1st wreath)

So this is my first real attempt at making my own wreath.  It turned out all right.  I think I definitely have room for improvement though.  It does make me laugh that the eggs are larger than the bird, whom I have lovingly named Bridgett.  Thanks for looking!

2 special shout outs:
My inspiration from Craftomaniac
and
The Robins Eggs tutorial from Viv Spot

Another Moss Initial and a Burlap Banner

So my friend came over and stole picked up the moss initial that I had made for her which I had lovingly had on display at my house in the meantime (which I posted about here).  I decided it was high time that I make my own - but I decided to keep it a little more simple and hang it in my dining room on my new metal wall display we recently put up. 

Here it is all by it's lonesome.  Well I also have a frame hanging on the bottom that I picked up on clearance but I don't know if I love it yet. 

Well it looked lonely so I decided to make a simple burlap banner using a roll of burlap I had picked up at a yard sale.  I'm not thrilled with how it turned out, I think it needs more embellishments, but it's a start and at least adds a little more pizazz to my dining room.

The sign was simple - I printed a graphic of an isosceles triangle on my computer with the dimension that I wanted, I then cut that out and used it as a guideline to cut my burlap pieces.  I used a cricut cartridge to cute a scalloped circle and then a smaller circle and letters. 

So now, my fellow readers, I need your help - how can I improve upon this sign so that I love it? Please and thank you :)

DIY Button Egg

I got this adorable DIY idea (and tutorial) from one of my favorite blogs - Auntie Lolo Crafts (you can find her post here). 

I followed pretty much the same basic idea that she presented in her tutorial with only slight variation.

I purchased an ugly plain wood frame from the Dollar Store (which I immediately spray painted white).  I found a graphic of an egg through a google image search and traced it onto brown paper.  I then hot glued the burlap to the brown cardstock.  I realized I couldn't really see the egg outline so I took my cut out egg image and placed buttons in what I thought was an outline of an egg, then put the cut out over it and adjusted the buttons accordingly.  I glued the exterior buttons first and then filled in the rest.  I hot glued the buttons to the burlap once I had them in place where I wanted them.

Pretty easy and very cute.

A great addition to my work-in-progress Spring mantel :)
ps: I also hopped on the band wagon and got one of the adorable bunnies from Pier One which I added to my turquoise vase!

Thanks for looking!!!

DIY - Moss Initial

I saw this on a blog I follow called Felt So Cute and had to try it out. I couldn't find a wood monogram "M" large enough to my liking so I recruited the assistance of the hubby to print out a big one on the computer which we taped four pages together to form an over-sized "M" which I traced onto a sheet of 1" Styrofoam.  I actually traced two as I am making one for a dear friend of mine who shares the same last initial as me.

I also don't have the patience to cut it out, so again the hubby used his awesome skills with a jigsaw to cut them out perfectly for me.

I love this man.

I didn't have green paint, but I had brown on hand and figured it would be good enough (the husband makes fun of me for saying "I will just paint it brown" about just about everything).

Anywho, here I am getting set up to start adhering the moss, which was a PITA, especially considering the fact that I am not super handy with a glue gun and am prone to burning my fingers.

Just barely started now.

Finished the front now.

Then I had to do the sides which were the biggest pain ever.

And here is the final product hanging up on my new wreath hanger on clearance from Michael's (sorry for the poor quality photo).

Thanks so much for looking.  It was a quite easy project - just quasi time consuming due to the moss and my issues with glue guns.  I rendered the assistance of tweezers at the suggestion of the tutorial which I found to make things much easier (and protective of my fingers).  Although I need some new tweezers now!

DIY - Unique Bridal Shower/Wedding Gift Idea

This framed art, featuring the date of the couples' big day is a super easy, but fun gift to give for a bridal shower or even a wedding. 

I am attending a shower this afternoon and had seen this idea several weeks ago on a fellow bloggers' blog (I am so sorry I forgot to make a note of who's blog this was, so if it was yours please contact me so I can add your link here).  I whipped this up in no time!

Here is a quick run down of how you can create this unique gift as well.

Supplies:
- nice frame featuring 3 photos all the same direction (I chose a frame with 3 5x7 photos)
- 3 coordinating designer papers (or you can stamp your own)
- a cutter to cut said designer paper to 5x7
- 1 piece of solid cardstock for the numbers (must know the wedding date!)
- a big shot or cricut cartridge with a font you like (I used my Cricut Storybook font - setting at 5")

Directions
1) cut your 3 background papers into 3 5x7 pieces
2) cut your numbers with the date of the wedding (I used a 5" setting as I felt it would be the perfect size for the 5x7 photos, if you have a smaller frame you may want to use a smaller font)
3) tape number onto center of background pages and place in photo windows

TADA! That's it! How easy is that!?

This would also be a cute gift for a new baby (of course after the baby is born so you get the right birth date).

Thanks for looking!

DIY - Pomander Flower Balls

I got this fabulous idea from the Pizzazzerie blog.  I just adored it and knew immediately that I had to do it myself.

Here is what I started with

I decided to utilize these already on my mantel - here is the before look

And the after (a close up is at the top of this post)

My mantel so far with the flower balls and bunny garland.  It's a work in progress.  I still have a few more Spring items up my sleeve that I hope to add to my mantel over the coming weeks.

Thanks for reading! If you want to try these - I bought 5 pieces of glitter paper for mine and used almost 4.5 pieces.  About 1.5 pieces per ball.  I easily made these while watching TV, it was easy just time consuming.  I love the outcome and think it was well worth the time spent.