Monday, March 15, 2010

This is the blog I wrote for Jolly Mom---
A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me a link to Jolly Mom. Piera posted a blog looking for guest bloggers. One of her requests was for a blogger who had a craft in mind, so I took up the challenge. I have never been a guest blogger before and have looked forward to this post. My name is Christy Hadland. I am a stay at home mom to two active little boys in Capitola By the Sea. I spend my days with my boys running them from here to there and am always thinking of fun projects to do in my free time. Sometimes I include the boys and sometimes I work alone. Like most of you I see something at Target or other little boutique and think "No, way am I paying that---I can make it myself!" Recently, I saw a very similar Easter Wreath at Target, it was about $12.99. I went to one of my favorite places, The Dollar Tree. I gathered up my supplies for half the price of the Target wreath.

Here is what you’ll need to do this very simple wreath project:

A wreath form

6 bags of easter eggs. I used 63 eggs to be exact.


Scissors and a glue gun. Cut the strings off of the Easter eggs, then glue them all they way around the form. I started at the top of the form and worked my way around.
I was very happy with the way it turned out! I was not at all sure how it was going to look, and the best part was--- it only cost $6.50! Gotta love the Dollar Tree!!!

I tried out in a few different places....Spring has sprung!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Glittered Rose

Here is an way to give fresh life to old silk or fabric flowers that you may floating around. I am sure you have them...I have tons...I will go to throw them out...then an idea of what to do with them will pop into my head. I actually, cannot stand fake flowers...I have no idea why I have them...yet, I do....so here is a clever little idea (lol....not that I think I am that clever. I just love the word ;)

Gather up your supplies:

Glue, glitter, flower (any will do) two paper plates...One for glue, the other for glitter.


I used a paint brush to help spread the glue.


Squrit


Dip

Spread 

Sprinkle


Shake


Decorate!

You may want to let it dry before you decorate...I'm impatient and just let it dry in the teacup.


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Disclaimer:
My photography skill are atrocious!
I'm in search of a new camera,
one that will take the most fantastic photos for me!
You know, just push a button and Viola! Perfect photo. 
Still have not found that camera.....*sigh*....one day....

Monday, February 8, 2010

Valentine Garland

Years ago, I saw this garland in Country Home Magazine. I have tweaked it a bit. That is the fun about finding projects. You do not have to do it exactly like the directions say that is why I always add other ides...i.e. paper clips work just as well as Christmas ornament hangers. I have included the link for some of the heart shaped cutouts and letters. The other thing that you can add that I did not are the heart shaped paper dollies that are usually available at most craft stores this time of year.

Things to gather:

A deck of cards (if you have some on hand, great...if not the Dollar Tree has a two pack for $1, that is what I am using).

Heart Pattern from http://www.countryhome.com/projects/holiday/valentinedecor_3.html (print out as many as you think you will need)

Cardboard (I collect cardboard from all sorts of places so that I have it on hand)

Hole puncher

Glue

Heart and Valentine themed stickers
Glitter (I ended up not using glitter on anything but use if you like)

Chain (Home Depot or look around in the garage I happen to find one on an old hanging lamp that we had laying around)---or a ribbon---your call

Christmas ornament hangers or paper clips (which is what I ended up using)

Instructions:

Print out your hearts. I cut mine out first then glued them on the cardboard and cut them out again. You could just glue the paper down on the cardboard but I wanted to save space on the cardboard. The other thing you could do is print out the hearts on card stock. You need the weight so the paper won't curl.





After all hearts are cut out, hole punch each and instert the paperclips in the holes and hang the paper hearts and cards on the chain.



Get creative and glue cards onto cards and hearts on hearts. Hang them however you see fit.


Then hang your garland wherever you want. I like the way it turned out.

If you do this project send me a photo. Or if you have any ideas on how to make it better. This was a fun project.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Vintage Earrings

While I was New Mexico last November (2009) I stumbled across some really cute 1950's earrings. I have done this before, turned the clip on's into regular earrings. If you have never done this before---do it! It is one of the best ways to make some really fun, interesting, cheap earrings. These ones cost me .50 cents and maybe .50 cents to turn them into pierced earrings (of course this is if you have the stuff on hand---if you don't you will spend maybe $5-$8 buying the glue and backs (maybe less)---FYI Beverly's usually sends out a flyer and you can get 40% off one item---it is not much but it helps or go to Beverly's website---if you have Michael's nearby, lucky you---all we have around here is Beverly's).

Here's what you'll need:

Vintage clip on earrings (you can find these anywhere!)

These are the ones I found in New Mexico.


Jewelry pliers

Jewelry glue (super glue works, too)

Earring backs (you can get post or the fish hook kind---depends on earrings and what you want)

Instructions:

Take the clip on backs off gently with the jewelry pliers.

Then glue on the new backs

Let dry for a couple hours to be sure you have a good stick.

Then wear them...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Dollar Tree Picture of Madonna and Child

Last week I went to the Dollar Tree (this is an unpaid plug for Dollar Tree). I love this place! You can find some really cool stuff. Click on the link to see if you have a Dollar Tree in your area. They usually have good picks for kids arts and crafts.

I found this cool picture of Madonna and Child (I did not get a "before shot" I think that you can get an idea that it was plain before I added the glitter). As soon as I saw it I saw all kinds of potential. As you can see from prior crafts I am really into glitter right now. It covers a multitude of sins.


For this project I used Mod Podge glue, paint brushes and glitter.



This is the picture I found for $1. Then I painted the glue on where I wanted to highlight...her dress and her head scarf. I love how it turned out. I am going to go back today and to get more, I think there were a few Saints as well...I am not that well versed in Catholic icons and Saints, so I cannot tell you who they were. These would make perfect Christmas gifts.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Reuse...Repackage


For my nieces birthday present I realized that I did not have any birthday wrapping paper...but I am always using my brown paper grocery bags for something...this time I used it to wrap Kayla's gift. Then I grabbed some tissue paper and just formed it into a flower, a stem and a leaf. I taped it all onto the package. I used a bunch of scrap yarn to tie her cards onto the stem. It felt good to reuse and repurpose something that we get every week at the grocery store. Actually, I usually bring my own bags...however, I always make sure to get a few paper and a few plastic bags cuz I use them! I always save tissue paper...just wait to see what I do with tissue paper in April when I make my Easter tree!

Just for Fun



So what do you do with sugar sprinkles.....




You sprinkle them in a heart dish....



Then add a tea candle...and some golden rocks (Jett made them for me for my birthday...how cool is that?)



I had some pink sugar too...my Grammy gave this little dish ages ago...it is pink and green, two of my favorite colors...then add more tea lights.



Set the pretty glass plate on a metal bead vase. Instant fun...instant yum!

Snowmen

I really wanted to continue January with a winter theme. I got the bright of idea of making snowmen. Since we do not get the joy of having snow and making real snowmen I got a bright idea and decided to make snowmen.

Here is what you need:

Styrofoam balls in small, medium and large
glitter (whatever color your heart desires we used pink, gold and silver)
glue (to roll the balls in we used regular white school glue)
hot glue
knife
paper plates
sticks
scrap fabric
yarn

Instructions:

 1) I went to Beverly's (they have a coupon flyer out right now...40% off of one item) and got styrofoam balls, styrofoam glue and fine glitter. I spent about $20. Styrofoam is not cheap. They are about $5.99-6.99 for 6-8 balls. I bought them in medium sizes to create the snowman.






2) Cut the rounded end of each ball so that when you glue them together it sits flat. I did not do this at first (hence the reason there is glitter everywhere...it would have been much easier to have done it without the glitter on the balls) and the balls did not stick together. If you have a better way of making them stick together please let me know. It took me a whole day to get it right.




3) I used paper plates. One for the glue and one for the glitter. This where the boys got in on the fun. They helped me roll the balls in the glue and then roll them in the glitter. It was messy, but they had fun.



4) Assemble and let dry. I let them dry overnight. I used strofoam glue but you can use any glue or hot glue.

5) This is the fun part...I used some scrap material I had lying around...sewed the edges to make scarves. I also crochet hats and one scarf. Don't worry if you don't sew or crochet...you could use ribbons and buttons or whatever you have lying around that would look good on a snowman. Then I added sticks for the arms. I did not put faces on them. I was going to but I liked they way they looked plain.

Here are my snowmen and women...

They turned out a lot better than I thought they were going to turn out.



I embleshed the fabric scarf with a crochet edge.


Monday, January 11, 2010

Week 2- A Simple Wreath

I have a wonderful friend and thankfully, she is also my neighbor, Stevie Harvie. She is truly an inspiration to me. She has taught me the finer points of jam making. She also makes some of the most amazing liquor concoctions ie...Ollieberry Cordial (I am sure you have never tasted something more amazing ;)

For the past few Christmas' Stevie has helped myself and another friend make Christmas wreaths. This year she let me just wing it while she was at my side. While she was watching me she found some birch tree branches laying around and made a very simple, elegant wreath.

I asked her to come over last week and help me make some. Here is how to make a very simple wreath out of any wispy, tree branch. Willow, birch, vine or any other wispy tree branch will work. I know some of us are shrouded in snow and ice, if you are lucky enough to have some sunshine anytime soon, go out on a little nature walk and try this wreath.

1. You will want nice long lengths of vine to work with - anything from 3 feet to 10 feet is a workable length. You want about 10-12 strands. *this is where the kiddos come in...they can help gather the strands of vines, or other trinkets to add to the wreath.




Some sort of birch tree outside our home.



We used some of this green hedge (I have no idea what it is? let me know if you know?) for one of the decorated wreaths.

2. Trim off the leaves if you want, I left mine on.

3. Use two strands and begin coiling the vines. This is the first round of vine in a circle slightly smaller than the size you want. I usually begin with a coil of two or three rounds before weaving. You will build on this set of rounds, and the wreath will grow as you keep coiling around tucking the ends in as you go. Pick up another strand and start where you left off, keep tucking as you go. Keep going until you reach the desired thickness that you want. You can make it as tight or as loose as you want it. It depends on what sort of accents you want in your wreath. Loose is less formal, and lets you weave in decorations, tighter is more uniform and you can just leave the wreath plain, which is very elegant and simple.

4. Attach a wire or string at the back for hanging.

5. Look about your yard or landscape for seasonal foliage. I got some odd looking berries from a friend. They are kina pink which reminds me of Spring or use whatever you desire, the goal is to make it what you want and what you fancy! It does not have to perfect.



A decorated wreath and a plain one.



I tucked in the dried berries. You could use anything, really.



The finished wreath...you can hand it anywhere...outside, inside. It really makes winter seem a little less...frigid.



I have these hangers in front of my home...I liked the way the wreath looked hanging off the hook..esp with my karma guy.

Now, go and make one! Have fun and let the kiddos in on the hunting gathering...xoC
 
 

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Decoupage Canvas

For Christmas this year I got this bright idea to have the boys paint on 8x10 oil painting canvas. You can get 2 in a package at Micheal's. for about $9.

Here's what I did:

1. Gave the canvas to the boys and let them paint whatever they wanted.

2. I then let it dry for about an hour.

3. I then used Mod Podge decoupage glue added glitter let that dry for another hour.

4. I printed out a picture of each of the boys on paper (I tried it on glossy photo paper and it did not come out so well) I distressed the paper by using a match and burned the edges.

5. Then I used the mod podge on the back of the photo and placed it on the canvas.

6. Added stickers and lastly, slathered the whole canvas in mod podge glue.

7. Let dry over night.

Here are some of the results:


I loved how Owen's turned out.



Jett actually, helped me do his canvas.



For some reason I could not really get a good shot for this one. I painted this one. I am not a painter by any means. Nonetheless, it was fun to make and I like the results. My bathroom is green and pink and I wanted this to go in my bathroom.

These make great anytime gifts. I had the boys do their foot and handprints for Chris for Father's Day I used bigger canvas for those projects. He has them hanging in his office at work. The above were gifts to the grandparents for Christmas. They are fun, quirky, quick crafts that are fun for kids and mom. The one thing that I should have done that I did not do is use a finishing spray...if you try this project I would suggest going to the craft store and ask someone what spray to use. I think that it still came out fine not using the finshing spray, but if you like to do things a little more perfect I would do it. I just winged this whole project. I knew what I wanted to do in my head, however I have never done decoupage before and I could not find an actual project like this so I made it up as I went along. Now I am hooked and want to do some more projects. It is really fun. If you do this project let me know...post some pics.