TIle Coasters - an easy DIY project

Last weekend we had our annual Scrap and Craft time at church. I was asked to plan a couple of make-and-take projects. I quickly found two card ideas, but I also wanted another craft. So I went to my favorite place, Pinterest and finally found this tile coaster project. I tried one at home, and it turned out well - not quite like the picture (does anything turn out just like the picture?), but I liked the end result.
So I bought more supplies: tiles at Menard's (for only 12 cents each!), sharpie pens, rubbing alcohol, spray fix and spray, clear acrylic, and pads for the bottoms.
The ladies at Scrap and Craft had a good time making these. The tiles were a bit time consuming, just because of the time needed for each step to dry, but everyone liked trying something new.
Here are the tiles I made. I think they'd make good gifts, don't you?

Mother and Daughter Crafting

My daughter and her family came up to celebrate New Year's with us. Every time she comes to visit we always make sure we have some time to craft together. We usually prepare for the weekend by looking up potential projects online - especially on pinterest. 

Here are a few of our projects so far...

Project #1 - heart pictures. We painted white card stock, used a punch to cut out the hearts, and used Mod Podge to glue the hearts to another piece of card stock.  Click here for out inspiration - we used hearts instead of circles)

Here's Carrie's finished picture . . .

and here's mine.

Project #2: Word plaques. We used the silhouette to cut the words out of white card stock. Then we applied washi tape to another piece of card stock and layered the cut out piece on top so the tape shows through. On the second one I just put patterned card stock behind the word "Love." (Click here for our inspiration.)

Project #3: Cards using my new Stampin' Up feather bundle (stamps and framelit dies). (Click here  and here for our inspiration)

And here are our finished cards.

We have one more day to do some crafting. I wonder what our project will be.....

Washi Tape Frames

For Administrative Professionals Day I wanted to give something I made myself - so I started looking around my craft room for some inspiration and supplies. I found three frames from the thrift store just waiting to be used. Next, I went on my computer to Silhouette Studio to find a saying that I could cut out of vinyl (with my Silhouette Portrait) and out on the glass of the frame. I picked out scrapbook paper for behind the glass. I looked on Pinterest and found this frame tutorial by The 36th Avenue Blog .  I grabbed my washi tape and some flowers, and I was ready to make my gifts.  Such easy gifts to make - and they turned out so cute!

Fingerpaint Art

Whenever our grandchildren come to visit they always ask if we're going to do any art projects.  Isabelle loves making cards with my stamping stuff,,, and all the kids like using my Little Big Shot die-cutting machine. So we started out making washi tape egg garlands like the ones I saw on http://www.thetaylor-house.com/washi-tape-easter-egg-garland-tutorial/...

Our next project was to make flowers like these:

Our big project of the day, however, was to use fingerpaint to paint canvases. We got the idea from http://www.ourfamilyforhisglory.com/2012/03/one-of-my-favorite-art-projects-ever/

I bought this fingerpaint and canvases at WalMart. So we spread out newspaper on the table, and then each grandchild decided what design they wanted on their canvas. I used my Silhouete machine to cut the design out of vinyl. We positioned the design on the canvas and smoothed it down. Then it was time to paint!

We made sure that we covered the whole canvas with paint, and llet the paint dry a bit before peeling off the vinyl. 

Here are the canvases right after they were painted. The vinyl design is still on.

Here are the finished pictures!

These pictures were fun to make. Didn't they turn out cute!

Silhouette Project

Here are the latest projects I've made using my Silhouette.

I made this cute little jar from a jelly jar. I used the Silhouette to cute the owl out of vinyl - but instead if sticking the owl on the jar, I used the outline to stencil the owl onto the jar using enamel paint especially for glass. Then I painted the lid the same color.

For this picture I again used the Silhouette to cut the letters out of vinyl. But this time I used transfer paper to transfer the letters on to the glass. I found the chevron fabric at Joann Fabrics. I cut a piece to fit behind the glass. And then I put the whole picture together.
(I found the blue rain boots at Goodwill. Aren't they cute?)

With each project I learn a little more about how best to use the Silhouette and materials. Thank goodness for Pinterest and YouTube. I've found lots of helpful hints and tutorials.

Do you have a Silhouette? If so, what projects have you made with it?

Monogrammed Cutting Board

I am loving my Silhouette Portrait - a very special present from my wonderful kids last Christmas.

My latest Silhouette project was this cutting board.

I got the idea from Pinterest (isn't Pinterest just the best?). When I saw the personalized cutting board from Kelly's blog I knew that I wanted to try to make one for myself. My husband had a wood burning tool - he and my son-in-law had used it when making some Christmas presents. I already had the cutting board, so I used the Silhouette to make a stencil. I traced the stencil onto the cutting board with a pencil, and began burning the initials into the board. I have a bit to learn about using the wood burning tool, but I'm pretty happy with my monogrammed cutting board.

Scrap N Craft Weekend

Last weekend the women at our church had our 3rd annual Scrap N Craft Weekend. There were scrapbookers, knitters, quilters, a rug maker, and me - a craftaholic. I brought several different craft projects along, with the goal being to finish some projects I'd started. My first project for the weekend was a fleece blanket. I had bought the fabric months ago, and just kept moving it around the house.
I am happy to say that I finished the blanket, and here it is...

I can't wait to cuddle up with this blanket!

My second project was to use my new Silhouette to cut a mat for a pencil sketch that our son-in-law drew of the view from our dining room window. The Silhouette did a great job, and I love how the picture looks in the frame.

For the weekend I planned several Make-and-Take projects. Whenever someone needed a break from their projects, they could come over to my table and make a project. The first was the flowers on the candy sticks.

The second make and take was a "Design a Dress" card. It was so much fun to watch people pick out patterned paper and embellishments. No two dresses were alike. The cards were made with a Stampin; Up die-cut for the dress, stand, and the oval behind it.

The third project was a refrigerator magnet. We used washi tape to cover a clothespin. Then we used circle punches and stamps to make the design on top.

The weekend was great - mostly because of the fellowship and conversation with other women from the church.

Give A Flower

In Minnesota it's Para Professional Appreciation Week.  I made a little treat for each of the paras in my school district. I printed the messages for each side from my computer, and used a circle punch to make the centers. Then I founds scraps of card stock and used my Big Shot and a die from Jim Holz Alterations called "Tattered Florals" to cut out the flowers.
I layered the flowers and used glue dots to stick the layers together. Then I stuck the flowers to a candy stick - one on each side, and my gift was done!
A little bit of spring in the middle of January.

Another DIY Adventure - Tote Bag, Anyone?

Last weekend a friend and I went to Crosslake Days. This special day happens every September, and I like to go because I get so many ideas for crafts and DIY projects. This year, as in the past, I wasn't disappointed. One of the churches had a holiday bazaar, there was a craft fair, a flea market, a chili cook-off, and lots of sidewalk sales. My friend and I decided to go to the church bazaar first. Wow - was there a lot to see! I saw so many things I wanted to buy, some to give as gifts, and some to have as samples.

Here are two samples I picked up that I plan to make for gifts: the reindeer has a candy bar inside and is made from paper and pipe cleaners. (I think I have all the punches I'd need to make this.) The note pad on the right is made on a magnet so it can hang on the fridge (or on any other metal.) All I need to get for that one is the post-it note pad.

I bought some other things to give for Christmas, but I can't show you today or they won't be a surprise for the friends and family who will be receiving them.

Watch future blogs for pictures of some DIY ideas I got....

Later that day we stopped at a home furnishings store, and found out that they had their older fabric samples on sale - 5 for $4. My friend and I spent quite a while looking through the samples and picking out our favorites.

I couldn't wait to get home and start sewing. I wanted to try making some tote/book bags. Or maybe a pillow? However, I didn't have all the supplies I needed... and we live in a small town where there aren't many stores. So I had to wait until I made a trip to Brainerd, where I picked up the things I needed. I spent a couple of evenings on the Internet, looking at tote bags and sewing directions. I finally decided to try making a bag using directions from HGTV here.
Today was a perfect day to spend sewing and crafting. The weather was cloudy, misty, windy and cool - a perfect day to be inside.
I gathered up my sewing machine, iron and ironing board, and all the other sewing supplies and settled in at my dining room table. The directions online were easy to follow, and a couple of hours later my bag was done!

I added the tab with the button to add a bit of decoration and to have something to keep the bag shut. The button is purely decoration. I sewed a piece of Velcro underneath the tab to fasten it shut.

You can see that I bought some contrasting cotton fabric to use for the liner. The hardest part of the process was turning the whole thing right side out. The directions called for interfacing, so I used it. I ironed it to the outside pieces, per the directions. The interfacing made the fabric so stiff that it was hard to pull through the opening I had left between the lining and the outside. I will do a couple of things differently for my next bag. I will not use interfacing. I thing the upholstery fabric is stiff enough. I will also leave a bigger opening for turning. I may also use a big snap instead of Velcro on the tab.

It was fun sewing this bag today - and I can't wait to try making another one.

A Weekend to Remember

This weekend our grandchildren have come to visit.  Here are just a few pictures of the fun we're having...