Altered Recipe Tin

My friend Tanya made one of these for a co-worker of mine (before I knew her) years ago.  I fell absolutely in love with it and BEGGED her to make me one too.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  Seriously, probably one of my favorite things I've ever gotten.  Every time I look at it a huge smile comes across my face.  I've loaded it full of my favorite recipes (pre Pinterest) and it looks so cute on my counter.  I especially love all the tiny details she put into it.  

Each divider is unique, cute and ageless.  (And yes we know Desserts is spelled wrong).

The top has a crackle finish, the ribbons are all color coordinating and there is even a charm hidden in there.  Seriously, what is there NOT to love about this?!

I've made several recipe boxes based on this example.  This works great as a card box too as it's the perfect size for most cards!

Items Needed:

Tin Box

LOTS of ribbon

Coordinating paper

Embellishments

Letters

Computer/Printer

Paint

Crafting tools - paper cutter, modpodge, scissors

Ink

Directions:

Use your imagination and design and create fun boxes filled with recipes, cards or even photos!  The ideas are endless.  If you can't find this kind of tin, then use another.  Just remember to have fun!

Burp Cloths

My friend Sarah made me a few burp clothes when my daughter was born a few years ago.  As you can see, they are still in excellent shape and going strong.  Ever wanted to throw together a quick baby gift that has that extra touch of homemade?  These are great.  

Items Needed:

Sewing Machine

Flat Cloth Diaper

Cute Fabric

Scissors

Directions:

Head on over HERE for a tutorial on how to make your own!

Rag Baby Quilts

In a craft swap titled "Random Act of Kindness" my friend Jenine made me these two quilts.  One is for me to keep and one is for me to give away as a random act of kindness.  She wanted to do something that tied into my having a baby and a baby quilt was the perfect idea.  

For anyone who knows me, I have a HUGE obsession with homemade quilts.  I LOVE THEM!  Seriously, nothing brings me more happiness in the world than receiving a quilt that someone took hours to create.  It shows me just how much they care an how thoughtful they are.  And seeing as how it's not my strong point (sewing), I certainly LOVE to receive them!  

I decided to keep the brown and blue polk a dot quilt as (unknowingly to Jenine) matches my baby bedding perfectly!  And some lucky person (unknown yet) will receive the green and yellow.  

This type of quilt is called a Rag Quilt and can be  be used with any kind of fabric.  

A great tutorial can be found HERE if you are interested in making one too.

Reversible Cup Cozy

I don't drink coffee, but do enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate every once in a while.  So when it came time to do a 'sewing' swap, I decided to whip up a few of these for my crafting buddies.  

They hare reversible with a button latch and once you get the idea, are pretty easy to make.  I recommend making a bunch of them in a huge batch and then holding onto them as they make great gifts and stocking stuffers.  Just imagine one of these around an empty Starbucks cup with a gift card inside!  Simple, cute and something everyone can use!

Items Needed:

1.  (2) different fabrics (if you want them reversible).

2. A sewing machine!

3.  (2) buttons (one for each side)

4.  An elastic hair band

5.  Felt (inside 'batting')

6.  Scissors

7.  Thread

8.  Iron

Directions:

I did not whip up this pattern all by myself.  I actually followed a tutorial I found and tweaked it to my tastes.  The tutorial can be found HERE as credit should go to those who actually put the time and effort into making such a tutorial.

As you'll note, instead of batting, I used felt.  I found that it held it's shape better than ordinary batting and absorbed the heat!  I also added a button to each side to make it reversible.

  

Story Starter Picture Cubes

My friend Angela sent this amazing craft to me during a swap.  Ok, really it's for my daughter, but I can still play with it too!  I have never heard of this and LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea.  

You've never heard of it either?  Well here is the concept:  Roll each dice to figure out the Who, What Where and When - then YOU get to put all these together along with the Why and create a story!

You can buy story starter blocks but nothing as amazing as these!  So why not whip up your own!

Items Needed:

(4) 1" blocks

Gel Pen

Notebook & Pen

Cute box to hold the blocks in (found at any craft store)

Cheat sheet (as pictured above)

Directions:

1.  On each block draw the pictures as seen in the cheat sheet photo with the gel block.  

2.  Decorate your box with fun colorful pictures

3.  Decorate your notebook if not already decorated.

4.  Print out or make a cheat sheet

5.  Assemble all and include a cute note.

Sticks Card Game - A Rummy Card Game with a Twist

My friend Jenine made this game for me in a swap.  I had never heard of it and found it to be a fun game and great gift!  

This game would take some time to make yourself but would be well worth it.

Items Needed:

4 decks of face cards

42 tongue depressor sticks

Fabric bag or fabric to make your own (make sure you cannot see through it)

1 pen or marker

Directions which can be printed HERE

2 different colors of scrapbook paper

Modpodge

Computer & Printer

Scissors

Directions:

1.  Cover one side of each tongue depressor with one color of scrapbook paper - We'll say Brown.  Modpodge down.

2.  Cover the other side of the tongue depressor with scrapbook paper - We'll say Tan.  Modpodge down.

3.  Attach stick combinations to brown side of each tongue depressor.  Modpodge down.

4.  Cover each side of tongue depressor with an additional layer of modpodge.

5.  Sew bag if you did not purchase one already.

6.  Assemble all items in bag (include directions)

Christmas Countdown Muffin Tin Calendar

I started this craft a few years ago and finally just finished it.  I think it turned out amazing.

Have you heard of muffin tin calendars?  No?  Then Jump on board and make one for yourself.

Items Needed:

(1) Mini 24 count muffin tin

Scrapbook Paper

Embellishments

Vinyl lettering (purchased or made yourself)

Mini Magnets or a magnetic roll

Number stickers

Hole Punch

Glue Dots / Zots

Glue of your choice

Directions:

1.  Cut (24) 2" squares from solid card stock

2.  Cut (24) 1 3/4" squares from festive card stock 

3.  Attach the festive card stock to the solid card stock

4.  Add embellishments to each square using stickers, paper, ribbon, etc.

5.  Add number stickers to each square.

6.  Using mini magnets that you purchased attach four to each square (one on each corner).  

If you did not buy any, then you get to make your own (like me)!  Roll out your magnetic roll and using a single hole punch, punch out tiny magnets.  This will make the perfect size magnet.  Now GLUE your magnet to the paper.  The adhesive that comes with the magnet is not strong enough.

7.  Using pre-purchased vinyl or a cricut or silhouette attach the words Christmas Countdown to your muffin tin.  Mine were 3/4" tall as that is what fit best on my muffin tin.

8.  Now attach the squares to your muffin tin.

9.  When it comes time to use it, hide a note or treat in each hole for your children/spouse/friends to find.  Open one a day until Christmas!

Country Valentines Quilt

If there is one thing you should know about it, it's that I have a LOVE of homemade quilts - though I can't make them myself.  In a Valentines swap, my friend Jennifer got my name and knew my love of quilts.  So she whipped this one up for me and there is no denying it is AMAZING!

I can't give you directions on how to make it, but I can show you and hopefully inspire you the quilt that was given to me.  

Button Snake

In a quiet activity swap I did a few years ago, I received this button snake.  I had never heard of a button snake before then and have found this little gem to be priceless.  It's SUPER easy to make and has really helped my daughter learn about buttons and kept her busy in church and long car rides.

Items Needed:

One large button

12" of ribbon

Varying colors of felt

Needle 

Thread

Directions:

1.  Cut out (12) 3" squares from your felt.  If 3 colors of felt, then you want to cut 4 of each color.

2.  Cut a slit in each felt square large enough for the button to pass through with the exception of one.  Leave one square untouched.

3.  With the untouched square, sew ribbon onto center as seen above.

4.  With the other side of ribbon, sew it onto the button.  

5.  "Button" each square of felt to your snake.  

Button Wreath

I love button art.  I love how subtle it is and how elegant it can be.  For a Christmas themed swap I made my girls button wreath.  Each one was slightly different but overall the same basic idea.  

Items Needed:

10" Canvas or 10" wooden board

Scrapbook Paper

Buttons

Adhesive or Glue of choice

Ribbon

Modpodge

Glue Dots / Zots

Directions:

1.  Cut scrapbook paper to fit canvas/board.  I chose to cover the edges of my board with paper as well.

2.  Modpodge paper to canvas/board and allow to dry.

3.  Using 3 different sizes of buttons, begin with a center circle.  Mine were 16 small buttons to create my center.  Glue them in a circle, center to your canvas/board.

4.  Once your inner circle is glued down, begin with the next size of button and go around the first button ring, gluing down all your buttons.

5.  Once you have two rows of buttons down, using your largest buttons, glue down your third row.

6.  With your ribbon, tie a bow to your preferred size.  

7.  Using Glue Dots/Zots attach bow to top button.  (I originally tried to glue the bow on but that did not work.)

Clipboards & Clips

For a home office swap, I made my girls each a decorated clipboard and fun clips.  Paper clips are so boring so why not use a cute clip to hold your papers together?

Items Needed:

Clipboard (any style wooden or plastic)

Scrapbook Paper

Modpodge

Ribbon

Embellishments

Fun Clips found at dollar store

Glue Dots / Zots

Directions for Clipboard:

1.  Cut scrapbook paper to fit clipboard up to clip.

2.  Modpodge the paper to the clipboard and let dry.

3.  Modpodge the top of the scrapbook paper and let it dry.

4.  Add embellishments to paper - words, ribbon, anything.

5.  Add various ribbons to the clip part of the clipboard.

Directions for Clips:

1.  Choose what items you want to decorate your clips with - buttons, flowers, ribbons etc.  Anything will work.

2.  Attach items to clips using Glue Dots or your preferred method.

3.  Tie with a double knot ribbon to clips.  

Candy Dish

I like to showcase all the things I've made or people have made for me.  This is a candy dish that a 11 year old made for me 8 years ago.  I have saved it and used it and moved it across the country.  To say I was touched that Chelsea thought to make me a special gift when we moved, would be an understatement.  I love it.  And though it's a bit dusty now, it is an amazing homemade craft!

Wooden Block Picture

So this concept can be used for any photo.  I however LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo of Christ's hand making the sign of I love you and showing his nail print.  I think the message is so simple and so powerful that I can't help but continue to make these for everyone I know.  The best part is that they work for just about any holiday.  Christmas, Easter, Valentines etc.  I've made them in two versions.  The black with red ribbon and the gray with gray/silver ribbon.  

Items Needed:

2x8" board

5x7 Photo of choice

Sand Paper

Paint color of choice

Wired ribbon of choice

Glue Dots or Zots

Directions:

1.  Cut 2x8" board into 9" length pieces.

2.  Sand board edges as they will be rough.  Also sand out any rough spots in the wood.

3.  Paint the entire block using your paint color choice.  

4.  Once dry, if you choose (see left block) sand edges to give it a distressed look.  If you do this, ensure that you wipe the block very well before attaching photo.

5.  Using 5x7 photo of choice, put glue dots or Zots on the back along the edges of the photo and attach to wooden block.  If you want to use the same photo I did, then order it from the actual artist (Don't Steal!).  It can be ordered from Darin Ashby and will take a few days to arrive.

6. Attach wired ribbon to block to add an extra element to photo.   

Candle or Cookie Jar Wraps

My friend Jenine sent this to me during a craft swap and I thought it was PURE GENIUS!  These are wraps for large Jar candles like Yankee Candles or large mason jars that you would do cookies in a jar for gifts.  You simply wrap this around the jar and it covers the label and turns your candle from an advertising scheme into a cute addition to your home - or adds that extra festive touch to any mason jar treat! 

These are something that I will certainly be making for this Christmas and all the gifts we give out.  Simple, EASY and SUPER SUPER SUPER cute!

Items Needed:

 Fabrics of your choice

A sewing machine (or hand stitch)

SEW ON Velcro

Embellishments

Needle point floss

Directions:

1.  Cut large piece of fabric out to be 16 inches x 5 1/2 inches

2.  Cut short piece of fabric to be 4 inches x 3 inches

3.  Fold edges over 1/4 inch twice (on top of itself so you don't see actual edges) and iron down.  Once all four edges are folded and ironed, sew them together.

4.  Cut sew on velcro to be 3 inches long.

5.  Sew velcro onto fabric.  One piece (the soft side) is sewn onto the front LEFT of fabric.  Now flip the fabric over and sew the other piece (rough side) to the Back LEFT of fabric.  Velcro should be on opposite sides and opposite ends when done.

6.  Decide on what you want the wrap to say.  Then using needle point, stitch it into your small piece of fabric.  Add any embellishments at this time.

7.  Sew small piece of fabric onto Large piece of fabric centered.