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!

Pillow Cases

First thought when you think of 50 Shades of Grey?  Yep, that was the theme of one swap I participated in.  For someone who has never read the books (but obviously knows what they are about), I had a hard time trying to come up with a craft.  My friend Tanya though knew EXACTLY what to make and then I felt like DUH, that is an awesome and obvious gift!

She made me two grey pillow cases since most of the book is spent between the sheets.  And now I want matching sheets!  I love the patterns she choose and how well they all go together.  I've never made a pillowcase but after seeing hers, I now want to tackle them.  They seem easy to make and are SUPER cute!  

Leather Cuff

My friend Tanya made me this leather cuff.  To say that my "cool" status went up about 10 notches would be quite the understatement.  This bracelet is the coolest thing I own.  Seriously,  I feel so hip when I wear it.  She made the entire thing and even stamped my name on the side.  Don't ask me how she did it though.  It all involved special leather stamps, ink and a lot of conditioning of the leather.  

Love Notes

My friend Tanya made me this ADORABLE gift for a craft swap.  I love the simplicity and functionality of it!  

Items Needed:

8x10 picture frame

Letter Stickers 

Scrabble Tiles

Red Felt

Needle point thread

Rub-ons or stickers

Dry Erase Markers

8x10 Scrapbook paper

Adhesive of your choice

Directions:

1.  Remove cheesy photo that came with frame.

2.  Cut out a thin but long heart.

3.  Hand stitch the outside of the heart and end with a cute bow.

4.  Attach scrabble letters using your adhesive to the scrapbook paper.  Remembering to insert the heart where O would be in the word love.

5.  Using letter stickers attach the word Because to the scrapbook paper.

6.  Add any additional embellishments such as rub-ons or stickers for added cuteness. Just remember to keep this as FLAT as possible.  You don't want anything (aside from the scrabble tiles & heart) to be 3D.

7.  Insert cute scrapbook page into frame.  This will be THICK for the frame and may require you to tape the back shut.

8.  Write a cute note for your loved one and display it for them to see.

Luggage Tags

Going on a trip?  Hate when your luggage looks like everyone elses?   Why not whip up some luggage tags like my friend Tanya did for me!  

So simple and yet so fun!  These would make a GREAT gift as well!

Items Needed:

Sewing Machine

Ribbon

Fabric

Sheet of durable plastic (for the view hole).

Directions:

Anything I write here will be my making it up.  But all in all, just looking at them it looks quite simple.

Here is a tutorial  to directions on how to make your own.  Obviously they are not the same ones but a great tutorial nonetheless!

Pocket Calendar

This is another DUH craft.  Why didn't I ever think to do this.  My friend Tanya made this for me.

Grab a pocket calendar from the dollar store.

Pull it out of the plastic sleeve that it comes with.

Cover it with paper, pictures, embellishments etc.

Slide it back into the plastic protective cover

BAM!  You're done.  How easy was that?  And now you have an awesome pocket calendar for yourself OR as a gift!

Journal Covers

I don't have a tutorial for this, but wanted to show you how awesome this journal cover my friend Tanya made for me is.  

There are several aspects that I want to point out.  

First, I love how it's got a section of patchwork.  Adds so much character to it.

Second, I love the rosettes.  Rosettes make everything look better.

Third, I LOVE the bookmark.  What a great way to keep track of where you are AND I love how it hangs at the bottom with beads.

Fourth, I love how on the inside cover it has a pencil holder (owl fabric) AND another pocket to keep anything in like post it notes. Again, patch work.

Fifth, I love how on the back it has a pocket too!

Sixth - It's 100% removable. So when I'm finished with the book, I just whip it off and put it on a new book.  

Seventh, I love how it has a button fastener.  

Really this is such a great idea!  Much better than covering a note book with doodles or comics!

12 Days of Christmas

My friend Tanya made this for me a few years ago.  It was so fun to open it each day and to see what fun little treasures are inside.  Now my goal is to try to convince my husband to fill it for me each year.

Christmas Banner

My friend Tanya made this Christmas banner.  

How simple and easy and it adds the perfect touch of Christmas to our home.  

It's done with 100% paper and ribbon!  

Farkle Game

My friend Tanya made this for me.  It's the game of Farkle.  

If you've not played the game it's a fun dice game and super easy to make as a gift!

This would make a great birthday or Christmas gift.

Items Needed:

Tin container

Pad of paper

6 dice 

A cute bag to hold the dice

Pencil

Printed Directions

Directions:

1.  Make over the tin to be cute!

2.  Purchase or create a note pad

3.  Sew up a cute bag

4.  Toss it all into the tin with directions

Coupon Booklet

Giving a coupon book can be a fun and inexpensive. 

My friend Tanya took an already created coupon booklet that she purchased and made it spectacular!  All she did was add a new cover, a cute rub on and some ribbon!  She took it from drab to fab!

Classroom Gifts

Looking for a cute St. Patrick's Day or Easter gift for your children's class mates?  

My friend Tanya made these for her son's classmates.  

The Easter one is made out of felt, cut out and glued together.  With a candy attached.  

The St. Patricks Day gift is a pencil topper that she hand sewed into a fabric clover.

These are soo cute! 

Repurposed Candle

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures.  My camera just isn't working very well and refuses to take up close pictures some times.

My friend Tanya made this for me and I thought it would make a great gift/stocking stuffer.  There are so many sayings that go well with candles/light that this would make a great (and cheap) gift for neighbors or friends!

Items Needed:

Candle (dollar store)

Cute Paper (scrap would work great for this!)

Ribbon

Directions:

1.  Cut paper to the size of candle.  

2.  Attach paper with either glue dots or modpodge.

3.  tie ribbon around neck.

4.  Put cute note on bottom of candle!

Travel Tissue Holder

My friend Tanya made this for me and I love it!  I don't have instructions to post but it is a tissue holder.  She sewed it out of patched fabric pieces and then slipped a pack of travel tissues inside.  It's the perfect accessory to my bag, car or anywhere else that I want to keep a pack of travel tissues!  

These would make GREAT stocking stuffers or birthday gifts!

Here is a tutorial I found if you want to make one too!