Easy DIY Fleece Tie Blanket

These blankets have been around for years....I've been making them since I was at least 14....so I have 10 years of experience with these babies.  They were go-to gifts in our family for many years...actually they still are.  

Who doesn't like a soft cuddly blankie?  I mean really now....

You're feeling comfy just looking at this picture....admit it. 

Anywho....I have made a few for gifts just this past year alone.  I took pictures of the process but never got around to making the tutorial until now.  

Here's what you do.   First off you will need to buy your fleece.  I usually like to do one side patterned and the other side a solid coordinating color....but you can do whatever you want of course

I usually buy 2 yards of each fabric...that is my go to size.  The blanket I am making in this tutorial was for a new born baby so I made it only using 1 yard of each fabric

One thing to take into consideration though....the first Christmas me and The Boy were dating I made him a 2 yard blanket since it was my usual.  He LOVES that thing to death (in fact it's so ratty now I owe him a new one) but it's a little too small for him.  My husband is 6'2 and a big guy....his feet stick out the bottom.  So lesson learned....if it's for a giant like my boy..try going  3 yards

Ok, so you have your two fabrics....lay them down sandwiched together so that the good sides are both facing "out"  You'll especially notice with the printed fabric, one side will be sort of blurry and one side more crisp.  Obviously the side with the clearer picture faces outward

Trim the fabrics to get rid of any printed words that sometimes shows as well as to get them to match up as closely as possible

Next, cut a 6 inch square out of each corner

Then cut one inch strips that create a sort of "fringe" that are about 1 inch wide and go up the 6 inches in to meet the cut from the corner.  You could use a ruler or yardstick if you would like, but I just eyeball it and move across and it has always worked well enough for me

Repeat this around all 4 sides

Then begin tying the fringe

 

These aren't tied like shoes....it's the kind of knot where you take both fringes together and wrap them around your finger,then pull the ends through the hole

I'm sure you could knot them together however you like...this is just what I've always done

Just keep working all the way around.  It isn't hard....just time consuming, so put on a movie or something while you work.  One side will be very easy to tie because it's the stretchy side of the fabric.  The other will be much harder because it doesn't have any "give" so the knot is much harder to tie.  

Forewarning:  Your fingers WILL hurt by the end of the project.  But at least you'll have a super cute blanket to show for it

And just because I think they're cute and funny....here is MoMo supervising as we worked on a different blanket.  She was all up in it the entire time

Man she's tough.....she was workin me like I was in a sweat shop!

 

DIY Photo Coasters

Our friends Tanya and Dale just got married and I thought I would share with you part of their Wedding gift...DIY Photo Coasters.....even if it is alllllllllll over Pinterest

I wanted to give them something they wanted so of course that means a gift off their registry....easy peasy.  But I also couldn't let a big event like a wedding pass by without getting a little DIY action in

I figured coasters were something they could actually use in their house....but still sort of off the grid.  I don't think many people wake up and think "Hey....we need coasters with our faces on it!"   

That's where I come in.......

You need

Mod Podge, Plain tiles, Pictures, & Acrylic Sealer spray

 I already had the Mod Podge and sealer so all I had to buy was the picures ($1.05) and the tiles for .15 each.  Gotta love a gift where you get to empty out your change pocket.  My purse is much lighter now thanks to this project. 

Now I gotta confess.....I felt like a total creeper acquiring these pictures.  They hadn''t gotten back all their engagement photos yet so they only had 5 "sneak peek" pictures on their Facebook pages from the photographer.  And in total stalker/creeper status I saved them to my computer.

Is it just me or is that totally weird when you stop and think about it? Like I'm pretty confident they won't think anything of it (until they read this....awesome.) but it is kinda of weird that anyone can just right click and save your face.   But I guess that's a risk we all take right? haha

Anywho....clean your tiles well and cut your pictures to size.  I decided I wanted a border so I cut them into 3 inch squares

Apply Mod Podge to the back of the picture with a foam brush and position onto the tile.  Apply 4 coats of Mod Podge or more letting dry completely between each coat.  I would brush side to side for one coat, let dry, then up and down and repeat.   Unfortunately there is no getting around the fact that there will be brush strokes....so just got over it now.  I had to.

After you've done enough Mod Podge coats, spray 4-5 coats of acrylic sealer. 

I do these over the course of 3 days (start to finish) to ensure that each coat was completely dry and I didn't end up with globs

Once they were completely dry I added feet by cutting out squares of stiffened felt and hot gluing them to the bottom

Here they are all done

Wrapped them up in some ribbon that coordinated with the wedding colors

And that's all it took!  I really love how they turned out and hope they like them too.  Even with the whole stalker aspect.....

DIY Picture Frame Ring Holder

Forever and a year ago I came across this picture on Pinterest and was blown away by the idea

Why the heck didn't I think of this? The idea is so simple but soooo genius at the same time!

When I went to the source I realized it was a store bought frame from Kohls.  I knew I could probably find a similar frame if I looked hard enough, but being the project loving gal I am I decided to tackle this one myself

I got a small wood frame and painted it white.  I completely forgot to take a "Before" shot of the frame but I'm sure you can use your imagination to picture a plain old ugly frame.  Think "builder grade kitchen cabinet" color

This project was also a good excuse to invest in some mass amounts of pearls and gems

Then the fun began.  I glued every single one of those suckers on...one by frickin one.

Please excuse my grimy work station.  This is literally the same "lap desk"  we've had in my family since who knows when. Literally....I'm pretty sure it's older than me.  I don't remember a time not having it.  I think it belonged to my 2 oldest sisters and considering I'm the baby and younger by 12 years.....the thing is pretty damn old.  But it has held up like a champ and I kept it....apprently I love it?  I think the cuts, sticky glue areas, and marker marks give it some character.   Or does that just make it dingy?

Anywho....just keep gluing. Just keep gluing. What do we do we gluuuue!   Can you tell I'm pumped for the release of Finding Dory?   We only have to wait until the end of 2015...Crimony!

After you are done gluing, cut a piece of scrapbook paper or fabric to fit inside the frame.  I glued the paper to cardstock to make it more sturdy. 

Take a pearl pin and position where you want it on the paper and push through.  Once it's through bend the pin down straight so it lays flat and hot glue it into place like this

Then after hours and hours of gluing and burning yourself....you're done!

I made this for a friend that's getting married.  I really want one for myself considering how I put my ring in a cup right now....but I'm usually only willing to commit to a labor intensive project once.  The second time I just get annoyed and bored and get a "been there, done that attitude"    Just blame it on my ADD babayyy.  (name that song!)

Sooo...back into the cup my ring will go

Patriotic Wreath

Following Uncle Sam's orders in my last craft post HERE <---

I have made yet another patriotic outdoor decoration to bring out the innner flag waver in you!  It'll make you bleed the red, white, and blue!

Impressive rhyming skills huh?

I DID win the district wide poetry contest in both the 1st AND 2nd grades.

Maybe someday I'll share those pieces of poetic genius with you all.....but until then I must leave you in suspense.  

This wreath is made in pretty much the exact same fashion as my Easter Wreath. 

^ Click on that to see the full tutorial

The general gist of it is cutting out a cardboard circle, hot gluing on colored gift shreddy...paper...things.  This time I used the foily kind. Give it a trim, glue on your stuff, then glue on a pop tab for hanging and yer done!  


The decorations I used were these cute star picks from 99c only that I just ripped the wires out of.  I also got the big bow from there too.  It's all glittery....shocking right?  Me? And glitter?

 The littler stars I found at Michaels and I HAD TO HAVE THEM! 
They just went so perfectly with the other ones I had.  Don't let the $2.99 on the bag full you....I got those babies for a dolla! 

Now you got yourself a wreath 

You'll get alot of use out of this.  Labor Day, Veterans Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Sept. 11th.

4th of July Decor

Someday I want my house to be the one on the block with the flag waving, the pinwheels in the ground, and these these swags hung from anything I can possibly hang them from.....ANYTHING!

I want to be like this house here....but like x1000 

 Yep...it's a dream I have.  But it may take some time for me to get there...like maybe owning a house first.....so I'm starting small


Like this little dealio here

99c only always has terra cotta pots.  So I got one and painted it white with some leftover primer I had.  Then I taped it off to create stripes

 Then I painted the top rim blue.  I tried using a stencil to paint on some white stars but that turned out to be a hot mess.  Maybe its just me though...I dunno.  
I had to cover over it with more blue and now I'm on the look out for some stickers or something to use instead.

Unless somebody out there can tell me how to paint on stars without it looking like a preschool project. No hate on the preschool art though....they make some snazzy stuff!

 Then I just filled it up with red crinkle paper from the ole Dollar Tree and star picks and flowers from Michaels. 

It would make a good centerpiece for your table, or you can put it by the front door like I do.   

I choose to believe Uncle Sam himself would be quite proud.  


So proud in fact, that he would tell me...........

Will do Uncle Sam.  Will do.

DIY Cheap & Personalized Wedding Napkins for Wedding (or any occasion!)

For our wedding I wanted cute napkins for our bar but I wasn't willing to pay to get them monogrammed.

I also didn't feel like buying an embossing kit because I wasn't sure If I would ever use it again....and I'm cheap.

Soooo...

I bought some plain pink and brown cocktail napkins from Party City and used a 50% off coupon at Michael's and got this Staz On Ink pad for around $4

My sister got me this cute stamp for Christmas, but you could also get a custom made one with your monogram or a design that you can use for multiple projects for your wedding

 And stamp away!  


It goes really quick.  I stamped while I watched Real Housewives marathons.    Go figure.....


The Staz On ink is awesome!  I did SEVERAL tests to make sure the ink wouldn't transfer onto people faces when they used them


Cause wouldn't that just be awesome.  My guests covered in brown ink smudged across their face.  That's something that would happen to me


Here's the finished thing

So simple but adds a nice personal touch to any party
 

DIY Floppy Summer Hat

Annnnddd......I'm back!

Feels like forever since I've posted.  Over 2 weeks or so. Did you miss me?  (Waves to my one reader.....my sister Bree) hahaha ;)

I went to Vegas last weekend and you know how that goes.  It took a week for me to get ready and then a week to recover....which equals no energy for posting.

I give major props to those bloggers who keep their shit up to date even when they're on the go.  I'll get there someday...I hope.

So In my preparation for my trip I of course set up crazy expectations in my head.  Luckily, my friend that I was going with is similar.  

We both had visions of ourselves laying poolside on a gorgeous chaise lounge...
 cool refreshing drink in hand....wearing our grandma swimsuits....sitting with one leg flat and and the other with the knee bent so we look like the girls in movies......all with a big floppy hat on. 

 Please tell me other people play out their life expectations like this?  Every single little detail?   Good!  Glad I'm not alone.


So I was in need of a big flippity floppity hat!


I found this hat at the good ole Dollar Tree

 Not bad.....but a little lackluster.  It needed a little sumthin sumthin.

 So at midnight I was hot gluing on some black ribbon I had and a cute black button that I bought at Walamrt.....at 11PM

 I had to leave my house at 4 AM to make my flight.   Can you tell what kind of person I am?


Yep.  I'm the kind that is up allll night on Xmas even wrapping gifts.  I procrastinate.


But at least I had a cute hat for laying by the hotel pool.








..............................................................








Ya know what the kicker is?  We didn't even end up going to the pool at all. -__-




But that's ok.  I still gained a cute hat.  And I'm sorta fighting the urge to go buy more and make a whole collection.  Different colored ribbon....maybe some flowers or gems...or maybe even paint them!  I could go wild!

DIY Cheap and Easy Cupcake Stand

There a ton of different options for displaying cupcakes.  You can buy the stands but I find them to be expensive and they don't seem to hold that many for when you have a big crowd.  You can also build them out of wood but that can be time consuming. In the past I have also made them out of cake dummies and cake boards stacked, but that too was surprisingly expensive to a cheapo like me. My method here is great because it's quick, uses easy to find items, and it's CHEAP!

Start by collecting boxes that create a nice tiered look when stacked.  They don't have to be exactly the same height but you want them to be fairly close.  You will also need a roll of wrapping paper that goes with your theme.

You can wrap the boxes like gifts if you want it to be super quick but I want a cleaner look with no folds showing on the sides.  Here's how

Lay your box with the top side down.  Trace around it.  Then flip the box onto all its sides and trace them as well.  It will almost look as if you are "unfolding" the box

After you have traced the entire box you are going to add tabs onto the sides. These will allow you to fold them over the edge of the box to glue down the paper.  For the sides of the box that will be on the...well...side of the cupcake stand you are going to draw tabs on all 3 sides.  For the front of the boxes that will be the front of the stand (usually the longer side of the box if it's rectangle) you will only draw 1 tab.

Place your box top side down onto the square in the middle.  Fold the sides with 3 tabs (the shorter ones) up the sides of the box and fold the tabs around the sides.  You can either tape everything in place or use spray adhesive.  After you have done the sides you do the front and back with the 1 tab.  Repeat for all the boxes.

Dummy over here forgot to take a finished picture of this stand so here are some pictures of one I made for my bridal shower

I have taken the liberty to create for you a list of pros to using this cupcake stand method

*As previously mentioned....it's friggen CHEAP
*It's fast
*You can easily make it match any color scheme or theme of your party
*You can keep the same boxes and just keep recovering them
*If you do keep the boxes, they will store easily because they all nest into each other
*OR it's easy enough to find boxes you could just get rid of them and save new boxes from your latest trip to Costco

There ya have it folks!

Creative Gift Wrapping

This entire post is the work of my husband.  But like most things in marriage, we share the credit.  For example, at Christmas time I buy all the family gifts and both our names go on it.  In this case he makes the gifts look awesome and I look awesome too.  It's really a win win situation.

When my niece Elsa had a Phineas and Ferb party a few weeks ago he decorated the gift box to look like Perry the Platypus

For Brooke's party a week later she had a Tangled theme so that naturally meant a Pascal box

I posted this back In February but here is the box he made me for Valentine's Day

It definitely takes more time, but it makes them so memorable

Seeing the potential in everyday items

About 6 months ago I snagged this empty olive jar from work and believe me, that was work in and of itself.

 You see, the old ladies at my work pounce on these jars before any of us youngen get the chance.  They surround the person doing the salad bar foaming at the mouth waiting for them to be done dumping the giant green olives in their respective containers.  The second the last olive tumbles out...they whisk it away!  And it's just not one old lady you have to beat...it's two!  The Korean one takes them home for storing her Kimchi and the Italian one takes them for her red sauce.  Animals I tell you....animals! 

I kid.  I love them both.  But it is true..you have to be quick on your feet to get one of these bad boys so when I finally saw the opportunity I took it!  I wasn't exactly sure what I would do with it but I knew I would find something.  Six months later this jar has found its calling.  Holding my cupcake liners.

I covered the lid in cupcake paper.  Here's how

Trace the lid.  Then I found an object about an inch and a half bigger and traced that around it.

Cut slits from the big circle to the smaller one

Glue down the lid in the middle, the go around and glue to flaps all the way around, folding them over the edge of the lid.  Cover the whole thing in a few coats of Mod Podge for protection

This is way better than having them thrown in every drawer of the kitchen getting crushed.  Or me buying the same ones over and over because I can't find the ones I already have. Plus it's cute.


And here is an empty grits container

I thought it would be great for craft supply storage. Since the craft room I am gradually building will be animal print themed I covered it in cheetah paper.  Just glue it on with Mod Podge and then give it some coats to seal.

And there you have it.  Everyday items you throw away turned useful!