Patriotic Serving Tray

I know that the 4th is almost done, but if I post it by midnight, I think it counts, right?  I have been eyeing big and fancy serving trays everywhere I go.  We have a screened porch right off our kitchen and dining room, so I dream of having something lovely on which to carry food to the porch for our picnic dinners.  I'm stingy, though, and am not willing to pay $10 an arm and a leg.  Lucky for me, while wondering the aisles of Target (you know you do it too) the other day, I found a $20 extra-large serving tray that was clearanced down to $4.98!  It was a bit scratched up and one of the handles was loose, but it was nothing a little Gorilla Glue couldn't fix!  Perfect!  I headed to our local Dollar Tree to check out their Patriotic Decor, and fell in love with two gift bags.  I cut them to pieces, patchworked them onto the tray, then Mod Podged the heck out of them.  What do you think?

Before

After

We used the tray tonight for a big BBQ that we hosted and it was just right!  Hurray!

Cupcake Clock

I continue to have a major infatuation with cupcakes.  Not only can they taste amazing, they can look adorable just about anywhere.  Remember this mirror?  I casually glanced towards my fabric this afternoon, only to find the leftover cupcake scraps calling my name.  Loudly.  Lucky for me, I found a clock in our basement that the glass front had fallen off of, which had also called my name earlier in the day.  And so, after some very simple crafting, I now have a fantastic cupcake clock to hang in my kitchen, perfectly matched to my sweet cupcake mirror.  It's the simple pleasures in life, people.  It really is.

I'm linking up to:

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

As you may have guessed from the title of the post, it's Teacher Appreciation Week at school.  My son, who is in first grade, has the most wonderful teacher.  She is everything a first grade teacher should be, which for my son means that she loves him and treats him like an individual little person.  She runs a tight ship, but knows each sailor's special needs and knows how to best help each one learn.  We decided that Mrs. Powell deserved something wonderful this year.  Let me show you what we came up with and how we made it!

Every day, my son's first grade class has Writer's Workshop.  They write, then edit.  For writing, they use black and blue gel pens.  For editing, they use green pens.  (And ever first grade class uses pencils!) So we decided to make a pen holder!  My son said that all of their pens and pencils are just in a bucket right now, and as a crafty lady, well that just won't do!  So this is what we made!

I am on a strict no-buying rule right now at home.  I have to use up all of my supplies before I can buy anything else.  Luckily I had this wood caddy that we hadn't used in years, just sitting in my basement.  BUT, if you want to make this too, I checked Target and you can find one just like it here.  

SUPPLIES

Wood Caddy

Scrapbook Paper

Mod Podge

Paint Brush (to apply Mod Podge)

Ruler

Pencil

Scissors

Yarn (for measuring)

Exacto Knife

Silhouette (or some other cutting machine--You could also just paint the letters on!)

Trace all four sides on the back of your scrapbook paper.  If you trace onto the front, your pencil marks will show.  Now cut out all of the pieces.

Mod Podge the paper on all four sides.  (This could take a while because you have to let one side dry before you can work on another one.  Hang in there!)

Measure the width and length of the top of the side.  Cut a strip of scrapbook paper to fit those measurements.  Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the caddy, then lay the strip of paper on top.  Use your hands to gently scrunch the paper to fit.

Paint another layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper.  Scrunch the paper again, molding it to fit over the rounded top.  (This is messy and imperfect, but it's the best that I could do.  I actually liked how it looked in the end too!)

Use a piece of yarn to measure the circumference of the handle.

Trace (onto the backside again) around the top half only of the caddy.  We'll only be Mod Podging paper onto the top half--inside.

Take the following measurements:  (The point of this is to help us know where to put the circle of yarn that we measured, so that we'll know where to cut the circle from the paper.  It's ridiculously hard and there's probably a better way, so if I'm missing something obvious...)

Here's the hard part and I cannot believe I didn't take a picture!  I'm so sorry!  Mark your measurements on the paper, lay your yarn circle down, then cut.  Just do it and pray that it lines up.  My circle was  a little off, so I just cut a little more from one side to make it even.  The hole around the rod was a too big, but hey, that's just a tiny detail!  Good luck!  After you cut your hole, cut a slit from from the top of the paper down to the hole.  Then Mod Podge it in place!

After Mod Podging, if your edges hang over, use an exacto knife to trim them even.  Do a better job than I did!

Measure the width and lengths of the top the compartments.  Mine was the same width for every piece.  Cut your scrapbook paper to match.

Mod Podge the paper on to the top of each compartment.

Measure the length of your rod.  I was able to do this by measuring the length of the inside of the caddy, as my ruler wouldn't fit directly next to the rod.

Use a piece of yarn (cut it) to measure the circumference of the rod.  You can use the same one as before if it hasn't magically disappeared.  

Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to the length of the rod and the height equalling the circumference of the rod, plus a little bit.  I know that's not mathematical, but I didn't measure how much I added.  Just add enough for the paper to overlap when you wrap it around the rod. 

Coat the rod in Mod Podge, then wrap the paper around the rod.  Let that dry, then coat the paper with Mod Podge.

Now you're done with the hard part!  If you have a Silhouette or Cricut, you can continue on with that.  You can also just leave it as is (because it looks awesome already!).  If you don't have a paper cutting machine, you can use paint instead!

I used white vinyl for the two long sides of the caddy.  I put the teacher's name on one side and a "phrase" I heard somewhere (but can't remember where) on the other side.  Then I filled it with pens and pencils.  Let me show you:

That's all for the tutorial.  But I do want you to see what else we gave to my son's teachers.  My daughter and I made these fantastic cookies.  She loves to cook, so this worked out wonderfully.  I got this cookie cutter set as a gift, but I happen to know you can find it at Williams & Sonoma.  (FYI, Mr. Seth is the student teacher.)

We added a little bit of icing, then stuck them in these sweet little boxes that I had picked up on clearance at JoAnn's a while ago.  I wish that I had had more time because I would have added a little color to the boxes, but I'm reminding myself that it's what's inside that counts!

The best part of all of this was the smile on my son's teacher's face.  She was so happy, so touched.  I think that we made her day.  But boy did she deserve it.

Cabinet Door to Picture Holder

Remember this trip?  During that IKEA run, I picked up a couple of white cabinet doors.  At the time, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them.  I had seen a bunch of DIY projects using cabinet doors floating around blogland, but didn't have one pinned down.  Once I got home, the cabinet door and I stared at each other for a long time (several times).  I literally had no idea what I wanted to do with it.  Then one night, I just started working.  And suddenly, I had created a picture holder that had become one of my favorite creations ever.  I still haven't decided how to hang it one the wall--I'm up for suggestions!  I can't wait to show you!

I used stamps on the sides and the the bottom.  I wanted to used stamps for the top too, but couldn't find anything just right.  So instead, I used my Silhouette to cut vinyl, and laid that along either side of the photo clip.  I just glued the clip to the cabinet door.  I like it because I'll be able to swap out the photos so easily.  

I couldn't be happier.  And guess what?  This cabinet door cost me $2.  Sweet!

From Dishtowel to Decor

My husband and I loaded our kids in the car on Saturday, after our son's early morning soccer game, for our annual trip to IKEA.  Sometimes I wish we lived closer to an IKEA, but then after I go, I think it's a really good thing we don't, because otherwise we might be broke.  Anyways, I picked up some great project supplies on Saturday, one being a small wood-framed mirror.  I had imagined Mod Podging some gorgeous paper on to it, but tonight, I was inspired to go elsewhere.

Also from IKEA, I snagged some adorable dish towels, cupcake themed.  I'm a sucker for cupcakes as is, but add a cute polka dot tag, and I'm done for!

Knowing that there were three dish towels total, I felt free to hack one of them to pieces.  So I did, and now I have the cutest little mirror hanging in my kitchen.  I'm thinking of checking IKEA's website to see if I can order more of these towels--I'm in love!

Placemat to Project Holder Folder

I am one of those people who has to write things down.  If it's not on paper, I will most likely forget about it.  Craft ideas are definitely among the things that float right out my ears into lala land, unless I write them down.  So I have been trying to come up with a good way to keep track of my ideas so that they don't disappear forever.  Post-it notes are a must have because I can stick them to fabric, furniture, paper, etc. when I have an idea for that particular item.  Pens are also important.  Lastly, a place to store all of the pictures and pages that I rip out of magazines.  Let me show you what I came up with!

Supplies:

Placemat

Button

Ribbon

Needle

Thread

Sewing Machine (Although this could definitely be done by hand!)

I got this unbelievable placemat on clearance at Target.  Less than three dollars!

Lay out your placemat, right side down.  Lay all of the items you'd like to store on top of the placemat.  Fold the bottom of the placemat up as high as you'd like it.  Pin the sides closed.

Place a pin between all of the items.

Sew the sides closed.  I just used a short straight stitch

Sew a straight line where you place each pin, between all of your items.  (Just sew as high as the fold, not all the way up the placemat.)

Fold your placemat closed.  I folded the left side in, then the right side over the top.  Place a button on the bottom side (or the side that is not the flap).

Sew the button on.

The smart thing here would be to use a thin piece of ribbon.  I, however, did not have a thin piece of ribbon.  Here's how to create it: Cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length.  Next cut it to the desired width.  Use a lighter to seal the ends and length.  Voila, a thin piece of ribbon.

Create a loop with your ribbon, criss-crossing the ends, large enough to fit over the button that you just sewed on.  Sew it on to the edge of the flap of your folded placemat.

You're done!

Literally a 15 minute project and just perfect for what I needed.  I'm so happy!