DIY Spiral Sponge

Materials:

• 6-Inch Tulle Roll
• Crochet hook size K
• Scissors
• Big sewing needle

I was super determined to teach myself how to crochet and this was my first project I wanted to tackle!  I have been knitting for years and thought crocheting would be a nice change.  Ever since I started I haven't looked back.  It's faster and has more possibilities than knitting!  Anyways I made a bunch of these little sponges as Christmas presents this past year.  They were super easy to make and fun to give out!

I used the following couple of links to whip these out:

• Youtube video of Spiral Sponge Pattern
• Pictures of scrubbies in progress

I'm thinking about making some with regular yarn in a smaller size as cat toys.  It would be so easy to stuff them with catnip before cinching them shut.  Anyways have fun crafting it up!

Dresser Revamp

Materials:

• Dresser
• Wrapping Paper
• Staple gun
• Washi Tape
• Baskets
• Drawer hardware
• Screw driver

My poor tired dresser from college needed an update bad!  With a few quick fixes it has a brand new look in basically one day.  

I took out two of the drawers to create an open space for baskets on the top portion.  To cover the backer I stapled some pretty wrapping paper.  To outline the edges of the dresser I used washi tape that happened to be the exact width of the edges.  I love this product because it went on quickly and if I get tired of the solid black look I can change it out to whatever I want next.  There are so many washi tape designs to choose from.  Lastly I removed the lame plastic drawer pulls and replaced it with a more modern metal look.  The new drawer hardware was about $5 each from home depot.

DIY Honeymoon Piggybank

DIY Honeymoon Piggybank

Super easy and fun project to give to your newly engaged friend or family member.  In this case my Aunt!

Materials:

- Shadowbox frame (Got mine at Target)

-Pictures of exotic places

-Thumb tacs

-Sharpie

-Tool to cut a hole in the top of the box

-Money

First I had my handy husband cut a hole in the top of the shadow box.  I made sure to buy a frame that was wood since plastic some times splinters.

Then I printed pictures out and tacked them to the bulletin board that came with the shadow box.  I picked a bunch of random places since I had no idea where she wanted to honeymoon exactly.

Then I sharpied "Honeymoon Fund" onto the glass in the front.  I should have used a different color than silver to make it pop more.  Lessons learned for next time I guess.

Final step is to add the dough and gift away!

DIY Floral Christmas Ornament

Christmas ornament from a bridesmaid bouquet.

Materials:

-Dried flowers

-Empty glass ornament (found mine at Jo-Ann Fabric)

-Letter stickers

-Ribbon

For this project I got my inspiration from Pinterest.  I saved my bridesmaid bouquet from my friend's recent wedding hanging it upside down to dry out the flowers completely.  Then I simply added some of the dry petals and ribbon into the clear ornament and Christmas magic was achieved!  I topped it off with her new Monogram and done.  Simple and sweet!

DIY Mint Favors

Materials:

-Breath mint rolls

-Scrapbook paper

-Tape

-Yarn

-Circle hole punch

-Word editing program

-Computer

-Printer

Cut the scrapbook paper so it fits around the breath mints when rolled.  I taped the ends together but the scrapbook paper is pretty strong so I had to wrap yarn around the tape to hold everything in place.  The yarn also covers the tape.  

I printed out my little saying and punched it out with my brand new circle punch.  I then taped the circles to the tails of the yarn bows.

And BOOM, Mint favors!

"Mint to be"

<3

DIY Custom Engraved Nail & Yarn Sign

Custom Wedding Sign

I wanted to make something super special for my friend so I decided on a custom wedding sign with mixed media aspects :)

Materials:

-Large piece of MDF (Medium Density fiberboard)

-Hand held router

-Small finishing nails

-Yarn

-Hammer

-Paint

My husband convinced me to use MDF because he says it "cuts like butter".  He was helping me out with the routing so I went with his choice of board!

The first thing I did was paint the board a nice basic white color.

Then I had to decide on size, font and layout.  I printed everything out, cut them out and traced them onto the board.

Then I handed the board off to my wonderful husband who routed out all the numbers.

After I got the board back I taped my letters loosely down onto the board making sure to use something that wouldn't pick up the paint.

Then it was hammer time!

After I outlined the letters I ripped out the paper leaving only the nails.  Make sure not to hammer the nails all the way through the board.  I made sure at least 1/3 were sunk into the MDF.

Finally I wound the yarn organically around the nails making sure the lines were abstract.  Also I made sure to outline the letters at the very beginning of twinning to give them definition.

And there you have a custom wedding sign!

DIY Yarn covered Glasses/Cans

One of the easiest projects I've done to date!

Materials:
-Empty vase or tin can

-Yarn

-Tape

First secure the yarn to the base of your vase.  I just used tape to keep the piece of string in place.

Then start wrapping!

I did two layers of yarn to really bring out the color.

I filled the cans with dollar store fake flowers dusted in gold glitter spray :)

I used them as centerpieces for a wedding shower I hosted.

DIY Knitted Purse

I can't believe it's been so long since I've done something crafty!  3 whole months?!  I'll blame it on love and life.  My wonderful husband came back from deployment and I started a new night shift at work (which is helping me stay up and post this after midnight).  I guess it took me a few months to adjust.  Anyways here is my first attempt at a knitted purse!

Mixed medias (yarn and pleather maybe?)

Materials:

-Yarn

-Cheap leather belt (this one was from Target)

-Travel bag (super cheap from an office supply store)

-Scissors

-Hole punch

-Yarn needle

First I knitted enough material to cover the travel bag I wanted to use as the inside of the purse.  Actually I initially wanted to knit a scarf with the new soft sage colored yarn I bought but sadly ran out of the the white yarn I paired with it :(

When folded in half the length measured around 10 inches

Second I stitched up two edges of the failed scarf to create the pocket for the travel bag to slip into.

Perfect fit!!

Third I attached the belt to the sides of the purse.

Blogger isn't letting me rotate this damn picture but you get the point.

Fourth I punched holes in the little travel case at one inch intervals.  I tried to sew straight through the bag but it was a little too tough.  Its made out of those recycled rice bags.  I should have known they'd be resistant to piercing being packaging material.  Whatever!  Trail and error right?!

The stitches blend in pretty well.

For finishing touches I tied two little bows around either side of the handles.  I'm thinking about knitting another little pocket for the front.  But that is going to have to be on another day.  I'm sleepy and have work tomorrow :(

Sierra is not in the modeling mood, lol.

DIY knitted purse attempt 1 done!  

DIY Save the Dates on a Budget

Time to be a bridesmaid!

Task to accomplish: making Save the Dates on a budget.  Pinterest came to the rescue (like always).  I found an almost free solution to the Save the Dates.

Use paint chips as "cards"

Materials:

-FREE paint chips from the hardware store

-Computer program (I used Microsoft Office)

-Printer

-Single hole punch

-Ribbon

-Stamp and ink

Punch holes where the paint names are located and tie a ribbon in between.  Stamp takes center stage and put the rest of the info down at the bottom :)

Almost free Save the Dates with pretty colors!

DIY Bows & Hearts Garland

Takes about 5 minutes to make!

Materials:

-Card Stock

-Yarn

-Heart paper punch

-Hole punch

Punch out hearts, punch holes on each side of the hearts and tie it all together with little yarn bows.

<3