Sara Jane: DIY Gifts

I am one of those annoying people who has 99% of their Christmassing (yes, that is a word in my home) done December 1st EVERY year.  I do if for two reasons: (1)  I LOVE the entire process of buying/making gifts and then giving them to others and (2) So I can really enjoy the entire month of December and focus on the family traditions that we have created within our own little family.

During the year, when I am out shopping, I am constantly thinking of who would like what.  Two years ago, I had my children's entire Christmas done in January (there was a fantastic sale I could not pass up).  This year, however, I have been slacking soooooo, I thought I would share with you some of the projects I have recently started working on for Christmas.  I love doing homemade gifts, especially for my children, so I can personalize the gift for the person who will be receiving.  Here are a few that I've started....

1.  Car Caddy
2.  Doll with carrying case
3.  Mini Coloring Tote
4.  Magnetic Scrabble Board
5.  Little man ties
6. Sticky Grams (such a cute idea for grandparents!)

I just finished one super simple gift this weekend and wanted to share it with you.

I went to our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore this weekend looking for materials that would inspire me to do something crafty.  This store is one of my favorites!  Not only do they serve a pretty incredible purpose but they have random parts and pieces that you can't find anywhere else.  We got our beautiful claw foot bathtub at our ReStore for a steal!

Anyway....while there, I discovered their tile section.  After holding a tile for probably 3 or 4 minutes, I remembered seeing a coaster somewhere that a person had made from a tile and some modge podge.  Perfect!  I grabbed a few tiles (only $0.10 each!) and headed home.

For this coaster project, you will need, tiles (however many you want to make), mod podge (mine is homemade - Just a 50/50 mixture of Elmer's glue and water), decorative paper, felt, a clear high-gloss spray paint (not pictured), and a hot glue gun.

First, cut your paper so that the paper squares are just slightly smaller than your tile.  Next, paint your tile with a thin layer of mod podge.  Place your decorative paper on top of the tile/mod podge.  Paint another layer of mod podge over the decorative paper.  Allow to completely dry (I had them dry over night) .  Finally, spray a coat of clear high-gloss spray paint on top.  To finish off the coaster, cut out felt squares to line the entire bottom of the tile (I simply traced the tile onto the felt) and glue them on with the hot glue gun.  So simple and they turned out really cute.

There are so many ways that you could personalize these coasters.  I will be making some for a certain family member that will have pictures on top of the decorative paper.  Another fun thing you could do is to first paint the tile and then add paper/pictures.  Or, how about adding stickers to say something fun.  The possibilities really are endless.

Until next week...

Sara Jane

Allison: Frame Revamp Tutorial

Hello, and welcome to another week!  I'm not sure where last week went.  I cannot believe how this summer is flying!  That being said, we know that summer is a busy time, and our lives are no exception.  With vacations and kids and babies coming, we're going to try to keep our weekly themes a little more general to just "Summer" for a few weeks.  This may mean less consistency between the sisters' posts, but it also means more variety.  Hopefully we'll get some guest bloggers to contribute along the way.  I can't wait to see what my sisters come up with!

I think my posts will follow the theme of "Summer Projects".  My crafting energy has been greatly consumed lately with getting my house ready for this little girl to arrive next month and nesting is in full force! I have been working on her room, and trying to make Isla's a little more girly in the process.

A couple of months ago, I cross-stitched some cute little bears and added Isla and Norah's names underneath.  I wanted to find the perfect frame for them, but could not find what I was looking for.  So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  Here's what I did:

I found this black frame at Wal-Mart for $7.  I liked the mat, and I liked the frame, but not their colors.  Isla has more brown in her room than black, so I wanted her frame to be a neutral white.  Also, the mat needed more personality.  Here's what you'll need to revamp your frame:

*Obviously, you will need a frame to revamp.  :)  I wish I could have found a frame at a second-hand store, but I couldn't.  So, I bought this lovely frame, and spray painted it white.

*Mod Podge
*Foam brush for applying Mod Podge
*Scissors
*Tissue paper of choice

Here are the steps:

Step One: Remove the mat from the frame and apply a good amount of Mod Podge to the foam brush to cover the front surface of the mat.  I applied mine in stages.  Make sure to apply enough Mod Podge around the edges.

Step Two: Smooth the paper down, and then wrap the paper around the back of the mat.

Step Three: Puncture the center of the tissue, and cut to the four edges.  You'll need to cut paper in the center down before folding it over the edges of the mat.  Apply Mod Podge to the folded-over paper and glue to the back of the mat.

Step Four: Turn your mat over and smile, because it's SO CUTE!

I love how my frame turned out, and think it PERFECTLY showcases my little ballerina bear.  I can't wait to hang it on Isla's bedroom wall.

If you want your own little bear cross stitch, check out our Etsy Shop.  I'll be providing them made-to-order, with lots of themes to choose from.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/fivecraftysisters

I hope you've enjoyed this frame revamp!  I love being able to make something generic into something that's as special as my little Isla Girl.  Have a great week, and keep on creating!!


Allison

Lisa: Fourth of July Celebrations!

Hello all and welcome to a new week!!  We are working on all things having to do with The Fourth of July this week.  For our Fourth of July celebrations, we invite all my husband's family over for water fun, a BBQ and fireworks.  We have a very large grassy area that works for accommadating large number so it is perfect.  I have table decorations planned but I thought this year would be fun to spruce up our yard with decorations!  So for this week, I am doing star decorations for the flower beds. 

These are super easy and take a very short amount of time to make. 

Supplies:

Wooden stars

Patterned paper

Wooden dowels

Mod Podge

Sponge brush

Paint

Wood glue

Steps:

1) Lay out the stars and paint the desired color.  Let dry.

2) Trace star shape onto the back side of the paper.  Cut out.

3) Paint a layer of Mod Podge onto the dried, painted star.  Place the cutout star shape on the painted star and smooth out any wrinkles that appear.  Allow to dry.  Paint a top layer of Mod Podge onto the paper.  Let dry.
4) Drill hole into bottom of the star that is wide enough for the dowel to fit.  Cut dowel to desired length.  Place a small amount of wood glue into the drilled hole.  Insert dowel and allow to dry. (Or you can do what I did and skip this step altogether and just tape the dowels on!! I ran out of time!)

Done.  I think this will add a little fun to our outdoor party without me (I mean my husband) having to get up in the tree and string decorations.  Very nice!

Lisa

Lisa: Magnetic Recipe Board for Mother's Day

Well done on last week's posts, my dear sisters!  I love everything!  We are having Shauna's Blackened Chicken Salad with Sara's Tomatillo Salsa on Tuesday, we'll be making Allison's Pinatas on Friday and when did you say your baby's due, Katrina?!  Maybe I'll start giving out something besides my wonky crocheted blankets!  That is, if your baby doesn't mind two quilts that look awfully similar!

Now onto a new week.  This week we've decided to dedicate our posts to all things Mom in preparation for Mother's Day!  I once heard that there is no one on the earth who has your best interests at heart more than your mom!  Isn't it the truth!  Mom is always the one I want to call to celebrate my victories and to cry to about my defeats.  She's always ready to make time for me, give advice and to sometimes just listen!  I sure do love my mom!  One of the things my mom and I have in common is a love for a good recipe!  She and I love to read cookbooks and find the most tasty recipes around.  So for Mother's Day this year, I am making her a magnetic recipe holder!    

This craft is super easy to make. The hardest part was choosing the paper! The ingredients for this treat are:

Mod Podge, sponge brush, two pieces of scrapbook paper (if you'd like to do a layered look like the one above) and a very ugly metal sign that was on sale!

Trace the sign's shape onto the back of both papers.  Cut them out .  Then take the paper that will be the top layer and trim the sides to give you the spacing on the edge that you'd like.

Next, paint the Mod Podge directly onto the metal sign, making sure to get all the way to the edges and having enough so that the paper will stick but not so much that there are bubbles under the paper.

Smooth the paper onto the metal making sure not to leave the room to help your children with the computer otherwise you might develop a very large bubble that you can't correct and that makes you have to pull off the paper and start all over.  With green paper. 

Once the paper is smoothed out, put a layer of Mod Podge on top, even if you are only using one piece of paper.  Watch for bubbles!

 

Center the final paper to give you the edge you'd like.  Smooth the paper on and try to press away the bubbles.

Paint on the Mod Podge one last time.  Again, look for bubbles and wrinkles.  And remember that getting a very smooth surface when using Mod Podge isn't always possible.  In my project, I did have a small-ish bubble in the middle that I just couldn't get out.  But once the Mod Podge dried, the bubble was almost unnoticeable! 

And lastly, the finishing touches.  They are very easy.  I took some vinyl letter stickers from Hobby Lobby and spelled out "Recipes" on the base layer paper. I glued that onto a magnet in case my mom would rather use the board for pictures or memos instead of recipes!  The frame holder is also from Hobby Lobby and I am using just plain black magnets (not pictured) to go along with the board.  Easy.

Here is another menu board that I made for myself a little while ago.  I don't know if I really like "The Menu" title at the top anymore but it does the job!!

Good luck, Sisters!!  Can't wait to see what you have planned!  Love you guys!

Lisa