Personalized Tea/Coffee Mug Tutorial

 Today I'm going to share with you a super cute and easy gift idea.

Browsing Michaels armed with a 50% off coupon I found these blank photo mugs. They were $10.00 but my coupon made them $5.00. I have made a couple of trips this week :) The wheels began to turn... Then I spotted Amy Butler paper... SQUEAL!!!! Amy Butler is truly my favorite fabric designer and now this! Obviously this has been in the store a while because when I went to check out the Butler paper pack rang up $3.99! SHOCKING! I'm not a scrapbooker so I'm not familiar with paper.. But I'm familiar with the brand and know I got a smokin' deal. I right then decided that this paper was meant for this cup... Project problem solved. I came up with a Personalized Coffee/Tea mug. A couple of my girl friends have birthdays soon and they would drool over this paper... These mugs will make PERFECT gifts for them!  Here is how I made them........

First find a good quality travel mug. This one is a Michaels brand mug. It feels nice and heavy and seals up nice and tight. I'm sure you can find these at about any craft supply store.

Unscrew your cup and clean it. Then remove the fake family photo that was in the cup. Trace it on the back side of your paper. I use a pencil so I don't  have any pen marks on my paper.

Slip the paper you just cut out inside the cup and make sure it fits perfect.

This mug would be pretty if I just stopped right here! But decorate and personalize it I must.

I used my Silhouette SD to cut a frame and my name from the coordinating {yes, I bought one for myself too. I love it that much} papers. If you do not have a die cut machine you can always just cut out a shape with scalloped edged scissors and use letter stickers for the name. Have you seen the stickers at Hobby Lobby? SO many possibilities. It will be just as cute, I promise!

Glue your Frame and all your pieces to your main paper directly in the middle.

This is somewhat how your  paper should look like too. Easy peasy right? Roll your paper back up inside the cup, slip the cup back together and screw it together tight like Popeye the Sailorman and ENJOY! I'm making a few other little things to go along with the cups but I'm really excited about giving these away to my girls!

Elf on the Shelf Christmas Eve Clue Scavenger Hunt

On Christmas Eve our Elf (Elfis) is going to fly back to the North Pole for his final report to Santa. When the kids tell him goodbye for the last time, our elf will have a special clue scavenger hunt game for them to play. At the end of the game there is a special gift that he has left behind for them. My husband will handwrite each of the clues on Official North Pole note cards and place them in envelopes. I will hide all the clues and then the fun begins.  

Elf on the Shelf Christmas Clue Eve Scavenger Hunt

Clue #1
Tonight I'm heading back to the North Pole. But before I go, a special present is yours to find. Jump up now! Move your behind! Yes it's the truth....You don’t have to go far. Just go to the place where we park our car.


Clue #2
Oh this game is so fun..Is it one of your wishes?....Just go look where Mom cleans the dirty dishes (this would be in sink)


Clue #3
Very good, moving right along....but to get the next clue you'll have to sing a fun Christmas song. How about a song about a reindeer? (after they sing hand them the next clue)

Clue #4
What a nice song....Run, run, run as fast as you can to the place where the laundry is done.


Clue #5
Now for a little rhyming fun...this clue will be harder...but it doesn't take a key or locks...I've hidden a clue in one of your _____ (socks) (this one I would plant the clue in a sock in their sock drawer...so they have to dig)


Clue #6
Wow you're doing great! It's in the place where you keep your shoes. Please put them on to get ready for the next clue.


Clue #7
Hurry up now...don't move like a snail...outside you'll find your next clue where they leave the _______ (mail)


Clue #8
Are you having fun? Maybe upstairs or maybe down, the next one can be seen in the place where you get clean.


Clue #9
Twas the night before Christmas....you've searched all through the house. I hope my game is not getting too old. Go look in the place where it's really cold (the freezer. I end it in the freezer so they don't see the gift as they are clue hunting) Before I go I have to say.. I'm reporting to Santa you are on the good list to stay! Merry Christmas!

Have fun!!!! I can't wait until Christmas Eve to play this with my kids!

Personalized Cup -Christmas Teacher Gift

Personalized Cup-Christmas Teacher Gifts

Looking for a quick Personalized EASY Christmas Gift?

I found these cute Christmas cups at Hobby Lobby for 50% off! Christmas Chevron..AWESOME!

It was so easy to make these. Any plastic or glass should work. Simply cut your vinyl or buy vinyl stickers at your local craft store. (I used my Silhouette) and stick on the outside of the cup.
I cant wait to fill these with Hershey Kisses and gift them away!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Simple Christmas Card Holder

Around the Door Christmas Card Holder

Merry Christmas! 

My Christmas Cards are starting to pile up and I wanted a simple beautiful way of displaying them. (I have about 30 more cards to add) And EASY this was. Want to try? 

Here is what you will need:

Twine or Ribbon

Glue

Glitter 

Small Clothes Pins

`

Keep your clothes pins on the cardboard they came on, Paint with Glue, Sprinkle With Glitter and let dry.

While The pins are drying Wrap Your door With Twine or Ribbon. Tie it off on the top, wrap all the way down the door and secure the twine at the bottom hinge.  

Clip your Holiday cards on and reflect how blessed we are to have each and everyone of those people who sent cards in our life!

Just for fun here is my Tree!

Don't forget Cards For Kinzie! She needs our support!

CARDS FOR KINZIE

Fluffy Feather Bow Tutorial

Sometimes a girl just needs a big fluffy bow!!

Here is a quick tutorial on this super simple fun bow. 

Fluffy Feather Bow Tutorial
Supplies Needed:
(All found at Hobby Lobby)
1) Fluffy Feather Ribbon
2) Scissors
3) Hot Glue Gun
4) Headband

Cut two even pieces of feather ribbon
Remove the adhesive strip
Roll them up
Slip on headband and hot glue in place
Cut two more smaller strips and place over the seam
Add a little bling if you like

TADA! How easy was that!!!  This turned out way cute. 

Next time I will make it a little smaller :)

Tagxedo Love!

{Running With Glitter Cloud made from blog address}

I love Tagxedo..

 Tagxedo is a free program where you choose your words, shapes and fonts and it creates a fun word cloud. You can enter your blog address and it will make a cloud of all the words from your site. You can easily go in and remove any words you don't want. So many options.. you can print save and share the HTML code. I did have to play around in it for a while to get the hang of everything but it was very simple. You can google "Tagxedo Tutorial" to find tons of tutorials for what ever project you have in mind!

I did a heart shape for my daughter's Room. I entered all the words I could think of that describe her. I printed my new artwork on photo paper and framed it. Instant Personalized Artwork! I'm going to start making these for gifts. My 13 year old niece will love this for her birthday. Oh, and they will make such cute teacher gifts too!

TIPS:

•  To make a word bigger just type it in multiple times and to make a double word like social butterfly trpe it in using a ~ instead of a space  "social~butterfly" It will become one word.
• To skip a word go to Word/Layout Options and select the skip tab

Have Fun Tagxedoing!

 Click HERE for the site.

Cascading Ruffle Skirt

Did you all see the awesome tutorial and free pattern posted by Ashley 

over at  Little Boo Blue on her blog???

 I can't wait to make this!

 

Cascading Ruffle Skirt tutorial and download here

Free Etsy Banner Tutorial using Picnik

Today I'm going to show you how to make an Etsy Shop Banner! It was very simple.. I'm so not a tecky person! I hope that my tutorial is easy to understand.  

Alrighty here we go....

Upload any images that you are going to use to Picnik

Now that they are uploaded Open ANY image. {I love this pic of my kiddos} Thats right any image. Your going to cover it up with a sticker :)

Click on the Edit Tab

then the resize tab {make sure you un-click Keep Proportions}

Type in the new dimensions to 760px by 100px (standard Etsy banner sizing)

Click OK

Now your picture is going to look all wonky {fun word right?}

Go to the Create tab

Click on Stickers
(I learned this trick from I Am Mama Hear me Roar... You can see her tutorial here)

Choose Basic shape-rectangle

Stretch the rectangle completely over the whole image

I made mine pink so you could see it better

In the bottom left corner click on Photo Basket. Drag an image that you want to your new header and resize however. You can use photos, clip art or even Picnik stickers. I love all the sticker options!

I want my background to match my deer and bird sticker.. Click on your main rectangle {mine is the pink one}

I clicked on the sticker color then chose the dropper and moved it around on my image until I found the exact color I wanted. click

It is a good Idea to save your banner at this pint before you add text so you don't accidentally move your background stickers around. You will need to re-upload your new image. 

Now To add Text

Go back to the Create Tab and choose Text. Add your text to the text Box and click add

Your font will be white and big so grab the side of the box and resize it and choose your text color like you did your sticker color.  Choose your font and save!

Now you have a fantastic banner ready to be uploaded seamlessly to Etsy. And now that you know the basics have fun with it!  

You can do this basic concept to make your blog banner and all your button images just by resizing to the right demotions and covering with a sticker. 

Here is the image for a sidebar button I made...

Oh! and don't forget to give thanks somewhere where you use the images to the source and let them know that you used it! 

So a Big thank you to Free Pretty Things For You for the beautiful images used in this tutorial and for my Etsy shop. 

To see this live you can go to my empty "someday" Etsy shop here.

Vintage Inspired Earring Tutorial

Today I'm sharing with you how to make a pair of vintage inspired earrings.  In about 3 minutes you can have a very beautiful pair of earrings for under $4.00! I'll show you how super simple this is....

Supplies Needed:
{all found in the findings department at Hobby Lobby}

Ear wires

Charms

Pliers- I bought a mini jewelry tool kit at Hobby Lobby for $7.00

Jump Rings (or make your own see below)

 I love Vintaj brand! I have only been able to find them at Hobby Lobby and on their online store.
To save a little money I used the wire that the charms were attached to the packaging with to make my jump rings. It is really so simple to make your own! Here is the tutorial I used to make mine. 

Attach your jump rings to your charm

 Then Attach to your earrings...
See I told you, so simple and so BEAUTIFUL!

Sharing at these parties

Kool-Aid Play Dough

My daughter's Kindergarten teacher had a sign-up sheet for play dough at Meet the Teacher day. I was really excited when I saw that we could make our own since she was not requiring the store bought kind! Coincidentally, the son of one of my best friends is in my daughter's class so we decided to have a play dough making party Friday after school! My favorite homemade play dough is Kool-Aid play dough. It has a surprisingly yummy scent and makes the dough a fun bright color.

Ingredients needed: 

Cooking Oil

Salt

Flour

Kool-Aid packet

Optional-food coloring if you want the colors richer

Time for Fun! Add 1 packet of Kool-Aid, 1 cup of white flour, 2 tablespoons of oil. 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of boiling water to a large mixing bowl.
Mix with a wooden spoon at first because it will be hot! When the dough cools enough, use your hands to knead the dough until the color is consistent and the dough is formed. When finished, place in an air-tight container or baggie for storing.
We had a great time making this, and I'm certain all the kids will all enjoy this yummy smelling play dough in their kindergarten class!

Sharing this at fun link parties here

REWIND- Shabby Chic Heart Wreath

REWIND.... 

This was my very first tutorial. 

I'm just getting back from vacation today and thought it 

would be fun to share an oldie with you all!

I'm going to attempt my first tutorial. This hopefully will be the first of many to come. I have been in search of a heart wreath tutorial for weeks now. I wanted something I could make as a Valentine gift but after the holiday it would still be in season.  I could not find the supplies that I needed. Everything called for a Styrofoam or wooden heart and were just not my style.  So I decided to use my imagination and supplies I had on hand. 

First. I took a wire clothes hanger and bent it into the shape of a heart. I went to the garage and dug thru my husbands tool box, found his wire cutters and snipped off the hook part of the hanger leaving a few of the twists. This took a bit of elbow grease.

In searching for fabric scraps I learned that I'm a Scrooge with my scraps... It took everything I had to try and cut up my favorite fabrics from Heidi Grace bird collection.

Cut your scraps about 2 inches wide by 5 inches long. They do not have to be exact. Some of my scraps were wider, some shorter. I think the variation gives it more life. I had to add fabric (which means I had to add more of my lovely scraps) as the wreath progressed, I misjudged how much fabric this beauty would actually take. I would guess it took almost if not a full yard.

Start by covering up your twisted part of the wire with the first knot. I then tied a double knot around the wire just to secure it a bit more.

Just a tip for your fabric so you don't have you reverse side showing a bunch. Fold/roll it up then tie.

Knot away...... Tie, tie and tie some more.

Grab a cup of Joe because this is going to take a while.

Bunch it up tight all together and keep knotting until it is so full you can't really add anymore. If you don't fill it up tight it will look thin and non-fluffy. See how it is coming together? Pretty cute huh?

Trim your fabric to shape.

I like to add a little more of a shabby look to it.  I take my hand and rub the fabric around the heart. This gives the ends of the fabric a frayed look.

I added a fabric flower I made but you could add a wooden heart, a bird or whatever fancies your fancy!

For the finishing touch, take some ribbon. Knot evenly on each side and hang. I only had skinny ribbon but would have preferred wide ribbon. When we get out and about I think I'll make a trip to Hobby Lobby and buy some for replacement. I need to buy some felt for my Black Apple Doll project anyways.

There you have it...a totally unique shabby chic gift or wreath for yourself. This one is going to my daughter's teacher for a Valentine gift.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. If you would, please leave me a comment of what you think.