Simple Project - For Baby Shower

This past weekend I attended a baby shower.   This was the first shower that I ever could remember where the gift register was completely taken.  I mean there was nothing left to get on the list.  Every  item was taken.   Needless to say I began to sweat a little, what the heck was I going to do?   Then I remember a post on Pinterest a few months ago about these onsies with the months on them and I sighed a little breath of relief.


Materials Needed

Iron
Transfer iron-on paper
Onesie
Cameo Silhouette machine
Pattern Paper (for card)
Wilton Cake box


I bought these star shapes from the Silhouette on-line store and added the text (using the text tool on my Silhouette) for each month.  I printed them on my home printer onto iron-on transfer paper. Cut the shape out and ironed them onto the onesie.   I went to Joann Fabric and got the Wilton cake box to package them in.  This was such an easy project to do and I've been wanting to make these ever since I saw them posted on Pinterest.


Here are few more pictures.

I made the cute little onesie card (that says Sweet-Tee pie)  to go inside the package.  That image was also bought on the Silhouette on-line store.

This will be posted on  Today's Creative Blog and Not Just a Housewife

Sunday Craft Project

Transferring Pictures onto canvas


Let me start off this post with the fact that I've been researching the many ways to transfer a picture onto canvas ever since I saw them posted onto Pinterest.   There are so many ways to accomplish this task, however, I was limited with the fact that I have an ink jet printer at home.   So that being said -  I found several posts on-line describing different ways to transfer pictures to canvas using a ink jet printer.

Today I set some time aside to test out two of these methods of transferring pictures.  The first process was using tracing paper and the second process was using tissue paper.  The steps I used for both process are listed below.

Materials Needed


Canvas
Modge Podge Glue
Foam brushes
Tracing Paper/Tissue Paper
Photo Shop Elements/ Photo Shop
Picture


Both of these methods preparations a very similar.   First I took a piece of tracing (or tissue) paper and wrapped it around some heavy card stock.

I taped the edges onto the back of the card stock as shown above.   Next I place the covered card stock into my printer with the back of the card stock facing up.

I opened up my picture in my Photo Shop Elements 10 program and resized the picture to print out 8 x10".

Once printed I cut the picture out and coated the canvas with Modge Podge.  Then I placed the picture onto the canvas being careful not to crinkle up the paper.  Tips - I found that when you coat the canvas with the Modge Podge that it helped to let it sit for a few minutes before putting the picture onto the canvas.  Also I learned that with the tracing paper method it was better to put a second coat of Modge Podge over the picture once it was placed on the canvas but it was not helpful to complete this step when using the tissue paper.  Another thing I found out while doing this is that you do not want to over load the canvas with the glue because it will cause the ink to bleed.  I found with a light touch and minimal amount of glue I had a better result.

For the tracing paper method I found it help to smooth out the air bubbles using a gift card I had laying around the house.  I would not suggest to do this with the tissue paper method because it will cause the paper to tear.

THE FINISH PRODUCT


I have to say that the out come from both methods I was not pleased with.   However, I can say that I have a few things that I would do differently if I did use either of these methods again.  Also like I said above I have a couple of other methods that I would like to experiment with first before I commit to one certain method.  This project was and is a project with a learning curve.   I think once I get the technique down I will love the results as for now I think I will keep searching for a different method to accomplish this.  Now here is a peek at my results using the Tracing Paper Transferring Method and Tissue Paper Transferring Method.

Above is the Tracing Paper Method.  You can see that there is a lot of wrinkles. I believe the reason for that is that I did not wait for the glue to set up before I put on the picture.  Also it is very important to make sure you have an even brush stroke when putting the glue onto the canvas.

Above you will find the Tissue Paper Method.  I think out of the two methods I like this one a little bit more. I don't know if you can see but there are some wrinkles on this picture too but not as much as when I used the tracing paper.  Some of the things I would do different with this method is -  I would not put a second coat of Modge Podge over the picture I would stop with just putting it onto the canvas (reason being that the ink did bleed a little).  Secondly I would have made the picture a little bigger so that it would of wrapped around the edge of the canvas.

Stay tuned to see how my other methods turn out.  Until then thanks for stopping by.

Lemon Hand Scrub

Homemade Christmas gift - Lemon Hand Scrub

Materials Needed:

Sugar
Grape Seed Oil (found at grocery store)
Vitamin E oil (found at Hobby Lobby)
Lemon fragrance (found at Hobby Lobby)
Glass bottles (found at Hobby Lobby)
Pattern Paper
Printer
Ribbon

Lemon Hand Scrub

I have a seen a lot of recipes for Lemon hand scrub on the internet, however, I have modify that recipe.  I live in the Midwest and winters here are hard on your skin.  I was looking for a scrub that would not only exfoliate but moisturize my skin.  While doing my research I found that Grape seed oil is used in many cosmetics. It's a traditional remedy for stretch marks and can be used on delicate areas of the face, such as under the eyes. Grape seed oil is high in vitamin E and spreads well on the skin.  Linoleic acid, a main component of grape seed oil, has been used for decades to treat eczema and dry skin.  I just love how my hands feels after using this scrub.

Mix together 2 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup of Grape Seed Oil, 2 drops of Vitamin E oil, 4 drops of Lemon fragrance into a bowl. 

I found my Vitamin E oil and Lemon fragrance in the soap section of Hobby Lobby. 

Once Mixture is all mix start filling your bottles.  I found my bottles at Hobby Lobby too.   I made a tag in my Photo Shop Element program cut it out and cut some pattern paper to back it then I tied it to the bottle with ribbon. 

These are very easy and fast to make and would make excellent Christmas gifts for teachers, or great for anyone with very dry skin or who is suffering from eczema. 

This post was posted on Not  Just a Housewife, and Todays Creative Blog

Simple Advent Calendar

         
Materials used

knitted mittens and Stockings (purchased at target)
garland
scrap paper
number stickers

Last year was the first year I used an advent calendar like this and I'm happy to say that its has become a tradition in my house.  So far we have made a different advent calendar each year but one thing stays the same we fill each day with an activity for my daughter to do.   I saw this idea on Ali Edwards blog last year but I modified it to fit our family.   I also have a special box that we picked out last year which holds sometimes surprises or maybe the materials needed to complete a certain activity.

The box holds surprises that our connected with the advent calendar.
It may hold material for a project or even surprises for her.

This years advent calendar came together very quickly,  I spotted these mittens at target and knew immediately what I would use them for.  

Here are few examples of the activities....

1.Surprise a neighbor and bake cookies and bring them to them

2. Buy a toy to donate to our local charity toy drive ( I wanted to teach her that Christmas is not about just getting gifts)

3. Take a Big Girl Bubble Bath  (this is one of my daughter favorite one)

4. Read a Christmas story (each year I try to get three new Christmas books for her to read)

5. Make a gift for the birds (In the special box I put all the materials for her to make a bird feeder out of a pine cone.  I give her a small jar of peanut butter, pine cones, and I fill a small zip lock bag full of bird seeds)

6. Game night pick out one game to play with mom and dad

7. Get your warmest PJs on and let's go for a ride to look at the Christmas decoration and lights.

8. Watch a Christmas movie (we have a basket full of Christmas DVD for her)

9. Make a card for your teacher

10,  Write grandma or grandpa a letter

11. Christmas tree camp out (this one is my daughters favorite - We act like we are having a camp out.  We light a fire in the fire place and make smores and all the lights in the house are turned off and when it's time to go to sleep we pull out our sleeping bags and sleep under the Christmas tree)

12. Go see the lights at the zoo

13.  Surprise Dad with movie tickets (This one is my favorite usually we do this one when things need to been done around the house that need to be done without the kids around if you know what I mean.  I usually grab a Movie Theater gift card and put in the special box for her to give to her Dad)

This has been a fun new tradition and I think it's going to be around for years to come.

Carrie

This was linked to Not Just a Housewife, Today's Creative Blog

Simple Christmas Decoration

Today I am going to show you how to make simple Christmas Decorations.   That don't cost an arm and a leg.

Materials Needed:

Glass jars ( Some of these jars I had already at my house, however, I did go to the dollar store and
 purchased one for $1)
Epsom Salt
Greenery Picks ( I picked up mine at my local dollar store)


First I poured the epsom salt into the jar, then you place your picks or other objects and that is all there is to it.  Simple, fast and easy but the results are so cute.   Be creative with it use things that are laying around your house. 

I pick this glass jar at the dollar store, then I raided my daughter animal toy bin, also I made the sign and added a pick and some small pine cones.  I purchased the glass jar, epsom salt, pine cones and picks from my local dollar store.  This cost me only $3 to make.

This jar I had already at my house, I just wanted to show you that you can use decorations that you have laying around your house.  The snowman was given to me a while ago, the bunnies were from my daughters animal toy bin and the ribbon I had laying around the house.  The possibilities are      endless so have fun with it.                                                        

                       

Carrie

P. S.  This post was linked to Not Just a Housewife, and Today's Creative Blog , The Inspired Colllection                                

Christmas Wreath

Materials

Grapevine wreath (Hobby Lobby $1.99)
White felt (.50 @ Hobby Lobby)
Greenery Pick ($1.00 @ Family Dollar)
Ribbon ($1.00 @ Family Dollar)
Glue Gun

This was really super easy to put together.  Just right for those small areas in the house that just need a little something.

To make the felt roses I just got cut different sizes of circles and then cut each circle into a spiral and rolled and glue them.

Then I hot glued the greenery pick with my hot glue gun on to the wreath along with the felt roses.  Tie a ribbon for the wreath to hang from and then your done.


This post was added to Not Just a Housewife, Todays Creative Blog

Scented Rice filled heating pad

How to make your own scented heating pad filled with rice

Material you will need

Some type of cotton or muslin fabric

Fabric for your pad cover ( I suggest to get soft material or if you want to save money use what you have laying around the house like cloth from an old pair of flannel pjs, or old sweet shirt)

Thread

Sewing machine

Scissors

Uncooked rice ( you can also use beans too)

Scented oil (you can purchase this at your local Craft store)

Zip Lock Bag

Step one

Pick out the fabric for the heating pad cover (I used a soft fleece fabric that I got from JoAnn's Fabric).   You will also need some muslin for the pouch that holds the rice.

Step two

Casing

For casing that will hold your rice cut two piece of muslin to the size and shape you want.  I made mine a rectangle and cut two piece of muslin at 10" by 5".  I matched the two piece together and sewed up all four sides leaving about a two inch opening to pour the scented rice in.

Cover

For the cover of the heating pad I cut one piece at 10" by 5",  another piece of fabric at 4" by 5", and another piece at 6" by 5".     I matched right side of fabric together and pinned all three piece together.   Make sure that you pin the fabric where it overlaps (so that they are straight).  Then sew all four sides and turn fabric right side out.

Step three

In order to scent the rice I poured about 1/4 of uncooked rice into a zip lock baggie and dropped two to three drops of scented oil into the bag.  I then closed the zip lock bag and shake the bag to make sure to distribute the oil over as much of the rice as you can. ( I purchased my scented oil at Hobby Lobby)  TIP - you shouldn't have to use more than two drops of scented oil.   The saying a little goes a long ways applies here. 

After distributing the oil over the rice I filled my muslin casing with the rice and sewed up the opening using my sewing machine.

Step four

Place rice casing into the heating pad cover and then you are finished.

Tips and Warnings

• To heat the fragrant pad, place it in a microwave oven for one to three minutes. If you desire moist heat, place a cup of water in the microwave while heating the pad.
• Watch the fragrant pad while it's in the microwave. Some herbs or fillers may have a potential to smoke and may even catch fire

These are supper easy to make and are a great idea to give out as Christmas gifts.

This post was linked to:  Today's Creative Blog, Not Just a Housewife, My GirlishWhims


Carrie

Projects, Projects everywhere

I think I need to take a break from Pinterest for awhile, because I came up with yet another project that I would love to do.   My list of projects is growing so much but how can I pass this one up???  From Brassyapple blog.

Looks like I'll be going by Good Will again looking for some sweaters.   Oh and Brassy Apples has a step by step tutorial how to make these pillows just click on the above link for instructions.

Remember I wanted to try this project out too.  Well I found a much easier process to achieve the same results.  I have all my material to start this project , all I have to do is get my pictures sized and take them to get them printed on a laser copier.  Ink jet copies won't work.

I have seen these Styrofoam cones covered in fabric for years and have always wanted to make a set of them for myself.  I finally have all the material to make these too.  

I am in the middle of this cute wreath too.  Didn't think that it was going to take that long to make, boy was I wrong stay tune to see the finish results.

Needless to say with all these projects up in the air my craft room is a mess.   I can't work like that so in the mist of working on a few of these projects I will have to declutter my mess in there.


Carrie