Sports Boxes

I just completed another little detail for my son's big boy room. Kids always seems to have little treasures that can quite easily take over their rooms if left uncontained - I had a set of 3 nesting boxes that I got on clearance somewhere that I was going to do something with that I'd long abandoned. I figured they would make the perfect treasure keepers, and I knew just how I could dress them up.

With all that I did in his room that I had to spend money on, quilt, paint, silver tape... I was determined to have projects that were just using what I had on hand, both to save money AND to use up some of the things that have been doing nothing but taking up space. 

So I started with the boxes, paint and brushes:

You'll see I didn't have the right brown for the basket ball, I had to mix red, a touch of black and yellow  to get the right blend.

When dry, I lightly penciled in the lines that make these not sphere shapes more identifiable as what they are intended to be, balls.

Ad then I painted them... that is really about it.

I'll add a coat of varnish once the paint has fully cured. That is one thing I've learned when it come to craft paint - if it isn't completely dry when you coat it with varnish, it runs and smears.

Now baby bear has the perfect places to keep his treasures without having them take over his room. When the boxes fill up - then it's time to pick what can be pitched.

Paper Pennant Garland

One of the things I love most about my son's new room are the paper banners I created.

Here is how I made them...

Cut the the layers out on my cricut, red background layer (which if you look closely you'll see also has an oval cut out to help me thread them evenly), the white layer and then the blue letters.

Then I assembled the individual banners:

Then I flipped them over to reveal the guide on the red layer that was cut by the Cricut so that each pennant would have their slits cut in exactly the same spot - what I tried and discovered didn't work was to precut the slit in both layers.

Why didn't that work? First, lining the two slits up perfect was a challenge, and second, the cricut couldn't get the slit as narrow as I wanted it - too wide of a slit and the pennants slide around on the ribbon and gravity is not the friend of the garland. 

So I cut them by hand. 

And then I threaded them onto the ribbon, first trying and not liking them on white, then loving them on red. 

And that was it - 3 fabulous custom paper pennant garlands for his room.

Holiday Ornament Cards

My apologies to anyone on our Christmas card list - you're seeing our holiday cards a bit early. But, each one is unique so you still won't know which is yours 'till they are all done and in your mail box.

This idea was inspired by something a friend did last year, they have a tree by their door and with every photo card they get, each one is bunched with a hole, a ribbon goes through it and adorns that tree. So I thought, why can't our card include an ornament???

The ornament on the front of the card actually comes off - there is a photo of the kids on one side, and a lyric from one of my favorite Christmas Songs. (I've set a slide show to the song for friends and family to  check out the rest of our year....)

Here is what I used to make the cards:

• Pre-made cards, purchased at Michael's, 50 of them for $6 using a 40% coupon
• Holiday scrapbook paper, cut into rectangles for the front and inside of the cards, then circles for the ornaments. 
• Holiday messages printed on velim
• Glue Sticks
• Ribbon
• Clear tape
• Photo of the kids, cut into circles

To assemble the ornaments, I paired up coordinating papers and glued the picture to one side and the message to the other.

Then I punched a hole in the top of the ornament and strung a ribbon through it.

Next, time to create the cards. Simply glue one of the rectangles of scrapbook paper onto the front of the card. I also glued a circle to the front of the cards that were more plain so that once the ornament was removed the card could still be enjoyed.

For the inside of the card, I glued in another piece of paper and then our holiday message.

Then a small hole through the front of the card, and then the ribbon from the ornament is threaded through and taped to the inside.

And you've got a Holiday Ornament Card

Multi Strand Bracelet - Handmade Holidays & Giveaways

I started making these bracelets about 6 weeks ago and I can't stop.

Interested in making your own? Here is what you need:

• Various beads, I like to mix at least 3-5 types.
• Stretch magic elastic
• 2 10mm jump rings
• 6 Crimp tubes
• 6" length of ribbon
• Scotch tape
• Beading tray - not really required, but it helps

Step 1 - start planning out what you think you want to do with your 3 strands... Some things work, and some won't. Just keep playing with it - taking into account your desired length. I wanted one that was my wrist plus about 3/4".

Step 2- Cut 3 pieces of stretch magic that is the length of your finished bracelet plus about 3-4". Then secure one end with tape, this will keep the beads that your stringing on from falling off.

Step 3 - String the beads the onto the elastic, if you like, you can use a needle like this, it really helps get the beads onto the elastic.

Keep going and measuring along as you go. The beads will string different than they lay in the tray so sometimes what planned out to be 7" will string shorter or longer. When you get the length you want, tape the end while you move onto the other 2 strands.

Step 4 - Time to secure the ends of the bracelet to the jump rings.

Slide one of the crimp tubes to the elastic.

Then slide a jump ring onto the elastic.

Then loop the elastic over the ring and thread the end through the crimp tube again.

Sorry for the blurry picture, I hope you can see that I've tightened the elastic, tight but not too tight around the jump ring.

Then crimp.

You can either use pliers or a neat little tool like this. One notch crimps, the other folds it over on itself.

Then do the other end of the strand.

Repeat with the other 2 strands.

You'll see I added a little detail to this bracelet, a little word to inspire me...

Take your ribbon and fold it in half then thread the folded end through the jump rings. Pull the tail ends through your loop and you're bracelet is a bracelet.

You can secure it straight, or twist the strand prior to securing it with the ribbon.

I hope this tutorial inspires you to try one of your own - but if you LOVE love love one of the above bracelets and can't live without it... simply leave a comment here, and you'll be entered to win one of them! You've got 'till November 22nd at 6:00 pm to enter. If you'd like another chance, mention the giveaways on your blog on on twitter and leave a second comment.