Top 9 Posts of 2011

Its that time of year! Time to look back, and think about the past year! So in recognition of that tradition, I'd like to do a little blog recap!

Here are the 9 posts from 2011 with the most visits:

1. Making a Ring from a Quarter

2. No Heat Curls

3. T-shirt Headband

4. 3-Stitch Summer Dress

5. Nail polish Prints

6. Paper Flowers

7. 5 Minute Earring Holder

8. Floral Bralette

And lastly

9. $1 Floating Bookshelves

And there we have it! This year's crafts with the most visits!

Hope everyone has a great new year!

Calendar Giveaway Winners!

I arrived safely in Colorado yesterday morning! Of course we went to Starbucks right off the bat....it was much too early not to get coffee! Then we hit up ikea! I can't help but love that place.

Tomorrow afternoon we head off to Las Vegas!!

And now for the calendar giveaway winners!

littleangel_mw 10

Shared on FACEBOOK.

 

TaylorMade 3

I love this calendar that is featured! Love it!!!

Congrats! And special thanks to Kevin for working on this calendar! I'll be emailing you both soon!

The Start of An Adventure!

Guess where I am this lovely Friday morning (since its before 5am, it is so dark that you'd never actually be able to tell that it is morning yet...but the clock says it is...and it hasn't lied to me yet)

The Omaha airport! Even though I have an odd obsession with airports, that isn't even the best part! The best part is the week adventure I'll be taking. First stop, Denver! I've made the trip a number of times....to see Kevin (you know....that guy who has been chosen the lucky one to call me his girlfriend for the past 3 years and 9 months...but who's counting)

We will be spending a couple lovely days in Denver, before taking our very first trip together! (not including the mind-numbing road trips through Kansas on occasion since we went to undergrad in Oklahoma)

Guess where we will be going--

here are a couple of hints

(I decided on all P's for this...not for any particular reason)

Pirates

Pyramids

Paris

Palaces

...and Par-tays!

Necktie Ring Holder

This craft incorporates so many of my favorite things- neckties (since I have a ton on hand right now) shoes, jewelry, and all around cheap-ness! I found the idea here but incorporated it to use neckties. Ties are great, since I already have alot on hand, and they have great patterns.

Supplies:

1. glue gun

2. 4-8 men's neckties (I used 4, by using ties twice...but you may need more!)

3. One high heel

4. Ribbon- optional

I picked up the high heel from goodwill today- they had a manager special for $1 shoes. (I'll be honest, I picked up a few for myself to wear as well...I don't often by shoes at goodwill...but sometimes they are just perfect!)

I picked up a size 7.5 I usually wear a 9.5 but that looked giant. You could go smaller, that just happened to be the shoe I wanted to use.

Now for the ties. Since they shoe I used was smaller at the top (like most probably will be) I used the smaller end of the tie for the top, and the larger end for the bottom of the wide part of the shoe.

You will want to roll the tie, very tightly. I ended up deciding the best way was to find the end that matched about the width of wear I would be placing it in the shoe, then making that my largest end by cutting the tie at that spot. Then I guessed on the rest for the length...let me explain...

I used about 1/3 of the tie for one roll. So measure where it will go, cut at that spot on the tie that matches about the width of the shoe... then fold it in half....and start rolling. If you get to the end of the spot you cut, and it about the size of the roll that you want....great! Hot glue it in place. If not, unroll, fold it in half again but this time, don't make it quite so long, that way the roll will be a bit smaller when you roll it up again.

You'll want it to be rolled.

Start at the folded end.

And roll down

So glue the roll in place, but still hold it tight so it does pop out the side and unroll.

You want to hot glue it to the bottom and the sides of the shoe- DON'T hot glue the rolls together. You don't want them stuck, because you'll want to fit rings in between the rolls.

For me, I was able to use the smaller ends of the tie for the small parts, and the larger for the larger part of the shoe. That is why it only took 4 ties. You also want to stuff the toe at the bottom with some of the little extra that you have of one tie. Do that before putting the last large roll in. Just to make sure everything is secure!

I had glue all over the sides of the shoe by the end. So I decided to hot glue some trim around the shoe to help cover it up. That is 100% option....some of you are probably better with the hot glue gun!

And you're all finished!

Anyone have a great idea for the other shoe I have laying around now?!

Stay tuned for another shoe craft thanks to the local goodwill's $1 shoe sale!

Keyboard Magnets

Thanks to pinterest, I saw this idea here for magnets made out of old computer keyboards! My dad works in the computer industry, so thankfully he had plenty of old keyboards he was willing to sacrifice for my crafting endeavors!

Here is a quick rundown. Pull keys off- pliers or your fingers!

Then if they look like mine, you have to break the inside, and pull it off, so it wont stick out too far

then hot glue magnets inside!

Spool Keychain

After spending my first week of break wandering aimless through craft stores...I started buying things just because they were on clearance...even if I didn't have a craft for them. My first purchase was a little bag of wooden spools. After getting them home, I came up with this

A cute little spool key chain! Its just as simple as it looks! Grab a bag of these- they come in different sizes...I got the one that was on clearance at the time.

Then get your materials and your hot glue gun

I used bakers twine for my string, and hot glued the end, and wrapped it around, securing it with hot glue as I went.

Then I hot glued the end of the string up- I thought it looked cuter that way!

I could have screwed the eyelet screw into the spool, but my hook was a bit wide for such a small spool. I went ahead and just filled the middle with hot glue, and simply hot glued it in place! Add the keyring and you're done!

Letter from Cinderella

I saw on pinterest, where if you write a letter to a Disney princess....they will send one back. well guess what....it works! I sent my letter on October 26th and got a postcard this week.

My letter I sent first

Do I love it....yes.
Am I a nerd....yes.
But I did want to see if it was true...or just one of those pinterest lies that gets passed around!

*note- the princess I wrote to was not the princess who signed the postcard...but I can't be picky! Just in case you have little ones out there doing this...just don't be let down!

I googled a bit: This is the address for the postcard

Walt Disney World Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

And the address for a 8X10 picture is this:

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

Wire Tree Topper

 

I wanted to share a little holiday craft for your Christmas tree, even if it is last minute!! I worked on this little Wire Tree Topper after I made the wire trees a few weeks ago!

The fun part is- you can customize it and hang whatever you'd like from your topper- a wire monogram for your family, a star, a prized ornament or possibly an elf on the shelf (for those of you who have started that family tradition)

This works great with in thick wire. I had some laying around the house from other crafts, but you can pick some up at a craft store, hardware store, or use a wire hanger!

You'll want to first make a long skinny wire cone shape to fit on the top branch of your tree. You can work with it to fit your tree particularly, but these are a pretty universal design to balance on the top of your tree!

I used pliers to bend it into the cone shape, but you can also find a cone shape around your house, and bent it around for a more symmetrical design.

I always loop the bottom of my wire first, no need for anyone to be cut on the ends!

Then top it off with a hook. That way you can hang your designs from it!

Or if you'd rather, make a swirl, and you are able to stick photos, paper projects, or make a larger swirl and cut a star out of paper, and let your children decorate it!

You can use the spare wire to create other designs- spell out an inspirational Christmas word like "hope" or "faith" or you can make a monogram for your family!

Have a happy holiday!