Showing posts with label diy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diy. Show all posts

Cement Spoon Garden Markers

This easy cement spoon garden marker project is perfect for beginners and adds a nice touch to your outdoor area.



I love to make things with cement. From coasters to mushrooms and even a cake stand! I ran across a silicone spoon mold and I knew exactly what I wanted to make. Garden Markers. 

This post contains affiliate links.



While working with cement seems like it might be hard, it is surprisingly easy to work with and there are so many possibilities for what you can do with concrete mix. 

I am not much of a gardener. I have tried in the past, but usually bite off more than I can chew and reduce the rate of success for my garden. This year I decided to give it a go and try to grow a small garden that mixed flowers and vegetables. I got some of these little plaques to label my plants, but they were ugly.

These cement spoon markers were just what I needed to add some character to the scene.

Supplies:

Silicone molds
1/2 cup of cement mix; I prefer portland cement.
1/3 cup of water
Chalkboard Paint


Directions:

Mix the cement and water until it is smooth.
Pour the cement into the silicone mold.
Place in the sun and allow to dry for 6 hours.
Remove the spoons from the mold carefully to avoid breaking them.
Paint with chalkboard paint and allow to dry.



I used a chalk paint pen to label the cement spoon garden markers.



You can find all of my DIY projects here

DIY Easel Photo Stands

This easy straw easel diy is the perfect solution to displaying photos and works of art on the cheap.
All you will need is a few straws and some hot glue to create these fun and functional easel photo stands.


My kids love to draw pictures and my husband loves to take photos. I usually have an abundance of things to display on any given day. Considering how artistic my family is, I regularly rotate the display!
These easy easel photo stands are the perfect solution for displaying notes, photos or works of art.
They come together in moments and are just the right size.

      

To make straw easel photo stands you will need 4 paper straws and a hot glue gun.
Begin by forming an upside down V with 2 straws and glue them together.


Next, cut one straw in half, place this on the two straws to form an A shape. For larger photos, add the cut straw a little lower to allow more room to stand a photo.

Now glue the last straw on the back of the A shape.  Glue from the top to give the stand its support.



Allow to dry for a moment then place a photo or work of art on the stand to display.


I love this idea for the office, a dorm room, or around the house.




I have a video on facebook for this project.
I would love to have you check it out and give it a thumbs up!



You might also like this Time Out Jar project.

DIY Barbie Serving Tray

My daughter is really into all things Barbie. So I made her this cute little rustic serving tray for her Dreamhouse play sessions. It took me less than 5 minutes and is pretty cute and you can personalize it if you wish!





We have all but given up on Barbie accessories. My kids lose them, the dog chews them and it seems like a big waste of money. I won't buy any more, but I will DIY some!



 I made this Rustic Barbie Serving Tray happen in moments with 3 supplies. It is pretty cute and it cost me $0 to make.


Supplies

6 small craft sticks 
Scissors
Glue Gun


Directions

Glue 3 craft sticks together
Trim the rounded edges off of 3 craft sticks then glue 2 of them to the longest sides of the base.
Cut the remaining craft stick in half
Glue this to the other ends


 Now you have a rustic serving tray for Barbie and her friends. Can you believe how easy that was?

We are already planning to make a version of this with taller sides to flip over as a coffee table for Barbie. You can paint the serving tray, or cover it with washi tape for a unique look if your daughter isn't into Farmhouse style decor yet.

Find all of my craft stick projects here

Handprint Fish Puppets

Monster Handprint Puppets



Grass Imprinted Concrete Garden Art


Easy Grass Imprinted Concrete Coasters are functional art. These are so easy to make; give them as a gift or use them at home for an eye catching accessory. You could also use these as garden art if you like.




This is such an easy project. When I got my first bag of concrete I wanted to start small. I wanted to use items I found around the house instead of purchasing supplies.

The first place I looked was our recycling bin, and BOOM! There was a lid, that was just the right size for making a coaster. Inspiration hit, and I was ready to create.




Supplies:

1/2 cup of portland cement
1/4 cup of water
A plastic lid, like from a chip canister
Some grass
Cooking Spray

Instructions:




Spray a plastic lid with non stick cooking spray.
Mix cement.


Pour cement into the lid, this mixture makes enough for 2, or 3 depending upon the size of the lid you use.


Add a few blades of grass.
Tap out air bubbles by tapping the sides.
Allow to dry in the sun for an afternoon.


Pop the cement out when dry. This should be pretty easy to do.


You can peel the grass out easily, or use an old toothbrush if needed to get any remaining grass out.
Paint the grass imprints.

These are great for outdoor use, if you have a really lovely table, you might wish to add 3 or 4 foam or felt pads to the bottom to protect the table, but these have not damaged my glass topped table.

Find more DIY Projects here


9 Cards to Make for Father's Day

Father's Day will be here soon and I have 9 fun card ideas that your kids can make for their Dad to let him know they think he is a Super Dad!

Father's Day Cards to DIY

There is no better way to tell someone that you think they are amazing than a handmade card! The detail and sentiment in something made uniquely by you simply cannot be found in a printed card!

That's why I rounded up these 9 card ideas to let Dad know how you feel! He will love these fun-tastic expressions of adoration on his special day, and I bet he will savor them long after Father's Day has passed!


Fingerprint Monkey Card
High Five Card
You're the Vest Card
Tie Card
Fingerprint Golf Ball Card
True Grit Card
Shirt and Tie Card
Dad's Tools Card
Popsicle Card

I have a few ideas that you can use to make Father's Day super special.

  1. Let him sleep in! 
  2. Offer to take over one his chores for the day so he can rest.
  3. Give him a new magazine or book to read while he is relaxing.
  4. Offer him a special treat! 
  5. Tell him that you appreciate his devotion to your family.


Which of these cards do you think your kids would like to make first? My kids think the Vest Card is pretty awesome! We plan to make one soon!

Find all of my fun crafts here

Glowing Night Lights (No Electric!)

These glow in the dark jars are a fun diy to make with the kids. They are perfect for a night light that comes together in one minute or less, with only 2 supplies!




 My son Rolf is 9 now. He is so curious and eager to learn. One night last week it was storming and he was worried about losing power, and how he could sleep in the dark. So we took to the kitchen to whip up some super simple glowing jars which were perfect for a night light!



This post contains affiliate or sponsored links.

I used tonic water and glow in the dark powder to create this jar. It couldn't be easier to make!
If you have a black light fixture, you can skip the glow in the dark powder as tonic water naturally glows under a black light. 

Tonic water contains quinine which absorbs ultraviolet light, causing it to glow.

Directions:
Fill a mason jar with tonic water
Add 1 teaspoon of glow in the dark powder
Stir
Replace the lid.
Allow to charge under a light for a moment and watch it glow!




Find more cool DIY Ideas here

You might also like this easy glow in the dark necklace.

Sock Roses for Teacher Appreciation Week

If you are looking for a cute way to give an inexpensive token of appreciation to a special teacher this year, this sock rose craft is the perfect way to gift something fun and functional in a unique way.


This project is so easy! It comes together in matter of moments and really adds a lot to the presentation of a simple pair of socks! All you need is:

 a pair of socks
 a rubber band
 a 9" section of ribbon 
 and a wooden dowel rod or maybe a pencil for the stem



Begin by stacking your socks together and folding up the toe section.



Next, begin rolling from the top. Roll tightly! 

As you get to the folded top section, keep rolling in, this will be your outer petal.

As the socks are tightly rolled, secure them with your rubber band. I knotted it, then knotted it again, on the other side for a really snug hold.

Remove the rubberband.

Gently insert the pencil or wooden dowel into the "bottom" of the sock roses.


Make a single sock rose, or a dozen for a fun way to gift a special teacher something different this year as school comes to a close. 



I added some leftover Easter grass to a mason jar to make the presentation even sweeter!



These easy DIY photo puzzles are also a great homemade gift idea.



Rainbow Coaster DIY

Craft sticks are a great addition to any crafters supplies! There are so many fun ways you can use craft sticks to create! I made this easy set of coasters in just a few moments. These are great for tweens and teens to make! They are fun and functional and make a cool DIY you can gift to a friend or relative!



This project is super simple. I got literally everything I needed at Dollar Tree to make these. I love economical crafting! To make this DIY  go a little faster I bought the craft sticks that were pre dyed.



The pack conveniently contained all colors I needed for a rainbow effect. You will need 20 craft sticks to make this project, use 3 of each color!


Line up your craft sticks in the pattern of a rainbow.
Then use hot glue to attach 3 sticks running in the opposite direction for supports, just like a pallet would have.




Repeat and make another one.
Then you are going to place a craft stick on its side to give the coaster height.




Carefully glue the stick on the sides then add a line of glue to the top of both side sticks and place the other section on the top.



This project was featured in a video on facebook. I would love to have you check it out and give it a thumbs up!



You can find more easy DIY ideas here
Easy Pencil Pouches

Find more rainbow craft activities here

You can also find it on youtube. Subscribe for more fun projects for the family!




Easy DIY ipad Mini Stand

This easy diy ipad stand was made with only 3 supplies in just a few moments of time. It is a great tween or teen craft for a rainy day and provides a practical place to place your ipad for hands free viewing!


This was such a simple project! I needed someplace to place my ipad while cooking and
referring to a recipe, so I whipped this up in just about 3 minutes! I wasn't quite sure about how
sturdy it would be, but I was surprised by how sturdy it was, and how well it has held up over 2
weeks time.



Supplies
7 Jumbo Craft Sticks ( 5.86” x .72” )
Washi Tape
Hot Glue Gun


Directions



1) Apply washi tape to one side of 3 craft sticks.

2) Form a letter V with 2 of the washi tape covered craft sticks.


3) Secure the point where the sticks meet with hot glue.

4) Flip the craft sticks over so that you are working with the uncovered side of the sticks and your
point is now facing upwards.

5) Use an uncovered craft stick to attach a “leg” to the top, where the sticks meet.  To do this easily
give a generous dot of hot glue about ¼” below the top, immediately place your craft stick at a very
slight angle. Hold the craft stick in place for about 30 seconds, as the glue dries. This acts as your
base. Test it to make sure the base stands freely.

6) You have 3 remaining craft sticks that are not covered by washi tape; stack and glue these together.

7) Glue the final craft stick, with the washi tape on top of the stack you just made.
This will act as your ledge for holding your ipad.

8)You will glue these stacked sticks one inch from the bottom of the base.
Allow to dry for about a minute before using as an ipad or phone stand.



    Easy DIY iPad stand





    You can check out all of my easy DIY ideas here



    11 Cheap and Effortless DIY Vase Filler Ideas



    Whether you’re decorating for an event, a house gathering, or a reception, it can be a little intimidating what kind of ornaments to put up. On top of that, it can be pretty expensive too if you expect a lot of guests who have their own tables. That is why decorative table centerpieces always come in handy in situations like this.
    If you ever find yourself scrambling to make last-minute additions to decorations or looking for cheaper alternatives, consider buying glass vases in bulk because they’re cheaper and there’s a lot you can do with them. You can easily customize glass vases to make centerpieces and have them fit into the theme of any party as you like.

    Looking for ideas? Take a look at the list below.
    Stones, Water, Candles


    This sounds easy enough because you only need three things: stones, water, and a candle. You need to check the size of your glass vase if you want to achieve this because it can get crowded pretty easily. This is ideal for parties that are held outdoors and at night because, as a centerpiece, it can provide extra illumination once the candles are lit up.
    Corn Kernels

    This is a perfect DIY centerpiece for autumn because it fits in beside the general color theme of the season, which is reds and yellows. Corn kernels are one of the easiest and cheapest vase fillers to find because, if you love eating popcorn, you may already have some in your kitchen.

    For this, you can display the kernels all on their own or add candles and maybe some ornamentation like dried maple leaves and some string. If you’re curious, here’s how the finished product should look like.

    Coffee Beans

    If you’re a coffee aficionado and have coffee beans lying around, consider getting a handful and turning them into vase fillers. It doesn’t matter what kind or grade you have. They’re perfect for any season, and you will be greeted by that wonderful coffee smell whenever you walk into the room.

    Acorns

    One of the best ways to save up on money when decorating is to use what nature has to offer. If you have a lot of acorn trees around your place, you can pick up some to use them for your own table centerpiece. This is perfect for autumn, and if you want the acorns to fit with the theme of your home or a party, you can paint them in any color you want.

    Wine Corks

    Show off your love for wine by using the corks as vase filler. Not only does it look like it was bought from a store, but you also recycle used items and help the environment. If you don’t have a lot of corks, you can buy a pack in bulk instead. Or you can simply fill out the vase slowly with each new wine bottle opened. You can find a simple tutorial online.

    Snowflake Ornament

    If you want seasonal centerpieces, snowflakes look great and would be perfect in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can make use of snowflakes from your collection of Christmas-tree ornaments if you plan to get new ones for this year. Instead of throwing them out, give them a second life instead as a table centerpiece.

    Fresh Citrus Fruits

    For an eye-catching pop of color, you can actually use fresh citrus fruits as vase fillers. This is great for any outdoor party. All you need to do is slice up some lemons, for example, and put the slices in the vase, along with some water and some flowers. If you want to get a beautiful effect,  

    make sure to use bigger glass vases.

    Another popular citrus fruit choice is oranges. Take a look at this tutorial if you’re curious.

    Colorful Cereals

    Cereals are one of the things that you can always find in the kitchen, but not everyone realizes that they make good vase fillers as well. Colorful ones make a vase look good without you needing to spend anything. They’re great for birthday parties and other kid events.

    If you want to use them for this kind of purpose, it is up to you whether you want the vases to remain as centerpieces or whether you want to use them to hold treats to give away other than the cereals.

    Loose Toys

    Suppose you want to tidy up your child’s room but it is hopelessly filled with a lot of random loose toys and small knickknacks that you can’t seem to place or put away. Instead of putting them in a box somewhere to be forgotten, why not display it as a centerpiece?

    Put little plastic army men, bouncy balls, Lego blocks, and puzzle pieces in a vase to make it look stylish. You can add flowers, faux or real, to make it look deliberate.

    Dyed Rock Salt

    Substitute fake gemstones with rock salt if you want to make a centerpiece with tea candles. Rock salt is cheap, and for just a few bucks, you can actually use dyes to paint the salt grains in different colors that you like.

    What’s more is that they’re biodegradable, so if you feel like changing decors or using another batch of colored rock salt, then you don’t have to worry about polluting the environment. If you’re unsure how to dye rock salt, this little tutorial will help you out.

    Beans

    They’re the first beads of any kind, and that is why they make great vase fillers. Depending on the occasion and look you’re going for; you can easily find beans for the task. If not, you can always spray-paint them in batches and choose to put them in the vase by themselves or with other baubles.

    Get Creative

    There are a lot of cheap, easy, and free things you can use for vase fillers. You only need some  
    imagination and maybe a little DIY here and there to make it happen. In terms of decorations, centerpiece vases are one of the easiest to do, and their beginner-friendliness makes them a top choice for those who want to try out small DIY projects for their home.
    What do you think are other vase fillers that you can easily find and use? Share what you know in the comments section below.
         


    Whether you’re decorating for an event, a house gathering, or a reception, it can be a little intimidating what kind of ornaments to put up. On top of that, it can be pretty expensive too if you expect a lot of guests who have their own tables. That is why decorative table centerpieces always come in handy in situations like this.
    If you ever find yourself scrambling to make last-minute additions to decorations or looking for cheaper alternatives, consider buying glass vases in bulk because they’re cheaper and there’s a lot you can do with them. You can easily customize glass vases to make centerpieces and have them fit into the theme of any party as you like.

    Looking for ideas? Take a look at the list below.
    Stones, Water, Candles



    This sounds easy enough because you only need three things: stones, water, and a candle. You need to check the size of your glass vase if you want to achieve this because it can get crowded pretty easily. This is ideal for parties that are held outdoors and at night because, as a centerpiece, it can provide extra illumination once the candles are lit up.