June Calendar

Here's My Calendar for June! The picture didn't work out as well as the actual calendar, it's a blue swirl background filled with sand and seashells. I wish I had some more sea shells to put in....next year! My favorite Calendar page is actually my July Page, so check back next month!
And here's the one for May...I forgot to put it in last month. I used 4" Daisy's from Twigglebox.com. Only .99 each, or $8.99 per dozen, these are on a clip, so when your done with your calendar page, you can use them for your hair!

For a Calendar tutorial, see how I made mine Here!

Have a great day!

Book Purse

Level: Medium Time: 1 hour

I LOVE this! I couldn't decide which book cover I liked best, so I made lots! I can't claim this idea, because I saw it on another blog, but I can't remember the name...Panda something, so if this was you, let me know and I'll link this post up with yours.

Anyway, if you know how to sew, this is pretty easy.

Supplies:

A hard back book (I bought mine at the thrift store for .50 each)

About 1/2 yard of fabric (I'm not sure, I just used scraps)

E600 craft glue

1. First, tear all the pages out of the book. This is painful, I know, but there are plenty of book pages crafts you can use these for!

2. Lay the book out on your fabric and measure it. I just traced it with a disappearing fabric pen. I forgot to take a picture of this. Then make sure you ADD 1/2" TO EACH SIDE for a seam allowance. I cut out 4 pieces for the book cover (2 for the front, 2 for the back), 2 for the spine, and then 2 triangle pieces for the purse sides. You measure the width of the spine, go up at a 90 angle the width of the cover, and then decide how far you want to purse to open and make the "top" of the triangle that wide. Then cut a straight line from the top to the spine (don't forget to add 1/2 inch to each side for a seam allowance.).

3. Sew the pieces together. Your actually making 2 'purses,' and then you'll sew those together at the end to make sure all seams are enclosed. I sewed the spine to the 2 triangle sides, then sewed the book cover pieces (front and back) to these...the corners can get a little tricky, but just do your best! Now you should have 2 'purses.'

4. Make the handles by sewing 2 strips of fabric, 2 1/2" wide, by as long as you want your handles to be. Fold the strip in half long ways, then fold the rough edges under 1/4 inch, and topstitch near the edge.

5. Place your 2 purses right sides together, one inside of the other. Pin the handles INSIDE the two purses and on opposite sides of the purse.

6. Add velcro or a snap to the top center of the purse to keep it closed.

7. Sew around the top, leaving a 2-3" space along one of the sides to turn the purse right side out. Trim the corners, then turn the purse. Top stitch or slip stitch the hole closed. Now you have a completed purse, and an empty book...we just have to get them together! Get out your E600 craft glue, and apply to 1 surface of the book at a time. I started with the spine. Apply glue to the edges, then fill in the middle, then press the 'purse' into the spine and allow to dry. leave overnight, or for a couple hours, then glue the book cover to the purse the same way. Allow to dry. Once dry it's pretty hard to get this glue off! Now, enjoy your purse!

I ended up making several, and picked my favorite then gave the rest to friends. I recommend starting with your least favorite, figuring out what mistakes you made, then go for it! I enjoyed making these, and plan on keeping my open for cool old books to use in the future!

I'm linking up to THESE parties!

No Slip Sock Craft

These 'no slip socks' were made from $1 store socks and puff paints...I don't know what happened to the cute samples I made (I suspect my husband, the garbage man!), but here are the ones made by my girls. All the little girls at our sleepover had a blast making the socks. If you do this at your 'sleepover,' or 'non-sleepover,' just make sure it's the first activity for maximum dry time!

April Shadow Box Calander

Here's my cute calendar for April. I'm not going to put all the directions here, just the picture of what I did! My background is grass paper, and the filler is mini cadbury eggs....I locked them in here to keep from eating them all! (actually, I've already snuck some out....naughty, naughty). For complete instructions view my post HERE.

Easy Jelly Bean Bracelets, for Easter or Anytime

Level: Easy! Time: 5 min

These are fun to make with the kids, but very sticky! And, you use a sharp needle. I ended up having my kids lay out a pattern, and I strung them on the string to avoid blood and tears!

Supplies:

• Jelly Beans (we used small)
• Stretchy jewelry making string .5mm
• Tapestry needle

Super easy! Tie a knot 2" from the end of the string. String 10-15 jelly beans depending on wrist size. Tie ends together, and enjoy! My girls liked laying out the pattern, and my little boy picked all black!

Little Leprechaun Hat's

Difficulty: EASY! Time: 10 min

As far as I know, I made this up completely, and I'm proud of myself for that! So if you've already thought of this, don't tell me and just let me revel in my pride for once! This was so simple and fun for the kids and I to do together. (although, I have to admit, I did try to pawn them off on a movie, but It was a no-go....so we enjoyed getting covered in chocolate together :)

Supplies:

-Chocolate chips (I like Milk, not dark)

-Large Marshmallows

-Round Chocolate Covered Cookies

-Green Licorice, cut in 1/2 lengthwise (twizzler makes green)

-Small Yellow Candies (I used M&M, or Reeces)

-Small Shamrock toothpick or confetti (optional)

Melt the Chocolate Chips in microwave, stirring at 30 second intervals. Use a toothpick or skewer to dip the marshmallows in melted chocolate, and place in center of cookie. Wrap licorice around base of marshmallow, and cut to fit. Place small drop of chocolate on back of yellow candy, and secure to seam of licorice. Add shamrock toothpick or confetti piece if wanted, but be sure to remove before eating (especially with young children).

Like I said, Easy Peasy! Enjoy, and let me know if you try it, or post and link back here, I'd love to see a photo.

Don't forget to enter out "Rainbow of Bows" giveaway and take a guess on our "Countdown to our New Baby!"

Cutest Homemade Calendar

Difficulty: Medium Time: Overnight to dry

I saw this at my friends house, and I fell in love! I just had to have one! (even over my hubby's protests of "we're moving, we don't need more junk!" I've also made 2 as gifts, they are cute, easy, original, and inexpensive!

Supplies:

• 12x12 shadow box frame (mine was $9.00)
• 12 sheets of scrapbook paper (one for each month)
• Thermo set Glass Paint of Glass Pen
• Black 'liquid chalk' pen
• small items to place in frame between paper and glass

1. First, draw the calendar template out on a 12x12 sheet of paper (I know this picture is hard to see, my template is in pencil). Then lay the glass over top, and trace the template with the glass paint or glass pen. I found a glass pen easier for this step, but glass paint was easier for me to get the small letters for the days of week words (next Step). Also, I had to let the horizontal lines dry for about an hour before I painted the vertical lines....My first try I did it too quickly, smeared it all and had to start over!

2. Next I printed the days of the week IN REVERSE on my computer, and simply traced the words backwards onto the glass. You want to make sure that 'Saturday' is on the left, and 'Sunday' on the right, so when the glass is placed back in the frame, they will read in the correct order. Let the glass paint/pen dry for 24 hours, and then bake in your oven according to paint/pen directions.

3. Once cool, wash with glass cleaner, and flip over. Use the chalk Pen to add numbers for the date, and the Name of the month on the top. I cheated and printed off a pretty type, which I laid under the glass and traced! I'm sure most of you crafters have better handwriting than me! And could probably freehand! The chalk Pen will wash off with water or glass cleaner so it's easy to change every month.

4. Place glass in frame, then whatever little items you have (mine are gold necklaces, but gold coins or chocolate coins would be cute too). Place the correlating month 12x12 scrapbook page behind (and I store all my other 'month' pages behind this one), then close up the frame, and hand or stand on a shelf!

I wont do this whole tutorial again, but I'll post my monthly Calendar pages...if you have a good one, please share! I'm sure I'm not the first to do this, but I'm new to 'craft blogging,' so sorry if I used anyone else idea and didn't give credit!

'Charming' Ribbon Bookmark

Difficulty: Easy Time: 10 min

This is a so-simple and inexpensive gift or craft for someone who loves to read!

• Simply lay a blank ribbon into the back cover of a book and fold it over all the pages until it hangs down the front cover.
• Leave 1/2" extra on both ends, then trim the ends.
• Run the ribbon through a round or oval shaped jewelry link on both ends (you can find these as any craft store) and glue it to itself with a hot glue gun (grown-ups only please!).
• Add any charm you like...I bought this initial charm for my daughter, who loves to read! The whole thing cost me about $3.00!

More Ideas:

• Pair with a favorite book for a inexpensive, but thoughtful gift.
• Use to Challenge your children to read. Keep track of their reading time, and when they reach a certain goal, add a new charm. I tried this with my 8 year old, and she loved it! She get's to help me pick out the new charms for her bookmark when she reaches her goal!
• Make these at a birthday party as a favor, use as a 'Mothers Day' or 'Grandparent' Gift
• Perfect for the person you don't know what to get them!