Butterfly Chandelier

The inspiration:  Pottery Barn's Butterfly Chandelier $30.

 My lacking photography skills do not do this project justice but here is the tutorial.

What you need:

Embroidery Hoop

Butterfly Paper Punch

Clear Thread

Paper

($9)

Using the thread create a web by tying knots around the embroidery hoop as pictured above.

After punching at least a GAZILLION butterflies, (actually around 100), cut a long strip of thread and lay it on top of a butterfly with a dab of glue. Then stick another butterfly on top-as poorly pictured above.  When your strip is as long as you like, tie it onto the hoop/and or the clear thread webbing.  My strands have anywhere from 10 to 6 butterflies. Repeat this process until your chandelier has as many butterflies as you want.

I covered the outside of the hoop with some tulle and used another strip to tie around the center of my chandelier to hang on the ceiling.

SUMMER Block Party

Can you believe that June is finally here?  And even though my son still has 3 weeks of school left the weather has definitely been SUMMERY! 

Here is an easy summer decor project!

I used an old 2x4 to create six equal blocks.  These are about 6 inches tall.  Then I painted each wooden block white.

Next I found some cute paper in my stash to create letters and a background color.

I Mod Podged the paper onto the block and let it dry.

I cut strips from a piece of canvas to create bows and I paper punched some flowers to CUTIFY (fake word) my blocks.

Growth Chart

 This is the doorway where we use a PENCIL to mark the kid's height.  This is also the doorway that my son thought he would decorate with a red sharpie because obviously it is an okay place to write.  This is what I created and stuck on the wall to cover the mess! 

How to:   

Buy a board and cut it or have it cut to desired length. 

Paint the board. I spray painted mine.

Use a tape measure/ruler to create the measurements on your board.

I used a Cricut to cut out vinyl numbers/lines to stick to my board.You could use a sharpie, paint, stencils, whatever.

Hang! (Shh! I hot glued my board to the wall.  Glue usually peels right off when your finished.)

Subway Art Tutorial

Have you noticed Subway Art popping up everywhere!  There are lots of great ideas, everything from art for newborn babies...

to family rules,

or even Seasonal artwork.

Here is how you can create Subway Art with your own personal touch!

First, go HERE to Picnik and download any photo. Picnik is a free site and it is very simple to use.

Now that your random picture has been uploaded to the site, click on the CREATE TAB at the top.  Then select the STICKERS TAB.  Scroll down the sticker window until you find BASIC GEOMETRIC SHAPES. A window, as shown on the left of the picture above, with various sticker shapes will appear. Choose the RECTANGLE, and stretch it to completely cover your picture. Now your newly uploaded picture should be a giant black rectangle. As you are stretching a pop-up box will appear that will allow you to change the color of your sticker. 

Now that your picture is covered with a rectangle in the color of your choice.  Click the TEXT tab. Begin writing your text, one phrase at a time, in the text window and playing with the fonts. Picnik has a plethora of fonts to choose from.  As you type your text, another window will appear to let you change the color of the font. Then move the text around your rectangle and place it where you want.

I made this for my son's birthday. It describes him including his likes and dislikes. I  thought it would be fun to make one every year and see how he changes as he grows up.  You can also turn them into postcards or greeting cards.  Oh! The possibilities!!!

Save your new masterpiece when complete. Then you can either print it from your computer or order it from Picnik, Shutterfly,  Costco, etc. in whatever size you desire.  Frame it and enjoy.

Cabochon Crazy

I love the Resin Flower Cabochons showing up on jewelry designs everywhere. I wanted to learn to make my own.  But, when I realized all of the steps required and the different chemicals & dyes I needed, I became a little intimidated. Then I saw this on sale for $4.99.

Sculpey Pluffy Clay!  It is a modable clay that you bake to harden. There are easy baking instructions on the box and this stuff is really fun for kids too.  Anyway, I thought I would try making my own Cabochons, the simple way-with clay.  First, I needed some molds.

I found these HERE on etsy and I started creating. 

Using an old cheap ring I found drowning in the bottom of my jewelry box, I glued this Cabochon on top and created a brand new look.

Belle got a few new embellishments on some boring hair clips.

Earrings too!  Pluffy clay does not come in silver or navy, but by painting some white Cabchons the color possiblities are endless.  Again I used some old earrings (circa. 1985) to make them new.

I think the blue and silver flower are a definite improvement to the big gold heart!

You can even roll the clay into balls to create your own beads.  My son had a great time rolling the beads.  They aren't perfect but they have personality!

I stuck toothpicks through the beads before I baked them. Obviously, this makes stringing them together much easier.

With one package of sculpey clay you can make at least 100 Cabochons. As you can see, you can use them in lots of different ways! 

Umbrella Wreath

A paper drink umbrella wreath just in time for summer.  My wreath is actually hanging on Belle's bedroom door, hence the fuzzy picture. The hallway is a little too dark for picture taking.

Basic Supplies: 

I had to break the umbrella sticks in half because they were a bit too long.  Then I just stuck them into my foam,  added a ribbon to hang, and a flower to make it even cuter.

Cuff & Clutch

I am going to call this my Tiffany's inspired Cuff & Clutch.  It was that beautiful Tiffany's Blue that caught my eye and made me NEED to create something with it! Here is what I came up with:

Can you guess what it is made from?  Placemats, napkins, and an empty Mountain Dew Can!

(All from Target)

This project took about 30 minutes and I love the result.  Click the READ MORE BUTTON below for the full tutorial.

A "Moss" Have!

I know, I know,  you have all seen these mossy monograms everywhere on the Blogosphere and of course at Pottery Barn for a whopping $80 a letter...

BUT, I thought I would share my interpretation anyway.  First, of all it was free!  Do I have your attention yet?  I was at the craft store getting ready to purchase my cardboard letter and bag 'o moss when I thought, "WHY?"  I have a back yard full of moss and I am sure I have Styrofoam some where.  Plus my boys could get involved with this project. Gotta love that. Here is what I did, all with the help of my trusty glue gun of course.

I have tried my "B" two ways, on the door as pictured at the top and as a topiary. Can't decide which I prefer, what do you think?