House O Lantern 2011

Several years ago, I found this cool, inexpensive Halloween craft and this is my third year doing it.  I have thought about making it where each year, I just stick the four squares into the window.  Then store it in the attic when Halloween is over.  But.. I kinda of like making a different face each year.  Doing the same ole thing is not what I want to do.  I never want my Christmas tree to look the same. I never want to eat at the same place twice, when so many restaurants are here.  So..I want my pumpkin face to be different as well.

 This year I used black poster board, in the past I have used regular cardboard.  You can see where I had to piece it in the middle.  I used chalk to draw the face.

 I used a box cutter to cut out the face.

 I used regular orange tissue paper and taped it over the cutouts.

I love it. 

House O Lantern 2009

House O Lantern 2010

Time Out "Nice" seat

My second granddaughter is not even born yet, and I am already making her a "time out" chair.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't procrastinate.  The terrible two's will be here before we know it.

One day while visiting my son and pregnant DIL, I walked through the garage, and noticed this bar stool sitting in a corner.  I asked could I have it, and they said yes.

 Primed

Painted

As I stood and looked at it, I thought where was I going to put it, how was I going to use it.  Light bulb moment...cut it down and make a "time out" chair for the future grandchild.  Afterall, I had found the stool at her parents house and it can now become a keepsake. 

The purple made it look to dark for a happy seat.  I was going to paint a happy face on the top, but decided against that, because with a face it would always have to positioned with the face facing forwards.  Yes, I have issues.  So, decided with the flowers, it could be turned in any direction and not look off.

Ta-da....I love it.

When she hits those terrible twos, and needs a time out, I will ask her to go sit on the "nice seat". Here she can think about why she is being mean or ugly...and the powers from within the chair will transform her behavior back into being as sweet as sugar.

ok, ok...in my head this is how it will work.

Milk Jug Pumpkins

I like to look at Family Fun magazine for easy crafts/projects to do with my granddaughter.  Awhile back I saw this milk jug project and have been saving milk jugs to give it a try.

Rinsed and saved gallon milk jugs.  Cut a large opening in the backside.  Drew pumpkin faces on each carton with a black marker.  Wish I had of had some black paint, as it would  have been darker. 

I had several strands of clear Christmas lights, stuck a handful into the back of each carton and viola instant Milk Jug Pumpkins.  I want to line the front porch with them.

Easy peasy and fun to do.



Jewelry Christmas Tree

Awhile back, I made a Jewelry Christmas Tree (above) for myself.  I really liked it, but everytime I walked past it, I would say to myself...redo it, redo it.  See how the side on the left side is bulging out.  It drove me crazy, but I would always justify it..with Christmas trees are never perfect.  So, I continued to ignore my desire for the do over.

UNTIL..

I found out my youngest son and DIL were expecting, and had a light bulb moment.  It was... I would take it down, and make two trees.  One for each granddaughter. It would be a nice gift for them to always have.  And with me, it is all about making some memories, memories that are more than just knowing the person.  Memories also need to include things that you can touch and feel..things that you can see and then know someone did this for you.  Someone took the time and the thought to do this for you...it matters. 

I did my best to personalize each of them, so they will always know which belongs to them.  So, on each tree there are certain pieces that relate to them personally.

Not perfect....but very pleased with both of them. 

Melted Crayon Wall Art

I found another inexpensive way to make a unique wall art piece.  It was here at naptime-craft time where I discovered this little gem.  Now, my days of having napping young ones are way in the past, the only one who naps around here now, is me.  But, I still enjoy the easy, inexpensive art work that Tracy's enjoys with her children.

Now, there is also one on Etsy here for $70.00 plus s&h. It is much prettier than mine, but for me, mine works just fine.

Here is my attempt at melted crayon wall art:

I lined the crayons up in rainbow fashion.  Years ago, when I was a para-professional, I learned that a rainbow is always in the same line of colors...and the way to remember the order is by using the mnemonic device,  ROY G BIV. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violent.  A little color lesson for you.

I had an old frame and used spray adhesive to glue a piece of poster board to the frame wood.

I drew a straight line with a ruler and used a hot glue gun.

I noticed my crayons were lining up crooked so, had to pry them off and straighten up the line.

 It was very hot outside, so I propped it up on the brick wall. 

 After returning home, several hours later, I go outside so excited to have a look/see. Well, look what I see.  A couple of the crayons had fallen off.  And although the crayons have heated and foamed up, there is not much dripping going on.

 ..so out comes the blow dryer.

 The look is not exactly what I wanted, I wanted the lines to just drip.  But the dryer blows the melted crayons, making a different look.

 Here it is..framed and ready to be hung.  

I love it.

Now, there is also one on Etsy here for $70.00 plus s&h.  It is much prettier than mine, but for me, mine works just fine.

Crayon Initial

I am always looking for inexpensive ways to make wall art to be used in my own home or to give as gifts.  This idea I found here at...chic cheap nursery.  Originally I thought this would make a great gift for my 10 year old granddaughter to give to her teacher..I still do.

...but with the new granddaughter due in December, I thought ..hmmm, I want to make her one.  With back to school supplies being abundant right now, the price on a box of crayons is about 30 cents.  Nothing better than a new box of Crayola crayons.

My two granddaughters will have the exact same initials...how cool is that. If I make something, and one doesn't like it, then I can pretend and tell the other one I made it for her.  he he

Master Bath Part 5...Framed Mirror

The big ole plain mirror in the bathroom lacked style or personality.  Again, after reading many DIY blogs and seeing others frame mirrors...I said I could do that.  And I did.  Everything went together great.  A project well done, if I do say so myself. 

The frame is sold in a packet, which is used to frame a door, cost $10.00.  The corner squares are an extra touch of style.

I caulked a line of mirror liquid nails, making sure to keep the line away from the side that is inside the mirror. Because, if you get it to close to the edge you will be able to see the line reflection in the mirror.

I spray painted it black and then roughed it up, with a light grit sandpaper.  Just enough to make it look worn. You can see here where it didn't connect, but it was level perfect.

I caulked the opening and took a black magic marker and painted it. Perfect.

Ta-Da...beautiful..and the mirror isn't to shabby either.

P.S.  Remember, click on a picture to enlarge.