Category Archives: diy gifts

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  Posted on September 21, 2010 by Christine in diy gifts, thrift store/yardsale

  

  Look at the sweet bird feeder Mom made me:)

  She used an outdoor strength adhesive to glue a thrift store bowl and vase together.

  I don’t remember the glue name, but anything suitable for outdoor weather will work.

  My sister’s is made from two plates and a vase…I think…

  You could really do anything.

  

  Sweet baby bird from the local dollar store.

  

  Then she slid the vase over a piece of bamboo.

  

  Totally sweet. I love it!

  Thanks Mom:)

  I am adding this to the Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

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  Posted on August 25, 2010 by Christine in diy gifts

  

  Seriously this project is so easy.  It’s stupid easy. And so cute you will fall off your chair.

  

  First you need to hop over to the scrapbook section of your favorite craft store and find little fabric brads like these.

  You can also look here for the silk flower pieces you see on the finished product.

  

  Then hop over to the beads and jewelry making supplies to grab these bobby pins with a flat circle on top.

  

  Then hop over to adhesives for krazy glue. Why is it spelled with a “k?”

  If you could literally “hop” this would be more fun.

  You will also need index cards and wire cutters.

  

  Take each brad and cut off the brad part with your wire cutters.

  

  Then take the tip of the cutters and smash the rest of the brad into the hole.

  

  Now apply the krazy glue and hold it all together to set.

  I have glue all over my fingers.

  Don’t judge.

  

  Now cut 2/3 off a 3″x5″ index card (or use card stock or whatever), make a few slits and slip in your clips.

  

  My sister and I made these for a craft show where every item has a Bible verse attached, we also added the flowers and stamped the word “clips.”

  It’s cute isn’t it.

  We made 9 sets for about $15.

  sweet.

  My sister’s kids also helped hold the clips to dry. It was a team project.

  

  And here is their dog, Indiana Jones.

  Fierce. Just like his name.

  Emma said I always posted pictures of Polly, I should post one of Indy.

  His official name is actually Ridiculous.

  He answers to it.

  Just sayin’

   

   

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  Posted on August 19, 2010 by Christine in diy gifts

  

  My sister and I are participating in a fun craft show this fall to raise money for foster care.  Craft #1 is this cheese plate and knife set with recipes.

  

  I blogged about making these last year…I think…here is the link.

  It’s crazy easy and a very useful gift! I love useful gifts.

  

  We rummaged through hundreds of stacks of dishes to find a few that were cute and in good shape.  A few of the sets come with two dishes.

  It’s the thrift store.  Who knows what you will find when you get there.

  Then we searched through bins for knifes.

  My hands were so nasty that I had a hand sanitizer emergency.

  Right there in the dish aisle.

  

  Using low gauge wire, it comes on a spool in the bead section…I think, we wrapped each knife with sweet beads.

  Jeremy helped me.  He did a great job:)  The older post linked above shows more about this step.  You hold a bit of the wire down the knife vertically and then begin to wrap horizontally.  The wrapping will hold the end in place.  Also, I try to get straight, plain knifes, nothing curvy, you can’t wrap curvy.

  The pink knife actually had a rose detail at the top, so we left it visible, not beading the entire knife.  It’s cute.

  

  I wrapped the knife in a cellophane bag, added recipe cards, and wrapped it all up with fun ribbon.

  You can download a pdf of my cards here.

  If the border color isn’t right, you can cut inside of it, or change it with a marker or something.

  Seriously, this project cost under $3 each.  Great gift.

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  Posted on August 13, 2010 by Christine in diy gifts

  Sometimes I find so many cute things online I can’t even stand it!! People are so creative.  So, for those of you that want to get a head start on Christmas presents or whatever, here are some ideas-

  

  Super cute labels and easy canning recipes from How About Orange

  

  Free downloadable decals in lots of fonts to label lots of cute things from Just Something I Made

  

  Decal Penny necklace from the same fab girl!

  

  Cork Coasters from zakka life

  

  Washer necklaces at Not So Idle Hands

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  Posted on April 10, 2010 by Christine in diy gifts, DIY home

  

  This granite came to me from a bosom buddy who I love dearly, and who always has the most exciting design ideas.   They are the leftovers from custom countertops and such…but the perfect size for hosting and entertaining whatnots.  Don’t you think?

  

  I used countertop spray cleaner and sealer purchased from the local hardware store.  This process takes a few days, so don’t get all jazzed up about a 10minute project.  The products have great directions, but you are basically cleaning a few times, drying for several hours, then sealing. I used a sponge, but paper towels would be great too.

  

  I then added these feet to keep scratches off my counters and tables.  You can purchase them in a pack of 20 or so, and they are also good for chair legs and electronics.  Or so the box says…  Best of all, these little babies are peel and stick, it just doesn’t get any easier than that!

  

  This smaller one is the perfect spot for a single cheese ball and crackers.  btw, this is a Chili Cheese Ball made from a recipe I posted earlier. See the post here. Or just the recipe here.

  

  What’s so great about granite? This little jewel can sit in the fridge all day and then move to the table where it will keep the cheese cold as you party all night.  Or in my case, until about 9:30.

   

  I shared this on Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special and DIY Day with Kimba

   

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  Posted on March 7, 2010 by admin in diy gifts, fashion, sewing

  Oh Spring, please come quickly, bring your bright sunshine and lovely blossoms.  Until then, we will wear flowers in our hair…and wait…

  
  So cute Rose Barrettes from the Purl Bee
  
  Mod Flower from A Beautiful Mess
  
  Flower Clip from A Hoot and a Holler
  
  Cute Petals from Julie’s Blog

  

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  Posted on February 22, 2010 by admin in diy gifts, fashion, polly
  

  Hi friends, isn’t this headband the sweetest thing ever?  It has earned me the nickname “Hello Kitty” at work, which I think is just as fabulous as this fabric flower is.  My Sister and I made these a few weekends ago with the help of my sweet nieces. So, here’s how you can do it yourself!

  
  You can use any ribbon, but our trial and error recommendation is that you use grosgrain, especially this grosgrain that has a little flirt to it.  It just works better with all the glue. I am such the Hobby Lobby girl, I got the glue and ribbon there, along with metal headbands pictured below.  All these supplies are also available online.  Oh, also make sure your glue is for fabric and dries clear.
  
  When you purchase the headbands, make sure they are skinnier than the ribbon you chose.
  
  Unroll the ribbon and start at one end with a nice line of glue.  Once you have done about 1 1/2 feet you can start wrapping the headband.  I left about 1/2″ at the end to fold under the inside of the band, and then started wrapping the outside.  When I got to the end, I turned it inside and went back the other way.
  
  So the ribbon goes inside and outside, and then I smashed it together all along the way to make sure it was all sticking together.
  
  Here is the inside, see how that extra 1/2″ that you overlapped at the beginning helps at the end.  A little extra glue will keep all this together.
  
  If you aren’t a Hello Kitty kind of girl, you could be finished right now, the flower isn’t necessary.  For the rest of you, here are the flower instructions. First, go to this blog. Second, make her flower. Third, come back here.
  I stitched the flower on by going just behind the button and then through the ribbon, around the metal headband and back up into the flower.  Pretty easy.  Make several stitches to hold it tight.
  (note: if for some reason her tutorial ever disappears, just Google ”fabric flowers” and you will get instructions)
  
  And that’s it!!! The possibilities are really endless with this one.  I used fabric scraps, but if you don’t have any, I often find cute things in the remnant bin, or in the quilting section with the fat quarters.
  
  And, here’s your Polly love for the week.  I don’t think she is amused with all the pictures.
  This has been added to DIY Day with Kimba

  

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  Posted on January 4, 2010 by admin in diy gifts
  
  I have seen instructions for these floating around and thought they looked easy and cute.  I think they totally dress up a plain pony tail, don’t you think? Ok, so here’s what you do…
  
  You need scissors, hair ties (thin ones), large covered button kit, scrap fabric (I found several darling quilt squares for $1 each).  Small prints work better, think about what you will see once the button is covered.
  
  Cut out fabric using included pattern.  Loop hair tie through button back.
  
  Assemble button per instructions.
  
  Push button in with blue cap.  You may have to move the hair tie around a little to get the whole button to fit like it should.
  

  And it’s done! Is this easy or what??!! I feel like I could make about a hundred.This has been added to DIY Day with Kimba! and Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special.

  

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