We were looking for something to do on my son’s wall. We recently redecorated his room into a more “big boy” bmx theme. I decided to paint dirt hills all the way around his room with brown paint. I found some really awesome bmx wall graphics that looked like a kid jumping the dirt hills in vinyl but they cost a fortune! Once again, my brilliant aunt came to the rescue. She taught me how to do it myself with paint.

What You Will need:

A clean graphic from your computer that can easily be cut out of paper

A printer and paper

Scissors

Painters Tape

A Pencil

Wall Paint in the color of your choice

Directions:

1. Make sure your wall is clean. You can paint it with a base color ahead of time.
2. Find the graphic that you’d like to use and upload it to http://www.blockposters.com/. This is a free site that will “cut” your image into many paper size sections and let you print it.
3. Print it and tape it together into one huge picture.
4. Cut your image out in reverse. You want the inside important pieces connected to the outline like a stencil.
5. Tape this to your wall.
6. Trace inside the stencil.
7. Remove the stencil and paint inside your pencil lines. I like to remove the stencil because I am not confident that the paint won’t drip or blotch behind the stencil.

I was looking for something to fill up a large space on one of my walls and came across this idea. I love it! It’s cheep and anyone can do it. Purchase embroidery hoops in all different sizes
. Put them on your various fabrics. Cut close to the edge of the back of the hoop and hang.

Pay no attention to my missing knob and uneven doors. I’m working on that! I have moved my office/sewing space into a bigger room. My totally awesome aunt (they still say that, right?) has been giving me some decorating ideas. We were discussing liquid starch and doilies (that’s for another post) when she mentioned liquid starching fabric to cover your closet doors. She said that back in the day, New Yorkers used to use this idea on their walls when they couldn’t paint their apartments. It’s supposed to peel right off but I haven’t attempted that yet. Here’s how to rock out your closet panels on a dime. You can cover just about anything though. This would be perfect to try on an old dresser or table top.

What you will need:

Supplies You'll Need

An old bowl filled with  3 or 4 cups of liquid starch

Enough fabric to cover your space

A rotary cutter, mat & ruler

Directions:

1. Start by measuring your spaces. Make sure that you are very precise with your measurements.
   

   cutting fabric

2. Iron your fabric and cut your fabric with your rotary cutter , mat & ruler. If you directions on how to use them visit this quilting site. BE PRECISE! Watch your fabric pattern as well. Even though I was cutting straight, some of my patterns turned out crooked.
   

   Starch your fabric

3. Swish your fabric in your bowl of liquid starch. Don’t be afraid. It needs to be really wet. Wear gloves if you feel the need.
   

   Smooth it on and watch it dry.

4. Smooth your fabric over the surface. You’ll want to get all of the bubbles out. Adjust and stretch as needed to meet the corners and be sure to smooth the raw edges with your fingertip. There will be a few frays hanging around.
5. Watch it dry. This could take a long time. I’m not sure how long. I chose to write this post instead of watching it dry because I was so excited to tell you about it!

Go From Plain

to WOW!

I recently moved into a bigger craft room. Oh man! What fun it is to design your own craft space! Of course, I’m cheap so I was looking for an inexpensive way to store ribbon. I use my ribbon a lot. There’s no sense putting it on dowels and curtain rod holders because I like to take it to my cutting table and pulling off the middle spool would be a royal pain. I once read about someone using household gutters and I thought it was brilliant! I can take what spools I need and toss them back in without any hassle when I’m done.  Creative people are not usually very tidy so this was the perfect solution for me. The best part…the racks fit behind my door.

How to make your own ribbon racks.

You will need:

Enough gutter to store your ribbon.

2 gutter ends for each rack

2 gutter clips for each rack

1. Cut your gutters to the desired length. They sell handy dandy metal cutting scissors so there’s no need to play with power tools. We cut these to about 34″ each.

2. Snap on a gutter cap to each end.

3. Pop gutter clips in about every 15″ or so. We used 2 for each 34″ gutter. These will give you something to screw in the wall and also stabilize the gutter from the front to the back.

4. Screw the gutter clip screws into the wall. You can use anchors in the wall for more stability but ribbon isn’t that heavy and none of my monkeys will be hanging from these racks so we didn’t use them.

5. Add your ribbon!

Felt flowers are easily becoming one of the most popular and sought after crafting ideas for headbands and are especially popular for seasonal wear. You can choose between bright pink and red colors to create a traditional Valentine’s Day headband or even choose a popular style of purple and blue to create something a little more funky and modern for the holiday.
What type of felt should you choose to create felt flowers? One of the most popular types of felt that is available through the local craft store is Eco felt. Available in many types of colors that are suitable for Valentine’s Day, eco felt can be purchased in shocking pink, pale pink, white, red and even mauve and deep red colors. Combining the colors to make dual colored flowers or even combining the flowers with various types of headbands in coordinating colors can help to create a unique appearance with each headband.

How to Make Felt Flowers
One of the most popular styles of flowers that can be made are roses. Surprisingly simple, the roses can be prepared with a scrap of felt that is 4” squared. Once the felt has been cut, the person designing the flower can begin to draw a shape that includes circles that get larger and larger, similar to the shape of a snail. Once these have been finished, the crafter should cut along the lines of the shape to create a ring of circles that are still attached to one another.
Once the cutting has been completed, the flower is going to be created by rolling the felt from the outside edge in, resulting in a flower.
To secure the flower there are many options that are available. Small stitches can be placed throughout the style and the design of the flower, or glue can be used to affix the flower to it, wrapping the last section of the flower around the bottom to easily secure the style. When choosing glue, it is important to choose glue that is going to hold up against washing and regular wearing of the headband.

Attaching the Felt Flowers to Headbands
Using fabric glue or hot glue to attach the flower to a headband can be an effective way to create a style of flower that is going to last. Hot glue is a durable choice that will easily affix to the flower and can be used not only to attach the flower to the headband, but also to use small beads to secure the many layers of the felt flowers together, to ensure that it is going to remain in its original form after being attached to the headband.
Attaching two, or even three different flowers in varying shades of colors to the headband that has been chosen in various sizes, can help to create the effect of modern styles while wearing the headbands and can help to you to create a style that is sure to shine. Since there are many headband styles that can be chosen from, including thin headband styles and thick styles that are crocheted, you can easily find that you can suit the number of flowers that are desired to be attached to the right style of headband.
Finding inspiration for roses and many other types of flowers that can be layered atop one another to create a three dimensional design can help to create a style that is bound to shine and bound to allow you to create a unique look for the event that the headband is being created for.

My daughter’s baby shower is this weekend. Yikes! She had an invite list a mile long. I knew with that amount of people, I’d be much better off making her baby shower invitations. I opted for a simple post card.

You can download a postcard template from most printing places such as VistaPrint. It will work in Photoshop or the free editing program, Gimp. Open your template and think of it as a blank canvas.

Next, scour the web for the ultimate digital scrapbooking kit to match your theme for the baby shower. My favorite digital scrapbooking sites are Sweet Shoppe Designs and The Shabby Princess. Do you have a favorite? Comment below to share!

When you get your kit, it will come with elements and papers. Choose a paper for your background (or more than 1 if you’re really ambitious.) Add the elements you want to use and then using the text tool, add the who-what-when-where-why info.

For the invitation pictured, I used the Here We Grow! by Dani Mogstad Kit

On the back of the invite, I put this picture of the sonogram. It looks like she has a butterfly on her nose!

Finally, go back to the site that you got the template from and upload your completed invitation to have copies made.

Paper crafts for Valentine’s are growing increasingly popular as people are becoming more creative in celebrating and designing their home for Valentine’s Day. Paper lanterns and baubles can be easily created through the use of folding paper techniques and even using everyday items like pink paper plates, and they can be hung to decorate parties, used for lanterns and even used above dessert tables to create a centerpiece.

How can you create paper lanterns from something as simple as paper plates?

Folding the paper plates to allow the center to form a triangular shape and allowing the ends of the plates to stand upwards can allow you to create a circular lantern.

How many plates are needed for the process of creating this popular hanging lantern? Twenty plates are used to fold into triangles and stapled together through the edges of the plates to create a polyhedron shape that is going to be strung with ribbon and easily hung from the ceiling.

When choosing the paper plates that are going to be used there are many options that are available. You can choose paper plates that are already colored or have designs to create an easy way to decorate for the holiday, or you can choose lightweight white paper plates to create a look that is going to be easily decorated. Stamping or painting the plates with pattern can be a great way to create a style that is going to be easily

Finally, once the plates have been attached together using staples at the ends of the plates you can attach a ribbon to the top of the plates to allow for easy hanging. To easily attach the ribbon to the plates insert the two ends of the ribbon into the middle area between two plates and secure it with a staple, ensuring that you are going through the ribbon to ensure that it remains in place. This way, you can reduce the chances that the lanterns are going to fall over the dessert table.

These are often a great way to create a style that can be made at home, while creating a look that doesn’t look home made. Using thin staples or even colored staples that are similar in color to the colored plates that have been chosen can help to disguise them further and create a DIY option that can be used through each holiday.

The second type of lantern that can be created is created with thick ribbons. Using two inch ribbon and wrapping the ribbons around paper towel rolls that are cut into quarters and attaching these to a long string of ribbon can be a great way to create a lantern that is going to be used through the party. Choosing to include small lights in these, like those that are found through a string of Christmas lights can help to create ambience through the party.

Finally, the third option can allow you to create a holiday themed fixture from a light that is already present in the home. Through this option, you can easily find that you are able to use three to five different styles and widths of ribbon. Using these ribbons, you can create a ring that is going to be draped around the fixture, ensuring that the ribbon is not going to come into any contact with the light bulbs in the fixture. Using the various forms of ribbon you can create a dangling fixture that can be a big impact through any party that is being designed.

Designing lanterns for the party are a great way to add interest to the table while creating a style and design that is sure to please guests and create a memorable experience for everyone.

Valentine’s Day crafts range from those that are created for Valentine’s that are given to friends, to the designs that are used to decorate the home in anticipation of the holiday. Through the many crafts that can be chosen from for Valentine’s Day, pop up hearts are a great choice for the classroom or the home and can even be used to create a style and design that is going to literally pop!
How can you create pop-up hears for Valentine’s Day?
Here are some of the supplies that are needed to create pop up hearts:

• Varying Shapes of Hearts that can be placed on top of the other (three)
• 3D squares
• 1 inch pieces of cardstock folded into zigzag lines

First, it is important to create the shapes for the hearts that are going to be used. This can be completed by easily creating two to three shapes of hearts, using different colors and patterns of paper, one heart smaller than the other.
Begin with the largest heart placed on the table. This is going to be the base of the heart and should be the boldest color. Next, attach the squares to the back of the middle heart. This is going to help to create the pop-up effect from the heart that is placed on the second layer. Attach the second heart to the first layer and ensure that it has been attached fully with the squares.
To create the last 3D effects from the pop up heart fold the one inch lines of card stock into small zigzag lines. There should be three pieces for each 3D heart that is being created. One should be placed at the bottom tip of the heart and the other two should be placed at the top of the heart, through each corner of the heart.
To attach the zigzag pieces to the heart there are many options. The best way to secure them without having to wait for layers and layers of glue to dry is to use tape and secure the line to the heart, completing the same thing while securing the top layer of the heart to the other two. The second layer should be completely secure to the bottom layer, and the third layer will easily pop up and down because of the zigzag pieces that have been attached.
There are many ways that you can customize the designs that have been created. Ribbon can be placed through the top of the heart to create a craft that can be easily hung and even embellished with glitter and stickers.
Before attaching the pop-up hears together they should be embellished. This way, small hands don’t have to worry about trying to maneuver around the tags and zigzags that are used to create the appearance of the 3D heart. Be sure to avoid over-using accessories that are going to be used to embellish the hearts, as this can cause the hearts to become too heavy to easily create the 3D effect.

Celebrating the various holidays with preschoolers can be great fun and finding crafts that can be used for the preschoolers to enjoy and understand the holiday can help them to understand the origin of the holiday but also to understand how the holiday is celebrated.
Here are some of the Valentine’s Paper Crafts that are perfect for preschoolers:
Hearts Collage Canvas
Small canvases can be purchased through popular arts and supply stores. Using dye-cut punches to cut out hearts in various colors and prints can be a great way to create the supplies that can be used to attach the hearts to the canvas. Using craft glue with brushes to create a collage and painting over the hearts can create sheen for the canvas
Paper Heart Snowflakes
Similar to the styles of snowflakes that are made through the winter season, these are crafted from hearts and made with small heart cutouts that are completed through the snowflakes. Created with doilies, these paper hearts can be a great way to create a sense of high style when hung with twine from the ceiling or even used as part of creating a banner as they can be woven through ribbon.
Though it can be difficult for the preschoolers to cut the snowflakes, adults can help to cut the snowflakes or buy pre made doilies that can be easily attached and woven on to the ribbon to make sweet banners that can be displayed through the classroom or even brought home.
Valentine’s Day Clotheslines
For children and toddlers in preschool there are many crafts that can be easily completed with ribbon. Making a ‘clothesline’ that is going to be used to hang the valentine’s that are received by the students can be a great way for the child to create a display for the paper crafts. Using one meter of ribbon and attaching the ribbon to tables, walls or desks and helping the toddler to secure the ribbon is a simple craft that can allow them to easily hold on to their Valentine’s. Finally, using small clothes pins to secure the cards to the ribbon can help the child to easily pack it up and take it home. There are often large packages of the tiny clothespins that are available through craft stores and ends of ribbon can help to complete the project for less.
Layered Hearts
Using colored hearts in various shapes and sizes, created from various patterns, you can easily find that you are able to create a heart that teaches about shapes and concentric sizes, as well as providing an activity for Valentine’s Day. Using heart stencils to create the shapes and creating a small package for each child can help to create ease in completing the activity. Using brads to secure the center of the heart and placing a small hole in the center makes construction of the heart simple and mess-free.
Pudding Painting
Normally, vanilla pudding would not provide the preschooler with much fun when it comes to painting, but tinting the pudding pink and using light paper can be a great way to create fun while painting with pudding. Using more coloring can help to create deeper tones of red and can be a great way to create dimension in the picture that has been created.
Finding inspiration for the many preschool crafts that are available to choose from can be a great way to give you the craft ideas to have a fun filled holiday. Whether you are seeking activities that can be completed at home or are trying to find ideas for the local preschool, there are many options that can help to get creative this holiday.

Are you looking for a way to customize your Valentine’s Day party with easy and affordable crafts that can be made at home? Finding the supplies that you need through the local craft store and inspiration can give you the insight to create a party craft that can help to create the overall theme at your party.
Oversized Cootie Catchers
Though these have been used to play games in the past, folding the cootie catchers out of large squares of 12×12 paper and placing these upside down can be a great way to create a four sectioned portion square that can be used to hold candy hearts and cinnamon candies for Valentine’s Day. Using the oversized paper can enable you to make four and present them on a square white tray to create a happy effect through the Valentine’s Day celebration.
Using scrapbook paper or cardstock and the edge of the scissors or ruler to smooth the edges and make sure that the folds are crisp can be a great way to find the best results from the cootie catchers that are being created. A set of four arranged with different candies can be a great way to create a Valentine’s Day montage perfect for any celebration.
Tip: Using double sided paper and alternating the designs that are chosen can help to create a montage of four coordinating pieces. As both sides are going to be visible, using the crafts can help to create a cool style.
To ensure that you are going to be able to use these for celebrations to come you may want to ensure that only dry candies are used in the home made paper dishes.
DIY Paper Garland
To create paper garland you are going to need a few things on hand. Scissors to cut out hearts that are going to be strung on the garland or a die-cut punch that can be used to create the hearts from the scraps of paper that have been created and a sewing machine or ribbons to sew or string the ribbons together. This way, you can create an intricate garland that can be strung over a mantle or dessert table or even used through décor over chandeliers and lamps.
These garlands can be easily customized to using sewing machines to string the garlands together or ribbons. While using the sewing machine there is no reason to try and sew in a straight line, as they are given a chic and vintage theme when they are created with the sewed paper.
While using ribbons to string the garlands together, use a small paper punch and create a small hole in each side of the circle to allow you to easily string them together. Alternatively, they can be hung from one hole on the ribbon for a chic and modern style.
The styles of garland are so adaptable that it has never been easier to create a style of garland that can be easily suited to any holiday that is going to spent at home.
Where can you find the best options for Valentine’s paper that are available? While searching through the local craft store there are often many valentine’s papers that can be chosen from. Using the valentine’s paper, you can easily find that you are able to choose between traditional colors like red or pink or even put a chic piece of style through the art that has been completed. This way, you can choose from many patterns and styles and there are often many options that can allow you to choose sheets that are as little as $1 per page.