Want to see my new favorite accessory for my house?

Go check out The CSI Project today and you'll see how to make this:

My post will be up later today - so check it out!!  So honored that the CSI Girls share my tutorial on their site!! 

Thanks for checking in and Happy Monday!!
Lisa

A little Easter fun

Wow - two days in a row - wonder how long I can keep this up!

I mentioned yesterday that I had a fun project to show - it's nothing spectacular, but I had fun making it and wanted to share.  I've seen a million fabulous ideas on blogs for Easter decorating.  I have a storage container full of stuff, but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to pull out all the same old things again.  I picked a few favorite pieces and then starting thinking of what I could come up with that was 'new' to me.

I really love banners and garland and I have the perfect spot to hang them - in our entry way from the foyer to the dining room, which currently is more like the toy room.  At any given time, you'll find Power Rangers or a Bat Mobile under the table and possibly Winnie the Pooh hanging out on top of the table.  Anyway, I love the idea of hanging something in that doorway to greet me each day.

I went through the massive amount of plastic eggs and picked out eggs with a hole in each end, all the same size and then grabbed my new favorite spray paint - Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze - and got busy.  I spray painted all the eggs with a few coats (and found a million other things to paint but that's for another day).  So once they were all dry (I'm so impatient) I strung them together.  I wasn't crazy about the end result.  I cut the string and started over, grabbing a bowl of cotton balls.  Yes, cotton balls!  I just thought the idea of Easter eggs and bunny tails together would be cute - so I restrung them.

I saw someone post about colored doilies and I went out and found some of my own.  I decided to make a little doily banner to go along with my eggs.  Here's the end result:

And a close up of my eggs:

I love that the eggs are all the same color and I really think the bunny tails are fun!!

Thanks for looking.  More projects coming up soon!!

Linking up to:

Lisa

Where has the time gone?

I just realized it's April (well, I didn't just realize that exactly) and I've only blogged ten times this year.  That is just sad!!  I'm going to work on the blog a little and make sure I'm a more regular blogger. 

It's warm out today, sunny, beautiful weather.  Would be great for walking around the track, or spray painting a project that's in the works, or working on my tan.  But, I'm not doing any of those things today.  Well, the day isn't over yet so there may be some spray painting later.

I have been a subbing fool lately.  I subbed every day but three since February 2nd (not counting Spring Break of course).  There's tons of things at home I've been neglecting.  I've barely put anything cute out for Easter.  There are several little things I wanted to make but only one of those have actually been completed.  A few birthday gifts have been in the works, too - but again, not completed yet.  I've been thinking about organization and spring cleaning!! 

On today's list - cleaning the craft table off so I can start a few more things that will hopefully be completed, cleaning up all the clutter that's collected around the house, trying to get Cole's toys contained to less space and eating a warm cinnamon roll right out of the oven.  That's not really on the list, but I'm still going to do it.

Later this week, I have a sewing date with a friend, we have a concert Friday night - can't wait for that.  Our favorite college football team is playing their spring practice game Saturday.  While this shouldn't be a big deal, it is and there will be about 100,000 people there - Roll Tide.  They are going to unveil a new statue of our coach, too.  Should be a fun day.

So, off to get things done.  We're having company spend the night after the game, so I must get things in order.  I'm thinking that means I need to get off the computer and get to work on cleaning up!  I promise I'll be back with a few crafty things this week.  CSI Project will have a challenge up that I've played along with so come back!!!  

Lisa

A great, cheap idea

So - did you see my tutorial at The CSI Project?
Here it is and I'm SO SO SO excited that they shared my tutorial with their readers!!



Today, I want to show you how to make this cute calendar.

Here's what you need:

4 pieces of scrapbook paper ($2.00)

adhesive (dry and/or spray) - on hand

Exacto knife - on hand

Popsicle stick or craft stick - on hand

buttons or flowers, brads, scrap cardboard - any kind of embellishments really - on hand

and this cool thing: ($1.00)

 

I found this at the Dollar Tree in the teacher/classroom area.  I thought it was a really good base to use for this calendar idea I've had for a while now.  

Here are the steps I took:

1.  Take the board apart by using scissors to pop the silver back off.  2.  Decide where you want your holes to go and cut them out.  (I just increased one of the existing holes and cut a new one in the spot I wanted)

Next, you want to trace the back circle on the paper you want as your background and cut it out.  Then you want to sand the side you are attaching the paper to since it's sort of shiny, to make sure the adhesive really sticks! Then spray your adhesive and attach your paper.

Next, you want to follow the same steps for the top circle.  After you trace, cut, and adhere, you'll want to cut out the holes you added.  I did this from the back and then flipped it over to make sure I trimmed it enough. Oh, see that hole down there - go ahead and use your knife and poke the hole through the paper.  You can do that on both circles.

Now I used a circle template to trace my circle needed for my days of the week.  This part can be a bit tricky.  You want to make sure your circle will fit in between the two holes you've cut. I traced the circle and cut it out (you can use a bowl or anything round).  Find the center and poke a hole through the paper.  I used the silver pieces and put everything back together to make sure it all lined up right.  (Back circle, paper circle and top circle) While it was all together, I traced the shape of my long skinny hole for my days of the week. I did ten spots, just trace one, slide the circle and trace the next. You could print the words and glue them on paper, but I just wrote them myself.  After you trace them, take it all apart again and glue or write your days of the week. Then erase your pencil lines.

Now,  we need to attach a popsicle stick or craft stick.  The one I had was a weird one with this circle on one end, so I just made it work.  You'll want to put adhesive on one side and attach it to the BACK of the days of the week circle.  You'll use this to spin your days, so I let it overlap the circle.  I used a scrap of paper to cover the large circle on the end, just for an added touch of color.  If you are using a regular craft stick, you could use a flower or buttons on the end to make it stand out.  I did play around with it a bit to make sure that no matter which day we were on, the popsicle stick wouldn't block the number of the date.

 

 Next, stack it all together and add the silver pieces we popped off earlier. At this point, I wrote in my numbers.  I just started with 1st, and turned until you could no longer see the print and did the 2nd.  My 31 numbers fit just fine!! Now, we are ready to decorate.

 

  I wanted to have a spot to change out a photo and the month.  I attached two photo corners and added a picture.  For the photo corners, you can just cut triangles and adhere them so you can still tuck a picture under the corners, or just attach a picture you really love and don't worry about changing it out. Next, I found a cardboard bookplate and covered it with paper.  If you don't have one, you can draw it out on cardboard and cut it out.  Then cover it with paper.I attached the bookplate with some brads.

Once I had everything attached, I decided the small silver piece that held everything together wasn't big enough to me.  I used a giant brad instead. The small piece held it all together, but sort of got lost on that polka dotted paper, so the brad is a bit better to me. Then it was time to personalize even more.  I used a strip of paper to make a flower, then dug around through my stash to find a few more things.  This is really the part where you add your own touches - so whatever you have or like is fair game!!

And here's the finished product again:

My total cost was really just the $1 plus tax.

The paper was in my stash, but if you are making one to match a specific room, or as a gift, you may want to buy just the right paper.  I had the buttons and flowers in my stash as well.  The spray adhesive was purchased for another project so I had it on hand.  You could still use a regular dry adhesive, or even a double stick tape.  I'm all about using what I have on hand and not spending too much on my projects, especially if they are just for me!

This would be really cute as a teachers gift.  You know they always get the themed gifts but this would be nice for them to hang by their desk - just for them.  You could also use it as a countdown to an event.  Instead of the month inside the bookplate, you could put VACATION, BIRTHDAY, etc. and then 'days until' inside the day of the week spot, and just use the same numbers for the days.

Thanks for checking out my tutorial!!  I hope you find it an easy thing to make for yourself!!

Lisa

When old songs should be new again

I'm not a huge fan of the remake.  I like it if you just simply do it the way it was originally intended.  If you redo it and change it all up and there's no trace of the original - well, forget it.  There are songs from 'way back' that should still be out there - either someone needs to do it again, or there needs to be a revival of those good songs.

Forever Young by Bob Dylan is one of those.  I love the lyrics, but honestly, I'm not a Bob Dylan fan - and I prefer the Wyclef version from the Pepsi commercial.  I just can't listen to Bob.

Another one that I just love the lyrics to - I'll Stand By You.  I love The Pretenders version and Carrie Underwood did it a few years ago for American Idol.  Her's is great, too.  The lyrics are just so great - something I want Cole to know about me and his dad!!

Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothin' you confess, could make me love you less

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

So, if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You're feelin' all alone
You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Yeah

Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you
No, no, no, no, no
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you

And really, who doesn't want to know that someone will stand by them?  I want a picture of the three of us an I want to scrapbook these lyrics for him to read one day and actually understand.  I know he knows we're on his side and he knows how much we love him but there will be a day when he may need to really understand that we'll always stand by him!!


Just thinking out loud today!!
lisa