Car Hangers

Need something cute and fashionable to hang from your rear view mirror?  Want to make something for you and your bestie so you can match?  How about these adorable hangers!  You can make them as the first letter of your name or any wood shape you like!  Here's how you do it:

Supplies:
1. Wood letter or shape
2. Piece of scrapbook paper
3. Pencil and scissors or exacto knife
4. Modge podge and brush
5. Embellishments (like stick on pearls, beads, jewels or flowers)
6. Glue gun
7. Ribbon or string
8. Paint

How you make it:
1. Paint the back of the letter and the sides with the color of your choice.
2. Trace the letter on to the scrapbook paper you want on the letter (make sure you trace the correct side!) and cut it out with scissors
*if that's too much work, put the paper on the letter and trace/cut it out with an exacto knife.
3. Paint a layer of modge podge on the front of the letter and lay your cut out scrapbook paper on it.
4. Stick on any embellishments to the letter now so you can modge podge over it (unless you're doing jewels, wait till after).
5. Modge podge over the letter pressing outward so you can eliminate bubbles.  You can put several coats on the letter now so the paper will be secured to the wood.
6. Cut two even pieces of ribbon about 3/4 of a foot each, glue them to the back of the letter apart from each other toward the top and then tie the ends together in a bow so the letter can now hang!
7. Hang from your rear view mirror for a classy, polished look!

Family Tree/ Cute Cork board

Ok so big little is in 2 days and you're stressin about making a family tree but you're out of ideas?  Well I have your solution.
Or maybe you want to make a cute family tree for your grandmothers 70th birthday.
Or maybe you just really like trees!

Well here's a cute, easy idea that can help you solve any of those wishes!  It's a cork board with a tree painted on it, outlined in yarn.  Cute right?  Here's how you pull this off....

Whatcha need:
1. Cork board
2. Paint and paintbrushes
3. Yarn
4. Wood pieces
5. Markers
6. Flower embellishments
7. Glue gun with glue sticks
8.  Scissors
8 1/2. Patience
*Optional*
9. Tacs
10. Screws
11. Jewels

Here's how you make it!

1. Paint a tree coming off the right side, so essentially you're doing only half a tree.  If you're not a savvy artist, trees can be really easy: just start with the trunk then branch out to two branches then branch those two into two more so now you have 4 and then so on.  Make them go in slightly different ways for some variety!
2. Now, once that glue gun has heated up, unwind your yarn a little bit and glue the yarn around all the edges of the tree.  This is where you'll use your patience.  Start at the bottom of the tree and work you way up doing small sections at a time.  Go ahead and keep the yard going around all the branches that are cut off by the edge of the board.  You should have one string going from start to finish of the tree and then you can out lines pieces that are secluded between branches.
3. Then, take those cute flowers you have (I like to cut flowers off the big bundles that I buy at hobby lobby, or they also have little containers of flowers in the "spare parts" brand section) and glue a few of them to the tree.
4. Now paint small wood pieces (they have a bag of small wood rectangles in the wood section of hobby lobby) and write the names of your family members on them with marker once they are dry.  Glue these pieces to the tree in generation order (I started with the oldest at the bottom).
*Optional*
5. Glue an assortment of jewels to a few tacks for an added, functional touch to the board and stick them in the corner.
6. Since it's a cork board you can buy some screw in hooks and screw them in to the bottom of the cork board if it's a board that isn't lined with wood!  That way you can hang necklaces, keys or memorabilia on the bottom of your creation!

Now step back and look at this wonderful, one-of-a-kind, family tree you've just made.  Now let's just hope Crazy Aunt Susie doesn't notice you kicked her off the family branch.

Simple Stationary

Need something cute, cheap and easy to give a friend for their birthday or your mom for mothers day?  Here's some adorable stationary and the steps to making it!

Supplies:
1. Paint and paintbrushes
2. Card stock or plain cards
3. Rubber stamps
4. Markers
5. Ribbon (for gift wrapping)

How do I do it?
1. Paint on the rubber stamp that you have chosen and stamp it on the front of the card.
2. Alternate how you stamp and if you want you can choose multiple stamps in different colors.  I like to choose a design (like a flower) and a word (like love, hope or peace) and pair them together.
3.  Let the cards dry and then add some detail with a marker that compliments the colors you've stamped with.  I like to add dots, zig zags or tiny flowers.
4. Stack the cards together and wrap with a ribbon like a present and you're all set.

These are perfect for gift giving because they're simple, usable and something unique that was hand crafted!  Now go get your creative juices flowing and create some cute stationary!

Colorful Corkboard

So you've got all of the coupons, important papers, pictures of friends, business cards and pictures your students or kids have drawn for you right? Where are they? STUFFED IN A BOX.  Well hey, why don't you drive your butt to hobby lobby, get a cork board for 5 bucks and paint yourself something cute to display all your invoices.  Let me tell you what you need.

-Cork board (small)

-Stencil or rubber stamp

-Paint (as many colors as you want, I used 3)

-Letters (they have cheap cute ones at Hobby Lobby)

-Sponge brush

-Regular paint brush

-Glue gun

Optional: 

-Ribbon

Here's how you pull this puppy off:

1.  Ya better let that glue gun heat up!

2. Since cork board can suck up paint, I like to just pour the paint around on the board itself.  After you're done doodling with paint globs, smooth the paint around and cover the board completely with your spongy brush making this your base coat

3. Whip out your stencil and sponge paint (in a different color) wherever you want your stencil places.  I had a victorian stencil in a strip so I just painted them side by side, covering the whole board.

4. Paint the wooden edges of the board in whatever color you'd like (or if you're feeling extra crafty, glue gun some ribbon).

5. Glue on your letters to spell your name, favorite pet, business, favorite room or inspirational saying.  Mine says Emalee because I made it for my little.  Put them in the upper

6. If your letters were white like mine, you can paint them whatever color you'd like!

7. By now you're board should be pretty dry so you can add little touches.  I painted little dot clusters in blue randomly on mine.

Let that sucker dry and you're all done!  Proudly hang that beaut up on your dorm room wall, by your work desk or in your kitchen for cute, easy organizing.  Wahoo!

Bow/Hair Pin Holder

Need some place cute to put all of those sorority bows, baby bows or cutesy bobby pins other than a gross bowl?  I know right, it sucks when you have to dig through a jewelry box to find those beautiful gems you paid 4 bucks for at forever21.  Well now you don't!  Here's a super cute, functional and EASY idea for proudly displaying your awesome hair pieces.

Here's what you need:

-Frame of any size (Hobby Lobby always has them 50% off)

-Batting about 1/4 inch thick (runs for about $3 usually)

-Fabric of your choice (Hobby Lobby extras bin gets you good deals for under $2)

-Ribbon of your choice (usually <$1)

-Stencil or stamp(<$1)

-Small bottle of paint (<$1)

-Spongy paint brush

-Glue gun

-Stapler

Here's how you do it:

1. Take out the glass and back of the frame so you just have the outside.

(Start heating up that glue gun now!)

2. Paint on your stencil by holding the stencil in place and sponging on the paint with a sponge brush.  Do this in both long sides of your frame or all the way around!  (you can also use a rubber stamp to stamp images on if  you'd like).  Let it dry!

3. Now take the wooden back of the frame (you know the part that back the picture and has that pick that pops out and props up the frame? that one). Cut out a piece of batting that is the size of this frame back.

4. Cut out a piece of your fabric that is about an inch longer than the frame back.

5. Place batting on frame back and then fabric over the top so that the fabric wraps around to the back.

6. Whip out that trusty stapler and staple the fabric and batting in to the frame backing close to the edges (so the staples can be seen when you put it back in the frame).

7.  Cut a strip of ribbon so that it runs down the middle of this frame back and can wrap over about an inch and glue the ends of the ribbon on the backside.

8. Now put this frame back into the frame itself.  Since you've made it a bit bulkier than it used to be you might have to wiggle and push it in.

Now clip in your bows and barrette's and you've got a functional piece of art!  Proudly dust off those bobby pins and display them so all can see!

Getting Lacy with ModgePodge

Need some cute back to school ideas for your big or little? Want some unique wall hangings for above your bed or dorm door? Well here's the perfect (CHEAP) idea for you!

What you'll need:
-Colored card stock or scrapbook paper of your choice (<$1)
-Small flat back canvas about the size of a sheet of paper($5 for pack of 3 at Michael's)
-Lace, any kind, a little bit larger than the canvas (I used my moms old curtains, but usually hobby lobby or craft stores have bins of extra fabric and usually have a small roll of lace for $2 or less)
-Modge Podge (about $2 for a small bottle)
-Black paint or whatever color you want underneath (<$1)
-Glue gun w/ glue (most go for $2.99 at hobby lobby)
-Spongy paint brush (<.30 at craft stores)

Optional:
Wooden decal (I chose a crown)(<$1)
Assortment of colored jewels (<$1 a pack)

Ok! Now on to the crafting part!!
1. Plug in your glue gun so it can warm up! Don't forget, carpet and glue guns are not besties so put your glue gun on a hard surface, preferably non flammable!

2. Paint your canvas with the color of your choice and let it dry.

3. Cut the lace so that it fits over the canvas with about an inch hanging off the sides.

4. Once your canvas is dry, put on a layer of Modge Podge and lay your lace on the canvas, pressing down lightly.

5. Dab your sponge brush in the Modge Podge and sponge the glue over the lace (strokes will only bunch up the lace and move it around, a spongy/dab like effect puts the glue on without the lace moving). Put it on thick until the entire lace fronting is covered. (if you're impatient, you can go ahead and put a blow drier to this puppy! It makes the Modge Podge dry fast!) Then glue gun the extra lace down on the back!

6. Cut out your desired letters or objects from your cardstock or scrapbook paper.

7. Layer on some more Modge Podge where you want your letters placed and stick those letters on.

8. Brush some Modge Podge over the top of the letters and dabbing around the edges to make them stick. Make sure to smooth out any bubbles while you the glue is still wet.

OPTIONAL:
1. Paint the wooden decal (I did a crown) and let it dry.

2. Pick out assorted jewels of your choice and place them on the decal and hot glue gun them as desired!

3. Glue gun the back of the decal and attach it to the corner of your lacy masterpiece.

Bam you're done! Once you've recovered from the fumes of the Modge Podge and can now stand without getting dizzy, go ahead and hang that beauty on your front door or above your bed and make all of your friends wonder why how you graduated from art school in 3 weeks. Awesome!

P.S. Here's a couple of my own creations (with the help of my little Emalee)

Flower Headbands

You know those cute flower headbands that EVERYONE is wearing? Don't they seem like they're so easy to make instead of buying them for 7+ dollars at hair accessory stores? Well they are! I'll show you how to make them here.

Supplies:
-fabric of your choosing (check out the scrap section at your local Walmart or Hobby Lobby)
-buttons or beads (optional)
-head band (Walmart or Wallgreens has them cheap)
-needle and thread (any color)
-felt with a sticky back (Walmart of Hobby Lobby)
-scissors

1. First cut out the fabric in the shape of a flower. I typically cut out several different sizes so I can layer them for a cuter effect.
2. Sew the fabric flowers together by sewing straight through the middle from the underside to the top side. Sew a few stiches.
3. Before you tie of the sewing string, sew on your button or bead to the center of the flower.
4. Cut a circle of the felt adhesive about the size of a quarter and attach the flower to the headband by sticking this felt circle to the back of the flower with the headband squeezed in between.

Now you have your very own unique headband (and the bragging rights to say you made it yourself).