DIY Magnetic Tray/Make-Up Organizer

This is a project I have seen all over Pinterest, but when I went to complete it, it was going to be way too expensive.  The goal was a birthday present, a cute metal tray to organize make-up.

Supplies:

1. Metal Tray (I found one at goodwill inexpensive) 
2. Fabric (I always visit the "scraps bin" at my local fabric store, fabric that is at the end when they cut it and someone doesn't want it goes there at a discount)
3. Spray Paint
4. Ribbon
5. Hot Glue/Hot Glue Gun
6. Scissors

First, I used painters tape to cover the center design.  It was going to get covered with fabric anyways, why waste the paint?  (Plus my mom Didnt want me to paint over the flowers because it is "classic")

Next I sprayed and sprayed (outside of course) and put a nice layer or two of spray paint on it.  

Once the tray finished drying, I placed the fabric on top to get an idea on the size...I was too lazy to measure, so I didn't.  After laying it on top, I cut out enough to cover the entire top of the tray.  

To create a neat edge, without sewing, I folded the fabric over and hot glued the edge together,  my fabric was now the size I needed.

Hot glue the entire piece of fabric on the tray and add ribbon to the handles for a nice finished look.  

Wrap and give, she didn't attach magnets to her make-up to store it on the tray, but she does use it to keep her make-up neat and organized.

Good luck, and enjoy this craft.

Boo Boo Bunny

ok Parents, Grandparents, babysitters, and nannys, these things are great.  You can keep them in the freezer or display them and slip an ice cube in, they are super cute and comforting to little ones when they get hurt, your turn to try your hand!

I made the green one and my friend made the yellow one, as you can see they are different, but both super cute, and we made them from supplies we already had laying around the house.

Supplies:

1. Washcloth (any color)
2. Rubber band
3. Ribbon
4. Pom poms/and or googley eyes.
5. Rubber band(s)

These things are super easy and super cute! First, fold two corners of the washcloth together, then roll from the two corners in toward the long edge.  Once you have it rolled, fold the roll in half and then in half again.  Once you fold it in half the second time place the rubber band around it to hold it in place.

Now all you have to do is decorate.  I like to put a ribbon covering the rubber band and creating a bow on the top, add some eyes and a nose, and don't forget a pom Pom tail!

The body of the bunny has a hole behind the ears, this is where you can insert an ice cube to take the hurt away! 

These are great for around the house, at work, or as baby shower gifts. Hop to it!

Decorative Spiral Notebooks

For these cute notebooks it just takes a little time and effort, no measuring!

Supplies:

1. Spiral Notebook
2. Washi Tape
3. Packing Tape (optional, but strongly suggested)

Washi tape can be pretty expensive, I got a tube of 10 rolls at Michael's, it was $10 but I had a 50% off coupon, so it wasn't so bad.

To start I simply picked colors that I thought would look good with the spiral color. (The spiral color may show through some on some colors, be sure to keep that in mind when selecting the colors you want.)

I started at the top left corner of the spiral and layer a diagonal line of tape straight down to the long open edge, wrap the end of the tape over the inner edge some, just to make sure it will stay well.

After the first piece was in place, I simply followed it by the next, lining up the edge.  Personally I like it to look neat, so I did a pattern, and had room to do each of the 6 different patterned tapes twice.

Once I stuck the washi tape, I was a little unsure about it staying, but I didn't want to put something on top of it, so I opened up the cover.  On the inside of the cover I put a piece of packing tape on the long open edge and the top edge to cover the ends of the washi tape.  This helps secure it, and has made them last and last.

This is an easy craft for anyone, they are great for teens, for birthday presents, graduations, or any other occasion.

String Art

I saw this on Etsy for $38...and I knew I could make it for less, so after looking at the picture a couple times, I figured out a way to make it for myself...for WAY less.  It did take some time, so I totally understand that $38 is reasonable, just not for me when I could make it! If you are not up for the project, Easy has many options!

Supplies:

1. Wood (mine was 7x10x3/4")
2. Nails (small, I don't know the exact size, I think about 3/4")
3. String (multiple colors, or white and dye to color some of it.)
4. Paper/Printer
5. Hammer
6. Scissors
7. Glue

First, I asked a friend to pick up some wood for me, because I knew he was headed to Home Depot that day for wood, so he added a little extra to what he needed and I got the wood for only $1. He was nice enough to sand it for me too!  I painted it a couple coats of purple, adding a bit of water to spread the paint a bit with each coat.


After that, I knew I wanted white string and yellow, so instead of spending $6 each on white and yellow, I decided to get white for $6 and some $3 yellow dye. I wrapped some string around a bottle and mixed the dye and let it soak and such as per the box instructions.


Once the string was dyed, I created a pattern for the string art. In publisher I pasted a map of VA and traced it with the line drawing tool and made it a dotted line. I did the same with the letters. After that I printed it (I made 3 copies and used all of them) and then marked which dots I was going to put nails in (about every other or third, depending on the necessity of the part of the outline). I basically made it all up as I went! 


I then tied a knot on a random nail and cut the tail really short. After that I used the string to outline all of the shape, wrapping around each nail before moving to the next.  Then I went all around and connected the nails, making sure not to go outside of the lines, connecting various nails and I just kept going until I liked it.  Then I double wrapped the boarder again to make sure it was clear. To finish it, I put a bit of glue on my finger and rubbed the end and stuck it to other string to secure it without a knot.


I set the pattern on the wood and nailed in the nails to the dots I had chosen.  I then tore the paper away leaving only the remaining nails.  I referred to another copy of my pattern to make sure I got it right when outlining with string.  The second time I made one, I chose to nail in the first nail to hold the pattern still.  After securing the pattern, I made a slight mark at each dot I wanted to put a nail, removed the paper, and then put the nails in securely so there were not paper remnants around the nails.


I think the total cost came out to be about $7, but I already had nails laying around the house, and I got a great deal on the wood.
Get creative! Let me know if you have any questions!


Since making the Virginia/JMU art, I have also made a dandelion.  A friend wanted to make one so when I sat down with her I worked on a dandelion for myself.  It was a little more difficuilt than the first because when wrapping the string between nails I had to create a pattern and stay a bit more focused while working.


The second one I made I went to home depot to get wood, they cut it for me, and marked it as scrap...so I got it for free!


This is a great gift and super inexpensive, if you are willing to put in a bit of time! Get creative and let me know if you have any questions! :-)

Fleece Blanket with Crochet Boarder

Warning: you need basic crochet skills for this project.

This was my very first dorm craft.  I got the fabric I sale for 50% off and the yarn with a coupon for 50% off, in total it cost only about $20 and I got to pick my colors and everything.

So I made this for fun, before I started this blog, so I don't have any pictures while I was making it, but it only took about an hour.

Supplies:

1. Fleece (I used 2.5 yards, long enough for an extra long twin bed)
2. Scissors
3. Crochet Hook (size Q or 16mm)
4. Yarn (I used Bernat Blanket yarn)

I saw fleece blankets with a cute little yarn boarder in a picture, and when I was at the fabric store with my mom and her friend, they ended up convincing me to get thick soft yarn for the boarder, so I had to create my own design.

First, I simply cut holes approximately 1 or 2 inches apart, I didn't feel like measuring, so I didn't.  I cut the holes large enough that I thought the hook would easily slip in and out. I slightly folded the edge to make cutting a bit easier, but it did make the holes a little bigger, some bigger than I wanted, but they still work.  I cut holes one side at a time (because I get board so I needed to switch between cutting and crocheting). 

I secured the yarn with a knot in the first hole, then crocheted a single crochet stitch into each hole just as you would into a regular stitch.

After going around once I didn't think it looked finished, so I went around a second time with a slip stitch into each of the previous single crochets.  I tied it off at the end and weaved the end in a little ways.

I am too impatient to crochet an entire blanket, so this was a great, quick project that allowed me to add my own personal touch to an already soft blanket.

This blanket was super easy and inexpensive. It would make a great gift, I even washed it and it didn't come apart!  Best wishes, and happy crocheting. 

Oreo Truffles

Ok, I will be honest, these things are super sweet and even a sweet tooth like me can only handle two before I know I need to stop.  They taste so good, but I have made them so many times, they are such a hit, and I always get requested to make them again and again.  But they are only 3 ingredients, so I can't complain much.  They are so simple!

Just 3 ingredients, yes 3!

1. Oreos "Family Size" (specifically single stuff, don't try double stuff they are not as good. Also, family size because you can make more and they are not too cheesy)
2. 1-8oz. Block of Cream Cheese (softened)
3. 1-brick of melting chocolate (I have tried many and Kroger brand is my favorite, I prefer milk chocolate, but white chocolate is good when you add a bit of peppermint extract and bits.)

First place your Oreos in two gallon sized  bags, I always DOUBLE BAG them, because otherwise they go everywhere (trust me, this is experience in my living room...whoops!) the best way is to open the Oreos at the top (where it says "stop open on top") and dump in one bag, seal and stick entire bag into second bag.

Next, crunsh, crush, crush.  Again, I have don't this time and time again, and when you are staying in a dorm with limited supplies you can get creative with how you break those Oreos into tiny pieces.  I have used textbooks, pans, shoes (swinging, not stomping), but when I am at home with my typical resources I use a small metal mallet/hammer.  It has enough surface area but I can still control it.  If I owned a food processor...I would probably use it, but with plastic bags I don't have to worry about cleaning anything extra.

Once your Oreos are a fine dust (it takes a while, just keep hitting~make sure the bag is not splitting, if it is you may need to add a third plastic bag to prevent crumbs from going everywhere.). Dump your oreo dust into a bowl with softened cream cheese and mix with your hands.  Yes, hands are the easiest, make sure you wash them first, and then go for it!  

After you have created a dough, scoop out into equal amounts on a cookie sheet (I usually go ahead and put a long sheet of wax paper on the cookie sheet so I don't have to clean it later [I'm lazy]).  Personally I use a cookie scoop to get equal sizes, then roll with your hands into nice solid spheres. (I have found that if I don't roll them with my hands they break apart more easily when dipping.) 

Place them in the freezer on the cookie sheet (that the only reason I actually put them on something sturdy, you could use a cutting board or any things else easy.) I usually leave them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, but I usually plan so I can leave them in longer and forget about them for a while, just wait until they are hard.

After they are frozen, melt half of the brick of chocolate only.  If you do more then half then as you dip cold truffles the chocolate cools too quickly and you don't get a smooth finish on them.  Simply melt in the microwave according to package instructions, or 1 minutes and then stir, a lot.  If you can avoid putting it bake in the microwave it is best, if not, don't put it in for more than 10 seconds without stirring.

To dip the Oreos, the best method I have found is to drop one in the chocolate at a time (with the Kroger brand chocolate it comes with a continent disposable try) roll and then remove with a spoon, slightly letting excess drip off the spoon so you don't end up with a big chunk of chocolate flat on the bottom of one truffle and not enough to cover the others. 

After you dip it, simply place on wax paper, and let harden. They harden pretty quickly because the Oreo spheres are frozen.

Work quickly.

After you finish coating all of the truffles, if you have left over chocolate or you happen to have some white chocolate, drizzle it a cross them with a spoon or put in a sandwich bag or piping bag and make them look pretty.  Sprinkles or crushed peppermint also look really nice.

It sounds like a lot, but they don't take long, and it really is easy. Good luck, and enjoy!