Hello my fellow DIY-ers and crafters! Today I have a really exciting tutorial for you! I’ve always been enamored with the chalkboard wall art I see at stores but lacked a connection with their rote messages, let alone the cost. At the same time, I have fallen in love with the Rhonna Farrer app (click here for previous CTD review). Rhonna has fabulous designs and fonts that fit all occasions and lend themselves extremely well for home decor. In this […]
DIY Monogram Sisal Rug (with Spray Paint!)
I love those high-end monogram sisal rugs from fancy catalogs. But OH those prices? So what if I told you you could make a DIY monogram sisal rug in a weekend for a TENTH of the cost? Well, you can- and I did- so now I’ll share my tips and tricks with you! So this is a project I was hired to do for Krylon for their booth at the CHA tradeshow in January 2016. You’ll need: Sisal Rug Freezer […]
Hostess Tray Fit for a Queen (Or a Princess Charlotte!)
I had this old hostess tray sitting around, and it really needed….something. It was plain and cheap, and faded into the background. I decided it needed some “oomph” and that when I used it, my guests should feel like a royalty! (Or maybe even me, on Mother’s Day?) So I set to work. Here’s a sneak peek! (Disclosure: this is a sponsored tutorial designed my little ol’ me on behalf of Krylon. They supplied the paint and compensation. Thanks, Krylon!) […]
“Surprise” Acorn Ornaments or Gift Boxes
Today I have a great tutorial for you! It’s not yet Thanksgiving so I’m not “completely” in holiday mode yet.. but I AM thinking about hostess gifts and decorations that would work for Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah OR Christmas. (That’s a tough order to fill, right?) Well, these acorn ornaments are that “shabby glamorous” look that’s big right now, and it can be used for ANY fall or winter celebration. Note: this is a sponsored tutorial and the links below […]
Review it & DO IT! Spooky Goblets using Krylon Frosted Glass Effect
I love to decorate for the different holiday seasons-and I especially love making crafty items for our parties and family get-togethers. (And Halloween crafting is my FAVORITE!) But what if you don’t want to *store* all of those decorations and supplies? Well, then make something that you can re-use for the next season, of course! And today I’m going to show you how you can use Krylon Frosted Glass Effect to make a spooky design on your goblets… and then […]
Roadside Rescue: Cheval Mirror to Pin Board
I found a grody old cheval mirror on the tree lawn a few months back. (OK, maybe it was more like a year!) But I saved it from the trash man and tucked it away. I decided to make a new pinboard for basically FREE. Want to see how? Here’s what I started with: Since it had been out in the weather, I determined that the stand wasn’t really worth saving. And the wood backing was pretty shot too. […]
How-To: Reusable Candle Wraps featuring May Arts Ribbon
I have a lot of candles around my home; in the kitchen, living room, bedroom- even the hallway! Sometimes I try to buy new candles for the seasons, but often they just sit there looking tired. So I decided to “dress” my candles for the seasons by making re-usable wraps featuring May Arts Ribbon. Now I can swap out the wraps for a seasonal look without breaking the bank. And because they are small, I can store them to use […]
How-To: Graphic Candles for Halloween
I really love to decorate for Halloween- each year I add something special/different to my mantel display. Since I’d recently reviewed Scrapbooking Attitude, I knew it would be perfect for adding a cool, spooky vibe to my dollar-store candles! To make this fun Halloween craft, you’ll need: Dollar-store candles Scrapbooking Attitude Printable Film & printer scissors glue sticks Halloween paper ribbon punch (I used one from EK Success) black cardstock If your images include text, you’ll need to prepare your […]
Craft Product Review: Sizzix and Hero Arts Stamp & Die Cut
What happens when two amazing companies join forces and resources? You get an awesome product, of course! Enter in Hero Arts and Sizzix Stamp and Die Cuts! Hero Arts is one of the leading manufacturers of quality and trend-setting stamps while Sizzix is one of the most well-known names in the crafting industry and leader of die-cutting machines and dies. According to the website: “Create the most exact cuts around your cling stamp images. Introducing wafer-thin and chemically etched Framelits […]
Mother’s Day Gift Idea – A Crafty Challenge Using Martha Stewart Crafts
I love a good challenge. And I really love it when I get to craft with someone I admire and respect. So this week I was doubly-happy when Vicki O’Dell (the Creative Goddess) visited CTD WHQ (CraftTestDummies World Headquarters) and we cracked into a new box of goodies from the Martha Stewart Crafts “Stitched” line from EK Success. Here’s what we had to work with: We received a lovely selection of paper, tags, labels, borders, and stickers. We both loved […]
How-To: Craft a Spring Kissing Ball
Right about now I need a little spring- it’s still dark out and my world is shrouded in white. How about a little spring kissing ball to brighten things up? It’s easy, and your glue gun will be your best friend on this one! You’ll need: Styrofoam ball- 4″ is good Sheet moss Glue Gun & sticks Hot Glue Gun Helpers (optional, but barely!) Silk flowers (great for upcycling old arrangements) ribbon rhinestones (small) Start by covering your Styrofoam ball […]
Craft Product Review: Upholstery Paint by Simply Spray
While Upholstery Paint is not necessarily at “craft product,” crafty DIY’ers and home decor enthusiasts need to know about this product from Simply Spray. Originally designed for refreshing the upholstery in cars, RV’s, and boats- but I read that it works just as well for cushions, umbrellas, and other water-permeable fabrics. Good thing, too because my studio had a couple of items that seriously needed a make-over! I started off with this old lamp, which used to be in my […]
Craft Product Review: Simply Spray
I have done a number of projects now using Simply Spray, and I have to admit I’m a fan. I noticed today, though, that I’d never posted a review here on my blog, even though I’d written one for CraftsUnleashed.com. So I’m re-printing my review here with links out a slew of Simply Spray projects! I love the look of tie-dying, but sometimes I need to get a project done NOW- without mixing up colors or waiting for pots of […]
Paper Lantern Summer Party Craft
Here’s a little goodie I posted over at CraftsUnleashed-blog- and I thought I’d share it here, too. You can whip up one of these beauties just in time for your Labor Day festivities! I have to admit that this wasn’t my original idea- I saw a project on Martha Stewart’s blog that used butterfly punch cut-outs on a purchased paper lantern and I thought it was super cute. I was tickled, too, because ConsumerCrafts.com sells these fabulous battery-operated paper lanterns […]
Memory Frame Craft up on CraftsUnleashed
We’re doing a little “grads and dads” memory frame challenge on CraftsUnleashed, and I have to confess I was stumped on this for a while. Of course, my inclination was to make something for my husband from the kiddos, since Father’s Day is right around the corner. But then I realized that no one was working on a grad frame, and it would be fun to see one of those. One problem: I don’t know any high-school or college grads!!! […]
Easter Banner up at CraftsUnleashed.com
Every now and then I make a little craft that I’m particularly proud of…and today’s post on making Paper Easter Banners at CraftsUnleashed.com is one of them. I hauled out my Cricut and got me to cuttin’ some circles and letters and BAM! In about an hour I had me this cutesy banner to hang on my mantle: I think it’s A) pretty, and B) is something you could make at home without a Cricut– and probably with the papers […]
Altered Organizer “How-To†on CraftsUnleashed!
Hiya! Wanted to let y’all know that I’ve got a great “how-to” post over at www.CraftsUnleashed.com today on how to alter a desktop organizer…to convert it from drab to “FAB!” To top it off, I used one of my (personally) least favorite crafting products- Foamies! Not to diss Foamies- but they’re really not my thing. BUT- look how cute they are on my altered desk organizer– and they attach well to plastic using a glue gun. So hop on over […]
Cricut Vinyl Review on CraftCritique
I love, love, LOVE me some vinyl! And I really love the Cricut Vinyl by Provocraft. I sat and played with it for a whole afternoon- cutting with a punch, with the Slice, with the Cricut Expression, even running it through the Cuttlebug to emboss it. Totally awesome. Here are some pics that I took during my playtime: Of course, click on over to CraftCritique to read my whole review, including pros and cons. Have YOU played with vinyl? What […]
Craft Your Own Hostess Gifts- Crystal Snowflake Ornaments
‘Tis the season to go to parties! And it’s a big no-no to go empty handed. What better way to show your host/hostess some LOVE than to make your own seasonal Snowflake Ornaments? They can be hung on a tree or in window to add some seasonal sparkle and shine. I made mine using Swarovski Crystal beads, because, let’s face it- they offer the most amazing sparkle, and I’m willing to spend a little coin on my benevolent hosts. However, […]
Recycled Wallpaper Ornament- Recycling My Memories!
This is an article I published at my Craft Therapy blog…but since I cover re-using stripped wallpaper, I felt it was good enough to share here. {I’m also going to shut down that blog at the end of the year, and don’t want to lose this content!} Anyway, enjoy the story, steal the idea, make cool stuff out of trash! So here’s the story: Once upon a time, when I was a young girl, I lived in a house. And […]