Name Tag or Place Card?

In my previous post "Napkin Ring Ocean Inspired" you could see a tag attached to the ring with the name of the person. Let that person be Captain Jack, since everything is ocean inspired and yes, I do love Pirates of the Caribbean.

Let's make it!

Materials needed: brown paper bag, paper puncher in desired shape, single hole puncher and a jute rope. Starfish stamp is optional.

Fearlessly punch out as many tags as you can out of your brown shopping bag, making sure you are selecting non wrinkled spots.

Punch single hole in every tag, decorate with stamp of your choice or leave it as it is, let the ink dry. Tie the rope and you are done!

Easy breezy! You can use as place card if you'll tie it to a napkin ring, or as a name tag if it will be placed around button or you can use it however you want and write whatever you want, the most important part is to have fun, right?

Napkin Ring Ocean Inspired

Happy Monday, everybody. I've had such a busy and fun run during last few days that it took me the entire Sunday to re-coop:) I am working on that posting but for now....

Let's make some napkin rings for our Ocean inspired table setting.

Materials you'll need - Jute Rope, toilet paper roll, Hot glue gun, Star Fish or any Shells of your choice

Cut toilet paper tube down to the size that will work for your future napkin ring. In my case, I've got 3 rings out of one toilet paper roll.

Apply a few drops of hot glue along one side and start wrapping jute rope around your cardboard ring making sure it sits tight. Secure the end with hot glue.

Choose an ocean made embellishment. In my case, I am using a dry starfish in natural color, decide which side do you like more: Top

or bottom.

My preference was a belly side for my tone on tone color scheme.

Apply your ocean inspired decoration using hot glue and you are done!

Make as many as needed

The best part for me - NO MONEY SPENT:)

Seashell Candles

Today I was suppose to talk about my Favor Bags items, but I was swept off my feet by this fabulous project that I came across at Martha's Web Site and since it fits my theme so perfect I couldn't wait:) and..... I had all the ingredients!

Materials you will need

Seashells

Waxed Wicks

Old Candles

Double Boiler

Note: Double Boiler - is large pot half full with boiling water and a smaller pot inside where you are doing the melting.

Let's begin! Wash seashells carefully with water and a small amount of bleach. Let them dry. Melt old candle in a double boiler. Place waxed wicks in each seashell

and pour melted wax. Let the wax cool. Trim the wicks to a reasonable length and believe it or not you are done!This is such an easy and beautiful project - thanks Martha!

Gift Bags Project

My daughter's 3rd (can't believe it!) Birthday in going to be this week and it means everything needs to be ready on time. Birthday Theme - Ocean and Sea Creatures.

Today we are doing a Gift Bag for Party Favors.

Materials you will need:

Lunch Brown Bags

Pencils

Pages from Magazines with Water Images

Sea Shells

Hot glue gun

Yarn in "Water" Colors

Hole Punches

Punches with Sea related Images

Glitter paint in "Water" colors

Let's Begin! Fold inside the top of the Brown Bag for about 1 " or so

Punch holes to accommodate future ties

Cut yarn into strips long enough to to tie a bow and decorate the ends with mini sea shells of your choice attaching them with hot glue.

Draw a basic sea scape using Crayons. Brush over some glitter paint to add dimensions.

Punch Sea Creatures or cut out from magazines and glue them over the Sea Scape to create an underwater scene.

For the next set of ties, do the same thing as before but for the decorations we are going to use a different trim. Punch few rounds out of magazines.

Then punch a sea creatures of your choice. Put a contrasting color craft paper behind your punch circle and we've got a new set of trims for your Favor bags:)

Last touch, add a Fish Shape Cut Out on top of the bag with initial of the guest

and you are done!

Tomorrow we are going to be talking about Favor Bag Contents:)

Happy Monday everyone!

Something old from something new

Today we are going to make something old from something new and we are going to use that last piece of fabric that I’ve got left from my previous project.

This is a Picture Box that I’ve received as a gift few years ago.

It was not my style and the size doesn’t fit the amount of pictures that I have. We are going to do a makeover for this client of ours.

Let’s go!

One coat of primer

Lots of coats of paint and sandpaper to distress

Old wallpaper sample to line the shelves

Old button to make a cute drawer pull

And we are done. Well, almost…. In my previous post in this Blog, I've had a dilemma on how to use the last piece of fabric. Finally, I have an idea!

Let’s make a pin cushion (no more pieces of this fabric flying around) and we’ve got a perfect sewing chest.

Something old from something new! Love it!

Today's project - Family Dinner

I am having my wonderful Brother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law for dinner. Nothing is better than a good company and they are simply a pure joy.

We are going to have-

Seafood Salad - shrimps, green apple, celery, green scallions in Lime/Avocado Oil Dressing

Red Radishes/Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Lemon Juice Dressing

My Sister-In-Law brought a wonderful homemade Pork and Mushroom Roll as an appetizer

Oven Baked Salmon marinated in Mayonnaise, Dijon Mustard, Lemon Juice, Fresh Dill and Sesame Seed Oil

Roasted Potatoes

Green Beans with Walnut Dressing

and accompanied by Californian Pinot Noir . I call it a project, wouldn't you?

Total cost $40.00 including the wine. Not too bad, but it will not count for my 365 days 365 Days No Money Spend Run:(

The simplest and the dearest

This is probably the easiest and at the same time the dearest projects of mine. In our busy and stressful days we sometimes overlook the beauty of the simple things that surround us.

I woke up early in the morning to a bird singing outside. It was so peaceful and cheering at the same time. It made me go to the backyard and look around, I got a fresh morning breeze in my face and felt.... happy. I wanted to celebrate this feeling and made this bouquet out of my backyard plants.

I hope these plants will uplift your spirit as well and you will find joy in something simple, in something easy that is next to you and I hope you will smile....

Shaun the Sheep - Toy Tutorial

Another character from the cartoon that is our family favorite - Shaun the Sheep.

We all love Shaun who is the leader of the squad, so let's make one.

(This is the most detailed tutorial that I've ever done)

MATERIALS:
Cardboard
Yarn (In my project, I am using 99 cents Store find – white yarn)
2 black chenille stems
2 wiggle eyes
Black Felt (you don’t need a lot, so any leftovers are welcome)
Felt Paint in Red
Costume and Mask Glue
Scissors

Step 1

You will need to trace two larger circles on a cardboard, of if the cardboard allows you to be folded in a half, then fold it and trace only one.

As you can see I am using a regular glass

Now, in the middle of the larger circle, you’ll need to trace a smaller circle

I am using a bottle water cap

When you are done tracing - it should look like that.

Cut the donut shapes out. You’ll get two pieces looking like that.

Wrap it up! Put two cardvoard pieces together. Starting from the outside edge and going in and around, start wrapping the donut by using long pieces of yarn. It is a lengthy part of the project, so pick a good movie or show on TV and take it away!

When the middle opening of the donut will become very small insert two chenille stems

continue wrapping the yarn (using large craft needle, in order to go through the center) until the center is completely covered

Let the magic begin! You need to start cutting along the outside edge in order to get to the cardboard.

As soon as you’ve been able to expose some of the cardboard, insert your scissors between two pieces and keep cutting along the outside edge.

When you are done it should look like this

Tie the middle part very tightly in order to hold your pom pom together.

Remove the cardboard pieces

My favorite part - get the fruit of your labor

Bend chenille stems in order to create any shape of legs that you may like

Let’s make a head.

I am using leftover piece of black felt . Folded in a half, it measures about 2”

Cut the pear shape.

Glue two pieces together and set aside to dry

Let’s make ears.
In my case, I am using leftover piece of felt.
I cut out two pieces 1 ¼” long and ¾” wide in a leaf like pattern, with wider base.

Apply a small drop of glue to the center of the wide base.

Press them together by using alligator clips and set aside to dry.

Let’s play with eyes.
It is amazing how many face expressions you can create by moving eyes around. Have fun!
After you have settled on a certain face expression, glue wiggle eyes to the head and set aside to dry.

Let’s work on hair style
Using white yarn, I’ve created few loops around the forehead, secure each loop with a tight knot.

Cut each loop in the middle.

Fluff it up and trim side pieces in order to get nice rounded look.

Glue ears to the head.

Let’s draw a mouth.
My paint was very thick, so I’ve put a little drop

and then using a tooth pick created pillow lips with adorable smile.

Attach head to the body.

Put a generous amount of glue where the head you think should be and press them together. Let the glue dry.

Here is your new fuzzy friend! The weekend is ahead of you and depending on how busy you are, you can easily make Shaun or the whole squad:) Have a nice weekend!