DIY: Yarn Letters

Materials:Yarn
Cardboard (or purchase block letters)
Pencil
Scissors
Tape or Hot Glue

How To Make Yarn-Wrapped Letters:
1. Print letters out on standard printer paper (I used AR Essence, font size 750). Cut out the letters.
2. Trace letter on to cardboard. Cut out each cardboard letter using a box cutter or pair of scissors.
3. Cut a small slit in the cardboard letter where you would like to begin wrapping.
4. Insert the end of yarn into the slit, then tape or glue the yarn end to the back of the letter. This will help keep the yarn in place better.
5. Wrap yarn around the letter in the same direction.
6. When you reach corners, start wrapping yarn in the opposite direction to cover the remainder of the letter. Hot glue, tie, or tape any loose ends to the back.
7. Attach letter to the wall with a command hook, picture hanger, or hot glue a 6" piece of yarn to the back of the letter, then hang from a nail.

DIY Button Rings

MATERIALS

Ring findings I use the adjustable sort with a perforated disc or screen, used to make beaded rings, found at bead supply shops.
Embroidery thread or dental floss
A selection of buttons Flat or sew-through buttons work best, but you can also use small shank buttons.

DIRECTIONS

1. Choose your button(s).
If you want to stack your buttons, you can sew them together before attaching them to the finding. Sew through them once or twice and tie a firm knot on the underside. I used a mixture of vintage and new buttons.
2. Sew your button(s) to the finding.
Sew right up through all the button layers if possible, lining up the holes as you go. If you can’t sew through the buttons, just sew the disc to the buttons by passing the needle through the knot on the underside. Sew them on firmly, and tie off your threads at the back or weave them back in under the disc to hide the ends.
3. Slip on your ring.
Show off your bling! When you get bored with the buttons, you can just snip them off the disc, return them to your stash, and make some new rings.

This blog was found off Craft: Transforming traditional crafts, so if you want more crafting ideas click the link below and you will find lots of creative ideas.

http://craftzine.com/

Party Planning 101

This coming weekend my cousin is having her 30th birthday party. Lucky for me, I am planning it and am organizing everything that goes with it. Even though it is going to be a small party (only family), I intend to go all out and make it amazing.

Throughout the course of planning, creating and then the finished outcome, I will show you, how to create some of the decorations, food (and decorating the food), the set up of food tables and where you can get some of the products to create them yourself.

So you can get an idea of a starting point for the party, I have asked the guest of honor to select a colour combination. Which is tangerine and teal and then I emailed a long list of possible food that could be used and the guest of honor is to narrow down that list. A theme is currently under construction and I am having to keep in mind that there will only be 11 people at the party. On a positive note that is an easy number to cater for.

So, Throughout the week I will update you on whats happening and post some of the DIY crafting that will be used for the party, because we all know that handmade crafts make everything look and feel better.

Have you ever planned a party and what did you create yourself?

How to: Lacy Mason Jars

What you will need:
-Mason Jar
-Doilies
-Adhesive Spray
-Hot Glue
-Tea Lights
-Ribbon, Burlap, String, Twine
-Buttons, Beads or accessories of your choice
-Long Reach Lighter

What to Do:
Step 1:
Spray jar or doily with adhesive spray

Step 2:
Wrap and press doily on jar (as smooth as possible)

Step 3:
Use hot glue to affix tea light to the bottom of the jar

Step 4:
Decorate rim with ribbon, burlap, string, or twine and accessorize it with a cute button or accessory or your choice

Step 5:
Light tea candle with a long reach lighter

Up and Down We Go

Like I said in an earlier post, I am redecorating my bedroom. So far all I have been able to do is sand down my window sills and paint about half of my bedroom with an undercoat.

When you  are decorating a room of any kind you need to create a mood board so that you can sort out your ideas and make it complete. I have explained the mood board in my second post so I'm not going to repeat it.
http://hilaryscraft.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/beginnings-of-crafting.html

My colour palette is creme,purple and coffee. My walls are to be creme, For a pop of colour and excitement I am putting in purple curtains. For the rest of the room, decorating wise I am going to mix and match the coffee and purple. I have been told and read that for any room of any size to maximise the overall finished look, it needs to take time. You can repaint walls and things like that, but over time you an add and rearrange furniture and place little extra details around the room like a rug, flowers etc.

Here are some pictures of my room so far:

Light up the can: Tin Can Luminaries

You can do a lot of things when it comes to lights and lighting. I have found this idea on www.torispelling.com I am using her images and words because my pictures didn't come out very clear.

The site is called EdiTORIal and is run by Tori Spelling. Its an online community for people who love to craft and anything else that is related to crafting.

Materials:
-Tin cans (as many as you feel like and whatever size)
-Hammer
-Nail or screw
-Tissue or rice paper
-Votive or tea candles

What to do:

Step 1:
Find a location that is not a hard surface. You will be hammering, so some give in the surface is important. You can do this project outside in the grass, on a blanket.
Take your tin can (labels removed) and lay them down on your surface.

.

Step 2:
You can either create a template before hand with a dot-outlined image(s), or you can freehand your design.

Step 3:
Take your nail or screw and begin to hammer holes directly into the tin can in your design. You may want to wear gloves to protect your fingers.
Make sure that the holes you  create penetrate the can and are not just indentations on the outside of the can.

Step 4:
Once your design is made, you can cut paper to the size and wrap it around the can. I used gold rice paper here. Glue it to secure. Place your tea/votive candle inside and light. To secure the candle to the bottom of the tin can glue the bottom of the candle and press onto the tin can.

And there you have it, your brand new light. You can use this concept at any time of the year or to add a personal touch to someones bedroom.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle the crafty way!

Its easier said than done to reduce, reuse and recycle. But I have found one way that you can and still keep it crafty,classy and carefree!

What you will need:
-Scissors
-Ribbon or string (if desired)
-A glass bottle of any sort (beer,wine energy drink...)

What to do:
First off you need to clean your glass bottle unless you already have. Make sure it is fairly clean because as your bottle sits around it may start to go moldy or smell.



Next you need to remove that sticker on the outside, for my bottle I was able to just pull it off but you may need to run it under hot water and scrub off any extra paper left on it.

Once the sticker/label is removed, get rid of the bottle lid and cut the ring around the neck of the bottle off.

After that, go and find some flowers that compliment the glass bottle. You don't always have to colour coordinate them both but I think it makes the finished look more fresh.

Fill your glass bottle with water and arrange your flowers to suit. This is an option you can do if you prefer it to be without the ribbon or string.

Now with your ribbon or whatever you are going to use, snip it to your desired length and tie it around the neck of the bottle.

I chose to use both the white and orange ribbon together to create a look that compliments the flowers petals. Again you may choose other wise.

Finally. Simply arrange the flowers to your taste and style. You don't have to use flowers that are all the same colour.

For your finished look, you can place your flowers anywhere. If you want, place the petals that have fallen off during the arrangement of the flowers around the base of the bottle.

And there you have it, your recycled glass bottle vase. This concept can be used as a party decoration, house decoration or a centre piece at a table! Would you alter the look and how?