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Posts from the ‘Arts & Crafts’ Category

Jan 21

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How to Make a Succulent Terrarium

How To Create a Terrarium

The Girl and I decided to make a terrarium the other day after having spotted 2 large shelves filled with mini cactus and succulents at the Home Depot. I don’t know about you, but I just can’t seem to stay away from that place no matter how hard I try.

We couldn’t resist the fat little succulent plants, and it’s nothing sort of a miracle we didn’t bring every single one of them home with us.

If you have never built a succulent terrarium before they are super easy to make, and really are a lot of fun if you enjoy indoor gardening. Oh, and did I mention terrariums are extremely low maintenance too?

Terrarium

How to Make a Succulent Terrarium

Select a container that has a wide opening. Your container can be virtually anything that has glass sides to view your plants. We wanted a specific look, so we decided to spend a little more on a container rather than use a glass vase. The Girl found this mini greenhouse at Target in the Smith and Hawkin Section.

Terrarium rocks

To get started, place about  a 2-inch layer of gravel on the bottom of your container to allow for drainage. Keep in mind you’ll probably want to use decorative rocks for a more finished look. We found these at Ikea for $0.89 a bag.

Terrarium plants

Next place a thin layer of activated charcoal where your plants will be. This will act as an air purifier since we are using a closed top container. Next add a bit of cactus soil {found at Home Depot} around the base of where you will be setting your plants. You’ll probably want to spread the soil over all of the rocks, but we chose not to, because our plants are tiny and had rather shallow roots. Remove the plants from their pots and place them in the soil.

How To Create a Terrarium plants

Next, add a small layer of sand, and then some small pebbles to cover the sand {but only if you have OCD like me and don’t want the sand to be visible}.

glass chicken

Finally, add an accent item like a figurine, a small vintage toy or a tiny glass chicken ornament your mother gave you for Christmas that you named Glenda.

How To Create a Terrarium

The #1 reason terrariums fail is because people over water them, so only water your plants every two weeks or so. Also, make sure you place your succulent terrarium someplace that will receive at least 5 or 6 hours a day.

Keep Calm and Carry On.

~Mavis

Tiny World Terrariums

For more ideas on building your own terrariums, check out out the highly rated book Tiny World Terrariums: A Step-by-Step Guide to Easily Contained Life.

Jan 6

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Easy Kids Crafts – DIY Bird Feeders Ideas

toilet paper bird feeder{photo credit - Cocktail Mom}

star bird feeder{photo credit - Sweet Paul}

pine cone bird feeder{photo credit - Kate’s Life}

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teacup bird feeder{photo credit - Intimate Weddings}

old light bird feeder{photo credit - The Art of Doing Stuff}

Have you ever made a homemade bird feeder? Did it work? Did your feeder attract a lot of birds? Above you’ll find a few cool ideas and links. Simply click the link to go visit the original source and find out how to make these.

I love the Star Feeder, but I think I am going to stick with the basics, and attempt the toilet paper roll one instead.

~Mavis

Dec 20

How to Make a Party Hat

how to make a party hat picture tutorial
New Years Eve is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with your own handmade party hat! You’d be surprised at how easy party hats are to make.

Here is an easy peasy picture tutorial.

how to make a party hat pictures


For the base of the hat I always use poster board.  The shape of a party hat is 1/4th of a circle.

After you have cut out your party hat shape from poster board, carefully line up the ends and use clear packing tape to tape the ends together.

You will then need a fabric template.  Simply cut out another party hat out of poster board only this time add 1/4″ to all sides {the fabric template needs to be slightly larger than the party hat template}.

how to make a party hat news years craft project

Using the fabric template, cut out your fabric. Iron edges of fabric inward.  Using a low temp glue gun adhere fabric to party hat.

how to make a party hat news years pictures

Trim excess fabric from the bottom of the party hat. Using a dab of hot {low temp} glue, adhere 2 pieces of ribbon to the inside of the party hat {one on each side}. Add hot {low temp} glue to the edge of the party hat and add feathers {I used a feather boa} Do the same for the top of the hat as well.

how to make a party hat

And there you have it.  An amazing one of a kind party hat for New Years Eve.

 

Dec 13

How To Make A Candy Cane Vase

Are you planning on attending a party this winter and would like to bring something other than chocolate or homemade cookies as a hostess gift?  Make a candy cane vase instead. Not only is it quick and easy to do, but the WOW factor might just score you an extra helping of appetizers.


Start by lining the bottom of a recycled glass container with rocks. I was lucky enough to find these polished rocks up over the summer at a neighbors garage sale for a steal.  In the end, the rocks will be covered anyway, so rocks collected from your backyard will do just fine.

Cover rocks with moistened potting soil and insert a paperwhite or Amaryllis bulb in the center.  I was able to purchase 8 paper white bulbs at Home Depot very inexpensively.


Using Zots* or some other sort of glue dots, carefully adhere candy canes to the side of the vase or selected container.

Once you have covered your vase in wrapped candy canes, use a piece of recycled ribbon to secure candy canes.

Place in a sunny window and wait.  Water periodically.  When paperwhites are a few days from blooming, present recipient with gift.

So what do you think?

~Mavis

*Direct link to an Amazon.com product

Dec 12

3 Comments

Easy Kids Christmas Craft Ideas – How to Make Your Own Snow Globe

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This is my favorite tutorial post out of all the snow globes I am featuring today.  With simple directions and lot’s of pictures.  Plus, I like how they used ordinary jars and spent very little on supplies. Yay, for being thrifty!  The pictures below are simple for visual ideas. Remember, a snow globe doesn’t have to be just for Christmas, you can fill it with all sorts of goodness.

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Do you have a favorite?  I think mine is the gnome.

~Mavis

Dec 12

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How to Make A Duct Tape Wallet – Video, Patterns, and Tape

Monkey Boy is planning on making a few of his Christmas gifts with Duct tape this year. Yee-Haw. While doing some research, he came across this youtube video and I thought it was pretty cool.  Apparently duct tape arts & crafts are at an all time high at school, and some kids are even selling them out of their lockers for big bucks. Wahoooo!

Here are a few Duck brand Duct tape deals I spotted on Amazon.com

Duck Brand 10-Yard Printed Duct Tape, Zig-Zag Zebra, Black/White $3.37
Duck Brand 10-Yard Printed Duct Tape, Cosmic Tie-Dye, Orange/Pink $3.37
Duck Brand 20-Yard Colored Duct Tape, Grape (Purple) $4.76

Go HERE to see more Duck Brand Duct Tape Colors and Patterns

Dec 9

5 Comments

Easy Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids – Root Beer Reindeer, Cinnamon Candles, Tea Bag Wreath

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Pipe cleaners, googley eyes, and red sparkly pom poms.  Root Beer Reindeer.  Awesome!

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I am a total tea drinker and I absolutely LOVE this gift idea!

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Toilet paper rolls and construction paper.  Does it get any easier than that?

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White candles, cinnamon sticks and a couple of sprigs of holly.  Perfect!

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Candy canes, brown yard, googly eyes, a jingle bell, white sting and red pom poms.  This would be fun for the kids to make while the adults are chatting.

Dec 7

Christmas Crafts for Kids – Clothes Pin Wreath, Finger Puppets, Napkin Rings, Paintings, Snow Globes + More

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There are so many adorable crafts out there to make with your kiddo this time of year that I wanted to share a few of my favorites.  If you see something you like, simply click on the {photo credit} tab you see below the picture and it take you right to the craft.

~Mavis

Dec 5

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How to Make Mittens Out of an Old Sweater

Do you have an old sweater you just can’t bear to part with even though you don’t wear it anymore? Maybe it’s time to turn that sweater into a pair of mittens for this winter.  What? You’ve never used a sweater to make mittens before?

Where have you been living all these years? Suburbia?  Ha Ha Ha.

What if you don’t have a sweater?  No problem, just stop by a thrift store and find a sweater with made with at least 80% wool.

Toss the sweater into the washing machine and wash using HOT water.  Dry on the HOT setting to shrink the wool sweater.  It won’t fit you anymore but the material will be felted enough to make a pair of thick mittens.

To make a mitten pattern simply grab a piece of card stock, and trace your hand {fingers together, thumb spread out like the picture above}.

Lay the pattern piece on the sweater and cut 2 piece from one side of the sweater, then flip the pattern piece over and cut two more. When you cut the pattern out allow 1/2- inch seam allowance.

Place right sides together, then sew each mitten together and leavening a 1/4-inch seam allowance. .

To prevent fraying, sew around the mitten again, leaving a 1/8-inch seam allowance.

When you are finished sewing, turn the mittens right-side out, and press with an iron {on the wool setting}.

Talk about an easy craft project.  If you have a bunch of old sweaters on hand you could make everyone a pair of mittens this year for Christmas. Being thrifty and repurposing stuff is fun, don’t you think?

~Mavis

Nov 23

2 Comments

How To Make A Christmas Wreath

The Girl and I have been making our own Christmas wreaths for a few years now.  Not only are wreaths SUPER EASY to make, they are inexpensive to produce as well. Especially if you live in an area with a lot of pine or cedar trees.

Here are directions on how to make a Christmas Wreath.

Step 1: Go outside and cut a few branches off a tree. I chose to took clippings from a Leland Cypress tree growing in my front yard. Also, if you have a holly bush nearby, clip a few sprigs off that too. You will also need a wreath form and some fine gardening wire {Home Depot or Michael’s Craft Store will have this}.

Step 2: Secure garden wire to wreath form by simply tying a knot.

Step 3: Place 2-3 sprigs on the wreath form and wrap the garden wire around the base of the springs to secure the greens.

Step 4: Repeat step 3 until you have successfully covered the entire form with greens.

Step 5: Your wreath should look something like this. I am not going to say it should look EXACTLY like this because artist freedom is encouraged.

Step 6: Carefully trim the base of 3 sprigs of Holly.

Step 7: Insert Holly pieces beneath the wreath greens and into the wreath form if possible.

Step 8: Pull an ornament off your Christmas tree and secure it {using a small piece of garden wire} to the top portion of your wreath.

Step 9: Hang the wreath on your front door and patiently wait for your Handsome Husband to come home and say…

Why can’t we buy a real freakin’ wreath from Costco like everyone else?

~Mavis

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