I spent Saturday night with some gorgeous grey felt, a foam ring and my glue gun.  (I really need to get better at moving the clutter before I take a picture...blush.)

Just getting started!

Under the Table and Dreaming posted a faux rosewood wreath that was made with a recycled book.  Loved it but thought I'd try it with felt, since I'd already made a wreath using pages of a book for my mantle.  Besides, I've been wanting to make something with felt for quite awhile, to me it says warm and cozy which is exactly what I need at this time of year.

I made a pattern for a couple different sizes of flowers but before long I was just winging it.  Like snowflakes, no two flowers are the same and I like it that way!

One accent flower made of white paper for contrast in texture and color, and wah-laa, all done!  I say wah-laa, like it only took a hour to make.  It took a few more than that, but I love it.  The Mister and kids do too.  The oldest said, "You're like the best at making stuff, Mom."  Sweet boy.

Opinions requested.  Do you like the accent flower?  Should I have gone all grey?  That white one isn't glued into place yet, still deciding so I appreciate feedback.

*Please excuse the poor photos.  One of these days I'll replace my POS camera and get something that will take a picture worth posting.  In the meantime, you get photos from my iPhone.  Sorry peeps.

ACD, part 4?

 

Another of my favorite crafts from ACD 2010 was these light blocks.  They come as a clear glass block with a hole in the bottom.   We used ink to frost the front and hide the strand of lights inside and then decorated the front and added a bow.  These were given to all the kids teachers, along with our group of friends that are our Tennessee family.  All who received them seemed to love them and I kept one for myself too.  I see lots of these in my future.  Monograms, Valentine themed, night lights, party themed to set on a bar, etc.   

It took a few blocks to get better with the placement of vinyl, but after the first two or so they turned out really cute.  I know I've said it about a million times, but craft day rocks!

Diamonds and a drill bit?

My second craft for our ACD (annual craft day) was a lighted wine bottle. I got the idea because of a pretty bottle with a B molded into the glass that we had. Monograms are huge right now and I knew my friend Jacy, who has a wine themed kitchen and a last name that starts with B would love a pretty bottle. But what to do with it? I searched the web and came across wine bottle lamps and wine bottles with lights inside. The second option was cute, inexpensive and quick, so I went with that. Off to my local big orange box for a diamond drill bit so I could drill through glass. They didn't have one....but the other chain in town did. Expensive drill bit, I'm going to have to make a lot of lighted wine bottles to justify it, or maybe I'll make this.

Armed with my new bit, The Misters cordless drill, a spray bottle, protective eye wear, gloves and a vice, I set to work trying to drill a hole through the bottle. Let me first say, it was really hard to get the bit to start a hole on a round, slick surface. So, I resorted to spraying the water while The Mister drilled the holes. For the record, he thought it was difficult too.

One set of mini lights shoved through the hole in the back of the bottle...

And this is what you get...

This isn't the pretty bottle with the monogram but a bottle that we've kept around for a number of years because the label fits us. It sits on my kitchen counter right now and I love the soft glow that comes from it when the rest of the lights are off.

*No wine was spilled during the making of this craft, and none was consumed until after the drill was put away.

Feeling Crafty?

What do you get from 3x3 wooden cubes, a piece of a 2x4, numerous srapbook papers, some Mod Podge, a little spray paint, sand paper, elbow grease, vinyl and a Cricut? (Can you find my little helpers?)

Lots of Mod Podge and a few hours of dry time later, you have these.....

Countdown to Christmas Blocks!

I've been wanting to make them since I saw them on a few crafty blogs last year. (Wish I could remember which blogs so I could give credit.) ACD (Annual Craft Day) inspired me to get off my butt and dowit! I went with a red and aqua theme because mine are sitting on a table between two aqua lamps. Everyone else at craft day had more Christmas inspired paper, and they all looked sooo cute. I can't wait to make more.

By request, a basic tutorial...

Supplies:

2 3x3 cubes. (I've seen 3x3x~30 at the big orange box. They cut the piece of wood into cubes for me at no charge.)

1 2x4 cut to 7"pieces for the base

6 t0 13 coordinating papers

Mod Podge

Sand Paper

Spray Paint or acrylic paint in your chosen color

Sand the pieces getting rid of sharp and splintered edges. Wipe clean with a wet paper towel and paint. I used spray paint, flat white, but you could use acrylic paint too. Cut your papers for the front of the base and all sides of the blocks. Paint the back of the paper with Mod Podge as well as the block and apply to all sides. Once dry, you'll add the block numbers and then another coat of Mod Podge.

Details:

Block 1: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Block 2: 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

(make sure the 6 can double as a 9)

I cut my block paper to 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 and the base was 1 1/4 x 6 3/4

I used Alphalicious font on my Cricut and vinyl for the letters and numbers. Numbers were cut at 2" and letters were 3/4".

To add character, you could use paper for letters and numbers, distress the paper, add finishing nails at the corners, etc.

A new craft

I made my first diaper cake a few days ago. It was fun, easy, and turned out pretty cute for a first attempt. Below is the first layer. I cut a round piece of cardboard out and covered it in Tinfoil. Then put a box of wipes on the base, surrounded it with two cloth diapers that were embellished with fabric (to be used as burp clothes) and stuffed it with rolled diapers. For the second layer I started with some baby lotion, and then wrapped the rolled diapers around it. The outermost layer is wrapped in coordinating polkadot and "it's a boy" ribbon. All tied together with a tiny piece of white string that's hidden behind the ribbon.

Top layer is composed of a couple bottles, diaper ointment and babywash all wrapped in another embellished cloth diaper/burp cloth and wrapped with ribbon.

And to finish it all off, the best bib ever bunched together and popping off the top.

Cute, right?