Wine Cork Cork Board

what you'll need: wine corks- and lots of them, something to glue your wine corks to-I used cork tiles, hot glue

cost: inluding all the wine, lots and lots and lots. Not including the wine $10.
difficulty level: easy


step one: Drink a lot of wine. Not all at once, please. I've been collecting these for a very long time with the help of everyone I know including Kayleigh's mom who worked at a wine shop for awhile. I still have a whole lot let too :)


step two: lay all your corks out so you can make sure you like your pattern. For those of you thinking "Really Katie? You're glueing corks to cork board?" I say "Yea man, I'm glueing corks to cork tiles because they are super cheap. So....yea." You can also use a picture frame but I like these because you can cut them if you want and they are light and easy to hang. I'll be using those sticky scoth things to hang mine up so I don't have to use nails.

step three: Hot glue your corks down


repeat!!!

Get creative with it. Next I'm going to do a circle cork board next and then another square so I can hang them all together-pictures for that will come as soon as I go get more hot glue sticks.

Paint Sample Garland. It's basically FREE!

This garland is super easy, adorable, customizable, and basically FREE!

You will need to know how to use a sewing needle...

You need:

A variety of paint sample papers (free at home depot and lowe's)

Needle and thread

Scissors

Heart shaped paper punch (or you can cut out the shape yourself, but it would take forever!)

 First: use the hole puncher to cut out your colors. Any shape will do, but Katie already had the heart one so I borrowed it :)

                                

Keep on punching till you get through it all!

Second: Thread your needle with the thread doubled over. You're going to need A LOT so cut it very long (over 3 feet for sure) Tie a knot at the end.

Third: Start sewing the paint paper hearts... go up from the back and down the front

 

Keep going until all the hearts are on...then tie another knot at the end!

Now, go hang it up!






****If I could do it again, I'd double up on the paint samples and stitch 2 hearts together so that there is color on both sides.


Here is a link for a ton of other paint chip crafts (I'll be trying some for you in the future)

Blue Velvet Chair blog-- Paint Chip Art

A Bridal Shower!

Check out a bridal shower with a few DIY decoration ideas below! 

A few cute details can really add something to an invitation. I got the heart shaped paper punch from Michael's (below) and some cute scrapbook paper. Then I filled the invites with some over-sized confetti. 

Check out the Cup Cake Pomander post for non-floral centerpieces. These are easy and fun, but word to the wise-these pomanders are about the size and height of the head of the person sitting across the table from you. I put them on pedestals but it would have been better if they had been lower!

 For favors I got little boxes for $1.99 and decoupaged my heart confetti on top. I also lined the boxes with the stripe paper to add a little extra on the inside. Then I filled the boxes with tea bags to make little tea samplers! Did I mention this was a tea party shower?

I hope this gives you some ideas for your next party! We'll keep you posted when we come up with any more! (Get it... posted... it's a blog... heheh).

Craft Fail--Fabric Flowers

Hey, it's Kayleigh!

So, I LOVE fabric flowers and waste a lot of money buying headbands and necklaces with them on in it. I saw this tutorial on another blog and thought, "Hurray! I can just do it myself!" Turns out, I'm not so great at making fabric flowers.... 

Here is the original tutorial photo and link to the blog + video (she did a great job, this is not her fault!)

     Cherry Street Cottage Fabric Flower Tutorial

I followed the directions along with the video...like 10 times. No matter how hard I tried, my flowers just would NOT be cute!! But, I didnt want to waste them and all those hours of trying, so I turned them into fridge magnets. Now only my mom has to see the mess I made. And you guys :)

The beige floral one isn't that bad actually.

But the others..... well, there was a lot of swearing, and hot glue EVERYTWHERE.

I hope you guys have better luck!!

Put some chalk paint on it! Part One: The door

I decided to paint my closet door with chalk paint when I moved. It's so easy, and looks kind of awesome in my room. Super easy, too. (since this was a long time ago, I don't have step by step photos, but I believe in you! You can do it!)

*You need to get chalk paint-- $15 ish at home depot.

*You also need a primer. I use Kilz in spray form-- $8ish at home depot.

You obviously also need a paint brush, and some painter's tape around the door handle helps too.

Now.... take the door off its hinges, and move outside! 

*Spray your door down evenly with the Kilz. Let it dry.

*Then, paint 2-3 coats of the chalk board paint on top. Let it dry between coats!

*Put the door back on the hinges, and start writing!

I've seen some sites that give you instructions on how to make your own chalk paint. Feel free to do that if you're feeling extra crafty. But this stuff is easy, and I have TONS left!

Craft Slap:: Coupons for Crafting!

Making your own stuff can save you money, but isn't it nice to save even MORE money??

Use coupons, people!

Click these links and sign up for their weekly emails. They send you coupons EVERY week. How else do you think I can afford to do all these crafts for you?? Enjoy:

http://weeklyad.michaels.com/

Michael's also has a rewards card! I highly recommend it!

http://www.hobbylobby.com/

   http://www.joann.com

You're welcome ;)

Vintage Embroidery Thread Hair Comb...

This craft is quick, cheap, and actually kind of fun! Again, I saw something similar posted on Pinterest, and thought, "I can do that!" So I did...and SO CAN YOU!!

Cost: $5-$10 will get you about 12 of these things!  (free if you already have this stuff)

Difficulty level: EASY!!

Materials you need:

Hair combs ($4 for 12 of them at Walgreens)

Embroidery thread (mine came in that huge jar for $9 at a vintage shop)

Scissors and glue gun

Step one: choose your colors, and cut about 12 inches of each. This was my hardest step because I had so many colors to choose from.

<<<< totally worth the $9!









Step two:
Start at one end of your comb, and wrap the thread in between the teeth of the comb in an X shape like so...

It's ok if there is hanging thread, just tuck it behind the next color as you go.





Keep on wrapping in whichever pattern you chose. As you can see, I was tired and messed up my pattern. Oops....

Last step: put a dab of glue at the end of the last wrapped color. I also went back and tacked down the loose ends with the glue gun.

  **Here's a silly shot of what it looks like in my hair ( no one was home to help me take it haha)

From a cheap little hair comb, to a totally cute, crafty accessory. See, I told you that you could do it!               >>>>





Now I have all this left over thread.... friendship bracelets anyone?!?!

Katie VS Felted Flower Pillow

We've all seen these felted flower pillows on the internet lately, So here's your How-To!
difficulty level: pretty easy, but this one requires sewing
cost: $10 cause I got my fabric on sale (what what!)
things you need: a pillow, 1 yard of woven fabric (I always over estimate just in case), and 1/2 yard of felt.
Get the nice felt that comes on a bolt, not in a bag. The bag stuff is like fiberglass or something awful like that.

step one: 
Measure your pillow so you'll know what size your cover will need to be.
Mine was 18" x 18".  Add 1/2" to each side for seam allowance, so the front of the pillow cover will need to be 19" x 19". The back of the pillow cover will be in 2 pieces so you can slip the pillow in. One piece was 19" x 13", and the other was 19" x 8" so they overlap.
You can also do this like a normal pillow, but I like the idea of being able to change the pillow out if I get bored.

And since you're probably judging me for my wrinkly fabric pieces I will tell you that I tore these instead of cutting them because it makes a straighter line. Just make a little slit a tear away like the hulk. Don't worry, I press the pieces next and it returns the edges to a lovely non-wrinkled state.

step two:

Using 2 different size circles as a pattern, cut out your felt. I used 2 glasses and some spare paper. Cut about 25-30 large circles and about 20 small circles. Cut all the circles in half.

step three:
Use a large bowl to trace a circle on to the front piece of your cover. Make sure the circle is about 3" from all edges.

step four:
Get out your sewing machine! Now you'll sew down each felt petal. Start with the large half circles, and line them up with the outline of the circle you've traced. When you finish one row, just keep going by spiraling the petals toward the center.
**I've seen this craft done with fabric glue, but seriously... it's going to get crusty and they will fall off eventually. If you have a sewing machine, just use it.

After about 3 rows of the large petals you can start making small pleats or gathers in the center of the felt to give some texture. It will happen on it's own as you get closer to the center of the spiral. After about 4 rows, switch to the small petals and keep sewing!

step five:
Now, you've gotten all the way to the center of the spiral. Cut 2 small quarter sized circles. Overlap them and stitch them to the center to cover the stitch lines of the last row of petals.

step six:
Clean finish the edges of the back two pillow cover panels by hemming at 1/2".

step seven:

Sew around the outside edges of the pillow cover. Flip in right-side out and slip in your pillow.

step eight:

admire your handy work. Crate and Barrel eat your heart out.

Get yours here at etsy if you'd rather not do it yourself!

Katie VS the cupcake wrapper pomander

I saw this one on Pinterest and thought how cute it would be for a bridal shower centerpiece.
Cost:  about $8 for 1
Difficulty Level: Easy as Pie
What You'll Need: Cupcake Wrappers, straight pins with ball end, styrofoam balls (75 wrappers covers 1 six inch styrofoam ball).  There is a glue gun just in case, but I ended up not needing it.

step one: stick a pin through the middle of one cupcake wrapper

step two: fold wrapper in half and push pin firmly into the ball

keep that up over and over and over (at least 75 times) placing the pins about 1/2" apart and mixing up the direction of your wrappers to overlap them.

I left a little portion empty on the bottom of some of my pomander so they can stand on candle holders, but I covered some completely.

These are so easy and cute. You can find cupcake wrappers in any color and they are cheaper than flowers. Stay tuned for some more DIY ideas from this bridal shower!

Quick Craft:: Cool Make-up Organization

 I seriously needed some make-up organization help, so I made these 2 super easy solutions

<< The make up magnet board

        The coffee brush and tool holder    >>>>











I already had a magnetized bird in my bathroom, so this craft was super cheap! Here's what you do:
Get some magnets ($2 at Michael's)
Grab your glue gun
Gather up your make up

 

Now, hot glue the magnets to the back of your make-up. Some may need 2 magnets if they are heavy or large:

Put them on your magnet board! (small dry erase boards are usually magnetized, and you can write messages too!)

Now for the brush holder...

*Get yourself a small container. I found mine for 67 cents in the clearance at Container Store.
*Buy 1/2 pound of coffee beans. Mine are pumpkin spice from Central Market because I like the smell!
*Pour the coffee beans into the container, and arrange the brushes. Told you it was easy!