A Lott Of Ideas

2013 Birthday {Giveaway|

2013-01-18T17:46:00.002-10:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!
Scroll down for winners!
Contact me at kandislei@yahoo.com
to claim your prize! Congrats to the winners
and thank you all for entering!

I can't believe it's already been another year! But, it has! So to celebrate

I'm going to go ahead and give away some stuff this week! I have 4 prizes up for

grabs this time around. And, one of which is from Savage Designs Tutu's!

4 prizes means 4 winners!

Thank you all for your support throughout another year!

Now, onto the prizes!!

Kandislei Co. is giving away any hat or headband!

Any size, any color, any design! You can customize all you like!
Winner: #18 Jeanita

A Lott Of Ideas is giving away the i {love} Chevron banner! You

have the choice between the white ribbon or the gray ribbon.
Winner: #6 Salli

A Lott of ideas is also giving away this super cute little boy chevron neck tie!

It will fit young and old! The tie is adjustable on an elastic band.
Winner: #15 Jessica Lynn

And finally.... Savage Designs Tu Tu's is giving away a FREE custom made tutu to the lucky winner!

This tutu can be any size; newborn all the way up to adult size and can be made in

any color combo you choose!!
Winner: #2 Julie Gardner

Savage Designs is also offering EVERYONE who views the giveaway 10% off anything in her

Etsy shop! Just use code Savage10 at checkout!

Ok... I'm going to try to make this short and sweet!

To enter you MUST:

* like A Lott Of Ideas on Facebook

* like Kandislei Co. on Facebook

* like Savage Designs Tu Tu's on Facebook.

(just click the links and it will take you directly to the pages)

This counts as one entry! Please leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling

me that you have liked all 3 pages!

Now, extra entries:

ENTRY # 2: Share this giveaway on Facebook and tag A Lott Of Ideas or Kandislei Co. in

the post! This will help me verify that you have completed this step! If you have completed this

step, comment on this blog post telling me that you have done so!

{ You can repeat this step once per day until the giveaway ends for additional entries }

ENTRY # 3: Share this giveaway on Pinterest and tag A Lott Of Ideas or Kandislei Co. in

the post! This will help me verify that you have completed this step! Done? Go ahead

and comment below telling me that you have completed this step.

ENTRY # 4: Show some love! Leave a comment and introduce yourself on all 3 pages

participating in the giveaway for another entry! Just don't forget to leave ANOTHER comment

on this post telling me you've done so.

Giveaway ends at midnight HST on Friday January 25, 2013. Winners will be chosen by random.org.

Winners will be announced on this blog on Saturday January 26, 2013. Winners will be given

48 hours to claim their prize. If any prize has not been claimed in that time,

I will draw a new winner! If you leave your email address in your entry comments, I will email

you if you win to ensure you get your prize, but please put your email address down similar to the

example so that you don't get marked as spam! Example.. somebody at gmail dot com

Good luck! Just don't forget to leave individual comments for each entry! Each comment only

counts as one entry! And of course, this giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook! :)

{ And Good Luck!! }

{ vintage produce box }

2012-10-17T14:53:00.000-10:00

I needed a place to put my decorative gourds!

What you'll need:

* 1/8" pieces of wood

- 6 at 2.5" x 12"

- 4 at 2.5" x 6"

* 1" square posts

- 4 at 6 1/2" long

* a piece of 1/8" ply board

* dremel or sander

* paint

* stapler ( not a paper stapler, one for wood)

Start with your 1/8 inch pieces.

Use your Dremel tool to sand the edges.

Now take one of your 1/2 inch posts.

Attach,with staples, one of the 12" planks square and flush to the side top side.

Now attach a 12" plank to the bottom of the same post.

Allow the plank to over hang 1/8".

Attach a second post to the other side of the planks. Flush

with the top, 1/8" over hang on the bottom.

Staple a third plank diagonally across the others.

Repeat to make a second piece like this.

Connect the two sides by stapling a 6" plank on to

the posts.

Repeat on the other side.

Next, attach the last two 6" planks to the bottom ends of the posts.

Remember to leave the 1/8" over hang here as well.

Set the frame on top of an 1/8" piece of ply board and trace the interior

of the frame onto the board. Cut this out.

This piece should fit perfectly in the 1/8" overhang and be flush with

the side planks.

Dab some wood glue on the bottom of the posts.

Staple the bottom into place.

I painted my box with a water- paint mixture. It looks more worn

and vintage than paint alone.

Allow it to dry and fill with decorative gourds or pumpkins.

{ witch hat door decor }

2012-10-12T03:00:00.000-10:00

No Halloween wreath this year. I couldn't think of anything and October

kind of snuck up on me. When I lived in Utah I had made a very

similar (OK, almost exact) project. I believe my mother-in-law is the

rightful owner of it now. I really did love it though so I made myself another!

What you'll need:

* 1/8 inch thick sheet of wood

* pencil

* scroll saw

* dremel (optional)

* sander

* paint

* drill

* wire

Ok, I just free-handed what I wanted out onto the board. I

have a witches hat, spider, and sign board.

Cut the important pieces out.

I drew on the details with a pencil.

I then used my dremel sander tool to round the edges and also

to add dimension in the detailed parts.

Now paint.

Before I painted my spider, I drilled 9 holes into it. One a top center,

and then four on either side. This is where his legs will be so drill

them where you think they'll look best.

I cut 4 pieces of wire, each about 5 inches long.

Thread one through the first leg hole and out the hole directly next to it.

Repeat in the next two holes and then on the other side of the spider.

Use a pair of needle nose pliers to 'zigzag' the legs.

Drill holes on each end of the sign board. Then center it along

the base of the witch hat. Mark on the witch hat directly above the

holes on the sign. Drill these also. Connect with a long piece of wire.

Use a pencil to wrap the excess wire around to create curly-cues.

Drill a hole in point of the witches hat and attach the spider with wire.

Add vinyl or paint your own saying or quote.

Attach a hanger to the back of the hat and hang it on your door.

{ fall leaves art } kids project

2012-10-11T11:53:00.000-10:00

I remember as a child, my mother would take my brothers and I into the canyon

and let us pick out all the fall leaves we could carry. They were beautiful reds,

oranges, and yellows. We would bring them home and glue them onto paper in any

way our hearts desired.

We don't necessarily have fall here in Hawaii. For the most part, everything

stays nice and green. Fall is definitely different for my kids than it was for me.

My mother sent a box for the kids last week and it was full of fall leaves! I was so

excited to share a childhood tradition with my own kids.

What you'll need:

* fall leaves

* white school glue

* white paper

Simply glue the leaves onto the paper!

At first all 3 of my kids were a little sceptical about what they were supposed to do. But

once they got a leaf on the paper, they were ready to do their "project".

It was a lot of fun. They loved sharing with Daddy when he got home from work as well!

This is a fun family project you can do with the kids over the weekend!

{ halloween burlap banner }

2012-10-10T13:26:00.000-10:00

I pulled out my Halloween decorations finally. But, I decided to donate some of my

stuff so I could make room for some new stuff! I wanted a Halloween banner of course!

What you'll need:

* burlap

* pattern paper

* jute

*sewing machine and thread

Start by cutting out burlap flags. I already had a pattern I made from another

banner project. I cut 16 flags.

I made a smaller scale of the burlap pattern for my paper.

I had 4 patterns, so I cut 4 flags of each pattern.

Next, center your paper flag on your burlap flag and sew around all

3 sides.

(Organizing your flags into the order you want them sewn on in advance

will prevent you from sewing on the wrong flag)

Start 1-2 feet from the end of your jute ( you may need this length

for hanging). Start sewing the jute across the top of the flag with a zigzag stitch,

continuously adding a new flag once you reach the end of the flag you are sewing, until you

have added all flags. Cut jute 1-2 feet from the last flag.

You can hang your flag with tape or pins.

{ wall makeover } vinyl and frames

2012-10-08T03:00:00.000-10:00

I just got home from a month long vacation to Utah. It was so nice

to see my family and enjoy their company!

My mother had this big empty wall in her living room that was

crying for something! I threw out an idea to her and she agreed without

hesitation! She wanted the wall filled!

I went through her stash of empty frames and found 8 matching frames and spray painted them.

Then I went through "the drawer". My mom has this huge drawer stuffed full of pictures

from our childhood and ever hers. It's always a favorite past time when the family gets together to

pull out "the drawer" and go through old photos and reminisce!

I found similar candid baby pictures of each of my mother's children and put them

in the frames. I then put them on the wall in a fun diagonal pattern.

So I went to the vinyl store and had this piece made. It is huge and

we cut it apart so it would line up and fit how Mom wanted it.

It turned out pretty cute! Now we can do a little reminiscing even

if we don't have time to pull out "the drawer"!

Enjoy!

{ wedding arrow sign }

2012-10-06T03:00:00.000-10:00

These arrow signs are so cute and simple for any backyard occasion!

This one just happened to be a {wedding}.

What you'll need:

* 1x6 piece of wood

* 1x1 piece of wood (cut one end into a point for

staking into the ground)

* paint and paint brush

* screws

* sander

* saw

My Grandpa and I made this sign the morning of the wedding

on a whim (I'm good at that). It took us about 15 minutes and we

just used what he had laying around in his shop. We started

with a 1x6 piece of barn wood. I just free-handed a point on one

end and an indented point on the other.

Then cut them out.

Sand the cut edges.

Now screw the 1x1 stake onto the back of your arrow, pointy end down..

Paint your word or words onto the front side of your arrow. You can

use vinyl, too, if you thought that far in advance ;)

Tie a ribbon or some tulle around the stake near the arrow and

hammer it into the ground. Just remember to consider which way

you want your arrow to be pointing before you screw it onto the stake.

We want to help our guests, not confuse them! :)

Most wonderful man I know, and my partner in crime

for this project! Thanks Grandpa!

enjoy

{ love is sweet } table sign

2012-10-04T03:00:00.000-10:00

Candy buffets are fun. To go along with my sisters

candy buffet, I made this sweet sign to sit along

side her jars of sweets.

What you'll need:

* wood face (1x6x12)

* wood stand ( 1x4x16)

* paint

* sand paper

* 2 screws and screw gun or screw driver
* drill

* printed/painted burlap

* spray glue
* ribbon (optional)

I sent my burlap off to the T-shirt print shop
to get these letter pressed on. It was a huge time saver
and looks great!

Paint your wood pieces. I used an

antique white.

Sand edges with sand paper.

Drill holes in the wood face and wood stand.

(stand)

(face)

Make sure they line up.

Use spray glue on the back side of

your burlap piece.

adhere it to the front of the wood face.
Make sure your drilled holes are at the bottom before
you stick your burlap on! It's almost impossible
to reposition!

Attach face to stand with screws.

Tie ribbon around the bottom of the face or

leave it regular!

Enjoy

{ almost sandals } bare foot wear

2012-09-28T12:50:00.000-10:00

My sister just got married! I'm so happy for her and

her new husband! They are wonderful together!

Being the oldest sister and all, I was asked to make

some things for the wedding. One thing was to make

some "almost sandals". My sister wanted

the simplicity of bare feet but she wanted it to look put

together at the same time. So, this is what I came

up with!

My mother went to the store to get yarn and came back

with this stuff. It turned out to work better than I

could have hoped!

What you'll need:

* mesh yarn/ netted yarn

* scissors

*string

*pearl bead

I started by generally measuring the foot from the

toe webbing to the ankle and then adding another inch.

Double this length. Cut two pieces (one for each foot).

Tie the two ends together in a knot.

Cut a length of netted yarn that will wrap

and tie around your ankle.

( you will need two of these as well)

Thread it through the loop created in the

original strip.

Now you can spread the netting out to create

a triangle.

Next to your knot, spread the netting out so

you have a hole.

Slip your second toe through this hole. The knot

should comfortably sit in the crevice where

your toes meet the ball of your foot.

Spread the netting out

Tie the ankle strap in a bow on the side.

Thread a short piece of string through a pearl bead.

Tie the string in around the thinnest area

of netting, near the toe.

Slide it down. Cut off excess string.

That's it! So simple!

{ vintage, rustic ring bearer pillow }

2012-09-25T04:00:00.000-10:00

In the last minutes of preparing for my sisters

wedding, I threw together a simple ring bearer pillow.

We intended on using burlap but found this lovely

weaved fabric. Reminds me of an old blanket.

What you'll need:

* fabric for the pillow

* fabric for the heart

* tulle

* ribbon

* jute

* sewing machine and thread

Cut two 9" squares from your pillow fabric.

Set back piece aside.

Cut out 4 pieces of tulle measuring

5x4 inches.

Cut out one heart from coordinating fabric

approximately 4x3 inches.

Pin heart, tulle and front piece of pillow fabric

together in that order.

Sew around the outside of the heart.

Remove pins.

Sew jute and ribbon to the center of the heart

with a zigzag stitch.

Now sew the back pillow fabric to the front

pillow fabric with a 1 inch seam.

Wrong sides together.

Be careful not to sew the ribbon and jute into your

seam. Leave a 3-4 inch opening for stuffing the pillow.

Stuff the pillow.

Sew opening closed.

I had a fun time taking pictures of this one!

Enjoy!

{ mr. & mrs. } banner

2012-09-18T04:00:00.000-10:00

Another wedding banner!

No wedding should be without something that says

Mr. & Mrs.

What you'll need:

* burlap

* scissors

* sewing machine and thread

* jute

* ribbon

* embellishments

I cut out a 5 inch wide pattern for my flags from some

cardboard. And then cut out 6 flags.

I took the flags to my local T-shirt shop and

had them add the lettering to each flag

individually in the font and size of my choice.

I requested 3 inch lettering.

When I got my completed pieces home, I

simply sewed a running strand of jute across

the top edge of my burlap flags.

I left a small

space on either side of the "&"

for embellishments.

Hot glue satin flowers in the spaces.

For a tutorial on how to make these cute

flowers, click here.

Tie ribbon to either end of the banner.

{ satin flowers }

2012-09-16T04:00:00.000-10:00

I really love using these flowers for everything. And

since I used them EVERYWHERE for my sisters

wedding, here is the tutorial.... finally! :)

What you'll need:

* satin fabric

* scissors

* candle/flame

* needle and thread

* pearls, feathers (optional)

* hot glue (optional)

Start by cutting out several different size circles

from you satin.

Using extreme caution, hold the fabric near

the flame on a candle. Satin is synthetic and is

very flammable. Be very careful. You only want to

heat the edge of the circle, one at a time, until

it begins to shrivel. Do not hold it directly over

the flame.

Your heated pieces will look similar to this.

Stack your pieces largest to smallest.

Using a needle and thread, sew all pieces

together through the center until secure.

Now you can add embellishments, like

pearls....

...and feathers!

These make cute hair pieces and are great

as embellishments in larger projects!

Alternating colors of satin is another fun

way to make these flowers.

(this is my beautiful sister getting ready for her big day <3)

Or add them to a headband..

(my daughter and niece; flower girls)

enjoy!

{ candy bar banner }

2012-09-14T04:00:00.000-10:00

I have always liked the ideas of a candy buffet as

wedding favors. It's colorful, fun, and can

be dressed up so cute. When my little sister told

me she wanted to do a candy buffet, I was so

excited! So of course a banner is my first move

to decorate the table!

I wanted to try a new thing with this banner. I usually

paint letters on them. This time around I visited my

local vinyl and T-shirt shop. They pressed these

letters on in any size and font I wanted! So not only

did I get exactly what I wanted, it took no time at all!YAY!

What you'll need:

* burlap

* jute

* scissors

* sewing machine

I like to make a template when making banners. It

ensures that all of my pieces will be uniform. I

made a cardboard triangle that measured 5" across

the top. Then, I cut out 9 triangles form the burlap.

I put them in a bag and took them to the vinyl shop.

They cut and pressed 3" letters on each flag.

Now all I had to do was simply sew a running

strand of jute to the top of the flags using a

zigzag stitch.

~simple and sweet~

enjoy

{ marshmallow gun }

2012-07-13T10:46:00.000-10:00

It's always a challenge to find enough activities to keep school age

children occupied throughout the summer months! Eventually, all of the fun

things begin to get old and you find yourself with a child (and all of their friends)

asking for advice on fun, new things to do with their time! Luckily for me,

I have a husband who loves to create things as much as I do! So, Jake

saved the day this time! Thank goodness!

What you'll need:

* 1/2" PVC pipe (approx. 29 inches long)

* 2 - 1/2" "T" connectors

* 2 - 1/2" 90 degree connectors

* 2- 1/2" caps

* Pipe cutter

* Weld-On PVC glue

* Cotton swabs

* Disposable rags

* Spray paint

* Mini marshmallows

First you need to cut your PVC pipe into smaller pieces:

1- 8" piece

3- 4" pieces

1- 3" piece

2- 2 3/4" piece

Using the knob on the end of the cutter, you can loosen and

tighten the pizza cutter like blade. Tighten onto the pipe and spin

it around. Tighten after each spin until the pipe is cut through.

Lay out your pieces to prep for gluing

Marking your pipes before gluing is the best way to ensure everything

lines up straight. To mark them, assemble the marshmallow gun prior to gluing.

Using a pencil, mark at the joints ( vertically and horizontally ) and then match

up these markings once you've glued. It is more difficult to make corrections

once the glue has been applied.

Line these up when you put your pieces back together after gluing.

**This glue can be a real mess! Try very hard not to get it on your clothes

or anything else you don't want ruined. Lay down a disposable rag

or newspaper to work on. Work in a well ventilated area or outside to

avoid fumes.

My husband used a cotton swab instead of the large applicator that comes

with the glue to avoid dripping as much as possible. Dip your cotton swab in the

glue. Wipe a generous amount of glue around the outside edge of the pipe.

Moving quickly, wipe a generous amount of glue inside the fitting.

Now, fit the two together, lining up your markings. The glue grabs fast,

so move quickly to make adjustments easier. Use a disposable rag to wipe

any glue that has oozed out. Avoid getting it on your hands.

Continue gluing the pieces together as they are shown in the image above.

Now spray paint! We let my son paint his own (with help)! It turned out

very colorful! Allow the paint to dry over night.

Now gather some ammo

(aka: mini marshmallows)

Place one mini marshmallow into the top chamber.

Now blow bursts of air into the chamber. The marshmallow will

shoot out the barrel of the gun! Make sure you teach your child

not to inhale while they prepare to blow the marshmallow out to avoid

the chance of sucking the marshmallow back into their mouth and possibly choking.

The marshmallow gun was such a hit with our son's friends that my husband

is now on back order making them! The best part is that it cost a total of $5!

{ no-sew homemade american flag tank }

2012-06-29T04:00:00.000-10:00

With the 4th of July right around the corner, here is a homemade tank

for you to try out! Perfect for all the festivities you may be attending this

Independance Day!

What you'll need:

* white t-shirt

* scissors

* acrylic paint

* foam brush

* card board

Start by cutting your t-shirt! Simply cut around the neck line as low as you

like. Then cut off the sleeves. You may want to try it on before hand

to mark where you want your new sleeve holes and neck line before cutting.

Now fit your shirt with some cardboard. Slip it in through the shirt to prevent

the paint from bleeding through to the back of your tank.

Now start painting! I used red and turquoise.

I started by outlining some

star shapes with the tip of my sponge brush. They don't have to be perfect.

If you prefer a more precise star, try using a stencil or some vinyl that can be
removed after painting.

Now paint your stripes. I just eyed these up. You can use wide tape
(like packing tape) to stencil in your stripes if you wish.

I wanted my flag tank to look "rocker", so I didn't worry about
perfection!

Allow the paint to dry completely before wearing. Don't wash for 24 hours
to allow the paint to set in. First wash and dry should be separate from any
other garments. After first wash and dry, the paint will be set in and you can throw
it in with your other laundry without worrying about bleeding or color transfer!

This shirt is even cute turned inside out! :) It muted the colors
to compliment the actual flag!

Yep, I have pretty fun friends! <3

I made this shirt about 15 minutes before doing these photos! And.... it was free!
Enjoy

{ barbie hair make-over } And giveaway winner

2012-06-09T00:00:00.000-10:00

{Giveaway Winners}

Congratulations to the two winners of the little blue halos:

Tami Thomson
&
Jennifer Greg

Thanks for participating! If you left an email with your comment, I will contact you
via email. If not, please contact me within 48 hours to claim your halo through
my Facebook page or by email!

_____________________________________________________________________

Barbie hair make-over

Barbie is such a beauty! Silky smooth hair, big eyes, and don't forget

the incredible wardrobe! But if you have a young girl, like I do, then Barbie's hair

is all but smooth and silky any more and and her clothes actually have to be

washed with your laundry!

So, Peach brought me a Barbie today and asked if I could tame her wild

mane. I was doubting my abilities momentarily. But I figured something out.. It's

not as hard as it seems!

What you'll need:

* Liquid laundry soap (preferably with added fabric softener)

* Boiling water

* Cold water

* Cup

Sorry for the lack of pictures.

If you can wash hair, you can fix Barbie!

Start by wetting Barbies hair.

Dip your finger tips in your liquid laundry soap and wipe through hair.

Brush soap through hair and remove all tangles.

Remove boiling water from any heat source. Dip Barbie's hair in the water and swish

it around a bit. Now pour the water over her hair slowly to remove soap.

Repeat above step in cold water.

Now brush the hair out and smooth it in place. Stand Barbie up in a cup to allow her

hair to dry completely.

No more throwing Barbie's away for their nasty hair! :)

{ little blue halo } Giveaway

2012-06-01T00:00:00.000-10:00

*This Giveaway Is Closed*
GIVEAWAY!!

I sat down and made a tie back halo for myself a few days ago.

It was just so cute that I went ahead a made a few more, and......

I'm giving away 2 of them!*

That's right, two winners!

The giveaway will run for one week... from Friday, June 1, 2012

through Thursday, June 7, 2012 ( midnight, HST)

Halo's fit age Preemie to approximately 4 years old.

How to enter:

1. Like A Lott Of Ideas on Facebook.

Leave a comment on THIS blog post stating that you completed step 1.

This comment will be your entry into this giveaway.

Additional ways to enter:

2. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest. Leave a comment on THIS blog post

stating that you completed step 2.

3. Share this giveaway on Facebook. You must have a link

back to this blog post

or A Lott Of Ideas Facebook page. Leave a comment on THIS

blog post stating that you completed step 3

4. Follow A Lott Of Ideas blog through Google

Friend Connect or by email. Leave a comment on THIS blog post stating

that you completed step 4.

5. Go to Kandislei Co. on Etsy.com and find your favorite item.

Leave a comment on THIS blog post stating what the item is and

that you completed step 5.

Leave a comment on THIS blog post for EACH bonus entry completed stating that you completed the bonus entry and leave a link in your comment. You have 5 chances to win! Good LUCK!

*I will announce the winner on this blog as well as on Facebook.

Please check back to see if you won! Winners will be allowed 42 hours to claim

their prizes. After the 42 hours, a new winner will be chosen. If you

want to ensure your winnings, please leave an email address in your entry posts.

Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Please note: This giveaway is NOT sponsored or associated with Facebook. There are no returns or exchanges on any of the prizes. Prizes do not have cash value.

{ pencil nameplate } teacher

2012-05-25T17:09:00.000-10:00

The school year is over here in Hawaii! At the last minute my husband and I

put together this nameplate for Ryker's teacher. Ms Arakaki was so wonderful!

She really dedicated herself to teaching her class and making sure that

everyone felt included and loved! What a wonderful woman!

What you'll need:

* 12" long 2x4

* Saw and sander

* Paint

* Vinyl lettering

* Jute and/ or yarn

My husband was wonderful and cut out and sanded the piece of wood for

me! You need to cut the tip of the pencil this shape >. Then, using a

sander ( belt sander is best) run the edge around the other end to define the eraser.

Go ahead and paint your pencil. Allow it to dry completely.

I cut my vinyl lettering out on the Cricut. I used " Making

the Grade" Cartridge. I cut Ms. Arakaki at 1 1/2 inches. Ryker at 1 inch.

Center on your pencil and press it on.

Peel off the masking...

I put Ryker's name and the year on the bottom.

I finished off by tying some jute and textured yarn around the groove

that separates the eraser from the body of the pencil.

I wrapped a little bit of tissue paper around it.

This would be great for a first day of school, teacher appreciation week,

or just because your child has a wonderful teacher!

{ my heart in a jar }

2012-05-25T00:30:00.000-10:00

My cousin pinned the cutest wedding decor idea on Pinterest the other day!

Cute enough that I made a very similar version of it for my home decor!

Thanks again Pinterest!

What you'll need:

* Canning jar

* 2 Book pages (or pattern paper)

* Strip of fabric

* Scissors

This is a very simple project!

Start by measuring both pieces of paper to your jar. I just set my

book pages inside and mark with a pencil about 1/8 of an inch lower than

the top of the jar.

Cut off the excess

Sketch a heart in the center of your paper.

Cut out the heart and erase any pencil marks.

You need two pieces of paper so I just cut mine at the same time to make

sure they were the same.

Put your papers back into the jar; one in front, one in back. You

should be able to see through both hearts.

Put the lid on and tie a strip of fabric around the top into a bow.

I like to rip my fabric instead of cutting it for that worn look.

That's it! Enjoy!

The version I saw on Pinterest had a candle in it. I do not recommend using a

candle in my version. The paper could cause a fire hazard.

{ cornflake candy } recipe

2012-05-18T09:08:00.000-10:00

I've got a little recipe for all you peanut butter lovers!

These peanut butter cornflake bars are chewy and not too sweet!

And, with only a few ingredients, it's nearly impossible to mess it up!

Even the kids can help!

Cornflake Candy

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of light corn syrup (Karo brand)

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

7 cups cornflakes

Start by measuring out your cornflakes. Set them aside

Mix sugar and light corn syrup in a large sauce pan over medium heat.

Make sure you keep mixing. The sugar will burn if you don't!

Boil sugar mixture until sugar had dissolved completely. Remove from heat

End product should be clear like so...

Add peanut butter and mix well

Add cornflakes to the peanut butter mixture, half cup at a time. I like

to just shake a little in the pot, mix, and repeat.

Make sure all of the cornflakes are coated. As it cools, it will harden.

So try to mix quickly and thoroughly

Spoon mixture into a baking dish or onto a cookie sheet

lined with wax paper and press it flat to your desired thickness.

Let your Cornflake candy cool.

Cut into squares.

And eat!!

{ pinwheel backdrop and decor }

2012-05-09T09:26:00.001-10:00

I got together this weekend with some wonderful friends, all of whom are

talented photographers! We do this occasionally and have fun

photo shoots for whatever reason! And although I cannot

take pictures from anything but my point and shoot camera, I can do

a few other things to help the photo shoot along! :)

I put together some pinwheels for a backdrop idea! They turned out so

cute and were a great addition to the photos! Oh but don't worry!

They will be used beyond our weekend gathering! A few will

be added to my very own wall for decor!

What you'll need:

* Paper (not card stock)

* Scissors

* Tape and/or hot glue

* Hole punch (optional)

I started with the big pinwheels. I used 12x12 pieces of paper. Each

large pinwheel needs 2 pieces of paper. Start out by folding your edge back

about 1/2 inch. Turn it over and fold it back about 1/2 inch.

Continue folding accordion style until it is complete. Repeat

on second piece of paper.

Mark a curved line at each end of your accordion.

Cut it off. Very few of my accordions had even edges

when I was finished folding them. This gives a ruffled look

around the edge of your pinwheel and also evens out the edges.

Now would be the best time to add detail with your hole punch. Just punch
a hole through all layers on each end of your accordion!

Now fold your accordion in half.
Like so ...

Glue or tape this together

Repeat these steps on your other accordion as well.

Now tape or glue the two half together! Pinwheel complete!

When you are working with smaller pinwheels, you have to use more
pieces! For instance, I made this smaller pinwheel with 6x6 pieces of paper.
I needed 3 to get the desired look. 2 would't reach around a full circle
and 4 was a little too floppy. If you went any smaller than this, I would
recommend trying 4 pieces!

And of course I made one with a old book page! 3 was the magic number
there, too.

You can hang these with string or just tape them up to the wall!

I love the layered look!

And a little something from the fun photo shoot! Don't you think the pinwheels

are fantastic! They just add great color and detail as a backdrop! <3

Photo by the very talented Malia Cano

www.maliacano.com

Stop by her blog or website and check out her amazing work!

{ framed heart }

2012-04-30T11:32:00.000-10:00

I have been a little bit.. MIA! I have been so busy the last few weeks with orders

from my Etsy shop and making May Fest costumes for 3 first grade classes!

So I finally finished all 68 costumes and didn't really want to do anything

but sit! But, yesterday, I got crafty! I made a few things, and improved a few

more! So I'm back!

This is a frame makeover!

I was looking for old mason jars at the Goodwill and found

myself in the frame section. I found this little frame and

of course I bought it for $0.99!

What you'll need:

* Frame

*Pattern paper

*Mod Podge

* Nail file

* Strips of fabric

* Book page

First, take the glass and backing off of the frame.

Lay your frame face down on the back side of your

pattern paper. Trace your frame onto the paper.

Cut it out.

Spread a layer of Mod Podge onto the front of your frame.

Make sure you get the edges well. You don't want

the paper to lift once it's placed on.

Place your paper on and pres it down from one side to the other.

Avoid making ripples or bubbles in the paper. They are so hard to fix!

I like to keep applying pressure by swiping my hand over

it for about a minute to make sure it has a good bond.

Use your nail file to remove the excess paper that is hanging over

the edge of your frame.

Lay your file at a 45 degree angle against the corner

of your frame. Apply pressure and pull downward.

(If you file upward, you will most likely lift the paper from the frame.)

Your edges should be nice a flush with the frame.

After the Mod Podge has dried completely, add and layer of Mod

Podge over the top of your pattern paper to protect it. Let it dry.

Now that your frame is complete you can use your strips of fabric

to make rosettes! For my rosette tutorial, click here. You can

twist them tight or loose for a look that you love!

Hot glue them in place.

I don't have a picture on hand that I want in this frame so here is what I did.

Cut a small square of white paper to fit your frame. Then cut a heart shape

from some pattern paper or a book page. Center it on the white square and

glue down. Put your glass, heart and backing back in your frame once

everything has had a chance to dry!

Enjoy!

Total cost for this project: $0.99

{ spring subway art } free download and Kandislei Co. coupon

2012-03-09T15:09:00.000-10:00

Do you love subway art? Me too! I threw something together last week

and finally got it printed to put up for myself! It's so cute!

I really didn't do a lot of work on this! I used items that I made

for Christmas and Valentines Day! I like EASY!

This bow was from my Christmas wreath. I used burlap, tulle, satin ribbon and

jute and tied it into a simple bow. I just taped it right onto the frame!

The bunting/flags/banner was part of my Valentine wreath ( which was made from

my Christmas wreath)! I simply glued ric rac to the top edges of triangle

fabric pieces cut from scraps! I taped this

into place on my frame!

So here is my gift to you! You can download this subway art for free!

If you want to print this file right from your home printer, download the PDF file.

If you want to order it as a print from your local photo lab, download the JPG file!

JPG File below:

DOWNLOAD FILE

PDF File below:
DOWNLOAD FILE

(This image is an 8x10. If you print it as a smaller photo image, you may

loose some of the letters and words around the edges.)

Kandislei Co. Coupon

This morning, Jenna Loch Photography's 4,000 fan giveaway went live!
I'm happy to be a part of it! You can enter to win 1 of over 40 items
including the button up hat from my Etsy shop, Kandislei Co.!
So stop by her blog and enter to win!

On top of all the FREE stuff she's offering, I'm offering 15% off
the entire shop for the duration of the giveaway by using the coupon code below!

You can take a peek
at some of the styles available by clicking on the "shop" tab at the top
of this page! So take advantage of these savings as well!
www.kandisleico.etsy.com

Have a fabulous weekend!

{ spring burlap banner }

2012-02-29T09:13:00.000-10:00

Spring is such a beautiful time of year! All of my orchids are blooming, my Easter lily's

are really close to blooming and even my banana tree is blooming! I just love all

the bright colors and especially the smell of rain! Although we get plenty of rain

here throughout the year and flowers are always blooming,

you can definitely feel that it is

SPRING!

I really like burlap! It has such an earthy look to it. I thought it would be perfect

for a spring banner. Plus, I figured out an easy way to prevent your burlap

from fraying on every cut!

What you'll need:

* Burlap

* Mod Podge

* Craft paint

* Sponge dabber brush

* Scissors

* Jute

* Sewing machine with matching thread

* Cricut (optional)

Start by laying something down on your work area. I used a long piece

of plastic wrap. I don't want my work to stick to paper or the table.

Then lay a piece of burlap down on top.

Now dab your sponge brush into some Mod Podge and start

dabbing it onto the burlap. You want to cover the whole piece.

The more you use, the stiffer it will be! So base your thickness on how

firm you want your burlap in the end.

Allow the burlap to dry completely (even the opposite side will be damp

with Mod Podge)!

I used some white paint and dabbed a very small amount over my entire piece.

Let this dry.

Now to make a pattern for your flags.

I used a small envelope, folded it in half, and cut off the corner.

Now cut out your flags, using your pattern.

Using your Cricut, cut out your letters and shapes on some scrap paper.

I used George and basic shapes cartridge.

Now use the outside piece like a stencil. Dab the color of your

choice onto each flag

Make sure you keep the inside of the 'P' and 'R' so you can hold them

into place while you paint.

If you don't have a Cricut, you can use a paintbrush to paint your letters on!

Let the paint dry completely.

I added a vintage button on the center of each flower as well.

Now it's time to put the flag together. Lay the flags out in the

order they will be attached to avoid sewing them on wrong.

Line your jute up in the center of your pressure foot over the top of your flag.

Using a wide zigzag stitch on the sewing machine you sew the jute

down the top of each flag, adding the next flag without stopping or cutting

thread.

Make sure you leave a long end on the jute for tying off your banner.

And your done!

{ squiggly bracket picture frame }

2012-02-22T14:39:00.000-10:00

I recently saw some frames online that were so dang cute! No plain old

square frames either! They were frames that obviously were inspired

by the squiggly bracket!

(I'm not sure who named it that

but I love it! hahah squiggly bracket --> { })

I just switched out my family photo and I thought about painting the

frame (I'm trying to get away from all the black). Then I decided

to just make my own squiggly bracket frame; Jumbo sized!

I just used my 20 X 30 picture frame and built a frame around it! Pretty

simple for the outcome!

What you'll need:

* Old frame

* Tape measure

* 1x4 inch board ( length depends on the size of your frame)

* Saw

* Craft paper and pencil

* Sand paper

* Router

* Wood glue

* Wood clamps

* Paint and brush

Start with your old frame.

Sorry for the lack of photos .... But you will use these measurements

and mark it on your 1x4. 2 of each. Then cut them at a 45 degree angle.

The measurement will be the short end of your 45 degree angle.

Now you should have 4 piece total that look like this ( 2 measuring

the same as side and 2 measuring the same as bottom of frame). They should be able

to sit nicely around the outside of your original frame with all corners

and angles touching flush.

Now to add your detail! I used craft paper and cut out patterns that looked

just like the image above. I folded it in half and then drew a design. When you cut it

out you will have a symmetrical design. (I made different designs for

bottom and side. You can use the same if you want). I then traced this pattern

onto my wood and cut it out with the scroll saw.

By taping your pattern together at the corners, you can make a nice clean
transition at your joint. Match up your corners to make sure they
match up and sand them down if they don't.

Next step is to router all the outside edges.

There are so many different bits available for the router.

Sand any rough edges.

Now it's time to put this thing together. Remove your picture, glass and backing from

the original frame if you haven't already done so.

Using wood glue and clams, attach the new frame to the outside of the old one.

I did two sides at a time because I didn't have enough clamps to do it all at once.

Allow the glue to dry completely before removing the clamps.

Now you can paint and sand as you please!

Just make sure it's completely dry before putting your photo back in!

Cost: $10