Unfinished wood birdhouses are really easy and fun to decorate.   I let my grandkids paint the roof and bottom and since they are going to be covered with scrapbook paper it doesn’t matter if they get paint all over.  There are so many different papers to choose from so you can do almost anything you want.

Step 1.

I turned my grandkids loose and let them paint the tops and bottoms of the birdhouses.  It doesn’t have to be neat because you will be covering the front, back and sides with paper.

Step 2.

Put the paper on the front of the birdhouse and then press around the peg to mark the paper.

Step 3.

Fold the paper over the edges of the birdhouse and crease.  Turn the paper over so the lines will be easier to see and cut out your pieces.

Step 4.

Put the paper on the front of the birdhouse and press down around the holes to make a line for cutting.

Step 5.

Paint the birdhouse, one section at a time, with glue that is thinned down a little with water.  Place the pieces of paper onto the birdhouse and gently press down to smooth out any bubbles.

Step 6.

I cut out birds from scrapbook paper and glued them on the fronts of the birdhouses for a finishing touch. If you want to use them outside you can coat them with a clear polyurathane or something like that.

My sister and I made these signs using poster board, ribbon, and some letters I purchased at Big Lots, in the scrapbook section. These are really easy and inexpensive to make.

Materials:

• poster board
• chipboard letters  ( I got mine at Big Lots but you can purchase them at any craft store.)
• ribbon
• glue

Step 1.

Glue letters onto poster board.

Step 2.

Punch holes along bottom and tie ribbons of varying lengths through holes as shown. We tied ribbon to each end of the long sign so that we could tie it around the trees.

My sister made some signs with other designs by changing the hole positions and threading the ribbon as shown.

I wanted to make a just married sign for the car with letters that were big enough to be seen from a distance so I made this sign.

Step 1.

Cut out letters from scrapbook paper.

Step 2.

Cut out letters that are just slightly bigger than your solid color letters using a contrasting paper.  Glue the smaller letters onto the bigger letters as shown.

Step 3.

Glue the letters onto the poster board.

These napkin rings are really easy to make and are great for any occasion.   You can purchase charms that say almost anything and with the many colors and sizes of ribbon available there are a lot of ways  to use these.   It only took me about an hour to make 50 of them and they were very inexpensive.

Materials:

• wide ribbon  ( 1 yard will be enough to make 6 napkin rings.)
  
• narrow contrasting ribbon,  (it takes 1 yard for each 3 napkin rings.)
• one charm for each napkin ring.  ( I got mine in packs of 20 for about 2.99 at Joanns)
• hot glue

Step 1.

Cut 6 inch pieces of wide ribbon.  Cut 12 inch pieces of narrow ribbon.  Slip a charm onto the ribbon placing it in the center.

Step 2.

Place a strip of hot glue down the center of the wide ribbon.  Place the narrow ribbon on top of the glue centering the charm.

Step 4.

Wrap the napkin around your utensils and tie it together in the back.

We are always looking for toys for Sawyer that can stand up to a puppy but have found that many of them are easy to tear up and even dangerous. I made this from some heavy canvas and an empty water bottle that I put a few beads in so it rattles when he plays with it.  It has quickly become his favorite toy and was very easy to make and cost me nothing.

Materials:

• small piece of sturdy canvas fabric ( a piece of a painters tarp would work well)
• empty water bottle
• small beads or anything that will rattle around

Step 1.

Cut out canvas as shown.  I made a bone shape but you can do almost any shape as long as you make it big enough to fit a water bottle.  You will need to cut two pieces of fabric.  Put them together (right sides together) and stitch around the edge leaving it open at one end.  I sewed around twice and finished the edges with a zig zag stitch so that it’s extra strong.

Step 2.

Crush up water bottle and put some beads inside. Screw lid on good and tight. Turn bone inside out and stuff water bottle inside.  Stitch across end twice to secure it.

Sawyer has had it for a week and it is holding up really well.  He loves the noise it makes when he shakes it, loves to fetch it, and sometimes just chews on it.   I’m going to try to come up with some more stuff that can take the abuse he dishes out!

I made these little fabric bird seed bags for my daughters upcoming country wedding.  I’m going to put them in a basket and have the little girls hand them out at the reception.  They were so easy to make and cost almost nothing.

Materials:

• a yard of fabric will make about 80.
• fusible hem tape
  
• string
• fabric paper (can be purchased at any craft store.)
  

Step 1.

Cut out fabric pieces. I made mine about 7″ x  6″.  Hem the top edge of each piece.

Step 2.

Fold in half and then stitch around the bottom and side as shown.  Turn to right side and press.

Step 3.

Make the birdseed labels by typing it in “Word” or whatever program you use, and then print it on fabric paper. Cut out the size you want and then cut out strips of fusible hem tape to fit the fabric label. Position it on bag and press.

Step 4.

Tie string to a small safety pin.  Stick the pin into the small casing you made at the top in step 1.   Push it through the entire casing until it comes out the other end.

Step 5.

Fill the bag with bird seed.  Pull the string tightly and tie a bow.

This is why I haven’t posted much lately.  I had no idea that raising a puppy would be so difficult and fun at the same time.  He has to be right in the middle of whatever I’m doing which has made crafting difficult.   Where is the Dog Whisperer when I need him???  I am finally making some progress with Sawyer and hope to be back in full swing soon!

My daughter is getting married soon and they are having a very casual country wedding. I wanted to make some wedding mementos that fit into that theme so I decided to do seed packets. I am an avid seed collector so I have plenty of marigold and sunflower seeds from last year to use but, if you don’t, you can buy seed in bulk at many co-ops or feed stores.  I also order seeds from Victory Seed company online because there seeds are non hybrid and will reproduce.

Materials:

• paper sheets  (I made mine from parcel post wrap)
• seeds
• glue

Step 1.

I went to www.craftingagreenworld.com to get a pattern for the envelopes.  Then after downloading it to “My Documents” I opened it in Paint. There is probably a better way to do this but my talents do not lie in computers so I just do these things anyway I can make it happen.

Step 2.

Pick out an image to use for your envelope. I found mine on a free clip art website.  I saved it to my computer and then clicked on “Paste from” in paint. Then I went to My Documents where I saved my free clip art.  When you click on your image (mine was labeled Marigold) it will bring the image to “Paint.”  Then you click on your picture and drag it to where you want it on your envelope.

Step 3.

To do the text you click on the “T” in “Paint.’  You can click on the Text tool bar to change the style of lettering and the size. After you click on the “T” you just drag the arrow to where you want the text to appear on the envelope.

Step 4.

I cut pieces of paper from parcel post paper but you can use paper bags. After I printed them I cut them out and folded them as shown in picture.

Step 5.

Glue flaps as shown.  After it’s completely dry you can fill with seeds.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to glue the flaps shut or use stickers. I’m thinking about getting some sticker paper and then using it to print up small pictures of the bride and groom. On my photo program they are called contact sheets.

Materials:

• small piece of fabric
• a piece of foam (I used the memory foam from the bottom of a pair of worn out slippers)
• velcro

Step 1.

Cut a piece of fabric that is eight inches wide and measures 3 to 4 inches wider than the circumference of the top of your boot.

Step 2.

Narrow hem the top as shown.

Step 3.

Measure 3 inches and fold over, right sides together, as shown.  Before you stitch it down you need to sew a piece of velcro on the edge as shown.  Narrow hem both sides and then fold the top over and stitch along edge.

Step 4.

Sew the other piece of velcro on the other end as shown.

Step 5.

Cut a piece of foam that will fit inside the pocket.

Step 6.

Turn to outside as shown and then slip over the top of your boot.

I made this banner for my grandsons first birthday. I used his invitation as inspiration and made it out of canvas so my daughter can roll it up and save it for him.  If you aren’t good at free hand drawing you can always use a projector to draw your pattern.

Materials:

• 1 yard of heavy canvas
• dowel that is a little longer than your finished banner
• cord to hang it
• paint

Step 1.

Cut your piece of canvas to the size you want. Draw design or use a projector.  I always use the invitation to make birthday banners.

Step 2.

Paint your design in steps allowing each area to dry before moving on.

Step 3.

Add lettering.

Step 4.

Hem edges. On the top you will turn under about 3 inches making a pocket for the dowel to fit through.

Step 5.

Hang with a dowel and cord as shown.

Here is a fun way to wrap a present for someone special. You could use the same idea in many different ways for weddings, graduations etc…. This is a quick and easy project that anyone can do.

Materials:

• 1 sheet of construction or scrapbook paper
• pom poms or other trim
• 8×10 enlarged photo
  

Step 1.

Cut out hat shape from paper. Fold edges as shown.

Step 2.

Glue folded edges to gift.

Step 3.

Glue on pom poms.

Step 4.

I used HP photo smart to crop this photo. Then I printed it in an 8×10 size and printed it on regular   paper and cut it out.

Step 5.

Attach photo to under edge of hat as shown.

I had to find a way to secure my cell phone as it charges while keeping it out of the reach of my puppy so I made a pouch that hangs on the wall.  I hung it high enough that Sawyer cannot reach the cord or the phone.  Now if I could only find a way to keep him out of the other stuff he gets into…

Materials

• small piece of fabric (1/4 yard should be enough)
• small piece of heavy weight fusible interfacing
• 1 large eyelet

Step 1.

Make your pattern pieces using these dimensions or you can make it smaller or bigger to fit your phone.

Step 2.

Cut a piece of stiff fusible interfacing to fit pattern piece.  Apply it to the inside of the back piece.

Step 3.

Hem top edge of pocket piece. Put pattern piece back on pocket and use pins to mark where your pleats are going to be.  Fold pleats as shown using pins as a guide and then pin them into place. Stitch them into place using a basting stitch. Remove pins.

Step 4.

Pin pocket to the front piece by placing the inside (wrong side) of pocket on the right side of the front piece. Now place the right side of the back piece on top of the front piece (right sides together) and pin into place.

Step 5.

Start at the bottom and stitch around the edge leaving an opening at the bottom to turn to the outside. I used a half inch seam allowance.

Step 6.

Turn to outside through opening on bottom. Hand stitch bottom closed.

Step 7.

Apply eyelet as shown.