Something Breezy

Oh, How Smashing!

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:53:00 +0000

Wow, the month of February is just flying by! (Get ready for sarcastic tone) We all know that everyone's favorite holiday is in this month...Valentine's Day! Ry and I had an awesome D-Day...oops I mean V-Day. Now that I have long-gone given him his gift I can now share this with all my fellow followers!

Awhile back I came upon this gift idea on Pinterest in which she took a Smash book and put words of scripture into it for her child to read to them as they continued to grow...AWESOME IDEA RIGHT?! Check it out at Lowercase Letters.

Lowercase Letters

I took this great gift idea and made Ryan a Smash book full of his favorite scripture, quotes, humor, entertainment, and mushy notes from me! I love Smash book because the pages are already decorated with fun designs, all you have to do is add your special notes and journaling to it.

Supplies:

Smash book (I ordered mine off of Amazon)
Decorating accessories, mine that I ordered came with a ton of SWAG all for $30!
tape, glue, stickers (smash book comes with pen and glue on the other side of it)
Photos, favorite sayings, quotes, scripture,etc...

Took scrapbook paper, printed off letters, and glued them to cover.

*WARNING* The following pages may be cheesy to you...I apologize in advance for all the mushy gushy stuff you see...ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK ;)

A lot of the scripture and quotes I found off of Pinterest and then printed them off!

Little table of contents

2012 a year of great changes for us!

Found some printable "love coupons" like free 5 min back rub, pick out movie for the night, etc... on Pinterest. Also, found great date idea list! Thew them in the envelope attached in Smash book.

The next pages are some of Ryan's personal interests that I captured for him! Abe Lincoln his favorite President, and wise quotes by him.

His trip to China.

Humor that he loves.

Favorite Bible Verses

King David and other heroes that Ry likes.

A place to jot down favorite entertainment...

Summer Vacation with a list in the envelope of questions for each other on the next roadtrip.

Our Songs.

There you are, the very smashing book that can be oh so personal. There are also additional pages I left blank for us to add to it! The best part was when Ryan opened it and how much he enjoyed looking through each page! This gift can be given at anytime and will surely be liked because of how different it is from other gifts. Hope you all made it through all the mushy gushy pages! Until next time...

~Wishing you creative bliss~

5 DIY Headboard Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:56:00 +0000

So, I have a confession to make... I am a pinaholic. I. LOVE. PINTEREST. Who doesn't love Pinterest?! I think I even catch my husband liking, laughing, or wanting me to pin certain ones when I am on and he is near by! I remember one of my first pins was a DIY headboard idea. So, thanks to Pinterest today's post is dedicated to my favorite DIY headboard ideas.

1. Rustic Window Influence:

Something Breezy

My first headboard idea is featured from no other than...moi. Using old windows just adds an element of rustic chic to any room. This is a fairly simple DIY because all the materials you need are window(s), fabric, and a staple gun. The best way to get these rustic windows is either from antiquing/thrifting OR find a family/friend who has barn connections. I was lucky and had a friend grab these at their family farm.

Here are the three easy steps I did to make mine:

Wipe/Clean windows up
Measure and then cut fabric
Staple fabric onto the back of the window

YAY! Super easy and super cute! My favorite part about this is you can change out the fabric any time that you please...nothing permanent. Here is the picture that I got my inspiration from:

the boo and the boy

2. Cozy Up:

Better Homes and Garden

I am all about cozy. Find a fireplace screen, unfold, and hang. I would spray paint it an accent color so it would complement with the other colors in the room. Throw some Christmas lights around it to make it extra cozy.

3. Bookworm:

Better Home and Gardens

AAAAAHHH for those bookworms, this one is for you! One of my favorite DIY headboard ideas yet again comes from Better Homes and Garden. Curtain panel, curtain rod, fabric markers, and favorite quotes....few materials to make a bold statement would make this DIY well worth the time!

4. Reclaimed Wood:

Remodelaholic

I hate throwing away items when I know I can reuse it for something better! This DIY uses reclaimed wood and makes it a great upcycling project, and who wouldn't want to give back to the enviornment?! Head over to Remodelholic for the full tutorial.

5. Chalk It Up

Apartment Therapy

I am obsessed with chalkboard markers. So, any time I get to chalk it up, I will! This DIY is simple and versatile by being able to erase and draw/write whenever you please. Inexpensive chalkboards can be found at Hobby Lobby or any other craft/decor supplier.

So, there you have it, Something Breezy's top 5 DIY headboard ideas that I absolutely adore.

As always,

~Wishing you creative bliss~

~Breezy

The White House

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:10:00 +0000

It sure has been one crazy year for Ryan and I. Graduated from college, moved, got new jobs, adopted a black lab puppy, and most recently.... bought our first home!

The past two months we have been working our hiney's off making some cosmetic improvements to the house. Ripping wallpaper down, painting, and redoing the hardwood floor in our dining room kept our nights very busy. With the help of our awesome families we were able to make all the improvements we wanted to! In the end it was ALL worth it!

So, without further ado here are the before and after pictures of our home... the White House ;)

Before Exterior View:

After:

Before Entrance:

After:

Yes...I had to paint the door yellow :)

One of my favorite pictures of my grandma Echo is framed in this entryway....

Before Mini-Library:

After:

An English teacher's dream...to have their own library!

Before Living Room:

After:

So excited to have our first couch and be able to ditch the college futon! Wahoo!

Lovely gift from my parents....electric fireplaces are nifty :)

Before Dining Room:

Biggest Improvement Award ;)

After:

Yes...hardwood floors...aaahhh...

This gorgeous table was made by my father-in-law...AMAZING.

Antique Chairs that had been collected by my mother...LOVE.

Love upcycling...barnwood we got from some friends and turned into baseboard!

Before Kitchen:

This makes me cringe....

After:

Much better! Fresh paint on walls and cabinets!

Our little coffee bar...this was a must!

Fell in love with the exposed brick right when we viewed this house!

Before Bathroom:

A little color can do wonders to a room...

After:

TA-DA!

Before Master Bedroom:

After Master Bedroom:

Our cute puppy, Titus, taking a pose :)

DIY Window Frames for our headboard was a must!

Before Hallway:

After:

Before Guest Bedroom:

After:

Before Computer/Craft Room:

After:

Finally my dream craft room...still adding on, but it's a start!

That's my hubby :) Getting ready to get his gaming on...

Before Mancave:

After:

GO HAWKS!

We are so BLESSED to have this as our home, and can't wait to raise a family here :) We would love to hear some comments below!

~Wishing you creative bliss!~

~Breezy

No Sew Dishtowel Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:44:00 +0000

Are you excited about today's NO SEW CRAFT?! I AM!!!

Today's craft inspiration is featured on the blog In My Own Style.

So, here's the deal: I am slowly learning how to become a better seamstress, so in the meantime I am still obsessed with crafts that have no sewing required!

This craft is perfect for so many people (and just to list a few):

Those who hate to sew
Budget Buyers
Last Minute gift givers
College Students
Home OR Outside Decorators

If you don't have these following supplies, grab your shoes and head to your nearest craft or fabric supplier:

Fabric Glue (Mine was Crafter's Pick $4.99 @ Hobby Lobby)
2 Dishtowels (I got mine tan one at Dollar Tree and cheated and got some fabric at Hobby Lobby, because I needed last minute gifts!) Target and TJ Maxx have cute, but inexpensive ones as well :)
Poly-Fil Fiber OR Pillow Form (Can get these at a craft or fabric store, just make sure pillow form will fit dishtowel size) *TIP get a pillow that is going to be small enough so you can fold your fabric over.
Embellished Pin OR Button
Optional: Iron, Elastic, & Scissors

In my Own Style shows three different variations to make your no sew pillow form: back-flap, front-flap, or no-flap.

I documented the front-flap style, and here it is!

1. The great thing about buying the dishtowel is that the hem is already in place for you! So line your dishtowels up so that they meet evenly with one another. Make sure that the wrong sides are facing each other. If you got two of the same sizes you shouldn't have to do any trimming :) YAY, SO EASY! *I had extra fabric which helped me during the fold, but do not worry if you don't because yours will still fold without it!

2. Grab your fabric glue and begin to glue the hemmed pieces together, pressing along the hem as you go so it will adhere. Don't worry about the white glue showing, it will dry clear :)

3. Continue to glue the two pieces together except for the top in which your pillow will go in! For extra adhesion, take your iron on the seams to seal.

4. Optional: I did do just a tiny bit of simple sewing, using elastic and a button to hold my fold for the pillow. Complete this step now.

5. Place your pillow or Poly-fil in your form and fold over your remaining fabric from your dishtowels to make a flap.... remember that I had extra fabric so yours may look a little different.

6. If you haven't already, attach an pin to embellish the flap for a complete look to hold your pillow together!

7. These are not only great for inside decor, but also for your front porch/deck decor!

Comment below, and let me know success stories!

~Wishing you Creative Bliss!~

~Bri

DIY Summer Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:34:00 +0000

This is by far one of my favorite crafts I have completed so far. You know you want to bring some extra warmth this summer into your home by making this adorable wreath ;)

I got this crafty inspiration from A Glimpse Inside if you need some more guidance.

Here's what I used:

Large Frame (try goodwill for a inexpensive one)
Ribbon
Scissors
Scrapbook Paper/Alpha-Stickers
Buttons
Twine
Hot Glue Gun OR Need/Thread

1. Start by painting your frame if you are not satisfied with the color.

2. Here is the time consuming step, making your rosettes (otherwise known as yo-yos OR medallions).

3. There are two ways to make these:

-Using a glue gun

-Hand stitch with a good ole' needle and thread (Here is a great tutorial A Glimpse Inside (How-to Rosettes)

I did try both, and since I am not much of a seamstress I did most of mine with the glue gun! If you don't want to make them with a glue gun hop over to A Glimpse Inside (link above) to follow her hand stitched rosettes.

4. Begin by measuring your ribbon out to about a yard and then cut it.

5. Now, they don't call it a hot glue gun for nothing, so be very CAUTIOUS because it is going to be hot ;)

6. These may look complicated, but they really are just a simple accordion fold. So you will go back and forth gluing the inside part of your rosette after each fold (you only need about a little line of glue).

7. When you get close to the last bit of ribbon gather the two ends and glue them together.

8. Add a cute little button and continuing to make the rosettes enough to fill your frame!

9. Figure out the way you want to place your rosettes and then use the glue gun to put them into place.

10. The last touch is to make a little bunting banner using scrapbook paper and stickers. Hop over to A Glimpse Inside for quick reference for her quick steps in creating it.

11. Glue a little twine to your bunting banner and hang it to your frame. Add some ribbon to the top to give it a complete look!

12. Hang it your front door for the perfect summer welcome wreath!

13. Hope this brings lots of extra WARMTH into your home this SUMMER! Comment below :)

~Wishing you Creative Bliss!~

DIY Summer Citrus Coasters

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:46:00 +0000

Today's lovely craft that I completed is some DIY Summer Citrus Coasters, but before that let me say a few words :)

Wow! It has been so long since I have last posted! A LOT has happened in my life since then....for one I am a college graduate from Grace University with a degree in Secondary Education and Religion!!!! Can I get a WOOP WOOP?!?! My husband also graduated right along side me, so it was a very special moment for the two of us :)

Now we are both on the job hunt and are excited for what God has in store for us! Thank God summertime is fully approaching and I have some time to craft again! I recently was busy making gifts for Mother's Day and also a Thank-you gift. Thanks to Pinterest I came up with some pretty spiffy gifts.

For Mother's Day I took some doilies to a canvas bag with just a little paint to create a chick carry all tote. Visit Under the Sycamore for the full tutorial. The picture below the totes is some Mason Jars I took and filled them with pampering goodies. This is really a perfect gift for any occasion :)

My teacher thank-you gift inspiration came from 1 Wasabi Mommy and Echoes of Laughter. The great thing behind these gifts is you can get almost all the supplies from the Dollar Tree! It was very tempting not to keep these cute items for my own classroom ;)

I know you are itching to see the instructions to the summer citrus coasters so here you are :)

I was inspired by this project at The Purl Bee blog. Hop over to her site for a template and full depth instructions to this crafty craft! Here is how I completed the coasters:

Supplies:

Colored & White Felt (I used white, pink, green, and yellow)
Embroidery Thread, needle, and pins
Scissors
Optional Printable Template @ The Purl Bee

1. Go the Purl Bee if you want the template to help out! You will first start off by cutting out the following using :

2 Large Circles for the peel and backing (take a glass that you have and you that for measurement if not using the template)
1 Medium Circle for the pith
6-8 Colored Triangles

2. Take the triangles and pin them to the pith and peel (not the backing yet!) I made the "seeds" by folding the triangle and cutting a mini triangle inside of it.

3. Using your embroidery thread (looks better if it's matching color) doing a small running stitch on the edges of the triangles.

4. When finished stitching your triangles pin the backing to the citrus peel, and then hide your embroidery knot between the peel and backing. Start a small running stitch all around the coaster. Do this until the citrus is stitched all around :) I tied a small knot when I was completed and hid it between the two pieces and snipped the rest off!
5. Trim the edges of the coaster to give it a nice and clean look.

6. Enjoy them inside or outside with a nice glass of your favorite beverage OR give them as a lovely housewarming gift for this summer :)

I would love to hear success stories of how your crafty crafts turn out so leave a comment below!

~Wishing you ALL creative bliss~

DIY Natural Sugar Scrub

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:07:00 +0000

The official countdown to Christmas has begun! Happy December 1st! :) This is my favorite time of year for many reasons...

1. The main reason for this season...celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior!

2. My husband and I will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary!

3. Being with family & friends, decorating & listening to Christmas music, eating lots of splendid food, and giving gifts! That's right, I LOVE to give gifts!

One amazing gift that I am doing this year is natural body scrubs! It's a win-win for this gift, because it's inexpensive (for you), all natural, and therapeutic. Here is how I made mine, I couldn't help but share this amazing gift idea ;)

Here's what I used:

Mason Jars (Half pint wide mouth)
Cane Sugar
Coconut Oil
Lavender & Peppermint essential oils

1. The measurements are going to vary depending on what size of jar you have. For mine I used: 3/4 cup of sugar, 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, and about 3-5 drops of oil. You add all the ingredients together and mix until you get a satisfied consistency. Very easy :)

2. I made some round labels for the tops of the jar and added some ribbon for a personal touch.

Need labels? I used scrapbook paper and made these labels (jar labels).

Remember you can use different essential oils and also experiment with your base oil. I used coconut because it is good for the skin :)

Hope your scrubs turn out as awesome as mine!

DIY Recycled T-Shirt Braided Scarf Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Tis the season for scarfs! I would have to say that I have started quite the collection of them, but none of them quite look like this one :)

Here's what you'll need:

XL T-Shirt OR jersey knit fabric you can get at Hobby Lobby/Michaels etc... (I used two different colored tees and it made two scarfs)
Scissors

1. Cut both of the shirts from under the armpits horizontally.

2. Next cut the shirt vertically in half at the seam (repeat to other shirt as well). Should look like this after cut:

3. Lay out the fabric (like above) and begin cutting strips vertically. This will give extra long strips of fabric. Pull on the strips to give them even more length.

4. Divide the strands into three equal sections.You might have to enlist someone to holding your fabric while you braid OR just find something heavy to hold it down :) Leave about a foot of fabric left at the top and bottom of your strips. Here comes the fun part...BRAIDING!!! Forgot how to? Here's a video to refresh your memory: How to Braid.

5. With your scraps left over from your shirts take or cut a strip long enough to tie it all together! Wrap it around several times and then double knot it. Now with your strands feather them out and cut random pieces to give it a layered look. :)

6. You're done and now you can enjoy your new scarf!

Remember that these can make awesome gifts...as in Christmas gifts :)

Comment below and happy crafting :)

Dollar Tree Destination: Magnetic Memo Boards

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:11:00 +0000

The Dollar Tree is my first stop for when I am in need for craft supplies. Everything is a dollar and they almost always have what I need! Today's craft is magnetic memo boards made out of cake pans. I got this lovely idea off of none other than...Pinterest! These memo boards are inexpensive and adorable!

Supplies Needed:

Cake Pan
Scrapbook Paper
Scissors
Mod Podge
Bottle Caps/Magnets (optional)
Ribbon & Drill (optional)
Spray Paint (optional)

1. I wanted to be able to hang mine by using ribbon so I had my lovely hubby drill to holes in the pan.

2. Next, I painted the sides because I wanted to add some color. I did two coats. Totally optional...it will just give it more character :)

3. While those were drying I made my bottle cap magnets! Cut scrapbook paper to size and apply with mod podge to the front. Let dry and then add the magnets on the back! Quick and simple to do took me about five minutes, and some for drying ;)

4. When the pan is dry you can cut paper to size the front and apply with mod podge. First by putting a layer on the pan, then by putting the paper down and adding a layer on top of it. Let dry completely.

5. After it's dry cut ribbon to the length you want, tie, hang, and ENJOY :) Oh...and add those gorgeous magnets to it!

~Wishing you creative bliss!~

Fall Leaves: DIY Garland

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Fall is well underway and what better way to decorate your home then to make a fall piece that is inexpensive and adorable! This DIY craft was found on Pinterest through: A Beautiful Mess.

Let's get started! You'll need...

Felt
Yarn or Embroidery Thread
Needle
Scissors

1. Cut leaves out of felt. As many as you want...the more the merrier! :) I cut twenty.

2. Measure how long you want your garland to be and cut. Then begin to stitch the leaves together.

3. Continue until you are satisfied and then make sure to add knots to the end! Enjoy the fall leaves and hang it anywhere. I hung mine on our mantle, but you could also do it over the doorway, bedframe, and even classroom!

Happy crafting and enjoy these gorgeous fall days!

~Wishing you creative bliss!~

Spooky Crafting

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Halloween is approaching us quickly, and you know what that means?! It's time for some spooky crafting!

Monster Jars

I got some great ideas from Pinterest including:

1. Monster Jars from: Crazy Domestic

2. Halloween Garland from: eighteen25

3. Free Printables from: adelynSTONE, The Crafty Crow, and Bonjour!

I accomplished the crafts and decorated our kitchen! I think our kitchen looks Spooktacular!

So, what are you waiting for?! Click on the highlighted blogs that will take you right to the tutorials and free printables! Have fun with your spooky crafting...I know I did :)

~Wishing you creative bliss!~

TV Tray + Fabric + Staple Gun = One Cute Pressing Board!

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:33:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago I was looking around on my latest addiction, Pinterest, and I came across a wonderful idea by Texas Freckles Blog! She used an inexpensive tv tray and turned it into a pressing board! What a fabulous idea for our little efficiency apartment that has limited storage space. We have been needing a pressing board anyways, so I couldn't wait to try it out!

So, I got all the supplies and tried it out. I am super happy of how it turned out:

Here are the easy steps I took to make this adorable pressing board!

Supplies Needed:

Wooden Tray Table
Home-Dec Weight Cotton Fabric
Natural-Fiber Batting
Staple Gun
Scissors

1. First cut the fabric and batting to where there is enough to wrap around tray and staple. Don't worry if you have extra because it can be cut after it's been stapled.

2. Lay fabric down (design facing down) and center the batting on top of it. Place tray on top of fabric and batting.

3. Starting in the center of one side, pull the fabric to the underside of the table and staple it in place. When stapling the fabric pull it back gently making sure that it is stretched, but not strained. Staple in place and repeat, alternating sides and moving out towards the corners, until the fabric has been pulled to the back and stapled on every side.

4. Last will be the corners where you just fold each side in and staple.

5. At this point if you still have extra fabric you can trim it off with some scissors. Check the tray to see if there are any spots where a extra staple could be used & then flip it over and enjoy!

Did I mention it works great as a desk?! :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

We have a WINNER!!!! My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:39:00 +0000

I am SO EXCITED this week to be hosting a giveaway for My Memories Digital Scrapbooking!!!

I love to scrapbook almost just as much as I love to craft! In high school my mom and I would take a whole weekend and just scrapbook. Then I went off to college, and then got married. Life got kind of busy and I didn't have a whole weekend to dedicate to scrapbooking.

Needless to say my scrapbooking days were put on a hold until I was given the opportunity to review My Memories Digital Scrapbooking. I was a little skeptical of the phrase "digital scrapbooking" because I do love the cropping, pasting, planning, and arranging while scrapbooking. I thought I would miss the crafting aspect of this hobby but it turns out that My Memories Digital Scrapbooking is a craft in itself!

With My Memories Digital Scrapbooking you can make Invitations, Cards, Calendars, Scrapbooking pages, Announcements, and SO MUCH more! Using the free tools with the program I created adorable layouts by using some of my favorite photos:

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking is giving one of my lucky readers their program: My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Suite for FREE!!! With a $40 retail price this software works on either PC or Mac! This program has all the templates and tools you would need to start your digital scrapbooking.

Even though only one of you will win the software for free, all of my other fantastic readers will get a $10 Discount plus a $10 coupon that comes with the software ($20 value)!!! To get this promotion go to My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Suite Software and enter promo code: STMMMS79934.

Here's how to ENTER (very simple):

1. To Enter the Giveaway you MUST follow this blog via Google Friend Connect (GFC) on the right. Click the "blue follow" tab on the sidebar.

Want EXTRA chances to win??

Extra Entry 1: Visit My Memories Digital Scrapbooking and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, and then leave a comment telling me which one you chose.

Extra Entry 2: Share this post with your friends on Twitter or Facebook!

Extra Entry 3: "Like" Something Breezy on Facebook.

~So, you can earn up to 4 contest entries (don't forget to let me know in the comments are below so I can credit you for them!)

~ Contest ends Thursday, September 1 @ 10:00 pm CDT.

~ Winner will be drawn (through random.org) & announced on this blog Friday, September 2.

~ I will contact winner through GFC (Google Friend Connect) email and they will have 72 hours to claim prize.

Good Luck! Can't wait to see all the entries :)

~ Briana

Save the Candle Jars: Upcycling Candle Jars

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:51:00 +0000

I love candles! One great way to get all your money's worth is to reuse the candle jar you have been given :) I really like to jazz them up by throwing some cute scrapbook paper on them by using mod podge!

Working at Yankee Candle I have gone through many candles! After the candle is gone I clean it out and reuse the jars. How do I clean mine out? When I think that this is going to be my last burn with a candle I blow it out let it sit for a couple minutes and then carefully scrape all the wax out with an old kitchen utensil. Wash it out thoroughly and then it is ready to be used!

What to reuse it for? The possibilities are endless!
Here are a couple of different ways that I use mine:

Kitchen utensil holder
Q-tips, cotton balls, & bath salts
Loose Jewelry
Crafting Supplies
Pretty Momentos: shells, marbles, buttons, & coins
Anything in the pantry: dry noodles, herbs, & tea bags
Vases

Those are just a few suggestions...think of all the other creative ways you could reuse them!

Have any other suggestions please comment below :)

Want to get the look that I get with my jars? Follow this quick tutorial!

You'll need:

Candle Jar
Scraps of Paper
Paper Trimmer
Mod Podge
Sponge/Brush

1. Cut scraps of paper (can be any size you desire). I did mine in long strips.

2. Take sponge/brush and apply Mod Podge onto the outside of the candle jar.

3. Take one of the strips of paper and place onto Mod Podge. Put a layer of Mod Podge onto the top of the paper.

4. Continue step 3 until the jar is covered! Then you are finished and you can put whatever your heart desires into the jar :)

I think mine will hold some bath salts :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Mason Jar Dispenser Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:54:00 +0000

Throwing away those empty hand soaps/lotion bottles? Instead of throwing the whole unit away save the pump for this awesome redo of a soap/lotion dispenser!

Materials Used:

Mason Jar
Hammer w/nail or drill
Hand Soap/Lotion Pump
Hot Glue Gun
Spray paint (Optional)

1. Begin by putting a hole in the lid by nailing a hole or drilling a hole to the size of the pump. So there are no mess ups it may be easiest to measure and trace where the hole needs to go! With the hole being the right size I took some pliers to the other side of the lid and pulled back the sharp edges to where the hole was located.

2. I hot glued my canning lid together with the metal screw band (it makes it easier when changing out soap/lotion). Keep hot glue gun pugged in.

3. (Optional step) I spray painted the jar lid to the color I wanted! When the lid was dry I moved on to the next step.

4. For the final step hot glue gun the pump into the hole so it will stay in place. Add soap/lotion and enjoy!

~My favorite part about this project... it cost me nothing because I had all the materials already!~

~Wishing you creative bliss~

DIY Charming Petal Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:52:00 +0000

When I stumbled across the DIY craft on The Art Annex I was ecstatic to get the materials and begin this charming petal mirror!

Materials Used:

Flower Petals (Dollar Tree $1.00 each)
Tacky Glue ( Hobby Lobby $2.47)
2 pk Mirrors (Hobby Lobby $3.99)
Sharktooth Picture Hanger (Hobby Lobby $1.29)
Cardboard, Box Cutter/Scissors, Aluminum foil, & Buttons (Already Had)

How I made it:

1. To do the outline of the mirror you will need something round, so I went the the kitchen and grab a plate to trace. Trace the plate onto the cardboard and follow with tracing the mirror (centering it inside where you traced the plate).

2. Use the box cutter/scissors to carefully cut around the plate traced part. Then pour some tacky glue on a scrap of aluminum foil. Begin dipping the rose petals (whatever color you want on outside) into the tacky and place in the outside ring.

3. Continue to fill the outside ring until full OR if you want to start with another color of petal.

4. I glued on my yellow petals until it reached the mirror outline. At that point I was ready to glue my mirror on. I took the tacky glue and placed it on the back of the mirror and then in the outline. I let the mirror set in place for 24 hours to make sure it was secure.

5. I decided to outline the mirror and off set the petals by gluing on buttons (since I love them & had some extras).

6. Hanging this charming piece is the last step! I nailed the sharktooth piece into the backside of the cardboard, and then found a place on the wall to display it. :)

Can't wait to hear success stories of this DIY craft :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Live. Laugh. Breckenridge.

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:15:00 +0000

When summer started the countdown was on for Ryan & my summer vacation. Of course, it couldn't be a vacation without some other family members involved! So, my parents picked us up along the way :) This year's summer destination was Breckenridge, Colorado!

Loaded up with our suitcases (mine may have been a little overpacked...just maybe ;) we were ready to begin our nine hour drive up to Breckenridge!

Our road trip was filled with laughter, some good jams, and some napping (except for the driver ;) After the nine hours passed with a couple of pit stops, we finally arrived to Breckenridge.

For the next four days we would be sharing a lodge not only with my parents, but also with my mom's extended side of the family...The Whipple's (it almost seemed like a family reunion)!

The lodge sure filled up quickly as aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins arrived! The lodge was beautiful, secluded, and spacious! It was so gorgeous there we didn't want to come back to Omaha :) During the four days visiting we hiked, shopped, and had a vicious pool tournament.

First day there we: rode the Gondola Lift up to Breckenridge Ski Resort and hiked around. Above is a picture of my hubby Ryan & Me :) Below is one of my lovely parents. Aren't they adorable? Love them!

Second Day: Ryan loved the hiking...could you guess what I liked??? The shopping! :) Breckenridge had the cutest shops to browse around in! This one was my favorite...Magical Scraps! Check out their site Magical Scraps. I would LOVE to have a shop similar to this!

Third Day: The day was full of hiking and shopping but when the evening hit it was time for the 1st Annual Whipple Pool Tournament! I honestly did want to participate because I am horrible at it, but everyone insisted so I gave in to the peer pressure ;)

The teams were put together randomly and you never guess who I was with...my husband! We didn't win the tourney, but we had a really fun time trying! This pool tournament just reminded me of how blessed I am to have a wonderful family who loves to laugh and have a fun time!

Fourth Day: Finished up some shopping and did a little walking before we made the trip back home :(

Our vacation in Breckenridge was AMAZING. We were so blessed to be able to spend it with the people that care about us the most...family :) Hope everyone is having a super duper summer!

~Ryan & Briana~

Hootie Cutie

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:45:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I posted, but I have a good excuse...I was in Colorado on vacation!!! Yes it was very difficult to leave beautiful Breckenridge, but I guess I had to come back to reality sometime ;) I will post about my trip later, so for now lets talk baby shower gifts.

So, this post is all about two gender neutral baby shower gifts I have made up. The main tutorial featured today is dressing up a plain onesie & bib into a shower gift that everyone will give a hoot about :)

But before we get to that lets talk about the first gift...baby room wall art! In my Oh My Buttons I began making a shower gift that I was going to reveal in this post.

Here is the craft half finished ;)

And finally....the finished product (that took me a three hours to complete)!

Train up a child the way he should go.
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
~Proverbs 22:6

Want to make one? Follow the tutorial Oh My Buttons and instead of using the initial as your focal point use other shapes such as this heart. I also added a bible verse from Proverbs 22:6 (with some scrapbook paper and mod podge) that I believe every parent should go by :) Don't you think this piece will make a great addition to a baby's room?

Okay now we are to the main tutorial!

What I used:

Creations by Grace white bib & onesie (Hobby Lobby $7.00)
Iron On Felt Owl (Hobby Lobby $1.99)
Glue Gun & Glue Sticks (My Essentials)
Bag of Buttons (Hobby Lobby $4.99)

Step-by-step:

1. I found my iron and put it on the right setting to iron the owl onto the onesie. Once it is warm enough, place the owl where you want it to be. Run the iron over it for about 1 minute. Repeat that to the onesie as it is inside out.

2. Here comes the fun part! Pick out some cute buttons and place them on the onesie wherever you like! I used my glue gun to attach the buttons, but if you have the patience then sewing works too.

3. On the bib you may put whatever your heart desires, but I wanted to make the onesie & bib a set so I put... HOOT! :) Again, I didn't have the patience & time to sew the buttons on, but if you do go for it!

4. Finished! The only additional step I took was to make sure that with the set it says that it should be "hand washed" (just because I did glue the buttons on). If they were sewed on then I wouldn't worry about it :)

Happy Crafting!

~As always wishing you creative bliss!~

Americana Wreath & Garland

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:25:00 +0000

Wow! The 4th of July is approaching so quickly! Need last minute decorations??? Got you covered :)

Here is the wreath I decorated:

Best part about the stars . . .
they are used out of recycled cereal boxes!

Here are the materials I used:

Grapevine Wreath ($2.00 Hobby Lobby)
Acrylic Paints ($3.00 Hobby Lobby)
Ribbon ($1.00 Hobby Lobby)
Foam Brush, Scorer, Writing Utensil, Scissors, Wire, Glue Gun (My Essentials)
Newspaper, Cereal Boxes ( My Recycle Bin)

The main decoration I made on the wreath is the Americana Stars. Here are the steps I took to make them:

1. I first made a star cut out to trace on cereal boxes. Then I traced as many stars as I could on the cereal box and cut them out.

2. After the stars are cut out I did something which is called scoring. With the little scoring utensil start from the middle and work your way around all the five points. After you are done scoring the stars bend at each line to make them pop up!

3. When all the stars are scored you can start painting the stars! I only did one coat to give it more of a vintage look :)

4. Now we are going to create a way the stars will stay on the wreath. Grab the wire and cut as many pieces you need for as many stars you have. Mine was about 2 inches in length. Make sure the stars are dry and then flip them all over to apply hot glue to the back of them. Place the piece of wire in the hot glue (be careful). :)

5. Arrange the stars on the wreath and then twist the wire on the "sticks" of it so they will stay in place.

6. For my finishing touch I wrapped some glittery gold ribbon in the wreath. I love it! Looks great on our front door :)

Now for the Garland.

I had a couple stars left over and so I decided to make some garland! All you need for this is some string/twine and the hot glue gun :)

Measure the length you want for your garland and then cut it. Turn the stars over on the back side and place a dot of glue on them. Take your stars (with the glue on them) and place them wherever you want them to sit on the string/twine.

Then when your satisfied with how full your garland is...DISPLAY IT! :)

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July! :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Oh My Buttons!

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Oh My Buttons! I absolutely love them, especially when they are involved in crafts!

So today's fabulous craft is no other then. . . (drumroll please . . . ) A Button Monogram!!!!

Not only can this craft be a future piece of decor in your home, but also would be a fabulous gift for any occasion!

The original tutorial is from American Crafts Studio, but here's how I did it!

Supplies Needed:

Frame without glass (Hobby Lobby $6.00)
Bag of Buttons (Hobby Lobby $5.00) added to my collection! Remember to check around the home for spare buttons lying around or get some off of clothes you never wear anymore!
Brads (not pictured Hobby Lobby $2.00)
Cardstock, Glue Gun, & Glue Sticks (Part of My Essentials)
W initial (typed and then enlarged in word document)

3 Simple Steps:

1. First cut cardstock down to frame size. Then plug glue gun in and trace initial on the cardstock.

2. Begin placing buttons inside letter! Here is a tip: start with the big buttons and work the way down to smaller ones. I used my brads as my fillers towards the end of the craft. Still wondering what brads are? ;) Check out the picture below. I also glued as I placed them on so then if the craft accidentally got moved I wouldn't have to start over! Continue to fill up initial until it's full :)

3. When initial is finished pick all the glue goobers off and place it in frame to enjoy!

Of course I took this idea one step further and did this:

A Heart! Adorable...right?!

Wondering how it turns out? Check out my next post dedicated to baby shower gifts to see! :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

No-Bake Oreo Delight

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:06:00 +0000

Here's the deal. I am not the best cook in the world (I leave that up to my husband), that's why my blog is about crafts & decor! However, when an simple recipe comes my way (like this one) I am up to giving it a try! There are three reasons why I love this recipe:

1. It's no-bake
2. Involves 3 ingredients
3. Can be whipped up in about 15 minutes!

Ingredients:

5 cups large marshmallows
4 tablespoons butter
16.6 oz package of Oreos

1. Open up the bag of Oreos and place into a food processor (blender works too) and pulse until ground.

2. Melt marshmallows with butter in microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.

3. Pour mixture into Oreo bowl and stir.

4. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil and then transfer the Oreo mix over to it. Let it set for 10 minutes.

5. Pull out foil and cut Oreos to squares.

6. Finally. . . Indulge!!! Doesn't matter how many calories...just enjoy ;)

My hubby Ryan enjoying his Oreo Delight :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Transforming That White Wall: DIY Wall Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:49:00 +0000

My one pet peeve when it comes to decorating is leaving a wall completely white and blank. A solution to this is a DIY (do it yourself) Wall Decor project that is:

Inexpensive
Time conscientious
Wall transforming :)
Chic & Fun!

Materials Needed:

Embroidery Hoops 8,6, and 4 inch
Fabric (I got 1/2 yard of each and had extra for another set)
Scissors
Spray Paint (optional)
Hammar/Nails

Steps I took:

1. (Optional Step) There are two pieces to the hoop (inside & outside piece). Take the inside piece out and with some old newspaper on the ground spray paint the outside of each hoop.

2. While the outside pieces are drying take the inside pieces to measure how much fabric should be cut. Cut the fabric about an inch around the hoop.

3. Lay down the inside piece and put the cut fabric on top of it. When the outside piece is dry loosen the knob at the top and place it on top of fabric and inside piece. Tighten the knob and pull fabric so it will be nice and secure!

4. Cut off any extra fabric. This is what the back of mine looked like. Repeat steps 2-4 with the other hoops.

5. When you are finished transform your wall by hanging up your new wall art!

Here is my blank wall transformation:

Bland...

Super Cute!!!!

Closer Look :)

I love this DIY wall decor and can't wait to do more with my extra fabric!

Remember the more the merrier :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Unique Beaded Serving Set

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:37:00 +0000

June is the most popular month for weddings, and you know what that means?! It's gift getting time!!!

When Ryan and I got married some of our favorite gifts were the unique, handmade ones! So, my friends Kelly and Julianna gave me a great wedding gift idea. . . a unique beaded serving set!

This gift is practical and inexpensive :) Here's what we used:

Serving spoon, fork, and cake cutter ($3 .00 Dollar Tree)
Beads (we found necklaces that never get worn and used the beads from them!)
Beading Wire ($2 .47 Hobby Lobby)
Wire Cutter/Scissors

Beading the serving set is simple and quick to do!

1. Cut about a foot of wire (probably will have extra, but that's okay). Grab one end of the wire and begin by wrapping it (choose any of the three serving pieces) three or four times around the handle.

3. Select a bead and thread it through the wire. Repeat this step until you feel it's complete :)

4. Both the beginning and the end wire on the back handle should be secure by wrapping it a couple times through the wire.

Back Handle

5. Repeat the steps and do the other serving pieces!

Kelly & Julianna making their set!

Kelly's Set

My set :)

Make the next wedding gift you give be personal and unique. . . just like this serving set :)

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Antique Jar Lanterns

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Sun, 29 May 2011 19:43:00 +0000

With summer approaching we are bound to be spending some time outdoors! Whether it is camping or just chilling in the backyard these Antique Jar Lanterns will simply add that mood lighting you were looking for!

I originally found the tutorial for this on Make It Do It. They used these lanterns for wedding decorations, which is an awesome idea! Here are the supplies and steps I took to make these Antique Jar Lanterns!

Supplies I used:

Vineyard Wire (2 .50 Hobby Lobby)
Pen/Pencil
Votive
Rocks, Sand, or Decorative Glass Gems
Mason Jar or Recycled Glass Jar
Pliers
Spray Paint (Optional)

Steps to making Antique Jar Lanterns:

~(Optional Step) If you want to give your jars some color add a touch of spray paint! That's what I did to my recycled glass jars. Spray and let dry.

~Start here if you are skipping optional step :)

1. Measure out about 3 feet of wire and cut. From the end of the wire measure 8 inches in, cut, and then wrap twice around pen/pencil. Remove pen/pencil.

2. Grab the wire and wrap it under the large lip of the jar. Take pliers and twist wire until secure.

3. With the rest of the wire take and put it through the hole and then twist upwards (to make the handle for the lantern). Use the pliers to secure both sides.

4. After everything is nice and secure fill the lantern with rocks, sand, or glass gems!

These look great both indoors and outdoors!

~Wishing you creative bliss~

Whimsical Branches

noreply@blogger.com (Bri) — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:48:00 +0000

This past weekend Ryan and I made it up to Cherokee, Iowa to visit his family. We relaxed, ate some great food, and of course crafted! I think 75% of the time Lisa (mother-in-law-), Liz (Ryan's brother's girlfriend), and I were crafting! This was one of our favorite crafts featured from Two Girls Being Crafty. We of course added some of our own flair to this craft by using old vases/recycled glass bottles to put these whimsical branches in!

Here are the supplies we used:

Scrapbook Paper
Scissors
Glue Stick & Glue Gun
Cardstock OR any type of Cardboard
Floral Wire
Branches
Vase

Optional:

Spray Paint
Old Vase OR Recycled Glass Bottle
Ribbon

Instead of going out and buying a vase we looked around the home for old vases/glass bottles. We also found some spray paint and ribbon that we could use to give this craft the "wow" factor!

This is how we made our whimsical branches:

1. Begin to cut a plethora of "leaves" with the scrapbook paper. Depending on how full you want your branches to be will determine the size of your leaf pile ;)

2. Grab the cardstock/cardboard, because glueing is the next step! We used the top of an empty pizza box and with a glue stick glued the leaves on that.

Look at Liz go! ;)
We also thought that the pizza box with leaves could be cute as wall art.
Another craft idea . . . I think so!

3. After they are all glued you can start cutting them!

4. Plug the hot glue gun in and cut the wire 3"-5"long.

5. The wire will now be hot glue gunned to the backside of the leaves.

Be careful when using the hot glue gun!
Safety first :)

6. Here is the fun step! Arrange the branches in the vase, and then start to wrap the wired leaves around them.

Liz arranging her branches!

7. Fill those branches up until they run out! Then you're done!!!

Lisa's vase displayed in her home :)

Liz's Final Product!

Mine that I absolutely adore :)

These are cute gifts . . . and of course great home decor :)

Be on the lookout later this week for DIY Outdoor Lanterns!

~Wishing you creative bliss~