Tag: diy

Composition Notebook Cover Re-Do #2

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Hi Everyone!

I hope your having a fantastic week so far!

So last week was the first of a series of posts on how to re-decorate your composition notebooks. The first Composition Notebook Re-do was done with Mod Podge and different kinds of paper, then stuck mixed media style to the front and back covers.

If you missed it, you can find it here: Composition Notebook Cover Re-Do #1 (Decoupaged Paper Mix Media Style)  Composition Notebook Re-Do #1

This week’s re-do is all about doodles. I am going to show you how easy it can be to customize your composition book with your own artwork.

I love to doodle, I have notebooks full of random drawings, scribbles and doodles. So it was only a matter of time before they wound up on the front covers also!

So let’s get going 😀

Materials Needed:

  • Composition Notebook
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Sharpies or any Permanent marker. I use Micron by Pigma its Archival ink, which means its permanent and it also dries really quickly. Quick drying is important because the last thing you want is a big marker smear, its fixable but frustrating. I also use sharpies they work well also.  You also want to go with a finer tip, especially if your getting into detail. If not go with whatever you like. I try to keep a variety of sizes around.
  • Watercolors or Acrylic paint. (I used watercolor easy to work with, easy to fix mistakes, and dries fast)
  • cup of water for your watercolors
  • paint brushes
  • Sticklers Glitter glue
  • Acrylic Gesso
  • Clear Coat Spray Sealer

Steps:

Grab your Gesso and completely cover your front and back cover. You may need to do two coats. If you do make sure you let the gesso dry between coats.

Cover the entire front and back cover with Gesso and Let dry.

Cover the entire front and back cover with Gesso and Let dry.

Once completely dry Grab your pencil and start doodling or drawing.

Draw anything you like

Draw anything you like

And doodle some more…

Here are some tools I used to do the back. You don't have to free hand everything if you dont want too. Play with your supplies.

Here are some tools I used to do the back. 

and some more...

and some more doodling…

Outline everything in marker. Remember to use quick drying Archival ink or sharpies to avoid smearing.

Then go over everything with marker.

Then go over everything with marker.

outlined in marker

outlined in marker

Now it’s time to watercolor!

The gesso takes water color well .

The gesso takes water color well .

so therapeutic

so therapeutic

All done!

Once your done with the watercoloring, let dry completely.

Once dry, I used Sticklers Glitter glue to accent different places in the pictures to give it a little pop.

When your completely satisfied, spray your cover with Spray Sealer. This helps keep your cover from sticking to everything.

All Done!

There you have it!  A completely customized notebook! What do you think?

I would absolutely love to see how your projects come out.

Send me pics!

Come on back and check us out next week, when I do Composition Notebook Cover Re-do #3!

Have a wonderful week!

UpCycling an Old Frame into a Kitchen Reminder Board

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Hi Everyone! Hope you are all having a great week so far.

Todays project is up-cycling an old picture frame into a Kitchen Reminder Board.

I was totally going to throw the frame away because I am borderline craft hoarder and finally talked myself into throwing something away (which is really hard for me lol), but then my boyfriend said “You’re not going to turn that into something?” ….Yes, Yes I am.. and boy am I glad I did!

I wanted something in the kitchen to just quickly jot down stuff as we ran out. I tried pen and paper but then I would lose the list then find it 3 months later behind the refrigerator. You know how it goes. 🙂

I think the frame is much happier in its new frock…and out of the landfill.

So here we go:

Materials Needed:

 Old Frame
 Acrylic Gesso
 Mod Podge
 Paper or Fabric
 Blank Background page
 White Erase Pen

Instructions:

1. Clean off your old Frame.

Old frame in need of some TLC.

Old frame in need of some TLC.

2. Cover your frame with gesso. Let Dry.

Frame 2 Frame 3

3. While waiting for the gesso to completely dry, cut out your pieces of fabric or whatever you choose to cover the frame with.

Originally, I was going to use cut out flowers from magazines, and just add small pieces of scrap fabric. But as you can see, I fell in love with the fabric and decided to use that instead. It goes more with the vintage vibe of our kitchen.

Cut out your pieces

Cut out your pieces

4. After the frame is completely dry. Add each piece of fabric or paper by applying Gesso to frame, adding fabric then apply Gesso to the top.

Frame 5
4. Repeat until it’s covered. Make sure each piece is covered with the Gesso as a sealer.

Coat and Let completely dry

Coat and Let completely dry

5. Let it dry.

6. Add blank paper to the frame as a back ground.

Frame 7

7. Add a Dry Erase pen.

Frame 8

8. Ready to use!

Frame 9

5 Sites with Amazing Recycling Projects

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Recycling Projects

Hola Everyone! I am recovering from a nightmare migraine so this is just a quick post.

I am all about reusing trash as you know, and I came across some sites that made my jaw drop! Some of these upcycling ideas are just wonderful. I want to give all these people a hug, weird I know, but some people are just so crazy creative! I love it! 

Here are 5 sites with amazing recycling ideas to help get you motivated to upcycle not just recycle:

1.)  Sophia at http://mygreatchallenge.blogspot.com/ created an awesome DIY colored pencil organizeer using recycled materials around the house. I love this project, I am totally going to make one. Check it out here: My Great Challenge – DIY Colored Pencil Organizer

2.)  Diane at Crafty Pod, shows us how to How to make a gift box from an old greeting card! This is such a great idea. Check it out here:  Crafty Pod- How to Make a Gift Box from an Old Greeting Card

3.)  I absolutely love this idea, and can not wait to try it out. It comes from Jessica Jones at How About Orange.blogspot.com.  How to Make Gift Bags from Newspaper! How About Orange – How to Make Gift Bags from Old Newspapers

4.)  Check out this cool recycled gift canister, wrapping, and fabulous bow by Bptakoma on instructibles.com You will find it here: Instructables.com – Cool Recycled Gift Canisters

5.)  Beauty Harmony Life has some of the most creative ideas for recycling items. I absolutely love the wine and beer bottle coffee tables! Oh and the DIY Owls! 25 Diy Ideas to Recycle your potential Garbage. Check it out! Beauty Harmony Life – 25 DIY Ideas to Recycle your Garbage

Enjoy!

Happy Recycling!

 

Let’s Make Stickers!

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Hi Everyone! I hope everyone is wonderful.  I spent this weekend going through some of my office supplies, and I found a bunch of packs of labels. Then it happened…the idea!

I don’t know why it took me so long to do this. I love stickers.. I mean LOVE stickers. I have a wicked collection.

Lately, I have been sealing packages and letters with them but I wanted something more personalized without spending a bunch of money.  Then lightning struck, I can make my own!!

So, if your like me your might have packages of labels around collecting dust. I always have leftovers from yard sales and organizational sprees, or if you burn your own CD’s, you might have those CD Label making programs,they usually leave you with left over sticker parts. I keep everything I might be able to use later on (no, I haven’t reached hoarder status…yet).

stickers

stickers 2

I kept the CD label thingy because I thought I could use the round part or the thin CD case labels.

So lets make some stickers…

You want to start with a background.

I used Dylusions Ink spray and sprayed the labels. You could totally use ink pads or markers. Once covered let them dry.

stickers 3

Next, Use a lighter color stamp pad to stamp a pattern onto the background. This part is fun, you can do a million different things.

stickers 4

Next, More stamping..Use letters, pictures, whatever your heart desires. I was making Thank You & Sugar Beet Crafts Stickers.

Stickers 6

Stickers 7

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You can use a white or metallic pen to make some fun highlights…

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Here are some more fun ideas…stamps and markers. The background was done by rubbing the labels with a stamp pad, stamping and filling in with markers.

Stickers 7

sticker 8

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Here is a fun way to use the thin strips of sticker for the side of the CD case…

Doodle across the lines…

sticker 15

Then remove for an awesome sticker!

stickers 18

Use it to decorate a card..

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I am already totally addicted. It is a fun way to add some pizzazz to any project. It’s also super sweet to get a personalized handmade anything.

This would be so fun to do with kids, and you have no guilt because you get to use up some extra’s lying around. The environment gives you a big hug for that!

I hope this gets your imagination going!

What will you make?

I would love to see your stickers!

Adventures in Art Journaling – Peacocks Me and U

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me and you peacock art journal

I started Art Journaling in Oklahoma last year while we were taking care of my boyfriend’s mom. This was one of my first pages. I used watercolors, stamps, markers, tissue paper and Mod Podge. I thought it would be a fun followup to yesterdays photo!

Cinco De Mayo 2014!

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Cinco De Mayo is Monday, May 5th. I am Mexican, German, English, Irish, and Spanish, so I love the plethora of celebrations throughout the year! Famous for backyard bbq’s, vibrant colors, loud music and celebration, Cinco de Mayo”the Fifth of May,” is a Mexican Holiday that actually celebrates the Battle of Puebla. This battle took place on May 5, 1862.

Check out more facts at: latinamericanhistory.about.com – http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/10cincodemayobasics.htm

Great Sites with amazing Cinco De Mayo Crafts

Tatertotsandjello – http://tatertotsandjello.com/?s=cinco+de+mayo

TipJunkie.com – http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/cinco-de-mayo/

DLTK – http://www.dltk-kids.com/World/Mexico/Index.htm

Spoonful.com – http://spoonful.com/crafts/mini-pinatas

Sheknows.com – http://www.sheknows.com/kids-activity-center/articles/990207/cinco-de-mayo-crafts-for-kids

Check out these amazing sites for party planning!

Todaysmama.com – http://todaysmama.com/2014/04/cinco-de-mayo-party-ideas/

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/tijuanaflats/cinco-de-mayo-party-planning/

Nubry.com – http://nubry.com/2012/05/5-party-tips-for-hosting-a-cinco-de-mayo-celebration/

The36thavenue.com – http://www.the36thavenue.com/2014/04/cinco-de-mayo-party-ideas.html

Punchbowl.com – http://www.punchbowl.com/party-ideas/cinco-de-mayo

Have a wonderful holiday everyone! Be SAFE!! ….I mean it 😀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QI8nj6PSPI

Fun Ways to Decorate an Altoids Tin

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How cool are Altoids tins? I thought it would be fun to decorate a few, the possibilities are endless!

Paint and Clay!

 

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Fabric

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Puff Paint, Stamps and Embellishments

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If you use your imagination the possibilities are endless and you could get completely addicted! The last two are actually Christmas ornaments that I made my mom.  I mod podged a small chain for a hook to the tops, to hang from the tree. If you open it up there is a picture of my family. A great idea for a gift or to show family photos through the years.

I hoped this sparked up your imagination! Now let’s go up-cycle some trash!

DIY Quick tip with Washi-Tape

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I have no idea why this took me so long! Re-use tape dispensers for washi tape. If your careful you can just remove the left over ring from the tape then pop the washi tape on. I knew I had a reason for keeping all those dispensers!

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Have a great day!

Keep on Recyclin’!