...jazz up an ordinary bag...

Reusable bags are popular right now, so chances are, you have a few stashed in your car or in a cabinet.  For this project, any type of plain fabric or canvas bag will do.  I had this dollar-store canvas tote hanging around collecting dust :), and I recently saw something cute online about having a bag specifically for toting your (or your kids') books to and from the library.  {That is my disclaimer that this post was inspired by something I read... the design itself was my idea, though.}  

Getting started... what you will need:

* plain fabric or canvas bag or tote

* fabric markers (optional)

* embellishments

* glue gun (of course!! ...this non-sewing girl lives by the glue gun method!)

Forgive the quality of the photos -- they were taken using my iPhone instead of my camera this time!

Next, I found a quote online about books/reading and used fabric markers to write on the bag.  I don't own a Silhouette machine or anything like that, so I had to rely on my own freehand for this part!  The reason I chose this one was because the bag just happened to have a pocket!  Tip: You could carry your library card in the pocket.

Now time to add embellishments -- fabric/paper flowers and buttons in this case.  This is where the glue gun comes in!  (Note: this kind of renders the bag un-machine washable!!)

And that's it!!  This was a quick and easy project using supplies and an old plain bag that I already had, so the cost was zero.  :)  

Now we can keep track of what comes and goes from the library, and carry them to and from the library in style!  :) 

~S.

 

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:: Cards ... the easy way!! ::

Following suit with the last "Things I Love" post, I am also going to share a product I love using instead of showing something I made this time.  :)  Something I really like are these pretty blank cards made by DCWV (Die Cuts with a View).

DCVW Box of Cards

They come in a nice variety of styles and colors.  I always find these at Jo-Ann - usually on sale; otherwise using a 40% off coupon makes this a steal!  I'm sure other retailers sell them, too, and you can buy them directly from the DCVW website.

I have found that, with a couple boxes of these blank patterned cards, you are set for any occasion - birthdays (I have even used them for my son to give to his friends since some of the patterns are "plain" enough for boys!!), thank-yous, weddings, etc., on the fly.  It's also cheaper than individual cards and since they're blank inside, I find it to be an all-occasions option when you need a card for someone and fast!!  {I could go off on a tangent here with my thoughts on the value of handwritten communication in a digital world...}   :)

All you need is to add a little bit of embellishing to fancy it up - and you can keep it simple by just using stickers, ink stamping, using a corner rounder or paper punch, or whatever you have on hand.  {If you are my 10-year-old son making a quick birthday card for a friend, you might just draw a couple hockey sticks inside and write "happy birthday"!}  Check out the different varieties and collections here!

Please note: I receive no incentives for promoting this product.  I am not paid to promote it, nor does the company even know I exist!  ;)  I have linked directly to the company's website in this post in order to ensure credit to the product's manufacturer, give credit for where the photo was obtained, and to make sure where to purchase it is properly noted.

~S.

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:: Light up the lampshade! ::

Well, I've been a bit of a slacker with the posts lately, but the other two craftastic sisters have picked up the slack (no pun intended!) with some really great ideas, which we hope you enjoyed and put to use over the holidays - or stored on your to-do list for next year.  Just because Christmas is over doesn't mean you can't make holiday crafts ... think preparation for next year.  ;) 

Today's idea comes courtesy of an ugly and boring lampshade from a cheap lamp purchased years ago, and maybe a couple inspirational ideas I've seen online that I adapted to make my own.  


What you will need:
* a lampshade that needs some TLC
* ribbon or yarn or both (fabric would even work for this)
* a glue gun and hot glue sticks
* the ability not to burn off your fingerprints

I chose to use a small lampshade, probably because it was basically the only one in the house.  We really don't own lamps, other than those tall floor lamps, one of which is still hiding out in the basement where it landed before a recent carpet cleaning.  Surprisingly, I had yarn.  I don't knit or crochet, so the reason why I had yarn is really a coincidence!

Start by applying a strip of hot glue around the top of the lampshade (don't go the whole way around with the glue all at once because it could harden before you can wrap the yarn or ribbon).  Wrap the ribbon or yarn around, following the glue line, and continue for a few rows -- or you could cover the entire lampshade that way if you are patient enough, which I was not!  

This is where you can get creative.  I chose to take ribbon and cut it down the middle to give it a ragged edge, then twist and wrap to make a ball.  I then took each ribbon ball and glued it onto the lampshade randomly... mainly because the middle looked so bare.  See how much better it looks with a little bit of texture?  :)

Lots of possibilities with this project, so see what you can come up with!  So before you toss an old lampshade, think about how you can give it new life.  You probably already have everything you need, so use up what's left of that skein of yarn, finish off the ribbon and get creative!  

~S.

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:: The All-Purpose Mason Jar ::

I like Mason jars... and by "like," I mean really like them.  { Disclaimer:  I am not the person who ordered a bunch of them online to be delivered to the local hardware store for pickup just to ensure that they weren't sold out... absolutely not.  ;) }  Anyway, back to our topic -- these glass jars are so versatile and are relatively inexpensive, reusable, and if you use them to store food or liquid, you don't have to be concerned about chemical leaching from plastic, which is an added bonus. 

I used to think that the only reason to have Mason jars in the house was for canning.  WRONG!  There are a lot more possibilities if you don't can and preserve your own homegrown tomatoes... or even if you do!

Ball Regular 1-pint Mason Jars

Here are some handy ways to use Mason jars, which come in varying sizes, of course --



:: as a vase (Place fresh-cut flowers or herbs in a jar of water, then tie a ribbon around the top for added charm!)

:: as a storage container for dry ingredients (It's easy to see what's inside without having to open a storage container.)

... jazzed-up storage jar...

 

:: for cute gift-giving (Giving away some homemade hot cocoa mix is my personal favorite and also a favorite of one of the Craftastic sisters ;) !)  Hot-glue some ribbon around the jar lid to fancy it up.

... candle in a jar ...

 

There's just something really nice about the simplicity of glass jars.  Maybe they are a reminder of simpler times.  Share some of your own ideas on what cute and crafty uses you have for Mason jars!


~S.

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Glue Gun the Great!

While we are on the topic of adhesives, I would like to make a suggestion that might open up more possibilities for your crafts and projects.  If you own no other supplies from a craft store, start by purchasing a hot glue gun.  This inexpensive, all-purpose tool will not only come in handy when one of your kids’ plastic toys cracks in half some afternoon, but it will open the door to endless crafting possibilities. 

TIP:  Buy a medium-heat or high-heat glue gun and the corresponding high-heat glue sticks.  Don’t go for the low-heat variety.  In my experience, it doesn’t work as well. 

Glue gun from JoAnn Fabrics

More posts to come on some of the quick and easy crafting possibilities using a hot glue gun! 

~S.  :)

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Double-sided tape is your friend!

One of my favorite craft supply staples is double-sided Scotch tape!  This stuff comes in handy for a variety of projects and requires zero drying time, unlike its ugly cousin, Elmer's glue!  The paper doesn't ripple, your fingers don't end up covered in nasty, peeling glue balls, and your project can be completed in just a few minutes.  Anything that can save me time and/or frustration is a clear choice!  I don't know how I ever lived without it!

I can't tell you how many times I have used this sticky life-saver to whip up a quick greeting card and got it in the box before the mailman came! (AND it arrived in time for that special someone's birthday, thank you very much!)  Just fold a piece of cardstock in half, rip a couple short pieces of tape, stick it here, stick it there, attach a pretty piece of patterned scrapbook paper.  Repeat.  Add some fun alphabet accent stickers if you've got them!  Write a quick personalized note inside, slide it into an envelope, stamp it, and hurry, run to the mailbox!  Done!


Another great use - dress up a recycled or plain gift bag.  Let me explain.  I have about 1,000 gift bags in my closet.  I just can't throw them away!  As a believer of  "more is more," sometimes I'm not quite satisfied with the bag's design.  That is when I bust out my tape, embellishments, and get to work!  You can also turn a recycled shopping bag or a plain white bag into something pretty.  Cut out some fancy paper and use it to cover the logo or whatever is printed on the bag, if necessary.  Use your imagination!  You can use fabric flowers or cut out paper flowers, petals, leaves, or just a few long strips and stick them using the tape. You've saved a few bucks on a gift bag that will probably get thrown away anyway (unless I'm the recipient ;) ) and you've personalized it!  I bet you even get a compliment or two!

Before, this was a boring old, reused bag...

After, it became a festive, personalized, birthday bag!

Of course, last, but not least...scrapbook pages!  You can quickly scrap a page during baby's nap or commercial breaks.  This stuff is great!  It will hold down photos, layers of paper, fabric, bows, ribbon, glitter....you name it!

There are a million more uses, which you'll soon discover, and once you start, I know you'll find yourself reaching for that handy little dispenser just as often as I do!

~D.

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The fabric-covered junk box!

If you are short on cabinet/drawer space, then you, like me, might need a junk box.  ;)  It doesn't have to be something fancy.  Take an old box (like the ones baby wipes come in, for example) and look through your fabric scraps - or ask a seamstress near you to donate some!  My fabric is courtesy of a good friend - I don't sew!!  :)  If you want to be precise, then by all means, measure and cut the fabric to fold over the outside of the box - kind of the same way you wrap a present.  See how non-precise the seams are on the outside?  It doesn't really matter, though...

If you are short on time, for example, like me, then it doesn't matter if the edges of the fabric are still somewhat ragged or not cut in a straight line!  Just gather the fabric around the box, fold over the edges of the box, and hit it with a stapler - inside the box to hide the staples.  Voila!  Put this baby on a shelf and when company comes -- or if you're just sick of looking at the mish-mosh of items strewn about -- toss that stuff inside!  I couldn't believe it, but I actually had someone ask me where I got the box sitting on the shelf next to our kitchen, or did I make it?  :)  Of course, your junk box probably should not have stuff sticking out of it or showing like mine - ha!  It isn't overfilled or anything... !!!  

I even made one of these last winter for kids to toss their gloves, hats, scarves and winter accessories into, since getting them to hang those things up is nearly impossible!
 
~S.

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