DIY Tile Coasters

Tags

coasters, crafts, diy, felt, mod podge, scrapbook paper, tile

When I picked up this pretty scrapbook paper at the Target Dollar Spot, I knew I wanted to use it to make something for my new apartment, but I didn’t know what!  Then, I saw some cute coasters at Sur La Table, and everything clicked: tile coasters!  I’ve seen tile coasters all over Pinterest, and now I finally have time to make them.

I used the tutorial from The Cottage Mama.  I appreciate how detailed this tutorial is, and how it provides dimensions for everything.  I need numbers!

The goods:

• Square tiles (4.25″ x 4.25″)
• Scrapbook paper (The Cottage Mama said to use 3.75″ x 3.75″, but I used 4″ x 4″ squares)
• Felt (3.75″ x 3.75″)
• Mod Podge (I used Hard Coat)
• Sponge Brush
• Fabric Glue

I made 8 coasters: enough for each of us in the apartment + 2 more.  Without the Mod Podge, brush, or glue (I had these on hand), this project only cost me around $2.50.  I don’t think I could find a set of 8 ceramic coasters for that price anywhere… much less coasters that are these cute!

I used a paper cutter to cut paper squares, and I used scissors to cut the felt.  Cutting felt is tough!  If anyone has tips , please pass them along to me!

I first painted the back of each paper square with Mod Podge, and stuck it onto the tile.  I let the paper dry, pressed out the air bubbles, and coated the tiles with 6 coats of Mod Podge, allowing 15-20 minutes after each coat for it to dry.

I’m obsessed with these coasters!  I’m keeping this set for myself, but I’ll definitely be making many more!  These coasters would make great gifts… you can never have too many!

DIY Earring Organizer

Tags

crafts, decor, diy, earring, home, jewelry, organizer, organizing, pinterest

I received several pairs of earrings for Christmas, and I had no idea how to keep them organized.  I looked around Pinterest for a while, but didn’t have the supplies to make any of the projects shown.  So I made my own!  You probably already have all the supplies on hand to make this cute earring organizer.

Supplies

• Shoe box lid
• 3 feet of thick ribbon
• Acrylic craft paint
• Tacky glue
• Ruler
• Scissors or X-Acto knife
• Paint brush
• Pen

Directions

1. Measure one inch from the edge of the shoe box lid on each side, and mark the one-inch marks with a pen.  Connect the marks so you have a smaller box.  Cut out the box using scissors or an X-Acto knife.  Now you should have a frame-shaped shoe box lid.
2. Paint the frame in the color of your choice.  I chose a pretty light blue color.
3. Measure the width of the opening of the frame, then add two inches to your measurement.  Cut four pieces of ribbon that are this size.  Use tacky glue to attach the four pieces of ribbon to the back of the frame.
4. To make a hanger for the earring organizer, cut out a six-inch piece of ribbon.  Glue together the edges, then glue the ribbon to the top of the back of the earring organizer.  And that’s it!

Let me know if you try this project!

Room Tour 2013

Tags

axo, bedroom, chevron, crafts, decor, design, desk, dorm, organization, organized, room, scallop, sorority

Hi everyone,

As much as I wanted to title this post “Welcome to my crib, wanna come in?” I refrained.  Because this is a sophisticated blog. 😉

I finally moved into my room in college!  I’m living in my sorority house again, and I’m thrilled to finally have a single room to decorate however I want.  I wanted it to be homey, pretty, and relaxing.  More like a bedroom than a dorm room.  It’s full of floral, chevron, and scalloped details.  And pillows.  Because you can never have enough pillows.

Dresser/vanity and bed – I made the felt flowers using felt, cardboard for the back, and super-strong glue.  I made the scalloped garland using a circular hole punch and yarn.  I simply punch circles into white paper, folded each circle over the yarn, and taped the sides of the circles using double-sided tape.  You can also see my makeup organization system in this photo.

Windowsill – Click here to see how I made the chevron picture frame.

Desk area – Check out this post to see how I made the C canvas.  You can see my stack of to-do lists next to my computer in this photo!

End of my bed – I painted the sorority letters using acrylic paint and covered them with Mod Podge.  To make the omega, I just flipped a “U” upside down!  I made the paint chip canvas using an old canvas from an art sale and paint chips from the hardware store.  I lined the front of the plastic drawers with scrapbook paper, and again, click here to see how I made the whale canvas.

I feel like I’ve been MIA from the blog world for so long… what has everybody been up to?

Wordless Pinterest Wednesday: Crafts on Crafts

Tags

bow, canvas, chevron, crafts, decor, diy, ideas, instagram, magnet, pin, pinterest

I love crafts, and Pinterest always has the best ideas!  I can’t wait to have more free time this summer so I can try these projects. 🙂

These melted bead barrettes are adorable and perfect for spring!  I’d make them in navy, red, white, and mint green.

I love these bright chevron canvases!

I’m in love with these precious felt bows.

This is a great way to display necklaces.

These jars are so pretty for makeup brushes and cosmetics.

Instagram (or other photo) magnets are a fun way to display photos.

Are there any projects on your “To DIY” list?

DIY: Glitter Without The Mess

Tags

crafts, diy, glitter, project, sorority, sparkle

Glitter is a wonderful thing.  It adds sparkle and fun to any project.  But let’s be honest.

It’s very annoying to use.

Glitter has been called the herpes of craft supplies for a good reason.  Once it gets onto a surface, it never goes away.  I’ve figured out an easy, no-mess way to apply glitter that doesn’t require any fancy materials.  In fact, you probably have all the supplies already.

Ready?  Here we go.

First, line a pie pan with aluminum foil.  Make sure the sheet of foil is big enough to wrap over the sides of the pan.

Pour some glitter into the lined pan.  Shake the pan to distribute the glitter evenly.

Put glue on the item that you want to glitter.  I really like Creatology foam glue.  It sticks to foam, wood, and plastic, and it’s easy to find in any craft store.  Mod Podge works well too, but mine was nearly empty and I had another use in mind for it (more on this later).

Dip the glued item into the glitter, and tap off the excess back into the pan.

When you’re all finished, tilt the pan so that the extra glitter falls to one side.  Roll the foil into a funnel shape, and pour the glitter back into its container for future use

.I glittered my sorority letters onto some foam squares from Target.

As well as some pill bottle lids.  I let the glue dry, then topped the lids with a coat of Mod Podge to seal the glitter.  I don’t want glitter in my medicines.  Ew.

I hope this method works for you!  Let me know what you think if you try it.

Semi-Wordless Pinterest Wednesday

Tags

coffee cake, crafts, diy, glitter, great gatsby, home, manicure, nails, pink, pinterest, shelf, turquoise, vase

It’s that time again!  I like Pinterest Wednesdays because I don’t have to think of things to write about.  Thus, I don’t have to think.  Which is good sometimes.

Can you tell I’m tired?

My pageant last night went well – I won the stage presence/evening gown award, so I’m happy about that.  More details to come when other people post photos from last night on Facebook that I can edit to my liking.  😛

Back to the point of this post… the pins!

Follow my Pinterest here!

Making Scrapbooks–The Basics

Tags

art, crafts, glitter, paper, scrapbook, stickers

I like making scrapbooks, but  I don’t like the word “scrapbooking.”  Or “scrapbooker.”  The words just sound so… strange.  Like something that middle-aged women wearing denim shirts with embroidered St. Bernard puppies on the backs would do.  No offense if you’re one of those people.  Basically, the term “scrapbooking” just doesn’t sound youthful.  So I’m not a scrapbooker.  I don’t scrapbook.  I make scrapbooks.  And I’m going to show you how to make them, too.

You’ll need a scrapbook.  You can get one at any craft store, and they usually come in small and large varieties.  This one is large, and I got it on sale for $4.99.  Large scrapbooks usually cost around $20, and small ones cost around $12.  Take your pick.

You’ll also need cardstock.  Scrapbooks usually come filled with white cardstock, but that’s no fun!  Buy colored cardstock in a package rather than by the sheet to save a TON of $$$.  I found these 2 sheets on sale, but I almost always stick to plain colored cardstock.

Stickers are useful.  Buy the cheap ones.  Venture away from the scrapbook aisle at the craft store and go to the kids’ craft aisle for inexpensive, colorful stickers.

I love foam letter stickers (left.)  They’re easy to reposition and really make your pages pop!

A paper cutter is a great investment- for $10 or so, you’ll save a ton of time and energy.  Plus, you’ll get perfectly straight cuts every time!

Now, for the actual pages.  Start with a sheet of cardstock and a design in mind.  This page is for Graduation photos.

Make photo frames by cutting out cardstock squares, then using an X-acto knife to cut a tiny square out of the middle of the larger square.  Use the little cut-out squares for something else; photo corners, perhaps?

Cut a square of cardstock, then cut the square diagonally in half, then diagonally again to make 4 small triangles.  Position them around your photos.

I’m going to mount my photos ON TOP of the frames, so messy X-acto cuts won’t be an issue.  The key to making good scrapbooks is disguising your mistakes.

Use foam letters to form phrases.  Obviously.

To make perfectly-centered phrases, start with the middle letter stickers first.  Place them right in the middle of the paper.

Then add the other letters.  So easy!

Decorate plain cardstock with markers and stickers.  Be creative!

Have fun!  There’s no right or wrong way to do this, and once you know a few techniques, the sky is the limit!

Courtney’s Feelin’ Crafty – Workout Book

Tags

art, book, crafts, exercise, fitness, workout

Do you ever find yourself reading health & fitness magazines, skimming the workout pages, and thinking, “That looks like a good workout.  I should do it sometime!”  Does your plan ever come to fruition?  Probably not.  You probably forget about the workout entirely.  Which is why you need a workout book.  It’s really easy to make and you don’t need any artistic abilities whatsoever- I promise!

Grab some old magazines.

A small notebook.

Colored markers.  Optional, but recommended.  Markers are always recommended.

 

Find a page with a workout that you like.  This one has moves using a balance ball designed to tighten your abs.  It’s from the March 2011 issue of Health.

 

Cut out the instructions.  Cut out the pictures too, if you’d like.  The moves are explained pretty well in these instructions, so I didn’t cut out the pictures.  Paste (or tape, whatever) the instructions into your notebook.

Make sure you label the workout!  And decorate as desired. 🙂

Keep cutting and pasting and decorating to your heart’s content.

Add to the book whenever you find a new magazine workout you like.

Now you have no excuse to “forget about” those workouts.

 

But you still have to actually do them.  This book just makes it a tad easier.  😉

Stickers!

Tags

collage, crafts

Today has been really boring- I’m still sick… I don’t know why but I cannot shake this sinus infection!  So annoying.  I somehow ended up browsing through my old sticker book.  Did anyone else collect stickers as a kid?  I remember bringing my stickers to school and trading them with other kids during recess.  The fuzzy ones, scratch-n-sniff, and sparkly ones were the most valuable.  I also remember making bookmarks by pouring Elmer’s glue into the top of SpaceMaker pencil boxes and selling them to other kids under the jungle gym.  I was a little entrepreneur, haha!  Tangent aside, the one rule of sticker collecting was to NEVER EVER use your stickers.  They stayed in the book, stuck onto waxy paper for all eternity.  Now that I’m older, I see that this is a clear waste of stickers, and I decided to use them.  Little Me would not approve.

Stickopotamus!

I found a small white jewelry box with lid.  I covered the box in magazine cutouts and word stickers.

The stickers- I think these are meant to be used in a scrapbook or planner.

I then covered the box with glitter glue!  I used a paintbrush to apply a thin coat.

Sparkly!

For the lid, I decided to use sparkly stickers on the inside, and matte ones on the outside.  I have a lot of stickers!

Before:

After:

Little 90’s Me would be proud. 🙂