Homemade Tutus

     I made these tutus for my nieces for Christmas and they were a HUGE success!  Here is the original blog post on how to make them: http://www.momdot.com/howtomakeatutu.  I don't own a sewing machine, but that did not pose an issue.  The girls were able to wear the tutus and run and jump, and they fared very well!

What you will need:

Tulle strips (you can get them in rolls at Hobby Lobby). It is easiest to do it this way, rather than cutting your own. I got 3-4 different colors, and 4 rolls will make you 2 tutus.

Elastic Strips

Thread and a needle (to sew the elastic together)

Glue gun

Embellishments (I made fabric flowers, and hot glued rhinestones on for added bling!)

    The fabric flowers were so easy! Here's a link to the blog I learned how to do them on: http://www.paigesofstyle.com/2011/02/diy-fabric-flower-cupcake-topper.html. 

Magnet Makeup Board

     Okay, this is one of my favorite projects I've done!  I have a boyfriend who LOVES Home Depot, so I learned a lot doing this one. It was pretty cheap and not hard to do at all, you just need to get the right stuff.

What you will need:

Frame (on sale at Hobby Lobby)

Metal sheet (mine was $5 at Home Depot)

Gorilla Glue (or any other liquid nails works best)

Packet of round magnets (Home Depot)

For the brush vase:

Short glass vase (a Mason jar would be cute too!)

Small pebbles (pretty cheap at Hobby Lobby)

     After a couple tries (hot glue gun and punching nails through the metal) we found that liquid nails are the best route.  It takes a few hours for the glue to set, if you apply weight (we used cans of food), but it was a one-try success!  You can either use a hot glue gun or the Gorilla Glue to apply the magnets to the makeup, just make sure they will be strong enough to hold the makeup up.  

The 6 Be's for $6

     Here is another fun thing I did for my kitchen!

    Hobby Lobby was having a sale on frames, so I got a pretty nice frame for $6.  If you are a frugal DIY-er (like I try to be) you can find a frame for pretty cheap, which is great, because it was really all you will spend money on for this project. Here is the link for the original poster's blog entry: http://www.stayathomeartist.com/2011/08/six-bs-sign-re-do.html.  It is definitely worth checking out, because she included a printable for the Be's.  I used sparkly stickers and scrapbook paper that I had, but this project is one you can easily make into your own.

The Pinterest Addiction

     In the last few months, I have not only discovered Pinterest, but become a full-fledged addict.  My first assignment this semester was to create a presentation about a technology (like Facebook or Twitter) and relate is to health.  Yes... I chose Pinterest, and it was quite the success.  After I sat down, a girl asked me to invite her, because I sold her on this new mania that is spreading like wild fire.  If I make it my life goal to get the world as addicted to Pinterest as I am, I am pretty sure I will be successful.
     Between this amazing website (pinterest.com) and Hobby Lobby, I am quickly becoming the epitome of a Granny Crafter- at that is fine with me! I am excited to share my successes, and especially share how you can follow in my footsteps.  Some things I have done from Pinterest have proved to be fun and easy, and others (like the flower wreath I'm working on right now) are a kick in the pants, but totally worth it!  Pictures of the dreaded Valentine's Day wreath will soon ensue.
     I am definitely going to include links to the blogs/ websites I got my craft ideas from, as to not take credit from anyone else.  But, hey, maybe I will be able to post things in the future that are of my own creation!
     I am still new to this whole blogging thing- probably because I don't have cute babies or a husband to blog about yet, but I guess my fun crafts and college adventures are a good place to start!  Let's look at what I have done so far!

     Most of what I've done from Pinterest thus far have been Christmas presents for my 9 nieces and nephews this last Christmas.  Everything turned out great! Here is what I did!


Homemade Angry Bird Game
     This was for Brock and Thayne.  Here is the link to the blog that I got the idea from, http://www.makeandtakes.com/crafting-with-angry-birds, but I did make it my own, so I will expound.

What you will need:

20 small styrofoam balls

2-3 large styrofoam balls (for those giant dark red guys)

Packet of 50 googly eyes

One sheet each of red, yellow, black, and orange felt

Black and red pipe cleaners

Acrylic paint in blue, red, green, yellow, black, and dark red

Foam paint brush

Glue gun

Sling shot ($5 at any outdoor store. I got mine at Sportsmans)

Small Dole cups

Wide popsicle sticks

     As far as the slingshots go, you can use your own discretion. The boys I made this for are 4 and 5, so they actually had a blast just throwing the birds. The cups and popsicle sticks are to build the towers with, but you are more than welcome to build with whatever you can find!

The acrylic paint did pretty well at covering the styrofoam. They took a little longer that spray paint would have, but spray paint tends to disintegrate styrofoam.

Once we got all the felt cut out (my best friend and I just popped in a movie and visited!) the birds and pigs came together pretty quick!

Doesn't that just look like FUN in a box?? 

     This project is definitely one that took more time, but it was worth it!  The boys got a gift that they definitely weren't getting from Santa.  This one, I will log as a SUCCESS.