Flashback Friday: DIY projects with a Beach Theme

It's the last Friday of the month, which means it's Flashback Friday where we look back
at past projects all featuring the same theme.

In the heat of the summer, I thought we'd look at beach themed projects.

 

 

For this project, I added sand and shells to make a beach shadowbox .

 

 

Here is a simple beach-y centerpiece I made.

 

 

I used clear Christmas ornaments to bring a little beach to Christmas.

Go here to see more about it.

 

 

So when you're hanging out at the beach this summer,

 bring home a bit of sand and make your own projects.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

 

 



This post is linked to Life With Lorelai, Embracing Change,
Tatertots and Jello, and Too Much Time.

Trash to Treasure Notebooks

Today I have a project where I used what some may consider trash
and turned it into something useful.
I turned tea box covers into notebooks.

Here's how they turned out.

For the front covers, I cut off the tops of two different boxes of tea.

For the back covers, I cut two pieces of chipboard to the same size as the box lids.

I used a pad of graph paper and cut pieces to fit in between the covers. I had 30 pages for each book.

I like the look of graph paper in notebooks:)

I bound the books using my Bind-It-All.
It's made by Zutter.
Heidi Swapp and Tim Holtz also have machines that will bind like this.
If you don't have one of these machines, you could bind your books using two office rings.

 I made these notebooks for a friend for her birthday.

She's a huge fan of tea.

I wrapped the notebooks with the tea infuser dude.

These notebooks are so simple to make.

You could use any type of packaging like Mac and Cheese boxes, movie theater candy boxes,

or even a soda box.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

to which also you were called in one body;

 and be thankful.

Col 3:15

This post is linked to That DIY Party, The Crafted Sparrow, Lil' Luna, The Crafty Blog Stalker,
and I Gotta Create.  

Layout of the Week #135

I hope you're all having an awesome week.

For this week's Layout of the Week,

I decided to take a look back at a layout I did featuring my hubby's gardening.

I used actual seed packets on it.

Go here to see a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this layout.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

But above all these things put on love, 

which is the bond of perfection.

Col. 3:14

This post is linked to Skip To My Lou, I Heart Naptime, Crafts a la Mode,
and Between Naps on the Porch.

How I Turned a Wooden Crate into an End Table

You know those wooden crates that you can get at Michaels and Wal-mart?

Well, I've had one sitting around just waiting for me to do something with it.

Guess what I did?

I turned it into an end table.

I started by painting it a light aqua.

Then I applied a grayish stain on top of the paint.

I let each step dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next step.

Then I tore pages out of an old book and cut them into strips. Using spray adhesive, I adhered the strips to the bottom slats of the crate. I chose some pages with images to give the project a cute twist.

My final step was to add castors to the bottom of the crate.

This was such an easy and enjoyable project.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

It is better to trust in the Lord 

than to put confidence in man.

Psalm 118:8

This post is linked to Wake Up Wednesday, Simple Nature Décor, Embracing Change,
Tatertots and Jello, and The Dedicated House.

Layout of the Week #134

Every other Wednesday, I post a tutorial to make a quick and easy scrapbook page.
I intend for it to help you get some of your photos scrapped and also allow you to use up scrapbook supplies you have on hand. Just follow these easy instructions.
Today's Layout of the Week uses several different pattern papers.

 

Here's the layout we'll be creating.

Yours will look slightly different as you'll be using your own supplies.

To make it, you'll need:

one piece of 12"x 12" pattern paper

one piece of pattern paper measuring 6"x 12"

one piece of pattern paper measuring  3 1/2"x 12"

one piece of pattern paper measuring 6"x 8 1/2"

two pieces of pattern paper measuring 1/2"x 12"

decorative tape

letter stickers for your title

journaling card (a note card will do)

adhesive

Place the 6"x 12" piece of pattern paper 2 1/2" from the top of the background paper.

Place the 1/2" x 12" strips along either side of the pattern paper you just adhered.

Place the piece of pattern paper measuring 6"x 8 1/2" about one inch from the right edge of the background paper. This will be your photo mat.

Now place the 3 1/2"x 12" strip along the left edge of the photo mat.

Add your photo to the mat.

I used a 5"x 7" vertical photo.

You can replace this with two vertical 4"x 6" photos.

Using your letter stickers, place the title in the lower right corner of the photo mat.

I placed my stickers on an office label.

Place two strips of decorative tape on opposite corners of the photo (upper right and lower left).

Adhere your journaling card to the left of the photo on the center piece of pattern paper.

I printed mine onto white cardstock and cut it into strips.

What do you think?

Easy breezy, huh?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

For His merciful kindness is great toward us, 

and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Psalm 117:2

This post is linked to Crafty Blog Stalker, Sugarbee Crafts, The Dedicated House,
Lil' Luna, and That DIY Party.

Cute Little Crochet Coasters

This project has been on my to-do list for the last month.

So finally, I sat down with some Fixer Upper reruns and got to it.

How cute are these crochet coasters?!?

Wait until you hear how simple it is to make these. . . 

I started with a size F crochet hook, 

cotton yarn (Lily Sugar n' Cream yarn in a variegated color),

and Alene's Tacky Glue. 

You start with a chain (the most basic of crochet stitches, I believe),

and start winding it into itself.

I used a toothpick to apply the glue to the edges as I swirled the chain around in a circle.

You should keep going until your circle is about 3 1/2" across.

When you get it large enough, you just cut off the excess and tuck the little strands under the coaster with some more tacky glue. Then you use that end to start winding the next coaster.

I had mine sitting on wax paper to keep from getting glue all over the table. 

I let them dry for a bit on the wax paper, then peeled them off 

and set them upside down to continue drying.

 

I'm tickled pink with how cute they turned out.

I think a set of these would make a great gift.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

He who pursues righteousness and love 

finds life, prosperity and honor. 

Proverbs 21:21

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, Embracing Change,
The Girl Creative, I Heart Naptime, and Skip to My Lou.

Flashback Friday: Patriotic DIY's

It's the last Friday of the month,and that means we're gong to flashback

 to previous DIYs all keeping in the same theme.

This month I'm featuring patriotic projects since the Fourth is right around the corner.

(Does anybody else feel like this month just flew by?)

I totally love how these centerpieces using Pepsi cans turned out.

Go here to read more about them. 

I used a bit of fabric, lace, and a fabric flower to put together this patriotic cap.

For this project, I adhered two small flags to the outside of a glass vase.

This patriotic banner was made using paint chips and small flags 

attached to twine using tiny clothespins.
Cute and easy!

This simple project was made covering jars with sequined wristlets

that I found at a thrift store. If you have a daughter who has outgrown some of these,

this is the perfect way to use them!

Follow the links to read more about these projects.

I hope you all have a delightful weekend!

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

Rejoice in the Lord always. 

Again I will say, rejoice!

Phil. 4:4

This post is linked to The Crafted Sparrow, I Heart Naptime, Life With Lorelai,
USS Crafty, and The Cottage Market.

Layout of the Week #133

Scrapbooking has been one of my favorite hobbies since my boys were little.

I don't get to do it very often anymore which is probably why I enjoy 

these Layouts of the Week so much.

It not only gives me a chance to document what's going on in our lives,

but allows me a little bit of time doing something I absolutely love.

So thank you for coming by to scrapbook with me!

Here's the layout we'll be making. 

Yours will look similar, but not exactly like it as you'll be using products you have on hand.

To create it, you'll need:

one piece of 12"x 12" pattern paper

one piece of 5"x 11 1/2" pattern paper

one strip of pattern paper or decorative tape measuring 5 1/2"x 1/2"

letter stickers for the title

three embellishments in your theme

2-3 journaling cards (I used three label stickers)

adhesive

5-7 photos

First, place the 5"x 11 1/2" pattern paper along the left side of the 12"x 12" paper.

 Start placing photos in a column along the left edge of the pattern paper.

I used three photos.

Now stack photos next to the first column leaving a 1 1/2" border along the right side.

I cropped my photos making them fit. 

You don't have to use as many photos as I did.

You can complete this look using fewer but larger photos.

 With your strip measuring 5"x 1/2", cut a notch out of one side.

Place the strip along the bottom right photo overlapping the blank space.

Using your letter stickers, place your title sideways in the blank space

 just above the strip of pattern paper.

Place your journaling cards above the title overlapping the top right photo.

I used three labels and cut the excess off the edge of the paper.

For the last step, add your embellishments.

Place one in the lower left corner of the layout (I actually grouped three arrow stickers here),

one in between your title and journaling cards,

and one in the upper left corner of the layout.

That's it- pop this completed puppy into a scrapbook!

See you every other Wednesday for a new layout tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; 

Yes, our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5

This post is linked to Gingersnap Crafts, Indie Crafts, The Girl Creative,
I Heart Naptime,and Between Naps on the Porch.

Two Step Feather Earring DIY

Here's how to make a cute pair of earrings in just two steps. . . 

 

Here are the earrings: dangly feathers in a hoop.

I started with these feather charms,

a set of 45 mm teardrop hoops,

and two earring hooks.

First, I attached the earring hooks to the hoops.
I used two pairs of jewelry pliers to open the loop at the bottom of the earring hook,
then I slid the hoop on and closed the loop.

Then I attached the feathers to the insides of the hoops by opening the small jump ring at the top of the charm, hooking it on, then closing it again.

That's it! Two easy steps- can you believe it?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

 who delights greatly in His commandments.

Psalm 112:1

 This post is linked to The Crafted Sparrow, Too Much Time, Embracing Change, and Indie Crafts.

Layout of the Week #132

Do you scrapbook?

Maybe you used to, but you don't have time anymore

or maybe you've never gotten started.

Well, let me show you how easy it can be.

Follow these few easy steps and complete this layout in under 30 minutes.

Here's the layout we'll be creating.

I decided to do this all because of this one picture that I took of my son
when we were on vacation in April. It totally captures his fun personality.

To make it, you'll need:
one 12"x 12" piece of pattern paper
one 5"x 12" piece of pattern paper
two short strips of decorative tape
letter stickers for the title
one sticker
one 5"x 7" horizontal photo or two 4"x 6" vertical photos
adhesive

To start, adhere the 5"x 12" piece of pattern paper to the bottom of the 12"x 12" piece.

Adhere your photo in the upper part of the layout leaving a bit more space at the bottom than the top.
I used a horizontal 5"x 7" photo, but you could replace this with two vertical 4"x 6" photos.

Place two strips of decorative tape along the opposite corners (whether you're using 1 photo or 2).

Using your letter stickers, place your title below the photo,
but above the bottom piece of pattern paper.

Add your journaling in the bottom portion of the layout.
I printed mine, then cut it into strips.
You can hand write it if you prefer.

I asked my son several questions, then I typed his answers.
I would've liked to get his handwriting on here,
but I think I was lucky just to get him to answer the questions!

Place your sticker in the lower right corner of the layout and write the date next to it.
That's it!

Here are the questions I asked my son:
What grade did you just finish?
What are you most excited about this summer?
What's your favorite t.v. show?
What are somethings you enjoy doing?
What do you plan to do after high school?
What's your dream job?

I've always thought it was good to occasionally do easy Q and A's like this
 just to capture what my boys were like at a certain age. 

If you enjoyed this, stop by every other Wednesday for a new simple layout tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; 
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

Psalm 111:4

This post is linked to I Gotta Create, Skip to My Lou, Simple Nature Décor,
Indie Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, and Gingersnap Crafts.