Pennsylvania State of Mind

If you haven't yet signed up for Pick Your Plum, DO IT NOW!!! The items they sell are at a ridiculously reduced price and unlike other items you've seen before! Recently, they sold unfinished, wooden plaques shaped like all 50 states. Since my sister lives in Virginia but will always call Pennsylvania her home, I knew I had to decorate a state for her! Since she also loves Chevron patterns, I decided I would incorporate that, as well! Here's the simple way I decided to decorate this plaque...

Materials:

-plaque

-scrapbook paper (I used a Chevron pack I found at Michael's and used purple and green Chevron, but the options or limitless)

-Mod Podge

-foam brush

-scissors

-glue gun/sticks

-ribbon (about 6")

Instructions:

1. Using a foam brush, coat a thick layer of Mod Podge onto the plaque

2. Lay purple Chevron paper on top of the Mod Podge, making sure to smooth out the paper so that there are no bubbles (I had to use two pieces of paper and match them at the seems but would highly recommend using a piece larger than the plaque itself

3. After the paper has adhered completely to the Mod Podge, use scissors to cut the excess paper around the small details on the plaque to maintain the state's shape

4. Cut out a small heart in green Chevron. Place Mod Podge on back of heart and adhere to center of plaque (or, if you'd like to designate a specific part of the state, place it in the corresponding area).

5. Paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the plaque. Let dry.

6. Using hot glue, make a loop with the ribbon and adhere to the back of the plaque. Be sure to use a large amount of glue to allow the ribbon to stay in place and hold the weight of the plaque when hanging).

$1 Elmo Bucket (template included!)

The time has finally come...my child is officially on the Elmo bandwagon! Don't get me wrong, we still love Disney Junior and all of the characters that come with it, but after a few times watching that furry, red monster on tv and one Ipad app later, Claire is now one of so many millions of children who simply can't get enough of Sesame Street's cutest resident! When I discovered this cute red bucket at the Dollar Tree, it took me just seconds to figure out exactly what I would use it for!

Using felt scraps and a low-temp glue gun, I cut out eyes, a nose and mouth and adhered them to the bucket. I am including a printable template for those of you who would like to make an Elmo bucket of your very own! 

Once the bucket was hers, Claire has used it for everything imaginable...storing crayons and coloring books, a hat for herself and the dog (who was not a fan), a chair, a boat...you name it, she's done it! Stay tuned in the upcoming months for other Elmo-themed crafts, as it will be our 2nd birthday party theme!

Frozen Glove Puppet Theatre

I finally had the chance to watch Frozen (I know...its about time, right?!?!), and LOVED it! Disney has absolutely done it again! Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff (two of my Broadway faves) did not disappoint, and who knew Kristen Bell had such an amazing voice (is there anything that girl can't do)? As always, the minor characters stole my heart! Sven was adorable and there are no words to describe my newfound love for everything Olaf! My 20-month-old was a huge fan too and has made mama proud with her attempts to sing "Wetty Go!!!" All in all, my new favorite movie! It seemed obvious to me that my next craft project had to be themed around this wonderful film, so I immediately got to work to make a miniature puppet theatre using a glove, iron-on transfers, and five of Frozen's finest cast members, courtesy of Sweeps4Bloggers! I have included instructions AND a printable of the characters for you to make your very own!

Materials:

-Frozen characters printable

-felt

-iron

-fabric scissors

-glove

-hot glue gun/glue sticks

-rough Velcro

Instructions:

1. Print characters onto iron-on transfer paper (any kind is fine, just be sure to follow the directions precisely!)

2. Cut out characters

3. Transfer characters to felt

4. Cut out felt characters (Note: After cutting the characters out like I did in the picture below, I decided to cut them again more precisely, but you get the idea!)

5. Hot glue rough-sided Velcro to the backs of each felt character (no soft Velcro needed, as the rough Velcro will stick to the mitten on its own)

6. Place felt characters onto the glove in any order you'd prefer!

The sky is the limit as far as how this glove can be used! I would love to hear how you used yours! On that note, I do believe its time to watch Frozen again...

St. Patty's Day Mason Jar Glass

What is it about Mason jars that makes me feel as though I cannot ever have too many??? Gah, I absolutely love them and all of the possibilities they provide! Vases, lamps, light fixtures, home decor, salad storers, coffee makers (ok, that last one may have been a bit of an embellishment, but its only a matter of time before someone figures it out...) you name it, it can be made using a mason jar! I'm completely obsessed! In fact, I performed a literal happy dance in the middle of Hobby Lobby when I saw that they sold Daisy lid inserts. I have been eyeing them up online for months but was never willing to pay the ridiculous shipping prices, so you can imagine my craft nerd excitement... Anywho, here's how I transformed a Mason jar into a Gold Shamrock Drink Holder, perfect for upcoming St. Patty's Day festivities:

Materials:

-Mason jar

-Martha Stewart glass paint in gold metallic

-foam paintbrush

-contact paper

-scissors

-Mason jar daisy lid insert

-paper straw

Instructions:

1. Cut out a shamrock shape out of contact paper (I made a cardstock template first using the old four heart shapes connected and a stem trick from 3rd grade art class)

2. Remove adhesive backing from contact paper and place on Mason jar

3. Using a foam brush, paint the Mason jar entirely with glass paint (I ended up painting 3 coats total)

4. After paint dries completely, carefully peel off shamrock shape

5. Pour your favorite drink (preferably a green one), daisy insert and cute paper straw into Mason jar and enjoy!!!

Claire was a huge fan of our green lemonade, but these glasses could certainly feature any adult beverage to celebrate the occasion, as well!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!

The Simplest Earrings You'll Ever Make! A Basic Tutorial

Is anyone else out there horrible about losing jewelry? I lose it almost as quickly as I buy or receive it, and it is soooo frustrating! In fact, one of the reasons why I started making jewelry originally was because I knew it would be the most inexpensive way to have jewelry and I wouldn't feel as bad if I lost any pieces. Little did I know I would completely loooove the hobby itself and that I would continue making jewelry years later for gifts, sales, and funsies! Here are the steps to create a pair of earrings for the beginning jewelry maker

Materials:

-earring wires (2)

-head pins

-beads of your choice

-wire cutters

-needle-nosed pliers

Instructions:

1. Place bead onto head pin.

2. Place earring wire on head pin on top of the bead.

3. Cut the end of the head pin using wire cutters, leaving about half an inch above the earring wire (see picture)

4. Using needle-nosed pliers, bend the remaining wire of the headpin to the 

Lucky to Have You St. Patty's Day Gift

If you haven't yet downloaded the Rhonna Designs app, Do. It. Now!!! Its free and provides the cutest fonts and graphics for printables like the one that goes along with this project! I'm obsessed with it (and did I mention its free???)! I recently found the cutest St. Patrick's Day tea towels and knew that I had to make a super cute, printable tag to go along with it. The tag lends itself to lots of different St. Patty's goodies, so fear not if you don't find a tea towel like this one! Here's how to put it all together:

Materials:

-cellophane bag

-scissors

-St. Patty's goodies

-light green cardstock

-printable tag

-stapler

Instructions:

1. Place goodies in cellophane bag. Trim the bag so that about two inches remain above the goodies placed inside.

2. Print out THIS TAG on cardstock (3 tags per page)

3. Cut apart tags and fold in half long-wise

4. Staple tag to cellophane bag.

Top 'o the mornin' to you, laddies!

Button Shamrock Pin

Ok, seriously, how is it March already??? I literally closed my eyes and February was over; not that I'm complaining, because Mother Nature has not been kind to us here in Western PA, but wow! With that being said, let's get some St. Patty's Day craft-ness going! First up is this ridiculously simple and insanely cute shamrock pin made of buttons...

Materials:

-four, green buttons, approximately the  same size

-glue gun/glue sticks

-green ribbon, cut to about 4"

-flat-backed pins (typically sold in the jewelry-making sections of craft stores)

Instructions:

1. Glue together two buttons diagonally together as shown in the picture below

2. Glue on a third button (picture below)

3. Glue fourth button to the bottom of the shamrock

4. Glue flat part of the pin to the back of the buttons near the center

5. Fold ribbon in half and glue open ends together

6. Glue ribbon to bottom of buttons so that loop of the ribbon is shown as the stem of the shamrock. 

Warning...There WILL be glue gun strings! Use a hair dryer to get rid of any loose strings! Make a bunch of these and pass them out to co-workers, secretaries, neighbors, etc. So simple, but they'll love them! And, as always, send me pics of what you make!