Crafty Mommy and Me

All wrapped up

2010-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Ive recently posted pic of my mummy on the DSC facebook page

and also on Garage of evil

ive had alot of people asking for a tutorial on how to make my mummy...

well here it is!!!

I wrapped a trash bag around my waist

then added another trash bag around my lower legs

I suggest buying at least 2-3 large rolls of duct tape

start by wrapping from the waist down, keeping your legs together

when wrapping your feet, keep the end of your feet apart while keeping your heels together

by the time your done wrapping they will end up closer together anyways

( you just don't want then to overlap or

ankle bones rub against each other...it hurts..lol)

complete lower half

you may either continue, or cut out your 'model' at this point

it was bedtime for me so we cut it off and started again the next night

remove by cutting in a straight line down the back

during the next step there are two different ways you can do this...

when working on the top you can step back into the legs and continue taping upwards into the torso..

or ,

as i did

i worked it in different stages

first i stuffed the lower legs with plastic bags

Its a good way to reuse all those bags from the grocery store!

plus it helps keep it lightweight

I then added in a yardstick for a 'spine'

if possible i suggest you use a pipe or stick that is the height of your model

( better for stability)

i also added 2 pkg of rocks from the dollar store in the feet

for weight in the base to help keep it standing

the next step is to tape the upper half

have your model put their arms in position while you are working on the torso so the body shape will be right

wrap the arms and hands separately but in the proper position.

i suggest taping up your neck as well,

this will make adding your head easier

remove the torso by cutting a straight line down the back, across the shoulders

and as small a cut as possible down the back of the arms

(until your model can remove her arms from the wrapping)

tape the upper half back together and stuff a bit for stability and tape onto your lower half

and finish stuffing

when creating the head i actually taped over my own head.

you could also use a wig head or a mask for the face and shape it however you choose.

attach to the body

your mummy form is complete

i then spray painted the mummy white so the silver wouldn't show through the wrapping

next i bought ace bandages from the dollar store and stained them with tea

wrap your mummy with these, but remember

these are the under wrappings so it doesn't have to be perfect

i found cheese cloth at Walmart

it took 3 pkg

cut into strips

tea stained and hung to dry

next proceed to carefully wrap your mummy

here is my completely wrapped mummy

I also painted her with leftover shellac (previous project)

to help the cheesecloth stay and to weatherproof a bit.

the next project is to create a sacrcophagus for my mummy

Linked to

Halloween extravaganza

Inspired feature

2010-09-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, Heather from DSC asked me if I would like to do a feature.

Of course i said, OF COURSE!

and then i did what everyone else in this position would do...

I asked myself, "what am I going to do?"

It wasn't about coming up with a new projects,

it was about picking which one of my planned projects was I going to do.

Well, I finished the project a while ago, and it took longer than intended.
Ive recently started a full time job after 3 years of being a stay at home mom.
I worked on this an hour a night for a few nights..
when i finally had the project done it was time to write the tutorial
but I've been having problems writing it up.

I first tried writing it up on Word 2007, but it was just a trial, and

of course my trial expired.

so then i tried typing it up on notepad.

I had it all nicely typed up and after saving it i went to bed.

the next morning i went to open and send it to Heather, and

of course my computer cant open it.

It tells me the file is to large to open...UGH!!!!

So I'm hoping that maybe by posting the tutorial here, Heather can still use it...

(sadly, because of the unability to use word programs we were unable to use the feature...but thats ok!!)

Now to the Tutorial.....

Ive been seeing alot of Pottery Barn inspired projects lately.

I thought I would see what the big hype was about and I requested the catalogues.

I have to admit, they have some pretty cool items in there, but nothing in there is very cheap!

I liked the spinning shelf, and the bed/dresser combo, but i could never afford them.

I can see why so many people were making their own inspired projects.

The second I saw this, I knew what project I was going to do!!

a cool 'Flying' Crow Mobile!

It has a $39 price tag though!!

After seeing this I knew I wanted to make my own 'Flying' crows!

The List of required Ingredients are:

5 crows-$5

* located at Dollar tree

Feathers- $2.50

* Found at Walmart

3 cans Black Spray Paint- $3

* 96 cents at Walmart

( 2 glossy, 1 matte)

Fishing Line

* on hand

Picture Hanging Kit-$1

* Located at Dollar Tree

Branches- Free!

To begin, you must first gather your supplies;

beginning with your branches.

Visit your local woods

I am actually lucky enough to have one basically in my back yard!

There are a large variety of trees to choose from

If you can find already 'dead' and bare branches,

that's even better.

But, be careful because they tend to be brittle and break easily.

for my largest branch, and I chose one that still had leaves on it and was a bit stronger.

all of the others were already 'dead'

remove all of the leaves, leaving as much of the twigs and branches as possible

Half of the leaves gone..

completely bare

Next step is to spray paint your branches

using the glossy spray paint

I added a touch of silver spray paint (on hand) as an accent..

after the branches dry, its time to hang them up.

tie a long strand of fishing line to eye hooks

screw the hooks into the ceiling..

I then propped the 'stem' of the branch in the corner

and tied the branch up with the fishing line

The next step was to work with the crows.

you can remove their legs by simply pulling them out.

one crow i place straight onto the branch

i placed a small stub of twig into one of its leg holes..

next i strung up three of the crows that will be 'flying'

I did this by threading long pieces of fishing line onto a large yarn needle

and poking it through the middle of the crows

I then tied the end of the line to a sewing pin and poked it into the crow

so the fishing line wouldn't pull through the Styrofoam of the crow

I then hung the crows from the branch at varying heights

after adding the second crow, i took a step back and reviewed my work.

I liked it but i seemed a bit..empty

so i added another branch below the main one.

i propped it up in the same way as the larger branch, using a keyring to keep them together

Using fishing line i tied it onto the larger branch. hanging just below it.

i used double sided sticky tabs to stick it against the wall

and I placed a Lil crow, cradled in its branches

here is what it looks like so far...

next step is to add wings to your birds

using the feathers

start layering the feathers to create a wing shape

i hot glued them onto a piece of card stock for stability

trim down the card stock and

create enough wings fro all of your 'flying' birds

after you complete all of your wings, prepare an area to paint them

I started out using the glossy spray paint

it doesn't cover very well...

as you can see below

the matte spray paint does a much better coverage job

( sorry about the bad images)

Using hot glue I attached the wings onto the birds

attach them at different angles to give the perspective that their flying

and here is the final project...

looks amazing!!

And all for around $12!!

I also added a few branches in other corners of the room

the other two were hung by using picture hooks and key rings

i used spiderweb and a creepy spider to accessorize this branch,

which hangs over my daughters doorway

the one above my hallway is held up the same way

using picture hooks and key rings

you can also add Spanish moss and alot of spider webbing to make the look alot creepier.

For other Halloween crafts,

check out my other posts, such as:

And Many More!!

There will be a tutorial on how to make a Mummy on the way!

also introducing..

The poison Apple!

available in red and green

these are up for commission if anyone is interested.

please leave

a comment if you would like one of your own.

I am linking this to

MY PAINTED HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE

I made Top ten in the 'My painted Halloween Challenge'

im also entering this into the

Halloween Extravaganza

A Witches Magic

2010-09-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

So here we are at the grand finale!

well, not quit.

Ive posted a few tutorials and ideas of decorations

Ive created for my witch's apothecary Halloween decor.

I thought now would be the time to finally show you my overall look!!

it started out small and has been growing as i add items.

this is my starting display:

I had the large jar with the snake, and my jagermeister potion bottles. I bought creepy cloth from the dollar store, and also had a cool bottle from goodwill.

my hubby already had the skull candle...

I found the cool jar at goodwill for $1 and the tube is from the dollar store

( it had cone incense in it)

and then my display grew.

I brought in my tier tray and put my crows and my glitter skulls on it

( i have future plans for the crows)

my pot and bones

gravestone

Potion bottles and brain in a jar

i also found fake barb wire ( 0.50 at dollar store)

i strung up some faux webs and stuck a few bones in it.

i had an empty corner

but i found a creepy man eating spider at the dollar store

so here's my display. not too bad

I have a few changes i made, and still need to make.

I'm going to buy black posterboard from the dollar store and put up behind everything.

i also have to replace my black light bulb which will make alot of it glow

i also created a good witch's table.

hers isn't very good at the moment but I'm slowly working on it.

It all started with a book i got back in High school and the oil burner i found at the dollar store

Its on a side table next to my couch

pink silk under lace curtain, overlaid with a hip scarf Ive had for years

my book broke so i place out the broken pages

next to a 'potion' i made

'Hearts delight'

to hold the one you love close to your heart

a red ribbon- 'the tie that binds'

Roses from the one you love- love and respect

baby's breath- everlasting love, purity and innocence

Pearls- purity, and harmony

I created this from a round bottle, and labeled it with rub on lettering

I also used a temporary tattoo to decorate it.

i also made the box

by covering a dollar store box

with flocked wrapping paper

the dried flowers are from the flowers my hubby gave me for our anniversary

my ceramic dragon is waiting for some book to rest on.!

my potion will be glowing on Halloween!!

( glow stick fluid in the jar!!)

And there you are.

my simple but fun display.

much more to be done though. its still early!!!

After all is said and done

all of my halloween decors have cost me

$50.50

runthrough:

Scrapbook labels-$1

Green tea candles-$1

Snakes (x3)-$3

Gravestone-$1

2 small spiders-$1

large spider-$1

Air freshener beads (x2)-$2

Hand-$1

Brains (x2)-$2

Jar-$1

Shampoo-$1

Glitter skulls (x4)-$4

Jar skulls (x3)- $3

Skull Mold-$1

Carveable Pumpkin (x2)-$2

Tier Tray-$5

(2 candlsticks, 3 trays)

Creepy Cloth (x2)-$2

Skull Tray-$1

Oil Burner-$1

Crows (x2)-$2

Spiderweb-$1

Tombstone-$1

Crafts Boxes (x2)-$2

Vial-$1

Book-$1

Barb wire-0.50

Goodwill bottle-$1

-Not shown-and future projects-

Apple-$1

Ceramic Pumpkin-$1

Fake Fingers-$1

Fake Heart-$1

White Tall candle-$1

Skull Necklaces (deconstructed)-$1

if i would have bought all of these items anywhere else besides the dollar store it would have cost me double, maybe triple of what i actually spent!!

(and im sory the pics dont actually do the display justice. much cooler in person)

A Taste of the Creeps

2010-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

OK, so here we are again with Halloween crafts,

and almost all are from the dollar store.

I'm going to jump in head first!

lets start with..

Brain Specimen

I found these 'hearst and brains' at my local dollar store

I glued two of the brains together

( i used superglue)

i then place the brain in a container i found at the dollar store

and filled it with Bright green formaldehyde

(actually shampoo found at the dollar store!)

and here is your brain, in a jar!!

lol

some the paint has started running and it had make my green look tainted.

It looks more realistic to me

(a bit of leftover blood mixing)

but if you don't want this to happen I suggest you wash your brain before encasing it.

SKULLS

a classic Halloween decor piece!

I found these glitter skulls and had to have them!!

I bought 3 to place on a stand

( also created from dollar store Items using this tutorial or here)

I also skewered one with a dagger I was given as a gift years ago

I also found a few skull 'jars'

I bought one last year after Halloween and using this

Calaveras skull tutorial

I created a cool Dia De Los Muertos decoration

start by painting it black

then decorate as you please.

i used the same design as in the tutorial

and also added glitter in the eyes and nose and on the mouth

Before and after

I bought 2 more of these this year to decorate.

one is currently holding my sugar skulls

I created these from a tutorial at the dollar store crafts site

You will need a skull mold from the dollar store

( you could also used other shaped molds)

1 cup sugar and 2 tsp water

food coloring if desired

( direction images from 'dollar store crafts')

mix water and sugar together until it reaches a wet sand consistency

add food coloring if desired

press the mixture into the molds packing tightly

and level off

place a cookie sheet or cardboard over mold and flip.

unmold cubes immediately

allow to dry for 5 hours, or overnight, or bake at 200F for 5 min

i made white skulls

and grey/ black skulls

( i didn't have black food coloring so i mixed all the colors til they were dark enough)

these are great for mixing with a cup of tea,

and afterwards you can read your leaves...

And no matter who you are

Every Halloween display HAS to have

Pumpkins

My dollar store was carrying carveable pumpkins

( the were there for a total of two days, and i bought the last two)

i spray painted them white and black

i knew what i wanted to do with the white one..

I had a pair of fishnet stockings from a few Halloweens ago

I squeezed my pumpkin into one of the legs

i cut off the rest

i even trimmed the top down a bit more

I used e6000 to glue the fishnets around the stem

I allowed that to dry

and trimmed it up a bit more

sexy pumpkin!!

i painted both stems of the pumpkins with a swirled mix of dark green and black

i haven't decided how I'm going to decorate the black pumpkin yet...

Other supplies i have found at the dollar store are

( and all of course $1)

Crows

Serving tray

large spider

Creepy cloth

Oil burner

Spider web

Tombstone

so our total today for Halloween decorations is $26

brains (x2)-$2

jar-$1

shampoo-$1

Glitter skulls (x4)- $4

jar skulls (x3)- $3

skull mould-$1

carveable pumpkin (x2)- $2

Tier tray-

*3 trays-$3

pie plate, pizza pan and serving tray

*2 candlesticks-$2

creepy cloth (x2) -$2

large spider-$1

skull tray-$1

2 crows-$1

oil burner-$1

I will show you my witch's apothecary on the next post!!

Merry Crafting and Happy Halloween!!

Hauntingly Fun

2010-09-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

I can honestly tell you that Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year.

It tops Christmas and my birthday.

Black Friday is close second.

I know its not officially a holiday but it should be.

All those sales and clearances and ..oh my

I'm getting excited..lol

Anyways, as i was saying

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!

I decorate every year,
but because of moving so many times

Ive had to start from scratch this year.

There are a few recent pics I'm missing

(camera died)
but ill be sure to keep you updated
with new Halloween crafts and the display as i go.

Potion bottles
It all started with jagermeister bottles i had stashed.
I cleaned off the labels by soaking them in

soapy water. The labels came right off.

I laid those flat to dry and kept them for later use.
then using Dollar store scrapbook labels
(rubbed with black paint)
I put a label area on them
most of them currently don't have names..lol

One bottle was filled with 'Tears of the willow'

(as in a weeping willow?!)

I thought i was pretty clever with this one....lol

I found corks at goodwill, and used some nylon 'string' i had in my stash

The lettering is from rub on letters i had forgotten i had in my stash

Next was a bottle of Murliver Oil

It is filled with water with food coloring

( blue and green , to make it really dark)

I dipped the top in green wax from a dollar store green tea candle.

i also dripped wax down the side

Bottle O' Snake

Next was a jar of Severed Serpent of Gorgon
or
Separare Serpens ab Gorgos
removed from each of the Gorgon sisters
Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa

I started with a large Carlo Rossi bottle

and found some 'growing' snakes at the dollar store

I started out with just one to see how large it would grow

i just placed the snake in the bottle

and added water

and watched it grow!

It grew to be pretty large.

its head wont even fit thought the neck of the bottle!!

next i added two more

I removed the water and added both in

Then added water once again

here is a Lil bit of its growth. i don't have any pics pf the final result
but i will post it when i can

its filling up nicely!

I still need to make a label,

and i might add coloring to the water..

Gravestone

i had this gravestone from last years after Halloween sale

its cool but something didn't quite fit for me

so i spray painted a light layer of black

along with the lids of my bottles

allowed to dry

and the used sanding paper

(found at the dollar store)

and sanded some areas

looks better to me

Bones
another part of my display are bones...
I made chicken and dumplings one night for dinner.
I put the chicken legs into my crockpot for a day, until the meat literally fell off the bones

I picked out all of the bones

when i heard about bleaching bones..I took it literally

so i placed them in a bowl with diluted bleach

it got pretty disguisting

when i pulled them out i noticed the bleach was eating away at the bones

so i actually did research and found out i was all wrong.

so i instead placed them in hydrogen peroxide

and they turned out much better

I let the bones dry and place them in a 'cauldron'

My daughter got this cast iron pot for christmas and it worked perfectly

along with a lil dollar store spider of course!

Next was a bottle of 'eye of newt',
a classic spell ingredient.
It was created from 2 jars of liquid air freshener beads

I simply removed them from their jar and

filled a rounded bottle with them

I still need to paint the lid and make a label

and maybe find a way to 'age' the bottle

I saved the air freshener containers and plan of filling them with other creepies

( a later post)

Creepy Hand

start with a dollar store hand

Lame and totally fake looking

i used a variety of green paints

and painted a layer of light green as my base

then went painted dark green over, rubbed out a few areas and painted over with a med light green.

also painted the nails black

i cant decide whether its a zombie hand or Frankenstein's hand

Ill either lay it out as is or maybe place it in a large jar...

so i suppose this might be a good place to leave off.

Next post will be more projects and maybe a showing of my display!

keep an eye out for more coming soon!!

And we leave you off with a total cost of $9

all items were from the dollar store or on hand!

Scrapbook Labels-$1

Green Tea Candles-$1

Snakes (x3)- $3

Ceramic Gravestone- $1

2 Small Spiders-$1

Air Freshener Beads (x2)- $2

Fake Hand- $1

Merry Crafting and Happy Halloween!!

Re-use

2010-09-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ive been needing containers for my bathroom for a while..

I knew id found them when i saw these

Their holiday candy at Walmart

$3 a piece

I bought 2

Jujufruits and the candy corn taffy

yummy!

i emptied the candies into baggies

(keep better that way anyways)

I removed the ribbon from the lid

and i removed the labels.

i had to soak the lids in soapy water to remove the label

I replaced the ribbon

and voila.. no work at all!!

I filled them with cotton balls and q-tips

the canisters can either stand straight up or at an angle

here they are in my bathroom

Side note:

I got the awesome grasses and bamboo from the dollar store

and my favorite thing, the elephant

from goodwill for $2

the containers fit right into my decor,

and i plan on decoupaging them when i find the right paper of fabric

But now i need to figure out how to display then.

both facing out..

up and wide

or up and together..

what a conundrum...LOL

Lil secret...here's how the shelf really looks in my bathroom

I keep speakers in there

I like to listen to music while getting ready or showering

Merry Crafting and

Happy Halloween!!

Bubble, bubble, toil, and no trouble at all!

2010-09-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Are you needing an ancient spell book to go along with you Witchy accessories?

Well worry no more!

Super Simple way to make an spellbook!

You will need:

a hard cover book:

You can find some at goodwill or even at the dollar store

(please, please, please, make sure you are not defacing an important or first edition book!!)

Paper towels

watered down mod podge or watered down school glue

paint brush

paint

scrap cardboard

Start out by picking your book you will be working with.

I bought mine from the dollar store.

( ignore the box cutter...

this pic is from another upcoming project.

i used the same kind of book on this one..lol)

If your book has a dust cover, you will need to remove it

now you will have a nice plain hardback book

Start by picking out your design

I chose the Celtic tree of life

Draw your image onto your book

i started by drawing it on paper,

then i taped the paper onto the book and retraced it,

pressing down hard to transfer the image

I went over the transferred image with pencil

To make my image seem a bit embossed

i went over my image with hot glue

allow the glue to dry completely

note: if you want your image to be really defined

i suggest adding onto your glue lines, making them very pronounced

Next you will need to make your name plate and 'spines'

draw out out name plate on the cardboard and cut it out.

make sure your cardboard is thick enough to be pronounced off you cover

you don't need to cut it perfectly,
it adds to the aged look of the book

glue it to your cover

Next draw out your pieces of your spine

cut them out

glue them to your spine

( i had to trim mine a bit)

Next prepare your glue

either water down your mod podge a bit, or water down school glue

place a paper towel over the cover of your book

starting in the middle,

dab your glue/ podge on with a paint brush

work your way outwards,

pressing the towel in and around your design

Do this to the whole cover

while your paper is still wet

paint it with your base color.

I watered my paint down a bit

so it will spread and blend better

(below pic is bad at showing the brown color..)

allow to dry

Once your cover is dry open the book

and fold in your edges,

using the same watered down glue to glue it down

fold the edges like you would on a present

allow to dry

Next, move to working on the spine

fold over the paper towel and

using you glue mixture, glue it down

add another edge of paper towel and glue it to your spine

you can work on the backside as well as the spine

using the same glue technique as the front

Paint with your base color while still wet and allow to completely dry

I have a lack of pictures concerning the next few steps

( my camera battery died)

1. i first painted my tree and spines with a watered down dark green and allowed to dry

2. i painted over the whole book cover with a watered down grey/black mixture

then lightly wiped it off with a paper towel

3. I painted the whole cover with a watered down black and wiped off with a paper towel.
allow the whole thing to dry

I still need to age my pages

i am planning on gold leafing the outer edges of my pages

( i couldn't find my gold paint)

and i still need to name my book

and maybe add a bit more design...

here is the current final product though

Any witch or wiccan would be proud to have this as part of their collection!!

I found the paper towel tutorial here

Dave Lowe Design

and the embossing idea here

The Prop and Armor Blog

Parts 1,and 2

Happy Halloween!

Turtle, Turtle...

2010-09-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Recipe for

Homemade

Cashew Turtles

Ingredients:

I bag Caramels

Can of cashew bits and halves

Candy coating chocolate

cookie sheet covered in foil and spay with nonstick spray

How To:

Remove wrappers from caramels and place in saucepan with 2 tbsp water

Heat caramels until melted stirring frequently

Add about 11/2-2 cups cashews.

stir until well incorporated

place by spoonful onto cookie sheet

Some of them will run but that's OK..

you can fix it later

If you caramel starts to get too sticky, simply re warm it a bit

one you have all of your caramel and cashew clumps on you cookie sheets

refrigerate for at least 30min to 1hr

right before pulling out you caramel bits, melt your chocolate

After removing the caramels from the fridge

you should be able to lift them off the sheet

you may have some with excess caramel around the edges, fold this over

did your caramels into the chocolate and place it back onto the cookie sheets

refrigerate again for 30min to an hour

When done remove from fridge and cookie sheet

and enjoy!

(they soften as they warm up)

store the turtles in an airtight container.

If your house tends to be excessively warm i suggest you keep these in the fridge

Something Wicked this way comes...

2010-09-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again...

Halloweens just around the corner.

And so is the Pricey Halloween decorations.

Especially at Spirit.

But before you spend all you hard earned money on

expensive decorations (that are only up once a year)

at those stores

check out your local dollar store!!

Here is my price and item comparison of

Spirit Halloween store and a dollar store...

Bag O' Skulls

Spirit Halloween Store price:

$6.99

Dollar Store

Bag o' skulls price

Or garland of skulls

Skull Ice cube/Mold trays

Spirit Halloween store price

$3.99

Dollar store Price

Flameless Votive

Spirit Halloween store Price

$6.99

( same price for 4 pack, and 6 packs)

Dollar Store price

pack of 2

Black Crows

Spirit Halloween store price

$5.99

Dollar Store price

Skeleton Garland

Spirit Halloween store Price

$3.99

Dollar Store price

Skull Serving tray

Spirit Halloween store

$6.99

Dollar Store price

Cauldron

Spirit Halloween store Price

$7.99

Dollar store price

Glitter Skull

Spirit Halloween Store price

$7.99

Dollar Store price

Tombstone

Spirit Halloween Store price

$7.99

Dollar store Price

Moss

Spirit Halloween store price

$19.99

Dollar store price

Creepy cloth

Spirit Halloween store Price

$7.99

Dollar Store price

There are even more items!!!
such as

Plastic Skull Mugs

Spirit- 6/ $14.99

Dollar store- $1 a piece

Plastic cockroaches
Spirit- 30/ $4.99
Dollar store- 10/ $1

Gothic Skull Fencing
Spirit- 2/$6.99
Dollar store- 1/$1

Creepy Tarantula
Spirit- 2/$3.99
Dollar store: 1large or 2 small/ $1

And there is so much more.
these are just what i could find that are currently in my own dollar store.

Just because The Spirit store only comes around once a year
doesn't mean you HAVE to pay their extravagant prices.

Don't get me wrong though...they do have some pretty awesome decorations for indoor and outdoor that you can't find anywhere else.
Costumes too!!

and just a hint for you:
After Halloween keep any eye on the Spirit stores.
They will be clearances on ALL of their leftover merchandise.
Its always a good time to get costumes and decorations for next year at 50-75% of retail price!!

HAPPY HAUNTING!!!

This post was feature in The Dollar Store crafts Newsletter!

Make your own Shaped Sugar Cubes

2010-09-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Dollar Store Crafts recently featured a tutorial

'How to make Edible Sugar skulls'

I figured I'd give it a try.

I had bought a silicone flower mold from the dollar store back in spring

and thought I'd use it for this 'experiment'

How to:

Mix one cup of sugar with 2 tsp water until a 'wet sand' consistency.

pack the mixture into the molds tightly and level of the top.

place cookie sheet, or cardboard or something flat on top of the mold

and flip over, un-moulding the 'cubes
Let dry for 5 hours or bake in an oven @ 200F for 5-10 minutes

When making mine i added 6 drops of neon purple food coloring while mixing

They look more like asterisks than flowers

My Lil girl and i made these together

she asked for iced tea just so she could have one..lol

Id like to try this again with other shaped moulds!!

The cleanest smores you'll ever eat~~!!

2010-09-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

No matter your age,

Smores are the best!!

It reminds me of camping with the grandparents

reminds me of the carelessness of childhood.

nothing beats a fire roasted marshmallow and the messiness of a fresh smores out in the wild...

but how can you have the same yummy taste at home?

with smores in a stick!!

Ingredients:

Large Marshmallows

Candy coating chocolate

Bamboo skewers

My bamboo skewers were very long

so i cut them in half

Graham cracker crumbs

( i actually found them already crumbed..lol)

Step One:

skewer two marshmallows

Step Two:

melt your chocolate

I used 2 of the large blocks

it covered 10 sticks

Step Three:

cover your marshmallows with chocolate

Step Four: Roll your marshmallows in the graham cracker crumbs, coating evenly

(sorry bout the bad pics)

Step Five: Prop up or lay down and allow to set.

It sets quicker if put in fridge

I used a collinder to prop mine up

then after a few minutes i layed them down on a pan and put in fridge

They turned out deliciously and actually taste like a smore, but without the mess!!!

you can even get your kids involved !

my three year old daughter helped me make these.

Boxed up

2010-08-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

My local dollar store is currently carrying

craft jewelry boxes.

their just plain wood

and fun for decorating.

i made one earlier

for my daughters bangles

(WIP)

i decided to make one for my son

i found these comics at the dollar store a few months back

these actually came with a classic X-men comic

and a cool Turoc comic

so using the 'Troll Lords' cheesy comics i decorated my box

i started by finding cool images i liked.

i then tore out the images and decoupaged them to the box

( gotta love mod podge!!

Its almost a Verb on its own...

Im Mod Podging!!lol)

here is my final product after decoupaging

when adding the image on the sides and back

i covered the whole thing then after dry

i used an exacto knife to cut open.

i suggest doing one side at a time

I like the way the images blend together

after i finished decoupaging my images on i decided i wanted to add a little color.

i still wanted it to look like a classic comic book so i used watered down food coloring to paint a few areas.

i wasn't concerned if the color spread.

my hubby loves the way it turned out..

Top

front

sides

back

I really like the way this turned out myself...

i really want to make more of these with other images

It currently houses Lil mans binkies

their always being misplaced

so now anytime i find a binky

its put in the box

now i know where to find one when i need one!!

On a Sidenote...

Ive entered this project into

The CSI Project challenge

Mod Podge Rocks

Fleur de Lis

2010-08-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Fleur De Lis is a classic decor piece

I found a few Fleur De Lis statuettes at the dollar store a while back

I left them as they were until recently.

While at the dollar store a few weeks back i found an awesome frame that pulled it all together.

( sorry no before pic of the frame, it was saved on my laptop and it crashed...sad...)

anyways..

I painted the frame and statuettes gold

It was just a quick once over with the gold paint

after letting the gold paint dry ( very important)

i painted over it with back paint and wiped it away with a paper towel.

( if you try this before your base color is dry you will be wiping that away too)

using this techniques leaves black in the crevaces of the piece

here are the complete pieces

I really like how they both have a similar swirl

they work really well together

Its amazing the difference a little bit of paint makes!!

New kid on the Blocks

2010-08-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

While at a yard sale

(over a year ago)

i found a set of nice wooden blocks for $1

i recently decided i wanted to paint them

but couldn't figure out what color.

i ended up painting them black and white...

but i did a bad and sloppy job.

my hubby had the idea of making it look purposeful.

there fore these were born!

i started by placing the blocks all together on a piece of newspaper

i then chose my paints

i watered them down a bit so it would sling better

then start slinging paint

i used metallic blue, red, and green, and also a lime green

after painting one side i stood them up to dry

Turn them over

and sling the other side

let them dry..

i wish i had painted all of the larger sides white.

the paint shows much better on the white..

but over all they turned out OK.

my husband loves them..

and my daughter is really enjoying playing with them

while painting the blocks i made a splatter canvas.

this technique is SOOOOO much fun!!

almost left it alone with the red..

all of the colors

LOVING IT!!

Works in progress

2010-08-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

I'm in progress with alot of projects

My current projects include:

Bangle box

my local dollar store is carrying little wooden boxes

i turned on into a bangle box for my daughter

I started out with a simple wooden box and painted it gold

( I'm loving my gold paint right now)

I found an old dresser pull piece that went to an old night stand we refurbished

I painted it gold and rubbed black over it to make the edges stand out

i then attached it to the box and used an old button to fill in the center

next i added a small plastic mirror inside the lid

This is still a WIP but its coming along nicely...

Waldorf doll

I'm trying to make a Waldorf doll from items i had on hand

*children's stockings

*stuffing

*needle and Thread

i started by cutting the end off one leg of the stockings

made a ball with some cotton

and stuffed it into the foot of the stocking

and tied it off

next i sewed through the ball where the ears would be

then back around the front to create the eye line

and tied it off

I then cut another piece of stocking and cut it open to form a square piece

i wrapped this around the head and tied it off

I then added eyes and a mouth

I am currently in progress of adding yarn hair

I'm a bit apprehensive about making a body,

but I'm sure ill figure it out

this is my first doll making experience

Barbie

While cleaning my daughters room

(we pair down her toys and donate a bunch ever 6 months)

I found this poor barbie

her hair was Wild! and her head had fallen off

I decided to try and fix her and

make her a bollywood barbie.

I started by fixing her hair.

i comed it by sections and even used leave in conditioner to smooth it out

the end result is OK. i still need to fix her head onto her neck,

and make her clothes.

I'm working on alot of projects, but really enjoying myself

Craft Fail

2010-08-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ive been working on alot of projects lately

one of these many projects includes..

a total fail..lmao

i recently found a tutorial on how to

decorate a vase using

Mod podge and food coloring

I found two cheap and plain vases laying around the house

Mix some food coloring into your mod podge creating your desired color

(i didn't realize it till i was done but i forgot to add a little water. mix needs to be slightly thin)

pour into your vase

spread throughout your vase by swirling it around

and pour out the extra

the whole inside should be coated

preheat your oven to its lowest setting

place your vases onto an old cookie sheet

and bake for an hour

when its done it will look like stained glass

i realized my mistake too late.

plus i ran out of mod podge ( didn't have alot anyways)

so i have an uneven coat, bubbles that formed and

the larger vase has extra that built up in the bottom

I plan on trying this again

i like the coloring of the orange one though..i like how it swirls..

when i find the original tutorial ill be sure to post it for you to try this.

I WANT THIS!!!

2010-08-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

I happened to be surfing the net

and found this awesome book.

Perfect for us rocker parents

Alternative ABC's

Board Book

By: 13th Floor Designs

"This is the board book that Soccer Moms run from and Rocker Moms gravitate to.

A humorous and hipster take on a traditional ABC board book for kids.

Aesthetically borrowing from street, surf, skate, and music sub-cultures,

the custom design and typography beautifully spell out this unique alphabet.

From calligraffiti to pin-striping, and from Goth to Punk,

this little book crosses genres and is sure to create a buzz.

Alternative ABC's is graphically bold and colorful

and a great new addition to our growing line of

artist created ABC books. "

This book includes such cool pages

B is for Boom Box

D is for DUDE!!

F is for Flames

G is for Graffiti

I is for Ink

L is for Low rider

P is for Peace

V is for Vegetarian

Y is for Yoga

Z is for ZAP!!

I would love to buy this book for my kids!!

Headband display on a dime

2010-08-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

After creating so many Headbands

I needed a way to
contain them...

while surfing the net i came across this super cool idea

Its created from an oatmeal container and paper towel or toilet paper rolls!!

i started with my oatmeal canister

but it wasn't wide enough

so i used some batting from my stash to thicken it

I covered it with some pretty fabric from my stash

i used my hot glue gun to attach it all together

i trimmed the sides and folded it over

and hot glued it down

( i have yet to add a decoration to the end to hide the raw edges)

next i added the legs

i used cardboard rolls from tulle from the dollar store

they are thicker and stronger

i cut one in half and cut a piece of fabric to size

I made a hem with hot glue

I rolled it and glued it...

tucked in the ends

i used foam on the bottom

i then glued the legs to the canister.

when i stood it up it was a bit wobbly

i decided to make a base

i used some old coaster/ candle bases from the dollar store

i bought these a while back and ran them trough the dishwasher..

not a good ideas. the design washed off

( i still need to clean these the rest of the way and paint underneath)

The end result!!

i chose the glass so the base wont be damaged from water

( my daughter likes to play in the sink and spread water around)

( i still need to add a 'pretty' to the end)

I'm not completely satisfied with it, but I'm sure ill work on it a bit more...

works awesomely overall...

just not long enough to hold all of her headbands!!

Headcase!!

2010-08-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

My daughter loves to wear headbands.

Shes been using mine

so i created her some of her own...

I bought a pack of headbands from the dollar store (6/$1)

(one was broken when i opened it)

Bought a Gift wrap 'bow' from the dollar store

Its a BIG POOF, but it Totally fits her personality

I added some pretty ribbon flowers

found in the wedding section at the dollar store

Very Chic and pretty

I used an flower i had in my stash

and curled some pretty balloon ribbon

I found a broken lei

used a plastic bead from my stash

super glued the petals around the bead

7 petals per flower

opened it up a bit so i could see the bead

super glued to headband

a tropical looking headband!!

Wanna know what this is made from??

CUPCAKE TOPPERS!!!

give a kid a cupcake

One blue tongue later..

and you get some awesome craft items

i created the headband and also a few clippies

I clipped of the bottom

and glued it to a clippie

Super fun hairbands for a girl with a fun personality

(on a budget)

Total :

$1 for 5 hairbands

$1 for 2 gift toppers

$1 for 8 ribbon flowers

everything else was free or had on hand

less than $3 for a bunch of totally personalized headbands!!

Still working on it!!

2010-08-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still in the process of working on my sons 'nursery'

Here is an update!~

This has really tested all of my skills.

This has also been the most extensive sewing project i have ever done.

before this I had only made 2 patchwork blankets..

I received this bed when it was a used, plain ole' brown crib.

I sanded it down and then primered it.

Spray painted it black and varnished it

Here it is put together

We then chose the color scheme

Lime green, black and white

I started by making a dust ruffle

here's how i put on the trim

I attached it with Velcro

I used e6000 to glue Velcro strips to the crib

sewing Velcro to the 'ruffle'

and now it is easily attached and removed.

(no falling off on its own when i change the sheets)

i can even easily change the style when needed

I then sewed sheets

This was my real sewing test.

I was SO proud of myself when i completed these

To date, i have made a checkered sheet and a blue/green polka dot sheet

you cant really see the tiny polka dots

I also 'fixed' the mobile

it was too cheesy and traditional

I painted the arm and the bears black

Then decorated the bears

Here is 'Carnival'

(cant seem to get a good pic)

Skeleman

(mom says I'm gonna give the kid nightmares)

and Rocker

(my favorite)

There is also a music note in the middle

I'm thinking about 'editing' it a bit..

He Loves it though!!

(this pic is before i painted it, the video is after)

Next was to work on the Bumper

I didn't want a traditional bumper.

I never really saw them as effective.

I used past experiences as a learning experience

and created a version of the wonder bumpers

i never had a problem with my children hitting their heads,

but they have gotten limbs stuck between the slats.

i am hoping to prevent future issues with these

I used pipe insulation to create my bumpers

and covered all of the slats

and as of tonight i have been able to start covering them.

this is a continuing work in progress

i found a fabric that works with my theme.

(pic doesn't to it justice)

I cut a piece an inch longer than my piping and 2 inches wider

here is what they look like wrapped

I LOVE HOW THEY TURNED OUT!!!

as i said before, it is still a work in progress

the pattern will be blue, white, black, blue...

I also made him a new pillow tonight.

i found some super cute fabric

laid the images out how i wanted them

and appliqued them (part sewing / part heat n bond)

stuffed it

and voila a super cute pillow for a boys room

( or any space explorer in your life)

I also sewed him Bro-bot!!

he has a few lanterns above his bed

Lime green of course

and robots above his book sling

(In fabrication )

Here is his room, after all is said and done

(well not quite done, but you know what i mean)

If you have made it to this point, i have to thank you for bearing with me

it has been alot of work

( and it is currently 1am and i am exhausted, so sorry for all the run on sentences and all that)

i just wanted to get this up while it was still fresh in my mind

Thank you and have a wonderful night

I am entering this in the CSI Challenge
Fabric ans Sewing

The Guest judges this week are

The Diy Dish girls

The prize is a $40 gift certificate to

Crafty girl Workshop

Just sharing

2010-08-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share an awesome find

While at Big lots yesterday

I found these Amazing glasses

I love anything with cherry blossoms (Sakura!!)

I obtained the last four

( 2 yellow, 2 green)

originally $5 a piece

Paid- $1.20 a piece!!

enamored!!

Blossoming

2010-08-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

Remember when we learned how to make Kusudama?

I decided to take this and create...

These!!

Or at least this is how it started out..

a pretty blossom earring...

but i thought it was missing something

so i decided to add to it and create...

My falling Sakura earrings

They remind me of cherry blossoms falling in the breeze

these are by far my favorite earrings!!

A perfect blossom is a rare thing.

You could spend your life looking for one.

And it would not be a wasted life.

Perfect. They... are all... perfect...

—From the movie The Last Samurai—

Functionality

2010-08-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our apartment back in December,

we had almost everything we needed.

We had bought a brand new set of couches and coffee tables

and also a new queen size mattress

(super comfy)

but one thing we didn't have was a table.

We weren't too concerned about buying an expensive table.

We didn't have much room for a nice big table like we wanted anyways

so we bought a cheap table from Walmart and agreed

it would be a porch table when we move.

The table was supposed to be $115

but when we went to pick out the table

we found one in the back of the stack priced for only $99

exact same table just older model.

Cant say no to saving a few dollars!!

The table has done well by us,

but we don't really like it.

AND IT SHOWS!

The table currently is covered in my crafts.

It has paint, hot glue, and other scuffs all over it and the chairs get FILTHY!!

My daughters chair especially.

I wish I would have taken a pic before I shampooed them

The fabric is kind of a cheap form of microfiber/suede type stuff...

Well, after having to clean them for the umpteenth time

I decided to recover them.

The biggest impact on this project was the fact that i didn't want to spend much.

I thought and thought, and came up with a solution

I considered using oilcloth, but I don't have a fabric store nearby that carries it.

Plus, it would be a bit too expensive for my budget

My alternative??

A Table Cloth!!

Only $3.50 at Big Lots

( I actually only paid $2.80 because of rewards card)

and a bunch of Tacks

I considered upholstery tacks ( $1 for 30)

but I went for the cheaper plain tacks (47 cents for 40)

if you do this project,

spend the extra money for the upholstery tacks,

its worth it!!

( I had a majority of the tacks break.. SO frustrating)

Now to the process.

I removed the seat from the chair and cut a proper sized piece

I attached the vinyl to the chair using the tacks

and re attached the seat to the chair

Now...

Here is the before

and here is the after

The after definitely has much more personality

and it brings a bit more life to the area

The best Part is the Functionality!!

When my daughter spills something on the chair or

decides to be ornery and draw on the chair..

IT WIPES RIGHT OFF!!

Another benefit, is that i if it rips or anything, i didn't spend alot on it,

and it wouldn't be that much to recover it

( i still have quite a bit leftover)

and i can change the style easily,

and anytime i want

Total Project cost

$2.80 Vinyl Picnic Table cover -Big Lots

$1- 2 pack ( 40 count) Tacks -Walmart

Total of $3.80 spent

I'm loving the change for such a cheap price!!

only hard part was finding a table cloth i liked!!

I AM...

2010-08-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

I am...Happily Optimistic

I think... way too much

I should...Clean my house

I dream...Of owning a home

I want...to move back to California

I know...Everything will always be alright

I don't like...Negative people

I smell...Popcorn

I hear...Rockabye baby from my baby boys mobile

I fear... any harm coming to my children

I search...for my cell phone or keys daily.

I miss....The beautiful California sunshine and my family!!

I always...Drink Diet Coke

I crave... Chocolate

I remember...the moment my hubby and i met

I need.... a local cheap craft store!!

I forget......ummm...i dont remember!!

I feel...Satisfied

I can...do anything I set my mind to.

I can't...say no..

I am happy... being ME!!

I listen...To my heart

I shop...At the Dollar Store and Walmart almost weekly

I eat.... What i crave

I love...My wonderful husband and family

Play time

2010-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday i let the kittens out to play

and noticed they liked playing with my soda boxes.

So i made them a kitty playground..they loved it

its so cute....

a box of junk...or is it?!

2010-08-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

I made a trip to my moms the other day

and came home with a box of goodies!!

I know to the most people this may look like a box of junk

But what i see is a box of potential

This box included in it....

a small shelf which will be painted and used..somewhere

a day planner, without the planner part

no plans for this yet (wakka wakka)

a small MP3 player which

I'm thinking about giving to the kiddo

and loading it with her favorite songs

(Big time rush, fresh beats band, etc)

A large empty aluminum foil box with roll

Which i used to organize more of my ribbon

A broken Hula hoop

(cant wait to show you what i do with this)

and...

Insulin Insulation

(try saying that 5 times fast)

My mom is a nurse and this is what they use when shipping the insulin to her office

she said she saw these and thought of me..

i love my mommy

The second i pulled these out the kittens had to investigate

I'm planning on using these when i reupholster my poor beat up rocking chair...

i also made a trip to Dollar general

compact mirror $1

Cat food 5-$2

and some gift cards ( not loaded)

Walmart

i was going to buy these at the dollar store but at the time

the credit card machines were down

i paid a $1.50 for two small throw away pans

i used them for

a litter box for my kittens

were only going to have the kittens for a few more weeks

Their almost six weeks old so were gonna find them a home.

so i cant justify spending $3 on a litter box ill never use again.

(mama kitty goes potty outside)

Whats even better is the kittens are using it on their own.

i haven't had a single 'accident' in my floors since i got it

( i also go the baby gate from my mom)

back to the subject..

I made a trip to the dollar store yesterday and got

i have plans for all!!

Stay tuned and you can see what i do with all I've got!!

Thanks for looking and Have a crafty day!!

POPULAR!!

2010-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

WOW!!

Ive made it to over 500 visitors

in less than 4 months!!

( i added the counter in Late May)

I JUMPED from over 100 visitors to 500 in just a few weeks!!

Thank you to all of you who visit me here

and thank you to all of you who inspire me,

because with out you

i wouldn't have anything to blog about!!

Be sure to keep an eye out,

I've got more crafts in the making!

Thank you again!!

Crafty Love to you all!!

Like a kid in a candy store

2010-08-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

Im testing my luck again!!

Dollar Store Crafts is hosting a Giveway

The Winner Gets

A Silhouette Machine

(a $299.99 value)

The package includes...

■Silhouette machine

■Software for Windows XP/Vista

■Power cable, USB cable

■2 Cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media)

■One cutting blade

■$10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store

**This giveaway is only open to those in the United States**

How to Enter:

You can enter up to four times:

1.Just leave a comment (make sure your email address is correct)!

2.Newsletter Subscribers get a second entry -

make sure you're a subscriber, then comment here to tell me so.

3.Blog about it with a link back to this post, then come back and leave a comment with the link.

4.Mention it on Twitter or Facebook (with a link to this post) and leave a comment letting me know, with a link to your Twitter or Facebook address.

I will choose a winner via Random.org on August 7th.

Silhouette has also offered a hot discount for Dollar Store Crafts readers!

The AWESOME PROMO

(running from August 1st through August 9th at midnight) is:

Buy a machine and receive the following:

■- $50 off the Silhouette Craft Cutter

■- 2 rolls of vinyl (Valued at $15.98)

■- 1 roll of transfer tape (Valued at $7.99)

■- Scraper (Valued at $6.99)

■- Home Décor CD (Valued at $50)

■- $10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store

■- Cutting Blade

■- 2 Cutting Mats

All for $249.99

A Savings of $130.96

Just think of how much you’ll save on gift giving this year!

To get this discount, use this code when you place your order:

DOLLAR

Click here to order

I so excited...ive ben wanting one of these but just can afford it.

plus itll cut don alot of time spent hand cutting thins with an exacto knife!!

Wish me luck!!

you should try your luck as well!!

Dollar Store Crafts

Find Them on Facebook

And the Winner is...

2010-07-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

I recently entered my daughters bed into

The CSI Challenge

'Roadkill Rescue/Things i got for Free'

There Were Many Many worthy Entries

Some of my favorites included

Beautiful wall art created from Scrap wood

BY: Lemon tree creations

(they won top ten)

Apple green Chalk board desk

Perfect for kids

By: Twice Lovely

The Top Project in the Challenge was

This beautiful dresser, that was missing a drawer

BY: Sixty-Fifth Avenue

All Wonderful and inspiring entries...

But the winner was..

ME!!

The bed used to look like this

and i hand painted it

now it looks like this

Check out my original posts

1, 2

I am so honored to have even been considered.. but to be chosen..WOW!!

I'm almost speechless ( obviously not completely because i cant stop saying wow!! lol)

And a HUGE Thank You to THE NESTER

who was the guest judge this week

The Prize is a 50$ gift certificate to Dimple Prints

Dimple prints offers beautiful digital party packages, invitations and card designs

Check out their Website

They also Have an Etsy Shop

If you would like to enter one of your own projects

Check out

The CSI Project!!

THANK YOU!!!