This project is easy to make and so much fun.  I just found out about shrinky dink sheets for the printer and am so glad I did! I am going to have SO much fun with this stuff and so will you!

Materials

• shrinky dink sheets for the printer ( I ordered mine from www.shrinkydinks.com. They were sent out quickly and arrived in just a few days. The cost is about 9 dollars for 6 sheets.)
• bracelet and o-rings ( I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
• clear spray enamel top coat

Step 1.

Select the photos you want to use and then you will need to lighten them 50% until they have a washed out look.  Amazingly the color will return when you bake them!  I printed mine up in wallet size. Make sure you refer to the instructions that come with your Shrinky dink sheets for inserting the paper the correct way.

Step 2.

Cut out your pictures and punch a hole in the top of each one with a standard paper punch. I cut mine out wallet size but should have made them a little smaller than that. I ended up trimming mine after baking which is not a good idea because they can crack and break. You can cut any shape you want!

Step 3.

Line a cookie sheet with a piece of brown paper from a grocery bag or something like that. Place the photos face upon the paper and put in a preheated (275 degree) oven for 3 – 5 minutes. The photos will start to curl up so you need to watch them because they can stick to themselves. If this happens pull it apart right away and then let it continue baking. (Obviously be careful so you don’t burn yourself) After they shrink and flatten out let them bake for 30 more seconds. The second photo shows what they should look like when they are finished.

Step 4.

Remove from oven and place a piece of paper over the photos. Press down (lightly) to make sure they are completely flattened.

Step 5.

Spray with a clear acrylic spray to topcoat and protect the photos from scratches.  A piece of double stick tape on the back of each photo will keep them from moving around when you spray them.

Step 5.

Open the o ring and stick it through the hole you punched in the photos.  Slide tho o ring and photo onto the bracelet and squeeze the o ring closed.

This rail was made with a pine board and some cabinet knobs and is a really easy project. I bought five frames used some old prints from a calendar that I’ve had for years. I attached ribbon to the frames for hanging but you could use twine or wire instead.

Materials:

• one board (I used a furring strip)
  
• cabinet knobs
  
• picture frames
• ribbon
• you will need a drill
  

Step 1.

I painted the board and then laid my frames out underneath it to see where to mark my holes. After I did the layout I used a measuring tape to mark the holes evenly. You will need to use a drill bit that is about the same size or just larger than the screws that come with your knobs. Drill the holes.

Step 2.

I found a great place to buy cabinet knobs and pulls (knobdeals.com) and got these for 75 cents apiece. You can often find a small amount of knobs at Lowes and Home Depot that are closeouts and Hobby Lobby has some really nice ones if you don’t mind spending a little more. You can also purchase knobs at Ikea for almost nothing. After you have pushed your screws through the holes put the knobs on and tighten.

Step 3.

Measure out a 14″ piece of ribbon for each frame. I used a staple gun to attach mine but you can also use small nails.

Step 4.

I attached my rail to the wall using screws.

Step 5.

I bought some wooden letters at Hobby Lobby to spell out “roses”.  I painted them to match the rails.

I hung the pictures and set the letters on top of the rail. You could use this for family pictures and spell out “family”. The best part is that you only need to put 2 screws or nails in the wall to hang 5 or 6 pictures.

I like to rearrange my furniture a lot and with my bed against this particular wall there was no room for my bulky nightstand. I had two small drawers than I snagged at a yard sale so I decided to create a small nightstand using them. This is really easy.

Materials:

• drawers
• screws

Step 1.

The first thing you have to do is find a drawer or drawers that will fit in the space you need to use.  I found these at a yard sale (for free) but drawers are pretty easy to find at thrift stores, trash dumps, and on clean up days where people pile stuff on the street to be hauled off. Ikea sells small drawer units that are also perfect for small spaces.

Step 2.

I start some small screws into the back of the drawer while I have it on the floor. Be really careful or you might put the screws in too far and go into the floor. That’s experience speaking… This will make it easier to put the drawers up. Use a ruler and tape measure to draw an even line with pencil so you will know where to place the drawers. I measure from the floor up to the position I want the drawer and draw a line. However, many homes are not square so it’s always best to use a level. Hold your drawer against the wall and place the level on top. I usually do both because my husband trained me and he’s a perfectionist.

Step 3.

I turned the first drawer upside down so I can set my lamp on it. Now obviously if you are going to put anything heavy on them you will need to make sure you are putting the screws into a stud. If you don’t have a stud there you can use molly or toggle bolts. They come with instructions and are easy to do. Keep in mind you don’t want to use them unless you’re doing something pretty permanent because they do leave a hole.   I have never seen a hole that can’t be patched so keep that in mind also.

Step 4.

I turned the second drawer right side up so that I can put my phone and other stuff in it. I added a couple of small screws near the top to connect the two drawers and give them a little more stability.

Step 5.

I cut a piece of paper to fit in the bottom of the drawer.

This light up Halloween scarf is easy to make and only requires very basic sewing skills.  The battery operated LED lights add just enough extra warmth to make it really nice and toasty warm.

Materials:

• 1 yard of fleece (this will give you more than enough)
• small piece of contrasting fleece for fringe
• one set of battery operated LED lights (make sure you buy the thin kind that will fit through basic eyelets. Also get the kind that operate with AA batteries so the battery pack won’t be too heavy
• one package of eyelets and an aplicator
• 1 yard of medium weight fusible interfacing

Step 1.

Make a pattern piece from paper that is the size you would like your scarf to be.  Lay out your string of lights and tape them down.  Make a mark with a pen where each light will be.

Step 2.

Cut out fabric using your pattern piece. Cut out a front and a back piece.  Cut out one piece of interfacing and iron it to the wrong side of one piece of the fleece.

Step 3.

Pin the paper back onto the fleece that you put the interfacing on. Put scarf on a board and pound a nail into the fabric at each hole you marked on the paper.  Push the nail all the way through and then use an applicator to put the eyelets through each hole as you make them.

Step 4.

I stitch each eyelet into place because I have found that they tend to pull out over time. This is easy to do but does take a little time.

Step 5.

Cut a piece of contrasting fleece for each end that is the same width across as your scarf. Make cuts as shown above and then pin into place.  Stitch.

Step 6.

Cut out a small piece of contrasting fleece to make a pocket to hold your battery compartment. It will need to be a little bit bigger than your battery pack. Stitch it to the end of your scarf that is closest to the end of your cord. I always put mine on the back of the scarf.  Stitch a little piece of velcro to the front of the pocket. Cut a long piece of contrast  velcro for the top and stitch it to the top as shown. This will keep your battery pack in place. I cut out a spider from black felt and stitched it to the top of mine just for fun.

Step 7.

Poke lights through eyelet holes. They should fit snugly but if they don’t you can use a dab of hot glue to secure them if you do it from the back side of the scarf.

Step 8.

Pin front and back together as shown.  Carefully stitch along edges leaving one end open to turn.

Step 9.

Sew velcro to open end of scarf.   Sew opposite velcro to other side and then close end of scarf.

I needed a gate that will keep my daredevil grandson off of my steep staircase when he visits but wanted one that can be put away when he’s not here.   I came up with this idea and have successfully tested it out on my dog.  Sawyer seems to be able to get himself in and out of anywhere he wants to be and so far this gate has been Sawyer proof. We’ll see how Charlie does with it next time he comes over….

Materials:

• Approximately 1 yard of heavy canvas, depending on area you need to cover.
  
• furring strips (you can buy these at any lumber yard)
• 4 latches

Step 1.

Cut a panel that is wide enough to fit your opening plus 3  1/2 inches on each side to allow for the pockets you will need to slip your wood slats in.  The opening on my stairs is 34 inches so I cut my fabric 41 inches to allow for the fold over for the pocket and for the narrow hem.  You can adjust this a little by where you place your eye bolt so you don’t have to get it perfect.  After you cut your fabric narrow hem all four edges.

Step 2.

Fold over 2  3/4 inches and stitch. This will form the pocket that will hold the furring strip.

Step 3.

Cut two furring strips that are longer than the pockets in your canvas gate.  Attach a hook to the top  of both wood pieces as shown.  Slip them into the pockets and then attach hooks the bottom of both wood pieces.  Attach corresponding eye bolts to wall and post or to wherever you are putting up gate.  When you’re not using gate you can roll it up and put it away.

My back door is metal and I don’t like it because it’s hard to hang curtain rods. The magnetic ones that are inexpensive look cheap and the ones that look good are expensive.  I came up with this idea that only cost about four dollars and took less than an hour including dry time for the glue.

Materials:

• Round magnets (I got mine at Hobby Lobby but you can get them almost anywhere)
• scrapbook paper
• glue

Step 1.

Glue magnet to the wrong side of scrapbook paper.  I just used Elmer’s glue.

Step 2.

After the glue has dried cut around the magnet.

Step 3.

Use the magnets to hold up your curtain.  I used these to hold up a valance and it works very well even with the door opening and closing all day long.  Be sure to buy the thicker magnets and not the real thin ones.

This valance is very quick and easy to make and only takes a yard of fabric for a set of two.

Materials:

• approximately 1 yard of fabric
  
• approximately 1 yard of fabric for lining

Step 1.

Cut a square of fabric that when cut in half will fit your window.  Cut it in half to form a triangle.

Step 2.

Pin together (right sides together) and then stitch leaving an opening at the top so that you can turn it to the right side.

Step 3.

After turning to right side press with hot iron and then top stitch close to edge. Stitch over the opening at the top that you left open.

Step 4.

I tied a knot on the end of my curtains and then hung them.

Unfinished wood birdhouses are really easy and fun to decorate.   I let my grandkids paint the roof and bottom and since they are going to be covered with scrapbook paper it doesn’t matter if they get paint all over.  There are so many different papers to choose from so you can do almost anything you want.

Step 1.

I turned my grandkids loose and let them paint the tops and bottoms of the birdhouses.  It doesn’t have to be neat because you will be covering the front, back and sides with paper.

Step 2.

Put the paper on the front of the birdhouse and then press around the peg to mark the paper.

Step 3.

Fold the paper over the edges of the birdhouse and crease.  Turn the paper over so the lines will be easier to see and cut out your pieces.

Step 4.

Put the paper on the front of the birdhouse and press down around the holes to make a line for cutting.

Step 5.

Paint the birdhouse, one section at a time, with glue that is thinned down a little with water.  Place the pieces of paper onto the birdhouse and gently press down to smooth out any bubbles.

Step 6.

I cut out birds from scrapbook paper and glued them on the fronts of the birdhouses for a finishing touch. If you want to use them outside you can coat them with a clear polyurathane or something like that.

Here is a fun way to wrap a present for someone special. You could use the same idea in many different ways for weddings, graduations etc…. This is a quick and easy project that anyone can do.

Materials:

• 1 sheet of construction or scrapbook paper
• pom poms or other trim
• 8×10 enlarged photo
  

Step 1.

Cut out hat shape from paper. Fold edges as shown.

Step 2.

Glue folded edges to gift.

Step 3.

Glue on pom poms.

Step 4.

I used HP photo smart to crop this photo. Then I printed it in an 8×10 size and printed it on regular   paper and cut it out.

Step 5.

Attach photo to under edge of hat as shown.

I had to find a way to secure my cell phone as it charges while keeping it out of the reach of my puppy so I made a pouch that hangs on the wall.  I hung it high enough that Sawyer cannot reach the cord or the phone.  Now if I could only find a way to keep him out of the other stuff he gets into…

Materials

• small piece of fabric (1/4 yard should be enough)
• small piece of heavy weight fusible interfacing
• 1 large eyelet

Step 1.

Make your pattern pieces using these dimensions or you can make it smaller or bigger to fit your phone.

Step 2.

Cut a piece of stiff fusible interfacing to fit pattern piece.  Apply it to the inside of the back piece.

Step 3.

Hem top edge of pocket piece. Put pattern piece back on pocket and use pins to mark where your pleats are going to be.  Fold pleats as shown using pins as a guide and then pin them into place. Stitch them into place using a basting stitch. Remove pins.

Step 4.

Pin pocket to the front piece by placing the inside (wrong side) of pocket on the right side of the front piece. Now place the right side of the back piece on top of the front piece (right sides together) and pin into place.

Step 5.

Start at the bottom and stitch around the edge leaving an opening at the bottom to turn to the outside. I used a half inch seam allowance.

Step 6.

Turn to outside through opening on bottom. Hand stitch bottom closed.

Step 7.

Apply eyelet as shown.

These wine glasses are so easy to make and can be personalized with initials, holiday symbols, or anything you like.  You just need a stencil, spray glass frosting, and the wine glasses. These would be fun to make for birthday parties or other special occasions.

Materials:

• wine glasses (I got these at Wal Mart but you can get great prices on wine glasses at Ikea.)
  
• can of glass frosting spray paint  (You can purchase this at any craft store.)
• tape and plastic wrap
• stencil

Step 1.

Tape stencil to wine glass making sure it lays flat.

Step 2.

Cover the wine glass with plastic wrap taping it securely around the stencil.

Step 3.

Spray the stencil with the frosted glass paint.  Let it dry well before you remove the stencil.