Mini Patchwork Magnets for Your Fridge

Did you know that even if you dont sew you can create quilts? Although you need to sew to make quilts for your bed you dont have to sew to make quilts for your refrigerator! Thats right. If you love the country look of quilts you can easily make some to display on the fridge or other metallic surfaces. All you need is some magnetic sheeting, cardboard, cloth and cotton.

You will decide how small you want each quilt block to be. Although you likely wouldnt choose to make huge quilt blocks for the refrigerator you can make them really tiny or much larger. No matter what size you choose youll need to cut every quilt block exactly the same size.

Although making real quilts requires the crafter to cut squares from fabric youll cut your quilt blocks from thick cardboard. Use one large piece, draw out the individual squares, then cut. The cut on the cardboard squares must be exact. After youve cut all the cardboard squares you need youll begin turning them into real quilt blocks for your refrigerator. To do this youll need to cut a fabric square for each cardboard piece. Cut the cloth so that it is 3/4" larger, all the way around, than the cardboard squares. Each fabric square does not have to match the others. Combine two or three different fabrics, to make the design you want, or make each square completely different using scraps you already have. The finished design is all your own. If you attach the fabric to the cardboard pieces they wont look fluffy like a quilt. To make each square look soft and full use a piece of stuffing between the cardboard and the fabric. The stuffing can be cotton balls, foam, or even wadded bathroom tissue. Since this quilt wont be laundered you can use any number of things for the stuffing. If you use craft foam to stuff the quilt blocks, each will look the same, but if you use something like cotton balls you might have to work with it to get each quilt block to be the same thickness. If youve completed the quilt block, then you see some adjustment is needed to the stuffing, simply use a straight pin or needle to work the stuffing into its proper position. To make each quilt block lay one cardboard piece on a table. Position the stuffing on top of the cardboard. If you need to you can glue the stuffing to the cardboard to keep it stable while attaching the cloth. Position the fabric square over the stuffing then hold it in place while you flip the whole block over. Use masking tape - or even Scotch tape - to hold the fabric in place. Using hot glue will make it difficult to lay the magnetic sheeting flat against the cardboard. Other adhesives can be used but may take some time to dry. If you use ordinary glue you can use clothes pins to hold the fabric in place while it dries. When doing this, though, youll usually need to adjust the stuffing with a needle or pin, after removing the clothes pins. Magnetic sheeting is sold by the sheet, or by the roll, at most any craft store. Cut squares from the sheeting to attach to the back of your quilt blocks. The magnetic sheet piece should be slightly smaller than the actual cardboard backing. Place your finished quilt blocks, in any pattern you wish, on the fridge. Place one block on each corner, or push them together to make a small quilt in the center. How you display the finished quilt, or quilt blocks, is up to you. The blocks can be attached to small appliances, oven doors or even filing cabinets. If you love quilts youll really enjoy displaying the new magnetic one youve made. Dont be surprised, though, if you see that all your friends and family members suddenly have new quilts - and not on their beds!

Magnetic CD Valentine Holder for Kids

If your child attends school you can count on one thing: he or she will be coming home with lots and lots of Valentines. Valentines Day is very popular amongst young kids and they love trading the sweet cards with their classmates and friends. At the end of the day they can accumulate quite a few cards. If choosing cards, filling them out and exchanging them isnt enough excitement theyll enjoy themselves even more when they make a cute magnetic cd Valentine holder to display the cards.

Let kids choose an old cd that they no longer listen to or even a DVD that is scratched. The cd or DVD will become the base for the card display. Cut a piece of cloth, felt, or decorative paper to cover the cd. If kids have a large valentine they can even use it to cover the cd. Or, they can use the front of a large Valentines Day envelope theyve received. Covering the cd is not pertinent and kids can make the card holder using the cd or DVD as-is.

Use a button magnet to make the cd magnetic. Attach the small, round magnet to the center back of the cd. The magnet allows enough room between the cd and the fridge so that you can attach the actual holders of the cards. The magnet you choose should be larger than the hole in the center of the cd or DVD. Purchase a pack of miniature clothes pins. The pins are found at any craft store and some department stores which feature a craft department. They come in a pack of many and are very inexpensive. Although you can use regular size clothes pins for this craft the Valentine card display will not hold as many cards. Since miniature clothes pins come in various sizes, and since regular clothes pins are extra large, it might be necessary to glue a second button magnet on the back. If, when finished with the project, the cd card display wont lay flat on the fridge, just glue a second magnet on the back of the first magnet. Start by turning the cd face down on a flat service. Use hot glue - or another adhesive - to affix the mini clothes pins to the cd. The clothes pins should be placed to where the mouth of the clothespin is facing the outer edge of the cd. Glue them, even spaced, all the way around the cd. As stated before youll be able to affix much more small pins than large ones. When viewing the front of the cd you should not be able to see the clothes pins. While gluing them on scoot them back so that the mouth of each pin is about a half-inch away from the outer edge of the cd. If youre using large pins, and theres not enough room to scoot them that far back, consider gluing a piece of gathered lace around the edge of the cd, to conceal the pins. Open the mouth of each pin and place a valentine in each one. Halfway around youll have to turn the valentines the opposite way, so that they arent upside down at the bottom area of the cd. Place the valentine display on the refrigerator to display the cards. There are any number of things you can do to decorate the valentine display. Glue on hearts, paper cupids, or even valentine stickers. You can also use magnetic sheeting to create a totally different look each year. Cut two circles of the flat magnet sheet which youll purchase at any craft store. Affix one piece of the sheeting to the front of the cd and use the other to create a picture. Cut an image from a magazine - or even cloth - and stick the image to the second sheet of magnet. Each year you can create a new image to stick on the cd valentine display. Your kids will love exchanging valentines but they dont have to come home and throw them in a drawer. Let them make a valentine display for their cards and itll become the best Valentines Day ever!

Cardboard Gingerbread Man Photo Ornament

Christmas is often about the kids, but while were making all the plans, kids often get left out. Your kids wont get bored, though, because you know that getting them started on a cool craft for Christmas will keep them busy and happy. Dont worry about the cost! There are lots of great crafts kids can make that cost little.

One fun thing for kids to create is a gingerbread man photo ornament. The ornament is easy to make, and since its made from cardboard pieces, you dont have to worry about spending a lot of money. Use a few craft supplies to embellish the cardboard and kids will be happy to hang their new ornaments on the tree.

Use a pattern from a coloring book, or cut your own pattern, to create the shape of the gingerbread men. Thick cardboard takes on the look of real gingerbread after youve decorated it. Cut a gingerbread man for each child and let them get busy creating. Before decorating the gingerbread men kids can cut a circular picture of themselves to attach to the man. Help young kids with this portion of the craft. After cutting the photo glue it to the belly area of the gingerbread man. Now use any number of craft items to embellish the creation. White yarn is a great way to outline the gingerbread men. Use ordinary white glue to outline the man then place the length of yarn in the glue. Instead of yarn you can also use white paint that dispenses from a tube. The outline really makes the gingerbread man stand out on the tree. Use the yarn or paint to also outline the circular photo. If you want, you can cut a piece of clear plastic to put over the picture. The paint or yarn should cover the edges of the clear plastic. Use wiggly eyes, b-bs, buttons or another choice for the gingerbread mans eyes. A red cinnamon candy is perfect for the nose but you could also use a button, a pom-pom or even a marker. Even the lid from an old red marker can become the nose of the gingerbread man. Black yarn, felt or a black marker can be used to make the mouth. Cut a piece of fabric, or use yarn, to make a scarf for your gingerbread man. Tie the yarn or fabric once then allow it to hang down the front of the man, slightly off-center. Allowing it to hang down the middle will cause the picture to be obscured. Instead of a scarf your gingerbread man can have a bow tie. Purchase the small bows or create your own from a scrap of ribbon or fabric. Use the yarn or white paint to make a zig-zag line across the "forehead" of the gingerbread man. Do the same across the "wrists" and "ankles" to create the illusion of gloves or even booties. Cording, which is small in diameter, can be used instead of the yarn. There are many other craft supplies that you can use to further embellish the gingerbread men. Fake candies or candy canes can be attached to the hand areas. Or, your gingerbread man can hold a tiny sign which says "Merry Christmas" or the childs name. Get as creative as you want with the gingerbread men. Instead of cardboard you can also make the gingerbread men out of craft foam. Purchase a sheet of foam in the color of brown to cut the shape of the gingerbread men. Craft foam is inexpensive and easy to work with. Most any embellishments can be glued right to the foam. When youre finished making the ornament fold a piece of stretch cord in half and glue it to the backside of the ornament. That will allow you a way to hang the ornament on the tree. Instead of the central photo on the gingerbread man kids can instead cut a picture of a reindeer, Santa or another Christmas scene. Kids getting bored? Get them busy with the gingerbread photo project and their yawns will turn to giggles.

Circular Saw Blade Art Work for Your Walls

Have you ever seen artwork done on saw blades? Theyre beautiful! People with artistic abilities have done fabulous designs on saw blades meant to be hung on the walls of your home. If youve never seen them you wont believe just how gorgeous they really are. If you simply dont have the artistic talent needed to create the beautiful wall hangings dont fret. You can easily make something just as beautiful with no artistic abilities whatsoever! If you live with or know a carpenter you can probably get lots of used saw blades which have the teeth dulled. If not, you can purchase the new blades at any home improvement store. Take care when handling the sharp blades and always use thick gloves. There are various blades, used for cutting everything from concrete to wood, and each blade will give you a different look.

To start the decorated saw blade project simply cut a beautiful picture from a magazine, poster or another source. The picture should be cut in a circular shape and should be slightly smaller than the blade itself. The picture will be mounted to the saw blade with the teeth of the blade uncovered by the picture.

Theres a particular type of adhesive that works great for the saw blade project. Its called Decoupage. The glue is found at craft stores, craft departments and even home improvement stores. It makes it easy to attach pictures to surfaces like metal, wood or even plastic. The glue is not expensive and will be enough to do many of the saw blade projects. Use a foam brush to apply the Decoupage to the surface of the saw blade. Position the picture and press into the glue. Allow to dry thoroughly. Protect the picture by then applying a second coat of Decoupage over the top of the picture. Allow to dry thoroughly. You can use steel wool to smooth the look of the glued picture after it is dry. There are many ways to embellish the finished saw blade wall hanging. Use foil cutouts and glue them to each of the blade tips. Or, glue roping around the picture to create depth. Ribbon, wooden shapes, and even fake jewels can all be used to add character to the finished project. If the look of the silver saw blades is not exactly your style you can paint the blade before adding the picture. Make sure the paints you use are suitable for metal. Youll find metal paints, available in spray cans, which will make the painting of the blade quick and easy. Create various groupings of the decorated blades for effect. An assortment of small, medium and large blades - all with the same theme - can be displayed on any wall. Make other arrangements by implementing different craft items. For example, use a brass ring to make a unique hanging of the blades. Fold a long ribbon piece in half and lay the ring over the fold. Take the ends of the ribbon, over the ring, and push them through the loop of the ribbon. Pull tight. The ring will be the hanger and the two ribbon strands will be used to display the blades. Glue the ribbon to the backs of three decorated blades. Leave a small space between the blades. Hang this arrangement in most any room. The decorated saw blades look great when mounted on wooden cornices, doors, and more. Its easy to mount them using double-sided tape. Create lighthouse themes, Native American scenes, or even cartoon characters for a boys room. You can even use stencils to create simplistic painted images on the blades. Stencils can be found by the hundreds at any craft store and will give you many ideas for the final design. The next time youre near a home improvement store get some blades. Youll really love this project which requires no talent but looks fantastic!

Ping Pong Ball Easter Bunny Place Markers

Easter can be lots of fun with all the decorated eggs and cute bunnies. If youre throwing an Easter party, and you want to have unique place markers at the table, start with a pack of ping pong balls. Theyre cheap but make fabulous Easter bunny place markers for your guests. Use them again next year - even if next years guests are different - or just let the guests take their personalized bunny home.

Youll find ping pong balls at some department stores and at stores that sell sports equipment. Theyre much cheaper at a discount department store than a sports store. Ping pong balls are generally sold in a pack of five or six and it will take two balls to make each rabbit place marker.

Start by gluing one ping pong ball to a thin piece of cardboard. A perfect cardboard piece would be one like what youll find in a pack of pantyhose. The cardboard is white - at least on one side - making it perfect for this craft. Cut a square of the cardboard for each egg. Hot glue will work fine for securing the ping pong ball onto the center of the cardboard piece. Next, glue a second ping pong ball on top of the first. These two balls will form the head and the body of the bunny. Make sure the hot glue cannot be seen between the two balls and be sure the balls sit flush against each other. Create an "outfit" for the bunny by drawing stripes or dots on the bottom ball with a marker. Or, use tiny stickers to create the clothing. You can even draw clothing onto the ball. Draw on a face or use wiggly eyes and other supplies to create the face. Ordinary magic markers work fine if you want to draw on the face. Or, glue on wiggly eyes, a tiny pink pom-pom nose and a felt triangle mouth. Cut strips of wire, or craft felt, to create the whiskers. Cut small ovals of white felt or foam to form the ears. Cut a second set from pink felt or foam, making the pink set slightly smaller than the white set. Glue the pink set onto the white set to make the inside and outside of the bunnys ears. Glue the ears in place on the ping pong ball head. Embellish the bunny by gluing a bow onto the front of the neck area. Glue tiny flowers and beads to the top of the head, between the ears. Or, purchase miniature bonnets for the bunnies, glue the bonnets to the heads, then glue the ears to the bonnet. There are many different ways to change the look of each bunny. Write the name of each guest on the belly of the bunny. If you want, you can use magic markers, or even stickers that feature names. Purchase sheets of stickers to make the names yourself. Write the names vertically or horizontally - that is your choice. Stickers allow you to reuse the bunnies next year; simply change the sticker names on each bunny. Glue a little bit of Easter grass on the white cardboard base. Trim the grass so that it doesnt hang too far from the cardboard. Make sure the grass is sufficient enough to hide the piece of cardboard completely. Glue tiny craft eggs in the grass, if desired. If you want, you can use white chenille pipe cleaner pieces to create skinny arms and legs for the bunny. Although the pipe cleaner legs wont hold weight they still look cute glued onto the bunny and resting in the grass. The skinny pipe cleaner arms can be made to come around to the front of the bunny and hold a name card rather than writing the name on the bunny. Make the silly ping pong ball Easter bunnies for your childrens baskets, too. The name on the bunny belly will instantly tell your children which basket is theirs. Its a fun craft thats inexpensive and very unique. Get the kids in on the fun and let them help - theyll have the time of their lives!

Easy Log Scalloping for Your Garden, Walkways and More

Most people haul fallen limbs to the curb for trash pick up or they burn the wood themselves. If you have a chainsaw, though, you might be missing out on great edging for places around your lawn. Even if you only have a handsaw you can still create free yet fabulous borders using fallen limbs. Whether youve weathered a rough storm and have tree limbs down in your yard, or youve just trimmed some trees on your property, you can make some fabulous designs for your garden, walkways and more. The tree limbs can be cut into circles that will look great as an edging for various places in your yard.

The perfect tree limb would be about 5" in diameter. Although you can use wider or narrower limbs, according to what you have, the tree limb circles can be cut and used to decorate your lawn. Cut the limbs in circular chunks which are approximately three to four inches wide. Avoid places where the wood branches off into another limb. The wood circles are perfect for outlining sidewalks and gardens.

Theres no need to remove the bark from the wooden circles. Dig a small trench around a garden and place the circles of wood around it. Start by pushing the first circle into the trench. The wood should stand on its side with the bark going down into the dirt. Butt the next circle up against the first, side by side, then add the next circle. The circles should be buried about half way up. These wooden circles give a scalloped look to many areas of the yard. The circles dont all have to be the exact size but should be relatively similar in size and shape. Log circles that are slightly larger than the others can simply be buried slightly deeper. Use the wood circles around a large tree. Place the circles a few feet from the tree and go all the way around the tree with the circles. Now fill in the area between the wood circles and the tree with rocks or mulch. Use the wood pieces to create scallops around the perimeter of the yard, around bushes, or even around lawn ornaments. The type of tree from which the limb came is not important. If youre using pine, though, be careful of the sap which will run out while youre cutting or handling the wood. The sap can ruin clothing and is difficult to get off of the skin. As the wood dries out, though, the sap will no longer be a problem. Its a good idea to spray the logs, after placing them around your yard, with a good bug spray. Choose a spray that will take care of most outdoor and garden variety bugs. If the wood has been sitting around awhile you may also want to use a termite spray on them. There are other things you can make from fallen tree limbs. Wide limbs can be cut into sections that can become outdoor tables. Cut the logs so that theyll sit straight and position them beside various pieces of outdoor furniture. The logs serve as a sort of end table where guests can set drinks and such. Slightly smaller logs can be gathered into a cluster, strapped together with an ordinary belt, and used as an indoor table. The conversation piece is easy to make. Three or four log sections work great for creating this table. Butt them close together and use a large belt or two to strap the logs together. Make it a squat set and you have a foot stool. Cut them a little longer, strap them together, and you have an indoor table. Place a piece of glass or wood on the logs if you want a smooth top surface. If you have fallen limbs in your yard dont take them to the landfill or burn them. Use them to make some really cool things for your house and yard. Its a great way to recycle the limbs and youll be amazed at how much the logs can improve the look of your house.

Paper Funnel Tepee

If you love Native American artwork, but the prices are more than your budget will allow, make your own! You dont have to be Native American, and you certainly dont have to be an artist, to have beautiful Indian decor pieces. One item thats very easy to create is a tepee. When the project is finished you wont believe you made it yourself! You need not worry about investing a lot of money, either, because the tepee is inexpensive to make.

Have you ever seen those paper funnels that are meant to help you add oil and other fluids to your car? Gas stations across America give them away free. You can also purchase them - or get them free - at most auto part stores. One cone is all you need to make a tepee, but youll love the craft so much, youll need several of the funnels to satisfy your appetite for making tepees! There is no specific size funnel thats critical to the design of the tepee. Use an ordinary funnel size, or if you want a tiny tepee, cut part of the funnel opening away. That will create a shorter funnel which can be used to make a smaller tepee. No matter what size tepee you start with paint the inside a dark color, like black, brown or gray.

After the funnel has dried youll add the leather to the outside. Many craft stores carry pieces of leather which are ideal for the tepee project. The leather pieces come in several colors and generally costs a couple of bucks. They are usually sold in a rectangular piece that is large enough to do one tepee. You can also check with a local upholsterer to see if they have scraps they would give you. Wrap the leather piece around the funnel using spray adhesive to secure it. Other glues can be used but you want an adhesive which will dry quickly so that the leather piece doesnt slide down the cone. Make sure to trim across the small opening of the funnel so that there is still a small opening in the leather as well as the funnel. That area will become the top of the tepee and the large opening of the cone will become the bottom. Use a folded piece of paper - or a different pattern - to draw a triangle on the front of the tepee. Where you draw the triangle will become the front of the tepee. Make sure the wide bottom of the triangle reaches the very bottom of the tepee. The paper funnels have a ridge around the large opening and the ridge should not be cut. Position the craft knife or scissors just above the ridge and cut out the triangular shape. Use a long strand of rawhide, a piece of twine, or something similar to glue around the bottom of the tepee. This will create dimension and will cover the raw edge of the cone and leather. Hot glue works well to hold the strip in place. Cut twigs - or even a wooden skewer- to make three sticks that will protrude from the top. A dab of hot glue on the end of each stick will serve to attach the sticks to the top opening. Space the sticks evenly apart and make them cris-cross rather than stick straight up. Even a piece of tape can be used, by reaching up through the bottom of the tepee, to hold each stick in place. There are all sorts of ways to decorate your tepee. Purchase miniatures and place them inside the tepee or just display it as-is. Use rubber stamps, stencils and paint, or even markers, to create images of deer, trees, bears or other designs. The tepee doesnt necessarily have to have a bottom but you can create one by cutting a circle of cardboard. Paint it the same color as the inside of the tepee. Glue or tape the circle over the bottom of the tepee and set it on a shelf or mantle to display. You - and everyone you know - will love the little tepee youve created yourself!

Car Sticker Memorial for Lost Loved Ones

Whether youve lost a child, a parent or a mate its a sad, sad thing. Dealing with the grief of a lost loved one is a tremendous pain that can stay with you for life. People deal with grief in various ways. Some prefer never to talk about the person since it can be very upsetting. Others prefer to talk about the lost loved one as often as possible. Whether you prefer to deal with grief in silence, or by talking about it, some people find comfort by creating a memorial.

A memorial doesnt have to be a big, flashy affair. A simple memorial can be created by using mere stickers. Select stickers, meant for using on the inside of windows, to create your own vehicle memorial for your lost loved one. The finished memorial doesnt have to be fancy or huge. Make it as simplistic or as involved as you wish. Keep in mind that the memorial should not be so involved that it takes up the entire window. Also, the stickers should be placed in a position to where they dont block the drivers view.

Writing something like "In loving memory of our son _____" is one way to let others know you are grieving. The interior stickers are made to where they can be placed against the glass inside the rear window. The letters will then be in the proper position for others to read. When you use these particular stickers you dont have to worry about the weather damaging them. The memorial can say anything you want it to say. You can simply list the name of your mom and dad, and their birth dates along with dates of death, on the back window with stickers. Or you can spell out a phrase with the stickers that lets others know you lost a baby. You create the memorial by what you really want to say. Although you can use ordinary stickers, and make the memorial on the outside of the window, eventually the stickers will peel and fade. They can be removed, though, and a new set placed on the window. Apply cooking oil to stubborn stickers, allow to sit for awhile, then use a straight edge to scrape away the sticker. You can also purchase products that will allow you to easily soak and remove the old stickers. The stickers you use dont have to just tell a tale. State what you want to with the stickers then embellish it with stickers of lilies, rainbows or even a cross. Youll find these types of stickers at any craft store or you can print your own out on your home computer. Youll find the adhesive paper you need to print your own stickers at stores that sell printer supplies. Choose to make your memorial colorful or demure. Use all gold lettering or simplistic white lettering. The colors and patterns, as well as the phrases and such, are all your own. You decide what you want the finished memorial to look like. Although the memorials are perfect for expressing your grief over a lost loved one you can also use the stickers to announce the passing of your dog. There are no rules when it comes to making the memorial you really want. If you purchase ordinary stickers that will go on the inside of the glass there are many ways to embellish them. Use metallic tape to create pin stripes for the lettering or use rubber stamping to make a different design. Use strips of the sticker paper to make underlines for some words or just make a simple statement with no embellishments. The loss of a loved one is a devastating thing but you can help relieve some of the pain with a memorial. Knowing that others are sharing your loss with you can be quite a comfort. Design the memorial you want, purchase your choice of stickers and embellishments, then quickly create the back window memorial. Others will notice and share your grief.

Auction Tips for Abandoned Storage Buildings

It has become such a big business to purchase storage buildings which others abandon that more than one popular television show has been dedicated to the subject. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch the auctions which decide who will acquire the abandoned rooms. If you know what youre doing, and if you get lucky, you can walk away with thousands of dollars - or more - simply because you were the highest bidder at the auction. If you dont know what youre doing, though, you can really get stuck! Bid too high and you can sink a lot of money into someone elses junk. If youre interested in getting into the business of buying storage buildings, and selling the contents for cash, here are a few tips: Generally, there are quite a few people who show up to bid on abandoned storage rooms. With so many people bidding, a person can get caught up in the excitement, and bid way too high. Dont resign yourself to winning no matter what; be smart and you wont get stuck with a truck full of trash! At a storage building auction the bidders are not allowed to touch any of the items in the room. The door to the room is opened and the auctioneer will usually give the crowd a couple of minutes to look inside. You are not allowed to enter the room so what you see is what you get. However, there could be hidden treasures in boxes, bags and buried underneath the piles of other things. Its a guessing game! One thing you can look for, as the door to the room is opened, is old furniture. Even if the furniture looks beat-up dont turn away just yet. People who store old things often have more old things. As we all know many old things are worth a lot of money. A room that features several old things which are visible could very well contain boxes full of collectibles. However, just because something is old doesnt mean its worth a lot of money. It can be helpful to have some general knowledge about the difference between worthless old things and antiques worth money.

Guessing games can leave you with a building of junk for which you paid big money. Never "guess" that there are valuables. Bid only on what you can actually see inside the room. So, if you take a quick look, you see things that might bring you a couple of hundred bucks once theyre sold, make your top bid a couple hundred bucks.

Another thing to look for when viewing a room is luxury items. For example, if you see a boat motor in the room that hints that the previous owner of the room likely had, once upon a time, some disposable cash. People with disposable cash often keep high-dollar items in a storage building. If you see a building full of trash bags you might want to think twice about purchasing that room. Trash bags often are filled with clothing, pillows, linens and similar things. Not to say that these things have no value at all but youll have a hard time making your money back if you end up with nothing but someones old clothing and bedding. If youre the highest bidder on a storage room you should know that you usually have only 24 hours to clean out the room. No matter what treasures - or trash - are inside its up to you to completely remove everything. If you plan to rent a truck keep the fee for that rental in mind when deciding how much you should spend on the room. Also, have someone along with you that can help you load and unload the items. Buying storage rooms is fun, and can sometimes produce a rewarding find, but it can also leave you broke and owning a lot of junk. Youll learn as you go along, but with this guide, you can get a head start on the other newbies who will be attending the auction, too!

Box Lid Christmas Crafts

Why spend big bucks on beautiful Christmas decor when you can make something just as lovely for next to nothing? Even if youve never crafted anything in your life you can easily make fabulous Christmas items from cardboard box lids. You dont need to spend a fortune to decorate the lids, but when youre done, youll be proud to display the finished projects.

If you often order or purchase a particular product, and it comes in a small box with a lid, youre well on your way to creating wonderful Christmas words you can display in various areas of the home. Use the small box lids to spell out certain things then hang the box lid banners anywhere.

Spell out "Merry Christmas" on box lids and hang the phrase on your mantle. Spray paint the lids gold or silver then use a single sticker for each box lid. The collected stickers spell out the word or phrase you wish. With one letter on each box lid youll want to use very small box lids or the phrase could be way too long for the mantle. Use ribbon to hang each box lid. Tie ribbon into a bow and allow the ribbon ends to hang long. Since the letter sticker will be placed on the flat side of the box lid youll glue the ribbon ends to the opposite side. Its very important that each ribbon be exact in length or some of your letters will hang longer than others. Of course, you can hang each box lid letter on a different size ribbon to create a different look where you purposely dangle them at different lengths. You dont necessarily have to use stickers to create the box lid Christmas displays. Cut letters from felt, foil or decorative paper. Create layers by painting the box lid, gluing on a piece of fabric which is slightly smaller than the lid, then adding a piece of lace. After creating the letters you can then attach the letter to each lid. There are many different ways to create the box lid letters. Instead of painting them you can cover them in Christmas cloth with a wide velvet ribbon surrounding the sides of the lids. Or, cover the lids with glue, sprinkle on glitter, then use tube paints to write each letter on each lid. Instead of placing the layers and letters on the flat side of the box lid you can create a different look by placing them on the sunken side of the lid. The sides of the lid create a frame, of sorts, for each letter. Paint or otherwise decorate the lid to suit your self. The box lid letters dont necessarily have to spell out Christmas phrases. Give a set of the lids to a young girl for her room. The lids can spell out her name, a favorite character, or a greeting. There is no limit to the various things you can create using the letter lids. Spell out "Welcome", glue the lids side-by-side, then hang the phrase on the front door. The lids can be decorated for Christmas or any day. Glue on a ribbon that will act as the hanger for the set of glued lids. The lids can be created for holidays, graduations, and other special days. Since theyre so inexpensive to make you can create an entire collection you can use throughout the year. You can embellish the creations by gluing little miniatures on top of the lids. Craft stores are full of tiny ceramic pieces, plastic novelties, and even mini ornaments. These little embellishments look great when glued on top of the letter lids. Other embellishment choices include bells, tassels, wooden shapes, fake jewels, sequin or even buttons. The lids you choose for this project should be sturdy and should all be the same size. Start collecting the lids now and youll soon have enough to create several different Christmas projects. The box lid ideas are cheap, easy and impressive!

How to Make a Bell Wreath Ornament

Jingle bells can be made into fabulous ornaments like angels, snowmen or even penguins. Packs of bells are sold at any craft store and now come in various sizes and colors. Choose one or more colors of bells to make a cute little wreath ornament that youll treasure for years to come. Some jingle bells are sold in packs that contain several colors and others are sold in bags of specific colors. Choose gold and red, silver and green, or your own combination of colors for the wreath.

Its very easy to make the jingle bell wreath ornament by starting with a pipe cleaner. The gold or silver metallic pipe cleaners are perfect for this craft. Chenille pipe cleaners are a little bulkier than the metallic making them slightly more difficult to work with. The pipe cleaners are sold in craft departments and come in a pack of 12 or more.

Cut a 12" pipe cleaner in half. Bend the stick to form a circle. Use small bells to create the wreath itself. Begin threading the bells onto the pipe cleaner. As you do that alternate the colors youve chosen. Slide one bell onto the pipe cleaner, then slide on another, turning the bell so that it is facing the opposite direction as the first bell. Continue adding bells, turning each to face opposite of the previous, until the entire pipe cleaner is covered in bells. Fold a piece of stretch cord in half and glue the ends of the cord to the ends of the pipe cleaner. Use hot glue to glue the two ends of the pipe cleaner together. Your bell wreath is almost complete. Make a bow from a piece of ribbon or purchase a pack of tiny bows at a craft store. Glue the bow on to the top or bottom section of the wreath. There are no limits to the different patterns you can make for the wreaths. Make one pattern by alternating two colors, or create a totally different look by placing two of the same color, and then one of a different color, onto the pipe cleaner. You can add three of the same color then two of another color, or any number of other combinations. Each bell wreath will have a look all its own. There are even other ways to embellish the small bell wreath ornaments. Use a long piece of ribbon, that matches your wreaths bow, to make the hanger. That hanger will replace the stretch cord hanger mentioned above. You can also purchase a small miniature novelty to set inside the wreath. Simply glue it in place at the bottom of the wreath. Some people prefer the bow of a wreath to hang from the bottom while others prefer it to be affixed to the top part of the wreath. This choice is up to you but each method gives the wreath a different look. Make all the bell wreaths the same, but use different colored bows, to create even more designs. You can make a larger version of the bell wreath, to hang on a door or elsewhere, but dont try using the metallic pipe cleaners for larger wreaths. The pipe cleaners are too flimsy to hold the weight of many large bells. Use craft wire which is much sturdier. Bend the wire into a circle and add large bells until youve formed the wreath. Use wide ribbon to create the bow for the top or bottom of the wreath. Jingle bells arent too expensive especially if youre purchasing packs of small ones for making ornaments. Larger bells are slightly more expensive and have less in each pack. Check dollar theme stores which usually carry a variety of the bells. Kids will have fun making these easy ornaments which they can pass out to teachers, friends and even grandparents. The bell wreath ornaments are cheap, easy to create and loads of fun. Once theyre hung on your tree youll be amazed at how impressive the little wreaths really are.

Interchangeable Lighted Stand Made from Window Shutters

If youve recently changed the shutters on your house, or gotten rid of them entirely, you might not want to throw them out. Instead, make a lighted stand that is not only handy, but gorgeous as well. The stand is easy enough for anyone to create and is suitable for most any room of the house. And when you add one additional step to the stand it becomes easy to change the look of it any time you want.

You dont have to be a handyman to create the shutter stands. Nail or screw one shutter to the next one forming a ninety degree angle. Nail on another and another shutter until four of them form a very tall square. Use a piece of wood as a stand and nail the shutters to it. This will form the base of the stand.

Any number of things can be used to create the top of the stand. An old game board with the fold supported, a square of wood, or even an old cutting board. Nail, screw or glue the top youve chosen to the stand. If you decide to use a glass top check hardware or home improvement stores for the proper adhesive. If the glass is very lightweight you can use many glue dots, or several glue strips, to hold the glass in place. Clear glass is difficult to see so consider using metallic tape - which dispenses like Scotch tape - to decorate the corners or create another pattern. This will help others see the glass easily and prevent accidents. Easily make the shutter stand a lighted one by adding Christmas lights to the inside. Before putting the top and bottom on the shutters notch one shutter, in the center, at the bottom. Use Christmas lights, in any color, to illuminate the stand. Tape or staples can be used to affix the lights to the inside of the stand. Taping them to the inside of the shutters themselves makes the stand really glow. Small lights, like many people put on Christmas trees, will give the stand a soft glow whereas large lights, generally used for outdoor Christmas lighting, will create brighter lighting. The shutter stand can have an entirely different look any time you want when you take advantage of button magnets. Glue a button magnet to each shutter and affix anything metallic. Or, use a second button magnet to attach anything to the shutters - metallic or not. Simply glue the second magnet onto any wooden shape, ceramic piece, or other novelty. You dont necessarily have to add a button magnet to each side of the stand. Place one button magnet on the front of the stand and leave it at that. Or, put no ornaments on the shutters themselves, but glue the magnet on the solid wood piece at the bottom or top of each shutter. There are many different patterns you can create this way. Any time you want you can simply remove the ornamentation from the shutter(s) and replace it with a new one. That way, you can have a different look for each holiday, special occasion or just ordinary days. Craft stores are full of all sorts of small things that will make great magnets for your shutter stand. Use shapes, letters or numbers made of wood and paint them yourself. Or, purchase the type that is already painted. Hardware stores also sell items that will enhance the look of the stand. Drawer pulls, knobs, flat metal pieces and similar items are all great for giving your stand that one-of-a-kind look. The stands can be used indoors as end tables, game tables or even plant stands. Theyre suitable for just about any room. Use them to light a dim hallway at night or use them out on the front porch. Theyre easy to make, inexpensive and very versatile. The stands make great gifts, and once your family and friends see them, you can bet theyll add them to any future wish lists!

Beautiful Candy Trees for Easter

Not all food sculptures are edible and not all food sculptures are sculptures! For instance, when you use Styrofoam shapes to create Easter egg trees, they might not be edible, but they sure are beautiful! The trees can be made for other occasions, too, simply by changing the colors of candies you attach. For the Easter tree youll need Jordan almonds, which are available in pastel colors, like pink, blue, green and yellow. The almonds give an Easter theme to cone or ball-shaped Styrofoam pieces.

Although you can make the candy Easter egg tree most any size or shape you wish a six inch Styrofoam cone makes a small tree for a shelf, table or mantle. Purchase a four inch plastic or terra cotta pot for the cone tree. Paint the pot a pastel color for an Easter theme. Now paint the cone a pastel color of yellow, pink, blue or green. Make sure the paint you use is suitable for Styrofoam by checking the label or asking an assistant at the store.

Start at the top of the cone and glue one Jordan almond on it. The almond should stand upright on the very top of the cone. Hot glue works great for this craft but you can also use other adhesives that are suitable for Styrofoam. Begin gluing on more and more Jordan almonds, turning them this way and that, so that the almonds face many different directions. Position the almonds as close together as possible while working your way around and down the cone. When the cone is completely covered tie a satin ribbon around the top edge of the pot. Make an edible version by first covering the cone completely in frosting. Press the Jordan almonds into the icing, pushing them close together, and completely covering the cone. Allow to air dry for several hours but place a piece of plastic cling wrap over it to protect it. Kids and adults alike will enjoy pulling off the almonds and eating them. Create a large version and the Easter tree makes a fabulous table centerpiece. You can make the candy trees for other occasions besides Easter. Choose candies of certain colors or shapes to create trees for Valentines day, Independence Day, Christmas and more. Make trees of any color for anniversaries, birthdays and other occasions. Some candies that work well include M&Ms, Gummis, Jelly Bellys, red hots and lemon drops. Make a completely different kind of tree by using Styrofoam balls instead of a cone. Glue a half-ball into the bottom of the four inch pot. Use a six inch dowel to hold a whole Styrofoam ball. The dowel should be a mere quarter-inch in diameter and the whole ball should be a three inch one. Paint the dowel a pastel color, if making an Easter tree. You dont have to get out messy paints; just use a magic marker. Push the dowel into the Styrofoam wedge in the pot. Now slide the three inch ball onto the dowel. A dab of glue will hold it on the dowel to accommodate the weight of the candies. Glue the candies around the top of the pot ball so that the Styrofoam in the pot does not show and is completely covered in candies. Now glue the candies to the ball itself, covering it completely. After the ball is completely covered tie a satin ribbon onto the dowel, just below the ball. Use a longer dowel, and a second Styrofoam ball, to create a topiary-type candy tree. The trees are so beautiful, and so easy to make, youll enjoy creating one for every holiday and occasion. Make large ones, tiny ones, holiday ones and even birthday ones. Your kids will love helping with the candy trees but they might eat all the trees decor if you dont watch out! Spend an hour with your kids and make several different types of trees to display for Easter - or anytime!

Gift Box Photo Display

This time of year youll find all sorts of gift boxes for giving Christmas presents. But, it doesnt have to be Christmas to find gift boxes at department stores. The type of box that has a clear, plastic lid is perfect for creating a unique shadow box-type photo display that is unique and fun to create.

A medium to large box is a good choice for making your picture display for a wall in your home. Youll also need a photo mat which you can purchase at stores that sell picture frames or at craft stores. The mats are available in different colors and types. Youll need to select one that will fit comfortably inside the bottom of the gift box.

Available mats can include cutouts in circular or oval shapes, squares or rectangles. The mat can also contain a combination of any of the above-mentioned shapes. Ordinary photos can fit right inside the openings or can be trimmed to fit. With some mats you can actually tape the full-size pictures behind the cutouts. Some mats feature a cutout for only one large picture but you want to select a mat that will allow you to display several photos at once. Choose the selection of photos you want to use for your shadow box display. Center each picture in each opening of the mat. It may be necessary to trim some pictures down to size but others can be taped, overlapping each other. Check the finished mat to make sure corners of photos arent showing in the openings of other photos. Tape the mat into the bottom of the box. Roll the pieces of tape, and place them on the back of the mat, then press the mat down into the bottom of the box. Now tape the clear, plastic lid in place. Poke a hole in the back of the box to hang. There are lots of things you can do to enhance the look of the finished shadow box. In the scrapbook supply section of a craft store youll find peel-and-stick borders, letters, numbers, and other images. Use the stickers to write names next to the photos, or to create a different theme. If the photos are of a recent vacation, for example, you can place tiny palm tree stickers on the mat or just use stick-on strips to create a border around the entire mat. To keep the finished shadow box from looking like a box with a lid consider wrapping the sides of the box with a wide ribbon. The ribbon can coordinate with the photos inside the mat. For example, if youre creating a Christmas theme in the box you can use red velvet ribbon around the sides of the lidded box. Improve the look of the ordinary plastic cover by using stick-on perimeters, scrapbook corner decorations, or even wording. Use paint markers to write "Our Vacation", "The Grandkids", or even "Christmas 2008". The design is all your own. Take advantage of other craft supplies such as fake jewels, corner stickers, sticker snowflakes and similar items to decorate the clear lid. Gold edging, lace pieces and fabric cutouts can change the entire look of the shadow box photo display. Consider the photo box as a gift for someone this year. Capture a childs growth, from birth until now, then present it to a parent or grandparent. Or, feature Grandpas picture in the center, surrounded by pictures of his favorite fishing hole, his favorite golf course, his favorite restaurant and similar pictures. There are no limits to the various themes you can create. Generally, a person can wrap up quite a lot of money purchasing deep frames, mats and enhancements, but when you start with a cardboard box, you can create memory boxes that are inexpensive but will last a lifetime. Save your gift boxes after Christmas this year and youll be able to make plenty photo keepsake projects.

Unique Shelf You Make from Rulers

Plastic or wooden rulers are helpful to school kids but did you know you can also use them to build shelves? The shelves are so easy to create that even children can make them. When finished, they can be hung on any wall, and can hold stuffed animals, books, statuettes and much more. Paint the rulers or display them in their original condition.

To start the project form a square from four rulers. The ends of the rulers should overlap each other and be glued into place. Hot glue works fine for this project. Next youll need something that you can use for spacers. The spacers will hold each square of rulers up from the previous square.

Spacers can be anything from blocks of wood to bottle caps. Other choices include large, flat beads, pillars of cardboard circles glued together, miniature thread spools or even small spice jar lids. The spacers can be painted or otherwise decorated. Place one spacer on each corner of the square youve created with the rulers. Create another square out of the rulers, overlapping their ends, and gluing them in place. Glue this second square onto the spacers. Add the next set of spacers to the four corners of the second square. Continue adding the squares made from rulers. The amount of squares that looks perfect may vary depending upon the size of spacer you use. Narrow spacers allow you to add many more squares than wide spacers. Use six-inch rulers to make matching wall shelves. Glue the smaller rulers into square shapes, glue the spacers between each square, then hang along with the larger version. Create different looks by turning the smaller shelves in a diamond shape, or by turning all sizes in a diamond shape. Hang one large square on the wall, then a set of three smaller ones, in a vertical manner beside the large one. There are many different arrangements you can create with the cute boxes. The spacers mean, when hung on the wall, the shelves do not have a solid bottom. Therefore, the shelves are unsuitable for displaying certain small items. To create shelves that can hold a larger variety of items use spacers all the way around the rulers rather than just on the corners. Hang the handmade shelves in kids rooms to hold games and toys or in a bathroom to hold towels and toiletries. Display plates, framed photos, collectibles and more. Or, take the craft a step further, and make a decor piece youll treasure. Set the shelves in a diamond or square shape. Place Spanish moss, or even raffia, in the bottom. Glue in silk flowers, leaves and vines. Allow the vines to crawl up the sides of the rulers. Glue on tiny bumble bees, butterflies or other embellishments. This craft can be as simplistic or as creative as you want it to be. Craft stores are full of things you can purchase for the sole purpose of displaying in the ruler shelves. A ceramic lighthouse, a large plastic puppy, or even a cardboard tepee will look great in the ruler box. Dont glue any of the display items to the shelves and you can change the look for any occasion. Create a nativity scene, with the rulers painted, for Christmas. Remove it and set an Easter scene with Easter grass and eggs. If the novelties are set on the shelves, rather than permanently affixed, you can easily change the scene in minutes. Instead of squares you can also make a triangular shape with the rulers. Create the triangle shelves in the same manner as you did with the square ones, leaving out one ruler from each layer. If youve collected quite a few identical rulers over the years its high time you get creative with them. Build some of these fabulous shelves for a room or two in your home.

Brown Paper Bag Birthday Party Pinata

Has your child been bugging you because he or she wants a pinata for the upcoming birthday? Would you love to give your child this wish but pinatas are just way too expensive? Dont worry! You and the child will be happy when you make the pinata yourself. The suggested pinata is cheap, easy to make, and will thrill every child at the party.

All you need to start making the pinata is a brown paper bag. The bag can be any size you have but a grocery-size bag will hold quite a lot of candy and small toys. Fill the bag about a third to halfway full of the goodies. Roll the top of the bag down a couple of times then staple or tape in place. The folds will help sturdy the top of the bag so that you can hang it without it tearing.

Poke two holes in the top folded part of the bag. The holes should be about a third of the way from the sides to the center. The pinata will be suspended with rope through these holes. For now, youll continue to create a colorful pinata for the children by using things you may have around the house. Cut fringe from decorative paper, wrapping paper, or even foil. Cut the fringe, tape or glue it together end to end, then glue or tape it around the bottom of the bag. Make another row of fringe and tape or glue it above the first row. Continue making row after row of fringe and attaching it to the brown paper bag until the bag is completely covered. Make each row a different color, make each row the same color, or create a different pattern. Instead of using the decorative papers to make the design on the bag you can also create a bag person. Glue wiggly eyes, a pom-pom nose, and other facial features to the front of the bag. The front would be the side where the fold can be seen at the top of the bag. Now create hair for the bag person by gluing on lengths of yarn. The yarn can hang down and cover the complete backside of the bag. Make a completely design for the pinata by making it into a house. Use stickers, markers or other items to make the brown paper bag into a cottage or house. Construction paper cutouts can become windows, doors and more. Use colorful pieces to create a roof. Glue tiny flowers into paper window boxes made from construction paper. You can even take steps to make the house look like your own. You can use other brown paper bags besides the typical ones. A brown paper bag that holds a tall bottle, like a liquor bottle, can be used to make the pinata, too. Fill the bag halfway with small candy and toys. Fold the top down twice and tape or glue in place. Now glue on strands of yarn, fringed paper or facial features from a craft store. Or, just tear pieces of tissue paper and glue them all over the bag. The various pieces of paper can be used to create a really colorful pinata. After youve finished your brown paper bag pinata use the holes at the top to hang it. Thread a piece of roping through one hole and over to the other. Tie a knot in the ends and hang the pinata on a branch or other object. A couple of good hits with the bat and the candy will spill for sure. Dont have a brown paper bag? Use a plastic grocery bag. Fill it half full of goodies then tie the ends shut. Tape or glue lengths of yarn, pieces of foil, paper fringe or other embellishments. Torn pieces of construction paper work well to make a particular colorful pattern. Store-bought pinatas can cost quite a lot of money, but youll never know, because you can make your own. When the goodies are falling out, and the kids are scrambling to grab them, the wont be aware of how much it costed. Theyll just know theyre having a blast and grabbing lots of goodies!

Fabulous Things You Can Make from a Yardstick

If you have a couple of old yardsticks lying around the house, and you really dont use them anymore, why not create something new and useful for your home? Yardsticks are handy things, but if theyre gathering dust at your house, they can soon be jewelry holders, cup holders and more.

Screw a yardstick to a wall and use to hold coats. Pegs that have a screw on one end can be found at craft stores or home improvement retailers. These pegs can simply be screwed into place, along the length of the yardstick, then used as a coat holder. Something similar can be made to hold cups in the kitchen or jewelry in the bedroom.

Hang a yardstick in a closet and it can have many uses. Hang ties on pegs which have been screwed into the yardstick. Use the holder to hang purses, jewelry, hats, scarves and other closet items. Instead of pegs you can glue on clothes pins and use them to hold scarves and such. Glue button magnets onto the back of a yardstick. Place it vertically on the door of the fridge. Glue small clothes pins onto the yardstick, down the entire length, and use them to hold kids drawings and school work. The clips can help display photos, reminders and more. Make a cloth cover that will slip over an ordinary yardstick. Use the creation to get dust and dirt from under the fridge and other tight spaces. The cover can be removed and thrown into the washer. Make sure you launder the cover once before putting it on the yardstick. This will ensure the duster will remain the same size afer laundering in the future. Use a yardstick to create a shelf for displaying miniatures. Cut twp pieces of ribbon to 9" each. Make a circle out of each ribbon and tack them to a wall. When you form the circle youll then push the tack through the overlapped part of the ribbon. The ribbons should be stretched across the wall so that one ribbon holds each end of the stick. Stand miniatures on the yardstick so others can enjoy them. Make a different type of display for miniatures by using two yardsticks and some flat wooden pieces. Lay one yardstick on a flat surface. Glue flat pieces of wood onto the yardstick. The wooden pieces can be found at any craft store. Glue one end of one wooden piece to the yardstick. Go down a few inches and glue on the next wooden piece. Continue to space the wooden flats along the length of the yardstick. When the glue is dry youll then glue the other yardstick onto the stand. The second yardstick will be glued to the various wooden pieces that are attached to the first yardstick. Hang the finished creation on a wall to display miniatures. The wooden pieces form shelves, between the two yardsticks, to display novelties and minis. Make a cool locker organizer by starting with a yardstick. Glue button magnets onto the back of the yardstick so it will cling to the door or rear of the locker. Place an assortment of pegs, clothes pins and clips to the yardstick. Use them to hold paperwork, photos, gloves, notes and more. When using more than one yardstick on a single project make sure they are the exact same size. If the yardsticks youre using are only printed on one side turn the printed side to the outside so the print can be seen. Turn the side without numbers to the inside, if making shelves, or towards the wall if using to hang items. Yardstick crafts are fun, easy and inexpensive. Yardsticks can become very helpful items for your home and can be used to add interest to a dull wall or other area. The sticks can be painted, if you prefer not to have the measurements visible, or can be further decorated by gluing on any number of crafting embellishments.

Picture Frame Wishing Well

Dont you love the look of an old wishing well out in the yard? Did you know you could make one yourself? Well, maybe not a huge outdoor wishing well, but you could easily make an indoor model that you can display on a shelf, a mantle or even in the kitchen. The wishing wells can be made in various sizes and with various materials. One thing youll definitely need, though, is some picture frames.

The type of picture frames that make a great wishing well would be ones that are unadorned, wooden and flat. Although it doesnt matter what size the frames are they all must be identical in size and style. The frames themselves will be used but not the glass or other parts. Remove any glass, cardboard or paper from each of the frames.

Start stacking the frames and using hot glue - or a different adhesive - to attach them. There is no set number of frames to use, since frames are all so different, so youll decide when youve stacked enough frames to create the wishing well. Obviously, when using large frames, you will need more to get the stack to the size you want it. Smaller frames will require fewer frames. The wishing well doesnt absolutely have to have a bottom, but if you want it to have one, use a piece of cardboard. Glue the cardboard on the underside of the bottom frame. If you have a piece of wood you can use it instead of the cardboard. When the bottom is on, and all the frames have been glued together, its time to make the roof for the wishing well. There are several different ways to make the roof. Thick cardboard, wooden slats or even thick paper will work. Since the picture frames are wooden the slats would work best. The slats can be stapled, nailed or glued. Position them to where they make an "A" frame. Two dowels, one on each side, will serve to hold the roof up over the wishing well. The wooden dowels can be found at any craft store. Instead of the dowels you can use two of the slats, if you have extra. No slats or wooden pieces at your house? Use thick cardboard to make the roof. Scrapbook paper offers many choices for covering the cardboard and making it look more like a roof. You can support the roof with painted pencils, tightly rolled paper, or other objects from around the house. Hot glue works well for most any materials you use. The wishing well can be set out just as it is or you can create a bucket and rope on a dowel. The dowel should stretch between the two roof supports. Glue the twine or roping around the dowel several times. Allow the excess twine to fall down inside the well. Attach a tiny bucket, made from a medicine cup or something similar, to the end of the twine if you want. Large picture frames work fine for making a wishing well that can set on the floor or a large shelf. Smaller frames make wishing wells to set on a mantle, a shelf or even a dresser. The finished well can be painted or left the color of the frames. Other decorative touches can be added to create the wishing well you desire. For example, instead of adding the last dowel, and making a bucket, fill the well with artificial flowers. The well will have the appearance of one thats dried up and is now sprouting plants. Wooden shapes make it easy for you to personalize the wishing well. Paint the shape, and glue it onto the front of the well, to make a monogram. Or, use tiny wooden shapes and glue them all over the well. The final look is completely up to you. The wishing wells look great sitting around your house but they also make great gifts. See if you have any extra picture frames around your house so you can make your own well. Now, what will you wish for?

How to Change Ordinary Decor to Christmas Decor with Posterboard

I love making things that are dirt cheap yet look fabulous. No one ever knows you spent a buck or two for fabulous decor and holiday pieces that youll cherish for a lifetime. Thats exactly what youll do when you use posterboard to create Christmas theme surrounds for plants, candles and other items in your home.

The surrounds are simple posterboard cutouts, but when theyre finished, they add a festive look to most any room. The surrounds are so easy to do that youll want to make many. Since posterboard is very inexpensive, and youll need little else to complete the craft, its a cheap project that allows you to make colorful Christmas accents for your home with ease.

Cut the posterboard in half and lay the pieces end to end. Tape the two ends together to form one long piece. The tape should only be on the backside. The two pieces will form the four sides of your plant or candle surround. This will make an average size surround. Make surrounds smaller or larger by using longer or shorter pieces of posterboard. The surrounds can be gigantic or very little. There are many different ways to create the Christmas theme for the surround. Glue Christmas fabric onto the posterboard, use wrapping paper, or just create a pattern by rubber stamping. The finished design is all your own. Use metallic tape - which dispenses like Scotch tape - to make easy stripes for the surround. There are countless ways to decorate the ordinary posterboard. Although you can make the surrounds squared they look even better if theyre shaped. Draw four Santa face shapes, four circles, or even four stocking shapes, onto the posterboard. The shapes should be side-by-side and simply drawn onto the posterboard. Between each shape cut two tabs, one towards the top and one towards the bottom. The tabs are needed to create the fold at each corner of the surround. Use coloring book images or other sources to create the shapes if youre no artist. Its important tho you make sure that the complete design will fit on the posterboard four times with no extra posterboard left over. Dont forget to allow for the final two tabs at the end. Spend as much time or as little time on this project as you wish. Make a quick and simplistic surround by using markers to color in the images. Involve more time by covering the shapes with cloth, wrapping paper, or craft supplies. When youre finished decorating the entire thing its time to fold it into the actual surround. Fold each set of tabs in half and crease well. The folds must be exact to keep the plant or candle surround from sitting lopsided. When youve made all the folds and creases simply tape the final tabs to the first shape. That will complete the square. The decorative surrounds can be used to give a Christmas theme to plants, candles and other things in your home. Make sure any candle is in a container before surrounding it with the posterboard. Add ambiance to the candle surrounds by poking holes in the finished design. Use a nail to poke holes, randomly or in a pattern, around the design. Outline the images in holes or just make holes in certain locations. The candlelight will shine through and add to the festive look of your holiday decor. Glue on craft supplies, if you wish to embellish, like fake jewels, chenille pipe cleaners, pom-poms, stickers, flat wooden shapes, sequin, glitter, roping, fake fur pieces, and other choices. The project can be as simplistic or as involved as you wish. Youll enjoy the surrounds which can be used in the bathroom to surround a stack of towels, in the kitchen around a plant, or on a mantle around candles.

Beginners Sewing Project: Turning a T-Shirt into a Maternity Top

Maternity tops can be expensive but t-shirts are really cheap. Wouldnt it be cool if they were one in the same? They can be when you take an ordinary t-shirt and turn it into a cute maternitiy top. Even if youre just a beginner at sewing you can easily sew these types of shirts, and with a few assorted embellishments, you can make each one of them look totally different.

Even a long-sleeve t-shirt works well to make an easy maternity top you can sew without trouble. To start, try the shirt on, then mark the area of the shirt just below the bodice - right above the belly area. Lay the shirt on a flat surface and cut straight across this line. Remove the bottom portion of the shirt and use it as a pattern to make the replacement piece.

Although there are many different types of material you could use to make a t-shirt maternity top beginners will likely find it easiest to use t-shirt material. Since you could find it hard to get an exact match to the color of the original its a good idea to choose a different color for the bottom of the shirt. And, when the maternity top is finished youll see that the two-toned shirt is quite adorable. Theres no need to remove the hem from the shirt piece which you removed. Fold the material you want to use in half and lay it on a table. Position one side seam of the t-shirt against the fold of the material. Cut across the material, but instead of staying up against the t-shirt piece as you cut, cut the hem a little longer. If the hem of the t-shirt piece, for instance, has a one-inch hem, then theres another half-inch behind it. Plus, when it comes to maternity tops, some women prefer them to be a little longer than regular shirts. So, keep these things in mind when you decide how much longer to cut the new fabric. Allow enough to fold over a half-inch, hem an inch, and any extra you want for the length of the new shirt. If the t-shirt was initially a little long you might not need to add any extra length. The new shirt will need to be much roomier than the old one so make this happen by cutting the new piece a little wider. As you cut from the fold of the material over to the opposite side seam, continue cutting a little further. Add a few more inches then turn and cut up the side. The new piece should now be a little longer and several inches wider. Its an important step to mark the new and the old pieces. Use chalk or a disappearing ink marker to do this. Mark the side seam, which is the fold, then mark the opposite side seam. Make these marks near the top of the new piece. After marking the side seams, fold the material in half, then mark the front center and back center. Be exact with these markings. On the bodice piece of the old t-shirt, near the bottom edge where it was cut, mark the same things: front and back center as well as the two sides. Hem the new piece by folding it under a half-inch, then an inch, and sewing along the hemline. Now pin the unhemmed area of the new piece to the cut area of the original t-shirt bodice. Align the marks, and in between them, pin the new piece to the old. Since the new piece is larger its necessary to make tiny puckers so that theyll fit together. After pinning the center fronts, center backs, and sides, begin pinning the rest together by making tiny pleats and sticking a pin right in the pleat to hold it. Stitch all the way around the two pieces to finish the top. Make each shirt you redo look different by using bows, buttons, appliques and even paint markers to create various designs and patterns. Youll find these shirts to be really comfortable and super easy to make!

Styrofoam Cone Memorial Bouquet for Headstones

One of the first things a person notices, when entering a cemetery that allows only flat headstones, are the beautiful flowers located in the accompanying vases. Each headstone has a vase that attaches to hold bouquets, Christmas trees and other memorials. The floral bouquets can be very expensive, but you can make them yourself, and theyll be just as beautiful as any youve ever seen.

A Styrofoam cone is exactly what you need to start creating a magnificent bouquet. You dont have to be extremely talented in flower arranging to make it. The six inch size cone will soon become a memorial thats colorful and elegant. Turn the cone upside-down, into a vase or jar, to steady it. This will make it much easier to insert flowers without the cone shifting.

Remember that a portion of the cone will be inserted into the headstone vase. Work with the top couple of inches of the cone, which is actually the bottom of the cone. The cone bottom will give you a flat surface for inserting flowers, vines, flags, mini trees and more. Plastic and silk flowers generally have rigid stems that can be inserted directly into the cone. Limp stems or vines may need strengthening before inserting in the cone. Places which sell floral supplies have spike-type objects which can help. The spike is wrapped around the limp stem and secured with metal tabs. The metal spike then easily slides into the cone. Another way to steady the vines is to glue or tape them to a wooden skewer piece before insertion in the cone. Start by pushing stems from flowers, leaves and vines into the sides of the Styrofoam. Work towards the center of the flat Styrofoam piece. The floral pieces should rest horizontally. After the bottom of the cone is covered in the floral choices youll begin adding pieces in a vertical manner. As you push the flowers into the cone bottom start at the center and insert a main flower into the middle. Surrounding flowers should be somewhat shorter than the main flower. Leaves and vine pieces should be placed amongst the flowers but they should not stand straight up. Only the main flower should be perfectly vertical; other flowers and such should slant out and away from the main center. You dont necessarily have to just work with flowers, leaves and vines. Other choices include small novelty flags, bows on sticks, curled ribbon and various trinkets. Make certain novelties stand up higher by first attaching them to a wooden skewer. You can find plastic spikes which can hold all sorts of novelties at a place that sells floral supplies. After youve created the bouquet youll simply remove it from the vase or jar and take it to the cemetery. Place the cone, with the point down, into the headstone vase. Wedge the cone tightly into the vase and make sure its perfectly upright. For Christmas the Styrofoam cone can help you create a Christmas tree for the vase. Use the cone as the base and insert the mini tree trunk. Tiny packages can be glued around the base to cover the Styrofoam and embellish the tree. Its easy to create the memorial bouquets for many different occasions. Store the additional ones, with the cone facing downward, in jars or vases at home. You can cover them with a plastic bag to protect them from dust until you need them. Shop at craft stores, memorial departments and even dollar-theme stores to find a variety of things you can use to create your memorials. You dont have to spend big bucks to make them. Just purchase several of the small Styrofoam cones and plastic or silk floral items. Youll be able to make a bouquet for each holiday, birthday memorials and more.

Yarn-Covered Easter Characters You Make for Your Child

There are lots of things you can make this year for your childs Easter basket that dont require a lot of money but will bring a big smile to his or her face. One of those things is a cute yarn critter made from a plastic Easter egg. There are many different Easter critters you can make using yarn and some cheap craft supplies.

A glue stick makes this craft very easy to do. Simply fill a plastic egg with candies or a prize then cover the egg with yarn. The type of yarn you use is up to you. Instead of yarn you can even use string or twine. Start at the center of the plastic egg, where the seam is, but start on the back in the hinge area.

Apply the glue stick then position the end of the yarn on the egg. Continue using the glue stick and yarn, working your way towards the top of the egg, until the entire top of the egg is covered. Trim the yarn at the top of the egg. Go back to the hinge area and get ready to cover the second half of the egg with the yarn. Use the glue stick and yarn for the second half of the egg as you did for the first half. Apply the glue, position the yarn, and continue wrapping the yarn round and round the egg. When youve reached the bottom of the egg trim the yarn. Its easier to work the yarn from the center of the egg to each end. This method helps keep the yarn perfectly aligned. Also, this method leaves the split in the egg open so you can fill or empty the egg without interrupting the design. Glue a set of small wiggly eyes onto the front of the egg, on the top half. Cut a two inch piece of yellow or orange chenille pipe cleaner. Fold it in half and glue the point under and between the eyes to form make a beak. Cut two three inch pieces of orange or yellow pipe cleaner to form a foot. Fold one piece into an "L" shape, and where the "L" bends, wrap the second piece of pipe cleaner around the bend. This will form a leg with three toes. Make a tiny bend in the top part of the leg and glue it to the bottom of the egg. Make a second leg and glue it on as well. Instead of creating legs for the egg you can also decorate and glue on a three liter soda lid. The lid will act as a stand for the egg character. Make the characters look different by using different colors of yarn on each one. Use Styrofoam balls instead of plastic eggs to make even more characters. The Styrofoam ball characters cant hold candy but they still look great. The Styrofoam balls also give you choices in craft supplies that you dont have with the plastic eggs. For example, you can use pipe cleaners for legs and stick them into the ball rather than glue them on. Decorative pins can be pushed into the ball to embellish a hat or bonnet on the egg character. Instead of wiggly eyes you can make other characters with tiny black pom-pom eyes. Instead of a beak you can use tiny pom-poms to make a pink nose and white muzzle. Cut felt or foam ears, make felt or foam hats, or just glue feathers or flowers on the head area. A bonnet can be made by using a fabric circle and a small lid. Drape the fabric or felt over the lid and use a rubber band to hold it in place. Glue on a velvet or satin ribbon to cover the rubber band. Glue on tiny flowers, beads and similar items to embellish the bonnet. The yarn egg characters are not hard or expensive to make but they will thrill the recipient. Make assorted characters and fill them with a variety of goodies. The characters dont necessarily have to be placed in a childs Easter basket. Hand them out to friends and family during the holiday. Theyll get a kick out of them and youll enjoy the excitement your little characters create!

Building Block Candle Holders You Make in a Minute

Do you remember the old fashioned building blocks with carved and painted letters? The blocks were popular for years before becoming just a memory after the invention of much more impressive building sets. The old blocks can still be found at yard sales and flea markets, though, and they make wonderful candle holders that anyone is capable of making. In fact, theyre so easy to make, youll be finished with them in just a minute! Select two blocks for each set of candle holders. The blocks should have identical letters to create a set of unique monogrammed candle holders. You can use two different letters to spell a two-letter name or represent a persons initials. After selecting the blocks youll be ready to turn them into candle holders.

All of us know what a clay pot is but many people dont know you can purchase the pots in a miniature type. The minis arent really made of clay, though, so theyre much lighter in weight. The small pots are sold in a pack of several at any craft store. The pots you select should be just the right size to hold tall, tapered candles tightly.

Set the block upright on a flat surface and glue one pot to the top of the block. The bottom of the pot should be glued to the top of the block, in the center. When youve done that the candle holder is made! Although you can spend more time on the project, and decorate or embellish the candle holder, you could stop where you are and use the candle holders like they are. If you want to embellish the creation there are many ways. Paint the pot before gluing it on top of the block. Or, use rubber stamps to make a pattern on the tiny pot. You can even use stickers, markers or glitter glue to embellish it. There are hundreds of designs you can do in a matter of minutes. There are many variations to the original block candle holder project. If you dont have the aforementioned childrens blocks you can use a plain block of wood. Use stickers, stamping or other techniques to embellish the block. Leave it all-natural, paint it or even make a wood-burn design on it. Glue a fake jewel to the center of each side of the block or use buttons instead of jewels. There are endless ways to make the perfect candle holders to fit your style. The building block can be the base for the clay pot candle holder or you can make a different base. Gluing something on the bottom of the block, like a smaller block, creates a completely different look. Some choices for making a different base include another miniature pot, a square bead or even a small novelty skateboard! You create the look you want by selecting unique items to use for the project. If the block itself is the base there are other things you can glue on before adding the clay pot. Set a smaller block on top of the first block, and an even smaller one on top of that. Or, mount a cylindrical wooden piece on top of the block before gluing the pot on top of the cylinder. This technique makes the candle holders much taller and more distinct. Create unique designs by painting the clay pot, and the base youve selected, different colors. Make polka dots, stripes, geometrical shapes and other patterns on the pot and the base. Each candle holder set will be different from the next because there are literally thousands of different designs you can create. The candle holders are easy enough for children to create and fun enough for adults to enjoy. Theyre great to give away as gifts or to use on a table during the a special occasion. Teachers, mothers and grandmothers alike would love the candle holders. Theyre inexpensive to make and always look great!

Lace Inset for Scoop-Neck Shirts

What woman doesnt own a scoop-neck shirt or two? Do you have one that scoops a little too low? Maybe you own one that you wish looked different? Whether its an ill-fitting shirt, or just time to change an old favorite, you can easily do so with a piece of lace. Choose lace that closely matches the color of the shirt or select a coordinating color. All you need is a small piece of the lace and a sewing machine.

Find something that you can use for a pattern for the lace inset. A half-circle is all youll need but it may be easier for you to cut the whole circle at first. Later, you can split the circle in half. Its much easier to find a circular pattern shape around the house than a half-circle. Use a large bowl, a pizza cardboard or another circle shape. The diameter of the circle must be long enough to reach from one side of the scoop neck to the other.

Cut the circle shape from the lace. Fold the circle in half and cut. Half a circle will become the new lace inset. Hem the cut side of the circle and trim away the excess thread. Position the half-circle behind the scoop neck of the shirt. Use straight pins to hold the lace piece in place. The edges of the lace, from one side of the hem to the other, should be placed about an inch behind the hem of the scoop neck. Begin sewing the lace piece in by starting at the shoulder seam. Stitch down until you arrive at the lace edge and continue stitching around the scoop neck and up to the other shoulder seam. As you sew down from the first shoulder seam position the new stitches to run along beside the original stitches of the scoop neck. This will create a double stitch around the neckline. If you dont want a double stitch theres a different technique you can use. Remove the stitching from the neckline and pin the lace in place. You will be able to see needle holes where the thread used to be. Follow the needle holes to create the new stitch line. This method will stitch the lace in place while re-stitching the original neckline hem. The lace inset looks great with most any type of scoop-neck shirt but you can also use other fabrics as the inset. Cut a circle from an old tank top, an insulated top or a different type of fabric. No matter what type of fabric you use youll need to launder it before stitching it in place if the cloth is new. If you dont the new fabric can shrink and cause puckering around the neckline. If the shirt youre changing is a stretchy type its a good idea to use fabric that also stretches. If the shirt you are adding the inset to does not stretch you have the option of using stretchy material or non-stretch fabric or lace. If you have trouble choosing just the right fabric take the shirt with you and ask an assistant for help. Make sure the cloth you choose as the inset is equal to or lighter in weight than the shirt fabric. Using heavy material can cause puckering or drooping around the neckline. If you cut a shirt you already own to make the inset be sure any hems and other stitching has been removed. The lace inset technique works for other neckline shapes, too. If you have a "V" neck shirt that is a little low for comfort just create a triangular shaped inset. For square neck shirts cut a rectangular piece of fabric or lace as an inset. The method not only works for shirts but dresses as well. Whether youd just like a new wardrobe piece, or you have a shirt that drapes a little too low in front, you can easily change it in a few minutes. Its very easy to position and sew in lace or cloth insets. After youre finished the shirt or dress will seem like an entirely new garment.

Cheap and Easy Ice Cream Cake in Minutes

Ever checked out the prices at an ice cream store for one of their frozen ice cream cakes? Wow! Better stop by the bank first! Its going to cost you plenty! Even though theyre delicious, theyre simply not worth the extravagant price tag, since you can easily make something comparable for a fraction of the cost.

You wont have to invest a lot of money to make your ice cream cake. Simply purchase 20 ice cream sandwiches, a tub of whipped cream, and some chocolate or hot fudge sauce. With these items you have the makings of a fabulous ice cream cake that all your guests will love.

Arrange ten of the ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of a 9x13" baking pan. Its okay to break or cut the sandwiches in half to make them fit. When the entire bottom is lined with the ice cream sandwiches its time to add the chocolate sauce. Heat the hot fudge sauce, according to jar instructions, for a few seconds. Thirty seconds is usually enough time in most microwaves. You dont want to overheat the sauce; just heat it until it will easily pour out of the jar. Spread the sauce all over the ice cream sandwiches. Dont worry if there is some melting of the ice cream. Use half of the jar and save the rest for the second layer. Add half a tub of whipped cream on top of the chocolate sauce. Spread it around evenly. Now repeat the process by adding another layer of the ice cream sandwiches, the other half jar of chocolate sauce, and the remainder of the whipped topping. Its necessary to freeze the ice cream cake for at least three hours before serving. However, if covered, the ice cream cake will remain fresh for several weeks in the freezer. Feel free to make the cake days or weeks before its actually needed. As a matter of fact, since the ice cream cakes are so cheap and easy, keep one in the freezer for an unexpected occasion or gift. There are variations you can create for the ice cream cake. Using strawberry frosting, instead of whipped cream, adding colored sprinkles, or even writing on the whipped topping with tubes of ordinary cake frosting, are all ways you can change the look - and taste - of the ice cream cake. Want something even more elaborate? Add real cake to the ice cream cake. Just bake a regular cake in a 9x13" cake pan. After it has cooled cut it in half to create two 9x13" cakes. To do this, take the cake from the pan and place on a flat surface. Start at one of the short sides of the cake and slice through to the other short side, taking the entire top off the cake. Now the top is one cake and the bottom is a separate cake. Place the ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of the cake pan as you would with the original arrangement. Set one cake on the sandwiches and pour the melted chocolate sauce over it. Using the cakes with the ice cream sandwiches requires more chocolate sauce than the original arrangement. For this arrangement youll need two whole jars of sauce - one for each layer. After youve added the chocolate sauce to the cake, smooth whipped cream over the entire thing. Now create the second layer by placing ten more ice cream sandwiches, on top of the whipped cream, then the cake, sauce and whipped cream again. If you want you can save a little of the chocolate sauce to drizzle over the top layer of whipped cream. Or, you can tear up pieces of brownies to sprinkle over the cake. You can even sprinkle chocolate morsels on top. There are many different ways to make the cake look different than the time before. Thats good to know, because after your friends and family try the ice cream cake, theyll be asking you to make another, and another...

Use Angora to Keep Loose Rings on Fingers

Whether youve recently lost weight, or your fingers just seem to be shrinking, rings that dont fit right are a real problem. Not only is it irritating to have your rings swirling round and round on your fingers all day, but should one slip off unawares, you could lose a cherished treasure. The loss of one ring can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars, and often, the ring is never found.

Prevent the loss of your valuable rings by having them resized. Jewelers charge little money to remove a small piece of a ring band to make it smaller. This is the only real way to ensure a good fit that will prevent accidental loss. Dont have the money right now? Cant find the time to get to the jewelers? Well, theres something you can do, temporarily, to keep your rings on your fingers. Itll only take a couple of bucks and a couple of minutes to secure your rings for now.

As a temporary fix purchase some angora. Youll find the yarn at most any craft store and at department stores that sell yarn. The angora is available in several different types and various colors. It comes on a skein like ordinary yarn. Angora is a very soft yarn that will work perfectly for tightening your rings. Wrap the angora yarn around the band of your ring. Theres no need to wrap the entire ring; just wrap the underneath part of the ring. The best way to wrap the ring is to start with a long measure of angora, cut from the skein. Start by holding the end in place on the ring band. Pull the angora through the ring, and with the second wrap, trap the end of the angora. Continue wrapping, scooting the next wrap next to the previous one. If you give the entire section of the ring an angora wrap, and the ring is still too large, wrap it again covering the first wrap completely. From time to time, while wrapping the ring, slide it on your finger to check the sizing. When youve gotten to the point where the ring is well-fitted cut the yarn. There are a couple of different ways to secure the end of the yarn. You can use a tiny dot of glue to hold it in place or you can tuck the end into the wrap itself. Use the eye of a needle to push the end of the angora under a couple of strands of the yarn wrap. Trim the end again if necessary. When youre finished wrapping the angora around the ring you should only be able to see it when you turn your palm up. If looking at the ring from the backside of the hand you should be completely unable to spot the angora. Choose angora in a skin tone color and its virtually invisible even when looking at the palm. Youll need to do the angora wrap over and over again until you finally get the rings sized. Everyday wear will cause the angora to become soiled and unsightly. Use a razor blade or scissors to cut the angora away before adding the new wrap. Its a good idea to take the ring off when showering or washing hands simply to preserve the wrap as long as possible. If you dont have any angora you can also use ordinary yarn or even ribbon. Ordinary string or thread can also be used to wrap the ring. Ribbon can be slick, and string or thread can take much longer to wrap than angora. Regular yarn works just like the angora to create the ring wrap. Dont take a chance on losing money and cherished jewelry by continuing to wear your rings very loose. Many people think they would absolutely notice if their ring fell off, but theyd be surprised to know that people lose rings all the time, never knowing it until its too late. Angora is inexpensive and one skein is all youll ever need. Wrap your rings today and consider having them resized real soon.

Candy Box Valentine Tote

Have you ever saved empty valentine candy boxes from years gone by? Why not get them out of storage and create fun valentine totes for your kids? You can easily make the heart-shaped carriers that will thrill your kids and keep their valentines neatly in one place.

If you have two empty valentine candy boxes you can use two bottoms, and two tops, to make two carriers. The boxes dont have to be identical but must be the same size. If youre using two tops they can be previously decorated. If youre using two bottoms, however, youll often find theyre not suitable if they have nutrition information printed on them. If thats the case, cut two heart shapes, and glue them to the two box bottoms. Now create a design for one or both sides. Glue on fake flowers and leaves, bows - even fake pearls. You create the look you want by using a few inexpensive craft supplies.

Although you can use one box - top and bottom - to make one tote it will be slightly off in appearance. The tops of the boxes are made to go over the bottom of the box so the box top is slightly larger than the box bottom. After attaching the cardboard piece around the perimeter of the hearts the look isnt quite as noticeable. Cut a piece of cardboard that will join the two hearts together. If the heart boxes youre using are small youll cut the cardboard strip narrower than if the two heart shapes are large. Cut the strip to where it will be long enough to reach from one side of the heart, around the point, and to the other side. Start and stop the cardboard strip fairly high up on the sides but not all the way to the top. If you want, you can cover the cardboard strip in valentine-theme fabric or paper. If you use white cardboard this step is not even necessary. The white cardboard looks great between the two heart shapes. Use metallic tape, rubber stamps, or even markers to create a design on the white cardboard, if you desire. Fold the cardboard strip in half. Place the fold at the point of one of the heart shapes. Glue the cardboard strip around the first heart. Now align the fold of the cardboard strip with the second heart shape and glue it around the second heart. This cardboard strip connects the hearts and forms a tote-type design. A long piece of wide ribbon can be used to create the handle. Glue the ribbon center to the point of the tote, in the center of the cardboard strip. Glue the ribbon up both sides of the cardboard strip. Where the cardboard pieces end your ribbon will continue. The ribbon should come up further than the top of the heart to form a strap. Glue the ends of the ribbon together or just tie the in a bow. Double-knot the bow so it doesnt come untied. If you dont have any ribbon to make a strap you can use the cardboard strip that you used for the sides of the tote. Simply cut the cardboard strip much longer. Glue the strip from the sides, down to the point, then leave a long piece that will come up over the heart and make the strap. This piece can be decorated along with the sides of the box. Another option for a strap is made from a rope or twine. Poke a hole in the cardboard strip, on both sides, near the top. Push the ends of the rope through the holes in the cardboard. Tie knots in the ends to make sure they dont slip back out of the holes. Instead of roping or twine you can also use a strand of white, red, silver or gold beads. Kids can gather valentines all day long and place them in their valentine tote. Theyll easily be able to keep up with their cards until they get home. Theyll love the little valentine tote that can be used year after year.

Change that Little Black Dress into a Formal in No Time

Got a little black dress hanging in your closet? Who doesnt? Need formal wear more than you need that little dress right now? Make it happen! Its simple and inexpensive to turn a fitted dress - black or otherwise - into formal wear that will really impress. You dont need to be expert at sewing because the technique is very easy.

The type of dress that is perfect for this project is one that is fitted rather than flared. It length of the sleeves, what type of neckline the dress has, or whether it zips or buttons are all unimportant when it comes to changing the dress into formal wear. All that is really required is that the dress be just below the knee or shorter, and the hemline needs to be straight.

At a fabric store choose a lace that closely matches the color of the dress itself. Select a couple yards of lightweight lace. Choose thread that exactly matches the dress for best results. The color of the lace and thread are very important to making the formal look its best. Measure from the hemline of the dress to the floor, or even to an ankle length. Cut the lace to that width, adding four inches extra, for the hem and for attaching it to the dress. Hem both short ends of the lace. This hem should be a mere quarter to a half-inch. These hemmed edges will later meet in the front of the dress, at the hemline. Next, hem one long edge of the lace. This hem should also be very narrow. The opposite end will be sewn to the dress. There are several ways to gather the lace so that it will flare out from the dress to the floor. One way is to use a baste stitch to gather the edge. Use the largest stitch on your machine or hand baste the edge. When finished pull the thread and slide the fabric across it. As you do this, the thread youre pulling will get longer and longer, and the lace will be gathered more and more. Pin the gathered lace to the hemline of the dress and stitch into place. For some people its easier to use narrow elastic to gather the lace. Stretch the elastic while stitching it to the un-hemmed side of the fabric. As you sew the elastic will cause the lace to gather together. When finished gathering the entire edge you will then stitch it to the hemline of the dress. One other way to gather the lace is to do so as you stitch along. Form gathers in the lace and stitch directly over the top of them. One easy way to make the gathers is to stretch out the four fingers on one hand. Place the spread fingers on the lace then squeeze the fingers together. The fabric will gather between each of the fingers and create the pleats. Sew the lace all the way around the hemline stitching right beside the original hem. Trying to stitch over the original hem stitches will give you a sloppy look to the stitching. The ends of the lace should meet at the center of the hemline on the front of the dress. The split in the front remains leaving plenty of room for walking and giving a flowing look to the gathered lace piece. If you want, you can add a wide, gathered lace to each side of the split. This gathered lace piece can be several inches wide and can even be stitched along the hem of the added lace piece. Its expensive to go out and buy a new dress every time youre invited to a formal party. Instead of going shopping look in your closet for a dress you can make over. Besides adding lace to a dress there are many other things you can do to change the look. Use shirt paints to make a glittery monogram on the blouse of the dress or simply change the buttons to flashy new ones. Save money and make your next formal yourself. Youll be proud to show it off!