Turkey Napkin Rings or Place Cards for Thanksgiving

These turkey napkin rings are fun to make and a cute addition to your Thanksgiving table.

You could also attach a name tag so that they will serve as a place card.

I used punches to punch out the pieces, but you could go with basic, hand-cut shapes as well.

You just need some basic supplies: cardstock, googly eyes, scissors or punches, and adhesive. I used a black pen to outline the pieces for some added interest.

You can assemble these yourself, but it also makes a fun kid craft.

I made these 5 years ago, long before I was blogging, and was just reminded of them, so I decided to share them...

This is how they looked on the table: see if you can find them, they're pretty small compared to that big table (which isn't ours - we celebrated Thanksgiving elsewhere).

Shared at Todays Creative Blog.

Washi Tape Candle Holder and Candle - Fast, Pretty & Easy

This HAS to be one of the fastest, easiest crafts I ever made...

I decided to share, since it's fun to make, and it can be used for gift giving, or just keep it for yourself...

I found this beautiful tape at Michaels.

I remembered seeing somewhere online where people were decorating candles or candle holders with Washi tape.

I wanted to use only a thin strip of the red and white striped tape, 

so I stuck it onto the backing sheet of a sticker sheet,

and trimmed it with my paper trimmer.

Then I just put it around a glass jar.

You can use store-bought canning jars, windlights, or just use an empty jam jar like I did...

In order to make the tealight match, I put some tape around that, too.

Simple, but lovely...

I really like the candy cane tape,

the colors, and the cute border, and also like how well it goes together with the narrow piece of candy-cane striped tape.

So if you don't have much time,

but still need to do some decorating,

or if you need a simple gift,

now you know what to do!

If you're looking for more handmade gift ideas,

check out this list of DIY gift tutorials.

Shared at Craft-o-maniac and Sugar Bee Crafts.

Pennant Banner Card

When my sewing machine is already sitting out, and  it's ready for a new needle,

I like to use it for stitching cards.

This simple card with a colorful pennant banner can be adjusted and used for different occasions.

Even without stickers or stamps it's still cheerful, and the flags can simply be cut by hand, no complicated tools needed.

Fall leaf mobile - and a blog to check out

Inspired by the mobile in this post of "Enjoying the small things",

I decided to copy her idea.

Super easy, but I really like the results.

 I cut out some leaves out of colorful cardstock.

I used my Big Shot, but you could also draw and cut them by hand,

or trace a template or real leaves.

Then I poked some holes in the leaves, and used a needle and some crochet thread to connect the leaves, and tied them to a branch. 

And, since this month I am blogging to raise awareness for Down syndrome,

I might as well point out that the blog where I found my inspiration for this mobile,

"Enjoying the small things", is a blog that was very encouraging to me 

when we had just found out that the little girl we were expecting had Down syndrome.

Just reading about the life of this family, and how this mom had also feared that things would never be 'normal' again, 

and seeing how they simply kept 'enjoying the small things' was just what I needed.

If you're new to her blog, Nella's birth story is probably the first thing I would recommend you to read. 

Flag Bouquet Birthday Card

Just a simple card, using toothpicks and paper scraps.

Since I don't have baker's twine, I twisted two pieces of embroidery floss together.

Easy, and fun to make...

3D paper flower gift topper - tutorial

This is a simple and easy way to create a pretty paper flower as a topper for a gift.

It's similar to tissue paper pom poms, but much easier and quicker.

You only need one sheet of tissue paper, or other thin paper,

for example book pages or sheet music.

1. Cut about 8 squares of paper and stack

2. Fold it double twice

3. Trim the corners as pictured, cutting scallops

4. Unfold

5. Staple the centers together with one staple

6. Pull up first layer and crumple

7. Repeat for each single layer

8. You're done!

That's all there is to it. Simple, right?!

They're fun to decorate gifts, or decorate whatever else you can come up with!

Shared at Tatertots and Jello and Sugar Bee Crafts

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Biscuit Lid Magnets

Here is a super simple, easy and quick craft.

I have seen some crafts online, using juice can lids.

When I was using some canned biscuits,

I wondered if I could use the ends of the can somehow.

They don't come off as clean as the juice lids,

and are slightly smaller.

But I thought they would make great magnets.

I trimmed the edges as much as possible, and washed the lids with hot soapy water.

The back was not super neat:

But who will see the back side anyway?

Anyway, all you need to do is:

Get some pretty paper, adhesive (I used double sided tape), and flat magnets.

Cut out circles, by hand or using a 1 3/4" circle punch.

Adhere the circle to the front, and the magnet to the back.

And you're done.

Cheap, fast, and simple: my kind of project!

Shared at Sugar Bee Crafts.

Doily Love...

Photo source: Creative Passage

A few weeks ago I saw this pretty doily garland on this blog.

Ellen used some colorful doilies to create this awesome garland.

I happened to find the same doilies at Michaels a week or so after I saw her blog post, and I got some with the intention to create a similar garland. They're so cheap, even though I like to crochet myself, at $1 a piece I couldn't resist...

But I liked them so much, that I decided not to cut them up (yet), so for now I use them as a table runner instead:

I like the instant pop of color it adds to our decor.

This is such a fun and easy project. 

You can just sew them together using some transparent thread.

Or even skip the sewing all together, and just lay them out side by side...

Or be brave, and cut them up and create the garland that I mentioned in the beginning of this post.

I linked up at Sugar Bee Crafts.

Flower Burlap Wreath for Spring

Our front door 'needed' something to get ready for spring.

So I made this flower wreath.

The best thing? I only used materials that I had on hand, so it's a cheap project.

Also, it was a very quick project, it took me about an hour I think.

I didn't take any pictures of the process, there are SO many flower tutorials available online!

One thing that I did do different, is that I didn't use felt, but some fleece scraps.
Fleece is very easy to work with, and it doesn't fray.


I used a dollar store wreath and wrapped burlap around it.


And, I used LOTS and LOTS of hot glue!!!

I love easy, quick & cheap projects!

Shared at  Delightful Order and Blue Cricket Design.

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Digital Scrapbooking & Cards Offer with Mixbook - Great deal!

If you have been following my blog for a while,

you know that I like a LOT of different crafts.

One of the things that I really like to do,

but unfortunately don't have much time for,

is scrapbooking.

I have boxes full of pictures to be scrapped...

Last year I got an offer to try out Mixbook,

and make a free digital scrapbook.

I thought I wouldn't like it, 

since I am sort of a hands-on person.

I was WRONG. 
There is still so much 'freedom', you can use ready-made books, 
but you can also change the elements on the pages around, or completely do your own thing.

I just loved how fast that book came together.

Also, unlike other programs, I love their backgrounds, stickers, etc.

You can combine different themes, so you don't need to make a one-theme album.

Their site is very user-friendly.

I was very happy with the finished product.

Books, Calendars, Cards (Picture - Mixbook)

So when I saw this Groupon deal,

I was really excited.

Pay $15 for $50 of products, that is a very good price.

For terms and conditions, check the fine print on the site.

And if you use the link I provided, I might get credit for it. Thank you ;)


You have more than 3 days from the date I posted this.
If you don't see it show up as the main offer, 
check on the right where it states 'More great deals'.

Flower & Lace Hair Clips - Tutorial

Let me start by saying this is a super easy & quick project!

(No glue needed, no sewing, just fast & easy.)

So no excuses not to try this :)

Begin by gathering your supplies:

* Lace 

* Flowers (You want the kind that comes apart, like most of them do)

*Brads (preferably with long legs)

*Alligator hair clips (The one with an opening in the center, as pictured)

The only tool you'll need are scissors...

Begin by taking your flower apart as pictured below.

Take off the plastic piece in the back, and separate your flower.

You might find some plastic pieces in between, you won't need these...

Next, cut a strip of lace, and poke your brad through the end as pictured below.

Then, start pleating or folding your strip, and push the brad to each pleat to keep it in place.

Work your way around.

If your strip is too long, you can trim it, if it's too short, just add another one.

Slip the smallest of your flowers on the brad behind the lace center you just created.

Then, cut a piece of lace about the same size of that flower.

Fold it as pictured (double it twice).

Trim the corners.

Open it, you created 4 petals.

And repeat once.

Now, slip these 2 pieces of lace onto the brad, as pictured below.

Then, add the next flower (one that's bigger than the previous one).

Keep repeating by layering lace and flowers till you have the desired result.

You can trim the lace if you want to.

Then, take your alligator clip.

Open it, and slip your brad through the top prong as pictured below.

Fasten your brad by bending the legs.

And you're done!

Now, if you are worried that the flower could come off,

or if you think this is just TOO simple, 

you could use your glue gun...

(But I have used them just like this and it usually works just fine.)

But for gift giving or for little girls to wear them, I prefer to have them a little more secure.

In that case, you can secure the brad by putting a little glue on top of the legs of the brad.

Or you can go all out and glue some felt on top of the brad and then glue the alligator clip on top of that.

Now, enjoy your beautiful hair clips.

I linked up to Sugar Bee Crafts, A Little Tipsy and Blue Cricket Design.

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Heart Tree Tutorial

It's no secret that I love quick, cheap and easy projects.

Here is another one.

It adds some instant color to our living room and is perfect for Valentine's day.

I took some pictures as I was making it...

Ready to make your own?

First, I cut a bunch of hearts out of cardstock with my Silhouette Cameo. I love how easy it is, just let the machine do its job...

No need to use a machine, though, you could cut them by hand, too. There are so many options: you could use cardstock, scrapbook papers, gift wrap, fabric, you could glitter it up with glitter glue, etc. If you like the lace look, you could cut heart shapes out of lace doilies for example. 

Other supplies you will need:

* Branches, look for ones with lots of little side branches 

* A vase or pot to put your branches in

* A stabilizer (to stick the branches in, you could use floral foam, or even newspapers would do)

* Thread to hang the hearts with

*Something to cover up the stabilizer (I used red yarn, you could use moss, raffia, Easter grass etc.)

Put the stabilizer in your pot.

Arrange the branches

Cover up the ugly stuff...

Attach strings to hearts. I punched holes in the ones that didn't have an opening of some kind, you could use a needle or pushpin to create a hole if needed. Pull the string through, and tie the ends.

Lots of them...

Put them in your tree.

And find a spot to display your heart tree!

Shared at  Delightful Order, Craft-O-Maniac, Thirty Handmade Days  and You Seriously Made That.

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