Washi Tape Embellished Notecards

The dreaded leftover paper scrap bin! Bits that seem too nice to throw away but never get used ...

Spruce up the corners with washi tape! Pick tapes with small patterns - larger ones won't show up well since we're only using a small amount.

After I added the tape, I cut the rest away from the other side. This leaves a cleaner cut.

Yay!

Upcycled Pocket Phone Storage!

I needed a little bed pocket to store my phone. The pockets of an old sport coat worked perfectly! The top flap sits right between the mattress and box spring. No velcro needed. Easy 10 minutes (or less) project.

DIY Metal Washer Bracelet

These metal washer bracelets are a great teen craft! Might sell well at craft sale fundraisers?

I adapted this from the Metal Washer + Ribbon necklace tutorial. Fold-over elastic makes it easy to take these bracelets on and off. Younger kids can make these, too. Just make sure there's a responsible adult around to  melt the ends of the elastic.

Book Page Filled Ornaments

Fill a clear ornament with lines from your favorite book! Mindless craft you can do while binging Gilmore Girls on Netflix ;-). That is, unless you've already binged it :-(.

Supplies:

• Book Pages
• Scissors
• Clear Fillable Ornaments
• Sticks, Skewers or Toothpicks
• Ribbon

Cut 1, 2 or more lines at a time. Taper ends (optional).

Wrap lines around sticks to make curls. Pull curls apart, if desired.

Place paper curls in  a clear ornament.

Replace topper and add ribbon to hang.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Hey - I know this is a craft blog but I just had to share this recipe! Best chocolate chip cookies ever! Mike agrees :-). Perfectly chewy and crunchy cookies that stay fresh for over a week and don't mysteriously and inexplicably turn into flat, sad crispy chocolate pancakes after baking. Might be something to do with mixing the baking soda with warm water? Or the ratio of granulated to brown sugar? The vigorous over-mixing of sugars and butter? I dunno, but it is magical! Mixing times may vary since i used a stand mixer,

BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE NO JOKE

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. warm water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars together for 5-7 minutes. Add eggs and mix for another 3-4 minutes. Mix in vanilla.

Add flour and salt. Mix until combined.

Put baking soda in a small bowl. Heat water in another small bowl and add two teaspoons warm water to the baking soda. Stir until combined. Mix baking soda/water mixture into the batter.

Add chocolate chips. Mix/stir just until combined.

Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350-365 degrees, depending on your oven.

Form balls of dough, then flatten slightly with your hands. They'll look like the fundraising frozen cookie dough pucks you bought from the kids next door ;-).

Place on cool, ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on size. Cookies should still look slightly uncooked in their centers, with nice golden edges. Let cool on sheets for two minutes, then transfer to cooling racks.

If you're reusing baking sheets, make sure they're completely cool before baking the next batch. This may involve going outside and briskly waving them on your front porch.

My cookies took about 15 minutes to bake - they ended up a little bigger than the palm of my hand.

Nom nom nom.

Hemp-Wrapped Memory Board

Simple hemp-wrapped memory board. Great way collect your holiday cards!

Supplies:

• Board - I used leftover boards from my Blooming Cross project. You could use old cutting boards, barnwood or whatever you have hiding in the shed :-).
• Paint & Sealer
• Hammer
• Picture Hanger
• Hemp Cord
• Office Clips or Mini Clothespins
• Staple Gun & Staples

Paint the board however you like.

Staple one end of the cord to the back of the board. Staple multiple times. I started at about the middle - you could start at the top or wherever.

Wrap cord around the board. Keep an eye on the front so you can see how the design is shaping up. Pull the cord tight and staple in place every time you wrap (on the back of the board only). When you're done wrapping, staple the end of the cord to the back at least three times. Hammer in any staples that are sticking out too far.

Hammer in the picture hanger.

Add or clips or mini clothespins.

Done! Easy peasy.

DIY Cord or Ear Bud Holder

Very easy and handy project. Keep those cords organized with leather scraps!

Wine Cork Place Cards

Pretty wine cork place cards!

Flagging Tape for Tic Tac Toe or other Yard Games!

Summer is officially here! It's time for BBQ's and yard games!

We packed up the car and celebrated Father's day in the park. I needed to come up with a space-saving way to play games without spray-painting the grass.

Enter: Flagging Tape. It's the tape contractors use around the perimeter of their job sites. I used landscaping pins to hold down the ends. Landscaping pins can be found right next to the weed-control landscape fabric. Ask a store associate to direct you to the area where they sell "Caution" tape. Both items are super cheap!

Have fun!

Easy Shirt 'n Tie Father's Day Gift Bag

Here's an easy gift bag idea! Fun for the kids to make :-). Sorry about the picture quality :-(.

Supplies:

• Paper sandwich bag
• Scrap paper
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape

One Seam T-Shirt Bag

Super simple project. You'll only have to sew one seam! Pick a shirt that looks great upside-down. You'll need one t-shirt for the bag and some cord or t-shirt yarn for the closure.

When you're making the 4 tiny snips, cut through only one layer of fabric, not both layers. Pull the t-shirt yarn or cord through the first hole, through the inside the bottom of the shirt, back out and in the opposite hole, thread through the other side and knot the end!

Twisted Wire Wine Charms

Twisted Wire Wine Charms! Very easy and a great way to showcase pieces from your fun earring collection!

Tin Wedding Favor Fillable Ornament!

DIY fillable ornaments! SO much easier than trying to pour stuff into an empty glass ornament!

Fun 'N Fluffy Flip Flops

Fun and easy way to spruce up those $1 flip flops! Wouldn't these colors be great for a Frozen-Inspired summer birthday party?

Upcycled Plastic Jug Gift Box

I buy vinegar in the BIG jugs! These jugs can easily be upcycled into pretty gift boxes. The fold at the top makes a very subtle four-petal flower motif. Reuse as many times as you'd like! When you don't need it anymore, remove the ribbon and throw the plastic in the recycling bin.

Add Leather Handles to Fabric Storage Bins!

Upgrade your storage bins! Just a little bit of leather makes a big impact.

Dress to Skirt Refashion | No-Sew

Thrift shop find! Just a quick snip-snip-snip to refashion a dress into a skirt.

Sweatshirt to Cardigan Re-fashion! | No-Sew

 Easily turn an old sweatshirt into a fun cardigan! No sewing skills required :-).

DIY Tissue Pouch

This idea comes from Martha Stewart! Super easy sewing project - can be done by hand or machine :-).

DIY Frame & Hemp Photo Board!

Make your own memory board out of an old frame, staples and hemp cord!