Framed Button Initial

What to do when you need a gift and there is no time to buy one?  Improvise of course!  Use what you have and I had some buttons.  I also had a small wooden frame - I started with that:

I glued a sawtooth picture hanger on the back of it.

Then I painted the frame pink and distressed it a bit.  I then took some leftover pink patterned scrapbook paper and glued that to the back.  Next, I arranged the buttons into a "J" , the initial of the person receiving the gift.  It still needed something, so I glued on a fabric flower that I had in my stash.  Viola - a sweet gift for a sweet girl.

I made a coordinating gift bag to go along with it by simply stenciling a pink flower on a brown paper bag and adding a homemade gift tag.

I like buttons, I always have - they have a certain coziness factor for me.  Do you like buttons?  What kinds of things have you created with them?

A Sibling Baby Gift

So, I had a sweet new great-grand-daughter born and my 5 year old grand-daughter wanted to make a present to give to the baby.  Since her nursery was done in pink frogs, I had my 5 year old gd start by coloring a frog that we found in one of her coloring books.  I then found an old frame in my stash and using the frame backing, I mod podged some pink scrap book paper, then mod podged on the frog.

Then, I painted the frame a soft pink and distressed it.

It looks perfect in the nursery :)

Have you ever thought to do pink frogs in a nursery?  How about sibling gifts - any great ideas?  Please share!

A Couple of Shabby Projects

First up is an old tool box that I painted and distressed and filled with flowers.  I like to change out the flowers to match the season or the holiday.  It started out like this:

After some painting and distressing with fall flowers:

Here's a close up:

To go along with this, I wanted to make something to cover my fireplace when it was not in use.  I just didn't like the idea of a big, black hole staring at me every day.  I used pallets to make a shabby board which I also painted white and distressed.  I intend to hang different wreaths on the front of it which will also coordinate with seasons and holidays.

Sorry, this wreath is not finished yet, I just wanted to get a feel for the size I needed.  I'll be showing you different views of it throughout the year.

How about you?  If you have an old tool box, what do you use it for?  I've seen a lot of different uses for them.  And, if you have a fireplace, do you leave it open all year, fill it with candles or other decor, or find something decorative to cover the hole?

Upcycled Picture Frame

Here is a little project that I made for my grandson using an old picture frame that I found collecting dust in my basement.  I cleaned up the frame and painted it.  Then I added some coordinating scrap book paper for the background.  I painted the frame two colors (orange and baby blue).  Next, I wanted to add a colored binder clip so that either a photo or a drawing that my grandson made could be inserted.  The clip allows the photo or doodle to be changed out often and easily.

 I used an orange paint pen to write his name across the bottom.  I then printed out a little circle describing the frame's purpose.  Here is a close up of the clip and note:

 I presented this to my daughter to celebrate the adoption of her little boy who is a real cutie.

This is a quick and easy gift for birthdays, adoptions, a new baby, or for yourself!  It was fun to make as well.  

Buttons and More for Valentine's Day!

These are both pretty simple crafts to do.  This first one is a button wreath.  I just took a round, press board circle from Michaels - sorry, I forgot to take a picture before I started, this is the back of it, but it looks the same on both sides.  Then I painted it a soft pink color.

Next, I used hot glue and glued on some pink and white heart-shaped buttons.  I glued on the first layer, then just started adding layers until it looked full and not too much of the pink underneath was showing.  See all of the hot glue "strings"?  They pull right off though, so not a problem.

Then I just tied it with a pink yarn ribbon.  Here it is hanging on my china hutch:

Next up is a sweet and quick project even the kids can do.  I just took pink pipe cleaners and taped on scrap paper and foam hearts.  Then I put some styrofoam in the bottom of a tin heart that hangs from the Hoosier Cabinet in my kitchen and stuck them in, really quick!  They look so sweet.

I am just about done with Valentine decor here how about you?  Are you almost finished or just beginning?  Do you have any quick little projects you've whipped up lately?

A Few More Valentine Crafts

Here are a few more simple Valentine crafts I've been working on:

This could NOT be more simple - just pick up some inexpensive chipboard letters, paint them pink, and add silver glitter using Mod Podge.  I then sealed it with a clear sealer to keep the glitter from flaking off.  So cute against the turquoise bowl.

Next, I found this little "tree/topiary" craft on Pinterest:

You can find the tutorial for it here

I followed the directions except that I used a flower on top instead of a heart.  I got the flower at Hobby Lobby in the scrap book section.  Here is how it looks sitting on my dining room table.  I draped vintage hankies over the backs of my chairs and also used one as a doily under the grapevine wreath to add to the overall feel of the room:

I love using vintage finds in decorating and these hankies are perfect.  Do you have any vintage hankies?  How do you incorporate them into your decor?

Valentine Heart Garland

This is simple, quick, and cute - 3 of my favorite things.  All you need is assorted scrapbook papers and some yarn.   I chose 6 different papers, three dark and three light.  Cut out a heart template to use so that all of the hearts will be the same size and shape.  I just folded a piece of printer paper in half and cut half a heart shape, then unfolded it.

Next, use the template to cut out a heart shape from each paper.  Again, I just used my template in half and cut around it, I didn't want to mess with pencil marks.

Once they are all cut out, lay them out in the order you want them to be.  I wanted mine to alternate a dark and then a light colored pattern.

Use a hole punch to make holes in the top for hanging.  I put 2 holes on each side of the heart so they would hang nicely.  Then, run some pretty yarn through the holes and hang where you like.  I hung mine in front of my fireplace mantel.

Cute.  I like how big and chunky they turned out.  Have you made any heart garland yet this season?  Do you like your hearts fat and chunky or small and dainty?