Crafty Find: Scrabble!

I love crafts that can re-purpose common items into new and exciting ideas. I came across this drink coaster made out of scrabble tiles (brilliant), so I was curious to see what other crafts made use of these alphabet tiles. Any one of these would be a great gift for the scrabble lover in your life. And the best part, with so many letters to choose from, personalizing your gift is pretty simple. You could even make them bilingual.

To start, you could make your own Christmas Ornaments: 

Or perhaps a magnet for your dishwasher to let you know when the dishes are clean or dirty:

The letters would always look nice spelling out a message in a nice frame: 

And if you can make it work, make your own family tree:  

You could use them as wine charms: 

You could also use them for a bit of inspiration. How about pillows that look like scrabble tiles? 

There seem to be a lot of fun variations with this versatile letter game. I just might have to book mark this for the next time I want to make a personalized gift for someone.

Crafty Find: I'm in the mood for Love

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and while my husband and I don't go overboard with gifts or fancy dinners, I still like to honour the day in some small way. And with a kid now, Valentine's takes on a whole new meaning, though we do have a few more years before we'll be making cards to give out at school. In the meantime, however, we'll be traveling to spend Family Day with our nieces in Ottawa this year, which also coincides with Valentine's Day, so I thought it might be fun to put together a small gift for them. 

I've found so many great ideas out there for cards and treats, specifically ones that don't include a lot (if any) sugar, that I thought I'd share a few of my favorite ones. I'll share my final creations with you later.

For the Star Wars nerds fans in your life, how about these character or Yoda cards? I like that it comes with a fun glow stick - so creative!

 

 Anyone who knows me well knows I'd sure appreciate a Valentine like this one: 

Here's a great idea to help your kids store their cards in a bag or box. I'm a sucker for a cute robot or hipp... 

As for food, this sure is a fun Valentine's breakfast - Strawberry Pancakes with Sprinkles! 

There are plenty more ideas out there, and this site has a great collection of fun non-sugar themed gifts and cards. With so many choices, I'm really looking forward to February 14th, but I better get crafting!

Crafty Find: Hand Print Ornaments

While this isn't technically Olivia's first Christmas, it is the first one where she is active and able to partake in the Christmas cheer. In that spirit, I wanted to make a little memento for each of the grandparents, as well as for ourselves, that would help us remember when she was this precious age. Of course Pinterest had exactly what I was looking for - hand print ornaments. 

The recipe was easy enough to mix and roll out, and Olivia was game for making her little hand prints. I used a straw to poke the hole in the top, then used a knife to trace around the hand print. After baking in the oven for the 3 hours and then leaving over night to dry fully, I painted up Santa and Rudolph, two of each. Finish off with a little ribbon and you've got yourself a one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament. 

NOTE: I doubled the below recipe, which yielded me enough dough for four hand prints. 

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup flour

1/2 salt

1/4 water (or as needed)

DIRECTIONS

Combine ingredients and form into a ball.
Divide into 2 equal balls and roll out on floured surface about 1/8 inch thick.

Place on cookie sheets and press the wee one's hand; trim excess dough from impression. 

With a toothpick or straw, make a hole in the top of the ornament for threading ribbon.
Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) until hard, about 1-3 hours. Leave in oven over night to cool and harden completely.
Decorate with paint and varnish to preserve.

Crafty Find: Felt Christmas Tree

When it came time to put up our Christmas tree at home, I was fairly certain that our curious little monkey would make a bee-line to the shiny and sparkly ornaments and take them down, one by one. (I wasn't wrong.) In an effort to prevent this, or at least distract her, I found this awesome craft to make your wee one a felt Christmas tree of her own to decorate. 

After a quick trip to King Textiles on Spadina I had a yard of green felt in hand, and for the ornaments, I was able to pick up felt squares at the dollar store. I used some cookie cutters I had at home for templates and cut them out. Attaching the tree to the wall turned out to be a bit more difficult, as using painters tape only held up the tree for a few minutes. I think the weight of the felt dragged it down from the tape. The furry felt just didn't keep a good bond. My new solution is to hot glue the felt to Bristol board, and then use the tape again to hold up the board.

When the ornaments were not on the tree, I kept them in an empty wipes box, and Olivia had almost as much fun pulling them out of there as she did sticking them to the tree. 

Of course she did eventually get bored of her felt tree and discovered our real/fake one, so that's why all the ornaments are on the top two thirds of the tree. I have a feeling wrapped Christmas presents will also have to remain hidden until Christmas morning; she's already figured out how to unwrap things.

Crafty Find: Book Marks

Can you tell I have reading on my mind lately? And what better way to hold your place in your current book of choice than with a crafty book mark. I found a few fun ones that are also easy to make at home (or the office) with just a few simple supplies.

Firstly, how about using a zipper to hold your place? And the bonus - you don't have to worry about losing the book mark while you're reading? Click the image for the simple directions.

Next up, corner book marks seem to be quite popular. You can make them into very cute animals, or maybe a monster, or just keep it simple with some pretty patterned paper. Pinterest has tons of options for you, but here are a few of my favorites.

Or you could go simple and use a paper clip and a bit of ribbon, or some glue and a button.

There doesn't seem to be a lack of inspiration for book marks; clearly I'm not the only one out there who loves them! I'm thinking Christmas Gift for my Book Club Ladies....

Edible Snowmen!

Just in time for the opening of Disney's new animated movie Frozen, I came across this AWESOME edible craft that I just couldn't resist making. I set out to gather all the ingredients and made them last night at home for Matt to take to work today for his team.  The snow on the ground this morning seemed also fitting for the occasion.

As I couldn't locate any of the jumbo marshmallows, I had to make a few adjustments to the original plan. And knowing that my artistic skills are not amazing, I took an easier approach to the adding the finishing touches. I know it doesn't resemble Olaf exactly, but I think I managed to capture the essence of the funny snowman. 

If you're in the winter mood already and looking for a cute, funny, and entertaining movie (for kids and adults alike!), Frozen is just that. Check out the trailer below. 

If you'd like to make your own Olaf, here's how I made mine: 

INGREDIENTS

    Graham crackers
    Blue-tinted frosting or blue candy melts
    Medium-size marshmallows
    Miniature-size marshmallows
    Black candy melts
    Black licorice rope
    Orange Nerds

DIRECTIONS

Divide graham crackers in half.
Cut one large and one small marshmallow in half for each snowman; cut licorice rope into arms.
Melt blue candy melts (if using) and spread on graham cracker; place the body and legs while frosting/candy is still warm. 
Stick arms into sides of the body. 
Melt black candy melts; using a tooth pick or the flat end of a skewer, dab on buttons to body and add eyes and mouth to the face. 
With a small dab of black candy melt, add orange nerd for the nose. 
Let cool to allow everything to set, then enjoy!

Crafty Find: REAL Book Nooks

While I was researching ideas for names for my reoccurring book review posts, I came across a series of images that displayed a variety of little book nooks. I thought they were so clever that I would share them with you today.

I think they are a great use of small spaces under stairwells, on window sills, or stair landings, but my favorite is turning an unused closet into a comfy, cozy book nook! While I'm not sure we have the space for one, I love the idea. It just looks so inviting. 

My husband and I are in the process of thinking about renovating our basement, so I might suggest to him the idea of one underneath the stairs for Olivia. I think she'd really dig it! 

Crafty Find: Leslieville Flea Market

I remember when I was younger and we would occasionally head to the Pickering Flea Market with my parents. What we’d find there were vendors selling cheap sweat pants and mittens and other random items. The market was indoors, was huge, and I don’t ever recall actually buying anything there, but that was my impression of what a flea market was - at least in the suburbs. (I haven’t thought about that market in YEARS, but it turns out it still runs every Saturday and Sunday, and has since 1973.) 

But now I’m older, an adult, if you will, and I’m not looking for sweat pants any longer but cool items for our house instead. I wouldn’t consider myself an antique shopper, but there is definitely some appeal to finding a deal on something not found at IKEA.  If I believe the fashion and design experts, it seems that everything old is now modern again. So when our little neighbourhood started the Leslieville Flea Market, my husband and I were excited to check it out. It ran during the summer on the third Sunday of every month in the parking lot of dive bar at Leslie & Queen. We’ve been to each one , and it’s been fun to see it grow, to see the same vendors return, to chat with them, and to see new vendors show up. The finds are pretty awesome, perhaps not everyone’s taste, and even if you’re not there to buy, you’ll surely have a moment of nostalgia when you see some of the things there. 

We’ve bought a couple of items there now and are always on the look-out for other unique items. If you're not looking to buy, the flea market is also a great source of inspiration for those of you who like DIY projects. So far, we've picked up some lovely teal chairs for our new dining room table for $25/each from Sourced & Salvaged. They even delivered them to our door – free of charge! They have the right amount of distress and style to make them look aged, and I love the pop of colour that they add to our dining room. We also found a really cute children’s table and chairs for Olivia, as well as a dress from the ‘70s that had never been worn.  Most times we don't go looking for something in particular, but then something grabs our eye and we just have to have it.

Well, the summer is over, long gone is the warm and sunny weather, but the outdoor market is finding a new life indoors at Jimmy Simpson Recreation Centre, at least for the next two months. If you feel like checking it out, you’ll probably find us there.

Crafty Find: Gradient Flowers

I just stumbled across this little post and had to share on here. Not only is it something you can do at home (which makes it crafty!), but it is also really beautiful to look at. Arranging them in your home just like in the photo would be a great center piece on your table for any dinner party. You could even match them to your wedding colours if you happen to be planning such an event. 

Of course, I had to find out the instructions behind it (even if the photo is pretty self-explanatory), and found this science blog with an even more fun twist - multi-coloured carnations. This gives you the basics of how the science works, so to get the deeper shades of colour, simply make a more concentrated mixture of dye and water. 

I just might have to try this out at home with some white flowers of my own. 

Crafty Find: Stop Motion Books

This is a great little clip that I stumbled across a while ago and was recently reminded of it again. It's a stop motion video made at Type, a book store along Queen Street. It took more than 25 people to make and was filmed over four nights after the book store closed.  

City TV and CTV have both featured the video on their websites, and so why not share it with you today? I love the whimsy behind it, and the music is wonderfully cheerful. For those of you who love a good book, surely you'll love seeing them come to life. 

Enjoy! 

Crafty Find: Melted Crayon Art

I’ve seen some really creative artwork on the Internet lately, and this one caught my eye. Not only is it colorful and cheerful, but it’s also a great little piece of art work that would be easy for you (or kids) to reproduce at home.  All you need is a box of crayons, a blank canvas, some glue, and your hair dryer. Yup, a hair dryer.  I’ve even got the link to instructions if you want to give it a try.

At first, the ones I came across were pretty straightforward, just arranging the crayons in a rainbow effect and melting them, letting the wax drip down.  But why not mix it up? I’ve since seen others incorporating other images and make the melted wax part of the complete work. How about melting blue crayons for rain? 

No one says you have to mount it with the wax dripping down. Use different shades of green, pop on a few fabric flowers, and you’ve got yourself a little garden scene.

You could also try painting the canvas black and using the lighter shades of the rainbow. Finally those white crayons can come in handy!

And for a more artistic arrangement, complete a set of melted crayons. 

These all look so great, are pretty inexpensive to reproduce, and I think it looks like a lot of fun, don’t you? 

Crafty Find: All Things Mason Jars

I am hooked on mason jars ever since we had our first canning party last fall (that fun day I’ll share in another post). I, myself, use a large mason jar as a water glass at work; it’s funky and holds a lot of water. And when bringing in soup leftovers for lunch, I’ll put them in the medium sized jars. They are the perfect lunch portion and drip proof in my purse.

But there is so much more you can do with mason jars. If you happen to be browsing Pinterest (and who isn’t these days? If you're not, you do need to request access), a quick search will reveal what creative users across the net are doing with their very own mason jars. I’ve collected just a few of the ideas that I think are most impressive and most likely the ones that I’ll try out on my own. Hopefully they can inspire new ideas as well.

This first one I've even seen in bakeries across the city: instead of cupcakes, why not small cakes or pies in a jar?

And instead of buying yourself a Magic Bullet, why not use the existing blade from your blender and make your own by attaching it to, you guessed it, a mason jar?

Mason jars also make for some clever decoration: use them as candles, even make them into electric lights.

Or use them for more practical jobs, like mini planters or soap dispensers.

Speaking of Pintrest, I know I’m not the only one to blog about something I’ve found on there; several blogs have popped up dedicated specifically to the incredible finds on the site. There really does seem to be something for everyone. I, personally, love browsing the craft and DIY sections to see what inspiration I can gleam. The home décor section is a great way to start day-dreaming about all the things I could do with my new house. And the food and drink section has great ideas for meals and party tips. It’s quite easy to get lost on that site….

Crafty Find: Paint Brush Hooks

If you’ve ever done any sort of painting in your house, then I bet you’ve experience dried and hardened paint brushes. Sure, maybe you wrap them in plastic, even place them in the freezer, but unless you clean them very well, the paint crusts up and that brush is done for.

Unless, of course, you’re a creative type and realize that the hardened bristles are actually very tough. So tough, in fact, that you realize they can actually serve a purpose - you could shape them and turn them into coat hooks. Brilliant!

And the best part, they would match whatever colour you painted your front hall, or bedroom, or basement… you get the idea.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE….

Did you notice the new layout of the blog? Isn’t it fun? And it's interactive. If you readjust the size of your window, the pictures move around. Don’t like the pictures. Check out the left hand corner: there’s a drop down menu to try out various other layouts. I’m really digging this new feature. 

Crafty Find: Function and Comfort

Just look at this chair. Take it all in… It’s a lamp. It’s a chair. And it’s wonderful!  Sure, you're restricted to sitting by an electrical outlet, but that's really not so bad.

When I came across it, my first immediate thought was “Brilliant!” I love when people have the genius idea to put two very different objects together to create one amazing and very functional object.

Maybe you need a little extra light while you’re reading. Boom! Already built in.

Or maybe you need a little extra seating for when you have company. Boom! Already built in. Amazing.

I simply had to see what else existed out there, so off to Google I went. While I found numerous different varieties of chairs with lamps, only this next one really caught my eye. Not only does it rock and provide light, but rocking is what powers it. Ingenious! I love modern creativity.

Crafty Find: Pantone Colours

 

I’ve been noticing a lot of everyday items being given the Pantone treatment – you know, bright colours with the signature white block at the bottom with the colour number. People seem to gobble up this colorful trend - from chairs to books to mugs and other kitchen supplies; heck, I might just have to do it myself with a craft project, perhaps. What, I’m not exactly sure, but I’m sure I could think of something (brainstorming…knitted pantone pillow perhaps?).

In any case, I am loving the collection I found online of All Things Pantone (a quick Google search revealed a variety of items). These colours just made me smile, so I thought I’d share. I’m sure I’ve only just scratched the surface of the trend, so if you stumble across others, please feel free to share a link!

Happy Friday!