some of my latest crafts

crafty mama at work...

CRAFT#1 is a flower topiary.

it is somethin' i found over at tatertots and jello  you can click on the link to find a tutorial.  i didn't really read directions very well, but rather just tried out a few things by myself.  it was fun and relatively easy.  it is time consuming however , as you need to make each of the flowers.  i think i used about 10 to 12.  it looks so cute in our newly painted blue living room (i LOVE being married to a painter).

 CRAFT #2 is a cute little miscellaneous bag.  

it can also be used to hold gift cards, make-up, credit cards, etc.  i made the green one for my mom and the red one for my mother-in-law for mother's day.  i haven't typed up any tutorial for it...just a few straight stitches and add some velcro and a flower to decorate the front.  i LOVE them and they make great gifts...especially when you include a little gift card to starbucks (yum!)

CRAFT #3 is a cookie/candy jar.  

i took one of my old formula containers and decorated it with cute paper and hot glued a flower on the top of it.  i kept this one, but made another one and added some cookies inside.  another great gift to give! i have begun keeping my old jars and containers to turn into gifts.  it is fun to think of how i might use the next container i have.  oh, and glass jars (i.e. spaghetti jars, olive jars, etc make excellent vases-unique shapes too).

CRAFT #4 is a repurposed gift bag.

I had this Starbuck's bag given to me.  it has this cute design, but doesn't make for a very cute bag for kids...UNTIL you add some ribbon and a tissue paper flower.  i cut the bag down and with a scalloped edge for decoration.  i poked a hole on each side and tied knots to secure the ribbon handle.  i also glued some ribbon around the entire bag.  it won't hold anything heavy, but it works for light, small gifts.

CRAFT #5 are little girl bracelets (shower rings repurposed)

i found this over at two shades of pink (a blog i follow regularly and just LOVE-check her out and you, too, will be blessed!).  they are so cute and so easy to make.  buy some ribbon and wrap around the shower ring, hot gluing as you go (be careful NOT to burn yourself with the HOT glue...i'm just sayin!)

burlap and material table runner

i just love burlap and am always looking for new ways to use it as a decorative piece in my house.  my latest is the table runner.  i put out a piece of it on the table and placed plants and vases and candles on it...but soemthing was missing.  so, i bought some material and added it to the edges to spice it up a bit.

step #1:  measure out and cut your burlap and the pieces of material to fit the four sides of the burlap.

step #2:  fold over the edges around the burlap, where you want it placed, and pin.  once you have pinned all sides sew each of the sides.

viola! you have a new table runner.  now, remember i just got my sewing machine...so please don't look too closely at the edges (i am still learning).  i am sure you more experiecned seamstresses could have cut the corners at a 45 degree angle and made them match up really nicely...but...i don't have the patience.  i just wanted to see what it would look like finished.

burlap vase

the burlap jar:

another repurposed item.  i love buying and receiving candles for gifts because i burn them all the time to make my house smell nice.  usually they come in pretty glass containers and i just hate to throw them away. so, i clean them out and use them to put other candles in or flowers, but this time, i thought i would add a little burlap (burlap makes everything a little cuter).
step 1:  clean out the jar-i find that gently pushing a knife around the edges of the remaining wax will loosen it up and make it easy to remove.  sometimes i will even freeze the jar, not sure if this is an old wives' tale or not, but it helps out sometimes.

step 2:  cut your pieces of burlap-they can be two or three varying sizes in the shape of squares.

step 3:  (a) fold the first burlap square in half and (b) then in half again.  (c) holding the corner, cut a 1/2 circle shape, leaving it looking like an ice cream cone.  (side note:  if you want it to look like a scalloped flower, then really accentuate the angle of the cut).

 (a)

(b)

(c)








step 4:  hot glue the smaller circle onto the larger one and add a button or gem or old piece of jewelry for decoration.

step 5:  cut a strip of burlap, whatever width you would like, and glue the end on to the glass jar.

step 6:  glue the flower onto the seam where the two ends meet.  that way the seam will be hidden.  fill it with flowers or a votive candle and enjoy!  i put it on my kitchen table to add to the spring centerpiece.