{ spring burlap banner }

Spring is such a beautiful time of year! All of my orchids are blooming, my Easter lily's 

are really close to blooming and even my banana tree is blooming! I just love all

the bright colors and especially the smell of rain! Although we get plenty of rain

here throughout the year and flowers are always blooming, 

you can definitely feel that it is 

SPRING!

I really like burlap! It has such an earthy look to it. I thought it would be perfect

for a spring banner. Plus, I figured out an easy way to prevent your burlap

from fraying on every cut! 

What you'll need:

* Burlap

* Mod Podge

* Craft paint

* Sponge dabber brush

* Scissors

* Jute

* Sewing machine with matching thread

* Cricut (optional)

Start by laying something down on your work area. I used a long piece

of plastic wrap. I  don't want my work to stick to paper or the table. 

Then lay a piece of burlap down on top.

Now dab your sponge brush into some Mod Podge and start

dabbing it onto the burlap. You want to cover the whole piece.

The more you use, the stiffer it will be! So base your thickness on how

firm you want your burlap in the end.

Allow the burlap to dry completely (even the opposite side will be damp 

with Mod Podge)!

I used some white paint and dabbed a very small amount over my entire piece.

Let this dry.

Now to make a pattern for  your flags.

I used a small envelope, folded it in half, and cut off the corner.

 Now cut out your flags, using your pattern.

Using your Cricut, cut out your letters and shapes on some scrap paper.

I used George and basic shapes cartridge.

Now use the outside piece like a stencil. Dab the color of your

choice onto each flag

Make sure you keep the inside of the 'P' and 'R'  so you can hold them

into place while you paint.

If you don't have a Cricut, you can use a paintbrush to paint your letters on!

Let the paint dry completely.

I added a vintage button on the center of each flower as well.

Now it's time to put the flag together. Lay the flags out in the 

order they will be attached to avoid sewing them on wrong.

Line your jute up in the center of your pressure foot over the top of your flag.

Using a wide zigzag stitch on the sewing machine you sew the jute

down the top of each flag, adding the next flag without stopping or cutting

thread.

Make sure you leave a long end on the jute for tying off your banner.

And your done! 

{ squiggly bracket picture frame }

I recently saw some frames online that were so dang cute! No plain old 

square frames either! They were frames that obviously were inspired

by the squiggly bracket! 

(I'm not sure who named it that

but I love it! hahah  squiggly bracket -->  {  })

I just switched out my family photo and I thought about painting the

frame (I'm trying to get away from all the black). Then I decided

to just make my own squiggly bracket frame; Jumbo sized! 

I just used my 20 X 30 picture frame and built a frame around it! Pretty

simple for the outcome!

What you'll need:

* Old frame

* Tape measure

* 1x4 inch board ( length depends on the size of your frame)

* Saw

* Craft paper and pencil

* Sand paper

*  Router

* Wood glue

* Wood clamps

* Paint and brush

Start with your old frame. 

Sorry for the lack of photos .... But you will use these measurements 

and mark it on your 1x4. 2 of each. Then cut them at a 45 degree angle.

The measurement will be the short end of your 45 degree angle.

Now you should have 4 piece total that look like this ( 2 measuring

the same as side and 2 measuring the same as bottom of frame). They should be able

to sit nicely around the outside of your original frame with all corners

and angles touching flush.

Now to add your detail! I used craft paper and cut out patterns that looked

just like the image above. I folded it in half and then drew a design. When you cut it

out you will have a symmetrical design. (I made different designs for 

bottom and side. You can use the same if you want). I then traced this pattern

onto my wood and cut it out with the scroll saw.

By taping your pattern together at the corners, you can make a nice clean
transition at your joint. Match up your corners to make sure they
match up and sand them down if they don't.

Next step is to router all the outside edges.

There are so many different bits available for the router.

Sand any rough edges.

Now it's time to put this thing together. Remove your picture, glass and backing from

the original frame if you haven't already done so.

Using wood glue and clams, attach the new frame to the outside of the old one.

I did two sides at a time because I didn't have enough clamps to do it all at once.

Allow the glue to dry completely before removing the clamps.

Now you can paint and sand as you please! 

Just make sure it's completely dry before putting your photo back in!

Cost:  $10

{ valentine cootie catcher }

I've procrastinated once again!

Yesterday, I decided to add a little extra to the Valentine goody

bags that Ryker is taking to school. It was a last minute idea and I

just couldn't shake it off! I made one for Ryker and he was so pleased with it

that I went ahead and made more in a very tight time schedule! 

Remember these from grade school? 

Cootie catchers, right? I made a bunch of them

that were Valentine themed. Ryker loved them. He is 

really excited to show his friends how to use them!

What you'll need:

 

* Paper

* Pen

* Printer

* Scissors or paper cutter

* Origami skills (lol)

I started out by folding up one of these cootie catchers on a white

piece of paper. I used 12x12 pattern paper for the finished

product so I cut my white paper to a 6x6 inch size so 4 will fit nicely

on each piece of pattern paper.

I thought everyone knew how to fold these. But my brother says he never

made one! Maybe it was a girl thing? I don't remember.... so here are instructions

on folding up your cootie catcher!

6x6 inch paper

Fold in half diagonally

Open; fold diagonally the opposite direction

open

Fold corner in until point touches the center.

Repeat on all four corners.

Turn over

Fold corner into the center

Repeat on all four corners.

Fold in half 

Put your finger between these flaps

pull out on all four flaps.

That's it!

 Now you're ready to write on it! 

I scanned this onto the computer and opened it into 

a photo editing program. I added a transparent layer and then

 simply typed all of these words in

different fonts and then set them directly over the area I

wrote it. When I was done, I just removed this image. 

This is the finished image.

Now cut your 12 x 12's down to (4) 6 x 6's.

I opened my image in Microsoft Word and set my paper size to

6 x 6 inches. Now print!

And fold! 

{ Happy Valentine's Day! }

Enjoy 10% off  my Etsy shop today! Because I love ya! 

Use coupon code BEMINE2012 at checkout

Kandislei Co.