{ my heart in a jar }

My cousin pinned the cutest wedding decor idea on Pinterest the other day! 

Cute enough that I made a very similar version of it for my home decor! 

Thanks again Pinterest!

What you'll need:

* Canning jar

* 2 Book pages (or pattern paper)

* Strip of fabric

* Scissors

This is a very simple project!

Start by measuring both pieces of paper to your jar. I just set my

book pages inside and mark with a pencil about 1/8 of an inch lower than 

the top of the jar.

Cut off the excess

Sketch a heart in the center of your paper.

Cut out the heart and erase any pencil marks.

You need two pieces of paper so I just cut mine at the same time to make

sure they were the same.

Put your papers back into the jar; one in front, one in back. You 

should be able to see through both hearts.

Put the lid on and tie a strip of fabric around the top into a bow.

I like to rip my fabric instead of cutting it for that worn look.

That's it! Enjoy!

The version I saw on Pinterest had a candle in it. I do not recommend using a 

candle in my version. The paper could cause a fire hazard. 

{ pinwheel backdrop and decor }

I got together this weekend with some wonderful friends, all of whom are 

talented photographers! We do this occasionally and have fun

photo shoots for whatever reason! And although I cannot 

take pictures from anything but my point and shoot camera, I can do

a few other things to help the photo shoot along! :) 

I put together some pinwheels for a backdrop idea! They turned out so

cute and were a great addition to the photos! Oh but don't worry! 

They will be used beyond our weekend gathering! A few will

be added to my very own wall for decor! 

What you'll need:

* Paper (not card stock)

* Scissors

* Tape and/or hot glue

* Hole punch (optional)

I started with the big pinwheels. I used 12x12 pieces of paper. Each 

large pinwheel needs 2 pieces of paper. Start out by folding your edge back

about 1/2 inch. Turn it over and fold it back about 1/2 inch.

Continue folding accordion style until it is complete. Repeat

on second piece of paper.

Mark a curved line at each end of your accordion.

Cut it off. Very few of my accordions had even edges

when I was finished folding them. This gives a ruffled look

around the edge of your pinwheel and also evens out the edges.

Now would be the best time to add detail with your hole punch. Just punch
a hole through all layers on each end of your accordion!

Now fold your accordion in half.
Like so ...

Glue or tape this together

Repeat these steps on your other accordion as well.

Now tape or glue the two half together! Pinwheel complete!

When you are working with smaller pinwheels, you have to use more
pieces! For instance, I made this smaller pinwheel with 6x6 pieces of paper.
I needed 3 to get the desired look. 2 would't reach around a full circle
and 4 was a little too floppy. If you went any smaller than this, I would
recommend trying 4 pieces!

And of course I made one with a old book page! 3 was the magic number
there, too.

You can hang these with string or just tape them up to the wall! 

I love the layered look!

And a little something from the fun photo shoot! Don't you think the pinwheels

are fantastic! They just add great color and detail as a backdrop! <3

Photo by the very talented Malia Cano

www.maliacano.com

Stop by her blog or website and check out her amazing work! 

{ framed heart }

I have been a little bit.. MIA! I have been so busy the last few weeks with orders

from my Etsy shop and making May Fest costumes for 3 first grade classes! 

So I finally finished all 68 costumes and didn't really want to do anything

but sit! But, yesterday, I got crafty!  I made a few things, and improved a few 

more! So I'm back! 

This is a frame makeover!

I was looking for old mason jars at the Goodwill and found

myself in the frame section. I found this little frame and 

of course I bought it for $0.99! 

What you'll need:

* Frame

*Pattern paper

*Mod Podge

* Nail file

* Strips of fabric

* Book page

First, take the glass and backing off of the frame.

Lay your frame face down on the back side of your

pattern paper. Trace your frame onto the paper.

Cut it out.

Spread a layer of Mod Podge onto the front of your frame.

Make sure you get the edges well. You don't want 

the paper to lift once it's placed on.

Place your paper on and pres it down from one side to the other.

Avoid making ripples or bubbles in the paper. They are so hard to fix!

I like to keep applying pressure by swiping my hand over

it for about a minute to make sure it has a good bond.

Use your nail file to remove the excess paper that is hanging over

the edge of your frame.

Lay your file at a 45 degree angle against the corner

of your frame. Apply pressure and pull downward.

  (If you file upward, you will most likely lift the paper from the frame.)

Your edges should be nice a flush with the frame.

After the Mod Podge has dried completely, add and layer of Mod

Podge over the top of your pattern paper to protect it. Let it dry.

Now that your frame is complete you can use your strips of fabric

to make rosettes! For my rosette tutorial, click here. You can

twist them tight or loose for a look that you love!

Hot glue them in place. 

I don't have a picture on hand that I want in this frame so here is what I did.

Cut a small square of white paper to fit your frame. Then cut a heart shape

from some pattern paper or a book page. Center it on the white square and 

glue down. Put your glass, heart and backing back in your frame once

everything has had a chance to dry!

Enjoy!

Total cost for this project: $0.99

{ framed ampersand }

Here is another simple accent project that looks

great with your Halloween decor, vintage inspired decor

or any other type of decor!

What you'll need:

1. Old book page
2. Frame
3. Printer

Set the margins on your printer to match the size of your

paper. Then pass it through your printer to get your

desired symbol. I used the font "Carbon".

Now cut down your paper to fit the frame you have.

Put it in your frame and enjoy!



{ homemade magnets }

A house is not a home unless you have refrigerator magnets!

This may or may not be true but I can

tell you that the magnets I have are not a pretty sight! My

collection is mostly made up of those advertisement magnets from the

front of  phone books, ABC's and farm animals!

I know... yours are too!
ha ha.....I got a wild hair and decided that magnets

CAN look nice and even MATCH each other!

Does your fridge look anything like this? :)

Flower magnet

What you'll need:

1. Fabric & scissors

2. Hot glue

3. Magnet buttons (small round magnets)

I just made a shirt the other day and have these
scraps left over! The fabric will be perfect for my

kitchen!

Click here for instructions on how to make the flower! For

these flowers, I cut about 20 fabric circles for each.

I have shown these carnation type flowers once before on A Lott Of Ideas.
They are very simple! The only difference is that I have used a

magnet for the backing and it's much smaller.
Click here for full instructions

Clothes pin magnets

What you'll need:

1. Page from an old book ( or any patterned paper you love)
2. Magnetic sheet with adhesive backing
3. Mod Podge and small paint brush
4. Clothes pins
5. Ink and embellishments ( optional)

Place your wooden clothes pin on top of your

paper and trace it. Then cut it out and trim to fit.

Now place the clothes pin on the magnet sheet. Trace
and cut.



Use Mod Podge to attach your paper to one side

of your clothes pin. Allow it to dry 15 min. I used

some ink to add a vintage look to my paper edges at

this point.

Remove adhesive backing from your magnet

strip and attach it to the other side of your clothes

pin.

Once your Mod Podge has dried, add a layer of

Mod Podge on top of your paper to protect and

seal it.

I don't make very many things without embellishments

so I added a tiny rosette to the tops of each clothes pin!
For instructions on how to make these cuties, click here!

Now that I've replaced all of my old advertisement magnets

and given my kids back their ABC's and farm animals ( and

thrown out all the junk that didn't need to be saved), my fridge

looks so clean and organized!

And the kids are happy to have their stuff back! :)