Items Needed:

Popsicle sticks, paint brushes, ceramic paint colors, twine, glue gun (if using this, please do so with supervision with little hands!) or liquid glue.

Instructions:

With two popsicle sticks underneath, glue 11 popsicle sticks close together to make the base of the feeder.

Then layer all four sides with popsicle sticks. Two on the sides, then two on the top and bottom until you have four or five sticks on each side.

With your paint brushes and paint, paint the base and the top popsicle sticks.  This adds such a fun pop of color. Let paint dry.

After dry, tie on four pieces of twine in each of the four corners.  Make sure these are long enough that they will hang nicely below a branch.

Lastly, fill with your bird seed.

Our Easy Bird Craft Feeder is now ready to hang!

Which bird seed attracts the most birds? 

While you can purchase bags of bird seed at most stores, black oil sunflower seeds at your best bet to get the most variety of birds.  They have the thinnest hulls.  Black oil sunflower seeds also seem to be a favorite of Cardinals.

Where should I hang my bird feeder?

Bird feeders are best hung in a place where your visiting birds feel safe from predators. Most important: Avoid open and noisy areas and hang your bird feeders at eye level or a little above. Do not hang feeders too close to any place where squirrels can jump on them, or too low they are within a cat’s reach.

Info taken from www.yardenvy.com

Another easy bird feeder is our Hanging Bird Seed Feeders.

These are a great way to use up any extra bird seed.  Can you see the black oil sunflower seeds?

No matter which bird feeder that you make, your grandkids will love watching to see what birds it will attract!  Thanks to the TOTS Family for a great craft idea!

The post Easy Bird Feeder Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I love making any kind of craft with my grandkids with items that I already have around in my house.   These Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks are perfect for that. 

Using paper plates and either construction or cardstock paper, I can have these ready for my grandkids to make in a jiffy.  Here is what you will need:

Paper plates, some colorful cardstock paper, pen or pencil, scissors, a hole punch, tacky glue or gluestick, orange and black acrylic paint, and a foam brush.  Also needed is a straw, dowel or pipe cleaner to help hold up the mask. We used a dowel.  You will also need this free template compliments of Oh Happy Day!   Click HERE for template.

Start by painting the back of the paper plate with the orange and black paint.

While the paint is drying, cut out the shapes from the template.

With your pen or pencil, trace the shapes on to the back of the colored paper as desired.

Cut out the shapes that you just traced.

Trace two circles for the eyes and then cut them out.

Glue the shapes on to the front of your mask.

Using the hole punch, punch some holes for the cat’s whiskers. Then glue them on.

Because we used a dowel for our support, we glued them on with a glue gun.  A straw or pipe cleaner will also work.  If you choose to use a dowel, make sure any children who use a glue gun uses it with adult supervision.

And now it’s time to play!  These Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks will provide HOURS of entertainment and play for your kids and grandkids.

Happy Halloween!

We’ve got some more super fun Halloween Crafts for you.  Take a look!

Sparkle Spiders

Coffee Filter Bats

Salt Art Spider Web Craft

The post Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

To get started with this craft you will need the following:  Shrinky Dink paper, embossing powder, a rainbow ink pad,  hand hole puncher, foam brush, black marker, mod podge and a key chain.  We chose softer ink colors because these were two granddaughters but you can get a bolder look with a bolder ink pad.

Taking a foam brush, get it full with the color ink that you would like and paint on your child’s hand.  Work quickly so that your ink doesn’t dry.  Completely cover your childs hand.

Lay your hand down on the Shrinky Dink paper.  Press firmly on each little finger to get a full hand print. 

Carefully lift the hand off the paper and then sprinkle embossing powder over the wet ink.  Shake off any excess powder.

Cut around the hand print making sure to leave a little room to write on and to punch a hole between the thumb and pointer finger.

Write your child’s name and the year and then make a hole with the hole puncher. Don’t forget to do this before you bake.  It will be too hard to punch if you forget until after it’s baked!

Carefully lay the hands on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake according to the package instructions.  We baked ours at 325 degrees for 1 to 3 minutes.

Watching them cook is so fun to see!

Shrinky Dinks do curl while they are baking and then they will flatten out.  Every once in a while they will curl on top of each other so we made several just in case!

When cool, apply a small layer of mod podge over the hand prints and let it dry. 

Attach a key chain ring and your Handprint Key Chain is ready to go!

Whomever is the lucky recipient of this darling gift will love it!

The post Handprint Key Chain Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Items needed for this craft:

Coffee filter papers

Washable markers

Pipe cleaners

Spray bottle

You will need four coffee filters for each butterfly. 

Put two filters together so that you have two piles of two filters.

Color the top coffee filter with the washable markers.  Let your kids creativity flow!  Make a design, make a pattern or just let them scribble.   It will all turn out beautiful. Bright colors usually work out best.

Now here’s the part that all kids love! Using water and getting a little wet! With your spray bottle, spray water all over the top filter. Make sure every inch of the coffee filter gets wet enough to soak through to the layer underneath.

You should now have four Tie-dyed filters. 

Peel the layered filters apart and lay them out to dry. 

When they are fully dry, accordion fold each filter.  Fold one way and then turn and fold the other way.

Overlap the two filters together as shown below.

Fold your pipe cleaner in half and then wrap it around the center of the coffee filters.  Make sure you twist the pipe cleaner real good so that all four pieces are tightly secured.  Curl the ends of your pipe cleaners to make them look like the butterfly’s antenna.

And there you have it!  Darling Coffee Filter Butterflies to adorn your house while you wait for Spring!

The post Coffee Filter Butterflies appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Items needed for this craft:

Socks – You can either purchase or use mismatched socks from home.

Satin Ribbon   – Or use any kind of ribbon that you have at home.

Scunci Polybands – Plain rubber bands will also work.

Long Grain Rice – About 1 cup per bunny

Needle and black thread or Black Sharpie Marker

Let’s get started!  First stretch your sock over a sturdy glass, then fill the sock with 1 cup of rice.

Take a polyband or rubber band and tie the top closed.

Then take another band and wrap it around near the top to create the body and the head.

Use another band to make the tail for the bunny

Cut any excess sock off at the top.  If you leave a lot of sock at the top, your ears will be floppy.  If you cut it closer to the head, they will stand up.  It’s all up to you!

Cut down the center of the top of the sock. Then cut each ear at an angle to make the curve for the ears.

This next part you can either use some black thread to make two eyes and “x” for the nose or you can use a sharpie marker.

Give your bunny a little bow around the neck and he is ready to go!  Kids love playing with these because the rice inside makes it soft to hold and easy for them to stand this bunny up. 

A big thank you to Feeling Nifty for this great Sock Bunnies Craft.  It was a big success!

The post Sock Bunnies Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started.  Rolling pin, egg shape cookie cutter, straw, parchment paper, acrylic paint, clear coat sealer (not pictured), paint brushes or foam brushes, paint pens (optional) and some twine.

Mix together the items (see below for the salt dough recipe). Then roll with the rolling pin to 1/4 inch thickness.  Little hands love to do this part!

With your egg shape cookie cutter, cut out your shapes from the dough

Take the straw and poke holes at the top of the oval.

Bake the ornaments per the recipe below.  Now comes the creative part!  After these have baked and are completely cooled, let the creative juices flow and paint your ornaments!

The foam brush is better to paint the whole egg with while the smaller brushes are better for details. I love to watch the creativity of my grandkids.

Let paint completely dry then spray with a clear top coat and let dry.  Attach some twine and you are ready to hang!  They are darling on a tree outside, on a branch inside your house or hanging from a shelf. 

Print

Salt Dough Easter Egg Ornaments

Course Craft

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup water
• Rolling pin
• Egg shape cookie cutter
• Straw
• Parchment paper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• Mix first three ingredients together and knead until a dough forms.
• With rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Some flour sprinkled on the counter might be needed to avoid sticking.
• Take your egg shape cookie cutter and cut out your shapes from the dough.
• Next, use the straw to make holes at the top of the oval.
• Place eggs on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
• Bake at 250 for 2 hours. Watch to make sure they don't overcook and crack.
• Items needed for painting:
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Foam brushes
• Clear coat sealer (not pictured)
• Twine
• Paint pens (optional)
• After the eggs are completely cooled, now is the creative part! Take your acrylic paint and paint away! The foam brushes are better to paint the whole egg with and the smaller brushes will be better for the details.
• When the paint has completely dried, spray with a coat of clear sealer. After drying completely, attach some twine and you are ready to go!

Our grandkids had a great time making these Easter Egg Ornaments and a big thank you to Design Mom for the great idea!

Happy Easter!

The post Salt Dough Easter Egg Ornaments appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Confession: I am a last-minute mom. I am the mom who gets the birthday gift on the way to the party and wraps it in the car. I am the mom who rushes to drop my kids off at school in my sweats. And for Valentine’s, I am the mom who runs to the store the day before and grabs whatever box of valentines is left over. But, this year, I decided to try something different. I am preparing early and getting some cute, original DIY valentines ready. If you’re looking for something different too, check out these 25 show-stopping DIY valentines!

1. S’mores Valentine– S’mores are no longer just for the summer with these cute Valentines from Overstuffed .

2. I Dig You, Valentine– Real Housemoms‘s Valentines are the perfect hand out for any kids that love playing in the dirt!

3. Paper Airplane Valentines– I have a 5 year old who would go crazy over these valentines from Lia Griffith!

4. Awesome Sauce– The Search for Imperfection‘s printable makes this valentine simple and easy.

5. Gummy Bear Valentine– The gummy bears make this valentine from Six Time Mommy colorful and yummy!

6. Olaf Valentine– Anyone else’s kids crazy for Frozen? My daughter would be obsessed with One Creative Mommy‘s Olaf valentines.

7. Conversation Heart Soap– I used to not like conversation hearts, but these soaps from A Pumpkin and a Princess definitely changed my mind!

8. Valentines Chocolate Box– Our simple valentines chocolate box is perfect for hiding surprises inside, like candy or even a ring? (wink, wink) Find it at This Grandma is Fun!

9. Valentine Donuts– I don’t know about your family, but in ours, there is no greater gift of love than donuts. Share the love with Eighteen25‘s amazing design.

10. Heart Shaped Crayons– Make Valentines colorful with Princess Pinky Girl‘s heart crayons.

11. I “Chews” You– This valentine from Crazy Little Projects is sure to be the hit at any Valentine’s Day party!

12. Pirate Valentine– Short Stop Designs‘s valentines AAAARRR fun treasures for young pirates!

13. You the “Bomb”– Make Life Lovely‘s bath bomb valentines are the perfect way to pamper friends and family.

14. Valentine Pompom Monster–
We love these cute, fuzzy monsters from Practically Functional!

15. You Make My Heart Race– These valentines from Hello, Wonderful are too cute!

16. Fortune Cookie Valentine– We love this original idea from Evermine!

17. You’re One in a “Minion”– I feel like this valentine from The Benson Street was made for me haha. I can’t get enough of the minions!

18. Unicorn Valentine Foam Hearts– This valentine from The DIY Mommy is absolutely magical!

19. Soda Valentine– If you’d like to buy the world a coke, you’ll love this valentine from Bullock’s Buzz.

20. You A-maze Me– We love this fun take on valentines from Lil Luna!

21. Lip Balm Valentine– I don’t know about your family, but my kids looooove lip balm. They would be thrilled to receive Landeelu‘s valentine!

22. Rubber Duck Valentine– Kids will go quackers over Positively Splendid‘s valentines!

23. Valen-slime– Nothing says love like heart-shaped slime! Find this valentine at Kids Activities.

24. Ring Pop Valentine– Question: why has no one ever come up with socially acceptable, edible jewelry for grown-ups? I would love to have a delicious ring that I can slowly eat throughout the day, but that also looks amazing with my outfit. Is that so wrong? Check out this valentine at The Gracious Wife.

25. You Color My World– Add a little color to Valantine’s Day with this valentine from 5 Minutes for Mom!

The post 25 Show-Stopping DIY Valentines appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

This post may contain  affiliate links. For more information, click to see our disclosure policy.

When my grandchildren visit, we always do lots of fun things but my absolute favorite to do with them is to have them snuggle up and read a book together.  I have compiled a quick list of some of my favorite books to read with grandkids that you might want to check out!

A book that I have recently purchased is “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt.  During my last visit with some of my grandkids, we gathered together and read this book and then did a fun craft with crayons to correlate along with the story!

What would you do if all you wanted to do was to color but your crayons were on strike?  That’s what happens to poor Duncan in this story and it was so fun to read about all of the complaints that each color had.  Poor blue crayon is sick and tired of just coloring water.  What would YOU color with a blue crayon?

And just take a look to see what the purple crayon is upset about:

After reading about all the crayon colors, we then made old fashioned sun catchers!  I remember making these when I was a child and both boys were the perfect age to make these.

Here are the items that you will need to make these:

Crayons, Grater, Waxed Paper, Paper Towels, Iron, Hole Punch, String or twine, Tape

Instructions:

Lay a some paper towels on your working surface.  Then lay a piece of waxed paper on the paper towels.

Peel the wrappers off of the crayons that you will be using.

We first started to put the crayons in a sharpener to create some shavings.  This turned out to be way too labor intensive and too much work for little hands.

We then moved to using a grater which worked much better. I was a little worried that the crayons were going to ruin the grater, but we washed it with warm water and then ran it through the dishwasher and it cleaned up beautifully!

Position your crayon shavings on your waxed paper.  It’s best to leave some room between your shavings and not make them super thick.   As they get ironed, the crayons will melt and spread and if they are too thick, you won’t be able to see the sun shine through them.  Older brother made his a little too thick with his blue crayons.

Place another piece of waxed paper on top of your shavings and then lay some paper towels on top of that so that nothing can get melted onto the iron.  On a low setting, iron over your crayon shavings until they have all melted.

After this has cooled, cut into the desired shape.  We chose plain old squares.  Then punch a hole in one corner and run some string or twine through.

Hang or tape up in a bright window and enjoy the colors!

I loved this book and think it’s worth getting.  Going along with Amazon’s recommendation, the youngest age that I think would enjoy this book is 3.  Any younger than that then the subject matter will probably be a little over their heads.  Get your copy today and then have some kind of crayon fun with YOUR grandkids!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post The Day the Crayons Quit Book Review appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

To make your own tabletop terrarium you will need:

•  Potting soil
• A container/pot
• Moss
• Your favorite succulent (order online or ask your local florist for recommendations)

I started with a glass pyramid for my terrarium base. Succulents do not need much soil or water so you can use your imagination and select your favorite container for your base. This pyramid came from a local craft store.

Fill the base of your terrarium with decorative rocks or moss. This adds some texture to your finished display.

Fill in the rest of the base with a high quality potting soil. You don’t need much, the better the soil, the better off your plants will grow.

Chicks and Hens are one of my favorite succulents. They grow wonderfully in a garden and a single plant can spread up to two feet. I had originally intended to use this ‘hen’ for my terrarium, but learned quickly that the plant was already too large for the space. Luckily, I had a couple of other small succulents on hand that I was able to separate out!

Carefully separate the roots of your plants. Most succulents are fairly hardy so separating them won’t cause the shock it might on another plant, but it’s best to be careful. If the plants are large, use a clean pair os shears to cut them apart.

Press the newly separated plants into the soil. Add additional soil to cover the full root. If you have space, you can add additional moss on top. The plants I decided to use are called, Donkey Tail on the left and Trailing Jade on the right.

Clean up your mess, water the softly and proudly display your new terrarium!

If you liked this decor tutorial you may want to check out some of my other posts on Rocky Mountain Bliss!

Transform a Coffee Table into a Cushioned Ottoman

Decorate Like A Designer: Tips for Styling Bookshelves

The post Tabletop Terrarium appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I’m so excited to be joining you on Made from Pinterest, and I am looking forward to sharing some of my favorite projects with you! This fun project is very low cost and would be perfect for decorating for a party.

Project Supplies

White Vinegar
Food Coloring
Coffee Filters (9 per flower)
Straw
Floral Tape (optional)

Step 1: Dye the Petals 

The most time consuming portion of this project is dying your filters. Just like Easter Eggs, creating a quick dye with vinegar, hot water and food coloring will help your filters soak up the dye and become a vibrant color.

To create an ombre look, I used three containers with different amounts of food coloring in each. The lightest color (bottom bowl) has 3 drops of red dye. The middle color has 6 drops and the top color (and most vivid) has 12 drops.

For an ombre look separate out 3 coffee filters for each color. Bunch up your filters into teepees and place them into the dye. Allow the filters to sit for 5-10 minutes so the dye can soak into the paper. Once you see streaks going up the filters feel free to push the rest of the filters into the dye to soak fully. This helps create a darker outer edge on your petals. 

Remove the wet filters and place them aside to dry. The dye could leave a mark on your counter so I recommend placing the filters on a platter or newspaper.

Step 2: Cut the Petals

Once the filters are fully dry fold into 1/4 shaped pieces. Stack all 9 filters together and cut a half circle around the edge of your flower.

When you open up the filters they will not all be the same shape. This helps give each petal character and texture.

Step 3: Shape the Carnation

Fold your lightest color filters into 1/8 shapes. This will be the center of your flower. Using a hot glue gun (or other glue of your choice) begin to attach your petals to the straw. Move around the straw covering it entirely.

For your next layer of color, fold the three filters into 1/4 shapes. Repeat the same process as before moving in segments around the straw to glue down the petals.

For the outer petals (and darkest color) cut the coffee filters in half.

Place a string of glue around the base of the flower. Wrap the half cut shapes around the outside. Repeat this with all 6 pieces.

Your completed flower will look like the image below. If you plan to store the flowers for a future event, or travel with them to a different location, this is the best way to transport them. If you wish to have a green stem (instead of a noticeable straw like I used) now is the time to wrap the base of the flower with floral tape. Cover the bottom portion of the filter and down the stem covering up all of the straw that will be visible after placing into a vase.

Step 4: Fluff out the petals

When you are ready to display the flowers begin to fluff out the petals by separating each of the coffee filter petals individually. You should be able to see some of the sections you created in the interior of the flower.

As you separate the sections add texture by crunching some sections and straightening others. Continue to fluff until you are happy with the shape of your flower.

Make a full bouquet of different colors or create a dozen for your next party! I love using paper flowers to add a quick seasonal touch to my home decor and I don’t feel like I have to save them for another use when I’m done with them.

Did you like this project? Check out some of my other favorite projects on RockyMtnBliss!

Quinoa Breakfast Bars

DIY Felted Garland

The post DIY Coffee Filter Carnations appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Plus, it’s super easy to make. Time consuming? Yes. But since I can’t stand to watch a movie or TV with my hands still, it’s the perfect project to do while binging on Netflix. And if you have a husband or significant other-type person sitting next to you to help, all the better. You don’t have to have super crafting skills to get this done, just a little perseverance.

Valentine Heart Wreath Materials:

• 8 inch foam heart form
• Several sheets of pink cardstock
• Hydrangea flower punch (Martha Stewart brand carries the one in this picture)
• Corsage pins or straight pins with a white head

Step 1. Get to punching. I used about 3-3 1/2 sheets of 12×12 cardstock for this project. I use different shades of pink because in the end it gives it more texture and a more interesting look than it all being the same flat pink. Again, this is a great in-front-of-the-TV activity. Or pawn this part off on your partner (like I did).

Step 2. Bend and pin. Layer up two of your little flower punches and gently bend the petals inward. Punch one of your pins through the middle. You’ll want to twist the top petals around so they don’t completely line up and make a full looking flower.

Step 3. Pin, pin, pin. Pick a starting point on your foam form and start pinning the flower petals on. I like to do rows at a time for the sake of knowing all the white spaces are covered. Keep pinning on until the entire foam heart is covered. I used around 140 sets of flowers for my heart; your number of flowers will vary due to heart size and how close together you put them.

Step 4. Totally optional. But when I was doing this project, I quickly noticed my corsage pins were a whole lot longer than my heart form was thick. Easy enough to fix. I ran out to the garage and got the wire cutters and trimmed down the pins to be flush with the foam form. Makes your pretty heart less of a health hazard, but not totally necessary to the project. Your form and pins may work well enough together that you don’t have to do this!

As I said, it takes some time to punch and pin all those flowers but the end result is worth it! You can hang as part of a cluster of Valentine decor or just set amongst your things as a pretty little Valentine perk.

Thanks again to MFP for asking me to be a regular contributor! I’d love it if you’d stop on by Frog Prince Paperie for party inspiration, and maybe find some tutorials and recipes for a few other holidays, too! You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Google+.

The post Valentine Heart Wreath with Paper Flowers appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

A few years ago, I made some cootie catcher Valentines for my husband and son using scrapbook paper, and they were a big hit. This year, I decided to make some printable versions that anyone could use for their Valentine.

The idea for the printable cootie catcher Valentines came from this cool seasonal cootie catcher from Bren Did that I found on Pinterest.

I know you remember folding cootie catchers or fortune tellers when you were in school. Well, kids are still making them and having as much fun as we did!

For these free printables, I made one lovey-dovey version filled with sweet nothings, perfect to give to your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day.

Each flap opens to reveal a sweet, loving message.

Since I am also the mom of a 9-year-old boy who bristles at the thought of having to pass out any kind of remotely sappy Valentines to his classmates, I also made a boy-approved version.

In fact, there’s not a mention of Valentine’s Day at all on the boy version. Just lots of “punny” punchlines to the joke, “I really mustache you a question.”

When I made my original cootie catchers, I filmed a video tutorial that shows exactly how to fold one. You might find that useful as you’re making these.

First, you need to download the free printable of your choice.

Mustache Cootie Catcher Printable
Printable Valentine’s Day Cootie Catcher

Print it out on your home computer on a sheet of 8.5X11-inch paper. Then use scissors or a paper trimmer (this affiliate link is the one I use and recommend) to cut out the cootie catcher.

Fold the paper in half, left to right along the center line. Then unfold and fold, top to bottom, along the center line. Unfold and place the paper face down.

Fold the points to the center.

Then turn the cootie catcher over.

Fold each corner to the center again.

Like so.

And your cootie catcher is finished!

To play with it and start predicting your (romantic) future, just slide your thumb and index finger into the flaps on the underside.

Lift a flap to reveal your future.

You might enjoy these other Valentine’s Day projects:

No-Sew Embellished Heart Cocktail Napkins

Valentine’s Day Vignette (and love story)

Sew Cute Printable Valentines

The post Printable Cootie Catcher Valentines appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornament You are going to LOVE creating these DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornaments! This is a quick and easy craft for you and your kids, you can make 7-10 trees in under an hour. Make your tree unique by using different paint colors and embellishments, the possibilities are endless. They cost pennies to make and will look darling on any Christmas tree!”
Mom would always catch me before too much damage was done and would send me on my merry way. We would wake up the next morning to a beautifully decorated tree!

These Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments are darling and a quick easy craft that requires little or no patience!

Feel free to use the supplies listed below or decorate the Christmas with any craft items of your choice. They would also be fun when decorated with fruit loops cereal, gummy Bears, popcorn, yarn etc.

Supplies 

Jumbo Size Craft Sticks
2 mm Jute, 20lb by Bead Landing
Turf Green Paint from DecoArt Multi -Surface Satin Paint
Emerald Green Paint from DecoArt Ultra Fine Green Glitter Paint
White Fuzzy Sticks (pipe cleaners)
Sparkling White Fuzzy Sticks (pipe cleaners)
Yellow Scrapbook Paper
Brown Striped or Corrugated Scrapbook Paper
Scissors
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Embellishments
Coarse Glitter White by Martha Stewart
Paper Christmas Tree Jolee’s Boutique Embellishments
White Sugar Pearls by Wilton
Sprinkles White Sparkling Sugar by Wilton
Big Bag of Buttons from Favorite Findings 3.5 oz I

Instructions 

Figure out how many trees you are going to make, you will need 3 jumbo size craft sticks per tree. Paint your sticks the desired color, allow them to dry thoroughly.

Make a triangle with 3 sticks, gently lift up a corner and apply a small dab of hot glue, press down gently until the glue cools. Repeat the process with the other two corners of the triangle.

Glue your star and tree trunk on next.

Time to glue on an ornament hanger and buttons onto your tree.

We would love to hear one of your favorite Christmas memories! Please feel free to share one in a comment below.

Happy Holidays,

We are excited to be linking this post to Creative Family Fun and Simply Designing!

The post DIY Kids Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornament appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

These photo transfer ornaments were inspired by this pin from Landeelu.com. I totally love her iconic looking sledding down the hill and bundled up pictures on her ornaments, but decided these would work wonderfully as place cards with the added bonus of being little souvenirs from the day.

Materials:

• Wooden ornaments
• White craft paint
• Matte gel Medium
• Laser printed images
• Printable tags
• Ribbon

Word to the wise before you start on this project–the photo transfer absolutely won’t happen unless you use an image from a laser printer. I shot mine over to the office supply store to run them off, but a photocopy machine that uses toner will work just as well.

Step 1: Paint the ornaments. Put a coat (or two) of white paint over the entire ornament. Be sure to do the back so the ornaments have nice polish. To make them a little shabby, you can take sandpaper to the edges.

Step 2: Cut the pictures to the size of your ornament. I placed the picture over my ornaments and then ran my finger around the edge to mark the size of the ornament. When the paper is flipped over, you can easily see the cutting lines!

Step 3: Apply matte gel to the front of the image.

Step 4: Apply the image to the wood. Flip the image over and place on the wooden ornament. Use a credit card or something similar to flatten the paper to the surface, remove any bubbles or wrinkles, and get rid of any excess gel medium. Now’s the hard part. You’re going to have to wait at least 8 hours for the medium to completely do its magic.

Step 5: If your patience hasn’t gotten the best of you, you can start removing the paper from the ornament. Landeelou suggested lightly misting the image to rub it off, but frankly, that took too long. I saw another blogger who just ran the paper under the faucet while gently rubbing circles and it came off really easy that way. You will have to repeat this process several times, as all the paper won’t come off in a single shot.

I like the look of this half- painted ornament…it was a happy accident. While I’d love to tell you that it was completely intentional, really, I painted half for a picture, the ADD kicked in and I forgot the rest. What I did find out from this little experiment is that the photo transfer onto the unpainted wood will rub off at a much higher rate than on the painted portion. I love the chippy worn look, but you do want a bit of the photo to stay in place!

If you just love your ornaments just they way they are, you can stop right there! I made them into place cards with two extra additions. I wrote the name of the person next to the photo, and I added one of the free printable ribbon tags to the top before I tied the ornament to the napkin ring.

Thanks again to MFP for asking me to be a regular contributor! I’d love it if you’d stop on by Frog Prince Paperie for party inspiration, and maybe find some tutorials and recipes for a few other holidays, too! You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Google+.

A FEW OF MY MOST POPULAR THANKSGIVING POSTS:

Thanksgiving Tree of Thanks free printable

We are So Thankful Family Tablescape

Chic Chair Tie Backs with Fabric Rosettes

The post Photo Transfer Ornament Name Cards for the Holidays appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

It is super easy and fun  to make and a perfect way to use the kid’s imagination and creativity!

Isn’t it so beautiful outside this time of the year!?! Everywhere you look, Fall is showing off its golden colors.

Your kiddos will love this Fall activity! So what are you waiting for?!?

To make Leaf Art you will need:

-leaves from outside

-googly eyes

-glue

-black marker

-paper

Let your munchkin make anything they can imagine, for example, my daughter wanted to make leaf monsters and a little baby hedgehog.

Here is a little puppy made of red and yellow leaves and, of course, huge googly eyes!

I hope you enjoyed these leaf art ideas!

Share it with your friends and family on Munchkin Time, Munchkin Time, Facebook and other social media!

If you make Super Cute Leaf Art for Kids PLEASE tag @munchkintimeblog and use a hashtag #munchkintimeblog on Instagram, we would LOVE to see your creation

Thank you for stopping by!

Popular Posts from Munchkin Time

Munchkin Time

How To Make Frozen Tutu – Easy DIY Tutorial

The Best Creamy Chicken Pasta

The post Fall Leaf Art appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

1.  Halloween Bark from Bakerella is adorable!

2.  Ping Pong Ball Ghost lights from Unoriginal Mom are a perfect way to add a little spook to your home.                          

3. These Strawberry Ghosts from Candiquik are nothing to be afraid of.

4.  Ghost Footprints from Crafty Morning are a good way to keep the little ones involved in the holiday.                                                            

5. These Boo-nana Pops by Skinny Taste are a good non-candy treat for Halloween.                                                                                 

6. Cheesecloth Ghosts from Made From Pinterest add a little color to the typical white ghost.

7. Nothing screams Halloween more than these Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Ghosts by the Comfort of Cooking.

8. These Glue Ghosts by the Best Nanny are so fun for kids

9. This Boo-licious Pizza by A Pretty Life in the Suburbs is great for Kids and Moms.                                                                                                 

10. DIY Hanging Cheesecloth Ghosts  from Crafts Unleashed are an inexpensive decoration and a craft for kids.                    

11. Ghost Cake Pops by Bubble and Sweet are a perfect Halloween party treat.                                                                     

12. Ghost Bombs in a Mummy box from Made From Pinterest are fun and safe for kids!

13. Graveyard Pudding Cups by Party Planning are perfect for parties are a fun treat for your kids.

14. These Gourd Ghosts by Made from Pinterest are perfect for fall and they last forever!

16.  S’more Ghosts by Blondie and Brownies are cute, simple, and yummy.

17. These Halloween Rock Magnets by This Heart of Mine are a nice fridge decoration your kids can make.

18. Ghosts in a Jar by Landee See Landee Do are much less spooky when they are behind glass.                                                       

19. This Self-Inflatable Ghost by Mama Smiles is a perfect way to spend the day before trick-or-treating.                                               

20. These Spirit Jugs by Eighteen 25 are a fun and crafty way of recycling.

21.  Yarn Ghost Garland by Eighteen 25 is a great project for decorating the house.

22. Rice Krispie Treat Ghost Pops by Hungry Happenings are almost too cute to eat.                                                             

23. These Google Eye Donut Ghosts by Your Homebased Mom are easy!

The post 20+ Easy Ghost Crafts and Treats appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

If you have been thinking about getting a Minc Foil Applicator, now is a great time!  Usually retail price on these machines are $149.00 but as of today, 9/23/15, they are just $95.50 through Amazon. (affiliate)  I’ve already bought three more for Christmas presents!  That really is a great deal.

So the items that you will need for this project is:

• Heidi Swapp Foil
• Heidi Swapp paper or other paper pattern of your choice
• Fishing wire
• Beads and baubles of your choice
• Large washers (found at Home Depot around the nuts and bolts)
• Pour-on High Gloss Finish (found at Michael’s)
• Sharp cutter, box cutter, something that holds a razor blade.
• ModPodge
• Paintbrush
• Cutting mat

Using your foil of choice, apply the foil to your paper.  For my tutorial on how to use the Minc machine, click HERE.   With these washers, you don’t need to use the whole piece of paper but can cut your paper into smaller pieces and then just place smaller pieces of foil over your paper.

I created a stunning black necklace and in order to do that, I took Heidi’s paper to my local printing company and copied it off onto a black paper.  In doing this, you can’t really see the pattern print on black paper, but then when you apply the foil. BAM!  The foil really stands out on a darker background. Wait till you see it.

After your paper has been foiled, trace the washers onto the backside of the paper and then cut your circle out with a razor blade cutter.  Make sure you are doing this on a mat or something that can withstand some deep cuts.

Next, take your washer and with a paintbrush, “paint” the flattest side of the washer with the ModPodge and apply your foiled paper.  Press hard so the paper doesn’t curl and leave a gap between the paper and the washer.

Let dry overnight.

After thoroughly dried, prepare the high gloss finish as per the directions on the box.  After mixing, I like to wait just a few minutes to let the bubbles subside.  When ready, take a spoon and drizzle the glaze right on top of your papered washer.  Take a toothpick or something thin and sharp to spread the mixture over the entire surface and to pop any bubbles that you might see. Try not to put on so much that the mixture spills over the edges of the washer.

I would recommend drying for at least 24 hours or even longer if the gloss finish still feels gummy and it hasn’t hardened all the way.

When hardened thoroughly, take some fishing wire and determine the length of your necklace.  Then fold the fishing wire in half and with the looped end, push that through the hole of the washer, then stick your two ends through the loop and pull tight.  It should look like this:

Now comes some fun!  With whatever beads, pearls and baubles that you have, create the rest of your necklace.  You can either finish them off by tying them to a necklace clasp or just tie around your neck.

Here is the black one that I made that I love:

And a few more!

One thing that I love about this Minc machine is that you can foil more things than you think.  It’s not just for cards or banners.  Be creative!  What do you have in your house that you would love to foil?!  Here are some of my past projects:

Free Printable Pantry Labels, DIY Foil Gift  Box, Patriotic Paper Wreath, Free Cinderella Quote Printable,  and Altoid Gift Tins. 

If you have teenage girls, they will love making these and giving them as gifts to their friends and I hope that you will enjoy them too!

The post Washer Necklaces appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Now, when I got to thinking about a fall craft I saw this DIY fall leaf bowl in so so many Pinterest posts that I had to go explore the project. I figure when more than one crafty gal has made an attempt at a project it must be good, right? That is until I started reading the comments on these posts…so many fails! I was a bit leery about trying it myself, but with the small material investment these need and a forearmed with a lot of reading on best methods, I took the plunge! When my DIY leaf bowl came out just perfect, I was more than happy with the results, and I’m thrilled to be able to pass this how-to on.

Materials:

• Plastic wrap
• 50 or so fabric leaves (purchase at the Dollar Store for best value)
• Fabric Stiffener

Find a nicely shaped glass bowl that is a fairly good size in your cupboard and cover the outside in plastic wrap.

We’ll start making the bowl in a minute, but one step you really need to take to get your leaves to stick flatly to the bowl is to iron them all as flat as you can. If you’ve bought some leaves with a plastic stem, take that part off entirely, then iron them out. Even the Dollar Store ones that come without plastic pieces will need ironing. They aren’t going to go entirely flat, but do as much as you can! For the record, I bought two bags of leaves and just sorted out the red to red-orange leaves that I liked most to use.

Now we start making our bowl. I read a lot of tutorials that used Modge Podge instead of fabric stiffener. If that’s all you have, it does work, but there were a many more people with bowls that didn’t work out with it. Fabric stiffener is really inexpensive and you could easily make 9 or 10 bowls with what comes in a small bottle.

I painted a layer of fabric stiffener onto the plastic wrap before I started laying on my leaves. Looking back, I don’t know if that was necessarily needed, but it helped keep them in place as I added them to the bowl. Place your leaves around the bowl so they overlap, painting the back of each one with fabric stiffener and adding leaves until you cover the bowl. For mine, I made sure all the bottoms of the leaves pointed to the bottom of the bowl so when it was un-molded all the leaves would prettily point up and out. For good measure, I spread an extra coat of stiffener over the leaves once everything was in place.

Let your leaf bowl dry completely. I left mine overnight so there was no question as to its level of dryness. Take the plastic and leaves carefully off you glass bowl. It *should* come off fairly easily. Gently coax it off if it gives you any trouble. Everything is going to be one solid sheet of flexible leafy glue, so you’ll be fine bending it around a bit if you need to.

Once the leaves are off the bowl, carefully peel out the plastic. There were a few little pieces of extra glue I had to pick off the tips of my leaves, but after that, you’ll be ready to make your DIY Fall Leaf Bowl a pretty decoration for the season!

The bowl is fairly light weight, so it won’t be as sturdy as a glass bowl, but it will certainly be able to handle a few pine cones or faux pumpkins!

Thanks again to MFP for asking me to be a regular contributor! I’d love it if you’d stop on by Frog Prince Paperie for party inspiration, and maybe find some tutorials and recipes for a few other holidays, too! You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Google+.

A FEW OF MY MOST POPULAR POSTS:

Halloween Sock Black Cat – a 15 minute craft perfect for kids

Bewitching little Perfectly Poisonous Parfait recipe

Hallway table display and Free Printable “Something Wicked this way Comes” Picture

The post DIY Fall Leaf Bowl appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

See what I did there? Hit? Baseball?

I just love a good play on words!

This tutorial references a lot of things I love — mason jars, painting, paper crafts, Pinterest and my husband, who is a big Atlanta Braves baseball fan.

One night, I was scrolling through Pinterest, and I spotted the cutest painted mason jar from my friend Linda of It All Started with Paint and Mason Jar Crafts Love. Linda lives in the Chicago area, so she’d painted a mason jar to look like a Cubs jersey. I used her tutorial to make my Braves version of a mason jar jersey.

I started out by painting a clear glass mason jar with several coats of white paint. I like to use chalk paint because it gives the best coverage.

On an Atlanta Braves jersey, the team name is written across the players’ chests, with a tomahawk below it. The letters are red, outlined in blue. There’s also red and blue pinstriping along the placket of the jersey.

Rather than trying to paint “Braves” on the jar’s bumpy surface, I decided to just outline the raised “Ball” logo in red paint. My jar might not say “Braves” on it, but it definitely mimics the look of the team’s jersey. especially with the red striping.

Next, I used a fine point paint brush to outline the lettering and pinstriping in blue. It helps to have a steady hand — or to have some white paint on hand for touchups!

Next, I used super glue to attach some tiny white buttons down the jersey’s placket.

I also made a paper baseball hat, using this tutorial from Childmade.

Rather than cutting out the hat by hand, I used my Silhouette cutting machine. I also used my Silhouette to make the A on the cap. You can also use team stickers, as the original tutorial did.

I’m really loving how this painted mason jar turned out. It would make the cutest gift for a baseball coach or player or a Braves fan. You could surprise someone by hiding tickets inside the jar!

You know, the World Series is coming up soon and so is my husband’s birthday. Nah, not happening. But it’s a nice thought.

So, what’s your favorite Major League baseball team? I’d love to see a mason jar version of every professional team’s jersey!

I’ll hope you’ll stop by Atta Girl Says for a visit. You never know what I’ll be up to! I’d love to have you join me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Here are a few crafty things I’ve been working on lately.

Black-and-White Painted Buffet

Harvest Inspired Fall Table Decorations

DIY Minecraft School Supplies

The post Atlanta Braves Inspired Painted Mason Jar appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hi to all of the Made From Pinterest fans! It’s me, Melanie from Artzy Creations and I’m here to share with you, another fun craft, just in time for Back To School. Can you believe it’s back to school time already? I can’t. The summer has flown by and being a teacher myself, I’m gearing up for the new school year. Buying my new pencils, pens, crayons, not only for my kiddos, but for myself as well. This Back To School Teacher Crayon Wreath is a simple but awesome back to school teacher gift that would bring a smile to any teacher’s face because it would make for a great room decoration. Trust me on this… being a teacher, I definitely know!

Supplies Needed:

• Round Picture Frame
• Piece of Cardboard
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Chalboard Paint
• Crayons ( I used three boxes.)
• White Chalk
• Paint Brush
• Hot Glue

Step 1: Find a picture frame that has a thick border to it at your local craft store. Paint the surface with the black acrylic paint and let it dry.

Step 2: I painted the cardboard insert that is used to hold and support an actual picture with chalkboard paint. Make sure to use a heavy piece of cardboard that isn’t corrugated because you don’t want the ridges. It’s needs to be a smooth surface. Apply 2 to 3 coats of the chalkboard paint and let dry.

Step 3: Hot glue the crayons in place. You can do a single layer like shown above or continue with a second layer as shown below.

Step 4: Use a piece of chalk to put A+ Teacher or the name of the teacher in the center.

It’s that simple and easy! And with crayons on sale right now, it really makes this project inexpensive. I’m telling you that any teacher would love to receive this as a back to school gift and you’d certainly put a big smile on their face.

Here is the wreath on my wall at school!

You can follow Artzy Creations on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google +.

Recycled Bird Feeder For Kids

Simple Blackberry Galette

 Pom Pom Ice Cream Cones For Kids

This awesome post has been shared with Home Stories A to Z

The post Back to School Teacher Crayon Wreath appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Today I am going to show you how to make these super chic DIY Altoid Gift Tins.

You can make these gift tins with any paper, but in order to get them super chic and this pretty, you will need to get a Minc Foil Applicator from Heidi Swapp.  This machine can be found in your local Michael’s, JoAnn’s and Hobby Lobby Craft Stores.  It is a cinch to use and let me tell you, IT CHANGES EVERYTHING!  I mean seriously, your craft projects will go from drab to fab with this baby!

For my tutorial on how to use this machine, please click HERE.

Items needed for this project:  Heidi Swapp paper, foil and the Minc Foil applicator, razor cutter, scissors, paint brush or foam brush, Mod Podge.  A cutting mat is also nice.

After you have chosen your papers and have applied the foil, you will need to trace the Altoid box onto the backside of your paper.  You will need four paper designs: the outside top, the outside bottom, the inside top and the inside bottom.  They can either be the same paper design or different as you will see on mine later on.

Cut out two of this shape of your patterned paper.  This will be for the outside top and bottom.  Then for the two insides, cut on the inside of your drawn line and try placing them inside of the tin box.  If they do not fit, continue cutting around the box shape until they both fit into the inside of your box.

TIP:  If you are going to make more than one of these boxes, now is  a good time to trace these templates onto your other paper for your other boxes so that you don’t have to keep measuring for every box.

Mod Podge on the top of your tin box:

Place the cut-out of your paper onto the top of the box and press firmly.  It will be a little bumpy because the altoid letters are raised.  Let dry.  After it is dry, place upside down and with a razor cutter, cut any excess paper that is hanging over the edges.  Do this all around your box.

Next, measure and cut for the three strips that you will need.  One for the strip on the lid, one for the strip on the bottom and one for the strip that will go inside your box.

Don’t you just love these papers by Heidi Swapp?  They are preprinted and ready to just insert into the Minc machine to appy the foil.  Easy Peasy.

Again, once you have measured these three strips, if you are making more than one box, mark the widths on the other paper that you are going to use.

I have found it easiest to apply the rest of your paper to the tin box in this order:

1.  Mod Podge around the bottom of the tin and apply the strip for the bottom.  Press firmly around the corner edges so the paper strip does not gap.  I had my strip meet in the back of the tin.

2.  Following the same process, apply the smallest strip around the lid.  You will need to cut around the hinges and you can do that with the razor cutter.

3.  Apply the third strip around the inside of the box.

4.  Now Mod Podge and insert your paper for the bottom inside of the tin and then do the inside top.

5.  Lastly, Mod Podge the outside of the bottom of your tin.  Let dry and then once again,  cut around the edges for any paper that is hanging over.

That’s it!

Here are some photos of the ones that I made.  The papers are all from Heidi Swapp and I loved how they coordinated.

Heidi also has some great embellishments that you can foil and add like this darling butterfly that I added to this one.  Again, her paper embellishments are preprinted and just ready to foil!

You can fill these with SO many things:  jewelry, ear buds, keys, spare coins, etc.  But I chose…Candy! Oh yeah. Look how perfectly these six little Dove chocolates fit inside this box! And the gold foil matches perfectly.

These were super fun and I can’t wait to give them away as gifts.  I hope you are inspired by these (as I was when I saw them on Craftster) and that you will make your own! I promise that you will love them!

This awesome post has been shared with Home Stories A to Z

The post Altoid Gift Tins appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hi Everyone! This is Melanie from Artzy Creations here to share with you another fun craft for kids. Summer is a perfect time to try simple and fun projects with the kiddos. Especially when the kids are looking for a good boredom buster. Having taught art for 18 years now, I have also looked for projects that you can upcycle/recycle. These Bottle Cap Bugs are great for kids for all ages because they can be as simple and intricate as you want. Kids can create all different types of bugs. Bees, Lady Bugs, Beetles, and all sorts of imaginary bugs are possible. Plus, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for your supplies.

Supplies Needed:

• Bottle Caps
• Transparency Paper
• Sharpie Markers
• Scissors
• Hot Glue or Elemer’s Glue (You can use Elemer’s Glue to glue the wings and eyes of the
• Hot Glue Gun
• Googly Eyes

Step 1: Using the transparency paper, cut any shape of wing.

Step 2: Color the wings in using the Sharpie markers using any pattern or design.

Step 3: Hot glue or use Elmer’s Glue to glue the wings onto the bottle cap.

Step 4: Glue the googly eyes on to the front of the bottle cap.

A couple of tips to share while making these cute bottle cap bugs. Sharpie Markers as you can see can get a little streaky. If you have younger kids make these, they might have to slow down a bit when coloring to make sure the marker is not too streaky. Also, remind kids to not drag their hands over areas that have just been colored. The marker will smear.

Look at all of this cuteness! I can’t pick a favorite because I love them all. My daughter’s just love making these and I’m sure your kids will too.

Thank you to the wonderful Made From Pinterest sisters for having me.

Hope you all continue to have a wonderful summer and enjoy all of the fun Bottle Cap Bug Making. See you next month!

You can follow Artzy Creations on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google +.

Check out these fun projects too:

DIY Mason Jar Aquarium Lamp

10 Minute Dinosaur Mason Jar For Kids

10 Minute Dinosaur Mason Jar For Kids

END POST

This awesome post has been shared with Home Stories A to Z

The post Make Bottle Cap Bugs! appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

It never fails.  Anytime we have someone staying with us, the poor things have to go out of their way and ask us, “What is the Wi-Fi,” password here?”

Not that I’m bothered by them asking at ALL, but I knew it was time to give ’em what they needed, and take out the trouble of them having to ask us.

So, when I saw an idea of how someone else displayed their Wi-Fi password, I knew it was something that I needed to do, like…PRONTO.  I originally found the idea on Pinterest, from Michelle, over at EleganceandEnchantment.  Lucky you, she even GIVES you the download  of her design, so you can edit your password in, and make it your own!

But, if you follow me over on Fantabulosity, you know I always seem to think I have to make “tweaks,” to something… so I did.  Although I love Michelle’s design, I wanted a little bit of a “nautical/modern,” theme to mine, to go with the rest of my guest room decor.

So where and how did I create mine?  I created it over on Canva.com.  Lucky lucky, they had super cute arrow images, that I was fond of, and just found a couple of fonts that I loved, and typed it all out.  It seriously only took me 5 minutes.  LOVE those types of DIY’s!

Other Wi-Fi password printables that I have seen, are usually framed in an 8×10.  For my guest room, I felt that size overpowered the room.  My guests aren’t there to just use the wi-fi, so I figured I’d let the other room decor stand out, rather than a big printable.    I chose to print it, and frame it in a 5×10.  I’m so glad that I did… it looks fabulous on my little night stand.

If you want to make your own, here’s a closer look of what I put in mine!

Again, I created mine on Canva.com, but if you just want a free printable go here.  Elegance and Enchantment has a cute design, but it won’t be the same size as mine unless you print it smaller!

Have fun creating!!!

Once again, I can’t thank the ladies here at MFP, for allowing me to hop over and share something with you all!

I hope you’ll hop on over to Fantabulosity to find more DIY projects, party ideas, fashion updates, and parenting mistakes that I create…. or give me a “follow” on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram, where I share a little more “behind the scenes” of Fantabulosity.

SOME OF MY MOST POPULAR RECIPES ARE:

Woodland Friends First Birthday Party

Lobster Bisque Recipe

How to Remove Chalk Marker

 This awesome post has been shared with Tatertots and Jello and Whipperberry

The post Guest Room Wi-Fi appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I saw these tulips at my local grocery store and just had to have them. I love the lavender petals with that delicate white strip! I had seen an umbrella wreath from Random Thoughts and thought these tulips would look beautiful and brighten up my grey umbrella.

Usually this craft is done with artificial flowers. So…I needed to figure out how I could do it with my pretty tulips without them dying in a few days without water.Amazon to the rescue! I ordered Aquatubes (Affiliate link). Seriously, these things are major floral craft game changers!!!! It’s like an individual vase for each flower. The hole in the lid of the Aquapik was not big enough for the stem of a tulip, so I just cut a few slits for a better fit.

I prepared the flowers by removing any damaged petals, and I removed all the lower leaves. This way all the water will be going where you want it and the bottom part of the bouquet will not be too bulky. Then I slid all my lids on each flower and in a bucket next to the sink. It was easy to fill each tube with water, add the flower and secure the lid. Make sure to have a bucket to put the flowers in. You want to keep the water tubes upright, or a few of them might leak.I set the umbrella in another bucket for support and loosely tied the ribbon to keep the flowers upright. Now it was time to do some flower arranging. I carefully slid each flower into the upside down umbrella.

When I had them arranged the way I wanted, I tightened the ribbon and tied a bow. I hung the umbrella by the handle on a wreath hanger. I love how inviting and beautiful this looks on my front door. It reminds me of the saying April showers bring May flowers.

This pin rocks!

Here are a few other of our most popular crafts and decorating ideas:

Paper Rose TopiaryDistressed Mason JarsMap Decor

This awesome post has been shared with Tatertots and Jello and Whipperberry

The post Umbrella Wreath appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hello Made From Pinterest Readers!  Carissa here from Carissa Miss back again this month with a great DIY Jumpsuit for you!

I’ve been doing sneak peeks at this project on instagram for the last month or so because I just couldn’t keep it a secret. I LOVE the jumpsuit trend and couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. Turns out, they were pretty hard to find for a decent price that I could just throw on for summer. I did find one at Nordstrom Rack that I loved, only problem is that it was black, long sleeved, and $$. I decided I’d take my hunt from the store to Pinterest only to find that there weren’t ANY tutorials either!! As I contemplated how I was going to make my own pattern for one, Kate, from See Kate Sew posted this beautiful Pattern Fusion Jumpsuit post. I decided to follow her instructions to make my own.

The first one I made was with this beautiful floral knit that is no longer available anywhere. AHH. But, I found this one that’s pretty similar I followed it pretty much by Kate’s instructions in a size Small.

 Then, I had to make another one. Of course, right? This one I decided to make the arm holes smaller, keep the neckline rounded, and size it down a size to XS. I also connected them differently.

 Kate’s mashup had you sew a casing for the waistband and I decided to sew the my favorite 2″ knit elastic into the waistband so there was no chance of slippage. This one fits PERFECTLY. I wanted to show you how to style it fancy AND casual so you can really see how versatile this DIY Jumpsuit is.

 

If you can believe, I’ve sold both jumpsuits off of me AND started making them for my friends.

Here’s a basic diagram of how you assemble the jumpsuit. Pop on over to See Kate Sew to buy the patterns.

Not into sewing? Check out these fun crafts:

DIY Floating Frame

The post DIY Jumpsuit appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

You guys, I have found my newest favorite thing.

This is a Minc Foil Applicator created by Heidi Swapp and wait until you see what it does.  You can find this applicator at Jo-Ann’s, Hobby Lobby and it retails for only $149.00.  You can also find it in your local craft stores and online.

So here’s the cool thing that it can do.

Using some Heidi Swapp pre-printed accessories or something that you create yourself, which is what I did, the Minc Foil Applicator bonds the foil onto anything that is printed by a laser printer.  Sorry, an inkjet printer doesn’t provide the right kind of toner so I just took the graphic that I created, ran to FedEx/Kinko’s and had it printed on cardstock.  All of their machines were laser printers.

Check this out:

Here is the print that I created and printed in black on cardstock:

Next I laid the foil in the colors that I wanted on top of my print and placed it inside the transfer folder:

Lay the top of the transfer folder on top of your foil/print and smooth out the wrinkles:

After your machine is warmed up and ready to go, insert the transfer folder with your print into the foil applicator.  This is where the bonding process takes place.  There are four rollers in this machine (instead of the usual two) which makes for a more even pressure distribution.  My paper was a regular 8.5″ x 11″ but the machine can take up to a 12″x12″ sheet.

This is what it looks like after it has gone through the machine:

And now you are ready for the big reveal!!  Peel back the foil off of your print:

And Voila!  Here is my finished project!

I AM IN LOVE!  Is this just so cool, or what?

The colors that the foil comes in are rich and vibrant.  Gah!  Just look at these!  I promise that you WILL find a color that will suit your decor.

The 12″x10′ foil rolls are only $9.99 and other Heidi Swapp pre-printed accessories are from $2.99 to $12.99 so projects are very affordable.

Hmmm…what am I going to do with the other rolls of foil?

Well, you are just going to have to come back next month to see!  I am going to post 5 more projects in the next five months.  The possibilities are endless because this foil can be applied to something as thin as vellum but also as thick as chipboard.

And to make things even easier for YOU, click here for a copy of the Cinderella Quote Free Printable.

Print it off, then RUN to your local craft store for the Heidi Swapp Minc Foil Applicator and you’re ready to go!

Can’t wait to see you next month!

The post Heidi Swapp Minc Applicator and Free Cinderella Printable! appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

By Andrea Genevieve Michnik

Rainy springtime weather doesn’t mean your home has to be dull, too. With warmer days just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to hunker down and create something bright and beautiful for your home.

I love to have something green in almost every room of the house, but my office was looking neglected. I decided that small and low-maintenance succulents would be perfect for the workspace. I looked to Pinterest for ideas, where I found plenty of photos of succulents planted in unexpected objects like tea cups, mason jars and old books.

Wanting to put my own spin on the project, I found inspiration in an unlikely place: my refrigerator! With Easter just weeks away, creating tiny Easter Eggshell Planters seemed like a perfectly seasonal way to bring some eggs-tra special touches to my home’s decor. Here’s how to make your own!

What you’ll need:

• Straight pins
• Eggs
• Small succulent plants
• Soil

You may also want to collect the following for decorating the egg planters:

• Food coloring or traditional egg dye kit
• Washi tape
• Spray paint
• Watercolor paint
• Paint markers

Instructions

1. Begin by using a straight pin to poke a tiny hole on opposite ends of the egg. The holes need to be small, but large enough for you to blow the yolk out of the egg entirely. Be patient — it may take a few jabs to get the right sized hole.

2. Next, blow the egg white and yolk out of the egg until it’s completely empty. Gently rinse off the egg under cold water. Place it in a strainer or on a cushion of paper towels to dry.

3. Think about where the planters will live to help you decide on colors or styles for decorating. If you plan to use them for Easter decor, consider pastel colors. Or you may want to use the planters as accent decor in your home, like me. I have some gold accents in my office, so I went with gold paint for my eggs.

4. Once the eggs are dry, start creating your masterpiece! Be playful and create something fun and fresh. I went with chevron and polka dots because they are my favorite patterns, and accented the eggs using a gold paint marker.

Here’s how to dye your eggs:

• Measure 2 cups of boiling water into a small or medium sized bowl
• Add 10 drops of food coloring (add more for a richer color)
• Add 1 tsp. of vinegar
• Submerge the eggs in the mixture for 5-7 minutes. You may need to hold down the egg to help it absorb the color better. You can do this by using a spatula or gently with a spoon.

5. Once the decorations have set and dried, take a fork and carefully peck at the top hole. Slowly crack back the egg until one-third of the top comes off. Peel away any excess around the edges.

6. Now it’s time to get planting! Be sure to find a stand for your planters so they don’t roll. This can be a traditional egg carton, or perhaps try a cake stand, cheese platter board or wood rounds. I love the look of brown egg cartons.

7. Sprinkle a few pinches of soil into each egg. Gently remove the succulents out of their pots and shake off the dirt, clearing as much of it around the roots as possible. You may need to separate even the smallest of succulents — these eggs are tiny!

Place the plant inside the egg, making sure to cover its roots in soil.

8. Finally, brush any excess dirt off of the eggs, and voila! If you want to add more details, make a collection of plants and add small colorful flowers or herbs to other egg planters. You could also grab some plant moss from your local home and garden store for a more earthy feel.

Andrea Genevieve Michnik is a mompreneur, serial crafter and TinyPrints blogger living in Austin, Texas. When Andrea isn’t knitting for her shop or making homemade pajamas for her kids, she is helping to empower the local community of other female entrepreneurs. Follow Andrea on Twitter to discover more DIY projects and parenting advice.

This amazing post has been shared with Living Well Spending Less and Tatertots and Jello.

The post Easter Eggshell Planters appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I’ve seen plenty of marbled things on Pinterest but the one that really peaked my interest was this phone case by The Merry Thought. All it takes is a little bit of nail polish and warm water! I wanted something that was a little bit more subtle and eclectic looking so I grabbed these $1 tumblers from Target for DIY marbled tumblers!

Supplies:

• A medium bowl of warm water
• nail polish in your color of choice
• a dry towel

I used the warm water and dropped several dots of my nail polish in the water. Some spread very thin and you’ll be able to see that on some of the finish product and some you’ll be able to wipe away. Create your desired marbled effect and then you’ll want to do a dip and roll action with the cup making sure that none of the water or polish gets on the inside.

Set it aside and let it dry for about 5 minutes. You’ll still have some wet polish but the grosser stuff you’ll be able to wipe away. You’ll want to blot it rather than full on wipe it so that you don’t smear the larger spots. I did wash these in the dishwasher to see how they would hold up…not great. The glitter and the lighter polish all but washed away. The only parts that stuck were the darker blotches so if you’re wanting a really sturdy marble, go heavy. I do however love the look.

Make sure you stop by my blog for more inspiration and follow me on social media!

XOXO, Lindsay
Facebook . Instagram . Pinterest . Twitter

 This amazing post has been shared with Living Well Spending Less and Whipperberry.

The post DIY Marbled Tumblers appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I don’t do it very often, but I really enjoy water coloring. I love the relaxation it gives me and the effects I can get with just color and water. So when I saw this Slow Down, Enjoy Life printable I was inspired. I loved the way the font paired with the flowers. And although it isn’t watercolored, it made me think about watercoloring.

So I pulled up Illustrator and chose a fun quote and left LOTS of white space around it. Then I pulled up a photo of shamrocks, and started sketching a few around my quote.

When I was satisfied with my sketch, I pulled out the ink, water, and brushes and started painting. After drying I added in some quick little details with a marker, and it was done!

I love that it was pretty quick, but I still was able to come up with something I love for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day season.

It was so much fun, that I thought I’d like to share it with you. So I turned it into a free 8×10 printable you can share or keep for yourself.

Download your Free St. Patrick’s Day Printable

And don’t forget to hop on over to Mabey She Made It for more crafts and DIY!

DIY Wire Spool Stool || 9 Tips for Upcycling Clothing || Sunburst Mirror

Lisa
Mabey She Made It

www.mabeyshemadeit.com
Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram

The post Free St. Patrick’s Day Printable appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

* We’re sharing our favorite links from last week’s party at the beginning of today’s party.  Check them out and then keep scrolling down for the link party.  Happy Weekend!

Thanks for participating in the Best Recipes and DIY Projects Party last week!  We’re thrilled to share some of our favorite links from last week’s link party with you.

In just one short week, we’ll be celebrating the day of love, Valentine’s Day!  It’s fun to put decorations out that reflect the joy of love and friendship.  Are you looking for some cute updates to your Valentine Decor?  Here are a few easy projects that were shared during the link party last week.

Valentine Paper Straw Garland from The Happy Scraps

Valentine’s Day Wall Hanging from Better in Bulk

Sparkly Hearts Pillow Cover from Busy Being Jennifer

Ombre Wood Heart Plaque from The Hatched Home

Valentine’s Day Felt Heart Garland from The Gracious Wife

Now, let’s get this party started!

 Happy Weekend, everyone! We’re delighted that you came to our party. The link-up is live and ready for you to share your recipes, DIY projects and crafts, just make sure you follow these guidelines:

1. When you link up, you are giving us permission to feature your project and pictures on our blogs and social media with a link back to you.
2. We’ll feature our favorite projects from this weekend’s party at the beginning of next week’s link party.
3. Weekly favorites will also be pinned to our Link Party Favorites Board on Pinterest!
4. Add a text link back to the host blog.
5. You can link up any post you’ve created during this past week.
6. We’re excited about your handmade items, but this link party is limited to blog posts only. Please don’t linkup your Etsy shop.
7. Share the love and comment on two or more of the other projects that are linked up. We all love comments!

This party starts every Friday at 5 P.M. MST, and keeps going until the following Tuesday evening. Feel free to invite others to join in the fun!

Thanks for participating! Your Hosts,

Ruthie from Cooking With Ruthie, Jeni from Bakerette, Mandy from Mandy’s Recipe Box, Dan and Chris from Live Dan 330, and Deb, Tracy, and Sherri from Made From Pinterest

The post Best Recipes & DIY Projects Link Party #82 appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.