DIY Bridesmaid Gifts...

To be honest I have never been a fan of the "typical" bridesmaid gifts. I have so many engraved jewelry boxes I can't even keep track of and jewelry I'll never wear again.  I'm not big on stuff especially things that take up space. So when trying to decide what to get my girls I knew I would have to search for some ideas. I was lucky enough to win embroidered tote bags but I had to be sure I filled them with goodies.

During the winter I was lucky to find $1 flip flops in Old Navy. Just because it was my lucky day they were all in greens and yellows! I ALWAYS change from heels to flats or flip flops at weddings. I hope these keep my girls toes happy.

All my girls love their wine, like me, well except for my 12 year old cousin! I got all the "of age" bridesmaids plain wine glasses and my cousin a mug. The BIG ones! I got them for $1. I purchased paint pens and let my inner crafty bide run wild.

I purchased an expensive Sharpie paint pen and I hated it.
 The cheapo Walmart paint was  so much easier to work with. 

My fave is the M glass.
Just so happens my bridesmaid told us she is expecting so that glass may not be used for a little while.  

The green dress is a similar design to the bridesmaid dresses.
You can't see but the bottom of the glass also has my Maid of Honor's name.
The mug has adorable flowers similar to the the J glass.

I figured I would include a nice bottle of wine. To go along with the wine theme I got them a cute wine coaster.

I also got my girls some other goodies. Tissues, nail files and another favorite of ours, Starbucks gift cards!


I'll show you the finished product when I get all the goodies in order.

What where your favorite DIY projects?

How about brides, what are some of your wedding DIY projects?

DIY Christmas Gift, Coasters

This year I'm making DIY drink coasters for our families. I found this great project on Pinterest

The materials were easy to purchase and extremely affordable. I picked paper that would coordinate with our families' living or family rooms. The music notes are for B's grandmother who is a piano teacher and provides lessons in her home. The beach theme is for my aunt's North Carolina beach house.

I cut the paper a bit smaller then the tile. 

I added Mod Podge to the tile, laid out the paper and added more Mod Podge. Be careful not to add to much. I did and it created creases on some.

Let sit for a few hours. 

Add some Tacky Glue and felt squares. 

The next day I added the clear gloss spray paint to seal. 

I added a sweat little message and a bow. 

Tiles: $.16 a piece

Scrapbook Paper- $.01-$.59 a sheet

Felt: 

Mod Podge: $6

Clear Spray Paint: $5

Tacky Glue: $1.0

Paint Brush: $.39

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DIY Christmas Gifts, Ornaments

This year my brother purchased a home. My mom told me he was in need of ornaments for his tree. Since this year is a DIY Christmas I knew I would want to make some ornaments. I found this fantastic post from  Green Bean Crafterole and wanted to recreate.

Another awesome Christmas gift idea. It looks complicated but it really wasn't. It looks messy but it really wasn't. Everything about it was surprisingly easy.

Remove all the ornament toppers. Be careful not to pinch your skin.

Pour a bit of wax into the ornament. You do not need a lot. A little goes a long way.

Swirl around and coat the inside. I swirled a bit to much and created bubbles. It was probably its better to take your time. Drain the rest back into the wax bottle. Use Q-tips to get the bubbles out if you have any.

I used a paper funnel and placed it into the ornament and poured in some glitter.

Put your finger over the opening and shake all the glitter around. 

Pour all extra glitter back into the glitter bottle.
Put the Toppers back in and look how cute they are!!!

I packaged them up from my brother (glad he isn't a blog reader) along with some holiday hand towels and a few holiday candles. 

I also made some for my family and Brain's. Hope they are a hit. 

Items:
Glass ornament, 6 Pack: $4.99
Glass ornaments, Large: $.99 each (Made these for my mom and dad)
Pledge Floor Wax: $5.88
Glitter: Purchased years ago and I can't remember. Any glitter will do.

Holiday Blog Challenge. DIY and X-mas Traditions

Linking up with Neely

Growing up my mom had one Christmas tradition. Every Christmas Eve we were allowed to open one gift! Every year that one gift would be a pair of new pajamas! She wanted to make sure we both looked nice for Christmas morning pictures. Now that my brother and I are grown and live in our own homes she still gets us and my fiancé new pj pants. (Total score last year when Old Navy had them for $5 on Black Friday) Usually my mom gets the most obnoxious and colorful pi's.

Christmas Eve 2009

He has a lot to drink that night. He was wearing my pjs. 

Last year my mom bought my xl bottoms and tshirt 2x. I guess she forgot I lost 50 pounds. Oh and I never wore a 2x. lol 

Brian's Polar Bears.

In our house we make something every year to add to our home or our tree.

I love handmade Christmas decorations. Growing up my mom encouraged us to make ornaments and decorations for the house. Most of her decorations are majority handmade by my brother and I. In keeping with tradition Brian and I try to make something handmade each year. He isn't into it to much but the things we do for love.

These are the ornaments we painted last year.

I bought these wooden ornaments in a craft store along with some paints and we have these cuties.

They are perfect bottom of our tree ornaments. Bogart loves hiding under the tree and knocks all the lower ornaments off the tree.  

Details:

Wooden ornaments- $.50 each

Paint- $.50 each (I bought 8)

DIY STOCKINGS-

I bought these plain red stocking at The Dollar Tree.

He added some snowflakes and that large green thing in the middle. What do you think it is?

He says thats a J???

His has a bow and a HO HO HO at the bottom! 

The stockings were hung!

Details:

Stockings: $1 each

Glue: Had at the house

Glitter: Had at the house

OH How Pinteresting

Happy Wednesday folks!

My oh my has this week been flying by!




The theme I was going for this week was crafts and DIY. The non profit organization I work for just got a spot in the local craft fair being held in October. The children and staff are creating crafty ideas to sell for the program I run. We are hoping we can make some extra cash for fun activities that the NYS budget won't allow. Here are a few of the ideas we have started making.

Source: bellacarta.typepad.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: shineyourlightblog.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: veetje.be via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: littlebitfunky.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: 5orangepotatoes.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: thecraftyscientist.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Kristina on Pinterest