Hula Hoop Planter for Your Yard

Did you get too old to hula-hoop? Did you put those hoops away forever and give up the sport? Maybe your kids used to play with hula hoops but now the hoops are lost in the attic or garage. Wherever youre hiding them, whatever your excuse for not using them, go get them now! No, you dont have to throw your back out trying to revive your hula-hooping spirit. Use them to make something unusual yet beautiful for your yard.

Hula hoops, no matter what size, are perfect for creating flower beds that are unique and ultra-easy to make. Youll need three or more of the hoops and all of them need to be the exact same size. The colors and styles of hoops can be different, though. Lay one of them on the ground, draw around it, then clear out all the grass and weeds from that area. Make sure the area you select is flat or the hula hoops will not sit level.

Stack the hula hoops on top of each other. Use only three or four to make a shallow flower bed, more to make a deeper arrangement. Use double-sided tape to temporarily hold the hoops together. Or, just hot glue the hoops together. The hoops need only stick together until youve staked them into the ground. Bend wire pieces into "u" shapes to secure the hoops. Use three or four of the "us" to stake the hoops. Turn the "u" upside-down, straddle the hoops with it, then push the ends into the ground. The wires should be evenly spaced around the hoops and should be long enough to go at least three or four inches into the ground. You have lots of options for what to do with the hula hoop planter. Actually plant flowers in the ground, inside the hoops, or set potted plants inside the rings. Use enough plants so that the pots cannot be seen. Full plants will help conceal the pots. Another option is to make a silk flower arrangement inside the hoops. Instead of flowers you can also make an herb garden or grow vegetables. Dont have time to take care of plants and flowers? Make a rock garden instead! There are many different ways to create the interesting arrangement for your yard. After youve created the flower or plant garden you can then embellish the hula hoops if you want. Metal hardware, painted wooden shapes, or even braided roping can help you decorate the hoops and create the finished look you want. Home improvement stores and craft stores have huge selections of things you can use to embellish the hoop garden. Look in the knob and handle section to find hardware pieces that will look great. Although the hula hoop garden is unique and easy to create you may not have room for such a garden. That doesnt mean you still cant create the hula hoop arrangement for your house. Stack the hoops using double-sided tape then set the hoop garden on the deck, porch or even inside the house! Set the stacked hoops in a corner then fill the open area of the hoops with fake or real plants and flowers. Its a real conversation piece when guests visit. Dont have any hula hoops? Plastic tubing works in the same manner. Bend the tubing to form a circle then tape or otherwise connect the ends. Stack several of the circles to form hula hoop design for your yard or home. The tubing can be decorated with metallic tape, paint, paint markers and similar supplies. Look for hula hoops at yard sales and flea markets. Theyre usually inexpensive and can help you create the fabulous hula hoop garden. Make three stacks of hula hoops then push three of the stacks together to form a completely different look for your plants and flowers. The hula hoop garden is a great weekend project for kids or adults. The arrangement can be thrown together quickly, using potted or fake plants, or you can take the time to make a true fruit and vegetable garden out of them. Either way, the finished look is fantastic!

Little Girls Secret Hiding Place Necklace

Little girls love making their own jewelry but theyll love no jewelry-making project as much as the one that helps her make a beautiful necklace that has a secret hiding place. She can easily make the necklace different from anyone elses by the embellishments she chooses. Best of all you probably have everything you need already on hand! When the necklace is finished shell love knowing shes wearing her own secret hiding place.

Shallow lids are perfect for making the necklace. The lids should be exactly alike and not too deep. Perfect lids are ones from vitamin bottles or spice jars. The lids can be easily made into the special necklace with the secret surprise. If the little girl doesnt want to hide anything she can simply fill the hiding place with lip balm.

Choose a picture and glue it to one of the lids. The picture can be of a pet, a vacation spot or any other image. Allow to dry well. Instead of a picture you can also glue on a silk flower and leaves or just apply a fanciful sticker. There are literally thousands of different designs you can create by the embellishments you use. Place both lids, side-by-side on a table, with the open sides facing upwards. Cut a small piece of narrow ribbon and glue one end of it to the inside of one of the lids. Place the opposite end of the ribbon over into the second lid, and glue it against the side. The ribbon should form an upside-down "u" shape that acts as a hinge to hold the two lids together on one side. When looking at the image on the one lid, the hinge should be at the bottom. Stack the two lids together with the ribbon hinge inside. Cut a length of ribbon which will be long enough to wrap all the way around the two lids and tie a bow. Find the center of the ribbon, place it over the hinged area of the lids, then wrap it around to the top and tie the bow. Now cut another length of ribbon to make the necklace part. Glue the middle area of the ribbon to the flat side of the blank lid. Use the ribbon to tie the necklace around the neck. Instead of ribbon you can also use stretch cord. Now the girl can wear the necklace with any number of secrets inside. Simply untie the ribbon, open the lids and insert or remove folded money, change, a written phone number, or a special note. Or, fill the compartment with lip balm or other cosmetics. Make a matching bracelet by using a small piece of stretch cord to slide over the wrist. The secret compartment doesnt necessarily have to be a necklace or bracelet. Create the secret compartment, but instead of wrapping a ribbon around the seam, you can use a ruffled hair tie. Glue a flat, square magnet to the blank lid, on the flat side. Set aside for a moment. Purchase metal barrette hardware at jewelry-making stores. Cover the bare metal with a piece of gathered lace. Stick the secret compartment lids to the barrette with the magnet. Create different secret hiding places by choosing various pictures and embellishments. Whenever you want just take the magnetic lids off the barrette and replace it with another set. There are many different ways to create the secret hiding compartments. Instead of cutting an image for the lid glue on a painted wooden shape. Or, cut a piece of decorative cloth to glue on. Even make ornaments out of the lids. Place money inside the compartment then decorate the ornament. Give the ornament to the recipient without anyone knowing whats really inside. Kids can make special necklaces by cutting popular childrens characters from magazines or cloth and gluing them onto the lid. Your child will love this project and spend little achieving the finished piece. Shell wear it proudly but only she will know whats inside. And youll feel safe knowing that any money shes carrying is well hidden inside!

Easy Business Card Holder You Make Yourself

Whether youre offering business cards at your own place of business, or youre displaying the cards at someone elses business, youll need a holder for them. Stacking the cards on a counter means they can be knocked over or always in disarray. Its really easy to make an impressive card holder that can show off your business logo or even a picture of a beautiful sunset. No matter what theme you want your business card holder will grab attention and serve a purpose.

If you have quite a bit of room for displaying the card holder it can be made large. If you have little counter or desk space you can make the holder very small. No matter what size you decide on youll follow the same exact steps to create the card holder. To get started choose a picture you like from a magazine, calendar or another source.

Mount the picture onto a piece of thick cardboard. You can paint the cardboard gold or another color if you wish. If you go with this technique make sure you paint the sides. The picture youve chosen can be the exact size of the cardboard, or can be smaller, using the painted cardboard as a frame. If you opt for the smaller picture you may have to place it off-center of the cardboard since youll need to allow room for the card holder itself. Instead of painting around the perimeter of the cardboard you can also cover it with roping or even ribbon. If using ribbon, you can glue it in place, or use decorative pins to secure it. Push one pin through the ribbon, as well as the cardboard, every couple of inches. You can use an ordinary plastic business card holder, or even a small cardboard box, to hold the cards. The plastic type can be found at stores that sell business supplies or even places that sell computer and printing supplies. Theyre inexpensive and come in colors as well as clear versions. Instead of the plastic business card holder you can decorate a small cardboard box to hold the cards. A small, white cardboard box can be used as-is to hold the cards. If youd like it to be a little more impressive you can decorate the box with wrapping paper, rubber stamping or even metallic tape. The tape dispenses like Scotch tape and can be used to create stripes, borders or other designs on the box. If youre using an ordinary brown cardboard box you can wrap with wrapping paper or decorative foil wrap. Where you place the card holder on the picture is up to you. Place the box in one of the bottom corners or, if the particular picture allows, one of the top corners. If youre using a picture smaller than the cardboard backing place the picture off-center, if necessary, to allow full view of the image. Ordinary hot glue is all you need to attach the plastic or cardboard card holder to the picture background. Create a stand for the card holder by cutting a triangle of cardboard. Glue one flat side of the triangle to the lower back, in the center, of the cardboard backing. If the display is rather large it might be a good idea to make two of the stands, and place one at each end of the cardboard backing. Use hot glue to hold them in place. If you are in business with others you can make a display that sports more than one business card holder. Place one in each bottom corner to advertise yourself and a colleague. You can place one holder on each corner, and even one in the center, if you need five. Its okay if the fifth one covers part of the picture as long as the picture is centered. You wont believe how simple it is to make the business card holder, and when youre finished, you can display them on a desk, counter, mantle or even a windowsill. The display is appropriate for most any business and will cost little - or nothing - to make. Show them off at your own business and the stores of your associates.

Tips for Finding Edible Foods in the Wild

No matter what part of the country youre in - or the world for that matter - there are literally thousands upon thousands of things you can eat if stranded in the woods. The wild vegetation - and even bugs - you find out in the wilderness can absolutely save your life. One taste of the wrong thing, though, and its curtains for you! Thats a serious matter. People who go camping, backpacking and hiking generally come prepared with their own food, but in an emergency situation, those people could find themselves with no food or water at all. Knowing that there is plenty of food nearby, and knowing what is edible and what isnt, can see you through the catastrophe.

Most anyone in this country has heard the expression "Leaves of three, leave them be." This quote comes as a warning to those who might not recognize poisonous plants like ivy and oak. Many poisonous plants come in groups of three leaves, repeated time and again, all the way down the stalk of the plant. If you see plants that have many sets of three leaves avoid these at all costs. They are not only poisonous to eat but can cause severe rashes and skin abrasions.

It could help you to know that many plants, such as goa bean, water plantain, baobab, reindeer moss bracken, and cow parsnip, are all edible root stalks, however, if you dont recognize these plants thats useless information. Carrying a book which has pictures of edible plants can be a lifesaver when youre in the woods. Generally speaking, there are some tests you can perform to see if a plant is edible or not. Most tubers, grown underground, are edible. These include arrowhead, sweet potatoes, tara, or cats-tail. Again, knowing what these plants look like above ground will help you in your quest for food. Some casual tips for deciding on food choices from the woods include avoiding most plants with flowers that are shaped like umbrellas. Although carrots, celery and parsley are all in that category most umbrella-shaped flowers - and the entire plant - are not edible. Some bulbous plants are edible and others are deadly poisonous. If youre not an expert on these just avoid them altogether. If you do a lot of hiking or backpacking its best to get to know the look of some edible - and poisonous - bulbs. The more you know about these plants the more likely you are to find food that is safe for you to eat. Never taste even one white or yellow berry in the woods. These are almost always poisonous. Many red berries are also unsafe to eat. If you dont know which ones are, and which ones arent, avoid red berries, too. Most blue or black berries are safe for consumption. Any stalk, stem or flower that secrets a milky substance should be avoided. The liquid indicates poison in the plant and should not be eaten or used to quench thirst. Most plants that grow in water or moist soil can be safely selected as food. Fruits that grow singly, even if theres a tree full, are generally safe. These fruits dont cluster together but hang from a single stem, such as apples or pears. Bugs which are not poisonous to humans can be eaten by the handful. The bugs can be boiled and eaten or can be sun-dried. Place a weight of some sort on the bug. It can be a stick or small rock but nothing that will squash the bug. Allow the sun to dry the bugs and then they can be eaten. Pull the legs and antennae away and eat the rest of the bug. Dried bugs can even be added to other foods like soups or broth. If you intend to camp, hike or backpack many times in the future its a good idea to get a handbook which will help you locate food and liquids in the wilderness. One never knows when a catastrophe can occur in the wild so be prepared. That handbook could keep you alive and prevent you from dying at your own hand!

Easy Plant Stands You Make Yourself

What constitutes a plant stand? Anything that will hold a plant, of course. Dont go out and purchase expensive plant stands to display your flowers and vines, though. There are literally hundreds of plant stands you can easily make yourself. A quick trip to a craft store, or home improvement store, and youll have everything you need for a fraction of the price youd spend to purchase plant stands.

Craft stores sell all sorts of unfinished wood that is perfect for building any number of plant stands. You dont have to be a whiz with power tools since most of the wooden pieces are already shaped. Purchase two circles of wood and make your first stand. Afterward, slightly sand, stain and varnish the piece for a professional look.

The two circles of wood need only be affixed to something that will separate them. Look again at the unfinished wood pieces to find three or four short chair legs. The legs work great for separating the two pieces of wood to make a stacked stand that will hold more than one plant. Youll also need three or four blocks of wood if you want the stand to have legs. Although one circle of wood can sit directly on the floor, with the other circle raised above it with the small chair legs, you can also attach the blocks of wood to the bottom of the circle to raise it off the floor. A simple screw gun is all you need. Screw three legs onto the bottom, spacing them out evenly, or change the look by attaching four blocks - as legs - to the bottom of the first circle. Counter sink the screws. Next youll arrange the three or four chair legs to be the separators for the two circles of wood. Again, youll screw on the three chair legs, or four to change the look of the finished stand. Your choices in wooden legs - and how many you use - will each change the look of the stand. Use a little putty to cover the screw holes then stain the stand. Varnish or lacquer the stand when the stain is dry. Two to three coats of lacquer will work but youll usually only need one coat of the stain. Let each coat of lacquer dry for at least 24 hours before adding the next coat. The stain need dry only for a couple of hours before brushing on the first coat of lacquer. There are many different things you can use for the separators of the wooden pieces. Instead of chair legs you can use large dowels, childrens wooden letter blocks, or even vases. Simply attach the legs to the bottom of the first circle, screw or glue on the separators, then add the second wooden circle. Check with your local home improvement store for suggestions on what type of adhesive to use for the materials youve chosen. Wooden separators can be screwed or nailed into place whereas a set of vases, used for the separators, will need to be glued in place. You dont necessarily have to choose wooden circles as your plant stand shelves. Choose wooden squares, rectangles, ovals or even heart shapes. There are dozens of different wood designs from which you can choose. Usually the wooden shapes will need some sanding before moving on to staining the piece. The height of the items you choose for separators will determine the size plants the stand will hold. If the two wooden pieces are fairly close together, for instance, the bottom shelf will only hold a small plant while the top shelf can hold a much taller plant. There are other things you can do to embellish the plant stand. Use a wood burning tool to create a monogram, decoupage fabric onto the shelves, or even use scrapbook papers to cutout images that can be lacquered to the top. Brass and other pieces, found at home improvement stores, can be added to give the plant stand even more flare. Check out drawer knobs, flat wooden shapes, and similar things that can enhance the finished stand.

How to Make Rice Krispie Treat Easter Eggs

Rice Krispie treats are a family favorite across the nation. Theyre not expensive to make, kids and adults love them, and theyre appropriate for holidays, special occasions and regular days alike. The treats are often poured into a pan, allowed to set up, then cut into squares and served. Although these regular Rice Krispie treats are delicious the mix can also be made to create fabulous Easter eggs for the holidays. The eggs you make can be wrapped and given to a child or can be served as dessert at a family dinner.

To make the original Rice Krispie Treats use a large saucepan to melt 3 tablespoons of butter or margarine over very low heat. Add 10 oz of regular marshmallows (about 40 marshmallows) or 4 cups of miniature marshmallows. A 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme can be substituted for the regular or mini marshmallows. Stir over low heat until the marshmallows are completely melted. Stir in 6 cups of Rice Krispies and continue stirring them until they are well-coated. Use a buttered spoon to turn the mixture into a buttered bowl. Wait a few minutes to allow the mixture to cool then begin making your assortment of Easter eggs.

There are many different types of eggs you can make from the Rice Krispie Treat mix. Use a spatula to spread some of the mix into a buttered pan. Use cookie cutters to cut egg shapes from the cooled pan full of mix. With the remainder of the mix you can use your hands to shape the eggs. Coat hands with butter or non-stick cooking spray so that the mixture doesnt stick to you. Take a pinch of the mix and shape it into an egg shape. Or, press the handful of mix onto a piece of buttered wax paper and shape it into an egg with a flat bottom. Each method will create a different-looking egg. Cookie cutter eggs can be decorated in many different ways. Use tube frosting to create stripes, dots and similar patterns on the eggs. Or, spread frosting all over the egg then sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Another option is to cut the molded egg in half then frost it and push the two sides back together, trapping the frosting between them. It makes it easier to decorate complete eggs by using a wooden skewer to hold them. Push the skewer into one end of the egg and you can then hold it with the skewer while spreading frosting or other edible embellishments on the egg. Eggs with flat bottoms are much easier to do than complete eggs. The flat bottoms allow you to leave the eggs on the buttered pan or wax paper while you spread frosting or create other designs. A short list of things you can use to decorate the eggs include assorted tiny candies, cereal pieces, licorice, mini marshmallows, powdered sugar, cocoa, and colored sugar. Use these items to create the perfect dessert or other egg treat for your family or guests. You dont necessarily have to use regular Rice Krispies to make the egg treats; Cocoa Krispies are another option. The Cocoa Krispies give you the opportunity to make chocolate-flavored eggs. You can even combine the regular and the chocolate Krispies to create unique flavors for kids or adults. You dont necessarily have to make only egg shapes for Easter, either. Use cookie cutters to make rabbit or other shapes, too. Or, use things like marshmallows, candies and other foods to create bunnies, chicks and other designs from the Rice Krispie Treat mix. Whether youre creating the eggs and other goodies for kids Easter baskets, or as a dessert for your familys Easter dinner, youll have a good time making them. Theyre really easy to create and to decorate using whatever you happen to have around the house or a few things from the grocery store. The recipient will love the egg, bunny or other treat that youve created but dont forget to stop and try one yourself. You deserve it!

Cute Character Ornaments You Make from Bells

Jingle bells and Christmas go hand-in-hand. People hang the bells on doorknobs, sock caps, stockings and more. There are so many great things you can make from bells and a pack of them is fairly cheap. Small bells are fine for some crafts, but when it comes to making ornaments, purchase slightly larger bells so the ornament will stand out on the tree.

There are many cute characters you can easily make from the bells. The little ornaments are inexpensive and very easy to create. Make a snowman with ear muffs in no time by starting with a mere bell. Paint the bell white, if it isnt already white, and allow to dry. Paints that are created for metal are perfect for this craft.

Choose two small pom-poms, in one color, and a pipe cleaner. The pipe cleaner can be the color of the pom-poms or can be black or even white. Set the bell where the slits in it are on top. Position the bell to where the openings at the end of the slits will become the snowmans cheeks. Glue a folded piece of cord to the top of the "head". Glue a pipe cleaner piece across the top of the bell, in the area where the head would be. Glue a pom-pom at the each end of the pipe cleaner, on the sides of the bell, to form the ear muffs. Use wiggly eyes, felt dots, or even paint to create the eyes for the snowman. Draw on a carrot nose or use a craft carrot which youve purchased. Use a fine-tip marker to draw on a mouth. This small ornament is easy enough for children to make. Instead of earmuffs your snowman can have a little Santa hat. You can purchase the tiny hats at any craft store or create your own from small pieces of red and white felt. Draw or otherwise create the face of the snowman then create a hanger. Leave an opening at the top of the felt hat or cut a tiny hole in a purchased hat. Fold a piece of stretch cord in half, and pass the folded part through the hole, gluing the ends to the inside of the hat or to the bell. Now glue the hat in place and you have a cute ornament to hang. To make a different snowman ornament from a bell mount the bell, with hot glue, to a Styrofoam ball. The bell will be the head of the snowman and the Styrofoam will form the body. Use any number of craft supplies to finish the creation. Tie a small piece of cloth around the "neck" and glue buttons down the front of the Styrofoam ball. Or, purchase miniatures from a craft store to embellish the bell snowman. Some choices for decorating the snowman include creating or purchasing a tiny top hat, gluing on a miniature broom, or even using tiny wooden mittens to glue to the front of the Styrofoam ball. There are many different ways to create a new look for each snowman. Make a reindeer ornament from a bell by painting the bell brown. Use a felt-tip marker to make two small dots for eyes. Use a tiny red pom-pom for the nose. No mouth is needed but you can draw one if you want. Use brown pipe cleaner pieces to create the antlers then glue them in place. Glue a piece of stretch cord on to use for a hanger. Make a Santa bell ornament by gluing a tiny Santa hat on the bell. Follow the steps above to pass the hanger through a hole in the hat. Draw on eyes and a nose with a marker. Now glue tiny pieces of cotton on to form the beard. Create an angel bell ornament by gluing on a little bit of yellow craft hair. Instead of that you can use raffia or even a piece of felt. Form a tiny halo from a piece of metallic pipe cleaner and glue it on top of the hair. Paint a little face and glue a gold bow right at the "neck" area. These little bell ornaments are so cute and easy to make that youll want to create many. Purchase a bag of large bells and a few craft supplies, and before you know it, youll have dozens of unique ornaments for your tree - and to give to friends!

Unique Pop Bottle Wind Chime for Kids

Dont you love it when you can make crafts from things you would normally throw away? Whether its cardboard boxes, old spice jars or even scraps of foil there is almost always something you can make from the things you generally throw away. Something that is dumped in landfills by the thousands is plastic pop bottles. The bottles, though, can be made into everything from baby toys to river rafts! If your family throws away quite a few of the bottles you might be interested to know that they make a really cute wind chime set.

It is so easy to make pop bottle wind chimes. Youll need a brass or other ring to start. Use a huge ring and many bottles to make a large wind chime set or use a small ring and a few bottles to create your own design. After youve cleaned the bottles completely youll be ready to assemble the creation.

Lay the ring flat on a table. Use toothpicks, pieces of wooden skewers, or even sections of craft sticks to create a way to hang the chimes. The wooden pieces you choose can be determined by the size of the ring you use. Glue the sticks in a "t" shape and glue the "t" to the ring. This will create four sections in the ring. Create a second "t" and glue it to where the circle now has eight separate sections. Tie a piece of fishing twine, string or cord to the center of the glued wooden pieces. Thread the cord under the sticks, where they all intersect. Tie the cord into a knot. Slide the thread so that the knot is positioned under the stick intersection. The loop formed by the thread will hold the wind chimes in the location you choose. Poke holes in the center of each of the pop bottle lids. For a large chime you may want to use many more bottles than you would for a small wind chime set. Holes can be drilled into the bottle lids or you can use a different technique. Hold a nail using a potholder to protect your hand. Heat the nail and poke it through the lid of the pop bottle. Do this to each lid and set them aside. Fishing twine works great for making wind chines because its virtually unbreakable and almost invisible. Cut sections of twine, each piece the same size as the others, for each bottle. Youll decide how long to cut the twine pieces according to how long you want the bottles to hang on the chimes. Hanging the ring on something while you create the chimes will make it much easier to handle. Fold a piece of the fishing twine in half over the top of the metal ring. Bring the two ends together and push them through the top of a soda bottle lid. Use a drop of hot glue to hold the ends inside the cap. Screw the cap onto the soda bottle and move on to the next one. Place one twine piece in each of the eight sections, or for smaller arrangements, one twine piece in every-other section. After youve hung the bottles all around the metal ring you can then create a centerpiece for the chines. The centerpiece can be an extra soda bottle, hung lower than the others, or can be novelty of some sort. Cut a long piece of twine and thread it up and over the top of the stick intersection. Bring the two ends together, under the brass ring, and allow it to hang lower than the other bottles. Attach the two ends of the twine to the novelty youve chosen. The center novelty or extra bottle should hang high enough so that the others will bump against it as the wind blow but low enough so that it stands out from the crowd. Instead of pop bottles you can also string juice bottles, water bottles or even baby bottles to make the chimes. Each type of bottle makes an entirely different creation to hang. When the wind blows the chimes make a "tink" sound thats different than the metallic clink of many other chimes. The unique wind chimes will look great on your porch and make fabulous gifts, too!

No-Sew, No-Knit Scarves for Little Girls

You want your little girl to have cute accessories but some of them can be very expensive. Some people sew, knit or crochet and save money by making the items themselves. If youre not so inclined, youre usually out of luck, but not when it comes to scarves. There are many great scarves you can make for your little girl which are inexpensive, easy to create, and look fabulous.

One such scarf is made from pom-poms. Purchase the pom-poms at craft or department stores. The pom-poms come in packs of many and there are various packs from which to choose. Select ones that have only large pom-poms for this scarf project. Any pom-poms you choose should be at least 2" in diameter but 3" are even better. The pom-poms can be all the same color or can be assorted colors. Make a particular pattern or just add them randomly.

To start the scarf use fabric glue to attach two pom-poms together. Youll find the fabric glue with other adhesives at department, hardware, craft and home improvement stores. Read the back label of the glue to make sure the finished project will be washable. Most fabric glues can be laundered after 24 to 48 hours. Continue gluing the pom-poms onto one another until the scarf is as long as you want it to be. Little girls can wear two or more of the scarves at the same time. You can sometimes find a real deal on large pom-poms by browsing online auctions. Make something slightly different with the pom-poms by adding something in between each one. For example, cut squares of fabric, twist them in the middle, then glue the twisted area to a pom-pom. Glue another pom-pom over the twist in the fabric. This traps the bow tie-shaped fabric piece between the two pom-poms. Continue the pattern of pom-pom then bow tie until the scarf is as long as you want it to be. Fake fur makes a great scarf for a little girl, too. Cut the length of the fur to the length you want the finished scarf to be. Keep in mind that the scarf will likely be tied at least once. Dont make the mistake of cutting the scarf to the length you wish, then after tying, realizing that the scarf is way too short. Roll the fur loosely in a tube shape. Use fabric glue to attach the end of the fur to the scarf itself. This seam wont show much, since fur is very forgiving, but it will be worn against the skin so it cant be seen. After applying the fabric glue lay heavy books or other objects near the seam to help the glue attach. Fur can be dense and the glue may have trouble attaching without adding the weight. Fabric glue dries quickly so the books can be removed in half an hour or so. Since fake fur can sometimes be expensive you may not want to waste it by rolling it over and over itself to form the scarf above. Instead, you can roll a length of fabric tightly, then roll the fur around it. The fabric can even be a piece of a sheet or inexpensive muslin. This will keep you from wasting more fur than you need to. When you roll the fur around the fabric tie the ends with a rubber band. The fur should be trimmed to the size of the sheet or other fabric. Push the rubber band very near each end of the scarf. Use the fabric glue to attach a large pom-pom on the end. When the glue has dried you can then remove the rubber bands. If you dont have any pom-poms you can cut the fur slightly longer than the sheet or other fabric, then simply glue the ends shut. This squared-off look at the ends can be improved by gluing on yarn fringe. Instead of fringe or pom-poms you can also use a tassel. Your little girl will love the new scarves you make her and youll love how much money you saved. More importantly, you will really enjoy the scarf crafts. Each one is easy to do, costs very little money, and will make you proud to say "I made it myself."

Clay Makes it Easy to Fix Broken Glass and Pottery

Many expensive things have been lost because they were broken. Once something is broken thats it. Its ruined forever. Broken something you loved and hate to throw it away? Okay, you can repair it but it will still have visible cracks. If thats okay with you then theres a very easy way to repair most anything broken.

The next time youre at a craft store pick up a bagful of clay. Some department stores may carry clay as well. The clay doesnt have to be expensive, and doesnt have to be any certain type or color, but can be simply cheap, ordinary clay. As a matter of fact you can even use play dough type of clays. The clay must be kept damp and not allowed to harden.

If youve broken a favorite bowl dont worry. Position the main pieces together then get busy with the clay. Simply take globs of clay and place them up next to the bowl pieces. Make a fortress, of sorts, around the broken bowl. The clay should come at least a third of the way up the bowl. Mold the clay so that it is snug against the bowl and holding the main pieces in place. Begin gluing the smaller pieces back into the bowl. Theres no need to wait for glue to dry before moving on to other pieces because the clay holds every piece in its place. Continue adding the smaller pieces until youve glued all the pieces back into place. When things break there are often pieces which are mere dust after the accident. Some of this "sand" can be scraped up and glued into places where fairly substantial pieces still remain missing. Place glue in the particular dip or groove then fold a piece of paper in half. Sprinkle some of the glass or ceramic "sand" on the glue. Wear gloves and use a thin piece of cardboard to smooth the sand into place. If using super glue skip this last step. The clay method is a great way to hold things in place while you operate on them. The technique works for wood, ceramic, glass, metal or just about any other material. The clay can be left in place until youre certain the piece has completely dried then removed and used another day. Make sure there are no glass pieces in the clay youve used. If there are its a good idea to throw that clay away and use a fresh piece for the next accident. If even the tiniest glass or ceramic shards are left in the clay you could be badly cut the next time you mold the clay around a broken item. Use the clay technique to fix broken soap dishes, ashtrays, statuettes, lamps, plaster of Paris, and resin items. There are various adhesives you can use so check the labels to find the adhesive thats perfect for the type of material you will be gluing. Fast-drying glues are best for repairing broken glass and ceramic items. Its not always necessary to surround the complete piece with the clay. If youre repairing a lamp, for example, you might be able to do so by building a short wall of clay on each side of the lamp base. Glue the piece or pieces back in leaving the lamp lying as it is. Since theres no need to have the clay molded up where you screw in the lightbulb, the lamp will be impossible to surround with clay. Just use clay in the necessary spots to support the project while youre mending. The clay holds the piece snugly while you glue meaning the piece will be glued well. Although you will still be able to see suture line and cracks the clay helps you reach as close to perfection as possible. It keeps even the smallest pieces from slipping while you glue. Trying to hold items while gluing them can be nearly impossible since you usually need two hands to repair the broken item. Keep a glob of clay in a plastic bag and youll be ready for the next accident. Hopefully there will be no "next accident", but if there is, youll have everything you need to fix it almost like new!

Easy Tuille Crafts, Gifts and Party Favors

Whether youre giving a baby shower or youre the new mom, whether you are having an anniversary or youre throwing an anniversary party, youll be the star of the show when guests see the fabulous tuille party favors, thank-you gifts and more. Tuille is a netting-type material thats often used to wrap other items for show. The lightweight, airy fabric is easy to work with and will help you create beautiful keepsakes and treats your guests will love.

Purchase tuille by the yardage, rather than pieces from a craft store, and youll save money. This is particularly recommended if youre creating many tuille gifts. Use an object, like a bowl or glass, to create a pattern. Cut the circles out and get ready to create any number of fabulous gifts.

You can make the novelties, gifts or trinkets that youll put in the tuille wrap or you can purchase tiny things at craft stores or other shops. For a baby, consider filling the tuille with a beaded bracelet that spells the babys name, a wrist toy, or something similar. Bring the sides of the tuille circle up to form a miniature bag. Using a rubber band makes it very easy to secure the bag. Afterward, tie a satin ribbon around the rubber band. The band will make sure the ribbon doesnt slip off and spill the contents. Theres no particular size thats perfect for the tuille bags. Use a huge bowl to make a large bag full of gifts or a small cup to create little bags as party favors. No matter what size you create, or what you put in it, youll still close it with the rubber band and satin ribbon. If you want, dangle a charm from the ribbon or hot glue a strand of beads onto the bag. For guests at a baby shower fill the bag with party favors like mints or other candies, small soaps, sachets, bath salts, and even free samples. Guests will love the cute little tuille bags that make any table look lacy and elegant. Make a baby shower game by placing one unique item in one of the tuille bags. The person that has this bag wins a prize. If you want to add color to the ordinarily white tuille try spray-on dyes. The dyes are found at many craft stores and are simply sprayed onto the tuille. Set the tuille circles onto newspaper or plastic before spraying. Allow to dry well before creating the party favor or gift bags. If you dont want guests to be able to see whats in the bags cut circles of satin or other fabric. Set these circles onto the tuille circles before adding the trinkets, candies and novelties. Satin, in pastel colors, makes a wonderful liner to the tuille bags. Use the bags to hold money, gift cards, rolled up poems, candy, jewelry, collectibles and more. Theres no limit to the tiny items you can place in the beautiful bags. Theyre perfect for holidays, office parties, little girls birthdays, baby showers and even for a graduation party. Theyre easy to make and add glamour to any festive occasion. There are many ways to embellish the tuille itself. Stamp designs on the tuille with ink and rubber stamps. Or, use a paint marker to create polka dots and more. You can even use stencils to make colorful designs and images. If there will be guys at the party they might not appreciate anything so frilly. Give the tuille bags a masculine touch by using colored rubber bands to secure the tuille bag. Now glue on tiny black bow ties made of felt, cloth or even paper. Inside, be sure and fill the bag with things a man would appreciate. Spray painting the tuille with colors a man would like will create perfect favors for the guys at the party. Whether youre having a shower, a celebration or you just want to thank a friend its fun, inexpensive and easy to make tuille crafts, gifts, favors and more. Theyll be the talk of the party long after the party is over!

How to Do Your Own Nails with Metallic Tape Nail Art, Accessory Art and More

If youve never seen metallic tapes they resemble Scotch tape but theyre colorful and shiny. The tapes are found at any craft store and are easily dispensed. Available in ultra-shiny colors like blue, gold, silver, red or green the tape is perfect for creating your own nail art, designs on accessories, patterns on decor items and much, much more.

Metallic tape, of course, is sticky on one side and shiny on the other. When designs are cut from the tape it creates something like a sticker. These stickers can be used to make pinstripes on purses or flowers on fingernails. The stickers can be created in a number of manners to make it easier for you to design the images you want.

When it comes to designs tiny enough for fingernails it can be somewhat tedious trying to make tiny images without the tape sticking to you. To make it easier dispense a piece of tape and stick it to a piece of sticker paper. The sticker paper can be found at craft stores and printer supply retailers. The paper is especially designed for printing your own stickers from your home computer. Using it you can trim and otherwise cut the tape into shapes you can use on nails. Place a strip of metallic tape on the sticker paper. Use punches or other means of cutting various shapes. Peel the shapes away from the sticker paper and affix them to your nails. The tiny shapes are best placed on nails which have been freshly painted and are still a little sticky. If you want you can use a clear coat over the top of the sticker to protect it. The metallic tape images can be used on sorts of accessories, too. Place a long strip of tape on the sticker paper and cut it into narrow strips. The strips make great pinstripes for belts, purses, shoes and more. Other designs can be created by using stencils or stamps. Youre not necessarily limited to images which will fit on a single width of the tape. Position tape strips, on the sticker paper, butting them next to each other. Although your images will have slight lines across it, where youve used two or more widths of the tape, the lines are barely noticeable. Create designs for other things in your home by using metallic tapes. The tape is a great way to protect your family from harm when it comes to glass. Every year many people are injured severely because a glass door was nearly invisible. Make a design on the glass, by using the metallic tape, and youve instantly made your family and guests safer. The design doesnt have to be anything fancy. You can simply go around the perimeter of the glass with the tape or create xs in the corners of the glass. The tape can be used to bring new life to ordinary vases, plant pots, lamps, mirrors, interior doors, drawer hardware, and even picture frames. The tape can also be used to create designs for small items like cell phones, staplers, compacts and more. The tape doesnt necessarily have to be cut into designs and shapes. Dispense it into strips and use as-is to highlight everything from belts to shoes. The wide stripes made by the ordinary tape strips can be used to create checks, squares, rectangles, triangles and other simple designs. Although the tape can withstand wiping with a damp cloth it wont hold up under washing and drying. The tape can be peeled away from most objects and new tape applied if necessary. If some tape residue remains it can usually be removed with rubbing alcohol. Its fun to create designs on fingernails, decor items and accessories. The tape makes it easy to change the look of many things within minutes. Although metallic tapes are a little more expensive than ordinary Scotch tape they are still very reasonably priced. And, the rolls contain so much tape that youll be able to do several projects with just one roll!

How to Sew on a Snap Assembly

Snaps are handy little gadgets that have been around for many years. They can be sewn on to various garments to help with closure. Whether the only closures on the garment is a collection of snaps, or whether you just need one snap at the top of a zipper, you can easily sew the snaps on yourself. Youll find the snaps in various sizes at any store that sells zippers, buttons and other notions.

Snaps are simplistic in design. One half of the set is a disk-shaped piece that has a nub that protrudes from the center. The other half is also disk-shaped but has a sinkhole-type design that allows the nub to fit tightly into it. To close a garment push the nub into the sinkhole. To unsnap the garment pull the nub out of the sinkhole.

Most snaps are similar in design. The disk shape has four holes, spaced equally around the circle, that are used to hold the snap in place with thread. Both the concave and the convex halves are designed with the four thread holes. Start sewing them onto the garment by first threading the needle and tying a knot in one end. Position the snap piece with the nub on the underside of the garment. It should be placed just next to the edge. Push the needle through a few threads beside the snap to begin. Pull the thread through leaving the knot outside the holes of the disk. Now push the needle through one hole of the disk and up through the fabric. Go back down through the second hole, then up through the third, and down through the fourth hole. Continue this pattern until youve gone several rounds. When the snap is taut youll knot the end. To create a knot at the end of the sewing cycle push the needle through a few threads beside the disk. When doing so, come up through one of the holes without pushing the thread through to the other side. So, push the tip of the needle through a few threads and under the hardware. Come up through the hole and pull the thread. Before pulling the thread all the way through pass the needle through the loop formed by the thread. Pull taut. Repeat that step, but this time, push the needle through the loop twice. Pull taut and trim thread. Attach the concave side of the snap hardware in a similar manner. Place it on top of the fabric, next to the edge, and positioned to where it aligns with the other side of the snap. Hold it in place as you stitch it on. This time, push the needle up through the underside of the fabric and in through one of the holes. Take the needle over to the second hole and push it down through to the back. Come back up with the needle, pushing it from behind to the inside of the third hole, then down through the fourth hole. Continue in this manner until youve secured the snap piece. Finish the snap by knotting it. To knot the thread push the needle to the backside of the fabric. Take a small stitch, pull the thread halfway through, then push the needle through the loop formed by the thread. Pull taut and repeat the step. When repeating, push the needle through the loop twice, then pull taut and snip threads. Make sure, while sewing on either snap piece, the thread doesnt cross over the nub or the sink hole parts of the snaps. If it does the snap will not function properly. In addition. Make sure the sewing is very neat on the nub side of the snap since the threads holding it will show on the outside of the garment. There really isnt much difference between sewing on large snaps or small ones. Just make sure to use a small needle and regular thread for small snaps but a large needle and thick thread for larger snaps. If you need serious holding power consider using nylon thread to stitch on the snap halves. No matter the size of the snap or the type thread you use youll easily be able to accomplish this easy sewing task.

Fun Alligator Pencil Holder for Kids

Have you ever seen those scrubbing pads which are rectangular, green and thin? Theyre found at most any place that sells dish detergent and similar products. The scrubbing pads are inexpensive and can be used to make a cute alligator pencil holder for a child. As a matter of fact, the alligator is so easy to make, even a child can do it. If you have more than one child, purchase the multi-pack, because all your kids will want to make one for themselves. They finished alligator can sit on a desk, shelf or night stand.

Youll need two of the scrubbing pads to make each alligator. Cut two corners off of each pad, rounding them when you cut them, to make a shape that looks like a long pocket. Use the pocket shape as a pattern to cut two pieces of red felt. The red pieces should be a tad shorter and narrower than the pocket shape.

Cut a piece of white felt to make the alligators teeth. The piece should be long enough to go around the rounded part of one of the pads. Cut the felt to look like teeth, cutting several points across the length of one long side of the felt. Glue the finished teeth to the top rounded part of the scrubber pad. This will be the top of the alligators head and mouth. Glue the two red felt pieces to one side of the green pocket shapes. One piece of the red felt will be glued to the scrubber that has the "teeth". Glue the red piece over the edge of the white felt which is the set of teeth. The second red felt piece should be glued directly to the bottom jaw of the alligator - the scrubber without the teeth. Place the top jaw - the one with the teeth - on top of the bottom jaw. Use hot glue to glue them together across the straight end of the scrubbers. Do not glue the center and rounded ends of the scrubbers. You should now have the shape of the jaws of the alligator, with the teeth showing in the front. Use green pom-poms to make the eyes of the alligator. The one-inch size works well. Glue them all the way back by the straight side of the scrubbers. They should be placed on top, right in front of the area where you glued the scrubbers together. Glue wiggly eyes onto each of the pom-poms to finish the eyes of the alligator. The wiggly eyes should be glued to the front of the pom-poms not on top of them. Create a nose for the alligator by gluing two small black pom-poms onto the rounded area of the top piece. Push the pom-poms almost all the way together and glue them right at the rounded edge. Instead of pom-poms you can use small black beads or shank buttons. After creating the nose the face is almost complete. Now youll choose a method of adding embellishments to the face. Give the alligators face some texture and character by selecting any number of craft supplies. Cut three pieces of rick-rack. One piece should be slightly longer than the other two pieces. The rick-rack can be green or black. Glue one piece from between the eyes to the edge of the snout. The other two pieces should be placed in front of the eyes and reach to the rounded edge. Instead of rick-rack you can use roping, yarn or even fabric paints. The alligator can set on a flat surface and hold any number of things between its jaws. Slide in pencils, markers, pens - even makeup brushes. The cute critter looks great on a childs desk or art table. Kids can make the creation themselves or you can make it and surprise them. A child might even want to make one for his or her favorite teacher. Its a unique gift that will look great on the teachers desk. Make one for Mom to use as a pincushion. She can stick pins and needles in the red felt of the open alligators mouth. Its fun, easy and inexpensive to make several of the alligators so everyone in the family can have one or so you can give them out as gifts.

Make-Over Your Bed with Place Mats

Do you know of a store that has a really great deal on place mats? Do you have place mats you dont even use? Go out and buy a set, or use some you already have, to create something new and beautiful for your home. The place mats can be used to give your bed a make-over thats inexpensive and fabulous! Ordinary cloth place mats are all you need to add colorful, cloth accents to your existing bed set. There are many different designs you can make simply by the way you arrange the place mats on the bedspread or quilt you already have. And the really great news? You dont even have to know how to sew! If you know how to sew - even if youre a beginner - its easy to stitch the place mats onto the bed set. If youve never sewn a day in your life grab some fabric glue and get busy! The glue can be found at any fabric or craft store and makes it easy to join various fabrics. Check the label to make sure the type you buy is easily laundered. Another option is fusible webbing. Its sold at the same stores where you find the fabric glue. The webbing, when placed between two pieces of fabric then ironed, joins fabrics permanently.

Stitch or glue a place mat to two bed pillows to create the unique design of your choice. After doing the pillows you can then create any number of patterns on the quilt or bedspread. Although the place mats are attached horizontally on the pillow shams you can turn them vertically and stitch or glue a row of them down the center of the quilt. Or, keep the place mats in a horizontal manner to match the shams. A different design is done when you attach one place mat to each corner of the bedspread.

Conceal worn places, cigarette burns, bleach spills and similar problems by using the place mats to create a new bed set. Even if the existing set is pristine the new design will allow you to change the look of the bed - and room - for little money. The make-over is so easy to do youll have a new bedroom theme in no time. Most cloth place mats are suitable for doing the bed make-over. Really bulky mats might not be appropriate for the look you want to achieve. Mats which are fringed at the ends work okay, but when attaching them to the bed, leave the fringe hanging loose. Dont try to sew or glue the fringe down; you wont like that look! Stitch or glue in the area of the binding, right above the fringe. If you want, you can cut the fringe much shorter, then stitch or glue onto the bedding. Place mats that dont match can often be used to create unique designs. Affix two identical place mats to the pillow shams, attach identical ones to the bedspread, but alternate them with a second place mat pattern youve chosen. Look at discount department stores and flea markets for place mats at reduced prices. Depending upon the amount of place mats you have at your disposal you can create dozens of different designs. Attach the place mats around the perimeter of the quilt to make one pattern. Create horizontal or vertical rows of place mats, across the quilt, to form a different design. Make something totally different by stitching the place mats, here and there, randomly on the bedspread. Place mats used on the bed can be further enhanced by using rubber stamping techniques or even paint markers. Use stencils and the markers - or fabric paint - to create a particular design on each of the place mats. Or, just use those designs to decorate the place mats which adorn the pillow shams. Make matching accessories for the bed by gluing a place mat or two to a small bedroom trash can or simply setting a place mat on each of the night stands. The place mats can be attached to cornices, drapes and other items in the room, too. Youll love this bed make-over thats easy, inexpensive and very unique!

Elegant Looks for Your Cheap Light Fixture Covers

Have you ever seen really cheap ceiling light fixture covers? You know the ones: they can be round or square but are plastic and plain. The covers are found in many houses, mobile homes and apartments across the country. You may aspire to replace them all one day but thats going to be costly, so in the meanwhile, spend a couple of bucks to make them look much more attractive.

There are many options for changing the look of your ceiling light covers. Craft stores are full of inexpensive items that can be used to create a whole new look for the unsightly covers. No matter what look you intend to achieve youll need the plastic cover to be very clean before beginning. The covers are famous for turning yellow over time, so if you need to, bleach them and let them dry thoroughly before creating the new design.

Fake jewels are only one choice for creating a classy look for your light fixture covers. The jewels are available in an assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. Position them evenly around the light covers sides or create designs or patterns. Dont completely cover the shade; that will block much of the light. Instead create clusters, or other patterns around the cover, using the jewels. Use hot glue to stick the jewels to the plastic cover. The cheap plastic light fixture covers will have a completely different look if you use small wooden shapes to give it a little more personality. The flat shapes are found at any craft store and come in a pack of many. Choose from hearts, pet shapes, geometric shapes, celestial shapes and more. Paint them gold, silver, white or other colors. You can even purchase the shapes already painted and decorated. Its easy to hot glue the shapes onto the fixture cover. Metallic tape is another option that allows you to easily create fabulous new looks for your old fixture covers. The tape is found at craft stores and dispenses like ordinary Scotch tape. Use it to create a sparkly border of red, blue, gold, silver or green. You can make a border around the shade, then leave a small space and create a second border - even a third. The shiny tape makes any plastic fixture cover look new and elegant. You can even hang lightweight metallic or other objects from your light fixture covers with ease. Use a button magnet, or small square magnet, to create the look you want. Hold the magnet on the inside of the cover while you position a metallic object on the outside. Or, glue a small magnet onto ceramic or wooden shapes to accomplish the same look. There are numerous miniatures from which to choose which will make your covers look completely different than they do now. Rubber stamping is easy, inexpensive and allows you to make any number of designs on your ordinary light fixture covers. The stamps are available in a huge variety of shapes and designs or you can create your own stamp by using things you already have. Dip soda lids in paint and stamp circles on the shade. Cut cardboard shapes and use them as stamps. There are many things you have around the house that would make a great stamp. Use stencils to paint a particular design on the covers or use a different technique. Paints that dispense from a squeeze bottle make it easy to create coloring book designs for the covers. Outline an image from a coloring book page or other source then press the painted side against the light fixture cover. Dont push down hard or the paint could smear. Most of us look around and think of things wed like to change around the house, but for many of us, the funds just arent there. You dont need big money to change your unsightly fixture covers into something magnificent and elegant. Youll enjoy the new look you have and youll secretly smile thinking of the money you saved!

How to Make Bookmarks from Calendars

Where do they find those gorgeous pictures you see on calendars? Arent they beautiful? Its a shame to throw away old calendars when they often have those breathtaking photos on them. Do you find it hard to throw them away, too? Then dont! Make all sorts of craft and decor projects by using the pictures from a calendar. One such project is a simple but elegant bookmark that kids will love to make - and use! Tear a calendar page picture from a large calendar. Tiny calendars arent ideal for making bookmarks. Cut away the perforations left by the ripping of the page from a spiral calendar. Cut the picture so that it is nine inches wide and nine inches long. This is just a guide. You can make the bookmark longer or shorter if you want.

Lay the page upside-down on a flat surface and fold one side of the calendar page toward the center. Crease well. Glue it down. Fold the opposite side over, and on top of the first side, and glue it in place. The bookmark is now finished. Poke a hole in the top part of the book mark and tie on a piece of satin ribbon or roping. Wow, that was easy wasnt it? Make a different bookmark by folding the calendar page as above, but not gluing it. Make the two folds and crease each fold well. Glue the second flap to the first one but leave the top and bottom ends open. Cut a piece of cardstock a half-inch narrower than the bookmark. Tape or glue on a poem or passage youve cut from a book or magazine. After the glue dries, slide the poem into the bookmark, from the bottom. Any time you want you can slide out the poem and read it.

Instead of taping or gluing the poem to a piece of cardstock you can just print the poem out on your home computer. Choose the picture you want and print it out on the thickest paper your printer will allow. If you dont want to insert a poem into the bookmark just use the opening as a secret hiding place. Fold paper or money and slide it into the bookmark. To remove the note or money, just squeeze the sides of the bookmark, and allow the item to drop out. Use calendar pages and cardstock to make a different bookmark entirely. Cut a piece of cardstock to the size you want the bookmark to be. If you want, cut a piece of lace and glue it on the cardstock. The lace should be very flat and be slightly smaller than the cardstock. Now cut a small calendar picture out and glue it on top of the lace. If youre not using lace the picture should be cut only slightly smaller than the cardstock. If you are using lace cut the picture slightly smaller than the lace. Glue the picture onto the cardstock or lace. Poke a hole at the to and add a ribbon or narrow roping. Use calendar pages to make the background for a bookmark. Cut the bookmark shape from the calendar then glue on a second picture over the top. For example, cut a beach scene from a calendar, then glue on a picture that has close-ups of shells. Or, cut the bookmark from a mountain scene, then glue on a picture of a family going on vacation. The possibilities are endless! If you just dont have craft supplies to make bookmarks dont worry about it! Simply cut the pictures out of the calendars and use them as-is. Calendars that feature thick paper are great for making bookmarks. For any of the bookmark projects you can embellish with glitter, fabric paints or even a tiny jewel. Other embellishments include flat pieces of foam, scrapbook paper cutouts, foil punch-outs, confetti pieces, or scraps of cloth. A homemade bookmark is a simple but elegant way to say "thank you" to a friend, give a going-away present to a teacher, or just to keep the place in your favorite novel. Theyre fun and easy, cost little or nothing to make, but will help you save that beautiful calendar picture you love so much!

Beautiful Towel Cake for Wedding Showers

There are very few centerpieces that make fabulous wedding gifts but you can make both at the same time when you create a unique yet beautiful towel cake. Thats right, a fake cake made from towels and wash cloths! The bride-to-be will love the gift and guests jaws will drop when they see the elegant and impressive centerpiece. Its so easy to make but no one will know that when they see it! Youll need two white wash cloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels - all the same type - to create the masterpiece. The fluffier the set is, the better the towel cake will be when finished. The quality of the towels will make a difference with the finished cake. The white set of towels, of course, will create a white cake. Instead of white you can use certain floral or other patterns. Floral towels, for example, create a look of a decorated cake. In addition to the towels you will need a few craft supplies to create the finished look.

You can create a base for the cake by using a pizza cardboard or other round cardboard piece. Cover in foil, paint and cover with a doily, or otherwise decorate the base. A base can also be made by covering a large, round serving tray. Although the base can help create the illusion of a real wedding cake its actually optional. The towel cake can still be made without a base.

To start making the cake lay a bath towel flat on a table. Fold the towel lengthwise and roll it from one end to the other. Use three safety pins - or a piece of white tape, to secure. Take a second bath towel, fold it and roll it, then attach it to the first towel. Use pins or white tape to attach the end of the second towel to the taped end of the first towel. Wrap the second towel around the first one to create one large circle of towels. Instead of pinning or taping this towel use a wide white ribbon to secure. Wrap the ribbon around the towels, hot glue it, then trim. Create a second bundle of towels, using the two hand towels, and following the steps for creating the first bundle. Make a third bundle by following the same steps with the wash cloths. Wrap each bundle in wide white ribbon. Each ribbon should be slightly more narrow than the previous so that the ribbon size coincides with the towel or wash cloth size. Now you have three circles of towels, each one slightly smaller than the previous. Stack the hand towel bundle atop the bath towels, and the wash cloths atop the hand towels to form the cake. Use silk flowers to decorate the cake. Place one on top of the cake, with other embellishments, like leaves. Add the flowers around the bottom of the wash cloths by positioning them on top of the hand towels. Now add the flowers around the bottoms of the hand towels by positioning them on top of the bath towels. Finish up with the flowers by adding some all the way around the bottom of the cake. Double-sided tape or floral pins can be used to secure the flowers to the towels. Further embellish the towel cake by using strands of pearls. Use pins to drape the strands in a vertical zig-zag around the sides of the wash cloths, hand towels and bath towels. Tiny soaps can be strategically placed amongst the flowers. There are any number of embellishments you can add to create the perfect look for the theme youre using. Create an even more elegant cake by wrapping the wash cloths, the hand towels, and the bath towels in a piece of white lace. Wrap the wide ribbons around the lace covers. Set the towel cake in the middle of the table for a centerpiece, and after the shower, present it to the bride-to-be as a gift. The cake can be easily disassembled so that she can actually use the towels, soaps and other items. The finished towel cake is so beautiful, though, shell likely never take it apart!

Quick Paneling Patch Jobs

Paneling had its day, but nowadays, more appealing materials are used to finish out walls of new homes. If you have an older home, though, or even a mobile home, you might have paneling coming out the ears. If so, then you already know that paneling can easily be scratched, or otherwise damaged. The problem with that is, the most common way to fix paneling is to replace it with more paneling, and paneling can be sometimes hard to match. Home improvement stores often dont carry a large variety of paneling these days, and if they do, they might not have the kind you need.

Simple scratches in paneling are usually easy to repair. A marker is sometimes all you need to cover up a scratch. If the scratch is deep, and there are splinters, wrap a piece of sandpaper around a butter knife - or similar object - then sand the scratch. Use the marker or crayon to cover the sanded scratch. If the scratch is more like a scrape try shoe polish to cover the spot.

If there is severe damage it may not be necessary to replace the entire sheet of paneling. For instance, if the damage is only on a lower or upper area of the paneling, you can replace just the damaged area then add a piece of molding across the top of the new piece. This technique works only on walls that are no wider than one piece of paneling. Cut away the bad paneling, replace it with the new, then nail on the molding piece. If you can, add a piece of molding on another small wall, just to make it look like the molding was in the original design. If a particular wall is not paneled, and has a damaged place, you can actually use strips of paneling to create a design that will cover the damage. One way to do this is to cut paneling into strips. Since paneling has sections this is easy to accomplish. Cut two or more identical sections to hang on the damaged wall. Create a pattern, such as three strips made from paneling, to cover the damage. The three pieces should be perfect spaced and one strip should cover the hole or other damage. The other two strips are merely to finish the pattern. If you dont need to have the paneling strips go from ceiling to floor use other strips to encase the three youve hung. Now it looks like the pattern is framed. The paneling doesnt necessarily have to be hung vertically. It can also be hung horizontally to cover wall scratches. The design you make is all your own. When youre finished no one will know there was ever any damage. Many mobile homes have patterns, made from paneling, built in by the manufacturer. After time, these can become scratched, but replacing all the decorative paneling design could be expensive and time consuming. In some cases you can use adhesive wood-look shelf liner to cover the mars. Just cut the strips of adhesive paper to be the size and shape of the wood pieces and stick it to the surfaces. Although, upon close examination, the adhesive paper does not look like wood, it will cover scratches and fool people from a distance. Youll find the paper available in many styles and colors at a home improvement store or places that sell shelf liner. The adhesive paper can also be used to cover light switches and make them blend in with the wood paneling. Use masking tape or even caulking to fill in the indentations of the paneling. Now you can use a good primer, and paint, to cover damaged paneling. Make sure you buy a good primer to begin this job. Painted paneling can look like a regular wall when its done correctly. You dont have to be embarrassed about your scratched up paneling anymore. There are ways to fix the damage - or to hide the paneling altogether - and all of them are simple enough for anyone to accomplish. Get out your crayons! Youve got some home improvements to do!

How to Make Candy Bar Birth Announcement Cards

There are so many things to do when youre expecting a new baby. You have to get the nursery ready, purchase tons of diapers, and get the birth announcements ready. You can spend months preparing the nursery, and hundreds of dollars stocking up on diapers, but the birth announcements should not be a big issue.

There are literally thousands of baby announcements from which you can choose, but if youd like something really unique to announce the birth of your baby, make a candy bar birth announcement. Your friends and family members will be impressed with the cute birth announcement cards and youll marvel at how easy it is to make them.

Purchase the type of candy bars you wish to use as the birth announcements. The candy bars can be assorted or all the same. They can be regular size, king size, or even miniatures. There really are no rules for deciding what types of candy bars to use; use any candy that comes in a bar shape. Choose the type of wrapping you want to use for the birth announcements. The wrapping will be placed over the top of the actual candy bar wrapper. Good choices for the wrapping include gift wrap, foil wraps, or decorative scrapbook paper. Even construction paper, printer paper, or plain brown paper can be used. Cut a piece of the chosen paper to wrap around the candy bar. Use tape to hold the wrapper in place. The paper you wrap around the candy bar should be large enough to completely cover the original wrapper but small enough to allow the ends of the wrapper to be slightly exposed. Use your computers print program to create stickers to place on each bar. Each sticker should say "Its A Boy", or "Its A Girl", and should give the additional details, such as birth date, time of birth, childs name and babys birth weight. The total amount of info you include on the sticker is up to you. Other informational options include the names of the parents, names of siblings, or even the length of the baby at birth. Youll find blank stickers to print at stores that sell printer paper and other supplies. The sticker paper is available in an array of solid colors and even prints. Online youll find stores that literally offer thousands of choices for your birth announcement project. After printing the stickers, peel away the backing, then wrap the sticker around the bar. If you want, you can use stickers that are flat and rectangular, and just affix them across the front of the candy bar. There are any number of embellishments you can add to the candy bar birth announcement. Tie a pink or blue ribbon around the bar or even add a tiny charm. Create small, stretchy baby bracelets, spell the babys name with tiny beads, then slide it onto the ribbon before tying it. Make fake candy bars and use them to create the birth announcements. Save candy bar wrappers and stuff them with stacks of cardboard or even a piece of sponge. Hot glue the end of the wrapper shut. Now you can select the paper you wish to use to cover the candy bar along with the sticker youll use to make the actual announcement. Instead of a ribbon you can position the printed sticker and place a pink or blue fake jewel in the center. Whether youre using real candy bars, or making fake ones from saved wrappers, youll have fun creating the unique birth announcements. When your family members and friends receive the cute birth announcement theyll be thrilled! The candy bar birth announcements will fit in a business size envelope which can be decorated with a newborn theme. Use rubber stamps, markers or paint makers to create the matching envelopes. The birth of a new baby is such an exciting time and it will be even more exciting when you make these fun, easy and unique birth announcements for your new baby.