Simple Paper Streamers
December 30, 2008 by Emily · 17 Comments
Looking for a simple homemade way to add extra color to your party decor? *Perfect for Casual New Years Eve Parties* This is so easy that your kids can do it with you! (Although, scissors are involved in this project, so they may need to use “safe children’s scissors” or have extra help and supervision).
SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Tape
- Paper - Any color or design you want, (you can use colored printer paper, cardstock or even *reuse paper scraps*) - you could also use plain white paper and color it, write names on it or add glitter.
- Scissors
Once you have your paper and scissors, start cutting a strip (about 1/2 inch thick) at the end of your paper - cut it straight (almost to the tip - but not all the way) leave about 1 inch to the edge. *You can also cut your strips in wavy lines if you want to add a little flair to your streamers.
Then rotate your paper and start cutting another strip right next to it on the other side and follow the same pattern. You can make your strips as thin or as thick as you would like. After you have your entire paper cut into one long strip, you can leave it long or cut it in half for shorter streamers.
It should look kind of like this:
Finally, hang them up with tape wherever you want - from the ceiling, from a door frame, or you can use them to decorate a room or a desk!
I make these paper streamers all the time. I made these this morning in about 10 minutes! You can use them for any party throughout the year too.
$1 Store Finds ~ Turned Into Cute Storage
December 18, 2008 by Emily · 12 Comments
“Storage items abound at the dollar store…the secret, though, is to unlock their hidden potential.” One of my very favorite magazines comes from Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection. In their Fall 2008 collection, they listed a variety of ways to turn simple $1 store finds into creative storage solutions. I fell in love - it’s amazing how everyday items can be easily turned into sensational organizational accessories, don’t you think?
Food storage containers make great change collectors! Just cut out a slit in each lid and line them with your favorite decorative paper.
Measuring cups are perfect organizers for a hodge-podge of buttons or any other sort of kitchen accessory. You can sort them by size, color or shape and they fit in successfully in any craft room or craft storage area.
The last two clutter-buster tips are so fitting for the holidays! For your ribbon - store it in clear straw dispensers…just slide your ribbons onto the rods and there you have it, a pretty display in minutes.
And I’m sure that many of you have been pulling out the cookie cutters, pass up keeping them in a drawer and simply stack them on a paper-towel holder to treasure on your counter-top.
What are some of the creative storage ideas that you have at home?
Make Your Own Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder
December 18, 2008 by Emily · 3 Comments
Time to shine! When you want to brighten a room with a little bit of ”handmade-holiday”, this festive candle holder ought to do the trick. This easy-to-make Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder is a crafty project idea courtesy of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.
And really, what would I do without Jo-Ann? This craft and fabric store is a place I can lose myself for hours. Oh the craft possibilities.
SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
• 1 Glass container (you can go with any size or shape - round, small, large, square)
• 2 pkgs Cinnamon sticks (may be less if you are making a smaller size)
• 1 spool Green wire-edged green ribbon, 1 1/2″ wide
• 1 Pine sprig
• 1 Small pinecone
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Wire cutters
• Scissors
• Glass cleaner and paper towels
DIRECTIONS:
1. Clean glass container.
2. Using wire cutters, cut all cinnamon sticks to a length 1/2″ below top of glass container.
3. Refer to photo in placing all materials.
4. Glue cinnamon sticks to sides of container. Let glue dry thoroughly before proceeding.
5. Wrap ribbon around container and tie a knot. Trim ends at an angle.
6. Glue pine sprig on knot. Glue pine cone in center of pine sprig.
Optional design: Add small berries or holiday-themed picks if desired.
Umecrafts Felt Treats That You Can Make
December 17, 2008 by Emily · 3 Comments
Imaginary play is an important part of any child’s life. And for a little girl, her toy box and play kitchen isn’t quite complete without a play tea party set. Best of all, you can make this felt set yourself!
One of Little Window Shoppe’s fabulous sponsors, Lit’l Brown Bird, has the cutest shoppe called Umecrafts. All Umecrafts tutorials come with actual cut-out pdf patterns and easy to follow step-by-step detailed colored instructions to help you along the way. {Priced between $4 and $10}.
And don’t forget to add a few delightful treats to your tea party too. These felt cakes look almost yummy enough to eat…
Discount:
Enjoy a 20% DISCOUNT on ALL patterns from now untill December 25th! (See Umecrafts’ shoppe for more discount details).
Easy-to-Make Pop Up Cards
December 16, 2008 by Emily · 8 Comments
Pop Up Cards are so much fun (and EASY) to make. I actually love to make these all year round for birthdays and parties too (with a different theme of course). I made this Christmas Tree card last night by the light of my desk lamp and it took me just about 5 minutes.
Supplies:
-
Two colors of cardstock paper
-
Scissors
-
A Paper Punch (stars, snowflakes) or brads (for extra embellishments)
-
Paper Glue (or even tape works well)
As you can see, steps 1 and 2 are really easy, simply fold one of your cardstock papers in half and make two cuts in the fold of your paper. Fold the flap in (push it in the opposite direction) so that it pops out.
Next, design your shape - you may want test it to be sure that it fits when you close your card. Then glue or tape it onto your card and embellish it with brads or paper-punched shapes. And finally, to make a cover for your card, simply glue an extra layer of cardstock over your folded paper.
Handmade cards and gifts are some of my very favorite to give and receive, which is why I love to make these cards. How about you?
Handmade Holiday: Juice Can Lid Ornament
December 9, 2008 by Emily · 6 Comments
This awesome post and handmade holiday idea comes straight from Kathleen over at Katydid And Kid - she has awesome crafty holiday ideas and tutorials on her blog and we think that her limeade lid ornament tutorial rocks! (shared with permission).
Handmade Holiday: Juice Can Lid Ornament - by Kathleen
I love recycling nearly as much as crafting (kinda sad, huh?) so when I was making limeade for some unexpected guests the other weekend, I had an “aha!” moment. I keep a few of those frozen concentrated mixes on hand in the freezer for when I’m in a pinch and want to offer visitors something more than the customary water and iced tea we drink around here. As I was opening the can, I remembered a craft my mom used to do with us when I was little…
She would save the metal lids throughout the year (we had tons, since I have 4 brothers who were sugar addicts) and around Christmas we’d make ornaments for our tree and as tags for presents for teachers, grandparents, and others. These lids are perfect because they don’t have sharp edges like ones you get from steel cans.
This craft requires a hammer, so you may want to do it with more mature kids. It doesn’t require heavy pounding, just a few little taps so you could try it with younger kids. I remember loving the chance to use a hammer as a child. I felt so grown up, and hey, who doesn’t like to pound things every once in a while.
What You’ll Need:
- juice can lid(s)
- hammer
- long nail or awl (if you’re fancy!)
- stack of newspaper (for padding)
- pretty ribbon
- tape
- paper
- pencil/pen
(Optional): Shoe polish or brown acrylic paint and a paper towel and a clothespin for helping hold the nail.
What You’ll Do:
1. Trace the lid from the can so you have a circle to draw your design in. You could draw it right on the metal lid if you wish, but then you have to wipe it off in the end.
2. Cut it out and draw your design. I chose “S” for my son’s name. You could also print letters or images from the computer or take a design from a coloring book. The simpler the image, the better it will turn out.
3. Tape the paper to the metal lid. You don’t have to use red electrical tape like I did! It was the closest thing available.
4. Here’s the fun part. Take your hammer and nail and begin tapping holes in the tin, following the lines of your design. It may be easier to pinch the nail with a clothespin that has some tape on the inside (to hold the nail in place better). This would prevent little fingers from being smacked. Do this on top of a stack of newspaper so that you don’t puncture your table.
5. If you peek under the paper, it will start to look like this:
6. When you’re done, your design will be seen as a series of tiny dots. Be sure to poke a bigger hole at the top for threading the ribbon into. Caregivers might want to do this step.
7. Here’s the finished result with a pretty ribbon for hanging.
8. (OPTIONAL): If you’d like to “antique” your ornament, put a dot of brown paint or brown shoe polish on a paper towel and rub it into the dots. It’ll make your image “pop” a little bit. Do this on top of the newspaper because it might bleed through the back. Rub off any excess paint. And of course, do this before you put the ribbon on so you don’t get paint on it.
9. There you have it! You can cut out a piece of felt to glue onto the back, since you might have some sharp pieces of metal poking through. It’ll save little hands and walls from getting scraped. I’ve chosen to hang mine on a doorknob, as I think it looks quite charming.
If I find some more time, I’ll finish all the letters of my son’s name and string them together to make a little banner for over his window.
Enjoy and happy crafting!
Kathleen’s blog: Katydid And Kid - Adventures in making and doing.
Homemade Ribbon Ornaments
December 5, 2008 by Lauren · 4 Comments
These ribbon ornaments were inspired by some lovely Christmas ornaments I saw in a catalog. I knew I could either afford to buy two, or make ten! And the fun part is, you can decide what colors and patterns to use, tailoring them perfectly to your decorating style.
The supply list is super simple:
- Medium sized Styrofoam balls
- 3 ½ yards of your favorite ribbon (1/2 inch width works best for me), preferably in 3-4 prints
- 10 inches of ricrac
- Hot glue gun
Cut your ribbon in 10 inch strips – you’ll need 12 strips. For the ornament picture I chose to use 4 strips of 3 different prints. Place a small dot of glue on the end of the ribbon and press it on to the ball. Wrap it around so you form a tight loop around the ball, then glue the other end on. Trim the edges as necessary.
Take a ribbon of the same print and do the same glue-wrap-glue process, criss-crossing the first ribbon (see the picture). Always glue your ends to the top of the ball at the same spot.
Attach the ricrac as a loop at the top of your ball so you can easily adorn your tree with these charming, homemade Christmas ornaments!
Lauren’s blog: Supermom Central - tips, tricks and tidbits for the aspiring Supermom.
Easy Oreo Truffles
December 2, 2008 by Vanessa · 10 Comments
I recently learned from my aunt how to make the BEST Oreo Truffles ever. When I found out that all I needed was a box of Oreos, a bag of chocolate chips and a package of cream cheese, I had to give it a try. These really do taste heavenly and they are so incredibly easy to make too.
Step 1:
Grind up one whole package of Oreos in your blender/food processor/hand chopper. Save about 1 cup of ground-up Oreos and put it to the side.
Step 2:
Add one 8 oz package of cream cheese (at room temperature) to the remaining ground-up Oreos and combine well, then form them into 1 inch balls (about golf ball size).
Step 3:
Melt one package of chocolate chips (whichever is your favorite - milk, semi-sweet, dark chocolate) on a double broiler or very carefully in a microwave. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate and coat well, then place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
Step 4:
Take the cup of ground up Oreos and sprinkle the extra Oreo crumbs all over the truffles. Let them sit in the fridge until the chocolate sets (mine only took 20 minutes). Enjoy!
Vanessa’s blog: I Never Grew Up - Ideas and Reviews to Help Parents Entertain, Care for and Educate their Children.
Make Your Own Winter Berry Wreath
November 12, 2008 by Emily · 10 Comments
This is my favorite Winter Berry wreath! I have it at home proudly displayed and since I thought it was so pretty, I took a few pictures of it and put it up on the front page of Little Window Shoppe a week ago. Since posting it up, I have had a lot of questions about it! So, due to popular demand, I wanted to write a quick tutorial with easy steps on how to make your own gorgeous wreath this year.
Supplies
- An old or new grapevine wreath base (size = your choice). You can buy these at Michaels for about $3 - $6. Mine also has extra dried twigs included in it, in fact you could dry your own twigs and make a base out of it…just secure it together with floral wire.
- A bunch of your favorite freshly picked Red Winter Berry Stems - (the artificial stems are also found at various craft stores).
- Floral Wire - to secure everything in place and to make a hanger for your wreath.
- Scissors and/or a wire cutter
- (Extra) Ribbon - if you want to add a ribbon to your wreath.
Easy Steps
Once you have your grapevine/twig base and your Winter Berry stems, start weaving them into the base and secure them with floral wire. If you can’t keep it in place with just the wire, you can also use hot glue (I like to avoid glue if at all possible on this project, but it can definitely help hold it all together if nothing else is working).
Finally, once the stems are intertwined and secured, you can use your floral wire to make a hanger for your wreath or to attach a pretty bow. This is a fun and easy little project for the holidays and will help you to save a lot of money too! Many of pre-made berry wreaths are selling for about $20 to $40 (depending on the size). So, have fun and keep your cash this season. 
Thanksgiving Dinner Flair
November 7, 2008 by Lauren · 9 Comments
This year, for the very first time, I’m hosting Thanksgiving Dinner in my own home! It feels like some sort of womanly right-of-passage and I’m determined to do it with my own creative flair. My kiddos are almost as excited as I am, so we’re working together to compose the perfect Thanksgiving Day table.
Our first project involved a little nature-gathering…
This cute little turkey was discovered at Martha Stewart and requires nothing more than brown pipe cleaners, feathers, glue, and a pine cone. They would make the perfect take-home gift for dinner guests!
Once again, we’re talking super-simple crafting! These charming placemats are decorated with homemade potato stamps.
Just slice a potato in half, use an exacto knife to cut about ¼ inch into the open side and carve out whatever design you like. Then dip in a little fabric-safe paint and let your little ones stamp a unique fall design that’s sure to dress up your table and delight your family and friends! More details can be found at FamilyFun.com. Happy Thanksgiving Crafting!
Lauren’s blog: Supermom Central - tips, tricks and tidbits for the aspiring Supermom.
