Coming Back, Friday, August 6th

OK, seriously folks, WHERE has the time gone?

My best bud,
(Knit Wit from Piecelove),
and I have been lacking in craftiness
this summer...

I blame the heat...

Anyways, we plan on getting back on the
crafty bandwagon soon.

On FRIDAY, AUGUST 6th,
I plan on starting our
"Reclaiming Christmas"
link up again with a fun little tutorial called...

"Now and Later"

(How's THAT for a teaser?)

PLEASE consider linking up to our meme
with ANY fun crafts you've been making-

We ALL need inspiration-
Christmas will be here before you know it!

Reclaiming Christmas: Craft Project 5- Tea Tin Birdhouse

Oh yes, my friends,
the time has come again
to remind you that Christmas is
less then 8 months away...

So why not join Knit Wit (@Piecelove) and I
as we get ready early this year!

This week it was Knit's turn to post,
and she came up with a gift
that would impress any of the
tea-sipping bird watchers in your lives.

Check out her directions on how to make a...

...Tea Tin Bird House
by clicking HERE.

(And no birds were harmed
in the making of this home,
but a drill bit sacrificed itself
very bravely...)

Reclaiming Christmas: Craft Project 4- Lens Pins

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...

So sorry folks-

It was my turn, LAST Friday, to post
for the"Reclaiming Christmas" craft project...

Well, I finally got my act together...

(April is turning out to be
so much more productive than March
EVER thought about being...)

So, on with the show...

Do you have a pair of old eyeglasses lying around?

You don't?

(Probably because you donated your old pair of glasses
to the Lions Club,
like a responsible person should...)

I didn't either, but I did need a pair of reading glasses
for my upcoming role in our church's Children's Choir musical...

So, I headed to the Dollar Tree and grabbed a pair for a buck...

(Don't hate me because I'm beautiful...)

Since I don't need reading glasses yet,
I popped out the lens so I can see while I'm on stage,
singing and dancing...

(Oh yes,
I get to move and groove with 40
1st-5th graders...
It's quite comical, I assure you...)

I wanted to use the lens for SOMETHING,
when low and behold I ran across
THIS idea
via
The Crafty Crow...

I think this will make a swell Christmas gift for a friend!

Here comes the tutorial...finally...


Lens Pins

Gather up your supplies:

Some pretty patterned paper
(Scrapbook paper is what I used.)

Old eyeglass lenses

An adhesive like Diamond Glaze or E600
(You CAN'T use Mod Podge...trust me...I tried!)

Scissors

Pin backs
(I some some self adhesive ones leftover from a project,
but you could just use the regular kind and a glue gun instead.)

Step 1

Take your old lenses and position them
on your paper to decide what you want on your pin.

Step 2

Cut out the sections of paper you are going to use.

Step 3

Apply some adhesive to the curved side
of the lens.

Step 4
Push the lens down on the paper.

Step 5

While waiting for the glue to dry,
pick out a fun book to read
(make sure to use your fake spectacles)
and have a cup of joe and a muffin.

Step 6
Cut off the extra paper
around the lens.

Step 7Put on the pin back.

Step 8
You are ready to give a pal
a fun and fashionable gift!

NEXT WEEK,
Piecelove
will be posting a tutorial for the next
Christmas gift idea...

And,
I bet,
she'll be on time...

Reclaiming Christmas: Craft Project 3- Go Fish Game

Time for Craft Project #3...

...a Go Fish Game...

...which is constructed out of old paint brush handles!

Head on over to Piecelove
and check out Knit Wit's tutorial for this
fantastically fishy fun-filled game....

I will be posting my latest craft project in two weeks,
but until then,
keep on craftin' for Christmas!

Reclaiming Christmas: Craft Project Two- Fabric Wreath Ornament

OK, it is my turn to host our 2nd Reclaiming Christmas project,
and I have a confession to make...

I did not get the tutorial finished for the project I really wanted to show you.

I know, I know, Knit Wit gives you all the
prettiest little doll baby sheet set tutorial,
and I can't get MY act together for my simple little project.

I DEEPLY and PROFUSELY apologize...

So, in loo of my origional project,

(which I SINCERELY hope to post
my next time around on April 2nd)

I am going to post a simple ornament tutorial I created last year...

Fabric Wreath Ornament Tutorial

For our Christmas Neighborhood Social last year, I was in charge of providing the craft. I have seen this little wreath craft idea on different websites, and with my sidekick Knit's help, here is our version.

First of all, gather up all your supplies:
Fabric
Scissors
Shower Curtain Rings
Twine/Ribbon

Cut your fabric into strips, about 1" wide and 6" long. With this size of strips, you will need to cut 20 to 30 strips per ornament.

Make sure your shower curtain ring is closed, and then start tying on your strips. Double knot the strips to ensure their security.

After the ring is full of strips, attach a bit of twine for a hanger...
...and another fabric strip for a ribbon.

Attach a simply made card
and you are done with this "shabby sheek" ornament!

Cheap AND easy- what could be better?

Come back on Friday, March 26th,
and Knit Wit over at Piecelove will be posting something
FABULOUS that she is working on, I am sure!


Please, join in the fun and link up whatever recycled craft
you are working on for Christmas!

Reclaiming Christmas: Craft Project Uno!

It's HE-RE...

Our first post for the
"Reclaiming Christmas Craft-A-Long!"

Please head on over to Knit Wit's site,
Piecelove,
and you will discover how to create
the cutest little baby doll linen set
a kiddo could hope for!

The bestest part about this gift?
Two sets can be made from one old pillow case!

That is one of the purposes of this craft-a-long-
to reuse, reuse, reuse!

Every two weeks,
either Knit or I will be hosting a gift you can create
out of something old...
(Not borrowed or new, but it COULD be blue!)

On Friday, March 5th, I will be hosting.

To get you ready, you'll need an old wool sweater
which you don't mind hacking up into little bits...
(I promise, we won't be too violent!)

Also, if you try out any of our "stuff,"
please link up!
Everyone has their own spin on things,
and I would LOVE to see what y'all come up with!

Again, go over to Knit's page-
RIGHT NOW...

(I do not think you'll be disappointed!)

Coming Soon: Reclaiming Christmas Craft-A-Long

OK y'all, I am SUPER PUMPED...

My dear friend Knit Wit
(I have spoke of her before
on the blog,
HERE, HERE, and HERE)
and I are up to something good...

We are going to be doing a "Craft-A-Long" together!

(Please note the snazzy button Knit created...)

We will be encouraging ourselves
(and ANYONE ELSE who wishes to come along)
to get in a crafty mind set for Christmas 2010.

I am an excellent procrastinator, so I believe this little craft-a-long
is an answer to my prayer
as I begin Christmas craftin' in FEBRUARY!
(I know, I'm still a bit in shock myself...)

Knit will be hosting the craft-a-long first
by demonstrating her mad sewing skills
(of which I have NONE)
and leading you all through a tutorial for the
SWEETEST little Clementine doll beds
you have ever laid your eyes on...
(You can take a gander at the final product HERE)

Oh, and in case you are also "sewing challenged,"
DON'T WORRY-
I will be posting crafts that anyone can create
WITHOUT the use of the sewing machine!
So, head on over to Knit's blog,
PieceLove,
and let's get this party started!