Bookmarks!

Up until now, I've been using scrap pieces of paper as a bookmark. They serve their purpose and are free, but not very creative. Nikki, over at WhiMSy love, has tut on how to make fast, easy and cute bookmarks.

I even made one with an Angry Bird!

Mad About Angry Bird

I'll be the first to admit, I am obsessed with Angry Birds, a very challenging video puzzle game where a player uses a slingshot to hurl birds at pigs that have stolen their eggs.

Not only have I been playing Angry Birds, but I've been making them, too! I found an awesome tut on Obsessively Stitching . I used felt that I had on hand (rather than fleece), and they turned out great!

Of course, my son likes to play the real life version even better than the video game.

More Halloween Decorations

Dollar Store Skeleton Lights

I got this decoration idea from the Dollar Store Craft Website. It was so amazingly easy to make out of straw decorations a string of Xmas lights. I used fishing line to attach the legs to the bodies.

Baby Food Jar Bats

My son and I made these cute bats out of baby food jars and templates from the Family Fun Website. We painted the bottles black and put a battery operated light inside to make it flicker.

Have a happy, and safe, Halloween!

Halloween Decorations - Tabletop Haunt

My son wanted to put up Halloween decorations this year, so we did a little research on DIY projects. We found this haunted house (from the Disney Family Fun website) made from cardboard boxes and craft paint. For the ghosts, I crumpled up a plastic grocery bag and wrapped it with Kleenex.

I put a single bulb light fixture, from the dollar store, inside the box to light up the windows.

Another project coming tomorrow...

Maki Sushi Cupcakes

This summer, I wanted to make something special for a potluck lunch. I found a blog about making sushi cupcakes. I love how she packaged them in take out bento boxes and ohashi - awesome!

Ingredients:

Cake Mix

White Sprinkles (I couldn't find the kind in the original blog)

Swedish Fish

Oreo Cookies

Cream Cheese Frosting

I made a sheet cake and cut out small cylinders. I spread cream cheese frosting on the side of the cylinder then rolled it in crushed Oreo Cookies (to simulate nori). I spread cream cheese on the top then dipped it into a bowl of the sprinkles. I added sliced Swedish Fish for garnish and put them in a Bento Stack Box. They were a big hit.

Organza Flower

I came across this tut to make pretty organza flowers. The instructions are easy to follow and the flower is relatively easy to make (be sure to craft in a well ventilated area). I made several different colored flowers and attached them to hair ties, hair clips and my sun hat.

Zipper Bracelet

I loved this bracelet made from a zipper the minute I saw it on www.cutoutandkeep.net. It was very easy to make. I added a bit of bling to mine.

DIY 2 Liter Bottle Planters

I have been interested in DIY planters for a long time, so when I found these two tutorials (tut) I couldn't wait to get started. I planted basil in two different planters

(I had a few

young plants left over from a previous experiment*)

.

Self-watering Planter

I found this video tut on www.teachermadevideos.com. I was pleasantly surprised when this DIY self-watering planter actually worked. Instead of scrap cotton I used one of my son's worn socks to absorb water.

This worked so well, that I also made smaller ones using 16.9 oz. water bottles to grow mint plants (I'd read that ants do not like the smell of mint, but that's a future blog).

Upside Down Planter

This tut on www.cheapvegetablegardener.com shows how to make a hanging upside down planter. I was even more skeptical about this one, even though the Topsy Turvy has been proven to work.

*

Both of these planters would help decrease the damage from slugs and snails.

Ballerina Cupcake Topper

I was inspired by an adorable paper dress cupcake topper I saw on Composing Hallelujah. I used the basic design to make a tutu by using tulle instead of tissue paper.