Recycle and Give a Gift!

A few posts back, I showed you a tutorial I had found that solves the dilemma of having all those shopping bags pile up. Today, I'm showing you a tutorial I found on how to make your own gift bags with something you probably throw out on a regular basis. :D

While blog-browsing the other day, I found this idea over at Not So Idle Hands. It's an older post and she had Stephanie from Somewhat Simple as a guest blogger. I thought it was a cute idea and, since I actually had the materials up here in Mammoth Lakes, I gave it a try this morning. 

Here are the supplies that you will need: 

A Cereal or Snack Box

Mod Podge

Sponge Brush

Scissors or X-acto Knife

Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Wrapping Paper or Scrapbook Paper

Embellishments of Your Choice

Cut the top tabs off of your box.

Measure the length and width of your box and cut your paper to fit. I used scrapbook paper because that's all I had while up in the mountains for 7 weeks. However, after trying this project, I think the wrapping paper might be a little easier to work with. 

Use your sponge brush to cover your box with Mod Podge and adhere the paper to your box. Smooth out any bubbles or creases.

Make a crease on the sides of your box. Hopefully, your crease turns out being a little more centered than my crease did. :D 

With your scissors or x-acto knife, cut handles out on both sides.

Now....this is the part where I need you to use your imagination. :D 

Imagine the bag with yellow tissue paper sticking out and the cute blue raffia tied at the top. :D I don't have embellishments here, so that "cutsifying" will have to happen at a later date. That's what the glue gun is for though. Use rhinestones, ribbon or whatever your heart desires to make it pretty. :D I'm planning to put my little college sister's birthday gift in this. I figure she can use the "bag" for nail polish or manicure/pedicure supplies.

 I think this is such a cute idea and would be something fun to do with kids. It could also come in handy when you're in a bind and need a gift bag ASAP!

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On a side-note, I had some leftover scrapbook paper and a brainchild. I have to wait til I get home and can get to my supplies before I can implement my idea though. Darn it! 

 In a future post, see what I make with these! :D 

Any guesses?




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Check It Out! :D

Kenzie over at 9 O'Clock Dance of Joy is celebrating reaching 300 followers by hosting this fantastic giveaway! Check out this adorable monogrammed frame! 

Sign up to follow her blog and you can enter too! While you're over there, check out some of her great projects. You'll be inspired! :D 

Baby Leggings At Last!

I've been wanting to try my hand at making little baby leggings for my adorable little niece for awhile now. The only problem.....I had no clue how to even work the sewing machine. My husband and I are spending about a month and a half in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I figured there would be a no better time to work on my sewing-knowledge deficiency than when I was holed up in the mountains. 

My mother-in-law sent me the following:

 However, this was still looking rather intimidating....

and this was looking even more intimidating. Sadly, I'm not joking...I had no idea what I was doing. 

Thankfully, I brought this along. :)

You can tell that my two little fur-babies were incredibly impressed with my efforts. 

My first successfully threaded bobbin. I know I'm being silly here, but I felt it should be documented for posterity's sake. 

I found a baby-legging tutorial HERE at Calico that looked like a good first project. 

I started with these.

Cut off the feet...

and did a tight zig-zag stitch around the bottom. 

(Sorry for the side-ways picture. Cock your head to the left. :)

Here are the cute little leggings for my niece who is just learning to crawl. :) I can't wait to see how they look on her!

I did this with the part that was left over...I'm calling them footies. :) I think they're perfect little house socks or for putting on after the pedicure is dry. :) Maybe I'll put these in my little sister's stocking this Christmas. 

I had so much fun that I just kept going...

And that, folks, is the story of my first sewing project! I loved it and can't wait to learn more! There's a whole new world out there now! :D

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Shopping Bag Wall Art

So I was doing a little blog-hopping this afternoon and ended up finding this ADORABLE post over at In My Own Style. How many of you have a ton of shopping bags that you don't know what to do with, but don't want to toss out? 

How about a little wall art? What a cute idea! 

Click HERE to see the details of she did it.

I think my sisters Corrie and Caylen should start saving up their shopping bags for me so that I can make them one of these. :D 

Mice Cream

How is this for a fun end-of-summer treat for the kids? I found the idea in one of my cookbooks for kids and have made it for elementary and high school kids...it was a hit with both! :D 

I adjusted the recipe a bit and just used what I had on hand.

You just need the following: 

Vanilla Ice Cream for the mouse "body"

Three Chocolate-Covered Raisins for the eyes and nose

Two Round Mint Paddies for the ears

6 Chocolate Sprinkles for the whiskers

I didn't have any strands of licorice, but if I had it would have been the tail! :)

Cute, Cold and Fun

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We're In Mammoth Lakes, CA....

and have been for about a month and a half. Thus, not much crafting has been done since I ran out of most of my supplies. I have, however, been ordering supplies online like a crazy woman and am excited about getting back down to the business of crafting when I get home. I've made lots and lots of pendants though! Below are a couple of my favorites(I won't bore you with showing them all).

I have all my birthday gifts and stocking stuffers ready to go. I figure I'd better get things done now before Baby Browne arrives this fall!

My mother-in-law is being a dear and, along with a few maternity items, is shipping me a rotary cutter and mat. Thus, this coming week, I'll begin my journey of trying to figure out how to work my simple little beginner's sewing machine and how to make baby leggings for my niece. She won't quite be a one year-old at Christmas and I really don't think she'd appreciate jewelry quite yet.

I'll keep you posted as to how the sewing goes. I'm wishing I had my mom or MIL here with me to give me a crash course and I'm WISHING, WISHING, WISHING that I had learned to sew years ago. I'd be so much further ahead right now! :D

Meanwhile, until my package arrives tomorrow or Tuesday, here are a few pictures of me and my little family enjoying our time in Mammoth.

My Husband

His Bike, Not Mine :D

Our Two Little Wet Fur-babies Loving the Lake

Going to Dinner - Not too many dates left before baby arrives! :)