These footprint butterflies are beautiful and are a wonderful keepsake. They are easy and inexpensive to make and your children and you will have a blast making them.

Supplies:

• water based paint
• brushes
• thick paper such as card stock
• frame
• computer and printer

1. Let your children decide what colors of paint they want to use
2. Paint one foot at a time with one color or several colors
3. Put the foot down on the paper, lift straight up and wash the foot
4. Paint the other foot and place it with the litlle toes touching (right foot is on the left side and the left foot is on the right side)
5. Draw the body and antennas with either paint or a marker
6. After they have dried use the template below to print the butterfly poem onto the paper near the butterfly and print the child’s name below the butterfly (optional)
7. Frame it and you are done

How to print poem and name on pictures: 

Option 1:

If you think your child will cooperate and put their feet right where they need to go you could use a template. (I doubted my kids would do this so I went with option 2) You can use a template. I created one for you! Click here to download
Option 2:
Step 1: Scan the image into your computer.

Step 2: Upload the image to PicMonkey , a free online photo editor.

Step 3: Add the words or phrases you want printed on the page.
Step4: Insert a white rectangle over the entire page. Right click and “send backward” until only the words are visible.
Step 5: Save the image to your computer. DO NOT close out PicMonkey- you may need to make adjustments.
Step 6: Copy the footprints page to have a test page to print on.
Step 7: Print the words onto the copied footprints page. Make any adjustments necessary on the PicMonkey Page.
Step 8: One the test page comes out just the way you like- print the words onto the actual footprints page.
Step 9: Frame & Enjoy!

 

 

 

This is a fun project but it does take some time. Use any color floss you want and be creative! If you have children who want to do it you could use thicker thread or even ribbon or yarn.

Materials:

• plastic eggs
• glue
• floss/yarn/ribbon

Instructions:

1. Glue plastic egg shut
2. Use a toothpick to put some glue on the egg
3. Keep floss intact (6 strands) and apply two pieces together. (It just goes on better) and keep adding glue and wrapping the strands around the egg

I started in the middle and worked to one end and then started from the middle and worked to the other end. It worked best for me but you may find it easier to start at the end.

 

 

This dresser was sturdy but 3 of the drawers were broken. We added some shelves and now I can put my items on the shelf or add pretty containers to keep on the shelves.

Materials:

• Dresser
• Plywood for Shelves
• Thick wood for frame around shelf
• Saw
• Nails
• Wood Glue
• Paint

Instructions:

1. Remove the tracks for the drawers.
2. Make a shelf the desired size out of plywood and add thick pieces of wood on three sides like a frame. Glue them and then use a nail gun or small nails to secure the frame to the plywood.
3. Add glue to the outside of the frame and measure where to nail it.
4. Nail or screw all the sides from the outside.
5. Paint the shelves.
6. We left the bottom drawer since it was in good shape.

         

 

  This is a quick and easy way to dress up a plain shirt.

Materials:

• Shirt
• 2 Lace inserts
• Sewing machine
• matching thread
• Scissors

 

Instructions:

•  Cut the shirt on the side seams an inch shorter than the height of the lace insert

• Pin the lace insert to the shirt spreading the seam to about 1/2  less than the width of the lace insert

 

• Sew forward and reverse several times at the top of the lace and then sew around the outside of the lace on both sides. Be sure to sew forward and reverse several times at the where the lace hits the bottom of the shirt.

 

• Turn the lace over and trim any excess shirt near the sewing.

That is all there is too it. Now where your old shirt that is now in style!

Have some little ones who are growing like weeds and want to document their growth without destroying your walls?  Check out this easy to make growth chart.

Materials:

1. 6 ft x 8 in board

2. Stain or paint

3. Paint pen

4. Yard stick or measuring tape

5. Ruler

6. Number stencils

7. Sealant/clear coat spray

Directions:

1. Stain or paint your board.

2.  If you want your child to be able to stand on the floor with his/her back to the board for measuring, you will need to measure to find out how high off the ground your chart will hang and where to start marking the measurements.  I measured from the floor to the top of my baseboard trim.

3. Based on your measurement, start marking the inches on your board from there.  My trim was 3.5 inches high, so I moved my yardstick to start there and began marking each inch.

     

4. I made the 1/6th line (every 3rd inch) 2 inches long, the inches 1 inh long and the foot lines 3 inches long.

5. Use a stencil to mark each foot.

6. Use a paint pen to trace each line and fill in the numbers.

7. When completely dry, spray a clear protectant or sealant over the entire board.

8. Attach the board securely to the wall using the stud to ensure it does not fall or injure your child.

9.  You can easily mark your child’s height on the right side of the growth chart.

 

 

 

 

I found this centerpiece from a wedding on my cabinet and decided to change it up a bit. With some twine and beads I gave it a new look.

Materials:

• Center piece of your choice
• Twine, string or yarn
• Beads
• Masking tape

Instructions:

 

 

Tie off all the strings several times when you get to the top.

Fill it with water, decorative rocks and a candle or flowers for an interesting centerpiece.

 

My patio chair frames were in great shape but the material on the back and seat had started to tear. I found some outdoor furniture material at 50% off. I only needed 1 1/2 yards so even with having to buy new thread I only spent $18.98 to redo these 2 patio chairs. It was easy to sew since they were just rectangles. With very little work or expense I now have what looks like 2 brand new patio chairs and I am ready for the Summer so I can sit on my deck!

Materials:

• Outdoor furniture material enough to cover what ever size chairs you have
• Thread to match the material
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board
• Plyers, screwdrivers or sockets to take the old back and seat off the frame

Instructions:

Of course, your chairs may be a different size or made a little differently. But you can redo almost any patio chair as long as you have a sewing machine.

 Click here to check out more Online Deals!

 

Here’s a cool project for the avid reader in your life!

Materials:

1. Hardcover book

2. Clock parts kit

3. Heavy duty packing tape

4. Strongly adhesive glue

5. Exacto knife

6. Drill

7. Clear fishing line

8. Velcro

 

Directions:

1. Drill a hole through the front cover of the book where you would like to place the clock face.

2. Insert the clock in the hole and mark where the box lays on the inside of the book.

3. Use an exacto knife to cut a box through the pages to hold the clock mechanism to allow the book to close flat.  Cut a small group of pages at a time.  I cut 5-10 pages at a time and then removed the square of cut paper before attempting to cut another layer of pages.

4. Test the box you have cut to make sure the clock mechanism fits inside and allows the book to close completely.

5. Mark 4 spots on inside pages of the book.  Use a drill to make holes on those spots.  Be sure to drill through only the pages, not the front or back covers.

6. Thread a piece of fishing line through the holes, coming up from the bottom of the pages.

 

7. Pull the line tight and tape one end on the top.  Pull the other end tight and tape it on top.

  

 

 

8. Glue the attached pages to the back cover.  Glue the top page of book to the top of the attached pages, but do not attach the front cover.

9. Once the book is dry, attach velcro to the back of the clock mechanism and the inside of the cut out box where the mechanism will fall.  The velcro will hold the book closed and allow you to open it when you need to set the clock or change the battery.

10.  Place your new clock on a shelf or table or attach a hanger on the back to hang the clock on the wall.

Don’t be a big hurry to throw away what looks like old junk. My daughter bought an old house and was cleaning out the shed. She was throwing everything into the trash pile. I saw this table and asked her if I could have it. I am so glad I did because it looks beautiful in my garden and all it cost to fix it up was some sand paper and good quality outdoor spray paint!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was originally going to use it to hold my mailbox but I changed my mind after I finished painting it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took off the wood and sanded the rusty bottom and spray painted it with copper paint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sanded the wood and painted it with primer then I spray painted it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is all finished. I can’t wait to put some pots on it get it into my garden!

 

 

Here’s a simple and quick project to make organzing all those take out menus and restaurant coupons easy and cute!

 

Materials:

1. Clothespins

2. Washi tape

3. Magnetic strips

4. Strongly bonding glue

 

Directions:

 

1. Place a piece of washi tape on one side of the clothespin, aligning the tape with one edge.

2. Use an exacto knife to trim the excess tape from the other side of the clip and the top and bottom.

3.  Cut the magnetic strip to fit the width and length of the clip.

4. Attach the magnetic strip with the glue and allow to dry.  Be sure to use a strong adhesive such as Gorilla Glue to ensure the magnetic will remain attached to the clip when removed from fridge or other surface.

5.  Once the glue is dry, the clip is ready to be used!