Need an idea for Mother’s Day?  Try this simple Rose cookies!

 

Materials:

1. Sugar cookies

2. Buttercream icing colored pink (you can make homemade or use store bought)

3. Large piping bag and star tip

 

Directions:

1. Fill icing bag with pink icing.

2. Start in the middle of the cookie, piping the icing in a circle around the cookie.

3. Be sure to overlap each row slightly.

4. Once the cookie is covered in icing, you have a simple rose!

This is a fun and easy project for any age to make. Find some buttons and beads and glue them on a ring. It’s that simple! I had some silver rings I had gotten for wedding decorations from the Dollar Store and old buttons and beads so this project cost me nothing!

Materials:

• Buttons
• Beads
• Rings
• Glue and glue gun or Tacky Glue

Instructions:

1. Glue buttons on a ring
2. Add beads if desired

That is all there is to it. You can use any size or shape of buttons and you could even sew them on with thread if you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a little one with an upcoming birthday who is also a fan of trains?  Check out this simple way to make an edible train track on their birthday cake!

 

Materials:

1. Iced cake

2. Chocolate wafer cookies

3. Melting chocolate

4. Ziploc bag

 

Directions:

1. Cut the wafer cookies in half long-ways to reduce the thickness of the cookie.

2. Cut the wafer cookies to to the length you would like to make your track width.

3. Place the wafer cookies about 1/2 inch apart to make the railroad ties.

4. Melt the chocolate according to the manufacturer instructions.

5. Place some melted chocolate in the ziploc bag.  (Note: the chocolate will be hot!  Handle the bag carefully.)

6. Cut the corner of the ziploc bag to make a tip to allow a small amount of chocolate to be squeezed out.

7. Gently squeeze the chocolate in a line across the wafer cookies to make the rails of the railroad track.

8.  Repeat process for the second rail.

 

 

 

 

I needed a nice pot for a plant but I didn’t want to spend money on something I was only going to use for a few hours. I have saved some plastic plant pots from when I purchased plants. I took that, along with hot glue, some rope and spray paint and made a cute container for a plant.

Materials:

• Plastic pot
• Hot glue
• Rope, twine or string
• Spray paint

 

Instructions:

1. Glue the beginning of the string near the top of the pot bringing the string around the pot and gluing at least once every time you go around

 

2. Continue until you reach the bottom and glue several places on the last row.

3. Spray paint it and you are ready to put a plant in it and enjoy!

 

Need a fun toy to keep your little one entertained?  Try this DIY Toddler Busy Board.  You might even find some of the materials laying around your house!

Materials:

1. Thin plywood

2. Thicker wood scraps to reinforce the frame.

3. A collection of hardware (ex: light switches, latches, wheels, hinges, handles)

4. Paint

Directions:

1. Build a box to anchor the hardware.  I built a box using thin plywood.  Some of my hardware pieces attach using a screw from the bottom.  Keep that in mind before you close the back of the box.  Attach those pieces then put the back of the wood on the box.

2. Lay out the pieces you want to attach to the box.

3. Mark and drill holes for each piece.

4. Use painters tape to cover the pieces you already attached.

5. Paint the box and allow to dry.

6. Once dry, screw to attach each piece to the box.

7.  Hand it over to your toddler and watch the explore!

 

 

 

I have been saving wine corks for a long time and was excited to finally figure out something to do with them. You could hang this cork ball near the bar at a wedding or other gathering or spray paint it and hang it just about anywhere you want a splash of color.

Materials:

• Hard styrofoam ball
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Toothpicks
• String
• Wine corks

 

Instructions:

1. Take a long skewer and poke a whole thru the center of the ball and thread a string thru it (This is how you will hang it up)
2. Break toothpicks in half and stick one in the end of each cork
3. Put a dap of hot glue on the styrofoam ball and attach a cork pushing the other end of the toothpick into the styrofoam ball
4. Continue gluing corks until the styrofoam ball is covered
5. Paint if desired and then hang it up or lay it on a table

That is all there is to it. In a very short time you have an interesting piece of art.

 

Need a quick idea to add some St. Patrick’s day decor to your home?  Check out this simple “Lucky” frame.

 

Materials:

1. Frame

2. Green baker’s twine (or string/ribbon)

3. Green felt

4. Scrabble or letter tiles

5. Glue

6. Tape

 

Directions:

1. Cut out shamrocks from the green felt in your preference of size.  Make sure that 5 shamrocks will fit horizontally across the frame.  I used a template I printed out from my computer.

2. Tape a piece of baker’s twine to the back of each shamrock.  Make sure to attach the shamrock at the middle of the string.

3. Stretch the sting over the front of the frame’s glass.  Start with the middle of the frame so it is easier to place all five shamrocks evenly across.

4. Tape the twine over the top and bottom edges.  Be sure to stretch the twine so it lays flat and tight.

5. Glue the letter tiles onto the middle of each shamrock to spell “lucky.”

6. Allow to dry.  Then hang and enjoy!  Have a “lucky” St. Patty’s Day!

 

 

 

This is a a quick and easy way to honor someone at a party but is also a decoration. We recently had a party to honor someone who helps so many others. We had people tell us what they thought about her and we put what each person said in a conversation bubble. We used many colors and hung them all together on the wall.

Materials:

• colored card stock
• computer
• ink

Instructions:

I made each bubble the size of a piece of paper. I used Word and inserted a shape. Under the shapes tab are “Call Outs”. I put a different one on each piece of paper. Make it as big or small as you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Type whatever you want inside of the conversation bubble. You may have to add a text box.
2. Print each on on a different color of paper
3. Cut it out and that its it!
4. Hang them how ever you want and you have a decoration and a way to honor someone.

 

 

 

 

Got the winter blues?  Brighten your day by capturing some sunshine with this easy DIY Suncatcher!

Materials:

1. Transparent plastic beads

2. Metal cake pan

3. Clear fishing line or other string

4. Drill

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees,

2. Place the plastic beads in a single layer in the cake pan, filling the entire surface.  I turned all of the beads with the hole facing up.

4. Place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes.  Check at 20 minutes to see if all the beads have melted.  Continue baking for an additional 2-5 minutes if you would like the surface to be smoother.

**Note – During the baking process, you might want to open a window or run a fan.  I noticed a slight plastic smell, but it was not overpowering.

5. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven.  Allow the beads to completely cool.

6. Turn over the pan and the suncatcher should fall out easily.

7. Using a small drillbit, drill a hole near the edge of the suncatcher.

8. String a piece of fishing line or other string through the hole and tie.

9. Hang the suncatcher in your window and enjoy the beautiful colors!

These are quick and easy to make. You can make them out of any plate or tray. Any shape will work. Use them in a store, for a yard sale or just around the house to leave notes for your family.

 

MATERIALS:

• Plates and/or trays
• Scrapbook chalkboard paper
• Glue/tape
• Plate Stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Trace the shape you need on the back of the chalkboard paper and glue and/or tape it to the plate or tray. Put it in the plate stand.

That is it. You can buy chalkboard paint and paint the tray or plate if you would rather have something more permanent. Using the chalkboard paper makes it easy to put a new piece of paper when it gets too dirty.