Category Archives: DIY

A Halloween-Themed Pocket Letter

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Halloween Pocket Letter

BOO! Halloween is right around the corner! Which means it is the perfect time to bust out some of my more spoooOOOoooky craft supplies. Here’s a Halloween-themed pocket letter I recently whipped up.

Some of the stickers and the washi tape at the bottom were purchased from Blitsy this year (I couldn’t resist!), but the rest of the stuff I had in my stash. My favorite part about making themed pocked letters is going through my craft drawers to pull out anything I think is “on theme.” I usually don’t end up using everything but the process of picking out materials is a really calming activity for some reason.

Now, to tuck some goodies in the back and mail it off to brighten someone’s day.

WANNA SWAP? 

Maybe I’ll even throw in some fun-size candy bars…

P.S. A pocket letter inspired by children’s book illustrations!

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DIY: Autumnal Bunting

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autumnal bunting

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been giddy with excitement about the new season. So I decided to lean in and put up FALL DECOR! I started poking around in some boxes and remembered that most of my seasonal decor was heavily downsized in the move. But…NEVER FEAR. Where there is a will to give your home an autumnal makeover there is a WAY to give your home an autumnal makeover, mk?

SO…this is your semi-regular reminder from me to you that if you are a hoarder of craft supplies (*ahem*), it’s always best to evaluate your stash before hittin’ the stores. 

A little fabric, a little glue gun action, and a little leftover rope…and wam-bam, thank you MA’AM! An autumnal bunting was mine in less than 20 minutes flat.

To recreate something similar, all you’ll need is:

  • fabric
  • felt leaves (which you can cut out yourself or get a pack at the Dollar Tree)
  • glue gun and glue sticks
  • rope, ribbon, or twine

To assemble, just:

  • cut your fabric into squares
  • fold the top of the fabric back and hot glue the edge down to create a little tube for your rope to string through
  • glue on the leaves
  • string the fabric squares along the rope
  • tie loops at the ends
  • and ENJOY…

Do you ever create seasonal decor with items you have on hand? How are YOU decorating for FALL? Thanks in advance for the inspiration! xoxo

P.S. Check out this post to learn how to make a ZERO COST, 30 SECOND fabric pumpkin! I’ll definitely be making a few of these, too!

A Pocket Letter Inspired by Children’s Book Illustrations

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Wanna see my latest pocket letter? I recently joined a pen-pal group on Facebook and knew I had to send out this creation! (The group isn’t specifically for PL’s but I think they make the sweetest happy mail so I couldn’t resist!) I used some cut out vintage children’s book illustrations as my jumping off point and I’m so happy with the results! I love the purple and browns and pinks and yellows! (Plus those sweet little girlfriends walking arm and arm are just too adorable for words.)

I decided to include a “Mail Tag” since this is a new-to-me pal. She can respond to these questions if she decides to write me back.

Here’s a look at the goodies tucked in the back of each pocket. I included things like stickers, die-cuts, tags, felt, and washi samples. The little card that says TALLY is actually a vintage score card for playing Bridge. Totally random (and I doubt this pen pal plays Bridge) but I thought it fit the theme perfectly!

How cute is she??? If you’re into paper crafts (pocket letters, scrapbooking, flip books, collages, etc), vintage children’s books are such a fun element to incorporate! Just flip through some kid books when you’re at a Goodwill or a garage sale and see if there are any illustrations that you like. You can usually nab used picture books for less than a dollar! (And you may even have some in your own collection that you’d be willing to repurpose for the sake of craftin’!)

These little trios are totally #SquadGoals, amirite? But also low key #OutfitGoals, too. Ha!

And I can’t with this rocket ship! Obsessed. Hope my pen pal loves receiving this pocket letter as much as I loved making it!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, guys! Are any of you into paper crafting (pocket letters or otherwise)? What sort of crafts // DIY do you enjoy? 

A Spring-Themed Pocket Letter

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I think this was one of my very favorite pocket letters to create. I wanted to make a spring-themed letter with lots of pinks and blues and florals. I made it as a birthday present (way more fun than a card, if I do say so myself!) and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! What do you think?

I kept the top row minimal so all the focus would be on this adorable SPRING banner.

In case you’re curious, the supplies came from –
Dollar Tree – paper clips, baker’s twine, polka dot washi, mini clothes pin, silver alpha stickers
Target – scrapbook paper, craft paper alpha stickers, gold stickers
Cocoa Daisy – floral washi, stickers
Oui Fresh – green alpha stickers, banner die-cut
and goodies from pocket letters I receive – striped page flags

And those are pretty much my mainstays for ALL my pocket letter/paper crafting supplies.

Most of those places are super affordable, especially because I keep an eye out for sales. But I also try to find ways to incorporate free elements, too! The circles above were cut out of paint chip samples and “Take Note” was stamped on a piece of cardboard packaging.

Here’s a peek at  what I included in the back! If you’re stuck for ideas about goodies to include with your outgoing pocket letters, consider —
die-cuts
icon stickers
sticky notes
page flags
stickers
tea
journal cards
tags
folder tabs
sequins
washi samples
gift cards

And most importantly — don’t forget the actual letter! 

I also threw in a couple of note cards, another journal card, a magnet, fun paper clip, stencil, a couple book plates, and a bookmark I made with some leftover materials.

All ready to get tucked in an envelope! Bon Voyage, my little lovely! Time to brighten someone’s day. xoxo

What pocket letter theme should I tackle next? Leave your ideas below and I’ll be sure to post about any that I end up making! Wanna swap??? Let’s set it up! 

P.S. Looking for more PL inspiration? Check out A Pocket Letter How-To and How To Make a Pocket Letter with Cocoa Daisy!

DIY: Autumnal Tissue Holders

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Ok gang! I’m comin’ at ya with a super simple DIY today…but it was just too cute not to share!!!

It’s no secret that I love podcasts. I listen to them while I do my chores and when I go on walks. But sometimes, ya girl wants to binge listen. And when I binge listen to a podcast, I need something to do with my hands. (Are you the same way?) So the other evening, I wanted to dive into a podcast people have been raving about — Dirty John. And I knew I’d probably get sucked in. Inspired by some gorgeous felt I’d recently purchased, I decided to whip up some autumnal tissue holders as I listened. Perfect for throwing in your purse to combat the change-of-season sniffles, I thought! And the perfect level of difficulty for when your mind is with more pressing matters. Like who the heck this mysterious man, John, really is.

Admittedly, this is a craft suited for an elementary school student…but HEY! It was a great quiet time activity for my true crime binge. If it’s not already obvious how these came together, keep reading and I’ll give ya the deets.

What you’ll need: 

  • felt, cut into 6×6 squares
  • embroidery thread
  • pins
  • needle
  • scissors/pinking shears
  • buttons
  • tissues
  • ruler
  • sharpie

And how it all comes together:

Take a 6″ x 6″ square of felt and fold the left and ride side in to the center line. Use pins to secure in place so the folds stay down.

Measure 1/2″ down from the top and make a mark. This is where you’ll sew across. Use a ruler to draw dots across the entire line if you want to make sure to sew in a straight line. (You can eye ball both these steps if you prefer.)

Now choose your embroidery thread and sew the top closed. Make sure to start and end your stitches from the inside of the holder so your knots aren’t visible. Repeat the measuring, line drawing, and sewing on the bottom.

If you have pinking shears (I didn’t have any on hand), you can cut the ends to give it a fancier look!

Finally, finish it off by sewing a cool button or felt shape above the opening.

You’re ready to put the tissues inside! Just get a pack of travel tissues, remove them from their packaging, and stuff ’em in your own (way cooler!) holder.

Finito!

I don’t know what it is about these little guys but I’M OBSESSED. Do you have any fun felt crafts you’d recommend? (I have a whole stack of the stuff!…and more podcasts to listen to!)

P.S. Other DIY’s you might enjoy — Polaroid Display and Fabric Pumpkin.

DIY: Polaroid Display

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On our recent mini vacay to Delray Beach, we brought along an old polaroid camera. We had gotten it at a flea market a few years back and I never really thought it would function (I just wanted it as a funky bookshelf accessory). But lo and behold, Chet found a way to get it working and we took a roll of beach-y, vintage-vibes snaps.

I really wanted a way to display this special roll of film. Each of the pictures make me happy and I love that they look like they could have been shot in 1977. (#nofilter just an old ass camera, lol)

Here’s what I came up with and instructions in case you wanna make your own!

What you’ll need:

  • a frame
  • hot glue gun
  • glue sticks
  • thick twine or rope for hanging
  • thin twine or yarn for stringing across the frame
  • mini clothespins
  • sandpaper if your frame needs a lil distressing

And how it all comes together:

The most important part of this project, in my opinion, is to find a frame that fits the vibe of your polaroids. I found this one on clearance at Home Goods. The light blue, antiqued look really goes with our beach-y, vintage-looking polaroids. You could probably find a great frame for your own photo display at a thrift store or maybe you have one sitting around your house! If you’re going for a distressed look, you could always paint and then sand to let a little wood peak through.

Once you have your frame, take out the backing and glass. Lay out your polaroids to see what arrangement will work best. Then, measure out some twine and string it across. Secure with hot glue.

Next, cut some thick twine to attach to the top of the frame for hanging. Depending on how heavy your frame is you may need to staple down the ends.

Finally, clip your polaroids on with some adorable mini clothes pins.

Hang on the wall and admire your finished product…

I’m totally obsessed with how this turned out and love displaying our tiny collection of beachy polaroids by my desk! Have you completed any DIY projects lately? I’d love to hear about them. ❤ 

DIY: Paper Flowers on Canvas with Home Made Luxe

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home made luxe subscription box

I love craft tutorials. I love pinning neat DIY’s to my Pinterest boards. I love watching YouTube videos where the creator whips up a clever craft. And sometimes I love hauling my butt to the craft store, loading up on supplies, and parking myself in front of a project.

But here’s the thing. I’ve pinned so many projects to Pinterest that sometimes I’m not sure where to begin. The nearest craft store to me is basically a nightmare. A lot of my craft supplies get bought, used for one project, and the extras sit in my closet for months on end.

So when I heard about Home Made Luxe I was anxious to give them a try! Home Made Luxe is a monthly subscription box containing all the materials you need to make a beautiful home decor project. No need to fight my way down the crowded aisles at my local Michael’s. No need to scour my Pinterest board for the perfect craft. Everything just shows up in a box, including detailed step by step instructions and a link to video instructions as well. Score!

craft

Let’s see how I fared with my May box from Home Made Luxe…

All the supplies and instructions arrived neatly packaged (and even included a handwritten note just for me!). The May box included everything I needed to create a trio of paper flowers on gold painted canvases. As I put mine together, I thought it might be fun to give you a little tutorial on how to make your own! But without your very own Home Made Luxe subscription you’ll have to scavenge the supplies on your own. 😉

What you’ll need: 

home made luxe supplies

The picture above shows you everything my box included (+my cat’s butt) –

  • Heavy cardstock
  • 3 8×8 canvases
  • Gold paint
  • Paint brush
  • Paper flower templates
  • Glue Sticks
  • and a paper drop cloth

Not included in the box but also needed –

  • Scissors
  • Glue gun
  • Pencil

and how it all comes together: 

home made luxe painting

Step one. I applied a first coat of gold paint to my canvases.

Step two. I used the provided paper flower templates to trace and cut out the petals and center of my flowers. Each flower needs one center and about seven petals of each size.

Step three. Second coat of gold!

home made luxe paper petals

Here’s everything I needed to start constructing my paper flowers – 3 centers + 21 large petals + 21 medium petals + 21 small petals. Note: This is the part of the project that takes the most time…or maybe just feels like it takes the most time because it’s the most boring. Luckily, I was watching the Netflix reboot of Anne of Green Gables as I traced and cut. 

Step four. I used a glue stick to roll back the edges of each petal and then cut a slit about halfway up.

Step five. With the curled parts facing back, I overlapped one side of the slit on top of the other and glued in place with my glue gun.

home made luxe hot glue gun

Step six. Flower assembly time! I glued the large petals together at their sides to form a circle. Next, I glued the circle center in the middle. Then I glued the medium and small petals down by their ends to form a layered effect.

Step seven. To make stamen for the center (or is it the stigma?), I used half a sheet of cardstock, folded it in half and cut down the fold, creating a comb pattern. I made six of these “combs” in total and glued them shut.

Step eight. I rolled them up (2 combs per flower), gluing as I rolled, to create these.

Step nine. These I glued in the center of the paper flowers.

DIY paper flowers on canvas

Step ten. And finally, I glued the completed paper flowers on the center of the gold canvases! My trio of paper flowers on gold canvases was complete. 🙂

Now to decide how to style them. They’re such a fun statement piece hanging on a wall!

And I love how this one looks as a centerpiece on a shelf. Ultimately, I’d like to hang them all side-by-side in my bedroom. Such a fun 3-D pop!

If you’d like to try Home Made Luxe, and I so encourage you to do so, you can purchase a subscription HERE. If you’re like me, you love to craft but don’t always have the time to gather supplies…or your indecisiveness about WHAT to craft leaves you project-less altogether. Home Made Luxe solves this conundrum! It truly is Pinterest delivered to your doorstep.

What do you think? Do you love making crafts and DIY’s? Would you ever try a subscription service to facilitate the hobby. I gotta say…so far I’m pretty into it!

craft

10 Super Creative St. Patrick’s Day DIYs

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thai-restaurants-1

 

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, lads! Which means, there’s still time left to get your house kitted out for the ensuing festivities. Whether you’re planning on guzzling green beer on an epic pub crawl, dancing a solo jig in your kitchen as you whip up a batch of Irish soda bread (eaten slathered with Kerrygold butter, of course), or marching behind the band in your local parade — they say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day so you might as well get in the spirit and celebrate with the best of ’em.

If you’re in a craftin’ mood, I’ve rounded up 10 super creative DIYs for you to whip up in honor of the holiday!

For your front door…

Lucky Shamrock St. Patrick’s Day Wreath

For your mantelpiece…

Lucky Penny Letter Display

For your belly…

Dublin Coddle

Guinness Cheddar Biscuits 

St. Patty’s Day Rice Krispies Treats

For added flair at parties or parades…

St. Patty’s Day Hair Pin

Sparkly Leprechaun Shoes

For your sofa…

Felted Wool Spring Poppy Pillow

For giving as gifts…

Rainbow Mason Jar

Pot o’ Gold

And because I can’t stop at just ten…this would look cute hanging on your wall and these chocolate covered four-leaf clover cookies look delicious!

Éirinn go Brách!

P.S. If I had all the time in the world, I would do crafts every day! Here’s where I pin all the projects my DIY-loving soul wants to do. I especially love DIY that is budget-friendly, upcycling-minded, or results in something that makes life a little simpler or the world a little bit more beautiful. You too? Come hang out with me on Pinterest! 

5 DIY Projects: Acrylic Accents

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acrylic calendar
Wall Calendar by A Beautiful Mess

Peruse the site of any beauty blogger worth her weight in products and you’ll start to get a sense that organization assistance of the acrylic variety is very on-trend and very must-have. A wander through the hallowed aisles of The Container Store will not only corroborate but will also showcase how this glorious plastic can extend far beyond the dressing table and into all sorts of realms of sleek home decor meets chic organizing. However, clock the price tag on a few of these items and you’ll realize the DIY route is the way to go. And if you’re down, you’re in luck. Basic acrylic sheets can be found at home improvement stores or even online. Check out this Acrylic Sheet supplier, if you’d like. Here are 5 fantastic projects that used this modern material and achieved superb results…

flower boxes
Flower Boxes by DaWanda’s DIY with love
| Danielle Poff Photography | Effortlessly Chic Sparkling Neutr
Seating Chart from Stephanie and Gavin’s wedding feat. on hey Wedding Lady (photo by Danielle Poff Photography)
bathroom shelves
Bathroom Shelves by Pneumatic Addict  
budget friendly poster frame
Budget Friendly Poster Frame by Food52

What do you think? Which would you make? Do you have any acrylic pieces in your home? 

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DIY: Picture Frame Desk Organizer

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Picture Frame Desk Organizer top

If you’ve been peeping around these parts for the last couple months then it is no secret that I’m having a bit of a love affair with Dollar Tree. I love making super simple DIY’s but I hate spending a ton of money. Add to that the fact that I discovered Pocket Letters and suddenly I’m jonesing to go to DT every other week for craft supplies and stationery finds.

In need of a new project, I decided to see if I could create an inexpensive gift to dress up a desk. I came up with a desk organizer made from a picture frame and some fabric. This would make a really cute gift for the teachers in your life. Or shipped off to a dorm dwelling college student. Or to welcome a new co-worker to the office! The best part? It allows you to tuck in a few stationery goodies you think the receiver might enjoy. Something that Dollar Tree is PERFECT for. So, check it out! Here’s how to make a Picture Frame Desk Organizer for six bucks…

What you’ll need: 

Besides a couple materials I had on hand, scissors and glue, here’s what I picked up at Dollar Tree…

IMG_1932

  • 8″x10″ picture frame
  • metallic gel pens
  • post-it notes (how stinking cute are these???)
  • notebook
  • 2 fabric place-mats (Note: You could just use any ol’ fabric. But if you do, you’ll need to create a sturdy edge for the pockets by folding the top down and sewing a border. I’m lazy and wanted to limit my materials to Dollar Tree items. If you’re like me, go for the place-mats or fabric napkins!)
  • envelopes

and how it all comes together:

IMG_1933

Take the picture frame apart. You won’t need the glass or that lovely (fake) family portrait.

IMG_1935

Cut a piece of the place-mat to fit the frame. This is the back piece so you won’t need to worry about borders. Just make sure it fits well.

Note my “Fabric Only” scissors. #classy

IMG_1939

Now cut two additional pieces WITH BORDERS on the top edge to serve as pockets. Leave a little bit of room on either side so you can play with how much “give” your pockets will have. To do this, pop everything through the frame without securing it and run your finger through the pockets. Once you’ve loosened them to your liking, trim the edges.

IMG_1941

Since you’re using a crappy Dollar Store frame you’re going to need some re-enforcement. I went in with my trusty E6000 glue all around the frame where the fabric will lay. I flipped the lined up fabric, cardboard, and frame backing over into the frame…

IMG_1942

…then I removed the frame backing and put some glue on it as well. (Note: You’ll see above that there’s a piece of cardboard half the size of the frame. This frame didn’t come with the cardboard that a lot of frames do so I just cut my own out of an Amazon box. If your frame comes with cardboard I would recommend cutting it down so it only lays above the pockets. This will balance everything out while still letting you get the frame closed.) 

IMG_1944

Squeeze everything tight while the glue dries! Or, if you want to (again) follow my lazy lead, you can use giant binder clips. (I weirdly get a TON of use out of these clippy dudes.)

IMG_1948

Once the glue is dry you can fill up your creation with all sorts of goodies! Feel free to embellish the fabric and pockets with sewing notions or cute pin-back buttons if you like.

I was having way too much fun thinking about other stuff you could tuck in your desk organizer so I put this “look” together too…

IMG_1963

…highlighters, crayons…and who wouldn’t love a Starbucks gift card clipped on front? You could also include paper clips, pencils, tablets, paintbrushes, cards, stationery paper, letter opener, book-marks. The possibilities are endless!

picture frame desk organizer bottom

What do you think? Who would you gift with this little DIY? What would you tuck inside? Do you have any other cheap and easy crafts you think make great gifts?