Paper Christmas Tree

Check out this link  to see instructions on how to make a paper Christmas tree using old book pages. However, I made a modifications. Since I didn’t have skewers, I used chop sticks. Instead of using pinking shears, I just used regular scissors. I also used thinner cardboard from a cereal box. At the bottom of the tree, I hot glued a lid from a bottle to the chop stick to act as a stand. For the star, I used foam and stapled it over the tip of the chop stick. Also, it looks more like a tree if you paint the edges of the paper and cardboard green. Keep crafting!

DIY Recycled Paper

Materials:

• Mortar and pestle
• Water
• A frame
• Tacks
• Window screen
• Plastic sheet
• Used paper
• Plastic container

Process:
1.) Use the mortar and pestle to crush a little bit of paper at a time, mixing it with warm water. Continue doing this with all of the used paper until you have a thick paste.
2.) Pour the mixture into the container along with more water and let it sit for two to three days.
3.) Cut the screen a little bit larger than the frame and tack it to the frame.
4.) After two to three days, dip the special frame into the paste (the screen should be facing downwards).
5.) Remove the frame keeping it steadily horizontal.
6.) Apply the plastic sheet and squeeze the water out. You can use a sponge to help squeeze the water out.
7.) Flip the frame over, keeping the plastic sheet in contact.
8.) Carefully remove the frame.
9.) Repeat this process for each sheet of paper.
10.) Leave the mush on the plastic sheets in a dry area. When the paper is fully dry, then you can gently pull it off the plastic and write on it.

DIY Cork Board

I love to organize, and cork boards are a big help. I already have two of them, but there’s nothing wrong with one more!

Cork Board #1
All you need is cardboard, lots of corks, a frame, and hot glue. Cut the cardboard to fit the frame. Then hot glue the corks to the cardboard. You can glue them into patterns, but I just made rows. If you want, you can paint the cork board, but you don’t have to.

Cork Board #2
For this cork board, you’ll need a roll of cork, foam poster board, and hot glue. Roll out the cork, and use something to weight it down. Cut the poster board to the same size as the cork. Then use the hot glue to  glue them together. This should help hold the cork straight and keep it from rolling up. Same as with the first cork board, you can paint it if you want.

Cork Board #1

Cork Board #2

Watercolor Cards

I originally made these cards to act as notecards. I wrote little encouraging phrases on the front and left the backs blank so I could write notes on them. But then, I realized that there were many more possibilities. On some of them I wrote quotes and put them up on my bulletin, and I even wrote my favorite words on a few. They are very easy to make and make great gifts. Here is how to make them:

1.) Cut watercolor paper into little rectangles. Mine are 10cm by 7.5cm.
2.) Next use watercolor pencils to color designs on the paper. Then use a paintbrush and water to smear the color. You could use regular watercolors, but watercolor pencils work better for small designs.
3.) When the water dries, use a pen (I used my quill pen from a previous post) to write quotes, phrases, names, words or anything else you want on the cards.
4.) Find a use for your new cards. You can display them, give them away, or use them yourself.

Sandwich Spiders

I saw these sandwiches in a book, and I thought they were adorable. I decided to make some. They are super easy and fun.
All you need is:
-Dinner rolls
-Stuff to put into your sandwich (your choice)
-Toothpicks
-A carrot
1.) Cut your dinner roll in half and fill it with sandwich filling of your choice.
2.) Cut the carrot into little circles.
3.) Take two of the carrot circles and stick one onto the end of each toothpick. Stick the other end of the toothpicks into the top half of the roll to look like eyes.
4.) Take four more toothpicks and stick two into either  side of the roll. They should look like spider legs.
5.) Enjoy!

 

DIY Planner

I love to organize, so I decided I wanted to make myself a planner. I’m not very good at writing things down, so I didn’t want to waste my money and buy one. But if I make one and it doesn’t work out, no harm done.

While doing research, I found this great video. You can access it by clicking here. I didn’t want to go out and buy anything, so I had to be resourceful and modify things a bit:

• I didn’t have a chipboard, so I used the thick, cardboard back of one of my sketchbooks.
• For the spine, I used the back of a pack of scrapbook paper.
• I also used glue dots instead of double sided tape, but regular glue would work too.
• I didn’t have an envelope punch board, so I just used regular scissors to make the tabs.
• You don’t have to use any measurements. Just make your cover whatever size you want then make everything else so it fits inside it.
• I used a regular hole punch instead of a cinch.
• I  didn’t own binder rings or binding wire, but I had a coloring book that was bound with binding wire so I used pliers to open up the binding wire and insert it into the planner (since I don’t own a cinch).

I made a few mistakes when I was making my planner, and I want you to be able to learn from my mistakes. The first mistake was that I MADE MY SPINE TOO SMALL so it is difficult to shut my planner. You also need to be careful when hole punching the pages. I DIDN’T LINE MY PAGES UP RIGHT, so I ended up hole punching in the wrong spot and having to re-hole punch. Learn from my mistakes and be careful.

I had a little trouble typing up my pages on the computer, but I figured it out. It is kind of hard to explain. It’s just one of those things you have to figure out for yourself. I printed four of my planner pages per each sheet of paper (2 on the front and 2 on the back). I used a paper cutter to cut them out so all the edges would be straight. The pages on the front weren’t perfectly lined up with the ones on the back, but I made it work.

Here are some things I included inside my planner:

• Pockets
• Tabs
• Homework- I laminated it using packaging tape so I could write on it with a dry-erease marker
• Tests- I laminated it using packaging tape so I could write on it with a dry-erease marker
• Things to remember
• Savings goals
• Blank checklists
• Brainstorming graphic organizers
• Notes
• Holidays
• Yearly calendar- I did three months per page to save paper
• Travel plans
• Contacts
• Birthdays
• Sticky notes- Of course!

Outside: before binding

Inside: before binding

Wire binding (from coloring book)

Outside: After Binding

Pockets

Tab

Dry-erease homework page

Test (dry-erease) & remember pages

Yearly calendar (color coded)

Quill Pen

See the ink blots? 😉

I recently went to a little island located in a river. I found a huge feather on the island, and it gave me the idea to make a quill pen (I think it was a goose feather). ALWAYS REMEMBER TO WASH THE FEATHER BEROFE USE. You could probably use fake feathers too, but real feathers look and work better. I then went to an art store to buy a nib (tip for quill pen) to put on the end of the feather. Try to find a size that will fit your feather. Mine is type 107 brand Speedball. You may need to hot glue it to the feather if it is loose. Mine fit perfectly and tightly so it won’t come off. They shouldn’t be too expensive. I got a two pack for $3. For the ink, I bought waterproof India Ink at the art store. It cost about $4. You can also make DIY ink, but it won’t work as well (I tried it). BE CAREFUL WITH STORE-BOUGHT INK, IT STAINS. As shown in the picture, I made a holder  for the ink well and the quill pen. It was really just a candle holder that fit my ink well perfectly, with a little bit of space in between to stick the quill pin into. It is a little bit tricky to write with. If you press too hard, it will make an ink blot. Just experiment with it and you’ll get the hang of it. Practice makes perfect!

Different sized nibs

My quill pen

Mask

Using this link, I made a mask out of tin foil. I didn’t have the masking tape they used in the pictures, so I used blue painter’s tape. Since I’m really into Greek mythology, I decided to made a Medusa mask. I hot-glued a snake to the forehead to make it identifiable as Medusa. However, I only had one snake, but I made it work. I wanted to make it look a bit scaly, so I used this link. Instead of makeup, I used green paint. I didn’t have a hair net, so I cut apart one of those shower scrubbers. I also found it easier to do the hole-punching after adding the tape, rather than before. This is what it looks like:

DIY Rapunzel Braid

For Halloween this year, I wanted to be Rapunzel. I didn’t have money to buy a wig for the hair, so I decided to make one. I found this website that shows you how to make a light-up Rapunzel braid. I didn’t want mine to light-up, so I just skipped that part. Also, I didn’t want to be the Disney Rapunzel. I wanted to be the original Rapunzel-the one by the Grimm Brothers. So, I decided to make my braid brown instead of blond. Unfortunately, my braid turned out thinner than I expected. In order to avoid this, you need to use more yarn. I made mine long enough that I can fold it in half to make it longer.

Earbud Decorating

My earbuds are plain white and boring. I wanted to add a pop of color. Here are a few different ways you can use to decorate them:

1. Using this link , you can cover the cord of the earbuds with embroidery floss. This is very time consuming, and I didn’t use this idea to decorate my earbuds.
2. This website shows you how to cut pearler beads in half and string them onto the cords.
3. A third to decorate earbuds is to paint them with nail polish. I found this to be the best way to decorate them. I also hot glued a jewel to each ear piece, and wrapped them in wash tape. Here is what they look like:
4. You can also color them with sharpies then coat with clear nail polish for protection.