DIY: Make Bows into Pom Poms

Here is another fantastic DIY from Martha Stewart's website.  If you still haven't been on her webpage - what are you waiting for??  It is full of wonderful craft ideas for any time of year.  We are so close to the holiday, but there is definitely still time to whip up a few easy DIYs for decorations and gift wrapping!!

DIY: Kraft Wrapping Paper Stamping

Sugar Bee Crafts has a TON of wonderful ways to wrap up all those Christmas gifts you have been buying up for family and friends.  If you want a wonderful and unique way to wrap up your stuff - check them out!!

We especially LOVE this stamping on kraft paper idea!!

DIY: Plastic Spoon Rose Jewelry

This wonderful tutorial from Cut Out + Keep shows a way to recycle / upcycle your plastic spoons.  We think that this would also be beautiful with color spoons from parties, barbecues, or other events!  Think of all the fun you can have being creative with this one.

Instructions 

1. 1
   

   You can use any colour spoon you want or you can also spray paint them afterwards.
   see picture
   - cut off the handles using scissors
   - when you have 17 (10 for outer petals, 5 for petals around the 2 in the middle)

   
   
2. 2
   

   - Light the candle
   - Take your needle nose pliers to hold the spoon.
   - Try not to keep the spoon too close to the flame as it will cause blackening of the plastic.
   - Melt the bowl of the spoon and heat the underside.
   - let it cool down a bit but while it's still warm and bendable shape the petal by pulling the tip and bending it backwards with your fingertips.
   - You could speed the cooling down up by blowing.
   Repeat- this step for all 17 petals.

   
   
3. 3
   

   - Beginning with the 10 outer petals take two spoons and melt what's left of the handles. Fuse placing them next to each other and smooth out the melt until the handles stick together. You could use the needle nose pliers to do this since the melted plastic is incredibly hot!
   - Repeat this 4 times so that you have 5 sets of 2 petals.
   - Now melt the handles of 2 sets and stick them together.
   - Repeat this step until you have the 3 pieces of the rose.
   This will take a while to figure out which is the right way to assemble all pieces.

   
   
4. 4
   

   - Glue the pieces together with a glue gun or by melting the bottom side of the petals.
   - Insert the 5 petals into the 10 petals and the 2 middle petals into the 5.
   See picture.
   Now that your rose is finished melt the bottom of the rose and push it flat (I used a saucer to push it flat). Once it is flat enough melt the plastic again and push a safety pin into it and secure by laying a small piece of melted plastic over the safety pin.
   Optional:
   Pendant - hang it onto a long jewellery chain.

DIY: Crochet Bows Tutorial

A wonderful blog by "Little Things Blogged" makes me want to squeal in delight!  These are so freaking adorable it hurts.  Cannot wait to make them!!