Crafts

I’ve been working hard to wrap up my playroom to office makeover, so I haven’t had a lot of time to put toward other projects.  But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been squeezing in some fun crafts when I can!  

Most recently, I made these DIY slate coasters by personalizing them with celebratory greetings in different languages: cheers, salud, prost, and salute, my friends!

These DIY coasters are so fun, are the quickest things to make, and would be really awesome as a holiday gift for anyone on your list (well, maybe not the kiddos).

You can personalize them any way you want, too, so let your creativity flow and make these slate coasters for everyone you know!

Supplies Needed to Make DIY Slate Coasters

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

• Slate coasters
• White paint pen
• Chalk
• Pencil
• Computer and printer
• Strongly Recommended: Mod Podge matte sealer

How to Make Slate Coasters

The technique I used to write on these coasters can be used on many types of crafts – especially signs!  So even if you choose to decorate coasters a different way, you may want to remember this method for future projects!

Step One: Print Out the Mirror Image of Your Text

I started by typing the words I wanted to use into my word processing program (like Google Docs, for example).  

I reversed the text so it was a mirror image and printed it out.  (If you want to do this, do a Google search for how to mirror image your text.  It’s different in every program so it doesn’t make sense for me to write it out here.  :-))

Step Two: Get the Text on the Coasters

Next, I colored over the printed out word with white chalk.

I flipped the paper over and pressed it onto the front of one of the slate coasters (so, in the below photo the coaster is underneath the paper that has ‘cheers’ written on it).  

Then I carefully wrote over the printed word with my pencil.

When I picked up the paper, the word was visible on the coaster, written in chalk!

I think you’ll also like this DIY Photo Coaster project!

Step Three: Go Over the Words with Paint Pen

Of course it wasn’t perfect, but it was clear enough that I could easily fill it in with my white paint pen and get really nice writing.

If you don’t have a computer or printer, you could obviously just write the words on your coaster, or use a stencil, too!

And that is ALL I did for each of the coasters I made!

How to Seal Slate Coasters

To be safe, I will seal these slate coasters before using to protect them!  I will use at least three coats of matte Mod Podge to seal and keep the writing looking good.

If you don’t want to use Mod Podge, you could also use a matte polyurethane.

Slate is non-porous, but the writing makes it so these coasters should be sealed.

If you like this idea but don’t love the greetings I personalized my coasters with, substitute in a monogram, last name, or design!  

You could really do anything with these DIY coasters.

Make sure to “PIN” this post to save it.  This would be a great handmade gift for the upcoming holiday season!  

Sharpies – they’re one of the best craft supplies around! I used them on everything, and I am excited to show you how to make stained glass with Sharpies markers!  

 

Supplies for Making Sharpies Stained Glass

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no added cost to you, should you purchase through them.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

• Glass object (I used pre-filled glass candleholders)
• Sharpie Permanent Markers variety pack or other permanent marker brand markers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs and cotton balls
• Dimensional black paint

How to Make Stained Glass with Sharpies

Super easy project alert.  These stained glass candles were the easiest things to make!

Step One: Clean the Glass

First, wipe down your glass surface with rubbing alcohol. This will remove any residue that could prevent your marker ink from adhering properly.

Step Two: Draw a Design

Once you’ve done that and the surface has dried, draw a design on the glass with the black marker. (Yes, you can write on glass and mason jars with a Sharpie marker!)  

Step Three: Color in the Design with Sharpies

Then color in the design however you like with other color Sharpies.

Step Four: Dab Rubbing Alcohol on the Ink

Next, dip a cotton swab into the rubbing alcohol and gently dab it onto the colored designs.  This will blend the marker a bit to give it a more authentic look.  TIP: have a cotton ball on hand to dab any excess alcohol and prevent smearing.  

Step Five: Add Dimensional Paint

Once the surface has totally dried, use the dimensional paint around the black edges to give it an authentic stained glass look!  

Let it dry and enjoy your work!  

Now guys, I actually made a video on how to make stained glass with Sharpies!  It’s my first time putting a video on YouTube, so I’d love for you to watch it and let me know what you think.  And if you’re a big YouTube user, please subscribe to my channel and stay tuned for more videos from me in the future.  Hopefully they will improve with time.

This project could be modified in so many ways, and it would even be a fun thing to make with kids!  

  

Well, I hope you enjoyed my DIY method for making your own stained glass!  I’ve never made real stained glass, but I have a feeling this is a lot easier!  That’s my favorite way of doing things.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  #ProtectYourEverything #CollectiveBias

 Fall is my favorite time of year to be out and about.  The weather is perfect and there is so much to do – from hitting up the farmer’s market, to taking my family to the pumpkin patch, to fitting in an antique show or flea market – every weekend is jam-packed with some kind of activity.  Because I’m on the go so much, I love to have a variety of tote bags to carry around my stuff and any treasures I might collect along the way.

A recent addition to my tote stash is this adorable no-sew plaid heart tote that I made from an old men’s shirt.  And you guys, it was SO easy to make!  I have a feeling that after reading this post, you will want to make a no-sew upcycled shirt tote bag for yourself, too!  

Supplies Needed for an Upcycled Shirt Tote Bag

• Plain canvas tote bag
• Old cotton shirt (I used a men’s dress shirt)
• Permanent fusible web
• Iron
• Pencil
• Sharp scissors (fabric scissors are probably best)
• Optional: decorative trim
• Optional: permanent fabric glue (if adding the optional decorative trim)
• Scotchgard™ Fabric & Upholstery Protector

A great thing about this project is that you can purchase most, if not all, of the supplies you need at Target during your next Target run!  (Admit it – you know you’re there more than once a week like me!)  And because it may be a little tricky to locate, you can find the Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector in the cleaning supplies aisle near the floor care products.  (You can also snag a $2 off coupon right here!)

Instructions for Making an Upcycled Shirt Tote Bag

Once you have your supplies gathered, you’re ready to go!

First you’ll need to cut a portion of the shirt into a size that will accommodate whatever design you’re planning to use.  I cut a medium-sized rectangle.  Then you will follow the directions on the package of permanent fusible web and iron the fusible web to the back of the fabric you’ve cut.  

Next, draw or trace a design onto the paper backing of the fusible web.  I free-handed a heart, but if you want to use a more complicated shape, you could find a picture online, print it out, and trace it onto the fusible web.  

Cut out your design and carefully remove the fusible web paper backing.  

Follow the directions on the fusible web packaging, and iron the shape to the front of the canvas tote bag. 

If you choose to add decorative trim to the edge of the design, glue it on with permanent fabric glue.  

Once the glue has dried, you will need to protect your adorable new tote bag from the stains and messes that are sure to come your way during your fall adventures.  Cover surrounding surfaces and shake your can of Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector well.  

Hold the can approximately 6″ from the tote bag and apply the Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector with a slow, sweeping motion.  Two light coats are better than one heavy coat.  

Once the bag has dried, it’s ready for anything you put in it or throw at it!  The Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector repels liquids, blocks stains by pushing them away from the fabric fibers, and won’t change the look, feel, or breathability of the fabric.  It will keep your upcycled shirt tote bag looking as fresh as the day you made it!  

And considering the fact that I smeared pizza sauce on this tote bag about ten minutes after I took these photos, it is a GOOD THING that I had applied the Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector!  It came off and didn’t leave a mark.  (Murphy’s Law never fails me.)  

Scotchgard™ Fabric Protector is perfect for so many things in your everyday life, like couches and chairs, curtains, table cloths, pillows, backpacks, hats, clothing, and accessories.  I will definitely be protecting my new fabric ottoman in my living room and some chair seats that I reupholstered for an upcoming project.  If you’re interested, check out even more great ideas for using Scotchgard™ Fabric & Upholstery Protector right here.

And, don’t forget to “Pin” this project so you can make your own upcycled shirt tote bag this season!  

Bre

A couple of weeks ago my brother texted me photos of his new apartment, and pointed out that one particular wall could really use a bar cart – kind of like this one that I made for my sister last year.  Unfortunately he lives in Colorado . . . and I live in Illinois . . . and there is no way I am shipping something like that all the way out there.  (Head to IKEA, brother, and follow my tutorial for making your own.)  So anyway, because I couldn’t send a bar cart as a housewarming gift, I made something much smaller and easier to ship – this cute little DIY Hello Wreath Sign.

It’s a cute little accent piece he and my sister-in-law can hang on their door or display on a shelf somewhere.  And hey, I know it’s not as fun as a bar cart, but at least it’s something!

This little hello wreath sign is a simple DIY that makes a perfect housewarming gift.  You could personalize it any way you like; from a monogram, to a last name, to any other word you like – customization is easy!

Supplies Needed for a DIY Hello Wreath Sign

Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no added cost to you, should you purchase through them.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

• Unfinished wooden plaque (I got mine at Target, but I’ve seen them at Michael’s, too)
• Chalky finish paint in this color and this color
• Foam brush
• Chip brush
• Mini grapevine wreath
• Felt in dark green, light green, and cream
• Hot glue gun and hot glue
• Small eye hook
• Gold acrylic paint
• Artist’s brush
• Pencil
• Thin wire

Instructions for Making a DIY Hello Wreath Sign

I began by painting the unfinished wood plaque.  I started by painting the entire piece in this paint with a foam brush, and once it dried, I dry brushed on the darker color, using a chip brush.  It was a little dark, in my opinion, so I went back over it with the lighter color again.

Next, I cut felt leaves and hot glued the bottoms of each one to fold them inwards and create a more dimensional shape.  I also made a flower with the cream colored felt.

Once the paint dried on the wooden plaque, I wrote “hello” in the center using a pencil.  Then I painted over it with the gold acrylic paint.  Once the paint dried, I erased any remaining visible pencil.

Next, I hot glued the felt flower and leaves to the grapevine wreath.  I screwed the eye hook onto the wooden plaque and wired the wreath onto it.  I also added a little hot glue to the back part of the wreath that touched the plaque, just to fasten it a little more securely.  

And then this little housewarming gift for my brother and sister-in-law was complete!  

It’s friendly, cute, and most importantly when being shipped to Colorado, lightweight!  

Matt and Keily – check your mailbox soon!  I’m hoping to send it out this week.  😉

Bre

Feeling Groovy? Check Out This DIY Peace Sign Wreath, Too!  

Looking for sand art ideas? Try this adorable sand shape art project! It’s a great summer craft for adults (or kids with some help)!

Now that the weather is nice and people are feeling more social, it’s time to get the ladies together for a girls’ night crafting session, don’t you think?  

In my opinion, the keys to a successful craft night party are good food and drinks, great tunes, and a simple project that your friends can make and take in one evening, like this DIY Sandy Shapes Wall Art!  

Keep the project simple and as mess-free as possible, and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the evening with your friends!  (I know you’re probably thinking that with sand there’s no way this project won’t make a mess, but I promise it’s true!)

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.  Also, this post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Sand Art Shapes Supplies

Make sure to have these supplies on hand for your adult summer craft or girls’ night craft project:

• Scotch® Brand Permanent Mounting Tape
• Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape
• Command™ Mini Hooks
• Cardstock in colors of your choice
• Shape templates (available to download here)
• Flat canvases (5″x7″)
• White acrylic paint
• Square dowels
• Small saw (hacksaw)
• Sand
• Twine
• Aerosol hairspray
• Small paintbrush
• Scissors or craft knife
• Pencil
• Optional: paper cutter (for cutting cardstock to size), plastic cup (for pouring sand), cookie sheet (for containing sand)

How to Make DIY Sandy Shapes Wall Art

Once you have all of your supplies, print the shape templates, cut them out, and trace them onto cardstock that has been cut to 5″ x 7″.  

Carefully cut out the designs from the center of the cardstock using scissors or a utility knife.  

If you use a utility knife, make sure to protect the surface underneath the cardstock.  (I would hate for you to end up with nautical-themed shapes permanently engraved into your dining room table!)

Also, you could totally do this with a Cricut machine or Silhouette machine if you have one of those. Just look for SVG files with nautical shapes and cut those out!

Next, line the outer edges of each canvas with Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape.  Also fill the center of each canvas with the Double Sided Tape.  

You will want the entirety of each shape that you have cut out to be filled with the double sided tape, so it may end up that most of each canvas is covered in double sided tape.  This tape is extra strong and sticky, so it’s perfect for keeping grainy sand in place!

Carefully press the cardstock onto the canvas, making sure to align the edges.  Also be sure to press down around all of the edges of the shape in the middle.

Next, gently pour sand over the entire shape.  Once the shape has been covered, gently press the sand down onto the Scotch® Brand Double Sided Tape, and then shake off the excess sand.

Spray the entire shape and surrounding cardstock with aerosol hairspray.  This will help the sand stick together and keep any stray grains from brushing off of the canvas too easily.  

Next, cut the dowels to approximately 6″ long and paint them with the acrylic paint.  If you’re doing this project as part of a girls’ night, you might want to prepare this step in advance.

Cut a length of Scotch® Brand Permanent Mounting Tape and press it onto the back of each dowel.

The Mounting Tape will likely be wider than your dowel, so trim the excess from the edge of each dowel.  

Press one dowel onto the top face of the cardstock, and one dowel onto the bottom face of the cardstock.  

The Scotch® Brand Permanent Mounting Tape will hold these dowels in place strongly and securely, and you won’t have to worry about your sand art falling apart.  I have used this product on similar projects in the past, and they’re still proudly displayed in my home!

Tie twine or ribbon to the top dowel for an easy way to hang the sand shape art.  

Press some Command™ Mini Hooks to the wall, hang your sand wall art, and enjoy!  

If you’re hosting a craft night party, make sure to send your guests home with some Command™ Mini Hooks so they can hang their art, too!  

I use Command™ products to hang almost everything in my house!  My husband rolls his eyes every time he sees me hanging something else with my trusty hooks or picture hanging strips.  

See how easy and mess-free this project is?  I told you!  No measurable drying time means less mess and instant gratification – totally perfect for a girls’ night.

So what are you waiting for?  Pin this project and invite your girlfriends over for a fun night!