~Personalized Art Kit (Easy!)

Have you seen these art kits at Michael's?  They are filled with lots of creative possibilities!  Oh, but look what you can do....

Before:

After:

Here's what I did:  I simply slit the side of the plastic covering.  I cut out the letters and dots, glued them to this pretty scrapbooking paper, and slid it into place.

The back is the same paper, with dots.  I will say that I think this was a hit with my niece... she didn't let it go for a minute.  And here's another positive.... there's no mistaking that this art kit belongs to Abi!

*These art kits are often on sale at Michael's.  If not, use a coupon!  Inexpensive but personal gift that any child would love!

~Christmas Tassel

Oh my goodness!  I have been away for so long!  I am truly sorry.  It has been a crazy first half of the year... my schedule has seriously interfered with my crafting! 

Ok... so the Monday before Thanksgiving, our family decorates for Christmas.  Now... we are not skipping over Thanksgiving.  Its just that we spend time with my family during Thanksgiving, so when we return from our trip, we find its so nice to walk into our decorate home.

So as we were decorating last night, I found this little fellow.  See.... I made him last year BEFORE I started this blog.  So I thought it was only fair to give him his moment.... :)

 Here's the story.... (for those that know me... there's ALWAYS a story!) I was in Cracker Barrel and saw this gorgous Christmas Tassel.  My crafty mind thought, "I could totally make that!"  Well, if you can believe, just a couple days later, I found these flat-bottomed ornaments at Target.  Just what I needed!  I made this snowman from various ribbons and chenelle yarn from Michael's. 

I started the first row of loops rather short.  The next row was a little longer, and so forth.  Just hot glue and continue.  I even added some burlap loops because I love burlap and he was my creation and I could!  So there, Cracker Barrel! 

My boys helped me with the last step, the chenelle yarn.  I just wrapped large loops around their fingers about 8 inches apart.  Then tied them together in the middle.  Done!

As long as you can find an ornament with a relatively flat bottom, you can make it into a tassel! 

~Moose and Wormy Winner!!!

And the "Hoarding Apron" goes to.... (drum roll....)    

                                                           SalemMomma! 

Email me your info, please!  Thank you to everyone who participated and stopped by! 

~Tim Holtz Giveaway!

Scrap with Stacy is hosting a fabulous giveaway that, truly, is making me drool! Head on over there to check it out!

~Giveaway Scout

Have you checked out this site? This is a site that will post giveaways from all over the "blog world". Go to GiveawayScout to find amazing giveaways galore!

~Moose and Wormy Giveaway

I am so excited to share this giveaway! Its from Lindsey, who has an amazing etsy shop.... Moose and Wormy. Her designs are unique and original. I'm telling you, she can create ANYTHING! Just look at this adorable "Little Hostess" apron...

These capes are the stuff little boy's dreams are made of. Just imagine!

These toddler Cowpoke "bibs" are ingenius for those "Big" kids that still need a little protection from runaway food... :)

Now for the giveaway! Lindsey's latest creation... The "Hoarding Apron"! (Click here to check out her blog and see more about this apron.) She is offering this apron to one lucky winner!

Here's how to enter:

(Leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Go to Moose and Wormy and come back to tell me your favorite item.

2. Add Moose and Wormy to your etsy favorites.

3. Make a purchase from Moose and Wormy

4. Become a follower of All Things Pink & Crafty (or tell me you already are!)

*Total of 4 entries!

The winner will be announced next Saturday (Aug. 28).

~Somewhat Simple giveaway

Head on over to Somewhat Simple to check out her amazing giveaway! Oh, how I HAVE to find one of these tools! I sure could have used it on my lap boards! :)

~Trash to Treasure Lap Boards

Well... here's the long-short story. Marcus and I received these hard placemats years ago as a wedding present (13 years, actually!). After moving and redecorating, etc., these babies ended up in the yard sale pile. By the way, does anyone else have a yard sale pile in their garage that grows and grows?
Finally, I had a yard sale this summer. When I found these in the bottom of a box, I saw them with a fresh vision. Well... my vision was to revamp these, with the cork backing in mind as the "new and improved" part.

Then, as my new students were participating in centers, I saw a need. Many of my kids wanted to spread out, get comfy, and color/draw. But I had nothing for them to use....

I grabbed the placemats, my spray adhesive, a little roller (found in the wallpaper department at Lowe's... fantastic tool!), and scrapbooking paper.

I sprayed the board and rolled the paper down, smoothing out bubbles with ease!

I used sandpaper to remove the extra paper from the edges, then rubbed a little distressing ink around the edges to make it POP. You know I love that stuff....To finish, I used Valspar clear gloss spray to seal the paper. (2 or 3 coats)

Ok.... for the next part, let me explain. I know I could have just stuck the paper to the back of the tile and been done. But see... I have been DYING to use the Dimensional Magic!!! Have you ever felt that way about a new craft item? I know... I know...

Anyway, I took these tiles, cut and adhered coordinating paper, and went over the paper with Dimensional Magic.

I'm telling you.... I stinkin' love this stuff! Oh my gosh I cannot wait to use this on something else...

I glued the tiles to the clips, glued the clips to the boards... magic, I'll tell ya!

Marcus and the boys helped me pick out "boy appropriate" paper. Don't you love these monsters?!

And can you believe this paper?! I found this at Michael's and just about fell over when I saw it! Perfect.... simply perfect! (I teach 3rd grade)
I loved the way these clips turned out.
This paper was a must. When I saw it, the words "Fruits of the Spirit" immediately came to mind. Had to have it....
Just check out that dimension... Y'all, this is just the beginning of my new love obsession with this stuff! HA!
Aaahhh.... much better! Moveable, workable, cute, colorful... AND practically free! Thanks for looking!

~Unique stamped necklaces

For our bridesmaids' gifts, my newest sister-in-law gave us the coolest necklace. It's a silver chain with a pearl on one end and a jade charm on the other. To "fasten" the necklace, you loop one end around the other. Cool, right?! So.... of course I've wanted to make one since laying eyes on it! But I wanted to add a personal touch....

These are the tools I started with. (My sister, Cheree, is the designer for this one... it's for her!)

To make the dangly charms (for lack of a better word)....
On the small square, I punched their first initials and last initial. On the larger square, I punched the year they married.

I attached the dangly charm to the end of this cool charm we found at Walmart. I know! Walmart has some really pretty beads and charms... just FYI...

Here's the finished necklace! Want to see more of how to put it together? Take a look at this necklace....

I wanted to make a special birthstone necklace for my cousin Tracy. Her son, Carson, is being dedicated at church tomorrow and I thought this would be a sweet keepsake for her.

I started with a simple chain. Now... it was hard to find one long enough. Mostly, the chains in the jewelry section of the craft store are 18". Not long enough. Then I found a 60" chain at Hobby Lobby. This was plenty to make 2 necklaces.

Carson was born in April. I found these birthstone charms that were perfect. This is the beginning of the dangly charm.

Before I finished the charm, I pulled the stem through the end of the chain. Then I made the loop and twisted the remaining wire around the top of the jewel.

I punched the letters and numbers...

Carson's initial and birthdate. Go over the letters with a sharpie and wipe off quickly to achieve the black look in the stamps. Ok... dangly birthstone charm on one end... personalized charms on the other.... just loop one end

over the other

and..

There you go! A unique, one-of-a-kind necklace! Oh... the possibilities....

~Bottle cap belts

First, let me give a heartfelt apology for my absence! Between vacation and 2 church camps, it's been a busy summer! But speaking of church camp... my family just returned from Indian Springs Holiness Campmeeting. Its an old-fashioned campmeeting, with a tabernacle and everything. Well, we were able to fit in a little crafting..... :)

So, let me give you a little background... people from all over come to Indian Springs. Many people come from Kentucky. And apparently there is a drink there called Ale 8 1. Now... you may know about this drink, but me, I had never heard of it until Indian Springs, where those from Kentucky bring it in. (Georgia soft drink = Coke)...

So to make a cool keepsake, my niece starts collecting bottle caps. But she wasn't sure what to do with them. I had seen these in the mall and on different sites, but I wasn't sure if my idea would work! We asked her mom to stop by a thrift store and pick up some belts. She found this camo belt and leather belt.
I took the bottle caps and, with a pair of flat-nosed crafting pliers, fanned out the edges (to make the cap not stand up as much).
Using my Crop-a-dile (love it!), I punched a hole in the center of the cap and through the belt, where they were to meet.
To attach the two, I "crunched" a grommet on. I know that is not the correct terminology, but that's exactly what it was like! I was afraid that it would dent the center, but it didn't! :)
Here is the camo belt. I really liked how this one turned out (I think because I wasn't so sure it would work!).
This one turned out great, too. I had seen leather belts with caps before, so I felt like this one would look good.
(Can you see those little toes? My photographer... He wanted to help his mama! Sweet boy...)
Before next camp, Hanna and I want to make several different things for her. I would love to hear your ideas! Thanks!