Last Minute Gift Idea

So there are only 3 days or to be technical…2 sleeps, 7 hours, 20 minutes & 47 seconds! I also only have one more craft to share with you all until I complete my first 12 Crafts of Christmas; exciting isn’t it? Like others I’m sure, I feel like I am running out of time so I am going to share a craft with you that I have done previous to this blog. I think this craft would be a great stocking stuffer or gift for that person who has everything!

I think I may have originally found these on Pinterest in my early days of pinning and decided to make them to sell at the Springfield Farmers Market. They were a big hit! Who doesn’t love a fun MAGNET! Yes that’s right, magnets. You only need 4 things to make these awesome little devils. They are so easy you could do them in your sleep (ok maybe not but it is easy).

Supplies:
Flat Glass Decorative Stones
Old Magazines
Super Glue
Magnets (strong enough to hold the stone)

First find a picture or pattern of something you like in your magazine. I think it helps to slide the stone over the page to see how it would look on there. Then cut out your magazine page to size. Put 2-3 drops of super glue on the surface of your image (rightside up). It doesn’t take much glue. Then push and hold the flat part of the magnet onto the glued image. I hold it for a few seconds to make sure it stays on. Let that dry, maybe 5-10 minutes then attach a magnet on the back the same way. Now I use super glue for this so that the magnet doesn’t fall apart when m0ving around on fridge, metal, etc…

Ta Da! How much easier can it get! These are just a few examples of the ones I made for the market. I have tried printing pictures from the computer and found that the ink runs pretty badly. It might help if it was a slick paper, but with regular ol’ computer paper it didn’t work. Also I was able to find the stones at the Dollar Tree, so check around before you buy at the craft stores!

There are endless possibilities to what you can do with these. Add words, letters, faces, just have fun with it and gift a personalized gift!

Amy Marie

 

On the Third Day of Christmas…

That’s right, its Christmas craft #3 (4 and 5). I haven’t decided weather or not tonight’s post will count as one craft or three. I guess it really depends on time (whether or not I run out before 12 crafts). But tonight I am sharing with you three things to do with wire and beads. I have seen things like these before, but usually in a fancy boutique for $30 a pop!

Tonight I made a mason jar luminary, beaded spoon and wine glass. All three of these would make a perfect gift for any holiday party you are attending. The directions are about the same for all three, just working with different objects, so I’m not going to repeat the directions three times (besides, you don’t wanna read that much anyways).

Supplies:
18 or 20 gauge wire
Assorted beads
pliers, needed nosed if available

First step is to cut your wire to nesecary length. The bigger the object the more wire needed.  For the the spoon and the jar I used about 2.5-3 feet. About 2 feet for the glass. Secure one end of the wire by wrapping tightly around the object like a twist tie on bread (best way I can think to describe it). It should be fairly tight and not move around on you. Now string the beads! See the two methods below

There are two ways to attack these projects.

1. You can string your beads onto the wire before you wrap (if doing this, leave enough wire to secure to object.)
2. String your beads as you go along

Both ways work fine, with the spoon #1 seemed easier but for the wine glass I found it easier to add beads as I went. Either way you do it just make sure you leave enough wire to wrap the whole length. Once you get it wrapped around I like to take a plain piece of wire to wrap back to the starting point. It gives it a little more security and decoration.

You can get the wire and beads in the jewelry section of almost any craft store including Wal Mart! You could also use floral wire if that’s what you have on hand.

And there you have it! Three great wire wrapped gift ideas. Can’t you imagine a dinner party with the mason jars as centerpieces, everyone drinking out of their unique wine glass and serving food with decorated flat ware! Ok, well maybe that vision is just in my head but I think it would be a lot of fun!

Amy Marie

Brand Spankin’ New?

Is there really a craft out there that no one has done?? Ok I’m sure there is one somewhere but even still that craft has to draw inspiration from some where. I recently stumbled upon a blog looking for feature bloggers. I thought it would be really fun, but at this point I’m struggling to f ind something completely original (requirement). In college my wise and amazing professor told me that no design is original, that things have been done before. She said that everything we come up with is just an old design revamped. I feel the same way about crafts.

I was trying to think through all the idea/things that I want to do here at Kyles  our house. Every thing I came up with someone else, some where out there, has done! To me, even pulling inspiration or recreating something from a more expensive store is to original. What are your thoughts on original crafts? I would love to heard what you guys have come up with or made!

Amy Marie

P.S. I got my ring cleaned tonight and it looks brand spankin’ new!! I couldn’t believe that it was just as sparkly as before 🙂