How to Make Book Page Wrapping Tags

I have a love hate relationship with my Cricut Cut Mini.  I like it because it's nice to have a cutting machine to cut out letters, but the fact that I have to use cartridges makes it very restricting.  If I had to go back I would probably get a Silhouette.  None the less I can't go back so I just have to make due.

For the most part I use the Cricut to cut out letters.  I only have one cartridge so I only have one font, its a nice font so I don't mind so much.

To spice up my craft paper wrapping I decided to cut out the names using old book pages.  I love the look. it really adds something personal to the wrapping paper.

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How to Upcycle a Leather Belt

This is an old post that I wrote for Craftzine, but just in case you didn't get to view it I am posting it on my blog.

While cleaning out our closet to find items suitable for donation, my husband found a huge pile of old clothes that no longer fit us.  Experts say that after the age of twenty, the average person gains a pound a year.  By the foreboding stack of clothing that he managed to collect, I knew that we were no exception to the rule.  While bagging up our bounty, I noticed that my husband was donating some nice leather belts that could no longer accommodate his waistline.  I snatched up a couple of them, figuring that I could repurpose them for myself.  I just loved the worn leather look of them, but the belts were in need of a feminine touch.

Step 1:  Lay out the belt flat.  Using a utility knife and a ruler cut the belt into three strips lengthwise. The left strip should be one quarter of the width of the belt, middle strip is on half of width, and right strip is one quarter of width.  Cut the strips up until you reach the belt buckle (strips should still be attached to each other as well as buckle). To cut the leather, it is easier to score it slowly and go over several times.

Step 2:  Loop left strand over middle strand (figure a), then loop right strand over the left strand, under middle strand and then between the left most strand and middle strand (figure b), and tighten (figure c).

Step 3:  Loop right strand over middle strand (figure a), then loop left strand over the right strand, under middle strand and then between the right most strand and middle strand (figure b), and tighten (figure c).

Step 4: (Same as step 2) Loop left strand over middle strand (figure a), then loop right strand over the left strand, under middle strand and then between the left most strand and middle strand (figure b), and tighten (figure c).

Step 5: Continue with 2-4 (next step would be step 3), alternating the starting strand until there is not enough of the left or right strand to make a tight weave.  Turn the belt over.

Step 6:  Take the left strand and tuck it under the middle weaved part all the way up until strand is hidden.  Do the same for the right strand.

Step 7:  If the belt is too long, punch a new hole and cut the extra length of the belt.  You can also tuck in the extra belt length as seen in the diagram (the belt leather is actually going through two holes and looped back).

How to Make Your Own Wrapping Paper with Craft Paper

I love simple wrapping paper.  I especially love brown paper bags or craft paper as wrapping.  It has such a rustic feel to it.  Using one of my daughters stamps I embellished the craft paper by stamping the pattern on semi randomly.  It turned out marvelous, but still simple and rustic.  This is also a great way to get your kids helping in the wrapping of gifts during the holidays, or at least occupied so you can get gifts wrapped.

This was an Easter stamp that my daughter had.  

I eyeballed the stamps and placed them in a stripped pattern.  It doesn't have to be perfect (makes it look more rustic).

A little bakers twine and viola easy wrapping!  I also used my favorite set of stamp letters to make a simple gift tag (which I bought at Michael's but they also sell a similar one on Amazon).  These stamp letters are great if you hate your handwriting (like I do).

Easy Glitter Mustache Christmas Ornament DIY

Who doesn't love the mustache trend?  I decided to create my own glitter mustache ornament.  I choose glitter because I thought it was funny to take a very masculine mustache and draw it in glitter.

Using any ball ornament draw a mustache with pencil.  I free handed it but you could also use a stencil.

Using glue and a paint brush fill in the mustache and sprinkle glitter.  Go a little outside you pencil lines
 so you won't see them when the glitter is applied.

Easy peasy glitter mustache ornament.

Does Pam Dry Nails Extra Fast? Let's Put it to the Test

Breastfeeding a newborn means a lot of down time to surf the internet.  I've been on Pinterest a lot lately (and also watching reruns of Teen Mom).  On Pinterest I saw a tip that said putting Pam non stick cooking spray on nails will dry them extra fast.  I googled this, and while other sites talk about it, no one actually tested it with a controlled test.  I decided to test this for myself.  

I painted my nails with one Sally Hansen Base coat and two coats of OPI Party in My Cabana (no top coat).  I waited 30 seconds and then sprayed Pam only on my left hand and let the other hand just dry naturally.  On the internet it says to wipe off the Pam after spraying.  I waited a minute and wiped the Pam.  The results? 

Pam does make your nails dry faster, BUT it only the top coat.  You can still ding your nails as the under layers are not dry.  I actually don't think the Pam is drying your nails, it seems like its just putting a oily coating on the nail polish so if you accidentally brush up against the polish it won't stick to anything (like lint).   If your nails hit a hard object the polish will still ding. 

In conclusion, Pam does work to "dry" your nails, but you can still get dings.   Would I use it again?  Probably, it also leaves my cuticles shiny.    

One other thing, one forum said that Pam makes your nails chip easier.  I did not find this to be the case, as both hands chipped evenly.  

Also remember to spray the Pam over the sink, as it is quite messy.

Does Pam make nails dry faster?  Yes, but its more to protect against accidental brushing up against something, no major dings.

Nails with Pam sprayed on them.  Pretty good cuticle treatment too :)

OPI Party in My Cabana

Washi Tape Toilet Paper Rolls for Wrapping Paper Storage

I saw this on pinterest and had to try it.  Use a toilet paper roll to wrap around open rolls of wrapping paper, so genius!  I tried it first with a toilet paper roll and it actually did not work that well for skinny wrapping paper rolls.  The toilet paper roll diameter too big for some of my rolls of wrapping paper.  Instead I used a cardboard roll from the inside of one used roll of wrapping paper.  This worked perfectly.  If you have thicker rolls of wrapping paper a toilet paper roll would work.  If you have skinnier rolls you would have to use something smaller in diameter, like the wrapping paper cardboard roll.

I also put some washi tape over the roll to cover up the ugly cardboard.  You dont't have to do this, but it does make the roll look so much cuter.

Who doesn't love washi tape?  

Cut the roll into 4 inch segments with a craft knife.

Wrap with washi tape (optional)

Cut the roll open.

Place on your wrapping paper.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  I love upcycling, let me know how you upcycle old toilet paper or cardboard rolls.

The Cheese Thief's Whereabouts

Dear Readers (the few that I probably have left),

I know its been a while, a very long while - about nine months.  I've been busy, busy making something that took all the energy out of me.  Crafting something that made me so sick at times, but in the end it was all worth it.  For those of you who are wondering what I "crafted" the image below is a hint.

Here is my new baby girl Alexis.

I hope readers understand why I've been away for so long. Pregnancy was hard on my body and I simply didn't have the energy to blog.  But I'm going to start up blogging again.  I can't wait to share with you some of the tutorials I've been working on.

Below is a simple tutorial for how to take a friendship bracelet and make a friendship ring.

Start with weaving yarn into the desired design as you would when making a friendship bracelet to the length slightly longer than the circumference of your finger.  Here I used a friendship bracelet that I already had.  Cut the woven piece to the exact circumference of your finger at both ends to produce straight edges

Hand sew two ends together to form a circle.  You could also put some fabric glue for a more secure hold.

And here you have your finished ring.

Enjoy.