DIY Paper Lantern Hot Air Balloons

I just love seeing hot air balloons floating up in the sky.  They are so beautiful!  I wanted to recreate that beauty at home, and made some gorgeous colorful hot air balloons out of paper lanterns.  They really are very easy to put together, and look great in a nursery, child's room, or as party decor!

I'm sharing my fun tutorial today over on the Darice blog Live. Craft. Love.  I'd love for you to check it out and leave a comment.

Have a great day!

xo, Laura

Instagram Mini Album Using Amy Tangerine's Plus One Collection

This project post is a part of a paid marketing campaign with Snap. Although this post is sponsored the project idea and all opinions expressed are my own. 

One thing you might not know about me is that I love to collect (and possibly even hoard) fabulous patterned paper. I am a sucker for anything with Amy Tangerine's name on it, so I could barely wipe the huge grin off my face when I got  a big box of goodies from Amy's amazing Plus One collection…. yes, the collection that is sold out in most stores and online!  

I knew instantly that I wanted to make a cute mini album with some of my favorite Instagram photos of my family from the last few months, and this collection was just perfect!

First I went through my Instagram photos from the last few months, and picked out some of my favorites.  After some trial and error, I figured out a cool way to print Instagram pictures in square sizes from Costco (hellllloooo, 13 cent prints) that I'll be sharing with you soon.  Once the photos were printed, it was time to get started choosing paper for each page of my book!

Every single piece in the collection is just amazing.  I love the bold colors and fun patterns.  I cut out long strips of paper in different patterns, making each strip 4" x 12."  

I folded each strip in half like a book, with the patterned side on the inside.  One of my favorite things about the Plus One paper pad are the pages that have cards that you can cut out to use as journaling or fun accents for a page.  Many of these were 4" high, and perfect for my book, so I just cut along the edges, folded them like the regular patterned paper, and used them as pages for my book, too! 

Once I had all my pages cut and folded, I got to work creating each page.  First I cut my photos down to the size I wanted them, then figured out which embellishments I wanted to include.  I used lots of rub-ons, thin washi tape, pins, and flair to make each page unique and fun.

For the cover, I added some see through letters for the title of my book, "Instalove."  Here's a fun trick for applying letter stickers to a project so that they're nice and straight every time-  use the outside wrapper of some of the plastic packaging, and line up your letters along the top of the plastic, so that each letter has just a tiny bit of the bottom sticking to the plastic.  This helps you line up the letters evenly so that they can be easily adjusted until you get them just right.  Once they're nice and neat, just push down to stick them on, and pull off the plastic from the bottom bit of the letters… perfect placement every time!

I used the embroidery stencil kit to add some detail and color to my first page.  This was so easy!  Just place the stencil over where you want the letters on the page, use the included tool to poke holes through the paper, and then stitch through those holes to get perfectly straight letters every time.

For my daughter's page, I cut out some of the accents from the paper pad.  I used a pop dot behind the yellow heart I cut out to give it some dimension and make it pop from the page.

Notice how the "Today" paper sticks out from the rest of the book?  I like to have elements of my minis poke out of the pages to make it more interesting!  When you close the book, that piece is centered above the camera on the cover.

This is my all time favorite Instagram photo I've ever taken.  I wanted to keep the pattern simple on this page so that my beach photo of my son gets all the attention.

For this page I added the ice cream and sun rub-ons to the page that went perfectly with the story I was telling about my optimistic daughter.

I used the washi tape to add some lines for journaling. I cut out black and white hearts from the patterned paper, and then cut off the rounded ends to use as accents on the page.  I thought the plus sign was perfect for my daughter, because she is always so happy and positive!

I added some of the adorable thin washi tape over the journaling lines on the left hand side of the page, and included a photo of my darling little guy on the opposite side.

And the back cover…. that one word sums it all up!

To put the whole book together, I just applied adhesive to the blank backside of each page and adhered the pages.  I cut a small piece of paper for the binding of the book, to make sure everything was held together.

Now that you're drooling over the adorable paper and embellishments, I've got some great news for you!  The Amy Tangerine Plus One Collection will be available for sale on HSN on March 24th.  The collection will be available in five discounted bundles starting at just under $20!  

You can choose from these bundles: a basic kit, an embroidery kit, an embellishment kit, and a stamping kit.  If you do Project Life, you'll be excited to know that the sold out Plus One Project Life Mini Kit will also be available at a discounted rate!

When I was at the CHA Winter Show in January, I was able to get a sneak peek at the Plus One collection in American Crafts' booth (AND meet Amy herself, eek!), so it's no surprise to me that this was THE top selling signature line released in Winter 2014.  I was going to include the photo of Amy and I, but I look absolutely horrible in it ;)  She was very sweet and her baby was just adorable, and it's so nice to meet someone you look up to and have them be just as great in real life as you hoped they were!

xo, Laura

Apple Candy Dish for Teacher Appreciation Week

With Teacher Appreciation Week quickly approaching (May 5th-9th this year), I thought I'd whip up a quick and easy craft that is the perfect gift to show a teacher you care.  As a former elementary school teacher, I know how much work really goes into teaching our little ones, and how great it feels when students take the time to write a quick little note or make me something- it was the best feeling!

This week I'm excited to be teaming up with the Craft Lightening ladies to bring you lots of great ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week!  This little apple candy dish would look great on a teacher's desk, and is filled with candy for when the end of the day is coming and he or she needs a little sugar… been there done that!

I chose gold coins, because our teachers are truly worth their weight in gold!  This craft is pretty easy, and can be made in under 15 minutes (not including the paint drying time).

Here's what you'll need:

• Paper mache apple (I bought mine at Michael's a year or two ago, but found a link to them in an etsy shop here)
• Red spray paint
• Craft knife
• Sharp knife
• Free leaf printable
• Candy to go inside the apple- you could also use school supplies like paper clips, erasers, etc.

Directions:

1.  Using a pencil, draw a light line horizontally all the way around the apple to show where you will cut.  Use a craft knife to carefully cut the apple in half .  I assumed that the apple would be hollow, but it was Styrofoam in the middle.  Once you have made the cut with the craft knife, use a regular sharp knife (be careful) to slice the apple all the way through so there is a top half and a bottom half.

2.  Once the apple is cut, use the knife to cut down around the inside top and bottom of the apple, and scoop out the excess Styrofoam with a spoon.  Cut and remove until the apple is hollowed out and smooth around the edges.  

3.  Spray the apple inside and out with a few light coats of red glossy spray paint.

4.  Print out the free leaf printable and cut out the leaf.  Wrap the leaf stem around the base of the apple stem, and use a small piece of tape to secure the leaf to the apple.

5.  Fill the apple with treats or small school supplies for the teacher.

Told you it was easy!

Your child will move to the head of the class with this cute little apple teacher gift, and you'll be glad that it only took you 15 minutes of hands-on time to make!

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura

DIY Lighted Marquee Letters

I just love the look of those large beautiful marquee letters with round lights inside each letter.  I love them so much in fact, I made my own mini set!

These letters look great as a decoration for a party, or even just to add a little something to your decor at home!  You can check out the full tutorial on my first design team post on Darice's blog, Live. Craft. Love.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

xo, Laura

Painted Easter Bunny Jars

If you're a regular reader of my blog, then you probably already know that I'm a huge fan of baby food jars.  What's not to love about them?  They're cute and petite, durable, and free if you have a baby, or a friend with a baby!  I thought I'd put the rest of my baby food jars to good use to create a cute Easter craft- painted Easter bunny jars!

These jars can be used as decor items, to fill with treats and give away to friends and family, or even as little favors or treats for everyone on the Easter table.  However you decide to use them, these cute little bunnies are very easy to make, and look great!

I put my big box of paint to use again that Krylon sent me (see yesterday's $2 candy dish post for another great use for their spray paint), but this time I used their Dual Paint + Primer in Modern White Gloss, which was perfect for the job because it is a paint and primer in one can that gives a great thick coverage, which means less coats for you to paint!

Supplies:

• Baby food jars (I used varying sizes of jars)
• White spray paint
• Pink and black multi-surface paint
• Small paintbrush
• Small piece of white felt
• Scissors (fabric scissors work best to cut the felt)
• Glue gun

Spray the outside each of the jars that you're using with white spray paint.  Make sure to spray multiple layers of thin, even coats for the best coverage and to avoid drips.  I sprayed these right side up on some newspaper with the lids left on, since I didn't want any paint going inside the jars (paint + food = big no no).  Let dry between coats, and then let the jars dry thoroughly before the next step.

Using a small paintbrush and some black multi-surface black craft paint, paint two tiny eyes, a little triangle nose, and a small line going straight down for the nose.  To add a little more color and character, once the black paint was dry I painted on two small pink circles for rosy cheeks.

While the cheeks are drying, cut out two ears for each bunny jar from the white felt.  I had planned on cutting two pink pieces to go inside the white ears, but realized two late that all of my pink felt had been used.  Use a glue gun to carefully glue a thick line of glue on the top center of the jar, and stick the ears right down in the glue and let cool.  This worked perfectly to create those cute little bunny ears!

And there you have it, adorable little bunny jars to decorate with or give away, that you made out of something that probably would have been thrown away!  Give yourself a pat on the back ;)

For more baby food jar fun, check out these popular projects that I've also made with baby food jars!

Rainbow Cakes in a Jar, perfect for St. Patrick's Day, or any time of the year.  You can even make these in custom colors for a birthday party or holiday!

Monsters University Mini Cakes, baked inside baby food jars.

Baby Food Jar Planter- You can make this great decor piece from a scrap piece of wood and baby food jars and use it as planters, vases, or candleholders!

Baby Food Jar Party Favors, customizable for any party.

xo, Laura

DIY Candy Dish {Made for Just $2}

I love throwing parties and entertaining family and friends, and today I'm sharing with you a great way I came up with to serve candy (or anything else) in a pretty pedestal bowl with a stand that can be customized in any color! 

Want to know the best part?  Each candy bowl on a stand can be made for only $2!  Cool, right?  These little dishes are the perfect holders for serving candy at parties, entertaining, decoration, or just for snacking on at home!  You can fill it with anything, too, it doesn't have to be just candy…. there's endless possibilities!  My friends at Krylon sent me a big box of free paint to play with, so I have been doing lots of painting this week, and can't wait to share more fun crafts with you!

Here are the easy directions!  These dishes do come with a warning- "Highly Addictive," because once you make one, you're going to want to keep going and making more!  You have been warned.

Supplies: 

• Small- medium-glass bowl (Check your local dollar store- my bowl was only $1)
• Candlestick (Also from the dollar store for just $1)
• Spray paint in your preferred color (I used Krylon's Blue Ocean Breeze, one of my favorite Krylon colors!)
• E6000 adhesive, or another strong adhesive or glue

1.  Spray paint the top, bottom, and sides of the candlestick.  Be sure to spray in multiple thin coats, which will allow for better coverage.  

2.  Once the paint is dry, use some E600 to trace a thin ring of adhesive around the top of the candlestick.  Don't use too much glue- you don't want it oozing out from the candlestick.

Let dry according to the directions on the glue that you use, and voila, a beautiful little glass candy dish that matches your home or party decor!  And for only $2?  As Martha would say, "It's a good thing." ;)

Happy crafting!

If you liked this project, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin', and Instagram.

xo, Laura