Crafts - 7/34 - The Idea Room

Chalk Board mug gift

I am always looking for a fun and inexpensive gift idea for a teacher or friends. Now, there is nothing new and exciting about a mug with candy in it…unless that mug has a fun chalkboard label on it. I saw something similar while perusing the aisles of Target one day. It had been three weeks since I had been there…THREE WEEKS! So I was getting my Target fix and saw a Chalk Board Mug. So what is a crafty girl to do? Yep! I made my own.

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Target was even kind enough to have some different colored mugs on sale for $1.99. So I snagged a couple. Here is how I made mine. I cut out a heart shape from my vinyl collection. Contact paper will work well too. Make a stencil in the shape or design of your choice.

Then I used some Folk Art Bake-On Enamel Paint in Engine Red. I mixed it with some Non-Sanded Grout to Make Chalk Board Paint. You can find the recipe for that here:

Make Your Own Chalk Board Paint

Then I simply painted a couple coats of it onto the mug and baked in on low heat in my oven for an hour to set the paint. So easy.

Prime the chalk board paint by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk onto it first and then wipe off the chalk. This should prime your chalkboard label so that you can write new messages to your hearts content. (pun totally intended) I also put the word “love” on the other side of the mug using the same process as above.

A super easy and inexpensive gift idea. Spruce it up by adding a gift card to Starbucks or attach a package of your favorite hot cocoa mix…or…my personal favorite…fill it with CHOCOLATE!

Oh…and where did I get that adorable framed picture? That would be from the talented and lovely Lara from Less Cake, More Frosting! You can purchase your own copy of it in her shop Announced Design. There are a lot more where this came from.

This post is dedicated to a week-long series with some other bloggers and shop owners: Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage, Kellie at Nest of Posies, Liz from Hoosier Homemade, and Charlotte from The Paper Cupcake!

On Monday, Liz her adorable Pink Lemonade Pies and a giveaway for The Paper Cupcake. On Tuesday, Gina shared her fun Valentine Mantel and a giveaway for Baybee-Dahl Boutique. Wednesday, Kellie from Nest Of Posies made some darling Valentine Envelopes.

We have also set up a Pinterest Board for Valentine’s Week if you are as addicted as I am.

And…if that is not enough…come back tomorrow when we share an amazing Valentine Printable from The Paper Cupcake! Just wait till you see it! Love it!

Need some more Valentine’s Day Ideas? Check out these past Idea Room Valentine’s Ideas.

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January 25, 2012 · Filed under: Crafts, Gifts, Graduation Treat, Re-Purposed Items, Teacher Gifts Tagged with chalkboard paint, decorated mugs, gift idea, personalized mugs, small gifts, teachers gift ideas

video tutorial—tissue paper rosettes

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I have gotten a lot of emails and comments from several of you who were having a little bit of difficulty making their tissue paper rosettes. The word “twist” was a bit confusing and it is hard for me to explain how I was twisting mine. So I went ahead and made quick video tutorial for Tissue Paper Rosettes.

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Now I must warn you…this is not a high quality production. I simply propped up my cell phone between some cracker boxes and had my son push record and stop when I gave him a cue. He he! But hopefully you will be able to see how I am twisting the paper. I tried to get in as close as possible so you could see the tissue rosette in as much detail as possible. Hope this helps you.

For the original tutorial you can go here: Tissue Paper Rosette Kissing Balls

I also made some of these and hung them in my daughter’s room which you can see here: Crepe Paper Flower Balls

These are the perfect decoration for Valentine’s Day and they are really inexpensive to make. They just take time. I would suggest making these when you sit down to relax and watch television or a movie!

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It’s Valentine’s Week! Every day this week we are sharing some great ideas for Valentine’s Day. We kicked off the fun filled week yesterday with the Pink Lemonade Pie! And a GREAT giveaway from The Paper Cupcake Etsy Shop! Today, Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage helps you decorate for the holiday. She will also have a giveaway, you won’t want to miss it!! Be sure to head on over and check it out.

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January 24, 2012 · Filed under: Activities, Crafts, DIY Tutorials, Gifts, Home Decor, Party Ideas, Tutorials, Wedding Gifts Tagged with hanging rose balls, kissing balls, rose balls, tissue flowers, wedding decor ideas, wedding decorations. tissue paper roses, wedding reception center pieces

New Year’s Eve game

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*Looking for the Silhouette Cameo Giveaway? Click here!

I thought I would share a simple game that I came up with to help entertain your kids (and even adults) during your New Year’s Eve Countdown party this year. The whole premise behind the game is fairly straightforward and simple so even the youngest of children can play along with minimal help.

We named it Rolling Around The Clock. Simply because that is all you do. First off you will need some clock faces. I found some fun free printable clock faces from White Life. They have the following four clock faces that you can download for free.

If you download some, be sure to drop them a quick note and tell them thanks! Aren’t they so fun? They also print out the perfect size.

I printed them out onto some white Cardstock paper. You can also glue them onto some chipboard or cardboard to give them some stability. Adding a quick layer of Matte Finish Mod Podge will also seal them up nicely and keep them from ripping from little hands and overuse.

I cut some thin strips of cardboard to make the clock hands. I made one small for the hour hand and then one longer one for the minute hand of the clock. I colored them black with a black permanent marker.

Then I simply took some brads which can be found in any craft store that sells scrapbook supplies and used them to attach the hands to the clock face.

Now that you have made your game pieces here are the rules for the game.

Roll Around the Clock Game Rules:

Each player will need their own clock face. You will need two dice to play. To begin each player will roll the dice. The player with the highest number will go first. Each player will start with their clock at 1:00. Then you will take turns rolling the dice. To start out everyone will just roll one dice. You need to roll the time that is next on your clock and make it from 1:00 to 2:00 to 3:00 and so on all the way to 12:00 or Midnight. The player needs to roll the number of the dice that corresponds to the next number needed. After you have gotten to 6:00 you will begin to roll two dice to get the higher numbers. If you don’t roll the number you need, your turn will end and it is the next players turn. The person who rolls to 12:00 first wins.

You can even add some strategy to the game if playing with older people. For example, if someone rolls doubles they can choose someone to trade clocks with or choose someone to lose a turn. Etc.

{Phew…that was tough…explaining the rules of play…if that doesn’t make sense, leave a comment and I will try to re-explain them. The game is much simpler than trying to explain it apparently}.

I would love to hear if some of you end up making and playing this with your kids and family this year! My kids are excited, but I think that mainly has to do with the fact that they get to stay up past their bedtimes!!

And…one last thing…I made some Oreo Pops for New Year’s Eve…who is shocked?! Haha! You knew it was coming right? But these have a special surprise inside.

I am not going to take the time to write up a tutorial since there are so many other Oreo Pop Tutorials you can choose from, that I have already shared with you, to follow if you need one. (For example my Snowman Oreo Pops, Santa Belly Oreo Pops and my Mummy Oreo Pops) This is basically a Double Stuft Oreo covered in white chocolate with some sprinkles on it. BUT…these are special because of what is inside of them…

Exploding Candy!!

{I found mine at the Dollar Store…Pop Rocks will work too…I just couldn’t find any}

How fun huh?! And…they really work! I simply removed the double stuff icing and put some melted chocolate on the inside of BOTH cookies. Then I opened and poured a package of the Exploding Candy on one of the cookies right on top of the chocolate. Stick the sucker stick on and then place the top cookie on top. Then I let them harden by popping them in the freezer. Then simply cover the Oreo with the chocolate and add some sprinkles. For full instructions for making an Oreo Pop you can see these other tutorials. For the little New Years Eve Cheers tag go here.