Button Pony Elastics

So you remember those figure 8 ponytail elastics.  You know the ones with the huge knobby balls on a figure  8 elastic??  I have been looking for them for my little miss. They are really hard to find. I couldn't even find a vintage picture of them.  But them my mind started thinking about how I could make them myself.  With a trip to Joanns, I found the round elastic, by the yard.  They also sell the button covers.  I had some in my stash.  Next was trying to figure out how to make them a figure 8.  After searching and pondering I hit the hardware store and found a few options that could work.  Here is what I came up with.

Firecracker Table Decor

Firecrackers are always a great way to decorate for the 4th.  Here is a fun tutorial to use for your table scape or mantel.

Fancy House Numbers

How is your summer going??? Ours is in full swing.  The kids are home and we are trying to stay busy.  In between all the crazy I have been working on a few projects.  Here is one I think you will like.  I was talking with a friend of mine about my front porch. I have no clue what to do about it.  She told me about a show that shares tips for making your house appealing. From the outside.  (No cable at this house. Just digital rabbit ears for basic local stations).  On one of the episodes they mentioned 3 things to make you house look inviting from the outside. 
1. Paint your door a fun bright color.
2. Add Shutters
3. Have a fun way to display your house numbers.

So after contemplating each of them I decided that #3 was the way for me.

Here is my supply list:
1 lenght of Pine.  2x8
long rectangel brackets to secure boards together
screws
Paint colors of choice
numbers for my house
picture frame
chalkboard vinyl

I started with 1 length of pine. I cut it into lengths of 18 inches.  I ended up with 5 lengths with a few inches left. 

Next I spray painted my numbers black.  And sprayed my boards my color of choice.  I went with turquoise, burnt orange and white. I did a light coat, to let the wood grain show through a bit.

Sand your boards just a bit, if you like for a bit of a weathered look. 

Lay your dry boards together how you want them.  Flip them over and screw your bracket into place.

Once my brackets were secure I flipped my boards back over.  I placed my numbers where I waanted them and screwed them into place.

I added this frame so I could leave messages for visitors coming in.  Sleeping baby please knock, Leave packages at the door or Welcome friends.  Lots of options for this little frame.

So I found the frame at TJMaxx.  I sprayed it my favorite color (Turquoise) and took out the glass.  I cut a piece of chalk board vinyl I got from Pick Your Plum and placed it inside the frame.  I added the glass behind it and a piece of card board.  Took the back of the frame off.  It had a back with a stand on it that you could see if was on. 
I used 4 nails ot hang the frame on and keep it from moving. 

Hang your numbers outside your door and enjoy. I love the pop of color it adds to my front porch.

Do you see the nest on my front door wreath?  I made the wreath and hung it back in April.  Within 2 days a cute little Mama Robin began building her nest. She worked on it for a week. Then abandoned it because there was so much traffic.  Everyone askes me where I got the nest.  They can't believe a bird built it.  Someday I will take it down and save it for someplace special.

  

Thanks for sharing your Free Time with me.  Have a great week.

Recycled Bike Basket DIY

My little Miss has a bike, a tricycle and a scooter.  Funny thing is she only likes to ride the scooter and tricycle.  Originally  her tricycle had a little plate cover on the front of the handlebars.  It broke off and left that area vacant. I remember having a fun basket on the front of my bike.  I loved to put my favorite toy in the basket and go for a ride.  I saw my my orange juice container and had an idea.  Who needs to buy a basket when I can make one for free. I started with an empty Orange Juice container.

I cut the top of the orange juice container.  Just below the handle.

(In hind sight I would have punched 2 holes along 1 long side of the container.  I did mine later and it was hard to get the holes cut)

Take your fabric and measure it around the container and measure the height. 

Begin by painting a layer of modge podge onto your container. Start wrapping your fabric around the outside of the container.

Glue the edge of the fabric down.  Paint a layer of modge podge onto your fabric.  Give it a really good coat.

Fold the top fabric down to the inside.  Glue it down.

Let is dry for a while. You may want to do a second coat.

Now for the bottom. I place a lot of glue on the plastic and spread it around.   

Then start and fold it like the end of a package. Fold 2 sides and press down to stick to the glue.  

Lay more glue down and fold your last two sides down.  Cover in modge podge. Let dry

At this point I punched my holes.  I wish I had done it before covering in fabric. Measure your bike handle bars for hole placement. I also stapled around the top to secure the fabric to the plastic.  I used pom fringe to hide the staples.This would go great for a little boy and make it a super hero basket or cowboy or space man.  Whatever your little boy is into.  Fun for everyone!

To hide any graphics from the container I glammed it up.  Pom fringe and some flower cut outs. Red ribbons to tie it onto the bike and your finished.

    

Photo Transfer Tiles from Those Crafty Sisters

The giveaway is posted below.  Please be sure to checkout the other  Birthday posts. 

Today's post is from Linda @ www.thosecraftysisters.com. 

We've all seen tile coasters, either decorated or painted or decoupaged with photos.  Maybe you even created some last year for Christmas as a kid.  I really thought I'd exhausted the different ways to make a coaster from tile, but when I read about creating tile coasters using iron on's, I couldn't wait to try it!

What you'll need:

1. 4" x 4" Tile:  This works easier with unglazed tile , but colors are brighter with glazed.  (I sanded the glazed tiles before transferring the photo.)
2. Photo transfer paper
3. Iron
4. Water-resistant sealer
5. Cork or felt tabs, if you are going to make the tile into a coaster

1.  Print your photo on the photo transfer paper, following the manufacturer's directions.  Cut around your image leaving a 1/2" border.  Tape if upside down to the edge of the tile.  This will help to keep the photo from slipping.

2.  Preheat the iron using the highest setting (don't use steam!) and fold the photo back away from the tile.

3.  Heat the tile:  working on a protected surface, and using gloves to protect your hands from the hot tile, place your iron onto your tile for 1 minute.

4.  Carefully flip the photo over onto the tile.  Since the transfer paper smears easily when hot, you need to tack the transfer first by lightly gliding the tip of the iron across the back two or three times.

5.  Iron it down:  Using firm pressure, (and being careful not to move the transfer) iron the paper to the tile.  Go back and forth, pressing firmly around all the image.  Make sure to do the edges really well, because that's the area that seems to have the hardest time with the transfer.  When you are finished, set the timer for one minute and do some deep breathing or something.  You don't want to take the paper off too soon, but you also don't want to leave it on too long or the paper will get stuck to the tile.  (If that happens, heat the paper again and you should be able to get it off.)

You can see that the edges do not come off sharp and crisp, and the image has sort of an aged look to it, but I think that only enhances the end result.

6.  Wait till the tile completely cools (at least 10 to 15 minutes), then seal the tile using 2 to 3 coats of sealer.
7.  Attach cork or felt to the bottom if using for a coaster.

I just love the look of this!  I can see a whole row of tiles lined up across a back splash or several grouped together in a frame.  I'm planning on making a tile planter for a friend, and I'm definitely going to incorporate this technique.

If you like this project idea, you would love the book that I got the idea from.  There are 50 projects, and they're not your regular run-of-the-mill projects either!  Just a few I plan to try:  mirror frame, plexiglass accordion frame, rice paper screen and even a shower curtain! I don't usually purchase real hold-in-your-hands books for diy stuff any more, (that's why we have the Internet, right?) but in this case I'm glad I broke down and got it.

In celebration of Free Time Frolics' Birthday, one lucky reader will receive a copy of  Photocraft, Cool Things to Do with the Pictures You Love (which is my new favorite how-to book).

Thanks for looking, and Happy Bloggy Birthday to Free Time Frolics!

~Linda (aka, Sister #2),

Those Crafty Sisters

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