DIY MOMS - Red, White & Blue

By Leslie Pleasants
4th of July is right around the corner.  To me the best memories I have of the 4th of July is when I am with my family and friends.  When you gather all together and have a BBQ... kids are running around....  everyone is mingling... summer is HERE! 

Celebrate in style with these great DIY Red, White & Blue decorations and ideas!   The more you get in the spirit the more your guest will too!!

Pom-Poms

Vellum paper

Scissors

Double sided tape

To make pom-poms, fold a 3-by-15-inch piece of vellum in half twice lengthwise. Cut slits every 1/8 inch, leaving inch at the top uncut. Unfold the paper, and attach a 1-inch piece of double-sided tape to one uncut corner; adhere to a bamboo skewer, and wrap the paper around several times. Once you reach the other end, use another piece of double-sided tape to secure. Curl the lower strips with the edge of a scissor blade, as you would a ribbon.

by Martha Stewart

 
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Pinwheels

•Scrapbook paper (preferably with double-sided pattern)

•Wooden dowels

•Hot glue gun and hot glue

•Double-sided tape

•Scissors

•Star stickers

•Spray adhesive (if necessary)

1.To create dual-sided pinwheels, gather double-sided scrapbooking papers in patriotic hues, or if you can't find pages in palette, create your own. Find pages in contrasting patterns, and use the spray adhesive to adhere them together.

2.Cut paper into square shapes — we made 8-inch and 6-inch squares to create pinwheels of varying sizes.

3.Fold squares in half diagonally to create a triangle. Crease.

4.Open the triangle and fold diagonally the opposite way. Crease.

5.Open up the triangle and flatten out the square.

6.Cut along each diagonal fold three-quarters of the way to the center.

7.Pull the tip of every other corner toward the center. Use double-sided tape or white craft glue to adhere the first tip to the center, then each folded-in tip on top of each other. When you finish, you'll have the pinwheel shape.

8.If you want your pinwheel to spin, skip to step 10. If not, simply hot glue the pinwheel to your wooden dowel. Skip cutting down wooden dowels from the hardware or craft store and use inexpensive flag dowels (removing the flags, of course).

9.Finish your pinwheel with a decorative star sticker in the center.

10.If you want your pinwheel to spin, you'll need to push a pin through the center (a straight pin works), then a bead beneath the pinwheel. You'll drive the pin into your dowel with a hammer. If needed, fold over (or cut and then fold over) any part of the pin that sticks through to the back to prevent injuries.
by good housekeeping

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Garland
Letter-size, stationery-weight paper in red, white, and blue
Paper cutter or scissorsby censational girl
Ruler
Pencil
Bone folder
Mini-stapler
1/8-inch hole punch
White cotton string

1. Cut paper to 6 by 11 inches. Using a bone folder to make crisp folds, fold the paper in half; then, fold it in half twice more. Open the folded paper, and use the creases as guides to accordion fold the paper to resemble a fan.

2. With the paper still folded, find the center, and mark it with a pencil. Use a desktop stapler to staple the center. (The staple should be perpendicular to the folds.)

3. Make a mark, 1 inch from each end on the folded side of the fan. Using scissors, trim both ends of the paper on an angle, starting from the 1-inch marks and cutting to the paper's edges.

4. Fan out the paper to form a star, and bring the ends together. Staple the ends together with a mini-stapler.

5. With a 1/8-inch hole punch, punch 2 holes, one fold apart from each other. Thread cord through one hole, around the back of the star, and then through the other hole.
by martha stewart
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Star-Spangled Luminarias

Brown paper sacks
Blue and Red tissue paper
Glue stick
Tea light candle

1. Cut a star from cardboard (ours was 2 1/2 inches from point to point) and use it as a template to cut other stars from red and blue tissue paper.

2. Glue the stars to the insides of lunch bags with a dab or two from a glue stick. For a bit more pop, add other small star-shaped stickers on the inside and perforate the sides with a star paper punch.

3. Fill each bag with 2 to 3 inches of sand and sink a tea light or votive candle into the sand. Place the luminarias in a spot outside where you can keep an eye on them, and light the candles. (Tip for parents: To avoid scorching your forearm, light a piece of uncooked spaghetti and use it to light the candles.)


4. From inside the bags, the tissue paper stars will cast a red and blue glow guaranteed to shine on long after the twilight's last gleaming.
by family fun
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Wreath

Red, White an Blue yarn

Foam or straw wreath

Die cut stars

(or print out from computer an cut on cardstock)

Hot glue gun

If you use straw wreaths do not unwrap the plastic.. you will just end up making a mess.

1) Start with one color and glue down one end and start wraping.  You might want to premark the wreath on where you want each color to be so you don't get confused.

2) Once you get all the ribbon around then you can glue on the stars.  If you want to make them different heights you can hot glue them to little objects first then glue to the wreath.

Now you have a 4th of July wreath that is super cute and inexpensive!

by the creative imperative.blogspot.com      

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Easy Sand Candles

Red, White and Blue sand

Various glasses or vases

Skinnier glass to fit inside

Tea light candle

To make a sand candle, fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim. Set the glass inside a clear glass vase or jar. With a funnel, fill the gap between the two containers with layers of colored sand, using enough to reach the rim of the drinking glass.

by martha stewart

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Firecrackers

Toliet paper tubes

Felt sheets (paper size), cut in half

Ribbon

Decorative paper

Double sticky tape

Small toys or candy

1) Fill the tube with candy, gifts or toys. 

2) Take you felt and wrap it around the tube.  Tie each end with a piece of ribbon.

3) Now you can be creative on what you want to do.  You can leave it as is or you can use some decorative paper and stamps or write a persons name on them or you could even write 4th of July on it.  Wrap it around and use the double sticky tape to hold it together.  Great for party favors, decorations, placecards, etc...

by  fantasy celebrations

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Festive Cans

Prepainted cans or silver
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Double sticky tape
Flowers
Flags

Add a bit of ribbon with hot glue to the back seam.  Then use double sided tape to guide your ribbon around the canister, and keep it straight.  Use one more dab of hot glue to keep the other end of the ribbon in place.

Father's Day THEMED Gift Ideas!

By Leslie Pleasants

Buying for you husband for Fathers Day can be difficult.  If you ask them what they want they(mine) usually will come back with..  "new motorcycle, kindle, newest game system, oh... how about that 3D tv".  Yeah right!  Why can't they ask for kitchen towels, candles, chocolates... you know... the easy stuff like we ask for.  :)  So I give up asking him anymore.  Always ends up me just shrugging my shoulders asking myself why did I even bother.  Most of the time he doesn't know what he wants anyways.  :) 

So why not fill a bucket... YES a bucket filled with goodies for him!!  You can never have enough buckets.  You can even buy a metal bucket to be reused for a beverage holder on your patio when you have guests over or how about one of the collapsible trash cans that they can reuse for camping or at the beach!  Depending on the theme there are so many options that you can use to fill your gifts in. 

Here are some THEMED ideas for you to use!

GOLF

tee's,  golf balls(monogrammed or none), gloves, gift certificate to his favorite place, cigars, golf ball chocolates, caddy shack DVD, golf hand held game, book, clothing

FISHERMAN

(use a collapsible seat/backpack and fill)

bait, gummy worms, fishing accessories, fishing book, fisherman's hat, swedish fish, fishing hand held game, sun glasses

KING OF BBQ

utensils(tongs, brushes, spatula), sauces, cookbooks, pot holder, apron, cedar chips or plank, seasonings, cigars

CAR WASH

car wash soap, squeegy, tire cleaner, sponge, micro towel, window wipes, air freshener, inside cleaner, gift certificate to get car detailed

SPORTS FAN

jersey or tee shirt, beer, peanuts, hot sauce, tickets to game, license plate frame, team beach towel, cap, team apron, team flag

MAN CAVE (garage)

radio, heater, fan, mini fridge(probably wont fit in bucket), garage floor cleaner, tools, work gloves, shop rags, orange hand cleaner, cigars, sports sign, garage make-over book, flashlight

OFFICE

(use a wire mesh garbage can)

frame w/ picture in it, pencil/pen holder, tie, dress shirt, candy dish w/ candy, business card holder, coffee mug, favorite beverage(none alcoholic), cologne

MOVIES

(use a large popcorn container.. can get a the Dollar Tree or Target)

popcorn, favorite candy, soda, movies, blanket, popcorn bags

CAMPING

(use a pop-up garbage can)

lantern, bbq utensils, tent, kite, camping book, flashlight, hot dog sticks, travel game, battery/solar operated lights, citronella candle, shovel

BEACH

kite, beach towel, munchies, binoculars, shells book, camera, best beaches book, shovel, hat, swimming trunks, sun glasses

MOTORCYCLES

gloves, motorcycle cleaner, cover, books, magazines, key chain, tee shirt, hat, beer, cigars, motorcycle glasses, gift certificate to favorite motorcycle shop

THE BUILDER

wood building project books, unique wood, tools(shavers, sander, router, etc), stains, nails, screws, band aids, safety glasses, gloves

THE HIKER

hiking boots, snacks, GPS, maps, hiking books, geocaching maps, backpack, water bottle, small stool, binoculars

WORKOUT

(use gym bag)

gym membership, water bottle, small towel, workout clothes, calorie counter watch, weights, work out dvd or for the Wii

DIY Mothers Day Gift Baskets

By Leslie Pleasants

There is no better way to show your love and appreciation on Mothers Day then giving your mom or a mom a gift basket.  Gift baskets can be easy and inexpensive but shows that you really put some thought into the gift.  They allow you to combine their interest and pleasures without being limited to just one simple gift.

The first step to creating the perfect gift basket is to pick a theme.  Start with what they enjoy doing.  Do they have a hobby?  What do they enjoy doing?  Do they need something to relax and indulge in?  This is where you get to get creative.  The entire process of finding things to fill the gift baskets should not take very long at all once you figure out a theme.  This time barely compares to the time that your mother will spend enjoying her gift basket that keeps on giving. 

You can also make smaller gift baskets for other moms in your life.   Grandma's, Mother-in-Laws, Sisters (that are moms), friends, etc... 

Here are some gift basket themes and ideas:

Scrapbooking:

papers, pens, ribbons, stickers, brads, photo album, photo's, scissors

Gardening:

seed packets, shovel, water can, gloves, bulbs, flower pots, gardening labels

Cooking:

pasta, wine, seasonings, olive oil, utensils, kitchen towels, pot holders, recipe cards

Camping:

solar lights, citronella candle, flashlight, table cloth, smores fixing's, beach towel

Movies:

movie gift card, popcorn tub(dollar tree), popcorn, flavoring, candy, blanket

Relaxation:

bath salts, lotions, body scrubs, relaxation music, candles, ear plugs, chocolate

Summertime:

canvas beach bag, sunglasses, sunscreen, beach towel, flip flops, shorts, tank top

Mom-to-Be:

baby names book, saltines, massage gift card, parenting magazine, anti-stretch mark lotion, peppermints

Candles:

candle holders, long lighter, votives, tapers, pillars, snuffer, matches

Chocoholic:

hot chocolate, bars, cookies, hot fudge, flavored coffee, truffles, chocolate cookbook

Exerciser:

protein bars, socks, work out dvd, water bottle, magazine, gym membership, towel

Coffee:

large mug, coffee, novel, chocolate covered espresso beans, coffee gift card

Gamblers:

pocket electronic games, cards, poker chips, vegas plane tickets, poker rule book

Crafter:

hot glue gun, double sticky tape, papers, ribbon, scissors, stickers, stamps, ink pads

Crochet or Knitter:

assorted needles or crochet hooks, assorted patterns, ribbons, buttons, "made by" labels

Accessories:

lipstick, nail polish, cuticle oil, hand lotion, scented hand sanitizer, earrings, necklace, scarf