12 Days of Christmas {Day 3}

{Day 3: Skinny Notepad}

If you're anything like me, you function much better when you've got a "To Do List" to refer to.  I seem to get a lot more done when I've got a list, and get a feeling of satisfaction when I can look at it at the end of the day and see what I've actually accomplished.  So I made a Christmas version to give as gifts, and to use myself!!

Here's what the inside looks like...

Tie with a coordinating ribbon, stick a pen in (make sure it's cuter than the one I used {wink}), and it's ready to go!

You can find a video tutorial for making these skinny notepads HERE from Kerry's Paper Crafting Blog!


**FYI:  I'll be taking the weekend off to spend time with my family.  Join me on Monday for {Day 4} of my 12 Days of Christmas!!**

12 Days of Christmas {Day 2}

{Day 2: Cocoa & Nuggets Treat Box}

The tutorial for this treat box set can be found HERE from Stampin Inspirations.

12 Days of Christmas {Day 1}

Welcome to Creative Itch's "12 Days of Christmas"!! 

I don't know about you, but I'm always on the hunt for cute gift ideas to make and give to family and friends for the holidays.  All of the gifts I'll be featuring were made using FREE tutorials I've found online.  In case you haven't noticed, I'm a HUGE fan of FREE!!

Let's get started.......

{Day 1: Christmas Candle Gift Set}

 

The tutorial for this cute gift can found HERE from The Southern Stamper.

Thirty Three....

Thirty-three years ago, my Mother gave birth to her third child.....ME!!  Here's a picture of me on that very special day....awwwwwww! 

I can remember when I thought that people in their 30's were OLD.  Really old.  Now I hear my kids echoing the same thoughts and I think they're CRAZY!     

To celebrate my birthday, I'm FINALLY ready to announce something that I've been working on for months!  Starting Wednesday, I'll be hosting my version of "12 Days of Christmas", where I'll be featuring handmade gifts I've made using FREE tutorials found online!!  I'm SO excited to share these!!  I hope you'll find some useful ideas for your gift giving this holiday season!

{Lollipop Box Tutorial}

Okay....I'm finally getting this tutorial posted!  I've been avoiding it like the plague!  For some reason, writing a tutorial stresses me out.

Here goes....
Oh, and if you look really close on the pictures, you'll notice multiple score marks.  Ignore those.  These were the papers I used to figure out all the measurements:)

{Lollipop Box Tutorial}

Supplies:

Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade

4 sheets of Cardstock

Decorative Paper

Transparency Sheet

Adhesive of your choice

Lollipops

**Cut your cardstock and transparency sheet to the following measurements:
*2- 7 1/2" x 7 1/4" cardstock (top)
*1- 8 7/8" x 5 7/8" cardstock (bottom)
*1- 8 3/8" x 5 3/8" cardstock (insert)
*1- 4 1/4" x 3 1/8" transparency sheet (for window)

1.  Grab your 2 top pieces (7 1/2" x 7 1/4") and score 1 1/2" on 3 sides.  Cut the top squares out of one sheet (this will be the front), and cut along the score line, stopping at the corner, on the 2 top corner squares of the other sheet (this will be the back). 

{to cut out the window on the front piece:}
*line up the 7 1/2" side along the bottom of your cutting tool.  Line up the edge of paper at 2 1/8".  Lift up blade and insert it at 2 1/2".  Cut up to 5 1/8".
*turn paper so the top of box is at the bottom of cutting tool.  line up edge of paper at 2 1/8".  Insert blade in at 2 1/8" and cut to 4 6/8".
*Sides:  line up edge of paper at 2 1/2".  Insert blade at 2 1/8" and cut to 5 3/8".  Do the same for the other side.  You should now have a perfect square cut out of the middle.  (**if this is too confusing, just cut out a square using whatever method works best for you!  Mine has a 5/8" border on 3 sides, and the bottom 'border' should measure 2 5/8".)

2.  Adhere the 4 1/4" x 3 1/8" transparency sheet to the inside of the window. 

3.  Cut a piece of decorative paper approx. 4" x 4 1/2".  Adhere it to the inside of the back piece (this will show through the 'window').

4.  Fold both front and back pieces along score lines.  Adhere the front piece to the back piece.

It'll end up looking like this:

This picture is just to show the decorative paper in the 'window'.

5.  Now we're going to work on the 'bottom' piece (8 7/8" x 5 7/8").  Score at 2 1/8" on all 4 sides.  Cut along score marks on all 4 corners as shown in photo.  Fold along score lines and adhere the sides together.

Here's what it will look like when you're done.

6.  Now for the insert (8 3/8" x 3 1/8").  Score at 2" on all 4 sides.  Cut out the squares on all 4 corners.  Fold on score lines.  This piece will just drop into the bottom of the box.

**Decide where you want your lollipops to go (I had enough room for 4 lollipops), and mark with a pencil.  Take an X-Acto knife and cut either a slit or an 'x' in each spot.  Place your lollipops in the insert and slide the insert into the bottom of the box.

7.  Decorate your box and lollipops as desired!

I hope this tutorial makes sense!  If anything is unclear, please email me and I'll try to give a better explanation!  And be sure to email me pictures of your completed boxes....or if you share them on your blog, email me the link!


I'm linking to these fabulous parties:
Craftify It Thursday @Life with the Lebedas

Scrabble Tile Earrings....and a Giveaway!

******This giveaway is CLOSED******

I've got a baggie full of Scrabble tiles that have been collecting dust for a few years.  Our recent project of making Bottle Cap Earrings got me thinking......could Scrabble tiles be made into earrings?  After figuring out how I would make them, I went to work.

They turned out even better than what I had pictured in my head!!

I made these using Mod Podge, a 3/4" square punch (SO much easier than tracing and cutting each square by hand!), and cute scrapbook paper.  To finish them off, I sprayed each tile with an acrylic finish coating.  Then I got my 1/16" drill bit and drilled holes down the center of each tile.  Let me be honest here.....the 'practice' tiles I did were horrible.  And I even broke a drill bit in the middle of drilling one tile.  So, my wonderful husband came to my rescue and ended up doing most of the drilling for me.

The polka dot and flower earrings were the very first pairs that I made.  I drilled a hole in the front and used a jump ring to attach the earrings.  I'm still not sure which way I like them better.....what do you think?

Here's all the finished earrings so far.  I've got lots more Scrabble tiles prepped and ready to be made into earrings, but ran out of the earring hooks.  And of course there aren't any to be found in my small town, so I have to wait to make a trip to "the city" before I can get more.  UGH!!

My girls and I will be selling these at our local craft fair in November.  Be honest....do you think they'll go over well?  And do you think $3.00 a pair is too much to charge?

{Now for the giveaway........}

September 7th was my official 2 year Blogaversary!  To celebrate, I'm giving away a pair of Scrabble tile earrings to 3 lucky people!!  Here's how to enter.  Please leave only 1 comment per person!

*You must be a follower of my blog.....you guys are the reason why I'm here!
*Leave ONE comment letting me know you're a follower, and which pair of earrings you'd choose if you won.  If you have any opinions about the earrings (price we plan on selling them for, etc.), leave that in your comment as well.

The deadline to enter is Wednesday (Sept. 15th) at midnight and I'll announce the winners on Thursday, September 16th!  Good luck!!     



I'm linking to these fun parties:
It's Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursdays @It's Sew Stinkin' Cute
Motivate Me Monday @Keeping It Simple
Look At Me! Party @Fun To Craft
Making the World Cuter Monday @Making the World Cuter
Made By You Monday @Skip To My Lou
Modern Craftswoman Monday @Tools Are For Women Too
Take a Look Tuesday @Sugar Bee-Craft Edition
Sugar and Spice Weekly Link Party @Seven Thirty Three
Whatever Goes Wednesday @Someday Crafts
Tuesday Tell All @My Craftie Life
Weekend Wrap Up Party @Tatertots and Jello

Juice Pouch Headband {Tutorial}

********************************************************************************
I was super excited to share this tutorial on Someday Crafts last week!!  I thought I'd repost it here in case any of you missed it!!
********************************************************************************

Today I'm going to show you how to make a Reversible Juice Pouch Headband!! 

Pretty cute, huh?  My girls love wearing these, and we always get compliments on them when we're out and about!  Alright, let's get started!!

{Juice Pouch Headband Tutorial}

Supplies Needed:

* 4 juice pouches, cleaned and dried
* Fabric
* Tape
* Sewing Machine
* Coordinating Thread
* about 4" of Elastic
* Headband Template (I just found one online that I liked...HERE)

{Step 1}  To get started, let me first show you how I clean out my juice pouches.  All I do is carefully cut a slit in the bottom, wash out in soapy water, and let air dry.  Sometimes if I want to speed up the drying process, I'll put the juice pouches in the dryer on low. 

{Step 2}  Next you'll need to carefully cut off the back of the juice pouch.  Using an Exacto-Knife, start cutting on the bottom of the pouch, where you cut the slit to clean it out.  Keep going until you've cut the whole back of it off.

This will give you a better idea of what it should look like.  The pouch on the left has the back cut off....the one on the right doesn't.

{Step 3}  Sew the pouches together.  I like to use a zig-zag stitch, but you can use a straight stitch if you prefer.

{Step 4}  Fold the pouches in half, and tape your headband template on top.  Cut around the template.

Here's what mine looked like after cutting.

{Step 5}  Fold both your fabric and headband in half.  Place juice pouch headband on the fold of the fabric.  Cut out leaving about a 1/2" border.

**Tip:  I put tape on the inside of the juice pouches to keep them in place while cutting out the fabric.

{Step 6}  Unfold the juice pouches and fabric, and place the juice pouches in the center of the fabric, right side up.  The fabric needs to be right side down. 

{Step 7}  Fold fabric to edge of juice pouch, then fold again.

Tape in place.

Here's mine all taped down.

{Step 8}  Sew along the inside edge of fabric, right over the tape.  I used a straight stitch.  DO NOT sew the ends closed!!  Once you're done with both sides, carefully peel off the tape.  After the tape is all off, iron the fabric flat using low heat.

{Step 9}  Sew your elastic in one end, backstitching to secure.

Then do the same with the other end.  Make sure you back stitch a few times!

And that's it!!  You're all done!  Now put on your cute headband and admire your work!! 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Several months ago while browsing the web, I came across a recipe for homemade laundry detergent.  It looked simple enough to make, and the reviews on it were wonderful.  Everyone commented that it got their clothes clean, and saved them lots of money.  I love saving money and try to cut costs wherever I can.....so I decided to give it a try.

The first batch I made was a small one, and didn't include an 'oxygen cleaner'.  After a while, I noticed my whites were starting to look pretty dingy.  Adding an 'oxygen cleaner' to the detergent has helped some, but I have resorted to using my "Tide with Bleach" every other time I wash my whites.  Other than that, I'm really happy with my homemade laundry detergent!

Want to try it out?  Here's what you'll need:

* 4 lb. box of Super Washing Soda
* 4 lb. box of Borax
*4 lb. box of Baking Soda
* 3 bars of Zote (can also use Fels Naptha or Ivory soap)
* a small container of 'oxygen cleaner'

When I make mine, I use a bucket lined with a garbage sack.  I dump the Washing Soda, Borax, Baking Soda, and Oxygen Cleaner in the bucket and mix it up.  Then comes the hard part......grating the 3 bars of Zote (kills my arm every time!!).  Once you've got them grated, mix everything up really well, and put in a plastic container!

I store my laundry soap in 2 plastic ice cream containers, and use the scoop that came with the oxygen cleaner to scoop it out.  It only takes one scoop for a large load, and a half a scoop for a smaller load.  I love that one batch of this lasts several months!  We are definitely saving money, and that makes this Momma happy!!