Home - 30 Minute Crafts

Simple Santa Candlesticks

December 1, 2013 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Earlier, I made some cute wooden Santas from a piece of trim I found at the hardware store. On that same trip, I found more wooden pieces that I just KNEW would make super-cute Santas as well! These Santa candlesticks are mostly easy to put together… if you have the right tools. If you don’t, they take a bit longer (or give you the excuse to go shopping for some new tools! yay!).

To make these Santa Candlesticks, you’ll need:
Two wooden pieces from the hardware store (sold with all the finials and trim) – one looks like a hat and one like a head
Red paint and skin-tone paint (whatever skin tone makes you happy)
White felt
White pom-poms
Hot Glue
Drill and drill bit – the larger the better… if you only have small bits, also grab a hammer and chisel and wood filler.

Remove the screw piece from the bottom of the hat piece.

Use a large drill bit to drill a hole in the top of the hat piece. The hole should be big enough to fit the base of your candle. If you don’t have a large drill bit, drill a lot of small holes, then use a hammer and chisel to remove the rest. It won’t be pretty, but it will be covered… Fill any gaps with wood filler.

Paint the hat piece red and the face piece with your flesh tone.

Screw the pieces together. Glue pom poms around the top edge. This will hide any rough edges on the hole you drilled.

Cut a strip of white felt. Glue it around the bottom of the hat. Put candles in the top of your santa candlesticks and enjoy!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, Christmas, fast and cheap, paint, quick, simple Tagged With: 30 minutes, Christmas, craft, decor, diy, Holiday

Simple Candy Ornament

November 29, 2013 by Carolina 9 Comments

When I saw these large plastic ornaments at the store, I knew I wanted to fill them with candy… specifically M&Ms. Holiday M&Ms are such a classic Christmas treat around here, and making ornaments filled with candy for friends, family, neighbors, teachers, and classmates is so simple… well, almost. Heavy candies like chocolates can be a challenge in these ornaments. The top is simply clipped on. Filling the ornament with something heavy means that the ornament can no longer hang by the hook. You could glue on the top… but then the M&Ms would be stuck in the ornament permanently! Oh no! We can’t have that! So, I figured out a simple workaround…

To make these ornaments you’ll need:
Plastic ornament
M&Ms
2 pieces of ribbon – one 8″ long and one 18″ long
Paint pen (optional)

Start by taking off the top and filling the ornament with candy. Put the cap back on.

Fold the small piece of ribbon in half and tie a loose overhand knot. Insert the long piece of ribbon into the knot, then pull the knot tight.

Tie the long ribbon around the neck of the ornament, with the loop in the back. Make sure you tie the ribbon TIGHTLY.

Insert the loop of ribbon through the loop in the ornament. This ribbon will be what you hang the ornament by, and will be much more secure than the metal loop.

If you want, use a paint pen to write a name or message on the ornament.

All set to use the ornament as a tag, or give as a gift!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, Christmas, easy, fast and cheap, simple Tagged With: 15 minutes, Christmas, easy, fast, Ornament

Special Silhouette Promo just for YOU!

November 28, 2013 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Alright, y’all… I’ve been waiting to announce this for a little while, and today is the day! I was contacted by Silhouette to work with their Silhouette Cameo… and give y’all some special offers for a Silhouette of your own! Or, if you already have a fun Silhouette, a special offer on fun supplies.

If you’re hoping Santa leaves a Silhouette under your tree this year, or you want to snag this machine before the holidays to make holiday crafts, here are the details. Use the promo code MINUTE to access these special offers. The offers start now and goes through December 8th… and these are the best deals they have EVER had – so take advantage of them if you can!

A Silhouette CAMEO®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $229.99. Retail price for all of this would total $406.93 (over 40% savings!)
A Silhouette Portrait®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $129.99. Retail price for all of this would total $286.93 (over 40% savings!)
A Silhouette CAMEO®, a Silhouette Portrait®, and two $25 download cards for $299.99. That’s right: If you buy a Silhouette CAMEO® at full price, you get two $25 download cards and a Silhouette Portrait® ABSOLUTELY FREE! Retail price for all of this would be $406.93 (over 40% savings!)
40% off consumable products at silhouetteamerica.com. This excludes machines, subscriptions, download and gift cards. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Rain checks not available.
FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.

{{ Remember to use the promo code: MINUTE }}

I’ve only had the machine for a couple weeks, but it has already made me the coolest mom on the block. My 5-year-old loves opening packages with me. He watched the video on how the machine works (I’m pretty sure he’s going to be able to work this machine on his own in a few years), and we started cutting. Silhouette has a TON of shapes online, most for less than a dollar! We bought a simple plane shape, duplicated it a couple times for our scrapbook paper, and cut them out.

The planes were a hit. Both my boys spent the next hour running around the living room with their planes. Boys and airplane noises are a perfect match.

I really wanted the Silhouette for the crafting potential. This isn’t my first crafty cutter, but it is the first crafty cutter that is hooked up to software. I found the software easy to navigate. And I love that the software connects with both my regular home printer AND the Silhouette. That’s what let me print out this custom label, then cut them out on the Silhouette machine. These were cut on the silver foil – I can see so many uses for this! Custom return address labels, envelope seals, and fun gift tags.

This machine is really powerful. Between how easy it is to use, all the images that are readily available, the fact that it seamlessly integrates your printer and the cutting machine (seriously – you just click a couple buttons to add registration marks, and the machine makes sure your prints and cuts line right up), and all the products you can use with the machine (from regular scrapbooking paper to vinyl to adhesive sheets even interfacing to cut fabric… and special kits for things like setting rhinestones and making your own rubber stamps), you’ll love having a Silhouette handy. If you want to see more Silhouette projects, go check out the Silhouette Pinterest Board.

Forget waiting for Santa to get you a machine… instead, buy one yourself, and use it to make gift boxes for giving baked goods to the neighbors, whip up your own envelope seals for Christmas cards, and make it your New Year’s Resolution to have a craftier new year!

Remember, these deals are only good through December 8th, so take advantage of them now!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, Christmas, easy, feature, paper, quick, simple, sponsored Tagged With: craft, easy, fast, gift, quick

Disney’s Frozen – Olaf in a Snow Storm Bottle

November 27, 2013 by Carolina 43 Comments

Last week, we got to go see Disney’s new princess movie, Frozen. Taking my 5-year-old son and husband to a princess movie might sound crazy, but Disney does a really good job of making their movies fun for the whole family – including husbands and sons.

We had a great time at Frozen. It was a fun movie with an entertaining story line and some very lively characters. I could tell from the previews that L’s favorite character was going to be Olaf. Olaf is a snowman that falls apart several times in the movie (each time L giggled as Olaf fell apart and needed to be put back together). I decided to make a modified snow globe with Olaf bits inside – you can shake it up and watch Olaf’s pieces swirl around in the glittery storm.

To make your own Olaf in a Snow Storm Bottle, you need:
Plastic bottle
3 white body pom poms
2 white foot pom poms
3 small black “coal” pom poms
2 googly eyes
plastic carrot
glitter glue
water
brown pipe cleaner
strong glue
blue paint (optional)

Drink your smoothie and wash out the bottle.

Trim the pipe cleaner, and bend into two arms.

Put all the Olaf body pieces into the jar. Fill 2/3 with water.

Add about a tablespoon of the blue glitter, and a tablespoon of the silver glitter glue.

Fill the rest of the way with water. Put the lid on, and shake up. Check to make sure that the glitter/water ratio is good (too much glitter and you won’t be able to see Olaf’s parts). Once it is perfect, glue the lid on. I chose to paint the lid, but that’s optional.

Have fun shaking up Olaf!

The googly eyes float in the bottle, which I think is super fun, since the other parts all sink.

The kids will get a kick out of spinning Olaf’s pieces.

Whether you have boys, girls, or no kids at all, Disney’s Frozen is a fun movie to see. More than a traditional good/evil story, it has the fun and wit we’ve all come to expect from Disney.

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, easy, fast and cheap, google eyes, kids, simple Tagged With: 30 minutes, craft, Disney, disneyside, easy, handmade, kids, quick

Shell Star Ornament

November 26, 2013 by Carolina Leave a Comment

This ornament was fast and simple to make. I got a simple star ornament from the craft store, and glued shells onto it..really, it was that simple. But if you need more explanation, here is how it was done.

Supplies:
Shells (I took apart a shell necklace)
Paper Mache Star Ornament
Shell Glue

The shell glue smells like paint thinner, is the thickness of a very hot hot glue, and dries fairly quickly. Not as fast as hot glue, but faster than school glue.

I started by spreading the glue over the whole ornament, but it dried too fast. It is better to work in sections. Start by putting shells in the middle.

Then work in sections, one point at a time, adding glue and putting the shells in place.

Continue all the way around the ornament.

Once you make it all the way around, the ornament is complete!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Wrigley’s Extra Gum Holiday Star Garland

November 24, 2013 by Carolina 1 Comment

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and it’s advertiser. #GiveExtraGum #shop

Looking for a simple, inexpensive, easy gift to give someone? Maybe you’re a teacher (this could be a school teacher, sunday-school teacher, music teacher, whatever) looking for something simple and fun for students. Or maybe you’re a tween looking for gifts to give a group of friends – but you want to give something different. You might be looking for a fun and creative stocking stuffer. If you’re any of the above… or a whole lot more… I’ve got you covered. This gum wrapper garland is a great stocking stuffer or tween gift (though I know plenty of younger kids and older adults who would have fun with it as well). A holiday garland they can make themselves out of gum wrappers!

What you need:
Extra Gum (found in the checkout aisle at WalMart)
Thin Baker’s Twine (Embroidery Floss would work as well)
Tapestry Needle (a needle with a large eye)
Printout of the Star Origami Instructions

To give this as a gift is super easy. Print out the Printable instructions:

Fold up the printable, and stack a couple packages of Extra gum on top. Thread a needle with baker’s twine (I used about a yard – you can give more or less… up to you). Wrap the baker’s twine around the stack several times, then tie a knot. I tied my knot to make sure that the needle stayed put.

Such a simple gift to give… and they get to enjoy the gum AND make their own gum wrapper garland!

If you need more detailed step-by-step gum wrapper garland making instructions, you can watch the video:

and check out the Extra gum Facebook page for more inspiration!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, Christmas, paper, simple, sponsored Tagged With: 30 minutes, Christmas, craft, diy, easy, gift, handmade

Craft Lightning Holiday Edition – Day 5 Roundup!

November 22, 2013 by Carolina Leave a Comment

I can’t believe that this is the last day of 2013’s Craft Lightning Holiday Edition! Seriously – how did it go so fast? Really, this whole week has been a blur. A blur of amazing fast crafting goodness. I’m going to share with you today’s quick crafting roundup, and then I hope you’ll check out any of the roundups you missed – Day One, Day Two, Day Three, and Day Four.

How cute is this Mason Jar Ring ornament? I know I have tons of mason jars lying around, and using the rings this way is so smart!

I first saw Sara share these snowy pinecones on Instagram. You’ll have to click on the link to see how she does it (and how easy they are to make!)

If you’ve got someone on your list that you’re going to buy for instead of DIY for, why not make the gift box instead? I love these stamped tissue gift boxes! As a bonus – they can be used for storage year-round.

This Christmas Monogram is absolutely beautiful, and a versatile piece of decor. I could see using it on a mantle, by the tree, or as a wreath substitute on the door!

I think even the most un-crafty of us can get into crafting up some ornaments. They are small, simple, and a great craft to do with friends or kids. This button ornament is down-right adorable to boot!

Jen does such fun printables – and this one is dear to my heart. Santa, I have been mostly good this year… (and that totally counts, right)? Head over to her site to grab the Dear Santa Printable, and see how she added a little sparkle.

Angie from The Country Chic Cottage puts on this fun week of fast crafting with me, and she came up with a cute final craft for this series – Ball Mason Jar Holiday Labels! Angie really is the queen of Mason Jars. If you haven’t seen her other site, you should go check out Crafts with Jars.

Oh! And I whipped up one last fast craft as well… a super simple, no-sew, no-glue, easy peasy glitttery garland.

Thanks so much for joining us for this series. I hope it left you inspired, and ready to create for the holidays. With Thanksgiving approaching, and Christmas shortly after, I hope you find many opportunities to gather with friends and family… to tell stories, laugh together… and maybe find a couple minutes to create.

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, Christmas, craft lightning, easy, feature Tagged With: 15 minutes, Christmas, diy, handmade, Holiday

No Sew No Glue Simple Holiday Garland

November 22, 2013 by Carolina 3 Comments

The final day of Craft Lightning is here! What an amazing week it has been… but it isn’t over yet! I still have this craft to share with you, and a round-up of today’s awesome bloggers to share tonight, so stick around!

Today I’m sharing this super simple no-sew, no-glue holiday garland. It you can do it with the kids, on your own, whatever. A simple way to add some holiday sparkle to a tree, mantle, office, cubicle… whatever space needs some holiday glitz.

What you need:

Silver Eyelash Yarn
Glittery Foam Christmas Bulbs (sold with the vase filler at Michael’s)

Start by tying an overhand knot in the yarn. If you’re not familiar with an overhand knot, you fold the yarn in half, then take the looped end, swing it back around, and tie a knot so that you have a loop left. DON’T tighten this knot!

Next, slip the end of the glitter bulb into the loop. Pull on the strings to tighten the knot.

Keep tying these knots all the way down your yarn until your garland is long enough. I tied my knots about a foot or so apart… but you can tie them at whatever distance makes sense for you!

Then hang your garland wherever makes you happy… and come back tonight for another Craft Lightning Roundup!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, Christmas, craft lightning, easy, fast and cheap, quick Tagged With: 15 minutes, Christmas, diy, fast, handmade, Holiday

Craft Lightning Holiday Edition – Day 4 Roundup!

November 21, 2013 by Carolina 1 Comment

Day 4 of Craft Lightning… haven’t all the crafts so far been awesome? If you’ve missed anything, check out the Day 1 Roundup, Day 2 Roundup, and Day 3 Roundup… Craft Lightning is a week of fast crafts – each takes 15 minutes or less. I put together these weeks with my bloggy buddy Angie from the Country Chic Cottage, and we round up some of our favorite bloggy pals to create their own quick crafting tutorials around our theme. This week, the theme is holiday crafts… so hold on to your glue guns… because I have another awesome roundup to share with you:

First, if you haven’t caught the rainbow loom craze, this project might be the craft that sends you over the top. Check out how easy it is to make a fishtail rainbow loom bracelet.

This holiday project is both fast and inexpensive. Less than $5 worth of felt shapes from the dollar store makes a fast and simple felt table runner.

Do you love the smell of the holidays? To me, the spices are a big part of bringing that holiday feel into my home. These Cinnamon Stick Icicles are a great (and fast) way to get both the scent and the look of the holidays!

Maybe you’re buying gifts this year, but want some fun DIY wrapping ideas… this decoupage gift box is simple to make, and a great way to add handmade to a store-bought gift!

Need a simple gift? Sharpie mugs are a hit all year long… so make a personalized holiday sharpie mug for your neighbor, friend, teacher, or loved one!

I always appreciate wine as a hostess gift (seriously – write that down or something), and wine in a handmade wine bag is that much more special!

Want to add some sparkle to your wardrobe? Or have a girl you want to create something fun for this holiday? These crafty hairpins are simple to make, and oh so cute!

Want some holiday decor that you can put up early and will last well past New Year’s? This snowflake wreath is a great way to start celebrating early, and keep the holiday feeling going long after the wrapping paper has left the house.

My crafting partner for this series has made the cutest owl gift tags. Fast, simple, and a super way to spruce up a package.

Oh, and I whipped up a cute little snowman thumbprint frame. A great keepsake for any family member!

Be sure to stop by again tomorrow for the final day of Craft Lightning Holiday Edition!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, craft lightning, easy, fast and cheap, feature Tagged With: 15 minutes, Christmas, craft, diy, fast, handmade, Holiday

Channel 8 News Crafting!

November 21, 2013 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Hi y’all! If you’re a regular reader, I have some fun news! I did a segment for Channel 8 Las Vegas that is airing today!

If you’re new here… welcome! I wanted to make it easy for you to find the crafts shared in today’s segment.

Once the video goes live on the 8 News Now website, I’ll link it up here. In the meantime, here are a couple behind-the-scenes shots…

Edited to add: The video is live on the website! You can check out my 30 Minute Holiday Crafting Segment on 8 News Now! I hung out with Kirsten, one of the 8 News Now Anchors (can you believe she looked this good at 5pm, even though she had been on air at 4am that same day!), and her beautiful daughter Mia. Mia was kind enough to share the spotlight with me… it was her very first taping as well! I had a great time crafting with Kirsten and Mia, the youngest member of the 8 News Now team! If you want to stay up-to-date with all my fast crafting posts, be sure to sign up for the 30 Minute Crafts Newsletter: