Crafts and DIY done in 30 minutes or less
I headed off to the thrift store and picked up some jewelry that I thought had promise… and Angie picked up some thrift store artwork, and we each re-made these projects to match our own tastes! Check out the fun upcycles we came up with, turning items you can find at any thrift store into custom pieces that we can enjoy!
Chances are you already have your transformative items at home – I used pliers, chain, and eye-pins to rework my jewelry. Angie used Mod Podge and scrapbook paper. So simple!
Tomorrow is the last day of Craft Lightning – but there are still a bunch of fun fast crafting tutorials to share before the end of this fun series. Check out all these crafting tutorials that take 15 minutes or less in the day one, day two, and day three posts. I’m loving today’s fast crafting tutorials from some of my friends around crafty blogland… check out these fun projects!
Kara from Mine for the Making updated some simple leggings by adding hearts to the knees! Don’t you just love these heart leggings? I think I could totally rock these!
Every spring, I struggle with the best way to mark my garden – I love this idea from CraftSnob… using wooden spoons as garden markers!
I’m in the process of reorganizing my craft room, so I always love fun, fast ways to add cute storage. This simple storage from DIY Inspired is super cute, and I love the pops of color the handles give!
My friend Colleen also came up with some cute storage – these containers embellished with Washi Tape look great in her new kitchen!
These DIY Leather Tribal Earrings from Sew Country Chic are awesome! I seriously love them – and they’re easy to make!
How pretty is this Ombre Luminary over on Laura’s Crafty Life? Simple to make, you could make several to use as centerpieces for a party!
How fun is this metal bracelet from Creative Cynchronicity? She even has a special technique for giving it an embossed look!
Angie from The Country Chic Cottage puts on this Craft Lightning series with me, posting a new fast crafting tutorial each day . Today she got crafty in the kitchen, making a 3 minute, 3 ingredient cream pie -yum!
And I made a no sew zippered fabric box!
Come back tomorrow for the final day of Craft Lightning!
I whipped up this zippered fabric box because I’ve recently developed a passion for zippers. So much fun to add to projects! I even wrote a series on Answers.com about zippers that includes 3 ways to attach a zipper, 7 fun zippered projects, and 5 No-Sew ways to Craft with Zippers. I was inspired after writing that last article to create a no-sew zipper project. I stitch zippers in all the time, gluing on a zipper seems like a fun way to change it up – and a great fast craft!
It is already the fourth day of Craft Lightning week! Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and I are sharing a fun, fast craft tutorial that takes 15 minutes or less each morning, and each evening, we’re rounding up fast crafts from our friends around blogland – that’s right, we’ve pulled our blogging friends in on this fast crafting trend, and we have over 20 other bloggers sharing their own fast crafting tutorials. You can join in too – share your own fast crafts tutorial in the Craft Lightning Linky.
If you want to make your own no-sew zippered fabric box, here is what you need:
Fabric (I used a fat quarter and had plenty left over)
Cardboard box (I used this one from Consumer Crafts)
Matte Mod Podge (you can use gloss, but I find that matte works better on fabric)
Long zipper (this one is 24″)
Scissors
Hot Glue
Large Paintbrush
Plastic Wrap
Start by applying the matte Mod Podge to the front edge of the box.
Secure the raw edge of your fabric to this edge. If your fabric doesn’t line up completely, that is ok. It will be covered by the zipper later.
If you haven’t already, at this point trim down your fabric. Make sure to give yourself an inch or so extra fabric on all sides, just to be safe.
Continue securing the fabric to the box all the way around with Mod Podge. Trim off the excess fabric flush with the box.
Cut the fabric on the sides of the box so that it is attached at the top and bottom.
Secure the fabric on the sides with Mod Podge and trim flush. Your box is now covered in fabric!
Time to add the zipper. Use a line of hot glue on each edge of the zipper and attach the zipper to the box, starting about 2″ along the back. Starting the zipper at the back of the box instead of the back will help the box open fully.
Here are some tips to help you when applying the zipper:
Open the box about 1/4″ as you apply the zipper. This will give more room for the zipper to open and close.
Make sure to keep the glue to the very edges of the zipper – glue near the zipper teeth might result in a box that won’t unzip
Don’t wrap the zipper tightly around the corners – wrap it loosely so that the zipper can easily go around the corners.
Cut off any excess zipper and wrap it around the back of the box. Either miter the corners by folding them under, or add some extra glue to keep the zipper pull from coming off.
And just like that you have a simple to make, no-sew fabric covered box!
Come back this afternoon for a round up of more quick crafts as Craft Lightning Week continues. If you’ve missed anything this week, you can catch up by reading the day one roundup, day two roundup, and day three roundup.
We’ve already made it to day 3 of Craft Lightning Week! I love all the fast crafting inspiration that comes from all these fabulous bloggers! It is amazing that just about every medium and every crafty point of view really has an opportunity to create a fast craft. Not every project has to take forever. Sure, there is something to be said for a painting, quilt, sculpture or piece of jewelry that took hours, days, weeks, or even months to create. I have a stitching project that I imagine will take years to finish. But being able to craft and have a finished piece in less time than it takes to watch an episode of Big Bang Theory is pretty impressive… even more impressive is that many of the crafts being shared this week can be completed in the time it takes to watch the commercials in Big Bang Theory (assuming that you’re not fast forwarding through them on your DVR).
Here are today’s Craft Lightning fast crafts from bloggers around the interwebs – they’re all joining in on Craft Lightning this week… if you’d like to join in as well, be sure to link up in the Craft Lightning Linky.
This bow is quick and easy to make – it is so full because it wasn’t tied in a traditional knot. Learn how to make your own decorative bow over at Tried and True.
Adding decor pieces to your home can be expensive – that’s why it is great to include a few (or quite a few) knockoffs. These Anthro knockoff letters would look great in almost any space – get the tutorial from Craft Quickies.
Add confetti to a party tablescape, a birthday gift, or even tuck some confetti inside a birthday card you mail a friend. You can customize both the colors and shapes of your custom confetti, learn how it is done at Dreamsicle Sisters.
Mom Endeavors shows you how to keep life, and all of those essential details organized with a DIY magnetic dry-erase calendar.
Stencil Wooden bangles with this easy tutorial by Happiness is Homemade. I love the colors of these bangles – so fresh and modern!
Jamie from CRAFT had fun with an old tin can – she made a fun pencil holder that is anything but ordinary – yet extraordinarily quick to make.
Rhonda from Mrs. Greene made an equally easy photo holder using a clothespin. Simple and easy to make, you could make several to line the mantel with.
My partner in craft for this series is Angie from The Country Chic Cottage. Each day, she and I share a fast crafting tutorial, and each evening, we share a roundup of the quick crafts our bloggy friends have made for the day. Today, Angie made a sea glass monogram – I love the way that this looks! The sea glass adds so much!
I made super simple Mine and Yours wineglasses – these can be made in just a few minutes with only a few supplies. Super easy!
Come back tomorrow for more great quick crafting tutorials!
I love a little bit of whimsy. Ok, if I’m totally honest – I like a whole lot of whimsy. I even like saying the word whimsy. And these wine glasses add just a little bit of whimsy to any occasion! How fun is it to say… “oh, this wine glass is yours, and that one is mine”? Just to have your partner say… “You’re mistaken… see… this one is yours and that one is mine!” So much fun to switch wine glasses back and forth throughout the night… “Mine is empty… looks like yours needs to be refilled too…” And that is how you go through a bottle of wine in no time, and open up another!
These glasses are super simple to make, they don’t really need a tutorial. All you need is a tip on what supply to use. That’s right… I said supply, not supplies! You really need four things to make these wine glasses… maybe five. I’ll take you through them, and which one is uber important.
You first need wine glasses. I picked small-ish ones, but this would be fun with large glasses or champagne glasses (perfect for a wedding toast, or for the bride and groom to use at a rehearsal dinner). You need alcohol and a paper towel to prep the wine glasses. And you need an oven to bake the glasses in according to the instructions on the package so that the writing is dishwasher safe. So the oven might count as a fifth supply. But the fourth… the fourth is a DecoArt Glass Paint Pen.
These paint pens are genius. Glass paint is tricky to use. It is hard to get a smooth, even look from it. It works best with a sponge and stencil, and not every design can be created with a sponge and stencil. These glass paint pens come in a full array of colors (I used silver here), and you get smooth, even coverage. I’m in serious love with these! Plus, like glass paint, they work on glass, ceramic, mirrors… and are dishwasher safe one you cure them according to the directions!
So… run out and get yourself some glass paint markers, and start writing on all your dishware. It is addictive!
This project took less than 10 minutes to make, and is part of a week-long series I’m doing with Angie from The Country Chic Cottage called Craft Lightning. Each day we share with you an original tutorial that takes 15 minutes or less… and a roundup of quick craft tutorials from our friends around blogland. If you want to catch up, you can see the Craft Lightning Day 1 Roundup and Craft Lightning Day 2 Roundup. Make sure to come back tonight for yet another roundup, and keep coming back all week long…
See you soon!
Day 2 of Craft Lightning already! If you missed the Day 1 roundup of awesome fast crafts, be sure to go check it out! I can’t believe how many awesome bloggers are joining in on Craft Lightning this week. Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised… fast crafting is nothing new… but with as busy as our lives have gotten, for those of us who feel a need to craft, having the opportunity to do some fast crafts is essential!
Here are today’s awesome fast craft tutorials as part of Craft Lightning:
Jen from 100 Directions made a fun Mustache bag out of a t-shirt… and even more fun, the mustache stamp she used is one she designed – but you can buy in stores (I know, pretty cool, right??)!
If you’re looking for an interesting project to keep the kids busy this summer, check out the Moon Dough made by Freestylin Beth.
These dyed beads at Uncommon Designs make an awesome Dyed wood beaded necklace that you can make in whatever colors you like!
Have an old kids book that you can’t let go of? How about making an easel calendar like this one from Lisa Stuff.
Reasons to Skip the Housework made this fun and colorful centerpiece… you could whip this up while dinner is in the oven, or in between flipping pancakes for breakfast!
Looking to add some interest to your fridge? How about big fun flower magnets on your fridge like these that Laura Kelly made!
You’ll find the tutorial for this Washi Tape Headband over at Lovin’ Our Chaos… what a fun, fast accessory!
These embossed metal magnets were made by my partner in craft for this Craft Lightning series – Angie from The Country Chic Cottage.
And I made a super simple ribbon choker – I used a sparkle ribbon, but you can use any ribbon that you like!
If you have your own lightning fast crafts, please add them to the Craft Lightning Linky… and come back tomorrow for more Lightning fast crafts!
This simple ribbon choker takes only a few supplies and a few minutes to make. When you want to add a little bling to an outfit, you can… in just a few minutes!
I’m sharing this post as part of Craft Lightning Week – Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and I are teaming up with Craft Bloggers from all over the net to share craft tutorials that can be done in just 15 minutes… or less! These quick crafts will keep you inspired and crafting through the rest of the summer and into the school year! Come back this evening and I’ll have a roundup of quick craft tutorials from my crafty friends!
Now… on to today’s project! To make this simple ribbon choker, you’ll need:
Sparkly ribbon (you can use regular ribbon if that is what you have on hand)
Ribbon clamp fasteners
Pliers
Jump Rings
Necklace Clasp
Start by measuring the ribbon around your neck. At the point you need to cut, pick off two or three rows of gems using your pliers.
Fold over the end of the ribbon, and add a clamp. Squeeze tightly with your pliers! If you’re worried about the pliers leaving scuff marks, put a small piece of fabric or paper towel between the pliers and the clamp.
Add the necklace clasp to each side using the jump rings.
That’s it!
Be sure to come back this evening for more great Craft Lightning tutorials!
Are you in love with the Mason Jar trend? Angie and I are! We made this video as part of our Crafty Hangouts series using mason jars! Did you know that you can find Mason Jars at the thrift store? In fact, the thrift store is a great place to look for mason jars to use in crafting – they are often much less expensive than at any other store!
Angie is using glass paint to decorate her mason jar – she’ll be painting it like a watermelon. I found a fun mason jar frog insert at JoAnn’s (here is the amazon affiliate link for the mason jar frog insert
It is the first day of Craft Lightning – a week where I get together with Angie from The Country Chic Cottage, and we enlist bloggers from around Crafty Blogland to join us in creating crafts that take 15 minutes or less! I love this week because although I love all kinds of crafting, I can’t try it all (though that is on my bucket list), and I surely can’t be an expert at it all (that’s on my bucket list too…). By bringing in all kinds of crafty bloggers, we’re able to share so many more fun styles, techniques, and ideas for fast crafting. I always get inspired!
Let me get started in sharing today’s crafts with you!
The Bold Abode made a fun Washi tape and Popsicle Stick frame! How cute is this! I LOVE the touch of washi tape!
This Ombre Glitter Wall Art comes from Two Thirty Five Designs. Yup… I said Ombre Glitter! You’ll have to see how she does it… the process is super simple and the results… well… see for yourself how cute this is!
Watermelon is very popular this summer… if you haven’t gotten enough of this summer staple (is that even possible?), you’ll want to make this Watermelon Garland from Shaken Together Life.
The Sewing Loft made a fun Flower Headband – this is great for keeping the hair out of your face (or the young girl in your life) during the rest of this hot summer… but also perfect for adding some style to a back-to-school wardrobe!
The Happier Homemaker made a drawstring bag business card holder without pulling out her sewing machine! What a great way to carry cards… and you can say “I made it!”
These DIY Hairclips are from The Girl Creative – Super simple to make… I just love them! So many ways to customize the colors… and super simple to make!
My partner in Craft, Angie from The Country Chic Cottage made a DIY Wedding Candle Wrap. What a simple and inexpensive way to add some sweet DIY to wedding decor!
And I made some Googly Eye Dice – a fun way to spice up your next family game night!
Be sure to come back tomorrow and every day this week for more fun, fast DIY tutorials! If you have your own Craft Lightning project that takes 15 minutes or less to create, please add it to the Craft Lightning linky party!
Google eyes, goolgy eyes, wiggle eyes… whatever you call them, I love to craft with them. Throw two googly eyes on anything, and you’ve got the perfect 10 second craft! I have lots and lots of googly eyes around the house, so making this set of googly eye dice was simple. If you have kids, substitute these dice on your next game night, and watch the giggles multiply. Of course, I’m sure Vegas wouldn’t consider them legal for playing craps – I’m sure the googly eyes change the odds in all kinds of unpredictable ways – but for a simple family game night, these dice are easy to make and fun to use.
I made these dice as part of Craft Lightning week! My friend Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and I are doing another week of Craft Lightning – Crafts that can be done in 15 minutes or less! Yup – Lightning fast! And, we’ve rounded up a whole group of friends to join in with us. Each morning, Angie and I will share a Craft Lightning tutorial… and each afternoon we’ll share with you Craft Lightning tutorials from our friends around the web! Let’s get started on this fun googly eye craft…
To make your own googly eye dice you need:
A package of wiggle eyes. I used assorted sizes, but you could use all the same size
Hot glue gun
Wooden blocks – Mine are 1.5″
Pencil or pen
Start by sorting your googly eyes. I wanted to use the largest eyes on the side with just one, and go down to using the smallest on the side with six, just to add a little interest.
Mark the sides of the blocks with a pencil or pen. You might not know that dice are not randomly numbered – the top and bottom of each die always add up to 7. So, if 6 is on the top, 1 is on the bottom. If 5 is on the top, 2 is on the bottom. And so on… If you want to be more accurate, you can grab a pair of dice from a board game to compare as you are making your googly eye dice.
Using a hot glue gun, carefully put your googly eyes on the dots.
That’s it! You’re all set! Now start using your fun and whimsical dice at your next game night!
Be sure to check back this evening for even more fun quick and easy Craft Lightning projects!
