Woven duct tape reversible place mat

I recently received an awesome package of five rolls of duct tape from Scotch Duct Tape for the tutorial exchange held on Totally Tutorials and I couldn’t wait to start creating a few projects.  Check out their site for more fun projects using duct tape. If you use scissors to trim the edges instead of an X-Acto knife this is a great family project!

You will need:

Poster board

Scotch Duct tape, solid red and kiss print

Ruler, scissors, pencil

X-Acto or craft knife (Parents only)

Self-healing cutting mat or cutting board to work on

1.     Measure and cut two pieces of poster board, one 13” x 13” (For the strips) and the other 16” x 13”.(Placemat base)

2.     Work on a cutting mat or cutting board.  Place the 16” x 13” rectangle (Placemat base) on the board and apply a strip of red duct tape across the short side. Fold the top edge of the duct tape to the back.  Trim the sides with the craft knife or scissors evenly. 

3.     Continue adding duct tape strips overlapping slightly until you have one side of the rectangle completely covered. It will take about 10 strips.  Fold the bottom excess to the back. Smooth with your fingers to remove any wrinkles. Use the X-Acto craft knife or scissors to trim any excess on the sides. Turn over and repeat on the other side.  (See photo)

4.     Cover the 13” x 13” poster board on one side with red like you did for the larger poster board.  Trim all edges and fold the top and bottoms to the back. Turn over and cover the opposite side with the Kiss print duct tape.  

5.     Starting 1/3” inch from one edge of the 16” side of the red duct tape covered poster board, measure and cut 1-inch strips across stopping just up to about 1/3” from the opposite end. 

6.      From the 13” square two color duct tape covered poster board measure and cut into one-inch strips. Cut from the opposite directions that you placed the duct tape.

7.     Weave the two color strips onto the larger placemat base piece alternating over and under until you have used all the strips.  Push them tightly together. One side will be two-color and the other will be solid color.

8.     Finish your placemat by attaching a strip of red duct tape across where you ended your weaving and turn the rest of it to the back.  Press with your fingers to smooth out any wrinkles. Repeat this reinforcement around the other three sides to finish.

Placemat is reversible too!

4th of July Recycled water bottle vase

It’s seems like whenever I get the urge to cut some flowers from my garden I can never find a small vase.  Since the 4^th of July is almost here I thought making a few of these and putting around the tables outside would be just the ticket.  You can make this vase in flash and have the most fun ever with the Bowdabra Bowmaker!

You will need:

Empty water bottle

Scissors

Bowdabra mini Bowmaker

Small amount of ¼” satin picot edged ribbon in red

Small amount of ¼” ribbon in white

Small amount of 1/8” satin ribbon in navy blue

1 ½” sheer red ribbon

Ruler, measuring tape

Fast tacking all-purpose glue for attaching the ribbon to the bottle (you may use a glue gun if you are careful)

Glue gun and glue sticks for attaching the bow

Red, white and blue pony beads

1.   Remove the label and cut the top of the water bottle off evenly all around.

2.     Starting ½” down from the top rim of the bottle, measure the circumference around and cut a piece of red ¼” ribbon to fit. Run a bead of glue all around and attach the red ribbon

3.     Working towards the bottom of the bottle, leave a ¼” space from the red ribbon, measure the circumference, and cut a piece of white ¼” ribbon.  Run a bead of glue around the bottle and attach the white ribbon.

4.     Continuing towards the bottom of the bottle, leave ¼” space between the white ribbon.  Run a bead of glue around the bottle and attach the blue ribbon.

5.     Proceeding down the bottle, skip about 1 ½” attach a red, white, and blue ribbon like you did in the preceding steps.

6.     Depending upon your particular brand of water bottle you will have approximately 2 ½” inches of clear bottle at the bottom. Add some red, white, and blue pony beads. (They are not too heavy but they do weigh the lightweight bottle down a bit)

7.     Lay a 9” piece of red ribbon the long way into the Mini Bowdabra to be used to tie off your bow.

8.     Using a 16” piece of sheer 1 ½” red ribbon slide it directly into the Mini Bowdabra from the top.  The ribbon piles up like an accordion.  Scrunch the ribbon until you reach the end.  Use the Mini Bowdabra Wand to scrunch down the ribbon.

9.     While the bow is still in the Bowdabra, take the ends of the tie ribbon and tie it off. (Don’t knot it)

10. Gently pull the bow out of the Mini Bowdabra.  Take the ends of the tie ribbon around to the back of the bow and tie a knot.

11. Arrange and fluff out the bow and bring the two long ends of the tie ribbon to the front.

12. Use a glue gun to attach the bow to the front of the vase.

14. Add water and flowers. You may have to push the pony beads down but they will stay on the bottom.

Kid's craft, stained glass free printable

Summer is almost officially here.  Schools are out and kids are bored. Use this free printable with some crayons, colored pencils or markers to create cute stained glass images for your windows.  When you print on tracing paper it allows the colors to show through clear glass windows.

You will need:

Tracing paper cut to 8 ½” x 11” standard paper size

Printer

Markers, crayons, colored pencils

1.     Download the free printable.

2.     Trim tracing paper to 8 ½” x 11” standard size and load in your printer tray.  (Since tracing paper is very thin I usually load a sheet on top of regular paper)  Set the image to bold and print.

3.     Color the images as desired with crayons, colored pencils, or markers.  Cut out each individual image or keep them together.  Tape to a window and enjoy the stained glass effect.

CLICK FOR STAINED GLASS PRINTABLE

Patriotic quick and easy wreath for July 4th

Do you need a quick and easy wreath to decorate your door for the July 4^th holiday?  Time is running out but this wreath is done and on the door in a matter of minutes. 

You will need:

18-inch grapevine or similar wreath

3-yard spool of 1 ½” inch patriotic ribbon

Patriotic cupcake liner set with flag picks (I got a set at the dollar store)

Glue gun and glue sticks

Red, white, and blue wire garland (also from the dollar store)

1.     At a dab of hot glue on the back of the wreath and attach the ribbon end.  Wrap the ribbon around the wreath leaving about an inch between wrapped ribbon.  Continue wrapping around the entire wreath and tack the end down with some hot glue on the back to secure. (See photo)

2.     Working on the area not covered by ribbon; begin inserting the flag picks at an angle, under the ribbon and facing the same direction.  (See photo)  Continue all around until you have inserted flag picks in all the wreath open areas.

3.     Unwind the patriotic garland, insert one end into the wreath and (you may secure with hot glue) wrap loosely all around the wreath.  When you reach the opposite end insert into the wreath and secure with hot glue. Arrange and loosen the wire garland attractively like an aura around your wreath.

                         Now go and use the cupcake liners to make some patriotic cupcakes!

Martha Stewart's patriotic cupcake recipe

Origami style flannel shirt with bolo tie key chain

  

I think that there are just not enough craft projects for men.  With Father’s Day right around the corner you can make this mini (faux flannel) shirt key chain for dad.  Use scrapbooking paper in prints to personalize. You can add or leave the bolo tie off as desired.  This project even looks great in a camo print paper if you are making it for a hunter.  This origami style project is easier than you may think, just follow the instructions and use the photos as a guide.

You will need:

Scrapbooking paper in a plaid or camo print

Clear contact paper

Ruler, pencil, Scissors

1/8” hole punch

Ball chain key chain

Glue gun and glue sticks

Optional bone folder or wooden ruler

For bolo:

4 inches 1/8” black ribbon

One small gold flat back bead or button

Note:  If you have bone folder or a wooden ruler run it across all the folds to make sure they are crisp.  Using contact paper makes the keychain more durable, but if you desire you can eliminate this step.

1.     Cut a piece of scrapbook paper 6” x 2 ½.”  Cut a piece of clear contact paper the same size 6” x 2 ½”.  Remove the backing from the clear contact paper and carefully cover the front (printed side) of the scrapbook paper. Smooth out any wrinkles. 

2.     Place the prepared paper print side down and fold in half lengthwise.  (See photos A, B)  Open the paper and using the center fold line as a guide fold one side to the center.  Repeat for other side.  (Photo C, D)  Turn over and fold top edge down ¼”. (Photo E)  Turn over.

Photo A

Photo B

Photo C

Photo D

Photo E

3.     Fold each side at an angle meeting the points in the center to make the collar. (Photo F)

Photo F

4.     Fold up the bottom edge about 1 ¾” of the way up. Fold again right to the collar and insert bottom edge under collar. (Photo G)

Photo G

5.     Cut a 4” piece of 1/8” ribbon. Open the shirt and working on the back, add a dab of Hot glue on the back of the collar and attach the ribbon centering on each side. Turn over and put a bit of hot glue at the neck area on the center front and fold back.  (This will keep the shirt folded.)  Bring the two sides of the ribbon around to the front and cross.  Attach with some hot glue and a small bead or flat button over the top of the ribbon to resemble a bolo tie.  Use an 1/8" hole punch to punch a hole in the top center of the collar and attach a ball chain key chain.  (See photos)