Weekend Craft Soiree {48}

   Hey everyone! Hope you all have had a fantastic week! Since I didn't share features last weekend, I am sharing features from the last 2 parties this weekend... Well, sort of... Unfortunately, the thumbnail pics from last weekend's party aren't showing up on my screen, so I wasn't able to feature as many as I would have liked to... Next weekend, I will definitely make up for it (yet again), haha.  Hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day weekend! :)

Here are a few of your fabulous projects that were linked up...

I am LOVING this gorgeous version of the Book Wreath from Kimberly at Simply Living! Soo pretty and original!

Meredith at Haute to Sew  totally blew me away with her brilliant version of this Penny Coffee Table! You have gotta check out how those pennies are held in place.. :)

I love any upcycling project, but I love it even more when it is also super easy and a knock-off of something more expensive! This Knock-Off Urban Outfitters Cut Lace Vanity Tray from Kimberly at A Night Owl Blog is all of those in one! It's just so pretty and romantic, isn't it?

 

I love practically any kind of salad, especially this time of year! This Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad from Stephanie at Lady With the Red Rocker sounds so delicious!

 Thanks SO much for stopping by and sharing! Each and every one of you seriously rock! I mean that! :)If you were featured this week, feel free to grab a "featured" button! :)

<a href="http://www.homemakerinheels.com/"><img src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/yourfavoritelizard/Homemaker%20in%20Heels/FeaturedButton-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
Mandatory Party Rules:

• Become a follower of Homemaker in Heels. 
• Link up your favorite craft, DIY project, recipe, tip, post... you get the idea. Please link to the actual post URL, **NOT YOUR MAIN URL**
• Do NOT link up items in your Etsy Shop, unless you have a tutorial
• PLEASE mingle a little while and leave a comment on at least the 2 projects posted before yours. This is a blog hop, so follow a couple others and if someone follows you, be sure to return the favor and follow that person back.
• Grab a button or link back to Homemaker in Heels somewhere on your blog. I love to feature your projects, but if I see that you don't have my button or link, I will not feature you. 

<a href="http://www.homemakerinheels.com/"><img src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/yourfavoritelizard/Homemaker%20in%20Heels/PartyButton2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> 

Homemade {Powdered} Laundry Detergent

  Happy Tuesday, beautiful friends! Today I am sharing with you this super easy recipe for homemade laundry detergent. It takes less than 10 minutes to make it and it works SO well! For the price of one container of store-bought detergent, you can make several batches of homemade!


Here's what you need:
1 cup Borax (about $4)
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda ($3)
1 bar of soap- ($1) I used Fels-Naptha, which is made for laundry stains, but you cause any regular bar of soap (Dove, Ivory, etc.)

Grate your bar of soap. Any grater will do, I just grabbed the first one I happened to come across, which was this box grater.

Then add the Borax and Washing soda. 

Stir it all together for about 5 minutes.

 There you have it! Enough laundry soap to do 64 loads! I put mine in this pretty vintage canister. I caught my mother adding it to her yard sale items a little while back! I just love it and can't believe she was going to get rid of it! 

  Just use 1 tablespoon per load, 2 for a heavily soiled load. I have been using it for several days now and LOVE it! I was afraid it would be harsh for sensitive skin, but it is perfect! I am going to make another batch soon, so that my canister will be full. I may even add some essential oils... I'll let you know! Speaking of essential oils, there might just be an amazing essential oil giveaway coming very soon! ;) Have a wonderful day, lovelies! 

Thrifty Decorative Desk Organizer

  

  I don't know about you all, but one of my main goals for 2012 is to become more organized. Today I am sharing with you a super easy and inexpensive way to add a little organization to your desk, command center, vanity, etc. These little cans are perfect for storing anything from pencils to loose change to hair clips. They would also be perfect teacher gifts! You could even use V-day scrapbooking paper, add some candy and make some fun gifts for Valentine's Day! :)


Materials Needed:
Canned goods can, I used some old green bean cans and just washed and dried them well


Mod Podge (You can also mix Elmer's Glue and water for this project if you don't have Mod Podge)


Scrapbook Paper... you can also use fabric scraps or even pretty gift wrap paper


Paintbrush


Any trim or embellishments you want to add. I used sequin trim. You may also want to add ric rac, buttons, glitter, ribbon... use your imagination. This would be a fun project to do with the kiddos and let them help you decorate! 

How to:


Remove label, wash and dry the can. 

Cut your scrapbook paper to the appropriate size to wrap all the way around the can. 


Using the paint brush, begin "painting" the Mod Podge onto the can. Wrap the paper around as you go. Rub any bubbles out and make sure it is smooth. After I got mine started, I found that it worked out a little better to apply the Mod Podge to the actual paper instead of the can. If the can doesn't have ridges like the ones I used, I don't think this should matter. 

You can seal it by adding a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the paper. 

                                Don't worry, this will dry clear. :) 

  After all of your Mod Podge is completely dry (I let mine dry overnight), add any other embellishments you want to add. I used my hot glue gun and added sequin trim around the top. 

Isn't is amazing the difference a little Mod Podge and creativity can make? Unfortunately, I am not am organized person by mature. If you are creative, there is a pretty good chance you can relate! :) There is just way too much going on inside my head sometime to focus on organizing! ;) I fully intend to use my creativity to help me become organized this year! Lots more fun & creative organization projects to come! ;)

Sequined Rose Scarf {Child/Adult} Tutorial

  I have seen a few rose scarves floating around the web lately, so a few weeks ago, I decided to give my own version of this adorable scarf a try. I made a red one and made another for my 9 year old niece. :) Since she is all about fashion and accessorizing, I wanted to make her scarf really fun! I made it multicolored {I used fuschia, peacock blue, glitter purple, glitter white, and bright lime green} and then added a few matching sequins to each rose. 


Materials needed:
Felt 
needle
matching thread
scissors
**Optional: sequins, clear thread


  First, make your Felt Roses. You can see the tutorial that I just recently posted for the roses here. When I made the red scarf, I made 13 flowers. I made 12 roses, just slightly smaller, for this scarf I made for Anna Grace. It is all about the personal preference of how long you want your scarf to be. 

These are the roses from the tutorial, not this particular scarf. 

  
  After you finish making the roses, cut out a piece of matching felt or felted wool for the actual length of the scarf. For the adult scarf I used a 45 by 4 inch piece, for the child scarf, I cut my piece of felt to 36 by 3 inches. 

**I actually tried using some fleece when I made the red scarf and failed miserably. After sewing the roses to the fleece, it was entirely too stretchy for his scarf and just didn't look very pretty. Fleece would probably work okay if you doubled it and used fusible interfacing to prevent it from being so stretchy. 

Cut scallops out on each side, the entire length of the scarf. 

This photo was taken after the scarf was completed, I just want you to see the scallops that have been cut out of the main piece. 

  Then place your roses where you would like them positioned on the scarf. You can go ahead and pen them for the entire length or just position and sew one at a time like I did. 


Sew a circle around through beginning from back to front. Only sew through the bottom layer of the scarf. 

                  Be sure to tie off each circle at the end to secure it. 

This is what mine looked like after I finished attaching all of the roses. I just love it here, but decided to add a little extra flare by adding a few matching sequins! :)

I simply attached the sequins using a needle and clear thread. I will share a more detailed tutorial for attaching sequins next week, so be sure to stop back by! If you decide to make one of these adorable scarves, please let me know! I would love to see pics! :)

This is the red scarf I made! Excuse the photo quality of the first pic, when I took it, I had forgotten to take the clear layer off of the camera lense on my iPhone! ;)

This is a little better photo if it on my dress form.

I hope you are having a wonderful day! Be sure to stop by tonight for the Weekend Craft Soiree!

Linking at these parties:

Robin's Nest Hair Pins

  Hey, hey lovely ladies! Right now, I am still trying to maintain a $0 craft budget, and only use things I already have onhand, at least for the most part. I am absolutely in LOVE with the new Robin's nest trend that I'm seeing everywhere in blogland! I have been coming up with several Spring projects I want to do that involve nests. The one I am about to tell you about I think is absolutely adorable for any age! One or 2 of these Robin's Nest Hair pins would be perfect in any girl's Easter basket!

These are the material I used:

• Bobby pin (the kind I used are from Hobby Lobby and have a little round tab on one end to make is easier to embellish, but a regular bobby pin will be fine, too)
• 18 gauge tin copper wire
• beads to use as eggs
• blue craft paint for the "eggs" (I used FolkArt Deep Ocean Blue)
• brown spray paint (craft paint will work, too)
•  glitter
• hot glue gun
• pliers

   My first step was to take my pliers and grip the ends of the wire. As I held one end, I took my roll of wire and just coiled it around the end my pliers were holding and continued to wrap it around until it got to the size I wanted it to be and looked like a little nest.

   Next, I took my brown paint and barely sprayed over the nest. While the paint was wet, I sprinkled glitter over it. This gave it a sparkly, silvery-brown color. I wanted to use a little brown, so it would still have the appearance of a bird's nest. The glitter seemed to dress it up a little, and just made it look prettier. :)

   While my little nest was drying, I painted a few beads blue to use as eggs. I used my wire to "string" the beads while I painted them. It made it a little easier. I also sprinkled my "eggs" with just a little glitter. When the light hits them they appear to be speckled like a Robin's egg.
   After all of the paint dried, I glued the beads onto the nest, trying to place the beads so the the holes wouldn't be visible. One hole could still be seen, so I filled it with glue and painted over it.
   Since my nest was complete at this point, I then used my hot glue gun and glued the nest onto the bobby pin. I will be listing a few of these on Etsy soon. Check them out if you want some for your Easter baskets, or for yourself! :) Happy Spring! I can't wait for all of you Lovelies to see the next few Spring projects I am going to share with you all soon!

Lamp Makeover Tutorial to PB Kids~Inspired Flower Lamp

   Today, I am going to share with you this easy tutorial for a No-sew Burlap Flower Lamp inspired by a similar one from Pottery Barn Kids! This is the same tutorial I just shared over at Truly Lovely, and I just had to show you lovely, crafty followers! :) 


Here are the supplies that you will need:

Lamp with lamp shade
1 yard of burlap
steel wool abrasive pads (Fine #0)
Spray Paint, I used Krylon Gloss in Blue Ocean Breeze
Hot glue gun

This is what the lamp looked like before I got started

                     

   I started by taking off the lamp shade. I first lightly sanded the lamp with Fine #0 Steel Wool Abrasive pads. This is not absolutely necassary, I have just found that doing this helps the paint "stick" better to the metal finish. Be sure to use a damp cloth to wipe off the dust if you do this step.

I then tied and taped plastic bags around the top of the lamp and the cord. These are the parts that I did not want painted.

 Next, I painted the lamp with about 3 thin coats, allowing time for the paint to dry between coats.

   While waiting on the paint to dry, I started on the lamp shade. When I decided to revamp this lamp, I knew I had finally found the perfect project for this off-white burlap that had been calling my name to be used for months!

I cut strips of burlap that were 20 inches long by about 1 and half inches wide. I used these strips to make rosette flowers, similar to the ones on the Pottery Barn lamp. You can find a tutorial for the flowers here. These rosettes are made basically the same way, although you need to be sure to keep the folded edge showing rather than twisting every time. Also, rather than cut circles to glue to the bottom of each on, I just left a couple of inches at the end of every one and folded and glue it underneath.

After I had made all of my flowers, I just used my little handy hot glue gun and glued them all onto the lampshade. At this point my paint was dry, so I put my beautiful new shade back on, and had an awesome new lamp at a fraction of the cost of the one at PB Kids! I actually like this one much better! This lamp will enhance the Kichler lighting you may already have in the room.
Have a wonderful day!!! :)) xoxo
~Crystal :)

Pottery Barn Lamp, on the left~$129.

My Lamp~ under $10

I'll Be Linking this Post Here:

http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/2011/03/pity-party-26/

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekend-wrap-party-and-little-birdie.html

http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/03/sundae-scoop-link-up-party.html

http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/2011/03/fridays-unfolded-8.html

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/2011/03/craftomaniac-monday-link-party.html

http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/2011/03/market-yourself-monday-luckiest-wall.html

http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/2011/03/making-monday-marvelous-45.html

http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaway-winners-and-inpsire-me-monday.html

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/03/home-office-renovation-update-welcome.html

                        http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/03/marvelous-mess-3.html

http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/2011/02/making-world-cuter-monday_27.html

http://dominiquescraftcouture.blogspot.com/2011/03/craft-couture-monday-6-link-party.html
http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-add-yours-4/
http://www.sugaranddots.com/