PINWHEELS!!!

Hello Everybody! It's Michael! As you might remember, Arik and I are getting married in July. We previously mentioned on the blog that our "grooms brides" are going to be carrying over-sized pinwheels in place of flowers! The following posts will show you what you need and how you can make your very own!

Pinwheel: What You'll Need

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

- 12x12 scrap-booking paper
- 5/8 inch wooden dowel

Note: When drilling the holes in the dowels you will need a partner. This is definitely a two person job! Have your partner hold the dowel steadily in place. Measure 1 inch from the end of dowel and place a mark in the middle. Next, start with the smallest drill bit you have to create a pilot hole. Continue to increase the drill bit size to widen the hole until it is the desired size needed.

- binding screw
- decorative fastener
- hammer
- ruler
- book making paper punch
- spray adhesive
- scissors
- super glue

Pinwheel: The Process

Pinwheel: The Process (Continued)

Crystal Light Delight 1.0

As it has gotten warmer, we started buying more and more Crystal Light (or comparable drink mix) and soon noticed we were knee deep in handy plastic containers. Being the green, earth friendly, tree huggers that we are, we couldn't just toss them in the trash! The following posts are just a few ideas we found/came up with to re-purpose them!

MARKER/PEN/PENCIL/BRUSH/WHATEVER THE HELL FITS CADDY

WHAT YOU NEED:
SEVERAL DRINK MIX TUBES
PLASTIC COMPATIBLE GLUE

Arrange/stack the containers into a formation of your liking. Glue together and voila! A marker/pen/pencil/brush/whatever the hell fits caddy!!!

Crystal Light Delight 2.0

Here is a wonderful idea to give back to Mother Nature and reuse those handy dandy drink mix containers!

BIRD FEEDER

WHAT YOU NEED:

ONE DRINK MIX TUBE WITH COVER
SHARP CRAFT KNIFE
AWL OR NAIL
PLASTIC PLATE (NOT THE DISPOSABLE KIND) OR PLANT TRAY
STRING OR CORDING OF SOME KIND
STRONG GLUE OR EPOXY THAT WORKS ON PLASTIC

1.) Using your craft knife, cut small openings in the bottom of the container large enough for seed to pass through.

2.) Next using your awl or nail, punch a hole on each side of the top of the container at the same level. Thread your cording through these holes and tie in to a loop for hanging.

3.) Affix the plate to the bottom of the container. This will catch any stray seeds and gives your flying friends a place to rest their weary wings.

4.) Fill with seed, pop on the cover, and hang in your yard.

Crystal Light Delight 3.0

Drinking and decorating do mix! With all this summer heat do you find yourself consuming exorbitant amounts of Crystal Light (or comparable drink mixes) and don't know what to do with those handy containers? Here is a cute way to use them as festive gift boxes for small items!

GIFT BOX/CASE

WHAT YOU NEED:

DRINK MIX CONTAINER
WRAPPING PAPER OR SCRAP BOOKING PAPER
RIBBON AND ANY OTHER TRIMS TO PERSONALIZE
SPRAY ADHESIVE OR PLASTIC COMPATIBLE GLUE

Use and abuse your creativity on this one! Plan ahead for upcoming birthdays and holidays as you create your gift enclosing couture!

Crystal Light Delight 4.0

Here is another great idea to use those darn Crystal Light (or comparable drink mix) container for yourself or to give as a gift!

PENCIL (OR CROCHET HOOK) CASE

WHAT YOU NEED:

ONE DRINK MIX CONTAINER
VARIOUS SCRAP BOOKING PAPERS CUT TO SIZE
TRIMS AND ACCENTS TO PERSONALIZE
SPRAY ADHESIVE OR GLUE DESIGNED TO WORK ON PLASTIC

All you need now is your imagination to create a cute, functional, and personalized keepsake.

Crystal Light Delight 5.0

Here are a few other ideas for re-purposing your Crystal Light (or similar brand drink mix) containers!

1.) Candle light- Since they are translucent and/or opaque, you can slip a LED tea light in the bottom for an instant glow!

2.) Makeup Brush Holder- Fill the bottom of your container with marbles, aquarium gravel, dried beans, etc. to weigh it down. If you'd like you can cut and glue some fun, scrap paper around the exterior to add some pizazz.

3.) Vase- Leave plain or decorate with paper, spray paint, ribbon, etc. Fill with water and add your favorite blooms! Again, just in case your flowers are heavy drop a rock in the bottom to add some weight.

3.) Camera Flash Diffuser- Cut the bottom off bottom a cylindrical container and slide it over the flash component of your camera.

Painless Paper Projects 1.0

Here is a super simple, sturdy, stem-holding vase made out of cardboard!

1.) Cut 4 matching pieces of cardboard for sides and 1 smaller piece for the bottom.

2.) Tape the pieces together to form a vase.

3.) Cover the sides with glue and wrap in strips of paper ribbon (you might have to cut this down into smaller strips) or raffia.

4.) Once the glue is dry, paint over the paper ribbon/raffia with your favorite hue and cover it with spray varnish!

For stability, fill the bottom of your "vase" with sand and remember this one is only for dry arrangements!

Painless Paper Projects 2.0

Try this paper pencil protector if you're feeling wild!

Kathleen wants to note that this is for your "nice" pencils and not your "everyday" one's, so don't stuff it in your pocket!

1.) Take a piece of corrugated card stock (Kathleen finds hers at the dollar store) and cut it into a rectangle that will accommodate the pencils you are working with.

2.) Take a piece of colored card stock and cut it into a narrower rectangle leaving a 1/2 inch border. Also, cut out a closure tab (as pictured).

3.) Cut a pair of parallel slots in the colored paper. Repeat the process until you have two slots per each pencil you are wishing to protect.

4.) Cut several strips of corrugated card 1 1/2 inches wide and long enough to fit around each pencil. Thread this through each pair of parallel slots you cut in the colored paper and glue on the back side. This creates the paper loops to slide your pencils into.

5.) Glue the colored paper onto the smooth side of the corrugated cardboard.

6.)Glue the tab onto the inside near the first pencil (see picture). Punch a paper fastener through the opposite side of the corrugated cardboard.

You now have a wonderful, custom, "art" pencil case!

Painless Paper Projects 3.0

Here is an incredibly easy way to bring style to your porcelain Nile! You're probably thinking, "What the hell are they talking about?"... why tissue boxes of course!

Take an unfinished wooden tissue box (available at most good craft stores or if you are brave construct your own out of heavy press board) and:

Choice One: Paint the box your favorite color. Next, apply a thin layer of glue or Mod Podge to the box's surface. Then take tissue paper, crumple it, and stick it onto the glue. This will achieve a textured surface with a variety of depth of color. Finish with a coat of spray varnish or Mod Podge.

Choice Two: Without painting the box, cover it with glue and crumpled tissue as above. Once it is dry you can give it a coat or two of your favorite paint. You could even gilt it with silver or gold leaf!

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!