I Know Someone Will Smack Me, But...The Holidays Are Upon Us!

Okay, simmer down! We are half-way through September and it's going by fast. I will be posting some DIY decorating, gift giving guides, how-to's and some great deals you can find locally in the months to come. I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with Michael's Craft Stores. Here is their ad I just received:

Michael's Store Craft Store.



I am not a rep for Michael's nor do I get paid for sending you there, just a side note. But they do have some super awesome ideas for crafts and decorations. If you're anything like me, I have several storage tubs tucked away with oodles and oodles of craft supplies. Go through, look at the ideas and then make it your own by using your own supplies and ingenuity. Save yourself money!

One thing I like to do during the holidays, is a homemade Christmas. DIY Christmases can be fun and it will save you money in the end and possibly help out the smaller crafters in the area when you purchase from them instead of the large chain stores. This year I intend on making DIY toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, makeup and hair styling products. I will be posting as I am creating!

Bee Smart! - Part 2

For "Part 1", click here.

Some parents and grandparents have children at home that are not school age and want to be active with their education and get them off to a great start. That's what I'm trying to do with my granddaughter. I saw these cute DIY letters through oriental trading company and although it would be ideal, I don't need a dozen of them and I can't see paying almost $7/per letter. That can add up. So based on what they have, I used a paint program to mimic what they are selling and printed off my own. By doing this I am hoping it will help those who really care about their child's education.

E - Elephant
e - egg
F - Fox
f - fish
G - Giraffe
g - goose
H - House
h - horse
I - Ice Cream
i - island

Gutter Bookshelves

This coming weekend, I'm going to ask my husband to do this DIY project of gutter bookshelves for the kids' playroom. If you can't wait for our tutorial, check out this site.

Gutter Bookshelves

Highlights Free Stuff

Who doesn't like free stuff? We all do. I'm still on the educational kick from yesterday and stumbled across some free stuff on the kids site, Highlights. I remember getting these magazines when I was a kid and LOVED THEM! I still find myself going in to a doctors office and picking up a Highlights magazine versus a gossip rag.

Highlights Free Stuff!!!

Bee Smart! - Part 1

Some parents and grandparents have children at home that are not school age and want to be active with their education and get them off to a great start. That's what I'm trying to do with my granddaughter. I saw these cute DIY letters through oriental trading company and although it would be ideal, I don't need a dozen of them and I can't see paying almost $7/per letter. That can add up. So based on what they have, I used a paint program to mimic what they are selling and printed off my own. By doing this I am hoping it will help those who really care about their child's education.







Here are some links to what I have finished so far. Check back regularly for more.

A - Alligator
a - apple
B - Bee
b - bird
C - Crab
c - caterpillar
D - Dinosaur (some assembly required)
d - dog

For letters E through I click here.

Homemade Wall Chalkboards

 Here is a little project the whole family worked on, a homemade wall chalkboard. I recently decided to convert my bedroom into a children's playroom. When doing this the first thing that popped in to my mind was, we need chalkboards. With chalkboard paint, you can put one right on the wall, no need to go out and purchase several chalkboards. I wasn't really sure how my husband was going to feel about this, but as you can see, he did the framing for me!

 My granddaughter absolutely loved this idea. Here she is enjoying her cheese quesidilla and strawberries for lunch.

Repurposing Pallets: Building Raised Beds

We are HUGE fans of repurposing pallets and especially into raised garden beds. This looks like it would be so incredibly easy and it's all nice and neat (major plus factor in our eyes).

Repurposing Pallets: Building Raised Beds

Repurposing Spaghetti Sauce Jars

I don't know just how many times I've wanted to hold on to that used up spaghetti jar. I just really had no idea what to do with them. Now you can find over 50 easy ways to repurpose and reuse these jars.

Apothecary Jars

Chalkboard Containers

Vacation Memory Jars + 49 more  reuses for spaghetti jars

Get Your Mind in the Gutter!

How many times have you been told to get your mind out of the gutter? Now, you can keep it there with this cool little hanging garden gutter project.  The JaJa's are going to have to start videoing some of these projects. Now that right there, would be hilarious!

Hanging Gutter Garden

Decorative Tire Pond

Check this out! Decorative pond made from old tires. There are several examples on this site for this project plus many more ideas for re-purposing those old tires.

Re-purposing Old Tires and Decorative Tire Ponds

Watermelon Grill Centerpiece!

You won't want to miss out on using this adorable centerpiece for your next barbeque gathering.


Watermelon Grill Centerpiece