Copper Pipe Garden Trellis

There was a time when copper pipe was in every home. It was a plumbers nightmare. It seemed as though each time you fixed a water leak on a copper pipe, and you turned the water back on, youd spring another leak. Thankfully, theyve invented newer and better plumbing supplies for our homes these days. You can still purchase copper pipes and fittings at large home improvement retail stores or you might actually have some old pipe lying around in the garage or basement. Use it out in your garden or yard and you can create a trellis youll love.

A copper pipe trellis is unique and rustic. Dont think that it will be difficult to build because its really not. If you can cut the pipe yourself, using a pipe cutter, and you already have the pipe and fittings, you can build a trellis without ever leaving your home or spending a dime. If you purchase copper pipes at a home improvement store theyll generally cut it to the sizes you specify, free of charge.

Draw a ladder shape on a piece of paper. The top of your ladder, though, should have a bar that runs across it. Decide how tall and how wide you want the ladder to be. Each rung is one copper pipe, and each side piece of each rung is another pipe. So, for each section of the ladder youll need one rung piece and two side pieces. Use figures on the paper to see how wide to cut the rung pieces and how long to cut the side pieces. Each rung should be the exact same size as the others; each side piece should be the same as the other side pieces. Use copper pipe elbows and "t" fittings to adjoin the ladder pieces. Start by laying the top rung on a flat surface. Connect an elbow joint at each end of it. Lay the second rung at an area below the first one, add "t" fittings at each end, then connect the two rungs with a pipe on each side of the ladder. Continue doing this until you add all the side pieces and all the rungs. Its helpful to use glue made for pipes to hold the elbow and "t" fittings in place. At the bottom of the ladder youll leave off a rung that would go at the very end. This leaves two pipe ends pointing downward so that you can push the trellis into the dirt. The copper pipe trellis is unusual yet beautiful. Simply plant vine-type flowers or plants along the base of the trellis and let them climb. The weathering on the pipe ladder, after its been outside awhile, turns the color of the pipe and makes it even more beautiful than it originally was. See a copper pipe ladder here.

Chicken Wire Wedding Seating Cards

So many people feature expensive seating cards at their weddings but the cards dont have to be that intricate. If they look pretty, they guide the guests to their seats, and you have a place to display them, thats all you really need. Youll have all of that, as well as a cute, rustic accent for the wedding, when you use chicken wire. Who knew chicken wire could look so beautiful! When you use it as a background for the escort or seating cards you have a lovely arrangement for a country wedding, or an appropriate accent for a wedding with any theme.

Chicken wire is very inexpensive and, although its not usually described as "pretty", it can be. The wire - found at a home improvement or gardening store - is sold by the roll. Since you wont need a whole roll of it for the seating cards you might consider using the remainder of it for another project. For the escort card arrangement youll need to cut a rectangle of wire to be the size you need for the amount of guests youll have. The wire is easy to cut with wire cutters. When youre finished cutting it out, frame it, and the seating card holder will be finished.

You might find it easiest to cut the chicken wire if you first decide on a picture frame for it. Choose a large frame; you can often find an old one - holding a hideous print - at a thrift store. Paint the frame to give it a new look, whitewash it for a faded look, or leave it as it is for a rustic appearance. Remove everything including the glass. Use the cardboard, which comes with the frame, to draw the shape that you need onto the chicken wire. After cutting the wire, its up to you if you want to paint it. Put the chicken wire in the frame and then slide on the backing. Or, just tack the wire to a wall, and trim around the edges with anything from feather boas to flowers. Make the escort cards from ordinary card stock or scrapbook paper. When theyre finished you can simply clip each one onto the chicken wire, using a clothespin. Nowadays, you can find clothespins in miniature versions - perfect for use with the chicken wire - and in assorted colors. Its easy to blend the clothespins in with the color scheme of the wedding. Chicken wire can be painted gold for an elegant wedding, neon for a colorful wedding, or left as-is for a rustic or country affair. Its unusual but perfect, cheap but beautiful. Youll love it for your seating card arrangement and you can use the excess wire as a place to hold flowers on a wall.

Burner Cover Accessories for a Girls Room

Who would think that an ordinary burner cover could have so many uses? Originally meant for covering unsightly eyes on a stove, top the burner covers go way beyond usefulness in the kitchen. They can become organizers for a girls room, d?cor for the same room and more! Burner covers usually come in sets of four: one large and three small ones. Youll need one of either size to create a magnetic photo board. If the burner cover already has a suitable scene on it the girl can simply hang it on the wall and use it to hold pictures. Use a piece of magnetic sheeting, found at a craft store, to stick the photos to the burner cover. Simply peel away the adhesive backing and place the picture on the magnet. If you want to cover the image on the burner cover use contact paper, scrapbook paper, fabric or a similar material. Place pictures all over the burner cover or feature just one picture in the center.

Use button magnets to create a different arrangement on the wall. Cut lengths of ribbon or narrow lace and position them on the burner cover. Secure one end of the ribbon to the outside of the cover with a magnet. Stretch the end to the opposite side and use another magnet to secure the opposite end. Space the magnets evenly, all the way around the burner cover, on the outside. Under each magnet position the end of one of the ribbon pieces. This cris-cross effect of ribbons can hold photos, notes, phone numbers and more. Simply slide the items under one of the ribbon pieces.

Use a leftover vinyl floor tile to turn a burner cover into a dry-erase board. Peel and stick the tile to the burner cover then trim away the excess tile. Tie a string around a dry-erase marker - found at places that sell other markers - and glue or tape the end to the top of the burner cover. Make a jewelry organizer for necklaces and bracelets by hanging the burner cover on the wall. Arrange button magnets all over the cover and youre done! Just hang chains and similar jewelry on the individual magnets to organize them. Make a message board by using a burner cover and old Scrabble tiles. Just cut a small square of magnetic sheeting and stick it to the back of a tile. Girls can use the letter tiles to spell out messages of peace, make a "Keep Out" sign or write an inspirational phrase. If youve got burner covers that arent being used hand them over to a girl. She can make a whole set of coordinating organizers and other fun things that give her room an instant make-over!

Fake Belly Button Ring

So, all your friends are getting their navels pierced and, although you want to have a belly button ring yourself, you might not actually want to go through the piercing. Its expensive to have the piercing done, but even worse, is the pain. Its agonizing to have a navel piercing but you dont really have to do it. Just fake it! You can quickly have navel accents of jewels or other things, without having the actual belly button piercing. No one will ever know!Have you ever heard someone refer to a belly button as an "outie" or an "innie"? The type of belly button you have makes all the difference. A fake belly button ring works if you have an "innie". That is, your belly button doesnt protrude out from your stomach. An "innie" allows you to seemingly have a navel piercing without the pain and cost.Double-sided tape is just the trick for keeping a jewel or other accent placed in the belly button. You can find the tape at many different stores; purchase a quality tape to make sure your navel rings stay put. The stickier the tape, the better the jewel or ring will stay. Cut a piece of the tape, which produces a square, and round the corners to make a circle, which is a little smaller than a dime. Stick the tape in the belly button, making sure the entire sticky surface is facing outwards.Once you have the tape in place your only problem will be trying to figure out what to wear as the ring. A craft store is just one place where you can find something to use as a navel earring. One beautiful choice is a rhinestone. Available in many colors, shapes, and sizes, a rhinestone sparkles and easily sticks to the double-sided tape, particularly if its a peel-n-stick jewel.A button is another good choice for a belly button ring. The perfect button is a shank button - one that has no holes on top. The shank slides easily and comfortably into the navel, and adheres well to the double-sided tape.Look in a craft store department where miniatures are sold and youll find many more choices for a belly button ring. You can buy a tiny wooden shape, paint it with metallic paint, and make it look like a metal earring. Or, choose a small trinket from the jewelry-making aisle.The dollhouse department offers a wealth of choices for the navel ring. Choose a tiny drawer pull, or something even sillier, like a dollhouse clock face. Have fun with the belly button accent pieces but know something ahead of time: everyone will be asking you where youre getting your unusual belly button rings!

Christmas Candy Necklaces for Little Girls

If you have a little girl, or one will be coming to visit on Christmas, consider making her an adorable candy necklace unlike those youve seen before. Other candy necklaces are gross! The candies on those necklaces arent wrapped. Kids pull them on over their heads, wear them next to their skin, and bite the candies off of a stretchy cord. Most people pass on purchasing those for kids nowadays but children dont have to go their lives without a candy necklace! Make a different candy necklace for the special little girl in your life and put it down in her stocking as a Christmas surprise. Or, let her make the necklaces herself. She can make one to wear and one to give out to friends.

Hard-tack candies, which are individually wrapped, are perfect for creating holiday necklaces. Many of them feature wrappers and/or candies inside the wrappers which have colors and images that look great for Christmas. These particular candies have a cellophane or other wrapper which is twisted on each end to keep the candy inside. Those excess pieces of cellophane which stick out beyond the twist makes it easy to create a Christmas necklace.

Start by placing one candy beside another and overlapping their wrappers. Position the cellophane from one candy over the cellophane from the second one. Staple or tape the two wrappers together. Add another candy, staple or tape it, and so on. Continue doing this until the necklace is as long as you want it to be. Make sure it will fit easily over your head before adding the last piece. Create different necklaces according to the types of candies you staple or tape together. Individually wrapped Tootsie Rolls as a necklace will look much different than wrapped cinnamon candies. Look for unique shapes, candy colors and wrapper designs to create assorted necklaces. Make the necklaces with all the same candies or alternate different varieties. Make a matching bracelet or even matching earrings with candy! Of course, when the candy is gone the necklace or other jewelry is gone, too. Since earring backings are really cheap (although you have to buy them in packs of several) the candy earrings are a unique stocking stuffer that doesnt cost much to throw away when the candy is gone. Of course, a child can wear the wrapped candy jewelry for awhile before giving into temptation and gobbling them! Make the necklaces for Christmas and other holidays; make them for birthday parties and other occasions. Little girls will love them!

How to Make a Pipe Cleaner Wreath

If you have some cardboard lying around your house you might want to make use of it by turning it into new Christmas ornaments. Although cardboard might not seem like a fancy material to use for ornaments it doesnt matter. When you use it to make assorted wreaths youll have all kinds of nice directions. Make a Christmas wreath for your door, smaller ones to use as Christmas ornaments and even more wreaths to tie onto gifts. Youll want to make many Christmas wreaths when you see how easy and beautiful they can be. Use pipe cleaners to turn the cardboard into Christmas decorations and youll be surprised at how fuzzy and cute they are! Cut a circle of cardboard as large or small as you want the wreath to be. A bowl or similar object can serve as a pattern. Cut a hole out of the center to create the wreath shape. When you make a cardboard wreath it has a flat appearance. If youd like it to be a little puffier simply cut a piece of foam to glue to the front of the cardboard. Or, roll paper towels and tape them in place around the front of the circle.

Decide what color you want the wreath to be. Pipe cleaners come in a huge assortment of colors. Choose furry white, furry green or even metallic gold or silver. For a small wreath it wont take that many pipe cleaners but larger wreaths will take many.

Glue the end of one pipe cleaner to the backside of the wreath. Wrap it around the outer edge of the cardboard, across the front, around the inside edge, then back around to the backside. Continue wrapping pipe cleaners in this manner until youve completely covered the cardboard. As a pipe cleaner comes to its end, glue that end in place, then glue the end of the next pipe cleaner next to it, end-to-end. A dot of hot glue at the ends of the pipe cleaners is all thats needed to hold it in place. After youve covered the cardboard you can then add a bow and other decorations. Ornaments can simply be hot-glued to the pipe cleaner wreath. Create a bow or purchase one. Thread the end of one more pipe cleaner through the back of the bow and use it to tie the bow onto the top area or bottom area of the wreath. Or, just apply hot glue to the back of the bow and glue it in place on the wreath. Pipe cleaner wreaths are cheap and simplistic but they turn out really fuzzy and adorable. Its the perfect wreath project for a child if an adult assists or supervises with the hot glue. The finished wreaths can be displayed throughout the house this Christmas!

How to Change Your Bra Without Removing Your Shirt or Dress

Should we even bother discussing the reasons why a woman might need to change her bra in a place where she simply wont be able to remove any clothing to do so? The bra strap has broken, the darn thing is just too tight - youve been breast-feeding and have had an accidental leak. No matter what the reason - and there are many - you may, one day, have to remove the bra youre wearing and switch to another, without total privacy.

Whether youre in your car and cant take off your shirt or dress, or another scenario is happening, you can easily swap bras in a minute. If people can see you from where you are, they can detect movement, but they wont see you take off your shirt! Removing the bra without removing clothing is easy to do. If youre wearing a bra that fastens in the back, reach under your shirt or dress, and unhook it. Reach up through the sleeve to get a hold of one of the bra straps. Pull it down to your hand, take your hand out of the strap, then do the same on the other side. Now all you need to do is reach under the front of your shirt or dress and pull the bra out.

If youre wearing a bra that hooks in the front, reach under your garment, and unhook it. Reach up through the sleeve of the shirt or dress and pull the strap down to the wrist. Take the hand out of the wrist, do the same to the other side, then reach behind you, under your garment, and pull the bra out. To put a bra on without removing your garment sit down first. Lay the bra in your lap so that the inside of the bra is facing upwards. Position the straps near your knees and position the band that goes around the bottom of the bra towards your stomach. Remove one arm from its sleeve, slide it out at the hemline, then slide it through the strap of the bra. Slide your arm back into the sleeve and position the bra strap on the shoulder. Do the same to the other side. Reach in the front of your garment and position the bra how you want it in the front, then reach around back, and fasten it. Any adjustments can be made by reaching in through the neckline or the sleeve. There are lots of reasons why a woman might need to change her bra without the luxury of total privacy. However, with this guide shell know what to do in the future if such a scenario is really happening. Keep in mind that certain conditions might prevent you from being able to change your bra as mentioned. If your garment sleeves are fitted and slender, for example, the trick might not work so well!

Assorted Heart Wreaths

Hands-down, Valentines Day is the most romantic holiday we celebrate. Love poems, heart-shaped candy boxes, beautiful roses, and d?cor in shades of pink and red are traditional ways to celebrate Valentines Day. Right off the bat, lets hang a gorgeous wreath that features the colors of the holiday as well as the heart shape that symbolizes the love we feel on this special day. The wreath for the front door is easy to make when you use Styrofoam.

A Styrofoam heart shape can be found in the section of a craft store where they sell floral pieces. The green heart is exactly what you need to create the Valentines Day wreath you want. The hearts are available in several different sizes so you can easily make a large wreath for the front door and a smaller one for a bedroom door.

Use floral pieces with wire stems to make one type of wreath. Arrange leaves, flowers and stems, and similar things, to cover the heart shape completely. Tie a bow from wide, wired ribbon and attach it to the top of the heart. Or, thread a length of ribbon through the hole of the wreath and use this to hang it. You can make a much different Valentine wreath by using pink, white or red lace or cloth. Cut a really long strip - or several strips which have been sewn together - and use it to wrap the heart shape. Just hot glue the end of the ribbon to the heart and take the cloth around and around the shape until youve covered it completely. Create a matching or coordinating bow and hanger for the finished wreath. You can create a really glitzy look in no time by spraying the heart shape with adhesive then sprinkling on red glitter. When the adhesive has dried you can help preserve the look by spraying the entire wreath with clear lacquer. That will help keep the glitter from falling off over years of usage. A florist-type Styrofoam heart is much different than a white Styrofoam shape. The florist type works well with wired floral pieces - and so does the white - but the green doesnt work well when using hot glue to attach embellishments. Use the white Styrofoam heart to make a design that will use hot glue but either the green or the white for a wreath that will hold wired plants and flowers. A heart-shaped wreath, covered in flowers, lace or other materials, doesnt have to serve as a wreath. Lay one on a table and set a candle in the middle to create a Valentines Day centerpiece. Or, stand a small heart wreath on a plate stand on the mantle. Youll love the look!

Flower Wedding Straws

Isnt it funny how the most simplistic thing can be absolutely gorgeous? When it comes to choosing the particulars for your wedding youll often find that a simple vase of flowers or an understated place setting is actually very elegant and perfect for the occasion. Its not so much about the amount of money you spend. Its about the tiny details which come together to create a wedding of perfection.

Speaking of tiny details, the drinks you serve at the wedding reception will surely be delicious, but they can also be pretty. When you make drinking straw flowers youll serve drinks that are refreshing and beautiful at the same time. Youll be amazed at how the flowers will brighten up the drink and the party.

Baking cups, used for making cupcakes, are perfect for making straw flowers. Theyre available in zillions of designs and colors, from neon shades, to metallic types and more. Use them to make parts of the flower. In addition to the baking cups purchase a much smaller version. These tiny cups, often called candy or nut cups, will help make the rest of the flower. In addition to the cups youll also need some pretty green paper. Check the scrapbook section of a craft store; youll often find paper with a leaf motif. The perfect straws for making the flower embellishments are the ones which bend. That way, the flowers you add to the straw wont be coming in contact with the face. To start, cut leaf shapes and poke a hole at one end. Dont make large holes in the leaves; they should slide snugly over the straw. Slide one or two onto the straw. Flatten a baking cup and use it as the outer petals. Poke a hole in the center and slide it onto the straw, positioning it on top of the leaves. Poke a hole in the center of a candy cup and slide it onto the straw to finish the flower. You can make all sorts of different flowers by cutting some of the baking cups to have large or small, scalloped edges, pointed petals or even heart shapes. Make additional petals by flattening the candy cups, cutting either of the cup types down to smaller sizes, or combining plain cups with metallic ones. Its really easy to make assorted flowers in different colors by using various colors of baking and candy cups. Combining different colors and types, plus cutting the edges to have various shapes, you can literally make hundreds of different straw flowers without making the same one twice. Theyll add just another delicate touch to an already stunning wedding.

Feather Epaulet

I love crafts that help you make one outfit look like many. It doesnt matter to me whether that craft has a simple name or a fancy one. When you make an epaulet you create a gorgeous clip for a dress, blouse, or even a jacket. An epaulet might sound fancy but its easy to make and looks snazzy on many different types of outfits. The dress clip is especially lovely if you make it with feathers. You can find a small assortment of feathers at a craft store but youll have many more choices if you order online.

Cut two ovals of felt which will blend in with the particular feathers you want to use. For example, white felt for white feathers or black felt for dark feathers. When using feathers of more than one color choose the prominent color of the feathers and select felt that closely matches it. Cut the felt pieces to be about three inches wide and four inches long.

To prepare for attaching the feathers onto the oval pieces, separate them into categories, of long, medium, short, and those that are tiny and delicate. Set one oval in front of you so that one of the short sides faces you. Use hot glue and begin attaching feathers onto the felt. Just place a dab of hot glue on the quill and stick it to the top, rounded area of the felt. Work your way down, adding rows of feathers, using only the largest ones for now. Place some of the feathers so that they go straight down and others so that they point out to the sides. After the first layer is complete, do another layer, using the medium feathers. Then, add another layer of small feathers and a final layer of wispy ones. Make the other oval in the same manner. Purchase a snap-type barrette and use one for each oval. Apply hot glue to the top of the barrette, turn it upside-down, and stick it to the backside of the felt oval. Position it so that it is at one of the rounded ends - the end that the quills are facing. Also, the barrette should be glued so that it goes, vertically, down the center of the oval. There are lots of things you can do with the epaulet. Make one of feathers or one that features rhinestones. Wear only one, by clipping it to the shoulder, or wear one on each side. Or, just clip one at the middle, front of your dress or blouse for a unique look. You can also gather the side of a knee-length or higher dress and clip the barrette for an interesting hem accent. Wear them for Halloween or wear them to dress up an office outfit after hours. Theyre fabulous. Feather Epaulet

Raw Fabric Headboard

How much is a piece of fabric? A few bucks? Even if you purchase more costly cloth, what is that, twenty bucks? For the price of a couple yards of fabric you can make one gorgeous headboard thats unusual, cheap and stunning. Thats because, when you shop at a large fabric store, you can find fabric with cartoon themes for a childs room, elegant fabric, like satin, for a womans bedroom, or even bold stripes, polka dots and other designs for a modern look. With hundreds and hundreds of fabric types to choose from youll easily be able to make a unique headboard that states your style while accentuating your bed.Although there are many different fabrics which work well to make the headboard try to choose something thats not too heavy, not too thin, and a fabric which wont easily unravel. Decide on the design for the headboard before shopping for the fabric. An alternative to regular fabric is to use a flat sheet as the cloth. trim off any hems starting the headboard project.Measure the width of the bed to decide on the length of the fabric. The headboard should go down the wall to the bottom of the mattress but can reach as high up the wall as you want. Decide on the height then purchase fabric to accommodate it. Some fabric designs will allow you to hang them vertically as well as horizontally but fabric with certain designs can only be hung vertically. Make sure youre aware of this before purchasing fabric.It literally takes under an hour to make most any headboard from fabric. You can simply cut it to the size you need and hang it on the wall or you can give the material decorative edges. Cut around it with special scissors or make a scalloped edge with regular scissors. You can even cut the fabric into a giant heart, diamond or semi-circle or other shape.Buy liquid starch or mix powdered starch up according to package directions. Mix it in a bucket or even in the sink. Soak the chosen fabric in it until its completely saturated. Remove it from the liquid, squeeze out the excess, then stick it to the wall. Smooth out the wrinkles with something like a credit card or ruler. Its a good idea to put towels down on the floor to catch any drips.When the fabric is dry your new headboard will look gorgeous. If you want to embellish it, glue roping around the edges, attach wooden letters from a craft store to make a monogram or even outline around the cloth with a wide-tip paint marker. The fabric headboard is one of a kind and as beautiful as it is inexpensive.

Hardware Charm Bracelet

Okay, a hardware charm bracelet might not be the most beautiful charm bracelet there is. After all, a piece of metal from a hardware store cant possibly compare to a pewter football, a gold ring, or another fancy charm, that a person can buy for a bracelet. However, when you combine certain hardware pieces, and use them in the same fashion as you would a charm, you can make an unusual charm bracelet-type jewelry piece, which youll love with jeans, t-shirts, and other everyday fashions.Start out with a chain that you already have. It can be a ball or a link chain but it must have its own closure. You can make a necklace or a bracelet using just the chosen chain and some wire. Purchase really thin wire - copper or another type; it should be a little larger in diameter than thread.Look around at a home improvement or hardware store and youll find many different types of small metal pieces. There are hooks, and tiny caps, and even metal washers. One particularly nice combination for a charm bracelet is the metal washers and "s" hooks. Purchase small ones and, along with your wire, you can make the cute charm bracelet.Start with the front of the chain facing you, and the clasp facing away from you, and find the exact middle of the chain. At that area, position one of the metal washers, right next to the chain. Cut a piece of wire, string it through the washer, and through one of the links of a chain. If you have a ball chain, wrap the wire between two of the tiny balls. Bring the wire back through the washer, and through the chain, a couple of times. Snip the wire off and push it closely against the chain.Move over an inch or so and hang an "s" hook on the chain. Just measure from the washer, to where you want the hook, and attach it. Squeeze the top of the "s" closed with pliers and then push the closed end against the chain. Slide the wire through the opening at the top of the "s" (even though youve closed it theres still an opening), and wire it through a link, or between two balls, of the particular chain.On the other side of the washer, measure the same distance between it and the "s" hook, and follow the same steps to add the "s" hook to that side. That is, one "s" hook should be on each side of the washer, and each "s" should be spaced equally away from the washer.On the other sides of the "s" hooks, add a washer to each side, and continue alternating washers and "s" hooks, until youre finished. Wear it in a casual manner with nearly any outfit you own.

Candy Kabobs for Any Occasion

There are very few gifts that are perfect for just about anyone and any occasion. Its hard to find a present that can be a Christmas gift, a goody in an Easter basket, a birthday party favor, a treat at Halloween, and will make happy a child or an adult. But, when you make candy kabobs youll find they fill the bill no matter what the occasion.

There are lots of different things you can use to make candy kabobs, but to make any of them, youll need wooden skewers. Begin making the kabobs by sliding on the foods you want. Many candies are individually wrapped which is not the best look for the candy kabobs. Instead, remove the candies from their wrappers and then slide them onto the sticks. When finished, you can wrap the kabobs to keep them fresh.

Youll find that some foods are much more ideal than others when it comes to sliding them on the skewers. For example, marshmallows are a delicious addition to the kabobs but dont slide easily. Spraying the skewer with non-stick cooking spray can help. Be sure you leave part of the stick clean as this will serve as the handle for the kabob. Also, foods that dont slide easily should be reserved for the top part of the skewer. Some of the foods you can use to make the candy kabobs include Snickers, Milky Way, Three Musketeers, Peppermint Patties, Rice Krispie treats, gummy candies, cereal rings, dried fruits, caramels, specialty holiday candy, candy necklaces or bracelets, licorice stick sections, soft cookies, pieces of cakes or brownies and even fudge. Some foods that dont work well are chocolates with nuts, candy bars with crunchy or cookie centers and M&Ms. Combine various candies and other goodies to make each kabob or just slide several mini candy bars or other foods to make a kabob that has all the same treats on it. Make unique designs by sliding on a candy, then a stack of cereal rings, and do this several times. Come up with other pleasing arrangements or just randomly slide various foods onto the sticks. When youre finished wrap each candy kabob in a piece of clear or colored plastic wrap. Tie a bow around the bottom of the stick to gift. The unique kabobs are perfect for parties, holidays, special occasions or just to gift to a friend in the hospital. Theres no one who doesnt like the kabobs - you can even make sugar-free versions for diabetic friends! Now, no matter what the occasion, you know exactly what to give. Its a treat that will be well-remembered by the recipient!

Rice Krispie Treat Baby Shower, Wedding and Party Favors

Nearly everyone loves Rice Krispie treats. Theyre not expensive to make but are really delicious and suitable for kids as well as adults. The simple treat can be used as a nice gift for guests at a baby shower, wedding or party.

Make the Rice Krispie treats by melting 3 tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan. Stir in 10 oz of regular marshmallows or four cups of mini marshmallows. Stir well as the marshmallows melt. Remove from heat and stir in 6 cups of Rice Krispies. Pour into a well-buttered pan to set. When the treats are ready, cut them into small squares.

Another choice is to purchase Rice Krispie treats which are already packaged. The individually-wrapped treats mean less hassle and mess. Whether youre using Rice Krispie treats you made, or ones you bought, purchase sucker stickers and put one into each treat. Insert it into one of the short sides. With the homemade treats you can cut them to the size you want; with the store-bought type, if needed, you can cut them into smaller pieces for little kids. You can color the Rice Krispie treats by using white chocolate, candy-coating discs. These can be found at some large craft stores and places which sell baking supplies. Melt the discs in a double-boiler and stir in a couple of drops of food coloring to make the color you want. Make blue or pink for a baby shower. Color red for Christmas or Valentines Day. Try yellow, green or another color for a wedding - depending upon the colors in your wedding scheme. Hold the stick of a Rice Krispie treat while you hold the treat over the melted chocolate. Quickly brush or spoon the chocolate on the top - or all over - the Rice Krispie treat. Lay it on wax paper. Use a yellow duckie, silver wedding bells or another embellishment on top of the treat. You can purchase shaped candies which are flat at craft stores or places that sell cake decorating supplies. Press one into each Rice Krispie treat before the chocolate coating dries. The Rice Krispie treats dont necessarily have to have a particular theme - they can just be delicious. Press small, easy-to-find candies into the chocolate coating, like M&Ms, chocolate chips, peppermint patties and similar foods. Wrap the finished treats in clear cellophane bags then tie a ribbon around them. The clear cellophane protects the edible gift while allowing the recipient to see the colorful, tasty treat. Theyre ideal for parties, showers, weddings, holidays and most any other special occasion!

Clothes Hamper Craft Station

I remember many years ago when my sewing and crafting area was the kitchen table. We lived in a small apartment and there just wasnt any room for a table of my own. I always felt the pressure to hurry and finish the sewing or craft project before it was time for the next meal. That was often impossible. Instead, I had to gather everything off of the table and find a new place for it, wipe down the table, and prepare the meal. Then, it was time to clear and wipe the table, and set all my craft stuff back on it, until the next meal. That was quite a lot of hassle. If youre in a similar situation, and there simply isnt much room for craft supplies, look around the place a little more. Is there an empty corner? A place on the wall, near the floor, that isnt taken? Make a clothes hamper craft station and it can be easily pushed into that area, or pulled back into play, any time you want.

The type of hamper you use can vary. It can be rectangular and plastic, round and wicker - it can even be a plastic trash can. In addition to the hamper, purchase a rolling board. Youll find one at a home improvement store or you can make it yourself. Its a simple, square board that has wheels on the corners. Many people use them for moving plants around or even scooting their computer tower under the desk.

Buy glue dots to help hold the hamper to the base. Place the dots around the perimeter of the bottom of the hamper and then set the hamper on the rolling board. Now you can do all sorts of things to make the hamper more useful as a craft station. For example, hang "s" hooks around the top of the hamper and you can hang bags of supplies, craft rings and wreaths, lengths of cord or ribbon and more. Tie a piece of wide elastic around the hamper and use it to hold knitting needles, folded fabric, zipper-lock bags and other things. Just trap the items between the hamper and the elastic. For crafting books, open a book halfway and straddle the elastic with it. There is room for several pieces of elastic to be wrapped around most any hamper. Fill the inside of the hamper with gift wrap, a yardstick, long dowels and other craft supplies. Some supplies can be in tied bags or arranged in stacking baskets. Youll see that you have lots and lots of room for storing assorted craft supplies in the hamper craft station and all you have to do is wheel it up to the couch, table or other working area, and roll it back when youre finished. Hamper Gift Wrap Station

Home School Dry-Erase Linoleum Writing Board

When I first set up my home school it was a lot of fun but a lot of work, too. I had much to do with stocking the classroom, ordering books, laying out the curriculum and study plans - it was quite an undertaking. As I was looking through catalogs to find a large chalkboard I couldnt believe the prices. Its hard to run a classroom without a chalkboard - that is, it used to be. When someone invented the dry-erase board everything changed. You no longer had to use dusty chalk and get it all over your hands and clothes. As I commented to a friend about the huge amount of money required to get a nice chalkboard he suggested a dry-erase board. A large dry-erase board would also cost a bunch of money, but not after his suggestion, which was linoleum. Linoleum works just like a dry-erase board and can actually be cheaper.

Look at discount stores for a linoleum remnant. A small remnant can make quite a large dry-erase board for the home school. Linoleum is really easy to cut with scissors but, if you purchase a piece and use the whole thing, you wont have to do any measuring or cutting - that makes it much easier to get the linoleum and get it hung.

You can glue the linoleum to the wall or you can use tacks to hang it. Linoleum tends to not lay flat when its first removed from the roll. It can be very helpful to lay the linoleum outside in the sun before hanging it, or at least lay it out flat inside. The longer it lies the easier it will be for it to hang flat on the wall. If youre gluing the linoleum, simply coat the backside with vinyl adhesive, and stick it to the wall. If youre tacking the linoleum, start by placing a tack at each corner, then putting a few more around the perimeter. If you have no linoleum remnants, but you have some leftover, peel-n-stick tiles, use them to make the dry-erase board on the wall of your classroom. Whether you glue or tack the linoleum, and whether you use a single linoleum piece or the peel-n-stick tiles, its a nice, finishing touch to attach molding around the perimeter. If you purchase the molding at a large home improvement store theyll cut it to the sizes you specify. Just use finishing nails to attach the molding and complete the dry-erase board. Do math, write instructions, draw and otherwise use the handy dry-erase board. You can use it just as you would a chalkboard but without the mess. Purchase dry-erase markers and erasers at most any place that sells regular markers or art supplies.

String Candles

Not in the mood to make new candles today? True, you have to have a certain frame of mind to do all that water boiling and wax melting, pouring, molding, and more. But sometimes you just feel like doing a candle project without really getting involved in a huge mess. There are many ways to change the look of a candle, including carving images into the wax, gluing on fake jewels or other trinkets, or even wrapping the candle with lace. Of course, many things you can attach to a candle will have to be removed before lighting that wick. So, its especially nice if you design a candle that doesnt have to be torn back apart after all your work to create it.

There are definitely many things you can add to a candle to change it and one of those things happens to be string. Yes, the string will also need to be removed before catching fire but, with this technique, you can make a lacy design that borders the bottom of the candle and can be easily removed when necessary - and that will be awhile.

Purchase twine at a craft store and you can make string designs that are truly gorgeous. And, since there will be no mess involved, youll really love the finished candle. The twine you should buy is the type which comes on a roll and is waxed. Generally available only in white the twine can help you make the candle border of your choice. Heat a small area of the candle, near the bottom edge, with a blow dryer. Stick the end of the twine to it by simply pressing it into the warm wax. Create the design you want, making swirls, waves, or other designs, as you go along. Continue to heat small areas of the wax with a blow dryer; it takes about 30 seconds to get it nice and warm. The waxed string is then easy to press into place. Use a bone folder tool or even a disposable knife to press the string onto the wax. Curl the twine or otherwise shape it and continue pressing the designs into the warm wax. When you keep the design down towards the bottom you can leave the twine accents in place until the wax burns down to about an inch away from it. At that time, just peel the string off the candle; its as simple as that. You can make varying designs by using twine of smaller and large diameters and by the way you arrange it on the candle. Not good at creating designs? Just make circles of twine - one above the other - to make an easy string creation. The finished candles are gorgeous enough for a wedding yet understated enough to display any day in your home.

Thread Bird Nest

People are so fascinated by pets and animals that they often collect things that are related to the types of animals they like. Some people wear zebra-look clothing, others wear snakeskin belts and hats. If birds are your thing you probably have birdhouses, a birdbath, and maybe even a collection of ceramic birds. I know of a really cheap craft thats helps you create adorable little bird nest decorator pieces that youll love. Use ordinary thread - yeah, even the tangled up thread in that drawer - and make bird nests of assorted colors to display around your house.

If you have tangled thread, cut out a big bunch of it, and use it for a bird nest. If you dont already have some tangled thread, unwind a bunch of thread, then rough it up to entangle it.

Although you can really use any color of thread you want for the bird nest youll create the best one if you dont mix odd colors together, like red and blue thread. But, some colors can be combined to make a nice nest, like brown and beige. In the end, your nest can be any color(s) you want. Shape the thread into a nest shape - the best you can for now. It can be helpful to place the thread in a bowl or other object to get the general shape. Sprinkle embossing powder over the nest. Youll find the embossing powder at a craft store; it will serve as glue for the nest. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a piece of foil and put them on a baking sheet. Bake the nest in the oven at a low temperature until the powder melts. Keep a close eye on the thread so you dont burn it. After removing the nest from the oven use implements of choice to shape it further as it cools. A spoon, a pencil, or even a handle from something, could be used to shape the nest as well as the indentation in the center of the nest. Purchase small wooden eggs at a craft store and paint them the colors you want. Apply glue to one side of each egg and settle it where you want it in the nest. If you want to make the nest even sturdier, cut a piece of thin cardboard, and glue it to the bottom of the nest. Make sure the cardboard is small enough so that it cant be seen when the nest is sitting on a shelf or elsewhere. If you want, add an extra accent by gluing on a tiny bird from a craft store. Youll probably go crazy and make a little bird nest for nearly everyone you know because thread is so inexpensive, and so are wooden eggs, but the finished nest is absolutely adorable, even if they are cheap. Thread Bird Nest

Old Album Earring Organizers

Finding yourself more and more bored today? Looking for a fun project that can help you get organized? Get a nail and poke holes in an album! When you do, you can create just one of several earring and jewelry organizers, which is also a noticeable room accent. Use a 33 LP - an album - to make your choice of earring and/or jewelry organizers.

Poke holes in an album to make a really cool earring organizer. An easy way to poke holes in an album is to slide a potholder onto your hand, hold a pair of pliers, and with them, hold a nail. Heat the nail over a flame or a burner, and push it through the album. You dont need a huge nail and a huge hole; just make a hole large enough to slide the wire of an earring into. Create a pair of holes, side-by-side, with a small space between them. Make more and more sets of holes, all over the album, in a certain pattern or randomly.

On the back of the album, use double-sided tape, and stick it to random places on the backside, without covering any holes. The tape pieces should be stacked so that they are thick. Stick the album to a piece of foam board, wood, cardboard, or another material, or just stick it to the wall. The tape pieces will keep the album from lying flat against the board or wall, and allow room for hanging the earrings. Hang the board and then hang many pairs of earrings on the album. Make a different jewelry holder by using a large, thick, round magnet. You can find one at a home improvement store, or order one online. Glue the magnet, or use double-sided tape to secure it - and position it over the round label of the record. The magnet allows you to simply stick earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry pieces, to the top and sides of it. Using small but strong magnets, you can make a jewelry organizer that features the magnets on the back. Glue or otherwise attach the magnets to the back of the album and hang it up. If the magnets are strong enough you can just touch the jewelry piece to the front of the album, and a magnet on the back will grab it. If the jewelry organizer you make still shows the label on the record, its an option to cover it up. Just cut a circle of cloth or decorative paper, and glue it over the original label. Instead of making holes in the record, you could use peel-n-stick, plastic hangers, and hang necklaces, bracelets, and hoop earrings. The finished organizer is unique, useful, and cute in a bedroom with a music, retro, or teen theme.

Old Magazine Kitchen Accents

If you subscribe to a couple of magazines a month you can end up with a bunch of them at the end of a year. There are many things a person can make from a magazine and some of them are quite nice. In fact, you can make the cutest kitchen set including a bowl, a trivet, and a set of coasters, and use up some of those useless magazines. The kitchen accent set takes a bit of time but, if you have the magazines already, its virtually free.Start making a coaster by ripping a single page from a magazine. Fold the page in half, lengthways, then fold it in half again. Continue folding it in half until you have a strip that is about a half-inch wide (the amount of times you fold it will depend on the size of magazine youre using). Make many strips before getting started on the coasters, trivet, and bowl.Begin rolling the first strip, from one end to the other, so that you have a flat and tight circle. When you get to the end of that piece, connect another. To do that, slide the fold of the new piece into the open end of the first piece. Or, just tape them to each other. Continue adding more, and rolling the strips, so that the circle becomes the size you want for a coaster. Use a tiny piece of double-sided tape, or quick-dry glue, to secure the end. Then, coat the top of the coaster (the side with the folded edges of the strips) with decoupage adhesive, or a clear, waterproof glue.To make a trivet, follow the instructions for a coaster, but make it much larger. To make a bowl, curl strips of paper as you do with the coaster or trivet, and make the circle as large as you want for the bottom of the bowl. Then, when youre ready to make the sides, wrap the next paper around the circle, but this time, come up about an eighth of an inch. Wrap it all the way around (adding more strips where needed), then take the next wrap up an eighth of an inch. Continue wrapping, taking each wrap up an eighth of an inch, until the bowl is as tall as you want. When creating the sides of the bowl use glue that dries in seconds.As youre making the bowl, make the bottom, then coat it with glue, as instructed for the coaster. Do so before creating the sides. Then, as you make the sides, glue each strip in place as you wrap it. To finish the bowl, just glue down the end.The magazine bowl can hold fruits, odds and ends, a silk plant, a real flower in a container, and any number of other things. The set, as a whole, is colorful, and gorgeous in the kitchen as well as other rooms of the house.

Dryer Sheet Carnations and Other Flowers

Is it laundry day already? Go ahead and put the clothes in the washer, and before you get them in the dryer, you can make a vase full of gorgeous flowers that smell great. Laundry day is enough of a challenge so you wont be required to get a lot of materials and supplies together or make a huge mess across the kitchen table. Just take a few of the dryer sheets and use them to make the flowers! Dryer sheets are perfumed and perfect for creating assorted flowers. Used dryer sheets wont retain their shapes as flowers so use fresh, unused dryer sheets to start. Take three or four of the sheets and lay them flat. Stack them on top of each other. Turn the stack so that the long sides of the sheets face you. Fold the side over an inch, then turn the stack over and do that again. Continue this, folding the sheets in an accordion style until you get to the other end.

Take one short end of the accordion, align it with the opposite end, folding it in half. At the fold, slip in a green pipe cleaner, then twist it tightly. Leave the remainder of the pipe cleaner hanging down to be used as the stem. Start peeling the layers of the dryer sheets apart to create the flower.

You can make the flowers look different by cutting the ends of the accordion fold. After folding, cut the short ends so that theyre rounded or cut them to have a point at each end. You can even cut them so that there are two small points at each end. Whatever cuts you decide on do the exact same thing to the opposite end. Each cut you make creates a completely different flower. After all the flowers are made, set them in a vase, then paint them. Use any number of things to create the tint you want at the tips of the flowers. Some things that work great include paint, nail polish, lipstick or even markers. Or, use a different technique to glitter the tips. Lightly brush glue over the dryer sheets then dip the flower in glitter. This works better than glitter glue which tends to run. Another technique you can use to make different flowers is to scribble or make other designs on the dryer sheets before stacking and folding them. Make stripes, dots or other patterns, and when you turn them into flowers, youll have unique designs that look fabulous! If you want, embellish the finished flowers by gluing on a few fake leaves. When the dryer sheets lose their aroma simply spray them with air freshener, perfume or something similar. The finished flowers look great anywhere in the home!