DIY Dishwasher Magnet...it's the little things:)

I know, I know, it sure has been awhile!  But I have been so busy with my shop and party styling that I am just now getting back to this lovely little site of mine.  I have so many fun things planned for the future of Juneberry Lane and I promise we will get there one little bit at a time.  But for now I will be popping in whenever I can to bring you all sorts of party, craft, & design inspiration and as many DIY tutorials as possible.

So let's jump back into the swing of things with the easiest tutorial ever-a small magnet for the dishwasher to let family & friends know whether or not the dishes inside are clean or dirty; after all, you know I like making the most mundane gadgets in the house as pretty as possible...

DIY DISHWASHER MAGNETS

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:
~ Mini Ornate Frame ($1.50 at Michael's)
~ Chalkboard paint (or whatever color you like:)
~ Paint brush
~ Adhesive backed, heavy duty magnet (save $ by using the magnet off the back of a refrigerator shopping list pad that you find at the dollar store!)
~ Paint pen

1.) Paint the inside cardboard of the frame with chalkboard paint (or whatever color your heart desires!)

2.) Measure down to the very middle of your painted cardboard and make a mark on either side.

3.) Using a book or ruler, draw a line straight across the middle of the painted chalkboard with your paint pen.

4.) Allow to dry:)

5.) On the top side of the painted cardboard, just above the line, write "Clean" with your paint pen.

6.) Once dry, flip the cardboard over and write "Dirty" on the other side of the line.

7.) Attach your adhesive magnet to the back side.

And there you go, once you train your family to flip the magnet whenever they start or unload the dishwasher (as if anyone does it but you;) no one ever has to ask "Are these dishes clean or dirty?" in your house again:)  See you soon...

DIY Turkey Snack Tins!

We are just having a ball over here at our house, coming up with fun craft ideas to dress up our holiday table!  This week, we hit up our local $ Tree and found all sorts of odds and ends to keep around for last minute activities to help the little ones stay busy & delight our Thanksgiving guests on the big day too!  

Take a look at how fun & simple these DIY Turkey Snack tins are; you can put them together in minutes and they sure make serving up treats a lot more exciting than your run-of-the-mill bowl!  Just check these out . . .

Supplies You Will Need:

~ Soup can
~ Decorative paper
~ Kraft paper/grocery bag/or Kraft gift bag
~ Glue gun & glue sticks
~ Scissors
~ Double-sided tape
~ Christmas ornament (we used a plastic one from the Dollar Tree)
~ 2 buttons
~ Orange bead (or orange felt)
~ Red ribbon

Directions:

1.) Cover your soup can with decorative paper & affix with double-sided tape.

2.) Cut 3 equal pieces of kraft paper or grocery bag (we used spare kraft gift bags from the Dollar Tree:) into equal squares about 9" x 9.5".

3.) Accordian fold all 3 pieces.

4.) Round the corners.

5.) Fold each of the folded strips of paper in half, adhering them with double-sided tape.

6.) Adhere all three piece together.

7.) Fold your paper pinwheel open, leaving one unattached portion on the bottom.

8.) Cut an oval out of leftover paper and affix it to the front, bottom (above the open portion) of your paper pinwheel.

9.) With your glue gun, attach the scrap circle to the back of the covered soup can.

10.) Cut your decorative paper into equal strips, about 3.5 inches wide and 12 inches long.

11.)  Draw the shape of a turkey feather onto the back of one of the strips.  Stack the paper strips together and cut as many 'feathers' at a time as your scissors can handle.

12.) Arrange your decorative paper feathers into a fan-shape and stick them together with your double-sided tape.

13.) Hot glue the paper feather fan to the back of the paper pinwheel.

14.) Remove the hook clasp on the front of your plastic holiday ornament.

15.) Use the hot glue gun to adhere the ornament to the front of the soup can.

16.) Cut a small piece of ribbon and hot glue it to the front, center of your ornament.

17.) Glue two buttons above the ribbon to make the 'eyes'.

18.) Next, add an orange bead under the button eyes to make the 'nose' (you can cut a small piece of orange felt for a 'nose' if you would rather:)

19.) Fill your soup can with nuts, snacks, jumbo crayons, candy, or whatever your little heart desires and set this little guy out on the table for your Thanksgiving guests to enjoy!

Isn't he just glorious?  Now I know you all are just itching to get to holiday decorating (I can tell from the Pinterest Christmas frenzy!)  But I have a few more Turkey Day crafts & decorations up my sleeve first!  I just love this holiday-all about family, friends, & gratitude; and so many fun possibilities for crafting with the kiddos too!!

Sweet & Special: Valentine's Day Surprise!!

I don't know about you, but right around this time of year is when I can feel my post-holiday blues fading and the promise of spring, warm air, and sunshine peeking through the winter dreariness. 

What certainly helps my happiness along is the gorgeous color combination of Valentine's Day...pinks & reds that offer just the right amount of romance and girliness to warm up these chilly days and get me excited to cuddle with my own little brood of valentines.  

So here is a bunch of inspiration to not only make your heart skip a beat, but maybe give you a few ideas about how to make the Valentine's Day morning or evening dinner special at your house too!  See for yourself . . .

Why not fancy things up for a festive dinner . . .

Or, just this once, indulge in a little strawberry milk.  It just looks so perfect for Valentine's Day, don't you think?

Always love a good owl, no matter what the holiday . . .

$ Store finds for a very special breakfast for the kiddos . . .

Treats for your little's lunchbox or movie night with the family . . .

Loving these cut-out paper hearts on lollipop sticks:)

Striped straws & lace doilies on vintage milk bottles?  YES!

 

Such a fun holiday where you don't have to wear yourself into exhaustion!  Just a sweet, pretty little pink table and a few yummy treats to warm your favorite hearts on a cold late winter day in February:)

Tutorial Tuesday: Ric Rac Rosettes!!

A few weeks ago, my favorite little sister introduced me to the most fantastic website for craftinistas...this awesome gem of an online craft supply store that, similar to Groupon, offers a deal a day...but only with all sorts of goodies for your DIYing pleasure.  You can join for yourself right here: Pick Your Plum.  I mean, how can you not with fall colors this fabulous?

So, today I checked my e-mail as I always do from them, one of the few 'advertising' messages that I actually open, and saw a GREAT deal on Ric Rac; you know, the zig zag thread that your mom had sewn on all of your handmade dresses if you were lucky enough to be born in the seventies?

Ric Rac is retro-fab these days, and can be used for all sorts of things like headbands, pillows, lamp shades, you name it!  So I thought today would be the perfect day to send a little tutorial your way from The Crafting Chicks that will take you back in time.  After all, who can pass up a deal as good as that one?

DIY RIC RAC ROSETTES

Supplies You Will Need:

~ Ric Rac

~ Needle & Thread (preferably done with a sewing maching...or by hand if you prefer!)

~ Hot glue or craft glue (We prefer hot)

~ Clip (to hold while twisting)

~ Felt or fleece circle

Directions:

1.) First, cut 2 strips of ric rac about 10-12″long, depending on how big of a flower you want to end up with.

2.) Then twist the two pieces of ric rac together.

3.) And then run a stitch down one side to hold it all together.

4.) And to make the flower, you just start from one end and roll it up, adding small dots of hot glue along the way, just to keep it all together.

5.) Keep rolling . . .

6.) Until you have this–and then tuck the little tail under and hot glue it down. Next, glue a small circle of felt or fleece on the back, just to finish it off. To make your flower wearable, glue it on a ring blank, a necklace, or on clips for a little girl’s hair.  Or go all home chic and add it to your lamp shades, pillows, aprons....the possibilities are endless!

7.) You’ll notice all of the petals are closed, so to open them up you just peel them back one by one, until it looks like a flower. As you wear it, the petals tend to close up, so re-opening it will be necessary. Unless you prefer it closed of course:)

And as usual, a little inspiration . . .

(photo courtesy of Beau Fleurs)

(via Ruby Supply)

(courtesy of Indulgy)

Aren't those just the sweetest little things?  Now hurry....go take advantage of that wonderful deal so you can fill your home with flowers before those cold winter months set in!!