Some baller links for the crafter

Rolled up paper flowers

Satin flowers (for literally anything you can think of)

I'm really obsessed with the site I got both of those crafts off of (Jones Design company). So creative and crafty and opens up a whole bunch  of things that I never thought were possible from crafting. Even their posts are super cute and have a ton of personality. Honestly, this blog will be somewhere I draw inspiration from from now on and I couldn't be more excited.

The object of my desire

Women's Southport Wedge

Reg.$90.00
Whether you prefer a slip on or strappy detailing, you'll be sure to stand above the crowd in these nautical wedges. With signature Sperry comfort, you'll be whisked away in this summer style that will keep you looking fresh from beach to boardwalk, day-to-night.

I stand corrected

Champagne taste on a beer budget. NF. Beer taste on a champagne budget. TFM.

DIY garden decor ideas

Stepping Stones --These are simple to make, and it’s a project where you determine the budget and materials. Pick pre-made stones from the hardware store or cast your own. Design a mosaic pattern to be laid with stained glass or use colorful broken china from the thrift store. Attach the pieces using an outdoor adhesive, grout, and then seal. That’s it!

Luminaries -- These are particularly great around the patio, or in a sitting space you've created out in the garden. I use tin coffee cans (or soup cans, if I’m going to hang them) and using a hammer and nail, I poke holes -- sometimes random, sometimes in a lacy pattern. I love to put citronella candles in these and light them for a nighttime get-together -- they’re pretty and they keep the bugs away! Painting them ensures that they stay pretty during the daylight hours as well.

Bird Baths -- There are nine million ways to make a birdbath. I’ve created a mosaic over a pre-made bath from the hardware store. You could use a pretty shallow bowl or dish -- you could simply place it in the nook of a tree or on a stump. Or go a bit more complex and use a spiral of flexible copper tubing to support the bowl and a copper pipe (both from the hardware store) to plant it in the ground. Over time, the copper will develop a gorgeous patina.

Tea-cup Birdfeeder -- Use thrifted vintage cups -- the really delicate ones -- and putting them in a group at varying heights. Using a good epoxy, like E600, glue the cup to its saucer, and then glue a small length of copper pipe or a pipe cap to the underside of the saucer. Then just glue a round dowel or length of pipe into that and you’re done! You can mix this up by creating a tower of cups and saucers or even using tall bud vases as part of the sculpture. If you would rather hang your feeders, use something like a Dremel tool to drill small holes that you can use to thread wire or chain through.




Wind chimes -- Wind chimes are super easy to make and limited only by your imagination. Use shells you’ve collected, copper piping, silverware, chandelier crystals, cheap wooden or metal bangles, dried bamboo from the floral section … all you need is something to string them with (string, wire, chain) and something to string them from (a metal ring, pretty saucer, small silver tray). And don’t forget that you can accessorize your chimes with beads, sea glass, and iridescent marbles!

Credit

How to: Homemade air freshener

Not only could this be a lovely gift for someone on a very beer budget, but you can make a ton and keep them around your home. It's definitely cheaper than buying Febreeze every week or having to go to Yankee Candle and spend $17 on something the same size as these!

What you'll need:
Heat-proof jars
Food coloring colors of your choice
Essential oil. (You can find inexpensive essential oils of various scents at craft stores like Michael's)
Unflavored gelatin
1 Tb salt (per air freshener)
2 cups water

How to do it:
1. Into each jar, drop a few drops (it doesn't take more than 2 or 3) of food coloring. Then, put in about 30 drops of essential oil, give or take. The more essential oil you put in, the stronger the smell.
2. Gather up 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, a tablespoon of salt, and 2 cups of cold water.
3. Get one cup of water boiling on the stove. When it begins to boil, whisk in the gelatin, stirring until it's all dissolved.
4. Pour in the other cup of cold water and the salt, stirring until the salt is dissolved.
5. Quickly pour the hot gelatin mixture in each of your jars, and then use a disposable stick or spoon to stir it into the oil and food coloring.
6. Let them gel overnight

How to: Paper flower key holder

This is for you lovely ladies that are having trouble finding something cheap (beer-status) but cute to give to your friend or co-worker as a gift. Make one of these for them and they'll love your unique style and creative crafting skill.

1. Cut out a circle in the cardboard that is a bit larger than a quarter.

2. Cut your wire hanger in a section that is about 10 inches long.

3. Bend it like you see in the photo. It should have a hook and an area where you can glue it down. Each end should have a tiny loop. The tiny loop at the top is for the nail.

4. Hot glue the wire on top of the circle of cardboard.

5. Cut out 6 layers of book pages in a flower pattern provided using straight edge scissors and pinking shears so that your flower has texture.

6. Staple the layers together in the middle in an X (this is my big flower making secret)

7. Fold up the top layer to cover the staples and continue folding up the layers to make your flower come to life.

8. Lightly spray with the Krylon Clear Coat and let dry.

9. Give it several more coats of the Krylon Clear Coat but only a little at a time. Do this until the flower is nice and sturdy.

10. Hot glue the flower on top of the wire and disk and hang it with a nail.

Credit: Mark Montano

How to: Recycled magazine flowers

Get a glass vase and fill it with these recycled magazine flowers for an easy, chic and CHEAP way to accessorize your apartment or house. It's definitely a great way to recycle paper and you could use them as original and unique bows or decorations on presents as well. Check out the video: