Wine Charms

Although our wedding is not until April, I couldn't wait to make these mr and mrs wine charms. Below is a tutorial.

1. Choose your font and print a stencil. I chose to use Carolyna Pro black, my most favoritest of favorite fonts ever. EVER. You could obviously choose a picture here, too.

2. Bend your wire as you trace your stencil. The thicker and sturdier your wire, the more difficult this will be. Use a pair of pliers to help. And don't forget to leave some length on one end for the part that goes around the wine glass (no idea what it's called).

3. Drink! Place your wine charms around your wine glass, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy!

Happy Crafting!

Paper Roses

Another long-time to do list item was finally checked off today. I've had the copies of music ready to use for almost 3 years now!!! Below is my step-by-step tutorial, which I found somewhere on the internet 3 years ago, printed out, and kept... So sorry I can't link to it, but I can't find it. :(

1. Gather some pretty paper. I decided to use some copied sheet music. I was in the teacher's lounge one day almost 3 years ago making copies when the music teacher walked in to do the same. The music he was copying looked "musicy" to me, so I asked if I could have one. Easy peasy.

2. Optional: Stain your sheet music. Pour some hot water into a 9" x 13" pan with a dark brown or black tea (I used a dark brown tea in order to get the soft creamy color, use black tea if you want something darker). Soak your sheet music in the tea for some time. Confession: I have no idea how long I left mine in there for. Maybe an hour or two? It could have been half a day, though. I was doing so many crafts at the same time!

3. Hang to dry. I tied up some string on my neighbor's house, then hung my sheet music using clothes pins. They only needed an hour or so to dry, but mine were in the sun and it's pretty dry out here.

4. Cut spiral flowers. I'm not sure how else to describe what to do here except, cut in a continuously smaller circle until you get to the the middle. I used my scalloped scissors, which created a pretty cool effect.

5. Wrap the spiral cirlcle flowers tightly around a pencil. When you do this, the spiral will naturally want to wind down the pencil. To avoid this, wrap tightly at the inside end of the spiral, keeping the bottom of your flower tight and allowing the top to become looser. This is how you will get a rose look, as opposed to just a tightly wrapped piece of paper. I also used hot glue every once and a while to help it all stay in place.

6. Glue stem. Glue one end of a green wire to the inside of the paper flower (where the pencil was). I created a little loop at the end in order to help the wire stay a little better.

7. Arrange. Cut the wire stems to your desired length and place your paper flowers in a vase. Viola! I put mine on a shelf next to all my Jane Austen books. Yes, I have read them all. And yes, they are all pretty much the same. ;)

Happy Crafting!

Wine Cork Monogram

I've had "make a wine cork monogram letter" on my to do list for quite a long time, so with a 3-day weekend, I finally decided to check it off!

Here is my step-by-step tutorial...

1. Arrange your corks. I chose to do a serif style letter and to randomly turn the corks each direction. You could also print out a font you like and arrange your corks on top. Or even buys wooden letter and glue your corks on top of that.

2. Glue. I used my hot glue gun to glue piece by piece. I found it helpful to line my corks up on the edge of the table (or the edge of anything straight) in order to keep them lined up right.

3. Decorate! I chose to place my wine cork monogram letter on a shelf in the kitchen next to a bunch of other wine stuff. Made sense to me. ;)

I hope that tutorial was helpful! Happy Crafting!

Bugs and Kisses

I know. I've been MIA for pretty much ever. There's been A LOT going on at the Deslattington house, so I haven't had much time for anything crafty... A much needed update will be posted soon.

Today, our friend Melody celebrates her 1st birthday! D and I are driving down to San Diego for the big celebration, and I couldn't be more excited! Remember the obsession I have with baby clothes? Well my obsession with baby birthday parties runs just as deep. It's a serious problem. Because her party is themed "Magical Forest", I decided to go with a bug on her card... I didn't have much time to figure out a way to cut or stamp a beast, so bugs were the best I could do. ;)

Happy Crafting!

Mother's Day!

When I think of Mother's Day, I think of flowers and bright springy colors. That's what inspired me in making this years Mother's Day card. I love a day that celebrates moms and all the wonderful things they do for their children: BIRTH, nurture, raise, teach, sacrifice, support, and mentor. Moms seem to always set the right example, at least mine always did! I hope today is a beautiful day for all mothers out there, new and not-so-new!  Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Crafting!

Cell Cycle Foldable

Last foldable from my Student Project Display post... Below is the cell cycle foldable that students created while learning about mitosis. They really enjoyed this one. I think because it required a little less artistic work than the others, yet still left room for some decorative creativity (aka doodling).

Students were given a half sheet of paper with both the directions and a rubric, as well as 2 halves of a white 12" x 18" piece of construction paper, cut lengthwise. Then they went to work, doing their artsy magic. I've posted the direction and rubric handout here.

And that's it. Like I said, this foldable required less artistic work. Many students drew arrows between phases, created borders of chromosomes, etc. And it looks great displayed on a classroom wall!

Happy Crafting!

Cells Foldable

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have received several emails requesting templates for the foldables shown in my Student Project Display post. Most of those emails specifically request a template for the Cells Foldable shown below. Again, I don't have a template, but I can walk you through a tutorial of how to make the foldable. Remember, my students were AMAZING so they were able to create these images all on their own...

Students were given the following check list and grading rubric.

Step 1: Holding an 8 1/2" x 11" paper horizontally, fold both ends in so they meet, but do not overlap.

Step 2: Draw, color, and label the outside left flap as a plant cell and the outside right flap as an animal cell. OR use the following template pre-printed for students to color and label.

Step 3: With your paper flat (flaps open), you will have three sections formed by your folds. The far left section will be for plant cell differences, the far right section for animal cell differences, and the center for similarities between plant and animal cells. In each of these sections, cell organelles will be listed and defined.

And that's it! Easy peasy! Again, if your students are not AMAZING artists like mine were, just use the template included above.

Happy Crafting!

Organization of Life Foldable

So I've been getting a lot of emails lately, asking for the template used in the projects shown in my Student Project Display post. Unfortunately, I can't share a template because I didn't use a template. My students were just THAT amazing! I can, however, share a tutorial on how the project was done. I will be posting tutorials all this week...

For the Organization of Life Foldable

1. On an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper held vertically (any color or kind you want), make lines across at the following measurements: 1/2", 1 3/4", 3 1/2", 5 3/4", and 8". The spaces between each line will get larger and larger as you move down the page, just like the levels of organization in living things get larger and larger!

2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise (or vertically... or hot dog). Open it back up.
3. Cut from the left side of the paper along each line to the center point only. (Do NOT cut all the way across the page! Although, I guarantee you'll have at least one student that does this!) The left side of your paper now has flaps or tabs.
4. Refold the paper in half lengthwise (along your fold from step 2). And on the front, so the fold is on the left and the tabs open on the right, label each individual tab with the following: Organization of Life, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems, Organism. Color, decorate, etc.

5. Open each tab of your foldable. On the left side (the back side of the tab) create a drawing to represent that level of organization. On the right side (the side that was not cut) define/describe each level and include at least one example. Color, decorate, etc.

And viola! Organization of Life Foldable!

P.S. If your students have poor measuring skills (like mine!) or you only have so much time to spend on this project (like me!), you can always create a template with step 1 above and make photocopies so that students can begin at step 2. It'll save some time.

Happy Crafting!

Hair Bows!

Two of my bridesmaids just had babies... So when I saw these cute little ribbon flowers at JoAnns the other day, I knew it was hair bow making time! Welcome to the World, Cadence Ruth and McKinley Kay! I couldn't be more excited to watch you grow! And spoil you with all things girly, of course!

Happy Crafting!

2,000 Days Married

Can you believe it?! No. Not me. Our friends Matt and Andrea. They have been married for 2,000 days!

Congratulations on 2,000 Days of Marriage, Matt and Andrea!

Happy Crafting!

Awash with Flowers Birthday Card

I know, I know. You'd think I'd be over my Awash with Flowers stamp set by now. But I'm not. Its just way too versatile. Remember when I made flower fairies by turning the petals upside down for the skirt? Well above is yet another birthday card. Blurry picture, but you get the idea. Happy Birthday, Jaimee, Nan, Heather, and Katie!

Happy Crafting!

Congratulations!

Exciting News!

The fiancé has officially begun teaching Statistics at his alma mater, Azusa Pacific University! So proud of him! Above is the card I made to congratulate him on the occasion. And I finally found a use for that star stamp in my Fun & Fast Notes stamp set from Stampin' Up!

Congratulations, Professor!

Happy Crafting!

Photo Quilt

I FINALLY finished all of my Christmas gifts! Yes, I do realize it IS Christmas day. I've been busy, so present making was saved for the last minute... Literally. Above is the last one, a photo quilt for Daniel's grandmother. I think it turned out pretty well for my first quilt ever. Merry Christmas, you all!

Happy Crafting!

Happy Holidays!

From our home to yours, Happy Holidays!

Happy Crafting!

Birthdays

Above is the card I made for all my September and October-born friends... Happy Birthday, Aunt Judy, Andrea, Nicole, and Aunt Toogie! Simple and Girly. Just the way I like it!

Happy Crafting!

Anniversary

Today marks our four year anniversary and the last Oct. 3rd anniversary we will celebrate, as by this time next year, we'll be married and have a new anniversary date! I am such a lucky girl to be marrying such an amazing man! Below is the card I made for Daniel to celebrate today... Happy Anniversary, Love!

Happy Crafting!

For My ODS Graduate

Daniel just graduated from a five week officer training program with the U.S. Navy. And I couldn't be prouder of my man! I was able to travel to RhodeIsland for the occasion and see him all decked out in his uniform (photos to follow). Below is the card I made him for the occasion, with a navy blue sailboat, of course!

To make: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Kraft, Twine String

Happy Crafting!

Meet My Bridesmaids!

Here they are! These six fabulous ladies will be walking with me down the aisle, standing by my side, and I'm sure calming my crazy nerves! I couldn't imagine getting married without them!

So without further adieu...

Austin, my younger sister
Hadar, my best friend since high school
Alex and Jaimee, my cousins
Heather, my friend since college
Andrea, my after-college friend (and Daniel's friend since college)

Bridesmaid Gifts

I have been dying to post this, but wanted to wait until I could show the fiancé how I asked my girls... So here it is! I couldn't just simply ask my closest girlfriends to stand by me on my wedding day, I had to do something cutesy and crafty!

I bought cute bags and wooden hangers, black grosgrain ribbon, grabbed a Sharpie, and went to work. I wrote each girl's name in black Sharpie, then tied a bow. Easy. Simple. Cute!

The bags will be used to hold their shoes, jewelry, etc. The hangers for their bridesmaid dresses!

Happy Crafting!

Refuge and Strength

Another set for the church's silent auction fundraiser... I figured it was finally time to break out my more religious stamp set. It doesn't get much use, but it's pretty!

All is Well: chocolate chip, certainly celery, blue bayou, very vanilla
Refuge and Strength: very vanilla, so saffron, blue bayou, baja blue, chocolate chip
Precious Gift: very vanilla, baja blue, really rust, kraft, chocolate chip
Assurance: chocolate chip, certainly celery, really rust, so saffron, very vanilla

Happy Crafting!