Santa Bottles. DIY Recycle Craft for Christmas!

Aren't These great?!
Use them as vases, centerpieces, or even gifts!
Finally a use for all those accumulating wine bottles from my parties :)
I removed the labels first by soaking in hot water with some dish soap.
Once they are completely dry, you can spray paint them red. When that is dry, I taped off the outer lines of the belt and painted with black acrylic paint.
The buckles are some adhesive rhinestones that I found at Michaels for $1!!

DIY Birthday Board ~Never forget a Birthday!

Found this fantastic frame at the Flea Market and knew I could use it for something! It even came with that pretty heart border~ what a steal!

I go gaga over details like this!

So I took everything out of the frame. The picture was on a piece of cardboard that I covered with some wrapping paper.

Now to use my other flea market find...decorative edge scissors (all four for $2!!!). Next, I cut out 6 squares 4"x4" ( I determined the size by the dimensions of my frame with the heart border in place, 16x12. Before cutting, figure out what size yours should be and how you want them positioned, etc). I used the decorative shears to cut each square in half diagonally.

Then I positioned them on the board like pockets and put glue just along the two edges ( the horizontal and the vertical edges). This way they are open on the diagonal so you can use it as a pocket!

Now for some tags! I cut my tags out of cardstock using a ruler as a straight edge (well, and to measure too). My tags are 2.5"x3.5". Punch holes in the tops and tie a cute ribbon through each one.

The tags fit in to the pockets. Each  pocket is a month of the year, so label the days on the tags and write in the birthdays of your loved ones.

Oh! I almost forgot! Make little cute labels for each month and glue onto the corresponding pocket. I used leftovers pieces of cardstock from making the tags and some markers.

Birthday Cake Mix CD DIY

My boyfriend had a birthday not too long ago and so I whipped up a little birthday cake mix for him!

Check it out! I took 2 pieces of cardboard (thin like cereal boxes), traced a CD sized square, cut them out, punched holes, tied them together, and then decorated!

oh! and I compiled a bunch of awesome swing/blues songs on a CD to slip inside. Can't forget that part!

Also got to see the Franklins while they were in town.

 Incredible machines!! and Still running about a century later..how does your car measure up? lol.

Make your Own Giftbags!

Here's a purposeful repurpose for old calendars with beautiful pictures. Make them into gift bags for Christmas, birthdays, and other gift giving occasions!

I made a pattern that can be adjusted for the size of your calendar page.
Just draw it out on scrap paper first to make sure all the measurements work then cut out on the solid lines and crease on the dotted ones.

You'll want to fold the top section down first. Then glue the side flap so you have a rectangle.
Next, glue the bottom flaps to each other with the bottom side flaps tucked inside the bag.

Then, you'll need to punch two sets of holes in the top flap that was folded over in the first step.

I used shoelaces to make the handles but you can use whatever you like (yarn, cord, etc).
 Just tie the end like starting to tie shoes and string the rest through and knot the other end.
Try to make sure the handles are the same length.

This bag was pretty small but if you use more than one page and alter the pattern, you can make larger bags too!

Mike's Christmas coasters I made getting some use already!

There will be more Christmas posts to come including eggnog for breakfast recipes!!