Upcycle: Plastic Bag Peonies

If you’ve looked through home decor magazine this year, you’ve seen beautiful arrangements of big, peony-like flowers. Especially outdoors! They look beautiful, but we all know they will be dead within days. Wouldn’t you love an arrangement that was inexpensive, durable, and recyclable? This craft is for you! Manipulate plastic grocery bags to make beautiful blooms that can be left outside all summer.

Things you’ll need:
Plastic grocery bags; multiple colors
Pipe cleaners
An empty powdered-drink container or jar
Rocks
Adhesive tape
Floral tape

Things to do:

Make the vase:
1. Empty and clean a powdered drink container. This is your vase; decorate or paint as you want.
2. Fill vase with gravel or glass beads to give it weight. Set aside.

Make the flowers:
1. Take a plastic bag and flatten it.
a. Tuck sides into bag by sticking your thumbs into the bag and pulling on the handles.
b. Fold handles back into the bag and tape down. Tape down any other flappy things until your bag is a rectangle.

2. Accordion- fold the bag along the long edge. Set aside.

3. Repeat on anywhere from 2 to 5 bags. (More bags, bigger flowers!)

4. Gather bags together with a bright pipe cleaner and twist to secure. This pipe cleaner becomes the center of your flower. Add additional pipe cleaners to taste.

5. Add another pipe cleaner facing away from the flower center. This will become the stem.

6. Gather the flower ’stem’ in your hand.
a. Move up the flower for a tight bloom,
b. Down the stem for a big, open flower.
7. Wrap the ’stem’ with tape to secure.

8. Pull and fluff your flower to taste.
9. Arrange flowers in vase. Add cut greenery or sticks if you’d like.

10. Enjoy!

Enjoy your flower arrangement all summer long. Leave it outside and don’t worry about dead petals or icky water. When summer ends, dump the rocks in your yard and toss the flowers and vase into the recycling bin!

Easy Balloon Flowers

Make these Balloon Flowers for a non-traditional Mother’s Day bouquet. Blow Mom or party guests away with these hand-made, personalized flowers. Great for party decorations and personalized gifts, these flowers are sure to please everybody!

Difficulty level: Beginner

Things you’ll need:
Balloon
White construction paper (cut into a large square)
Green construction paper (cut into a small square)
2 – Green pipe cleaners
Permanent marker

Things to do:
1. Make your flower petals by folding your large white paper square in half, corner to corner making a triangle.
2. Create a smaller triangle by folding this paper triangle again, corner to corner.
3. Create an even smaller triangle by folding this triangle again, corner to corner.
4. Hold the point of your paper triangle where all of your folds meet and cut a curve on the opposite end of your triangle. This is your petal design, so shape it the way you would like.
5. Now snip the point of your triangle where all the folds meet.
6. Open your paper up and you should have a petal design with a small hole in the center of your paper circle.
7. Do steps 1-6 with your small green paper square. Make sure the whole at the center of this piece is fairly small so that your balloon knot will fit snugly through it.
8. Blow up your balloon to a size that is big enough to write on but not big enough to cover up your petal paper, and knot it closed.
9. Twist the ends of your pipe cleaners around your balloon knot.
10. Twist your 2 pipe cleaners together
11. Slip your white petal paper on your pipe cleaners through the center hole.
12. Slip your green sepal paper onto your pipe cleaners through the center hole, and carefully pull the balloon knot through your paper holes to secure into place.
13. Write a message with permanent marker on your balloon and create many more balloon flowers for a fun, pollen-free bouquet!

DIY Embellished Flip Flops

Spring time means the toes are coming out! This quick project will let you create a completely unique pair of flip flops without breaking the bank! Before you glue, play with your embellishments to try out different looks. It’s easier to change your mind before glue is involved!

The design presented here is just one of many ideas. Once you pull out your supplies, inspiration will strike!

Things you’ll need:
Flip flops
Embellishments: sequins, rhinestones, silk flowers, beads
Craft glue for plastics
Toothpicks (for picking up and placing tiny things!)

Things to do:
1. Place a dollop of glue on the strap of the sandal. Be generous!

2. Add your embellishments along the strap.

3. Finish decorating one sandal. Set aside.

4. Mirror design on second sandal.
5. Let sandals dry completely before wearing.

Guest Blog: Fancy Sequin Flip Flops

Hello! I am so happy to be back with another post for you this month. Today’s project is going to focus on some fancy footwear! Sequins are rocking the crafting world right now as far as trends go, and they have always been a part of fashion so I thought it was only appropriate to bring a little sequin fun with this easy DIY project.

Things you’ll need:
Plain Flip flops
Sequins
Hot Glue Gun

Things to do:
1. Lay down a sheet of paper (for easy sequin clean up) and spread your sequins out so it is easier to see sizes and colors as you go.

2. Use your hot glue gun to adhere the sequins alternating colors and sizes as you go. I find it easier to work from the center out.

Now you have taken those boring plain flip flops and turned them into a sparkling sensation that is right on trend for the summer! Share your take on this project in the comments below, and thanks so much for stopping by today!

Happy Crafting!
Lisa from Lisa’s Creative Niche

Flower Hands Tote

Perfect for mom or grandma, this flower tote bag is both handy and a precious reminder of the little hands in your life.

Things you’ll need:
Cotton Tote
Fabric Paint
Foam brush
Iron
Waxed paper or freezer paper

Things to do:
1. Lay out your bag on a covered work surface. Slip a piece of wax or freezer paper into the bag to keep the paint from seeping through.

2. Coat your little ones hand with a thick coat of paint and press onto the bag. Turn the bag slightly and repeat, creating the petals of a flower. Continue to work around in a circle until you have the flower.


3. With the paintbrush, add the center of the flower and the stem.

4. Allow the paint to dry and then heat set according to the directions on the bottle.

Upcycle: Bird and Butterfly Dish

With summer approaching, this fun and easy craft will delight the bugs and birds in your yard while giving you a bright pop of color.
A trip through a local thrift store turned up this neat, shallow, Mexican-glass bowl. Attractively priced at $2, it came home! Other vessels that we spotted that would work just as well were pie pans, odd-shaped casserole dishes, and clay pot saucers.

Birds are kind of like people that they won’t just jump into a pool. We like adding a gradual entry to the dish, kind of like stairs in a pool! And insects and lizards don’t jump in at all, they sip from the side. So consider adding a ‘pile’ to the bottom of your dish will make getting a drink easier for all of these critters!

Age range: 4+ (must be able to use silicone glue)
Time to complete: 15 -30 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty level: Beginner Crafter (Great for Kids)

Things you’ll need:
E6000
Shallow dish
Glass beads
Tape, scissors, cardboard

Things to do:
1. Play with glass beads and the dish to determine the design you want to create.



2. Put a dollop of glue on the bottom of the glass bead and attach it to the dish. It’s easiest to start in the middle and work your way out. If you want a ‘pile,’ use a cardboard form to hold your shape. We used clear beads on the bottom to allow light under the bright colors on top. If you’re building a pile, glue the first layer, let it dry, and then glue the next layer on top. (yes, this is the voice of experience!)





3. When you finish your design, let it dry overnight (or longer, depending on the glue manufacturer’s instructions).
4. Place your dish in your flowerbed (shade is best to slow evaporation). Add water and enjoy!

Felt Bunny Finger Puppet

Quick and fun, this little project turns a little bit of felt into a sweet, wonderful finger puppet. Embellish as much or as little as you like with embroidery thread and you’ll have the perfect wee friend for your little Easter bunny.

Things you’ll need:
Felt squares
Embroidery thread
Template
Embroidery needle
Scissors
Pencil

Things to do:
1. Fold a piece of felt in half and trace the template onto the felt so the flat side is against the fold.
2. Cut the puppet shape out.

3. Using embroidery stitches, add eyes, whiskers and embellishments

4. Fold the puppet in half and close up the side and over the head with a whip or blanket stitch.

5. Trim all thread before playing!

Easter Pony Bead Melties

Everyone knows that pony beads can be used to make all kinds of jewelry and fun macrame beading projects. Add the beads to some heat and you now have a whole new world of possibilities!

Things you’ll need:
Plastic pony beads
Ring blanks, bails, hair clips, jump rings
Glue
An oven
Parchment paper
Cookie sheet (with a rim!)
Kitchen timer
A toothpick
Googly eyes, marker, ribbons or cord

Things to do:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Lay parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Fold, push, and cut so that it lays flat.

3. Arrange your beads to make flowers, bunnies or chicks.

a. If you’re making a pendant, set a jump ring under a bead or two, with about half of the ring sticking out.


4. Carefully move the cookie sheet into oven. Turn on the oven light!

5. Set your timer for 4:00 minutes. Make sure the room you are using is well ventilated; turn on a fan and open a door/window.

6. Check your ‘melties’ to ensure nothing rolled out of place. Carefully push them back into shape with a toothpick if you need to. Check that jump rings are still touching beads.

7. Return to oven for 6:00 minutes. Set your timer.
8. Check that the melties are as melty as you want. Add minutes to bake time as you need. By this point you should just stand by and keep an active watch!


9. When everything looks smooth and melted, remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Don’t forget an oven mitt!
10. Let the melties cool completely.
11. Attach your designs to necklaces, hair clips, or ring blanks. Glue on googly eyes if needed. Draw on faces for some personality. String pendants to ribbons or cord. Enjoy!

Peeps! Cards

Peeps are a must in our house during spring. We just can’t go without them! So this year we’re extending out love of Peeps! and sending out cards to friends and family that look like a happy little row of our favorite spring treat! Join in on the fun! Who can resist them?

Things you’ll need:
Pastel cardstock
Peep! Card Template
Brown marker
Scissors

Things to do:
1. Using the template cut a set of bunnies out for each card you want to send from your pastel cardstock.
2. Add brown eyes and nose and fold down the middle of the card.

3. Add a message and send off with your Spring Greetings!

Spring Egg Placecards

Having a Spring Party? Why not add a little color and fun to your table with these cute egg placecards?

Things you’ll need:
Wood egg cups
Craft paint in spring colors
Hard-boiled eggs
Food coloring
Paintbrushes

Things to do:
1. Paint the egg cups with two coats of craft paint, including the inside of the cup. Allow the paint to dry and add polka dots if desired.


2. Using your finest paintbrush, paint on the names of your guests with the food coloring. Allow the food coloring to dry completely before moving.

3. Set the eggs in the cups and you are ready to go!