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!

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

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!

DIY Magical Fairy Garden

When we moved into our house, our kids were thrilled to find that there was a small, partially tumbled down fairy house, made by some child long ago, down in the woods. It seemed like the idea place to create a magical, mysterious fairy garden for them. If you aren’t’ lucky enough to have your own fairy house, fear not, an porch or even an indoor garden is a fun and simple project that your children (and you) will love.

Things you’ll need:
Miniature fencing
Woodland style furniture
Doll sized garden tools – Mini Pitcher, Flower Pots, Rusty Tin Shovel , and Wheelbarrow
Small accessories – Grapevine Snowshoes, Mini Veggies, Mini Rusted Birdhouse, and Mini Baskets
Moss
Sticks
Large low pot, box or planter saucer (optional)
Soil

Things to do:
1. If you are creating a fairy garden from scratch, fill your container about ¼ full with soil and line the entire surface with moss, tucking the edges in around the edge. Water it well and allow it to drain a little before beginning. If you have a fairy house in place, sprinkle the ground outside with soil and lay out a “yard” of moss. Sprinkle with water to help the moss stay fresh.

2. Begin by placing your fencing. You can create fence “posts” by sinking small but sturdy sticks into the soil and wrap the ends of the fencing around the posts to make a sturdy edging for your garden.


3. Once you have defined your space, think like a fairy! Arrange furniture, pots accessories and tools the way you might if it was your garden. Be sure to add a few small details that suggest that a fairy was just there a moment ago, maybe a basket of veggies just pulled from the garden. Another nice touch is to plant small plants in some of the pots, just be sure to remember to water them!


4. Your fairy garden can stay as is or, if you have young children who love to believe, try moving things around now and then to keep the magic going!

Beach Sand Hand

Summer trips to the beach or lake are always great places to make memories with your kids. This year take a memento of your time in the sand home with you in the form of a sand cast handprint from your little one.

Things you’ll need:
Plaster of Paris
Water
Disposable container and spoon for mixing
Pie pan (optional)

Things to do:
1. If you don’t have access to a section of the beach where your handprint can sit undisturbed while it dries, fill your pie pan about half full with wet, but not sopping sand and pat down to create a flat surface.
2. Press your child’s hand into the sand firmly so that you get a nice deep impression of if.

3. Mix up your plaster according to the directions on the package and spoon it carefully into the impression of the hand, using the tip of the spoon to work it into the fingers.

4. Allow the plaster to harden fully before pulling it out of the sand and brushing off any excess. Be sure to label the plain side of the hand with a name and date so you’ll never forget just how small their hands were on that special vacation.

Clay and Popsickle Stick Plant Labels

Garden time is here! This project is both a fun with the kids kind of craft and a handy gardening must have all wrapped up together. Use either air dry or bakeable clay for this craft, but either way, be sure to seal if you will be using them outdoors.

Things you’ll need:
Air dry clay (make your own!)
Craft sticks
Cookie cutters
Stylus
Super glue
Rolling pin
Sealer spray

Things to do:
1. Roll out the clay to a 1/4 inch thickness and cut out fun shapes.


2. Press the shapes gently into the craft sticks. This wont hold them on but the indentation on the back will help when the glue is added.

3. Write the name of your plants on the clay with the stylus. Alternatively you can allow them to dry flat and write the names on later with permanent marker.

4. Allow the clay shapes to dry, or bake as needed.
5. Glue the sticks in place and coat the entire thing, front and back with sealer spray. Allow it to dry before using.

Summer Leaf Placecards

With summer, comes summer entertaining. And while summer is meant to be as casual as possible, its always nice to add a little elegance to the table. These pretty placecards are as simple as a pressed summer leaf.

Things you’ll need:
Leaves
Heavy book
Paper
Gel pens
Stamps

Things to do:
1. Place the leaves between sheets of paper and sandwich between the pages of a book. You don’t need them to dry completely, just enough to lay completely flat.

2. Remove the leaves and write the names of your guests on them with gel pens. Color the stamp with the same pen and stamp to decorate. Allow the ink to dry.

Glitter Flowerpots

This is a fun and quick way to add a little sparkle to your patio or garden.

Things you’ll need:
Chalk
Flowerpots
Glitter
Mod Podge Hard Coat
Crystal Clear Glaze Coating (if using outdoors)
Disposable container
Foam paintbrush

Things to do:
1. Draw a line around the pot with chalk at the height where you want your glitter to stop.

2. Mix equal parts Mod Podge and glitter to form a thick, sparkly paste.

3. Paint the glitter/glue mixture onto the pot right up to the line in several thin coats, allowing each to dry before adding the next, until the bottom of the pot is totally covered. Let the glue dry overnight.

4. If the pots will be exposed to the elements, coat them inside and out with Polyurethane to seal the glitter in place.

Upcycling: Coffee Can Bird Feeder

This simple little bird feeder is a perfect afternoon craft with the kids. While spray paint is the easiest way to decorate the can, with kids you can try using acrylic craft paint.

Things you’ll need:
Coffee can
Spray paint (or acrylic paint)
Jute twine
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Can opener
Scissors

Things to do:
1. Wash and dry the inside and outside of the coffee can.

2. Turn the can upside down and, using the can opener, remove the bottom from the coffee can. Be sure to file down the edges of each side so that you will not harm the birds.


3. Paint the outside of the can (several coats of spray paint or let the kids go crazy with paint!)
4. Cut the lid in half and glue each of the halves over the ends to create a basin for birdseed.

5. Thread the twine through the upper part of the can and tie over a tree.