Category Archives: Crafts

Free printable tag for your lemon curd

Posted on by

0

Have I mentioned that I LOVE lemon curd? I really do. I need to find a healthier option, but until then, I will enjoy it as a special treat. But seriously, it is one of my most favorite things ever.

I canned a few jars of it this week and needed a nice little gift tag for it. Fold it in half and write a nice message inside the card. Lemon curd should be consumed no later than a year after it’s been canned (who would wait that long?!), so make sure you write the appropriate dates on the back.

Fold it, punch a hold  towards the top fold, and hang by a pretty ribbon or bakers twine.

lemon curd tags

*Will post a picture soon, my printer is out and I need to get them printed. If you are having problems with the quality, email me or leave a comment.

About these ads

Chalkboard clothespin card and photo holder

Posted on by

0

After getting some inspiration from the clothespin crafts I posted the other day, I decided to start on my own project.

I had already started making a chalkboard out of a pizza pan, so I decided to glue painted clothespins around it and attach a ribbon. It matches my home decor so that I can use it all year long!

chalkboard clothespin card holder

Supplies
Pizza pan or other serving tray
Paint
Chalkboard paint (or make your own)
Paint brush
Clothespins
Industrial-strength all-purpose glue or hot glue
Ribbon

Directions
Paint your pan or tray
Paint your clothespins
When all is dry, glue clothespins to tray so that that open outwards; you may have to glue a couple at a time

chalkboard how to
Secure a bow/ribbon to the back (I used hot glue)
Write a message in chalk and hang up!

10 Days Until Christmas!

My treat stands

Posted on by

2

The other day I posted 9 different treat stands and I finally finished some of my own! These were REALLY easy to make. Honest!
Treat stands

Supplies:

  • Light sconces from a ceiling fan or a glass or vase for the base
  • Plates or chargers (got mine at the dollar store)
  • E6000 glue or another all-purpose industrial strength glue

Directions:

  • Glue base to plate
  • DONE!

11 Days until Christmas!

100′s of free printable gift tags and labels

Posted on by

0

Who loves free printables?! I have searched for and scanned through, hundreds of free holiday gift tags and label printables. Although this list is HUGE, I didn’t even include all of them!

No matter what you use as gift wrapping, there is a gift tag here that will go great. I love the little woodland creatures and vintage-inspired tags. Which ones are your favorite? Oh, and did I mention they are all FREE? Plus, they are super easy to download and print!

Have you found any great Christmas gift tags this year?

Free Printable Labels

Now the hardest part is deciding which gift tags to use!

Continue reading →

Easy hanging pictures

Posted on by

0

I guess I am lazy, but I find it a pain to change out pictures in frames, especially when they are hanging on the wall. Solution? Hang the picture on the outside of the frame! You can easily change out pictures of several different sizes and you can change out the backdrop paper as well.

22 days

I bought the frames from a dollar store and the clips came in a 3 pack from Target. I also used spray paint on the clips.

Supplies:

  • Frames
  • Clips
  • All purpose, industrial-strength glue
  • Spray paint (optional)
  • Colored paper (optional)

clip picture frames

picture frames finished

That’s it! Now you can change out your hanging pictures without taking your frames down!

Christmas crafts with clothespins

Posted on by

2

December is here and my house has already begun to celebrate Christmas. I have my mantel decorated and a small tree up and my husband has hung lights, I just have a Christmas tree left to get. This is our first year in a house and I want a real one, like all the years of my childhood! Luckily my husband is willing to indulge me!

The holidays to me are full of crafts and new recipes, family and friends, and special church services. So let the countdown begin!

The other day I found a couple packs of clothespins in the garage and wanted to do something Christmas-ey with them. There are a TON of crafts to do with clothespins. There are a million animals, people, and little critters do make with clothespins, but I was looking for holiday decorations that maybe double as organization as well. I found a few things that seem promising:

Links and tutorials after the jump

Continue reading →

How to create pendants and charms using resin

Posted on by

0

It can be easy to make quality photo pendants and charms using resin. Some resin can be tricky to work with, but I’ve found that Castin’Craft’s Easy Cast Epoxy is actually very easy to use. You just need a few supplies and before you know it, you will have fun charms or keepsake photo pendants for you or for gifts!

Supplies:

  • Castin’ Craft Easy Cast Epoxy
  • Cup (disposable or only to be used for resin0
  • Stir stick/plastic knife/Popsicle stick/tongue compressor
  • Toothpick
  • Scrabble tiles, picture frame charms, cabochon settings, or other setting (I used  charms like THESE)
  • Glue (if using a bail or glueing a frame or scrabble tile onto another setting, use e600 or something similar)
  • Scrapbook paper, digital negatives, small pictures, or other paper-type item
  • Blow dryer (optional, but recommended)
  • Optional – chain, key ring or ball chain, bails, or cufflinks

Epoxy, digital negatives, and frame charms

For this project, I used Costco’s 5×7 digital negatives and frame charms. In the photo on the top of this post, there are cufflinks made out of scrabble tiles, using pictures from a vintage bug dictionary. You can also do photos or scrapbook paper on scrabble tiles and glue a bail onto the back, or use a cabochon setting.

To make tiny pictures: In a photo editing software or PowerPoint create a 4×6 inch shape, insert the pictures you want to use and minimize them to your setting’s shape. Do a couple different sizes to play around with, fill up your 4×6 shape and have printed at a 1 hour photo place.

Directions:

  • Follow the Easy Cast directions and mix your epoxy. The amount you need will determine how many items you are using. A little bit goes a long way, so do several pendants at a time.
  • Cut your paper/photo to fit your setting, tile, or frame; glue into place.

  • Using your plastic knife, small spoon, or stick, carefully drop a small bit of resin on top of your photo. Use a toothpick to spread it into corners and sides. Add more if needed. Resin is thick enough to “dome” on to of a surface, like water on a penny.
  • Using a blow dryer on low, directly above your pendant, carefully blow out any air bubbles.
  • Keep in a warm, dry, place for 24+ hours until no longer sticky
  •  Glue a bail on the back of your tile, attach chain or key ring to your pendant, and enjoy!

Ideas:

  • Charms for jewelry
  • Lockets
  • Key chains
  • Cufflinks
  • Necklace pendant
  • Glue tiles onto bobby pins with settings, or other berets
  • Wine glass charms
  • Napkin ring charms
  • Pins
  • Glue settings onto rings
  • Glue onto picture frames
  • Make 3D stickers by coating store-bought or handmade stickers with resin
  • Use in goodie-bags and stocking stuffers

Quick and easy photo charm keepsake

Don’t forget to “like” The Life of Lulu Belle on Facebook for extra goodies!

 

 

 

 

 

How to make Christmas cards, scrapbook pages and other goodies without special photo editing software

Posted on by

2

I know it’s not even November yet, but before you know it, it will be time to send out Christmas cards. If I don’t start on things now, they will probably go out late! Besides, you don’t have to make just Christmas cards with this tutorial, you can make any card or invite or layered graphic.

My computer has Photoshop on it, but it’s on the fritz, so I have been using my husband’s computer – he doesn’t have Photoshop on his computer and I have been procrastinating on installing it. I’ve been doing all my icons and graphic layering using POWERPOINT! Microsoft does make a flyer making software, but I don’t have that on my computer, either.

Some things are actually easier to use PowerPoint than Publisher or Photoshop or any other fancy photo editing software. I’ve including the following step-by-step tutorial on how to do your own Christmas cards (or birthday, or Easter, or scrap booking or electronic invitations) using PowerPoint. I made my wedding monograms some years back with this technique.

Printing pictures as Holiday cards can be more economical and can offer you more creativity and variety. You don’t have to follow a template! You can even make your own postcards this way by gluing cardstock to the back of one of your pictures.

Continue reading →