Creating a gardening journal is a great gift for Mother’s Day, teacher appreciation, birthdays, or hostess gift.

Materials Needed:

• 5201-68 Darice® Blank Crinkle Cover Journal – Natural Color – 5 x 7 inch
• 111905SWSPR Flower Soft Scenic Windows- Spring
• 0330017FSLIL Flower Soft – Lilac 30 ml Jar
• 00330021FSBOR Flower Soft – Bright Orange 30 ml Jar
• KC625532 K&Company® Que Sera Sera 12 x 12 Designer Paper Pad

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting the K & Company scrapbooking paper to fit over the front and back covers of the Darice blank journal.  Score the edges of the scrapbooking paper so that it can fold over the side covers of your journal.

2. To cover the binding over the journal glue a stiff garden themed ribbon.  I used a sunflower ribbon that I had re-purposed from an old sunhat.

3. Optional:  Add a matching bow along the side of the journal using the Mini Bowdabra & Hair Bow Tool & Ruler.

4. To create a gorgeous three dimensional look for your gardening journal use Flower Soft Scenic Windows.  The window is very easy to attach to your journal using foam spacers.  The cover of the gardening journal looks like you are peaking right through a patio door into a beautiful garden.

5. To add the final touches to your gardening journal use Flower Soft to make the flowers in the garden magically come to life.  The flowers will look like they are in full bloom on your gardening journal.

Make this journal for friends, family, or even yourself!  This gardening journal is sure to inspire all of nature’s masterpieces.

Disclosure

I LOVE butterflies! They are so delicate and beautiful. I’ve been seeing them in crafting quite a bit lately. This is MY butterfly craft.

SUPPLIES:

• Bowdabra Bow Maker
• Bowdabra Wire
• Feather Butterflies (or other embellishment)
• Tulle Rolls – 1 roll of each color: Sage, Pink, Yellow, Lavender, Ivory and Light Blue
• 18 inch Green Metal Wreath Form

• Spray paint in a light color (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks

To prepare for making this wreath you will want to watch the DVD that comes with the Bowdabra so you will understand how to make the Tulle Puffs. If you choose to paint the wire wreath form you can paint it and watch the DVD while the paint dries! Why paint the form? In a few places the wire wreath form may show through due to the “see through” nature of the tulle. If you don’t like the dark green wreath form showing you may want to paint it in a light color before beginning.

For the base of the wreath make tulle puffs, leaving the Bowdabra string at least three inches long on each end so that you are able to tie the puffs onto the wreath form.

Keep making puffs and tying them on until the wreath is full. There is probably enough tulle on each roll to make TWO wreaths. You can make one for yourself and one for a friend!

Once the wreath is full, hot glue the butterflies onto the front. Use as many or as few butterflies as you like. You could also use larger butterflies, birds, or just a big bow. It’s up to you!

Editor’s Note: ConsumerCrafts has an amazing selection of Timeless Mini’s- a brand of miniatures that are perfect for doll houses, model train enthusiasts, and more! Our lead designer Vicki O’Dell thought of this darling way to showcase miniatures- perfect for spring decorating.

I’ve always enjoyed miniatures, and I’ve often thought that some day I’d like to have one of those big, fancy Victorian doll houses to furnish and play with…some day when my house isn’t full of young people and, I imagine, I will have a little more space. It didn’t occur to me until relatively recently that I can play with miniatures without the doll house.  I’ve combined my love of making displays and vignettes with my love of miniatures and I’ve started creating miniature scenes.  SO. Much. FUN!  In this scene I was thinking about “The Littles“.  I read ALL of the books when I was young.  They captured my imagination and ran away with it. Soooo I made a small vignette imagining that The Littles were having a picnic.

Here are some of the supplies I used (or I recommend) for this project:

• 5 inch Wood Round Plaque
• Miniature Potted Daisies
• Miniature Vegetable Assortment
• Miniature Cocker Spaniel Dog
• Micro Mini Mushroom Birds
• 1 3/4 inch Gardening Set
• 1 1/2 inch Pot with Yellow Tulips
• 1 1/2 inch Pot with Pink Tulips
• Green Preserved Sheet Moss

To read more about how I put my Picnic together please visit The Creative Goddess Blog.

Supplies:

• Core’dinations Cardstock (I used the So Mod Super Assortment pack)
• white cardstock
• Marvy Scalloped Square Punch
• Doodlecharms Cricut Cartridge
• Cricut
• Buttons (from my stash)
• Embroidery Floss
• 3D Glue Dots
• Tape Runner
• Paper Trimmer

Instructions:

I started by cutting a 12×12 piece of Core’dinations cardstock in half. This left me with a 6×12″ piece of cardstock to use as the base of my card (this is the blue piece of cardstock). I folded that piece in half to create a 6×6 card. Then, I cut a 5 1/2 x5/12″ square of cardstock (this is the green piece). Next, using my scalloped square punch, I punched 4 scalloped squares out of white cardstock.

Next, I chose my images from the Doodlecharms cartridge. This is a great year round cartridge with cute images for every season.

I chose a bunny, an easter basket with eggs and a flower and I cut each of those images at 2″.

I then layered them on my scalloped squares using my tape runner to adhere each cut-out to my square. Next, I threaded embroidery floss through the holes of my buttons and added a button to the center of each flower.  I adhered the buttons with a 3D glue dot. Finally, I adhered each square to the green 5 1/2 x 5 1/2″ square and then adhered that square to the card. Simple, quick and easy. You can also use this card layout and the Doodlecharms cartridge to make cards for every occasion of the year.

Disclosure

• Plastic Easter Eggs
• Chenille Pipe Cleaners
• Glue-on Wiggle Eyes
• Foamies
• Glue Dots
• Pom Poms
• Picture Nail

Instructions:

Begin by enlarging the two holes at the top of the egg or making them. The ones I had already had holes at the top I just took a large picture nail and widened the hole. The plastic is very thin so widening or even making the holes is very easy with a nail.

To make the ears cut two pipe cleaners about 4” long, fold them in half and insert the ends into the holes. Bend the pipe cleaner ends inside of the egg to hold the ears in place.

Decorate the front of the plastic eggs; I used movable eyes, small dots of adhesive foam or pom-poms for the nose, small pieces of pipe cleaner for the whiskers (held in place with glue dots), and adhesive foam for the mouth.

Using glue dots add a pom-pom on the back of the egg for the bunny’s tail. Place either coins or candy inside of the egg to get the bunny to stand.

Make several bunnies using different colored eggs.

This craft was originally posted at Sewing and Crafting with Sarah.  For another way to recycle plastic Easter Eggs visit her Plastic Toy Snake Kid’s Toy Post.

• 6″ tulle in Lime
• 6″ tulle in Turquoise
• 6″ tulle in Ivory Sparkle
• 5/8″ Poly Satin Ribbon in Aqua
• 1.25″ Bright Color Assorted Mini Butterflies
• Hot glue gun

To start out, if you have the ability to do so, measure the child’s waist for whom you are making the tutu.  (Note: This isn’t absolutely essential, since the tutu is going to tie around the waist, so simply cutting the ribbon a little long will ensure the tutu will fit around any size waist, but it can help to make sure the tutu is full enough to suit your taste.)  My daughter’s waist is 20″ around.  Cut an extra 18″ on each end to allow for tying knots to hold the tulle in place, and for tying the bow, so I cut my ribbon at 48″ length.

Cut ribbon to waist size plus 36"

Next, I went in to 18″ on one end and tied a large knot by knotting the ribbon repeatedly, so that the tulle would not slide off that end once I started putting it on. Then, you will need to cut your tulle.  The length of your tulle strips will depend on how long you want your tutu to be.  I wanted my daughter’s tutu to be 14″ long, so I cut the strips to be 28″ long.  You do not have to be totally precise with your cutting – a few shorter or longer strips of tulle will actually give the tutu added texture and dimension, and will look nice.  There is no exact number of strips of tulle to cut, either…it will all depend on the waist size and how full you want the tutu to be.

Cut tulle strips to twice desired length of tutu

Here are the instructions for making Lark’s Head Knots using the tulle onto the ribbon: starting with the ribbon laid across your lap, fold a piece of tulle in half, and slip the loop of the middle point under the ribbon in the direction away from your body.

Slip loop of middle point of tulle under ribbon

Then, lift the middle point of the tulle with your left hand, while taking the two ends of the tulle in your right hand.  With your right hand, bring the two loose ends OVER the ribbon and through the loop of tulle held in your left hand.

Holding middle of tulle up with left hand, bring two ends of tulle over ribbon and through loop with right hand

Switch hands at this point, so that your left hand is now tugging on the two loose ends, and your right hand is holding the ribbon and loop, and pull to tighten until the tulle is snug around the ribbon.  You have now formed your tulle knot around the ribbon, and have learned the basis for completing the entire tutu!

Pull tulle tight, forming knot around ribbon

Repeat with tulle until reaching desired length and fullness

Once you have filled your ribbon with tulle to the desired length (the child’s waist) and fullness, tie another knot in the ribbon at the finishing end as you did when you started, to prevent the tulle knots from sliding off the ribbon.  (Note: Because of the squishy nature of tulle, there is a wide range of how many strips of tulle you can fit per inch/per foot of ribbon.  This is entirely up to you, depending on how full you want the tutu to be.)  If you measured correctly, you should have about equal lengths (~18″) of ribbon on each end with which to tie a bow when putting the tutu on the child.  If the ribbons are terribly unequal, you may trim as desired, as long as there is still ample ribbon to tie the bow.

Once you are finished with the tulle and have tied off the ribbon, it is time to add the butterflies.  These little butterflies are just adorable, and come 12 to a package.  They ARE made of paper, so are a bit fragile – so simply gluing them on the outside of the tutu isn’t the best option.  Rather, take a strip of tulle, place the butterfly, facing out, behind the tulle, and wrap the tulle around it so that two sides of the strip are both wrapped over the back of the butterfly.  Then, apply hot glue to the back of the butterfly, right through the tulle.  This will adhere the butterfly to the tulle, without the glue showing from the outside of the tutu – it makes the butterflies appear as though they are floating inside the tulle – and yet provides them with some protection.

Add hot glue to back of butterfly through two layers of folded-over tulle

Once you have added all 12 butterflies, your tutu is completed!  This would make the perfect gift to put in a little girl’s Easter basket – and is quick and affordable to make.  The cutting of the tulle is the most time-consuming part, and even with that included, the entire project can be completed in 3-4 hours.  And with the supplies costing just under $15 total (with enough left over to probably make a second tutu!), you just can’t beat the price! I sure know one little girl who is happy her mama didn’t wait until Easter morning, though…

What little girl wouldn't LOVE this?

(Editor’s note: It would also be fun and economical to make these for spring-themed birthday parties or to wear for special “tea parties.”  Thanks, Jen!)

Disclosure

When I first opened the package I immediately placed two “C” batteries into the battery compartment.  The lights were small and perfect for centerpieces.

Next, I noticed that the cord coming from the battery box to the first bulb was quite long.  I loved that I had a lot of cord to play with.  When doing a centerpiece or wreath to have a long enough cord to hide the battery box is essential!

I placed my tiny bulb strand on a 12″ Grapevine Easter Wreath.  To attach the battery pack I placed a floral wire through the battery box cover and closed it.  By using the floral wire I was able to still close the battery pack and replace the batteries easily if I needed to.

The packaging mentions that the lights can be glued on wreaths.  I wasn’t sure if they meant hot glue and I really didn’t feel comfortable gluing the wires on the wreath when they could so easily be attached with ribbon.  I placed ribbon between each bulb in the strand.  I had several bulbs left over which I saved to wrap around the bow on the top of the wreath.

Next, I attached faux flowers between the ribbon strands and added a large bow to completely hide the battery box on the back of the wreath.

The wreath looked adorable all light up at night!

Disclosure

Supplies:

• Coordinations Cardstock (I used So Mod Assortment Pack)
• Cricut
• Walk in My Garden Cricut Cartridge (read my review of it here)
• Green wire floral stems
• wire pliers
• 3D glue dots
• 6″ paper mache flower pot
• raw umber acrylic paint
• foam brush
• styrofoam discs
• Spanish moss

To begin, I created the paper daisies as I showed you in my tutorial here . I decided to make a total of 11 flowers. You can see that I varied the sizes and colors of each flowers to make each flower unique and add interest to the final project. Once all the daisies were completed, I painted the flower pot using a foam brush and raw umber acrylic paint.

Next, I filled the flower pot with the foam discs. You may need to cut them depending on the size of pot you use. Then I arranged the daisies and inserted them into the pot, poking them through the foam to stabilize them. Once all the daisies were arranged. I covered the foam with the Spanish  moss. That’s it. Simple, fun and cheerful. Happy Spring!

For this project, you’ll need:

• Pearls Core’dinations cardstock (white)
• Martha Stewart Scoring Board
• Core’dinations cardstock family pack (Shamrock greens)
• Perfect Pearls (pearl powder, embossing ink pad, paint brush)
• Birthday Bash Cricut cartridge
• Stickles (icicle)
• Sanding block or sand paper
• Hot glue gun
• Adhesive runner (Glue Glider Pro)
• Green marker
• Alphabet stamps
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors

To start off, take a sheet of the Pearls cardstock and cut it in half, so that it is now 8.5″ x 5.5″.  Then, using your scoring board, score that piece in half and fold to make a card that is 4.25″ x 5.5″ in size.

Next, take 3 pieces of cardstock from the Shamrock Greens family of Core’dinations, and tear off a piece of each, 3-4″ long.  Tear on all 4 sides, sand the tops of the paper, and then glue to the lower right corner of the card, using your Glue Glider Pro. (Read my review of that here.)

Tear three strips of cardstock from same color family, sand, and glue to card using Glue Glider Pro

Now for the fun part…creating the shamrock!  Cut out 3 circles from the darkest color of green cardstock in the pack, roughly 2″ in diameter each.  Don’t worry about making your circles perfect!   Then sand the circles as desired.

Cut out 3 circles, roughly 2" in diameter each

Sand circles as desired to reveal core

Then, using your scissors, start at the outer edge of a circle, and begin cutting around and around towards the center of the circle, creating a spiral.  This is what it should look like after cutting:

Cut a spiral, starting at outer edge of circle

Repeat for all three circles.  Next, beginning with the outermost piece of the spiral, begin rolling the cardstock.  I like to use tweezers for this part, to help me hold the center of the spiral and assist in the rolling process, but they are not necessary.  It is possible to just use your fingers to do the rolling.

Begin rolling cardstock, starting at outermost edge

Once the entire spiral is rolled, the center-most part will naturally fold under and become the base for the rolled flower.  Using tweezers or your fingers to hold the flower in place, use a hot glue gun to put glue on the very bottom of the flower – on top of the folded-under center part – and push the entire rolled flower down into the glue.  It will dry very quickly.

Hold rolled flower down, and apply hot glue to flower base to hold spiral in place

Once you’ve repeated for all three circles, cut a small piece of green cardstock to be the stem for the shamrock, and then glue all the pieces onto the upper left corner of the card, forming the shape of a shamrock.  I used the Glue Glider Pro for the stem, and the hot glue gun to glue down the rolled flowers.  For a final touch on the shamrock, add some Stickles as desired.

Glue stem and all three rolled flowers to card to form the shamrock

Next, using the Birthday Bash Cricut cartridge, cut out 5 banner pieces at 3/4″ size.  Stamp the letters for “LUCKY” on the banner pieces using alphabet stamps and Perfect Medium ink pad that comes with Perfect Pearls.  (Alternately, you can use an embossing ink pad.)  Then, using a fine paint brush, dip it in the jar of “Perfect Pearl” color of Perfect Pearls, and brush the powder over the stamped letters.

Finally, glue the banner pieces in place across the upper right part of the card, and use a green marker to simulate string/rope in between the pieces.

Add banner pieces to upper right part of card; use green marker to fill in as "string" between the pieces

And…your card is finished!  Whomever is the recipient of this card is SURE to feel lucky!

Disclosure

• 1999-683 Green Sueded Cording
• 1981-59 Silver End Connector
• 2 each   2002-60 Silver Shamrock Cast Metal Charms
• 1990-33 4mm big value bright silver jump ring
• 0726-70 Big Value Glass Beads
• 1118-24 silver glass seed bead
• 3 each  1920-99 3 Inch Nickel Plated Brass Headpins
• 1995-14 Asst Precision Pliers
• 1986-10 7 inch green mix 14x11mm sliding diamond bead strand

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This is a fun and easy lariat and a perfect way to practice making wrapped loops (see a great tutorial here). It takes some time to make but will be well worth it.

Unwind the suede cord and give it several tugs to straighten out some of the kinks.

Begin two inches from one end and make a knot.

Every one to two inches make another knot and continue knotting until you get to the other end.



Attach the ribbon ends and put a charm on each one with a jump ring.

Put a seed bead, bead and then seed bead on a head pin. Make a simple loop, slide the loop over the sueded cord and wrap the wire around.

Keep going. Add the wire wrapped loops until you are satisfied that the lariat is full.

Add charms here and there with jump rings. To wear the lariat fold it in half and lay it around your neck, pull the two ends through the folded loop. Adjust to fit.

I have a post coming up next month that shows a few ways to wear a lariat.

Oh, and by the way, there are so many beads in the bag of glass beads that you can easily make a second lariat with a package of tan sueded cord and a few more charms.

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If you have a question about how to use the ribbon ends please feel free to see the post on The Creative Goddess blog.

Disclosure