How to Hull Strawberries With a Straw

Over the Memorial Day Weekend we took the kids strawberry picking for the first time. They loved it and I'm pretty sure they picked their weight in strawberries.  

Since I've been busy passing out strawberry snacks for what is going on five days now...I thought I'd share a really easy and fast way I discovered to hull strawberries.

DIY End of the Year Teacher Gifts (Fingerprint Art)

It's that time of year again...the end of the school year. Yes...already!  For my son's pre-school teachers I organized a little craft to give each of them from all of the kids.  It's extra special because it includes each of the children's finger prints.

What you want to do is first print the sentiment out on a piece of cardstock.   I couldn't decide which phrase I liked better so decided I would make them a little different for each teacher so I could use both!

If you're going to make the flower pot picture, use some pretty scrapbook paper to cut out a flower pot.  If you're not the best free-hand cutter (no worries, I am not either!) find a  flower pot printable on google images, cut it out and then trace around it.

Then cut out long strips for the stems in different lengths so that you have enough for each child to make a fingerprint flower.  It's best to stagger the height of the stems if you have a lot of children so you can fit them all.  You can also cut out some leaves.   Another option is to paint these.  Again, I'm not the best painter...

I printed some little tags with info about the class and used a glue stick to mount them on top of the flower pot or on the clouds. Then we had each student dip their finger in craft paint and make 5 fingerprints around to make a flower.

I just used a black pen to label the flowers so the teachers remembered what a great class they had!  Once all the paint and glue was dry I picked up the white 8x10 frames at the craft store and framed them.  The teachers really seemed to like them.

Thanks for stopping by 2IY! If you like what you see, we'd love for you to pin it!

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Link It Or Lump It Link Party #39 {Plus Features}

Welcome to the 39th Link It or Lump It Link Party! Well you all just continue to impress me.   Again, some really awesome projects linked up making it tough to pick just four features.

Before we get to this week's features, here's a quick look at what we've been up to here at Two It Yourself!

How to Make DIY Icing Decorations (When You Have No Cake Decorating Skills)

My New Secret Weapon in the Kitchen

DIY Personalized Superhero Tags

And now for those amazing features I promised you...

How to Make DIY Icing Decorations (When You Have No Cake Decorating Skills)

Last week my superhero-loving son had a birthday.   He wanted a batman cake.  After spending a month's blogging salary on his party, I wasn't about to dish out even more on a cake.  I searched and searched for a way to make him a DIY batman cake.

Ohhhh emmmm gee I found the answer at Brass Tacks and Basics!  If you have a printer or a coloring book page you can do this. I promise you - you can do it!   If I can do it, you can do definitely do it and you don't have to do Batman you can pick any design you want.   I may be able to make a mean burlap banner or flip a thrift store dresser, but decorating cakes isn't part of my wheelhouse, I assure you! (Just look at the white icing job...whatevs).

Are you ready to have your mind blown?  Start by making a box cake. Hahha...told you!  Then get out your store-bought icing to ice the cake like you normally would (told you, again!).   Now you're going work on making the DIY icing decorations.  In my case, I was making a big batman logo for the center of the cake.  You can make these any size and any color.  But first things first...

Make a batch of butter cream icing. The recipe I used was from Taste of Home and it froze nicely which is key.

My New Secret Weapon in the Kitchen!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Rubbermaid, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RMDishRack  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

So something happened a few weeks ago that hasn't happened in nine years of wedded bliss....we used our china.  Ya know, the thousands of dollars worth of plates, glasses, gravy boats, serving spoons, and silverware that has sat for display only since before our wedding in 2005....yeah, I finally broke it out.  Unfortunately, I also broke a glass...hence the whole one of the reasons I don't like to use it! 

DIY Personalized Superhero Cape Party Favor Tags

I am in full on Super hero birthday planning mode. My little guy turns three this week and he loves nothing more than super heroes!    We are have the party at a moon bounce house so there's not much I need to do in the way of decorations or food, but I did want to add a little DIY superhero flare where I could!

Personally, I prefer to give party favors other than candy and treats. Is that just me? This year I bought water bottles at the dollar store for a buck each.  I quickly personalized them with each child's initial in the Super Man logo style and then added the super hero cape tags.

I found a whole group of Super Hero cape tags on Pinterest originally posted on Cuor Home, although unfortunately I can't find the direct link to them now.  This made the project super easy although I did want to personalize them a little and PicMonkey made doing that super easy!

Link It Or Lump It Link Party #38 (Plus Features)

Welcome to the 38th Link It or Lump It Link Party! We had some amazing projects linked up again this week.  You just have me so inspired my To Do list is getting a little outta hand!

But before we get to this week's features I wanted to point out something really cool that I shared this week on 2IY! In case you missed it, there's now a way to make DIY Decals...without any special type of machine like a Silhouette or a Cricut!  If you have an inkjet printer and scissors you can make vinyl-like decals for wood signs, home decor, and walls!  The sheets - which are now on sale for just $1/sheet - are called Square1 Printables! So cool...so be sure to check it out! 

And now for those amazing features I promised you...

How to Make DIY 'Vinyl' Decals {Without Any Special Machines}

Just when you thought there was no way to make DIY vinyl-like decals without a Silhouette, Cricut or other die cut machine.  Well, I'm here to tell you there is and it's sooo stinkin' easy!  The secret is this printable, cuttable, removable, repositionable vinyl-like material (but not vinyl) by Square1 Masterpieces.  Be sure to read all the way to the end of the post because I have an exclusive Square1 discount code for Two It Yourself readers!

Two It Yourself's 3 DIYs featured in SquareRooms Magazine

Just over a year ago we started Two It Yourself.  Never did I think that in such a short time we would have reached so many people...around the world.  A few weeks ago I was shocked, honored, and humbled to be contacted by a magazine writer for SquareRooms Magazine.  The magazine is a home interiors magazine based in Singapore!

I was asked if I would be interested in having three of my DIY projects featured in the June issue of the magazine.  Um...would I?! 

So without further ado here's Two It Yourself's big publishing debut in SquareRooms Magazine's Trash to Treasure article!

Two It Yourself's Dresser to Console and Dresser Drawer to raised storage are featured in the June 2014 issue of SquareRooms Magazine

Two It Yourself's upcycled curtain tie backs to towel hook is featured in the June 2014 issue of SquareRooms Magazine

Thanks for stopping by 2IY! If you like what you see, we'd love for you to pin it!

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DIY Mason Jar and Wood Box Flower Center Piece

A few months back I made this wood box using some scrap wood I had lying around.  It was similar to pallet wood.  Just a few even cuts, wood glue, some screws and paint and I had myself a long narrow wood box.  (Read the full tutorial to make the wood box here).

Link It or Lump It Link Party #37 {Plus Features}

Welcome to the 37th Link It or Lump It Link Party! Holy wowzers the talent this week at the link party was off.the.charts.  I'm talking like I'm drooling a bathtub full...you'll see why!

But before we get to what could arguably be my favorite features ever, here's a quick look at what we've been up to around Two It Yourself lately...

• DIY Faux Carriage Garage Doors Makeover (Tutorial for Vinyl or Paint)
• Dollar Store Watering Can Flower
• Washi Tape 'Stash' Storage
•  Door Mat Wall Art (Pottery Barn Knockoff)
• 10 Ways to Grow Your Blog

And now for those amazing features I promised you...

DIY Faux Carriage Garage Door Makeover (And a Giveaway)

Now that the weather is finally getting nice I've been spending more and more time working on outdoor projects. Over the last week my focus obsession has been on giving my garage doors - yes, the garage doors - a makeover.  The things you never thought you'd say.   There wasn't anything really wrong with the garage doors, I just thought they'd look a little nicer  - add some curb appeal - with a makeover.

Teacher Appreciation Week: Watering Can Flower Pot Gift (Free Printable)

Did you know that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week?  Totally is..and you're not too late to celebrate your child's teacher.   (And hint, hint Mother's Day and the end of the school year are just around the corner, too.) This is a really quick, easy, and inexpensive teacher gift..plus I'm making it easier since I'm including some free printables. Plus, I asked my cousin - who's a teacher - what one of the best gifts she ever received from a student was and she told me a potted plant with a sign reading: "Thanks for helping me grow."  So there you have it...this is a total win!

Door Mat Wall Art {Pottery Barn Knockoff}

A few weeks ago I shared this tutorial as a guest blogger over on Free Cheap or Fun blog. Today I'm re-sharing this Pottery Barn knockoff here for all of my readers to enjoy.

I love PB's classic and timeline style and decor, but the prices are a huge turn off for me.  I can't justify spending $399 on a lattice wood panel to hang on my wall when I could be buying two week's worth of groceries for my family for that price.  I do love Pottery Barn's new Lattice Panel Wall Art though and so I figured out a way to knockoff it off for less than $20.

Link It or Lump It Link Party #36 (Plus Features)

Welcome to the 36th Link It or Lump It Link Party! I'm gonna be honest...I'm about to head out of town and I am totally writing this at the 11th hour so let's just get right to this week's features.

10 (Must Read) Tips to Grow Your Blog

Last week as I was looking through all the fabulous projects, crafts, eats, and link ups at the Link It or Lump It party my eye kept being drawn to all the posts on blogging and social media tips. Perhaps it's because Two It Yourself is celebrating it's first birthday in the blogisphere and I'm finally feeling like I know what I'm doing - somewhat.

Blogging takes a lot of work.  Blogging takes a lot of patience. Blogging is a lot of trial and error.  It's dedication and determination for what is often a very small dime..especially at first.  More than anything making your blog a success means a lot of marketing, self promotion, and putting yourself out there.  I certainly don't know everything or even a fraction of everything - I learn a lot of new tips, tricks and techniques everyday to drive visitors and increase readership and brand recognition.

That's why today I thought it would helpful (no?) to pull all of those awesome blogging tips shared during last week's link party together into one awesome  post.  I'm also throwing in a few blogging tip posts that have appeared here on Two It Yourself during our first year.    

Be sure to click through to read all the awesome tutorials to grow your blog - this is definitely one to pin now and read through later!