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!

DIY Wood Baby Name Sign

My friend just welcomed her third child - her first boy.  She's in for it.  I tried to warn her, but she's used to quiet, calm, doll baby-playing girls.  Life's about to get a whole lot more crazy! I know this from first hand experience...I had the quiet and calm for two years, nine months and one day and now...this is my daily life.

Bless his little heart.  He's undies-on-the-outside-of-his-jammies-wearing superhero one minute and a selfie-taking princess the next.  Sometimes he wears underwear on his head and sometimes not at all. 

Anyway, she has her precious baby boy and I had a wonderful excuse to make a painted wood sign.  I wanted to do something a little different than the chunky wood baby frame I made for another friend, but I still wanted to include all the baby's birth info.

DIY Blogger Business Card Ideas

Less than a year ago when we launched Two It Yourself I never would have imagined needing blogger business cards.  But when Hometalk asked me to host a Pinterest Craft Party at my local Michaels store, I knew I couldn't pass up on the opportunity on getting a little plug in for Two It Yourself.

I literally was lost. I had no idea what I would put on my blog business card.  I searched Pinterest and found Lauren at Thinking Closet's tutorial on DIY blog business cards and I was instantly inspired..and impressed!  Lauren was a little more on top of her game than I was, so she was able to mail order her cards. I was up against the clock and couldn't afford the ship time so I had mine printed locally at Staples.   The price was a little higher than if I had been able to order them online, but they came out beautifully and I had a coupon for 20% off.


I started by going to Staples.com and getting the exact dimensions of their business cards.  From there you can either use one of their templates to design cards or upload your own design.  I simply used the measurements and the safe zone measurements and then created my own design in PicMonkey.

DIY Chunky Wood Frame (Makes a Great Personalized Baby Gift)

After I had both of my children I received some really beautiful gifts.  I loved every one of them, but those I cherish the most are the ones that are personalized.  This sign for instance is one of my favorite.  A friend of mine had casually asked about my son's nursery theme during a conversation and then ordered a sign on Etsy with an airplane tugging a sign with his name on it.  I just love it.

So when a friend had a baby recently I thought - ya know, I wanna be the one that gives that gift.  Of course, I had to make it.  Honestly the basic chunky wood sign was easy to make.  All that text did make the project a little hairy at times, but I have a few tips to make it easier.

DIY Sharpie Mugs {Using Stickers as Stencils}

A few days ago I was in the dollar store and I picked up a pair of white mugs.  I full intended to use them for my first ever Sharpie mug project.  I wasn't sure who would be the lucky recipients until I realized they'd make the perfect housewarming gift for my husband's cousin and her roommie.

If you don't know how I feel about monograms by now...well then you must not be visiting 2IY enough (kidding, of course)..but I am very fond of them.  I already had a black oil based sharpie paint marker so I was in business.

For some reason I was totally blanking on a design (perhaps it was the 11th hour-ness of my gift) so I turned to Pinterest where I came across these adorable mugs by Simply Kierstie.  She's one of my favorite bloggers anyway so I'm not surprised I was drawn right to her Sharpie mugs of all the mugs on Pinterest (there are a bajillion).    I typically use Pinterest for inspiration, but honestly why mess with perfection - and to me, Kierstie's mugs were perfect. 

5 Silhouette Projects for Beginners

So I got a Silhouette Portrait - the little sister to the Silhouette Cameo - for Christmas.  (If you're not familiar -it's a paper cutting machine or a die cut machine use to make cards, stencils, labels and for scrapbook.) It's really not fair - my kids open up their new toys and immediately they start playing with them non-stop.  I guess when you're a mom it doesn't work that way.  Wah wah wah.  I'm dying to play with my new toy, but I'm squeezing it in during naps.  When does school start back up? I kid. I kid.

Salt Dough Recipes for Ornaments: Handprint Santa and Christmas Gift Tag Ideas

Sure, so Mother Nature gives us a 70 degree day smack dab in the middle of December - along the Mid-Atlantic- and makes it RAIN? What is up with that? That's like the worst tease ever.   Wah Wah Wah...and so we were stuck in side...again.  And guess what this mom had up her sleeve...another kids hand print project!  I have a whole board of handprint art ideas on Pinterest..and I have to say they are very popular!  The one we made today is different than anything we've made before because it's actually a 3D ornament, instead of just a paint hand print.

The are a few different salt dough recipes for ornaments floating around out there, but I did this one <<<.  To make one Santa handprint ornament and eight other small to medium size ornaments I went with 1 cup of flour and half a cup each of salt and water.

This is a toddler-friendly craft and since I had a pint size helper, he helped me mix the flour and salt together in a bowl.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Her, Him (or whoever): Kids Funny Quote Book

I don't know about you, but if it wasn't for the funny stuff my kids say and do I'd pretty much pull my hair out six days of the week.  Somehow just one of their unintended, hilarious one-liners can turn a bad day good any day of the week.   I used to write them all down in a MS Word document...and then I had my second kid.  Yeah, I haven't even written the poor guy's birthday in his baby book yet.  He's 2.5...years not months.  But what I do, nearly daily, is share the funny stuff my kids say on Facebook.  Turns out FB is actually a perfect way to keep all the quotes in one place.

This year, I decided I would go back through my year's worth of Facebook status updates as a way to remember all the funny stuff my kids said and turn it into a little book.   It's the perfect last minute gift idea for daddy...or if you're a dad, mommy...or grammy or pops or whoever!  I can just see my husband now flipping through it while sitting at his office....those little nuggets of kid wisdom melting the frustrations and stress of work away.

DIY Monogrammed Wine Bottle Bag (Pottery Barn-Inspired)

I think I like wine accessories more than I actually like wine.  Take for example, Pottery Barn's textured linen wine bags = LOVE! I loved them so much I knocked them off....cause, you know, I love Pottery Barn...oh and they're no longer available so I basically had no choice, but to DIY. 
The PB version (on the right above) has a linen look so I used my go-to linen impersonator: drop cloth. 

DIY Cheap Photo Cards for Christmas

I don't know about you, but I have noticed that with every year that goes by we get fewer and fewer Christmas cards.  I'm sure part of it is friends figure you keep up with photos and happenings on Facebook and the other part of it is expense.  Between the cost of Christmas photo cards and the postage to mail them, it's not cheap to send out dozens and dozens of photo cards.

Every year my list seems to grow, but this year I'll be trying to keep it to under 75 cards.  For that many photo cards, it can easily cost over $50 and that's not even including postage. This year I decided I would make my own cheap photo cards.  With all the online editing programs out there, it's actually really easy to do.

How to Make a {Real, Lighted} Pumpkin Topiary

I have been drooling over all the gorgeous pumpkin topiaries on Pinterest for the last month or so.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my front porch could definitely use some sprucing up.  After I scored five flower pots for $5 I decided I had a perfect excuse - not to mention a perfect base - for a pumpkin topiary.

I've been on the hunt for some large inexpensive fake pumpkins, but those babies don't come cheap in the peak of the season.  I plan to buy a few after Halloween when they're marked down on clearance, but this year I decided instead of going without I would go with a cheaper - real - version.  The problem with real pumpkins is they are heavy, they are not symmetrical, you can not drill into them (to use a dowel for support) or they'll rot within days.  Honestly, they're not ideal for a pumpkin topiary - but they are the cheapest way to go.  And with a few tweaks it is possible to make a real tiered pumpkin topiary, even one that's illuminated.

DIY Monogrammed Burlap Pillows

I admit it my front porch is lame right now...I've got a pumpkin and a flag and a pink solo cup where my five year old is trying to grow a tree out of those little whirlygigs she peeled off the street.  I'm not even kidding.  That's the extent of the excitement on my front porch at the moment.

I'm on the hunt for a bench, but it's taking WAY longer than I'd like to find one at a thrift store.  I tried the headboard bench thing, but that was just a giant fail because you need like 5 hands to do it and I only have two and the Mr. wasn't home...

Anyway, I'm living vicariously through my friend whose front porch is looking more fall-like everyday so, of course, I was honored when she asked me to re-cover a set of pillows for her bench.

Mr and Mrs Pillows and '&' Pillows

In addition to getting my kid on the school bus for the very.first.time today, trying to get this blog (and another) off the ground, and finishing my $100 powder room makeover (yes, it's still in a state of incomplete) I'm also trying to build up my Etsy shop, Cuteness Cubed.  That's part of why I've been a little thin over here...I've been working over there while trying to keep my two mini bosses happy. ;)

I'm really excited to show you what I've been working on...and yes, I've been keeping my sewing machine busy! 

I love the rustic feel of them and how they can be personalized.  The neutral tones of these babies (did I mention they're Pottery Barn knockoffs?!) lets them fit into any style and color scheme.

DIY Wood panel and burlap monogram

While trying to figure out what to put above my small entryway table, I remembered a pin I had seen for a wood and burlap monogram and I instantly knew how I would make it.

I had purchased a wood stepper for a few dollars a few months back at Christmas Tree Shoppe, but my original plan for it didn't work out so I've been using it for scraps. 

I apologize in advance that I don't have many pictures of the process.  I was working so fast and furious that I never picked up my camera until I was done.  (Bad blogger, bad!)

Refinished small entryway table with DIY chalk paint

The entryway in our 50+ house is not exactly screaming for a table or bench..it's small and there's no real place to put anything.  A table in the hall would take up most of the walkway and with two little ones chasing each other 12 hours of the day I don't really want to risk it.

I recently got a small wood nightstand from my late grandparent's estate and fully intended to paint it and use it in my daughter's bedroom.  But when it came to painting it I made a rash decision and changed my plans.

DIY Chalk Paint...way cheap and just 3 ingredients

Have you ever used chalk paint?  Not chalkboard paint just chalk paint.  Annie Sloan is the go to for this thick paint that goes on easy and smooth and doesn't require hardly any prep work like sanding or primer.   It's ideal for painting furniture because it covers well and is great for distressing. 

However, for all the good there is one big downfall: the stuff comes with a pretty steep price tag.  Think around the $40 mark for a fairly small container.

Anyway, I decided before I shelled out the big bucks for some Anne Sloan Chalk Paint I would try the DIY version.

DIY personalized wood sign from pallet wood

I am a pallet virgin no more! I have finally completed my first ever pallet wood project and it's this awesome personalized wood sign that's now hanging in my dining room.  I got the pallet board from my aunt and it's been sitting in my garage for months waiting for me to make just this very thing.

How to transfer text to wood without a stencil

There are several different methods to transfer text or ink to wood.   I have used the wax paper transfer method which works well if you have a large amount of text.  But since you print on wax paper, and then bring water into the equation, you run the risk of smudges and smears.

DIY baby gift: Monogrammed Chevron peg frame

My best friend from college and 3-year roomie just welcomed her second baby this week - another girl - and I immediately got to work on a baby gift for her.

With her girls almost exactly three years apart - I know she probably doesn't need many baby clothes or gear or blankets or useless silver plated booties.   Plus, I'd much rather make something so it can be personalized.

I immediately knew that I wanted to use this awesome monogrammed chevron printable from For Chic Sake that I had come across a few weeks ago.  I've been dying to use it for a project, but just hadn't found the perfect use for it - until now.  

 

This was one of those projects that just kept evolving as I was working on it.

At first I was just going to frame the monogram, like in the above example.  But then I remember I had the last of my three ugly old shadow boxes still tucked away.   (I mean if this doesn't go to show that you can turn an ugly duckling into a swan, I'm not sure what does.) I cleaned it up and spray painted the wood box and the back. (Click here to see how I used the other two to frame my daughter's first ballet shoes and an old family recipe from my late grandmother.)

How to print white text on black or colored paper (Yes, it's possible -and easy)

So this isn't so much a DIY project as much as it is a tip and trick that I learned today as I was attempting to make a DIY Father's Day gift for my husband.  What I wanted to do was print out a document that looked like a blackboard with white chalkboard font.  But if you've ever tried to print white font you know it's not actually as simple as it seems like it should be.

You can't just stick a black piece of paper (or any other non-white sheet of paper) into the printer and get white text by selecting white or even a shade of near-white for your text. So how to print white text on a black background...This had me scratching my head and running around like a mad woman as time was running out.