You CAN make it.

Since there isn't a recycling program here yet, I decorated these cans instead of throwing them away. 

Select Sizes: For a set of organizing cans you could use in your office, hobby room, or garage, go for a variety of sizes.  The ones I used are from large chicken broth cans, normal soup cans, tomato sauce cans, tomato paste cans, and tuna fish cans.  I rinsed, dried, and saved for several months to get a good variety.

Edge Caution:  I used a smooth-edge can opener to remove the entire top without a sharp edge. Otherwise you have to sand your sharp edges.

Mod Podge:  After covering the cans with coordinating paper (using a few pieces of double sided tape to help keep it in place), I layered on the Mod Podge to make the paper more durable and give it a nice finish.

Decorate:  You could use stickers, buttons, ribbon, etc to decorate the cans. The stickers I used were layered under the Mod Podge.

Insides:  I did the same thing on the inside, but given the chance, I would definitely spray paint them a solid color before putting paper on the outside.

Step by Step Instructions: One of the many sites I looked at for ideas.

Fuzzy Sock Cupcake

I bought fuzzy socks and gave them to my coworkers as gifts.  But first I made them into delicious looking cupcakes.  I got the idea from here and the instructions from here.  I used the free Sure Cuts A Lot file for the Scalloped Cupcake Wrapper from here.  The instructions link is complete although here are some the things I learned while doing this project:

1.  You need the longer socks to get the right look, not the lower cut socks.

2.  The non-slip grip on some fuzzy socks can either make your cupcake look funny or you can pretend they are sprinkles.

3.  Try to buy socks that you think will make good "frosting" cupcake colors and will coordinate with your wrapper color.

4.  Once you find the perfect socks, buy them all and then some.  Things disappear during the holidays never to return.  When you try to find something similar later, because you remembered 4 more people you need socks for, you will probably have to buy something less ideal and for more money.  So buy extra extras, and keep the receipt for when you are sure it's safe to return.  

5.  Be sure to post your ideas before you forget all of the important tips you learned. :)

All wrapped up and ready to give:

My coworkers really liked getting these as a gift during such a cold time of year.  But I think you could even do these as favors for small parties, especially if you are looking for a sweet treat that goes to your feet and not those other parts of our bodies...

Christmas Advent Calendar

This is one of those great ideas that maybe didn't turn out like I thought. I wanted to create an advent calendar that would include things we could do each day. I made the little boxes with my Cricut using Tags, Bags, and Boxes. I used glue dots to put the boxes together. After getting them all done, I wasn't really liking the paper. I really wanted to run out and buy some different, more shiny or glossy paper but for this year any way, I am sticking to what I've made.

My original idea was that I could stand them up into a shape of a tree. Then we would just take one off the top each day. Well, the boxes really seemed too flimsy for that. I thought about making some kind of magnet board but that seemed a bit too much.

I was basically stuck with boxes that I didn't like and no way to bring it all together. Gracie with all her wisdom, reminded me on the 30th that I'd better have this ready by tomorrow. So I put them all into my trifle bow, tied a ribbon, and it was ready.

I am hoping that the things we do each day will be fun. Maybe keep the holidays a little more fun and a little less stressed (well, for me anyway). Here are the ideas I put in the boxes. They are in no particular order. I put them in the boxes based on what day of the week it was and what the activity was.

Dance like crazy to music

Camp around the Christmas tree

Dress fancy for dinner

Wrap a present

Paint the snow

Make Christmas cookies

Play a game

Read a Christmas story

Read a Christmas story

Play a game

Go sledding

Read Christmas story from the Bible and leave out cookies for Santa

Drive around and look at Christmas lights

Watch Frosty the Snowman

Watch Christmas movie

Color Christmas pictures

Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows

Call grandparents and sing them a Christmas song

Make snowflakes and hang from ceiling

Paint toenails

Listen to Christmas music

Watch the Nativity

Go to the museum

Watch Christmas Devotional

Buy a gift for someone on the angel tree

Hall-o-Ween Treat Box

I was invited to a CTMH craft party on the 2nd of October by my neighbor, Angie. She is a consultant for CTMH....we made these super cute treat boxes. And it was so fun to mingle and chat with everyone while making them. Mine still needs to be filled with "TREATS", maybe tomorrow.

I thought it would be cute to use photos of the kids when they were much smaller.

This last photo is the very top of the box.

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

Jammin' Favors

Step 1: Go crazy enough to make 50 jars of jam.

Step 2: Make 50 jars of jam.

Step 2.5: Sample all the flavors you made. Briana and I recommend crackers and cream cheese to help with this step. If you completed Step 1 correctly, you made at least 5 different flavors.

Step 3: Use the Cricut cartridge "New Arrival" to cut out the thank you circles. Use a paper punch to cut out circles in secondary color and glue them together. Tape on top of jar.

Step 4: Print out the jam flavors on cardstock and use a paper punch to create tags. Tie around jar with ribbon.

Step 5: Watch as your guests can't decide which flavor they want and ask if they can pay cash for any leftover favors you have.

Diaper Cake

Here's another shower decoration that you don't have to wonder what to do with when the party is over. After I assembled my diaper cake (search for videos online for how-to) I used a wide ribbon to cover the rubber bands. Then I took the leftover flowers from the topiary centerpieces and used them to decorate. I just tucked everything in - no glue - so that the diapers were still usable.

Double Duty Centerpieces

Since I'm helping to plan another baby shower, I thought I'd better get the pictures and ideas up from the last one I planned with Briana. It had a tea party theme, so we bought mugs at the dollar store and put a piece of foam in them topped with moss. Then we took silk flowers and poked them into a styrofoam ball. To conserve flowers, we glued some leaves to the bottom to fill in the space. Next we took wooden dowels that we had painted and stuck one end into the leafy part of the ball and other end into the mossy base. Finally we used ribbon to tie a bow on each "stem". They went together faster than we thought since we didn't have to glue the flowers onto the ball - they just stuck into it. At the shower, after the mommy-to-be picked one out to remember the special day, we gave the rest out as prizes for the games before the guests left.

Wooden Pumpkins

I got this idea off of another crafting blog. They were really easy to complete. These pumpkins were made using a 2X4 - I just cut them to 4 different heights ... mine are 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches tall. Then I took a 1X2 and cut it down to make the stems. Then I painted everything and glued the stems to the top of the pumpkins. I took a Dremel tool and added some lines for more dimension and then I sanded everything... then tied some ribbon on and that’s it!!! I planned on adding some light stain to them, to give them even more dimension, however, I did not have any on hand last night. So I will have to do that a little later, but for now they turned out fun I think. I will add rafia to the odd ball pumpkin with the ribbon in this photo, I was just trying to decide which I liked better, rafia won. :)

Happy Crafting!!

Welcome Sign

I actually made 6 of these for Christmas gifts, ( last year..so behind!!) each in different colors and coordinating ribbon. I thought they turned out really cute. Don't you just LOVE the Cricut!!

I cut 6x6 boards, pre-drilled the holes for the tied ribbon ends. There is 6x6 paper in fun bright colors that I placed onto the board first, then added the Cricut cut flowers, fun brads, my stems, and ribbon, which completed the bouquet. Shadowed the "Welcome" letters and added my cute little fluttering friends.

Ravishing in Ribbon

We were invited to a bridal shower for one of Brandon's cousins, Cami, and we were assigned the laundry room. We put together a laundry basket full of the necessities needed along with a cute poem that tied it all together. Then I made this hanging sign for her to put in her new laundry room. I created the word art on the computer and the frame is a matte wrapped in fun colored ribbon. It took me only 1/2 hour to create this, and she loved it!!

Little Gift Boxes

These were some little boxes that I made with my Cricut using Tags, Bags, and Boxes. I love this cartridge and the cute things it can make. I made about 30 of these gift boxes and we used them in YW to give the girls value bracelets.

Giraffe Graduation

From top to bottom: Envelope, Card, Gift. The envelope and card are both just decorated with stickers. The gift base is an old Christmas container that I covered with paper, stickers, and cricut cutouts. Then I put in a piece of foam and covered it with white crinkle paper. Using the cricut, I cut out the giraffe (New Arrival), phrases with backgrounds (Gypsy font and Base Camp), a tree with leaves (Stretch Your Imagination), and a box (Tags, Bags, and Boxes). The cap on the giraffe is a sticker. All the pieces are mounted on bamboo skewers and stuck into the foam base. Inside the box with flowery top, I placed a little gift for the grad.

Mother's Day "Card"board

I used the Walk in my Garden cricut cartridge for the daisies. Some of cut from white cardstock and some are cut from vellum. The words are white sticker letters. The "card" is a piece of cardboard covered with paper. Inside is a coupon for an at home spa day, with a coordinating piece of vellum overlaying the details. Gold cord is tied to a button, wrapped around the folded "card", and slipped over the button to secure the "card" closed.

Gift Bag Closure

You can keep a gift bag closed by putting a silk flower stem through two holes in the top of the gift bag. This idea was received, not created by me.

Fabric Scrap Card

For a quick card, I sewed a scrap piece of fabric onto a card and added a saying. This is also a fun way to coordinate your card with a homemade gift, or to give a hint of the homemade gift you aren't quite done with.

Lunch Sack Gift Bag

Transform a white lunch sack into a gift bag with cardstock, ribbon, and a velcro. First I chopped off the top of the sack with decorative scissors to the height I wanted. Then I glued a piece of cardstock, as wide as the sack and taller than the sack, to the back and folded it over the top of the sack. I attached another piece of cardstock to the front of the sack, this time as wide and as tall as the sack. Next add the velcro closure and some ribbon for the final touches. In this case, I left a large white area to write the receiver's name with a coordinating marker.

Gift in a Cup

I keep a box in the garage of things I no longer need. Not all of these items make it to the second-hand store. Some become useful parts of gifts. When St. Patrick's day was approaching, I realized I had these bright lime green cups in said box. They became perfect little gift containers filled with green candies and green frosted sugar cookies. I added a festive ribbon around the cup, as well as a green peep on a stick with a tag tied on with another ribbon. This is an easy way to give new life to an old container. This could be done up in any color(s) for any occasion, although using a single color creates a big impact from this little gift.

Double Door Card

I made this card from the blue piece of cardstock that was already scored to fold like that. I used a punch for the large scalloped circle, with mounting tape on one side and velcro on the other so both sides were adhered at an even height. Now one side releases to open up to the inside of the card. I did have to make my own envelope for this card since the piece of blue cardstock was larger than a normal card.

The Hardware Store Gift Container

Striped fun comes from two paint color cards trimmed and adhered to a paint can. I added a ribbon around the top of the can and lots and lots of stickers. I didn't want to have to cut paper to cover the lid, so I just added stickers there too. Then I put in mini versions for a pampering good time. Unfortunately, you probably won't find the manicure items at the hardware store.

The Hardware Store Card

Looking for just the right shades of paper for your card? Visit the paint section of your local hardware store for an array of colors. The fun names of the different colors add character to the card. A few alpha and flower stickers and you're all done.