Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

DIY Monogram Photo Collage

Here’s a fun, easy, and inexpensive DIY project that you can make for anyone.  I mailed my last Christmas package mid January (don’t judge), so that means I can share the “how-to” with you here on the blog.
Hobby Lobby has all of my favorite papers, embellishments, and tools on sale all the time.  And that’s good when your crafting on a budget.  This project only cost me $1. to make.  That’s not a typo.  Keep reading and I’ll tell you how to make your own monogram photo collage. 
Supplies Needed:

*Chipboard Letter (This one measures 7 3/4″)
*Various sizes of photographs
*Mod Podge
*Spray paint
*Foam brush
*Scissors
*X-acto knife
*Fingernail filer (metal ones work best)
Hobby Lobby always has these chipboard letters on sale for 50%.  With the discount you only pay $1.  The spray paint I had on hand, but this particular brand was from Walmart and I believe it costs a little over a $1. You don’t have to use a name brand for this project.

When I first made these monogram collages I attached black cardstock paper to the backs.  Spray painting them is so much easier! Remove the price tag from the back, place down a barrier in between your work table and the letter, and then apply one layer of spray paint.  Make sure that you hold the can about 6 to 7 inches away from the letter.  That’ll prevent the paint from creating puddles on the chipboard.  Use any color you like.  I choose black because the photos are in black and white.  Let it dry for about 30 minutes.
Do you have an account with Walgreens online photo lab?  I use them all the time.  If you signed up for the promotional emails they send out frequently then pay attention to them.  Every now and then you’ll get one for a free collage.  Watch the dates that they are valid.  Their offers are usually only good for three days or one day only.  The black and white collage above was obtained through one of their free offers.  You can upload 20 photos.  The range of sizes are perfect for this project.
While your waiting for the spray paint to dry, cut out all of the photos and lay them on your crafting table.
Arrange them in the order you want them to be attached to the letter.  I alternated depending on the age in each.
I always use double faced tape for my adhesive.  You can also use Mod Podge for this part.  Attach the photos to your letter so that all of the chipboard is covered.  You will find that overlapping them is helpful. I attached the larger images first and then utilized the smaller ones to fill in the spaces.  When the whole letter is covered I take an x-acto knife to trim off the excess and then use a fingernail file to smooth the edges.
If you used Mod Podge as your adhesive, let it dry for about 30 minutes to an hour before doing this next step.  I used the double faced tape so I’m ready to move on.
Using a foam brush apply a layer of Mod Podge to the entire letter.  Gloss or matte, whichever you prefer. After the first coat is dry I added one more layer.
When it’s completely dry I flipped it over to sign and date it.  
All done!  I’ve made six of these so far for gifts to my nieces and nephews.  A nice keepsake for the parents as well.  Get creative with this idea.  You could also use the last initial for your family and incorporate family photos.
Until the next project…

DIY Inspiration: Recycled Jeans Into Christmas Stockings

To have one stocking hanging up is just not enough.  I have several that I use for holiday decor.
Here’s an idea on how to recycle a pair of old blue jeans.  If you don’t want to sacrifice a pair from your closet, visit your local thrift store.  You can purchase a pair there for around $3.95.  Use another stocking that you have as a stencil.  Add some ribbon and bells and your all set.  
I didn’t make these.  I purchased them a long time ago from a gift shop where I live.  We hang them every year.
If I knew who created them I would give them full credit.  Great idea!

DIY: Inexpensive Christmas Tree Topper

I tend to step away from the traditional decorations and create my own.  A few years back after we put up the tree we were missing one thing.  The tree topper.  I never owned a star or an angel so I got creative.  I live less than five minutes from a Dollar Tree Store.  And there I found something to use.  A Santa hat.  
I like it.  It’s different and it only cost one dollar.
A low investment with a big return!
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Inspiration: Spider-man Themed Birthday Party

Please excuse the glare in the center, oops.

During my sister’s visit this past June my Aunt shared a scrapbook that she made for a graduation gift.  My nephew’s mom was looking it over as well.  We saw a picture that included the Congrats banner than my Aunt made herself.  It was adorable.  One thing lead to another and I volunteered to create a banner for my nephew’s birthday party that will be held this Saturday.  The task has been on the to-do list for two months. Why do I wait until the last minute?  If I had the answer I would share it with you.  I guess I work better under pressure.

Birthday parties are fun and as we all know they can also be very expensive.  Decorations and the cake alone can add up.  If you are a craft geek like myself it can save you some money.  Handmade rocks (in my world)!  I went to Pinterest for ideas and came up with some awesome decorating ideas.  Spider-man is who Ethan (nephew) loves, so Spider-man it is.
After seeing the banner that my Aunt created it gave me some ideas to create Ethan one that included Spider-man.  I’m using the coordinating colors, stencils, ribbon, and a comic book (as shown above).  Using the stencils and the comic book I’m spelling out Happy Birthday Ethan. The local Dollar Tree has huge sheets of blue and red poster board that will be cut into triangles.  
Tonight I got the letters traced and will cut them out tomorrow.  I’ll share more when they are done.
Click the idea link again that I shared above.  See the background of the table how it looks like a city landscape?  I have two sheets of white foam board (from the Dollar Store) that I can create the same using a black Sharpie marker.  This will make a cute backdrop for the cake table.
Did I mention that I also have two handmade projects for part of his gift?  Four projects total to complete by Saturday.  I will get this done.  My actual cost for everything is very low.  And my time involved in everything….well time doesn’t count when it’s for family.  
Birthdays come around once a year.  The older the kids get the more input they give on what their interests are.  Don’t panic.  Take a deep breath and everything will work out.  You can find a ton of inspiration on Pinterest.  Or simply Google what your looking for.  You can’t go wrong with either resource.
Wish me luck!  Perhaps I’ll do some work on the banner tonight before I sleep.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer     

DIY Tip: Extending the Use of Scissors

In the process of cutting up all the recycled food boxes (for the smash books) I came up with a little tip.  Craft supplies aren’t cheap.  If your like me my top desk drawer is full of scissors.  It’s that one item that craft geeks use on a daily basis.  Let’s get the most out of them so we don’t have to replace them as often.  Agree?  Save a little extra mad money for the fun stuff, not just the necessary items.
Each pair of scissors has a purpose.  They cut fabric, cardstock, ribbon, precision cuts, etc.  When you reach for a pair do you grab what’s handy?  This tip took me about five minutes to complete.  If you designate a pair for a sole purpose you’ll extend it’s use.  Does that make sense?
A:  These were purchased from the dollar store.  I used them for the prep work for the smash books.  I knew I would be using them a lot, so I experimented with a cheap pair for the task.  To my surprise they worked great and are still as sharp as when I bought them.
B:  I chose this Singer pair from my Grandma’s house when we were cleaning it out.  I wanted to take items that I would use.  They are solely for cutting fabric.
C:  Used on cardstock.
D:  Found this pair in one of my craft bins.  No sole purpose yet. 
E:  Used for precision cutting.  An expensive pair of Fiskars.
F:  Used to cut ribbon 
Supplies Needed:  Scissors, brads, hole punch, fine point sharpie marker, ribbon. 
I had some odd strips of ribbon that were leftover from another project.  Wrap a piece of ribbon around the handle, punch a hole, secure with a brad, and write what they are used for with the marker.
That’s it!  I try to contain the clutter in my office as much as possible so I have them in a drawer.  You could also hang them on a pegboard with the loop you made.
When I reach for a pair and see the label, I’m more conscious as to using it only for it’s intended purpose.  That way I’ll get more life out of them. 
I’ve been a bit lazy this week.  My evenings have been consumed with watching the Olympics.  Exciting games this year.  Do you ever wonder how much food one Olympian consumes in a day?  Just a random thought that ran through my brain.  
Goodnight.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

What’s On My Plate: Vegetarian Spaghetti

When it comes up in conversation that I’m a vegetarian the first question asked is, “What do you eat?”  After a little chuckle I simple say, “Food.”
This is my favorite dish to make.  Take me to an Italian restaurant and I’ll order a big plate of it just so I’m sure that I’ll have something to take home.
Vegetarian Spaghetti:   

First I must tell you how this recipe came to life.
Once upon a time a girl named Jennifer wanted a plate of spaghetti.  It was late in the evening, but the endless thoughts of noodles and sauce teased her taste buds.  She was too tired to stay awake so instead an idea came to mind.  Jennifer placed all of her ingredients for the sauce in a slow cooker with the intention of having it for breakfast (seriously).  
Some people wake up to the sweet aroma of coffee brewing.  She woke up and the whole house had the flavor of spaghetti flowing throughout it. Once the noodles were prepared and the plate was fixed a new tradition was born.  I’ve prepared my sauce the same way every since that day. 
Here’s what I use.        
I chop up fresh veggies from the garden.  I like my sauce thick.  The more veggies the better. 
Ragu is my sauce of choice.  I always use two jars because I want to make sure there are leftovers.
Remember Fingerhut?  I got this slow cooker from a catalog years ago for around $15.00.  It works great for this recipe.  I toss in the chopped veggies, Ragu sauce, and then my last (most important) ingredient in the pot and let it cook on low overnight.  When you get up in the morning and go to stir the contents, you may notice that it may be really thick.  You can add a little bit of water to the batch.  
I’ve been known to skip the morning bagel and make toast to dip in a side dish of sauce alone.        
Sugar.  Yes, I know six tablespoons is probably a bit much.  It adds a sweetness to the sauce that it oh so good.  And with most Italian foods they taste even better the next day.
Perhaps if I wasn’t so tired that one evening this recipe may of never existed. 
Here’s a little history on how this food series got started.
P.S.  I’ve been digging through my craft supplies looking for items to use in my smash books.  Along the way I came up with a little tip on how to keep a common tool(s) that we craft geeks use daily in good working order.  I’ll share it with you tomorrow.  So you have to come back.  It’s a useful tip.  I promise.
P.S.S.  This post wasn’t a paid advertisement for the Ragu products.  
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Inspiration: Smash Book Update (Supplies)

Vintage Ribbon
Okay, I made it through the busiest work day of the week.  {clap}
As I mentioned yesterday here’s a handful of supplies that I’ll be using in my smash books.  I was anxious to get home to soak up what we had left of the natural light outside.  I even had a rabbit sitting near me outside watching.  I say him because he’s a resident in my yard and has a name.  More on him later.
I’m sharing this project with you for inspiration.  Or just to entertain you, which ever.  Their fun, inexpensive, and you can truly use anything you want.  Recycle items that you have around the house.  Check the clearance bins at the craft store and thrift shops.  You never know what you’ll find and the possibilities are endless.
How cute in that ribbon above?  I came across a huge bag of sewing oddities in an antique store.  I found these at the bottom of the bag.  Score! 
{I may just have to make a card out of that ribbon photo.  What do you think?  It would also look adorable in a frame to hang in your sewing room.  The mind never sleeps.}
  
Shut the front door!  I found bug ribbon.  Three yards for .27 cents.  Do you know how happy my nephew Sam is going to be when he sees this?  Perhaps his sister Maggie will be also, so I just may have to include some of it in her book as well.  On their trip back home they stopped at Wall Drug and purchased a Bug/Inspector Kit.  My sister reports that they interact with bugs (and the kit) daily. 
I’m using the candy wrapper along with some photos I took.   
Girls like pretty things!  Found these fabric scrap remnants in the bin at JoAnn’s.  With both pieces together I have almost 3/4 yard.  Total cost, .33 cents for both.  Seriously, that’s what the receipt said.  I knew I was buying scraps, but I was unaware that the scraps were clearanced out as well.  I had no problem with that and will probably go back for more.
You can line the pages with fabric, make a picture frame, detail the four corners, etc.  
The Comics.  I’ve been saving for awhile.  I have accumulated a huge stack.  Lots of color to use as a background or cut outs.
I have shoe boxes full of various colors and sizes of bias tape.  I plan to put some in my vintage shop, but why not use some of it, right?  Stamp phrases on the strips and attach them to the pages using brads and colorful staples.
That’s all for now.  Not sure about you, but just typing this post inspired so many more ideas.  I’ll share more later as I start to build each book.  I’ve got piles and piles of goodies that I’m going to use.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer