Everyone’s going crazy for washi tape and with good reason, too! It’s inexpensive, and you can decorate anything with it! Spruce up your keyboard, notebooks, smartphone, or walls using nothing but these fun patterns. You can get washi tape from any office supply store or you can purchase it in lots for cheap on Ebay. Making your own washi tape wall decals is a great way to decorate your plain walls without worrying about damaging the wall or repainting it when you get bored with your design. When you’re in the mood for a change, simply peel off the tape and start again!

Supply Checklist:

1) Washi tape

2) Parchment paper

3) Letter templates (print your own using Microsoft Word in any font and size you like)

4) Scissors

5) Craft knife

6) Craft mat

Step #1:

Print out your letter templates onto regular printer paper. Cut them out along the outer edge leaving any edges inside the letters intact. This will make your template a bit more stable when you’re cutting out your letter out of washi tape later.

Step #2:

Take a piece of parchment paper and place it on your letter. Cut strips of washi tape and place it over the letter. Make sure every new strip of tape you lay down overlaps the previous strip of tape slightly. This will help the letter stay together when you’re peeling it off later.

Step #3

Turn the parchment paper over and place it on your cutting mat. The washi tape should be facing down. Take your letter template and place it on top. Cut your washi tape letter out using your craft knife.

Step #4:

When you’ve cut out all your letters, it’s time to figure out how to arrange them on your wall. Use scotch tape to stick the letters (with the parchment paper still attached) on your wall. Arrange them any way you wish, and when you’re finished, you can begin peeling the parchment paper off and sticking the washi tape onto your wall. All finished!

Photos: Designer Trapped, 3 Little Green Woods.

This cute wreath is so easy to make and it doesn’t cost anything to make! Grab some green scrapbook paper and hot glue to put this together and you’ve got a great St. Patrick’s Day wreath you can hang on your door or mantle! Try making mini ones and string them together using twine for a shamrock garland! If you don’t have any green paper lying around, some green acrylic paint over white paper works just as well! Get out the scissors and let’s get our craft on!

Supply List:

1) Green scrapbook paper. You can use double-sided scrapbook paper, or you can use regular white paper and paint it using acrylic paints.

2) Seven 12″x2″ strips of paper

3) Seven 10″x2″ strips of paper

4) Seven 8″x2″ strips of paper

5) Green ribbon so you can hang up your wreath

6) Some extra paper so you can make the front decoration, and you will need it for some back pieces of the shamrock

7) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Step #1:

Take a strip of paper of each length and stack them one on top of the other. Glue the ends together on one side.

Step #2:

Take the inside piece and make a loop. Glue the other end down.

Step #3:

Repeat the same step with the other two pieces of paper. You will end up with a teardrop shape.

Step #4:

Repeat these steps until you’ve made a total of 6 teardrops. Glue them together by the ends in groups of two. You will end up with a heart shape.

Step #5:

Now it’s time to make the stem of the shamrock. You should have 3 strips of paper left. Take the 12″ strip and make a fold mark 5″ from the left edge and 5″ from the right edge. There will be 2″ between the two fold lines. The area between the folds will be centered. Take the 10″ strip and make a fold mark 4.25″ from the left edge and a fold mark 4.25″ from the right edge. There will be 1.5″ between the two fold lines and the area between the folds will be centered. Take the 8″ strip and make a fold mark 3.5″ from the left edge and a fold mark 3.5″ from the right edge. There will be a 1″ area between the fold lines and the area between them will be centered.

Step #6:

Line up all the ends and hot glue them together.

Step #7:

Put your shamrock together. Cut out a small circle out of paper. This will hold all your points as you’re gluing them together. You can add an accordion fold circle to the front center of the shamrock. It will hide all the glued points. Glue a piece of ribbon to the back and hang up your ornament!

Photos: The Craft Patch.

Save those coffee grounds from your morning coffee and put them to good use! From fertilizing your garden, deodorizing your fridge, to cleaning your pots and pans, there are so many ways you can use coffee grounds! So next time you make a cup of hot coffee, save the grounds! Take a look at our top 10 ways you can use coffee grounds around your home!

1. Get Rid of Scratches on Wood Furniture

Furniture a bit banged up? Steep some coffee grounds and dip in a q tip. Dab the q tip on scratches to hide them.

2. Clean Your Pots and Pans

Place a spoonful of coffee in a dirty pot to help scrub away grease. The coffee acts as an abrasive to get rid of stuck-on food and oil.

3. Give Seedlings a Coffee Boost

When planting seedlings, stir some coffee grounds into the dirt to raise nitrogen levels in the soil. You can also add the coffee grounds to your watering can to give them a boost that way.

4. Age Paper

This one is great for craft projects! If you want your boring white paper to have an aged look, dip the paper into coffee diluted with water. Leave it to sit for a minute, then take the paper out and dab it dry.

5. Get Rid of Insects

Sprinkle coffee grounds around plants to keep bugs at bay. Make a ring around the plants to ward off slugs and ants that want at your precious flowers!

Photo By: Trusty Joe

6. Deodorize Your Fridge

Fridge smelling funky? Put a small amount of dry coffee grounds in a cup at the bottom of your fridge. The coffee will absorb any odors that are lingering in your fridge.

7. Give Your Blue Hydrangeas a Boost

If you’re trying to grow Blue Hydrangeas, add coffee grounds into the soil before planting. The coffee will increase the acidity level of the soil and it will also help the flowers absorb any aluminum in the soil, which helps keep them a vibrant blue!

8. Keep Ashes From Flying Around

If you’re trying to keep ashes from flying all over your floor as you’re cleaning out your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds over them. The damp grounds will help keep the dust down.

9. Get Rid of Cockroaches

Get rid of these unwanted visitors by filling up a jar with an inch of damp coffee grounds. Take out some sticky tape and wrap it around the jar’s neck. The coffee will help draw the cockroaches into the trap.

10. Clean Your Hands

To get rid of onion or garlic odors from your hands, rub coffee grounds on them before washing them with soap.Photos: Yankee Magazine, Cleanipedia, Well and Good, Brandon and Shelby, Black Down Garden Centre, Working Mom Adventures, Deborah Silver, Passion Potager, Pest Control Toronto, Home Food Safety.

We’re loving this super cute gumball machine! What’s great about it is that it’s cheap to make, and you can get the kids involved in making it! Fill it up with Hershey’s Kisses, pink and red M&M’s, or Valentine’s Day conversation hearts! Head on over to your local dollar store for supplies and let’s get started!

Supplies:

– 4″ terracotta pot and 4″ terracotta saucer

– wooden doll head

– paint

– a small round bowl

– alphabet stickers

– ribbon

– glue

– candy

The first thing you need to do is paint the pot, saucer, and the doll head. Get as creative as you like! When the paint has dried, glue the doll head to the top of the saucer. Now take your pot and turn it upside down. Glue the bowl on top of the pot. When everything has dried completely, fill up your bowl with candy (we love Hershey’s Kisses and conversation hearts!) and place the saucer lid on top.

Don’t forget to get creative with your gumball machine! Switch up the pink and white paint for black and silver, baby blue, or red. Add glitter, rhinestones, or pearls. Anything goes! This makes a great craft to do with the kids because it’s super easy to make, and we bet the kids will want to make a ton of these!

Photos: Joy Unexpected, Moms by Heart.

If your jewellery is cluttering up your room and getting tangled, make this cute arrow jewellery holder! It’s made out of a wooden dowel rod, thin wood strips, and screw hooks. Paint it to match your room or bathroom and you’ve got a trendy little organizer that can be made to match anyone’s budget!

Step #1:

Grab yourself a thin strip of wood (1/32 x 3×24″) from JoAnns or Michael’s and cut it with scissors to make a front and back piece for your arrow. If you’re unsure how to cut it, you can find lots of arrow clip art on Google Images. It doesn’t have to be too complicated, so keep it simple!

Step #2:

Take a small saw and cut a groove into each end of your dowel rod. You can find dowel rods at any craft store for about $2.49. The thin wood you cut earlier should fit easily into the grooves without a need for glue. If the wood is slipping a bit, add a dab of hot glue to hold it in place.

Step #3:

Place small screw hooks into your dowel rod about 3″ apart. The dowel rod should be soft enough for you to push in the hooks without too much trouble.

Step #4:

If you like, you can paint your arrow. In this project, Inka Gold Metallic Rub was used to match the gold screw hooks.

Step #5:

And you’re finished! Hang up your new jewellery holder anywhere you like!

Photos: Lemonade Makin’ Mama.

These glitter paper lanterns can be made in a pinch and are great if you’re on a budget this holiday season. You can still have a stylish New Year’s party without spending too much! Paper lanterns can be bought virtually anywhere. Try your local party shop, Ikea, or dollar store. Glitter and Mod Podge can be found at any craft store, and that’s all you need for this easy project!

Supplies:

– Paper lantern

– Spray glue or Mod Podge and a brush

– Glitter

– Drop cloth or newspaper to contain glitter

Step #1:

Follow the directions on the package of the lantern. Insert the light bulb and form it into a sphere shape.

Step #2:

Spray the glue (or paint on Mod Podge) in patches and immediately sprinkle with glitter. Allow excess glitter to drip onto your cloth or newspaper.

Step #3:

Cover the entire lantern with glitter and allow to dry. If the lantern is not covered enough, go over it with another layer of glitter. If you notice any glitter flaking off even after the glue is dry, you can spray the lantern with hairspray or clear spray paint.

Photos: Oh Happy Day.

This beautiful pinecone wreath is so easy and cheap to make, which is perfect for those low on time and on a budget! You only need a few basic supplies, along with a bunch of pinecones! Hang it up on your mantle or front door and don’t forget to decorate it with a big bow!

What You Will Need:

1) Pinecones

2) Wire hanger

3) Pony beads (or any regular white plastic beads)

4) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

5) Ribbon or fabric

6) White spray paint (optional)

Step #1:

Shape the wire hanger into a circle, leaving the hook part on top of the circle. You’ll use the hook to hang up your wreath.

Step #2:

Glue one pony bead to the bottom of each pinecone.

Step #3:

String the pinecones onto the wire and adjust them to make them fit together without leaving any gaps.

Step #4:

If you want your wreath to have a snowy look, you can give it a very light coat of white spray paint. Allow the paint to dry and decorate your wreath with a large bow or any decorations you like!

Photos and idea: Do it Yourself Divas.

We’re completely in love with this cute horse ornament! The best part about this ornament is that it looks more complicated to make than it actually is! You don’t need any sewing skills to make it, and you don’t have to follow along with the tutorial exactly to make one. Just use the supplies you have on hand! Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) 8″x10″ piece of felt or any other kind of stiff cloth

2) 8 mm black sequins

3) 6/0 black glass beads

4) 10 inches gold cord

5) 2 star fasteners or star sequins

6) 16″-18″ of 1/8″ leather cord or ribbon

7) 6″ white fringe trim (you can also use yarn in the color of your choice, just brush it with a brush to fluff up the yarn to make it look more like the horse’s mane)

8) Horse pattern (open up the image and right-click to save it to your computer)

9) Embroidery needle, black thread, and white embroidery floss (if you decide to stitch instead of glue your horse)

10) Glue gun and glue sticks (if you decide not to stitch your horse)

11) Scissors

Horse Pattern:

Step #1:

Print out the pattern. Cut out 2 of the head and 2 of the ear.

Step #2:

Place the 2 head pieces on top of each other. Glue a sequin on each side for the eyes. Glue or stitch an ear on each side of the head.

Step #3:

Place the fringe or yarn between the two head pieces for the horse’s mane. Trim the fringe if you feel it’s too long. Cut out a piece of the gold cord and place it between the 2 head pieces just behind the ear.

Step #4:

Glue or stitch the head pieces. Leave the bottom open so that the candy cane can fit inside. Cut 1 piece of leather or ribbon that’s 5 1/2″ long, and 1 piece that’s 9 1/2″ long. Begin on one side of the nose and glue the horse’s reign across the nose. Stop gluing at the point where the neck ends. Loop the reign around the head and glue the same portion to the other side of the nose. The ends should meet at the top of the nose. Step #5:

Begin about 1″ from the top of the nose and glue the harness to the head. Loop it around the head just behind the ears and meet at the same point on the other side. Trim if you need to. Glue a star bead at the point where the 2 pieces meet. Insert the candy cane. Done!

Photos and idea: Serendipity Refined.

These hot chocolate mug ornaments are just too cute! You won’t believe how easy they are to make, either! You can make them practically for free, since they’re made of paper towel tubes and paper! Make a bunch of them so you can have your very own set that you can reuse year after year!

Supplies:

1) Paper towel tubes

2) White paper (you need both card stock and regular printer paper)

3) Brown paper (the color of hot chocolate)

4) Cardboard (soft cardboard works best, like the one from cereal boxes)

5) Coffee filters

6) Red and white striped drinking straw

7) Mod Podge

8) Glue

9) A little bit of water in a cup

10) String or embroidery floss so you can hang up your ornament

11) Craft knife

12) Needle tool

Step #1:

Begin by cutting your paper towel tube into 5 equal parts.

Step #2:

Cut circles from cardboard. Each mug needs 2 circles. One will fit on the tube, the other will be slightly smaller. The smaller one will fit inside the tube.

Step #3:

Glue the large circle to the bottom of the tube.

Step #4:

The smaller circle will be glued onto a piece of brown paper. The brown paper will be larger on all sides than the cardboard circle. While the tubes are drying, cut the white card stock. You need a band that is long enough to wrap completely around the tube. The band will also need to be wider than the height of the mug. What you also need is a white card stock circle the same size as the larger circle glued to the bottom of the tube. Use Mod Podge to cover the outside with the band of white paper. Allow the paper to overhang on the top and bottom edges.

Step #5:

Cut a fringe around the paper on the top and bottom. This will make it easier to wrap around the tube.

Step #6:

Wrap the paper onto the bottom of the tube and over the top of it. Use Mod Podge to glue the paper down.

Step #7:

When the glue is dry, glue the circle onto the bottom and cover the wrapped paper ends.

Step #8:

Go back to the small circle that’s glued onto the brown paper. Cut generously around the disc and make a fringe the same way you did above.

Step #9:

When the disc and the tube are dry, put glue around the edge of the disk and put it into the top of the mug. Don’t worry if the hot chocolate disk isn’t even in the mug.

Step #10:

Use your needle to make a small hole near the top of the mug. This is so you can hang your ornament.

Step #11:

To make the mug handle, roll up strips of printer paper. Use a toothpick to help you get started. Soak them in water until the paper roll bends easily.

Step #12:

Curve the paper into a C shape, then set it aside to dry.

Step #13:

When the handles have dried, use a craft knife to cut the ends at an angle. Glue the handles into place.

Step #14:

When the handles are dry, give the entire mug a coat of Mod Podge.

Step #15:

To make the mugs look more realistic, bunch up a piece of coffee filter and glue it on top. This will be the whipped cream.

Step #16:

To make the peppermint stick, cut the straw into equal pieces and glue them to a piece of paper. When the glue has dried, trim around the straws. The white circle of paper will close the tip and make it look like a peppermint stick.

Step #17:

Cut the other end of the straw on an angle and glue it to the top of the mug. Get a piece of embroidery floss and thread it through the hole you poked earlier and make a knot. That’s it! Finished!

Photos and idea: Mega Crafty.

Glitter and Christmas go hand-in-hand, which is why we adore these snowflakes! They’re made of hot glue and brushed with Mod Podge and glitter. Make a set to hang on your Christmas tree, or make a garland out of them. Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

2) Wax paper

3) Dish soap

4) Ornament template

5) Glitter

6) Mod Podge

7) Small paint brush

8) String or wire

Step #1:

Search google for snowflake templates and print them out. Use an image with simple lines.

Step #2:

Set your wax paper over the image. Mix a small amount of dish soap with a little bit of water and spread it over the wax paper. Trace the image with the hot glue.

Step #3:

Wait for the hot glue to dry, then peel off the snowflake. Gently wash the ornament with a little bit of water to remove the dish soap.

Step #4:

Cover your snowflake with Mod Podge using a small brush.

Step #5:

Cover the snowflake with glitter.

Step #6:

Add a hanger to your snowflake by making a loop out of wire and glue it to the back of the snowflake. Wait for the glue to dry and hang up your ornament!

Photos and idea: By Stephanie Lynn.