Category Archives: Crafts ~ DIY ~ Projects

5 DIY Gifts That Kids Can Make

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Are you looking for fun, inexpensive gifts that your kids can make themselves? Look no further! These DIY gift ideas are exactly what you need. Not only does creating handmade gifts help cut costs, but it can increase brain activity in children and help develop creativity. Check out these five simple craft ideas that you can try with your kids. They’ll love sharing their designs with others!

5 DIY Crafts and Gifts

1.     Photos with a Custom Frame

Photos never go out of style and are always cherished. Start by choosing a special picture (perhaps one with your child and the gift recipient), then search for a blank frame of any material that you can fully customize!

For example, decorate a premade foam or wooden frame with beads, glitter glue, and other decorations, or create your own frames from popsicle sticks and other materials that each child can personalize.

These added embellishments help you and your child create a gift that’s specifically tailored to the recipient, whether that’s a parent, grandparent, or a friend from school. The best part? This idea is great for any holiday or special occasion. Make a heart photo frame for grandma for Valentine’s Day or a special Fall photo frame for Thanksgiving. The ideas are endless for this project, allowing your children to dig into their creative designs.

2.     Coasters

Cup coasters are an easy and inexpensive DIY gift for kids to make, and can be a nice option for a parent on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Use a corkboard if you want to paint only, or use wood if you would like to engrave and paint your coasters. Here are the steps you need to follow to create these easy DIY coasters:

  1. Using the mouth of a cup, create a circle on your corkboard. Cut the circle out.
  2. Use acrylic paint to decorate the tops of the coasters.
  3. Once the coasters are dry, spray or paint on a clear coat to help seal in your kids’ art designs.
  4. If you use circular wood pieces, carve your designs before completing steps 2 and 3.
Image URL: ​​https://unsplash.com/photos/ZUgVjh7PFhk

3.     Pincushions

Pincushions have been around for years. Share one with the seamstress in your family to add some homemade love to their crafting area. Make a pincushion out of quilt fabric scraps or old pieces of clothing. Here are five steps to making a pincushion:

  1. Use the mouth of a cup to draw your circles for easy measurement. Cut two pieces of fabric in circles, and place the front of the fabric pieces together.
  2. Sew the edges of the circles together, but leave an opening for the stuffing. Knot your string and cut it at the gap. Turn the fabric right side out.
  3. Stuff your cushion with polyester stuffing until it feels full. You don’t want needles going straight through the cushion because there isn’t enough stuffing.
  4. Sew the opening gap together.
  5. Add some decorations to your pincushion. You can add string from the center around the pincushion—like you are cutting it into pie slices—and add a button to the middle.

4.     Painted Wooden Plaques

Wood design plagues are a home decor trend without an end in sight. These easy-to-do paintings are great for children of any age. This project requires pieces of wood, paints, and fun design stencils.

These are beautiful decorations for your child’s room, play area, game room, or as a gift for a family member. Tape the stencils on the wooden base and allow the children to paint as they desire. When you complete the designs, you can add a layer of clear coating or leave the paint as-is on the wood.

5.     Flower Clocks

Give Grandma a new flower clock made by her little flower. This piece will brighten up the room, give something to help Grandma remember the kids as time goes by, and help the kids learn time while visiting Grandma.

  1. Buy a circular clock that Grandma can hang in her living room.
  2. Add half-circle petals to the outside of the hand clock at each main number.
  3. On the petals, write the number of minutes represented at that time. For example, number one would have a petal with :05, two would have :10, and so on.
  4. Add a stem and leaves to the bottom of the clock to create a floral look.
  5. Let the kids design the flower petals and color around the numbers. Cut different types of leaves to make them extra unique.
  6. When you visit Grandma, hang the clock for her!

Add Love to Your Gifts

Fun homemade crafts can spur memories that will last a lifetime, and these five gifts make excellent home decor items for anyone to enjoy! You can tailor each gift to the particular recipient, adding their favorite colors and designs to the project. These kid-made DIY gifts are an easy way to share love with friends and family members, so start crafting today!

At Home Cleanser & Big Spray – All Natural

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I saw this and I just had to try it. Seems to simple to do much good. I followed the instructions carefully and came out with a large jar of a cleaner and bug spray that that a fresh clean aroma. But does it work? I cleaned the counters and microwave with it. It left the cleaned area with a shine and streak free. I was left without any residue. The ultimate test bugs. Im pretty good at keeping up with house cleaning and maintenance so haven’t had any bugs in the house. However, this time of year here in Salt Lake City we has ant hills that pop up over night. These ant are small and there are a lot of them when they appear. I poured a cup of the mixture and went to an area where there are reoccurring ants. I poured the amount on a small ant hill that was just started. I got some on some of the ants entering and exiting. Not much happened at first. Then I noticed the ants walking around erratically. They were also coming out of their hole. Soon, many started to fall and die. I am going to keep this in my arsenal to clean and kill bugs with. It is cheap and easy to make and then store in a spray bottle (which is eventually where what I made went).

Messy Mixer Fix

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I love to use my mixer. It can do so much. But, it can be so messy. I have a shield but sometimes that just doesn’t work well. When it gets mixing things really well things can start to fly. Fix this problem by using a cling wrap wrapped around the front part of the mixer down to the bowl. Then through away and its gone.

Teaching A Child Fraction and Portions

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A great way to teach a child fraction and portions – use pool noodles. Cut a small portion of tube then cut it in half. Cut the half in half. Cut one of those halves in half. This will give your child something hands on to learn thee concepts in a fun way. I know I was a visual learner and things like this stuck in my head when things on paper I had a hard time getting. Its such a small investment for a child to learn easier.

8 Spring Renovations to Uplift Your Mood

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Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/bouquet-flowers-garden-3874595/

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and there’s no better way to feel like you’ve got a fresh start than a home renovation. Applying cosmetic and structural changes to your home can completely reinvent how you feel about and use a space. Whether you’re interested in getting more natural light or brightening the room with a splash of color, there are plenty of creative options in your price range to explore.

DIY projects aren’t always the most feasible approach to renovations, but they can be the most cost-effective. If any of these spring renovations sound like something you want to take on yourself, remember to follow our guide on steps to take before getting started on your first renovation. Be safe, and make sure you have an educational resource detailing how to operate and troubleshoot your tools for the task.

1.     Try A New Look with Interior and Exterior Painting

Most people incorporate pops of color into a living space through thoughtful furnishing, but if you’re looking to really switch up your decor, repainting the interior of your home is the next step. Consider an accent wall in your favorite color to add depth to a neutral room or unify the furniture with the rest of the decor. Repainting your home’s faded exterior or giving it a completely new look with a different color is also a great way to renovate your home this spring while also improving curbside appeal.

2.     Reinvent Your Backyard With a Deck

Just because it isn’t barbeque season doesn’t mean you can’t get started on summer backyard improvements like building a deck. Decks allow you to extend your living space and utilize your backyard. Adding light fixtures and outdoor furniture can further transform your deck into a great place for friends and family to gather during summer evenings.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/wooden-wood-house-architecture-3346929/

3.     Improve the View With a Landscape Makeover

Creative landscaping around your home is about more than keeping your front and backyard looking sharp; it turns your yard into something you can enjoy. If winter has left your lawn looking worse for wear, spring is your chance to redesign your backyard. Planting a vegetable garden, growing unique flower beds, or creating a path with stepping stones are some of the simple landscaping renovations you can do for spring. Fountains and greenhouses require a little extra work, but having a focal point like a beautiful water feature can add a touch of style and class to any yard.

4.     Prepare for Pool Party Season

It may not be warm enough to swim, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting ready for pool party season. Installing a pool in spring gives you time to get everything ready for guests looking to cool off on the hot days to come. Homeowners who are willing to invest in a pool can not only increase the value of their home but also turn their backyards into a stylish paradise everyone can enjoy.

5.     Update Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home for many. It is arguably one of the most important spaces in your house, which means having a functional kitchen that meets your needs is essential. If your kitchen is too small, consider exploring new storage solutions or renovating it with an open floor plan. Custom lighting can personalize the space according to your needs and tastes, turning your kitchen from plain and practical to warm and welcoming.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/solar-panel-array-roof-building-1794514/

6.     Save By Going Green

Many of our suggestions so far have come with sliding scales when it comes to costs, but what about a renovation that saves you money and helps the planet? It’s becoming more and more common to spot houses with solar panels on the roof as people learn about green energy. Other effective eco-friendly changes you can make for your home include water-efficient plumbing or energy-saving insulation and lighting. Even just switching the bulbs in your house to LEDs can reduce your electricity bill, keeping your house and future bright.

7.     Add Sunshine to Your Day With Skylights

Speaking of energy efficiency, opening up your home to more natural light can make you less reliant on interior fixtures. Skylights act like an additional window and can make any room feel cozier by filling it with sunshine. If you have a green thumb, your indoor plants will also love an additional light source as they grow.  Skylights are also great for those of us who enjoy rainy spring days. Nothing beats curling up on the couch with a book and being able to glance up to watch rain clouds as they pass overhead.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/tools-workshop-equipment-690038/

8.     Take Back Your Garage

Garages are one of the first places we think of when odds and ends pile up and need somewhere else to go. Waking up one day and realizing your garage is a maze of boxes can happen to anyone without notice. Following popular spring cleaning tips and going through what we’ve managed to accumulate over the years may be intimidating at first, but it can also be just as rewarding.

Once you’ve decluttered and freed up space in your garage, the possibilities are endless. It can become an additional space for your family to enjoy, an in-home gym, or the much-needed workspace you’ve been looking for. Turn your garage into a workshop haven for heirloom tools or a playground as an auto hobbyist.

Whether it’s a DIY affair or sitting back while the professionals get to work, these spring renovations can rejuvenate your house. Feel happier and more at ease when you turn any space into a home through renovations of any size, cost, and complexity.