Fakin' It

Milk Plug Recycled Rainbow Beaded Rings

Sometimes I think I have brilliant ideas, so brilliant that those crafty magazines like Family Fun and Martha Stewart should be tracking me down and begging me to bring my creative genius to their companies.

I felt that way about these milk plug rings.

 
Yesterday I was looking through Pinterest and saw a ring exactly like the ones we made. I mean exactly, even the same kind of beads. My first thought was that someone hacked into my computer and stole my pictures but then I realized that I am not that good of a photographer.

I next started looking around my kitchen craft room for little tiny spy cameras. I just couldn't get it through my thick skull that someone else could have the same idea as me.

Oh well, here is my unoriginal rainbow ring craft made from recycled milk plugs.

 
These milk plugs come from organic milk cartons. Add some Aileens Tacky glue and small colorful beads. I kinda feel bad for my husband. He doesn't even bat an eye when he finds my odd collections around the house, like a handful of these milk tabs in our change jar.

 
I put the glue on pretty thickly and then the kids can either dip their rings into the beads or drop them on.

 

Clipping a clothespin to the ring makes it easier for little hands to hold without getting too messy. The glue will clear as it dries.
 
Here is the darling ring on L's hand. It was a great, simple craft for a preschoolers party.

Rainbow Glitter Butterfly Party Favor with Skittles

I found this idea for a cute colorful candy party favor via Pinterest. It comes specifically from the website Baballa.

Source: baballa.com via Becky on Pinterest

 

But of course I had to put my own spin on it.  I started with those same lollipop bags I used to make these rainbow crayon Classroom Party Favors. I filled each bag about half way with Skittles. This is the fun part, 5 Skittles into the bag, 10 2 into my mouth:) REPEAT! You know how kids get brain freeze when they eat ice cream too fast? I definitely got some sort of sugar overload that caused my head to throb!

 
Cut one piece of colored pipe-cleaner in half and use it to tie the bag closed. This will also be the butterflies antennae.

 
Can you believe that I have had this Martha Stewart glitter for 2 years and have only used it one other time? Why are there not more opportunities for adults to use glitter? I mean it is too messy for kids but in the hands of an adult it can turn anything into a sparkly magical rainbow.

 
I used Aileens craft glue to adhere the glitter and eyes. Once it is dried, use the clothespin to clip the two bags together.  Oh how I love you glittery glitter!!

 
Ok - so adults can be messy too but at least I clean up my own mess. And look at the end result!

 
Tomorrow we will be coming home with our party guests straight from a soccer game. Each girl will have one of these lovely little butterflies waiting on her plate at the kitchen table.

 
I still have more rainbow party ideas to come. Check back soon!

Thanks for visiting Fakin It!

Rainbow Crayon Class Party Favor

L is celebrating her 5th birthday at school today. The public schools have put pretty stringent rules on what you can and can not bring in. No more homemade baked goods. They encourage non-edible items be sent in. I reluctantly went along with this but still needed to sneak in some homemade craftiness.

The theme for L's birthday is Rainbows and Crayons. She couldn't decide between the two so we did both.

 
Everyone in the class gets 5 crayons for L's 5th birthday. Her name is signed on the back of the tag.

If you would like to make you own, I am including images for the two printables I created. One general and the one shown above for 5 year olds.

  
Click on the image you want and it will appear full size. Right click on your mouse and select print. 

I have a ton of little lollipop bags. I bought 4 packs of 24 crayons for .40 cents each and put 5 crayons in each bag. Since the bags needed to lay horizontally, I taped the end closed with clear packing tape.  Each rainbow card was folded over on top so I could sandwich the extra plastic from the baggies inside and then staple it all together.

 
Smooth white cardstock works really well for this project.

 
For all the materials used, these ended up costing me about .20 cents per favor. Cute huh!?

Stay tuned for more rainbow crayon birthday ideas this week.

Thanks for stopping by Fakin It!!

Christmas in July Part 4: Personalized Painted Wine Glass

Have you seen these Lolita Wine Glasses? They are all the rage right now in our neck of the woods.

 

They come in tons of designs, themes and monograms but cost $24. Not in my budget right now. I am certainly no artist but I thought I could make my own variation at a fraction of the cost.

 
 
If you buy your wine glasses in multiples, they cost less, around $2 a piece. You will also need paint markers. These cost about $7 a box with a coupon but I already had mine from other projects like this.

 
The Marvy brand is my favorite. Elmers also has paint markers which are pictured in the back of these but I think they a little bit more runny.

Since I am no artist, I stuck with polka dots and pancreatic cancer ribbons, a charity very important to my friend.  
 
On the bottom of the glass, I just made a small heart and my first initial as the signature.

Now I can afford to even add a bottle of wine with the gift and I am thinking of putting a little something down inside the glass too.

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Christmas in July Part 3: Get a Charge Out Of Gift Crafting

There is one thing my boys ask me for almost everyday. Well two if you count food, snacks, candy and pop. Well maybe three if you count clean underwear. I thought boys were supposed to be known for not changing their underwear. Not mine. They are always changing it. Apparently a clothing change also requires an underwear change. But other than snacks and undies, my boys are ALWAYS asking me for batteries! I should really keep track of what I spend every year on those things and invest that money into Energizer or Duracell instead.

The point is, everyone with kids need batteries. Ever wonder what to give to the person who has everything. I can guarantee that kid needs batteries for his "everything."

Here is a unique way to make batteries a fun gift that even my boys would appreciate.

You can get these plastic school boxes for between .50 cents and $1 now that it is back to school time. I used a 50% off coupon for these paint markers, costing me $7 with the discount. But, these can be used over and over again for lots of other projects.

 
Use you paint markers to make a fun personalized design on the box. The hockey pucks were originally supposed to be soccer balls but apparently I have no idea how to draw soccer balls. Girls boxes are so much simpler. I have spent my whole life drawing doodles of flowers, butterflies and curly-Qs in my school notebooks but soccer balls...not so much.

Fill the box with different sized batteries and a little screw driver. The one in the picture came with the the battery pack.  

Now there is a gift you know will get used and be appreciated!

Request: Who is your favorite bog designer? I would like to upgrade. Not sure if I want to go custom or premade. If you have a recommendation or you yourself are a designer, I'd love to hear from you in my comment section below.