Tin Tags (made with soda pop cans)

My kids used to fight over who gets to sit where at the kitchen table.  

So...we assigned each kid a specific spot to sit at.

Then the chair fights began
(we have mix matched chairs, some with cushions and some without).
Kids were pushing and pulling chairs to their assigned spot at the table.

It was all too much!

I had "had" it with the kids!

I first started out with file folder label stickers with their names as a temporary solution. 

Then I saw this great idea on a blog.

I saw the idea quite a while ago and went back to look for it but couldn't find it
(I wanted to give them props for their idea:)

It is a knock off of those tags that are commonly seen on framed pictures or awards.

I call it Tin Tags

made from a soda pop can

my cost = $1
soda pop cans = FREE...recycled
nails = $1

Supplies:

• soda pop can
• scissors
• something with a straight edge
• ball point pen
• black paint (acrylic)
• small nails

NOTE:  Please use caution and common sense when doing this craft.

It can be dangerous and it is possible to get hurt.

(click here to read our disclaimer)

1.  Cut the can top and bottom off and cut through the center so it can open up.

 2.  Cut a piece larger than the size that you want (you will be bending the edges).

 3.  Using something with a straight edge

(I used the handle of a butter knife) bend back the edge
(in toward the outside of the can).

DO NOT crease the edges.

If you crease the edges they will break off and create a sharp edge as if you had just cut it.

 4.  Continue to fold each edge. 
You will have to open up the folds as you go along (be careful). 
If you don't folding becomes more difficult.

  5.  Cut off each corner so that the cut line touches the folded corner.

The cut corners help the edges to lay flatter.

 6.  Press all folds down (but do NOT crease).

7.   Using a ball point pen (my favorite is the Bick Crystal!) write using pressure.

Write using multiple strokes if needed to create an indentation.

8.  Using black paint, paint onto the writing and rub it off
(leaving behind a thin layer of paint).

The paint will settle into the indentation.  This helps to bring out the writing.
You may need to repeat the process if you rubbed off too much paint.  I like to do 2 coats.



9.  Nail it!

Here you can see how I nailed it differently.

Using 4 nails helps to hold the corners down (excellent for the kid chairs).

On the adult chairs I used some left over tiny nails I had laying around.

For the kid chairs (I ran out of those little nails I had).  I bought carpet tacks #3 from Home Depot for about $1.00.  They were the closest the the size I wanted.  There are a ton in the box. 

I'll never ever need to buy tiny nails again!

Here are 2 variations on the Tin Tag:

you can slide labels into either one

 

  Plain Pocket

Curved Pocket

Happy labeling!

Mileka:)

Cool Ideas (Vacation Keepsake Displays)

My children and I love keeping things that we've acquired from places we've visited and vacations we've taken. These special mementos usually ended up in our "special keeps" box (a plastic tote that gets rummaged through only once every year on our "memory day").

The thing that bothered me so much about chucking stuff in the keeps box is that we couldn't enjoy the mementos and  pictures more often.

Sure we could've brought them out to look at more than just once a year but going through a pile of ticket stubs, postcards, foliage (that's right, foliage) and reciepts doesn't really sound appealing, does it? Actually it kinda sounds like tax time! Groaaaan! Not to mention all

the pictures that were put on my hard drive stayed there . . . .doing nothing. . . .but sitting. . . .

THE MADNESS HAD TO STOP!!

Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Anyways, I had come up with a solution for those really special vacations that had lots of mementos and pictures.

I framed them!

Sorry bout the hideous pictures, no matter what, the "glass"

in the frame would reflect light from every which way so I had to improvise.

As you can see we kept our theme park maps, ticket envelopes, tickets, stroller tag, postcards, brochures, card keys, foliage gathered, wristbands, etc. We used whatever we kept to help us remember the wonderful time we had on that particular vacation. 

These frames are poster frames that I would buy whenever I saw some at a garage sale. I paid .25 for the 22x28 frame

and $3 for the 24x36 frame at two separate garage sales.

 I've found that these frames were the best for framing mementos because

1. There's no glass, just a thin, plastic covering so it's lighter (all the mementos tend to get a little heavy especially as the frames get larger)  

2. They are easier to hang because they come with "clips" that hold backing in place  

3. They are also able to accept not so flat items or bulky items (if you look really closely, I have an acorn in one of the frames) because of the clip backing 

4. You can find large poster frames for much less than what you would pay for regular frames of the same size. 

5. You can find these frames quite easily at almost any garage sale

When you have your frame and all your stuff,  take the frame off and just start placing the items on the "frame backing" according to how you want it to look. (make sure you are doing all this on a flat surface) I filled the entire area so that there was no background showing through. I used the maps and brochures in the background to cover more area. Put the frame over the backing to see what gets cut off by the frame (there will always be just a little cut off on the borders, this will help with placement. When you are sure you absolutely LOVE the placement, tack each and every one of the mementos down to the backing (either with double sided tape or fold pieces of tape on itself to make it double sided) This will ensure all the stuff won't fall down to the bottom of the frame when you hang it. Replace the frame and Hang!

These frames hang in our loft and the children love stopping to look at them to remember the good times we had on our vacations.

Another way I think is really cool to display keepsakes from a trip is to make Trip Jars.

These are very inexpensive because they can be extra glass food jars that you have laying around. These are pickle jars. Wide mouth jars are the best for this particular project. I also love the look of mason/canning jars.

All you need to make these is 1. the jar, and 2. the keepsakes.

I usually take the label off by scraping it with a razor blade (you know those razor blade scrapers). These are very effective tools to take all the paper and the glue off the glass. (Be very careful if using the razor blade method)

A lot of the time, the lids will also have labeling on it. All I do is 1. remove the lids and 2. give it a light coat of spray paint. Usually one coat will do!

There are several ways to label your glass. There's vinyl, sticky labels (file folder/return address labels), homemade tags, glass etching, etc. My favorite method is vinyl. I like to put, 1. where we went on that trip and 2. what year it was. You can put whatever it is that you want to put on it, it's all up to you.

There are soooo many ways to display keepsakes and mementos, this is just 2 of them! I hope you will go through those boxes and drawers of "stuff" that you're keeping and put it to use! (or you can just face the facts that you are a packrat and love holding on to stuff that you will never, ever be able to enjoy only to have rodents eat them forcing you to eventually throw them out and then feeling sad that you never actually did anything with them when you had the chance!) <---- This could be you! Don't let it happen, you're better than that!

Brandi-Lee

Quick & Easy Decorating

Do you have a corner in one of the rooms of your house that needs some TLC to fill the emptiness? Here's an idea that is quick, easy and pretty. The best part? Pretty much everyone has the materials to do this project in their house RIGHT NOW!

Materials: #1  Chair (any old kitchen chair will do)

I scored a few mismatched chairs from a friend that was getting rid of it. Don't you just love the worn look of it? Depending on your decor colors, you might want to paint (with spray paint) and distress (with sandpaper) your chair to go with it.

#2  Throw (or Blanket, curtains, any type of pretty fabric)

Just about any pretty fabric will look good draped over a chair. I got this single drapery panel from Goodwill awhile back for $1 on dollar days. The colors matched my living room and I liked the design and embellishments. I didn't mind at all that it didn't have a mate because I knew that I could do just about anything with the fabric (recovering, framing, making throw pillows, etc). . .especially if the design and colors of the fabric were pretty.

Drape the fabric over the chair and Voila!

You've got a quick and easy way to dress up an empty corner of a room!

Brandi-Lee

Faux Tin Star (cardboard)

Faux Tin Stars

I totally love tin stars.  I've always wanted them...but as usual...I don't want to pay for them.

So...of course I figured out how to do it for free (using what I already had).

They are made from...cardboard.  One of my all time favorite supplies.

cost = FREE
(already had everything I needed)

Supplies Needed:

• cardboard
• pencil
• ruler
• box cutter/exacto/etc.
• tape
• newspaper
• school glue/mod podge
• paint (spray paint or acrylic)
• sand paper

 1. Find a pattern of a star that you like.  print it out (or just draw one).  I found this one on yahoo images.  There are lots of different types and styles.  I like the chunky ones.
Cut it out and tape it down.

2.  Find the center of your star and draw lines out BEYOND each point (if you want to enlarge your pattern like I did.  I did a 2:1 ratio.  The long points are double the size of the shorter points (I measured the long lines at 8 inches beyond my pattern and the short lines 4 inches beyond my pattern).

3.  poke a hole through the center of the star.

 4.  remove the star.

5. connect the lines through the center hole.

6.  connect the outside points.

7. Cut out the star. 
Score each long line of each star. 
Turn the star over. 
Redraw the lines and from the score all the short lines (on the under side).

8.  Bend the star so that the long lines are raised and the short lines are indented to create a 3D effect.

9. "Scrunch" your star so that it is the height that you want it and trace it onto another cardboard.

(p.s...the hairy arm is not mine...lol...guess who:)

Note: depending on the size and shape of your star you may need to trim the points at the short lines to get it to lay flat.

How to trim:  locate short line point measure in (1/2 to 1 inch in).  From that point, draw a line to the long line point.  Cut the trim line.  Repeat this process all the way around the star.  

This will help your star to lay flat.

10.  Cut out the 2nd star (it is the backboard) and will be smaller than star#1.

11.  Tape each long line (outside points) of star #1 to star #2.

12.  Also tape each short line (inside points).

it should look like this.  See how it's raised....ooo.

13.  Paper mache/mod podge one layer newspaper onto the front of the star
(the paint will take to the newspaper better than the cardboard...and it will help to hide your tape). 
I use white school glue watered down with a little water to thin it out to do this.

14.  Let it dry and then paint it black.  I spray painted these.  You could also use acrylic paint.

15.  After it was dry, I sanded each raised edge (the long lines) and around the outside edges.

Tada

They have texture and character. 

I really like the way that they turned out.

I made a bunch of different sizes for variety.

If you want to hang them all you have to do is make a hole in the back star (star #2) and hang it on a picture hook, screw, nail, or push pin...whatever you fancy.

mileka:)

Paint Chip Mosaic Hide-a-Box Wall Hanging

I have a wall in my kitchen that has my thermostat smack dab in the middle of it (as well as a phone jack and a light switch).  I thought it might be kind of hard to decorate that wall.  Decorating around it was an option but I just couldn't stand the sight of it.

So I decided to hide it.

Guess where it is...

it's hiding in a box...

"hide-a-box"

cost = FREE

Supplies:

• corn dog box (or other box-with a flip top-or make one with a flip top)
• news paper
• school glue/mod podge
• paint brush
• paint
• paint chip samples

HOW TO:

1. I went to my local Home Depot and scored me some

free paint chip sample cards.
(click this link to read more about paint chip sample cards)

2. I cut them into smaller pieces (tiles) to fit onto the top of my box.  I don't like to measure.  I like to "eyeball" a lot of stuff.  You might be the measuring type of person.  If you are you might want to measure.

All in all...you want the tiles to fit on the box leaving small gaps in between each tile.

3. I cut a hole in the back of the corn dog box to fit my thermostat.

4. I covered the front of my box with one layer of newspaper using my home recipe for mod podge (school glue diluted with a little water) to get the newspaper to stick to the box. I like this technique because the paint takes to the newspaper better than the cardboard box. 

4. let the box dry.

5. paint the box black

6. let the box dry

(here you can see the layer of newspaper and black paint)

7.  glue tiles onto the top of the box alternating tile colors.  I did it randomly.

8.  paint over the tiles with a layer of school glue mod podge (to help seal the tiles down).   The water may warp your tiles and they may curl up a little.  You may have to push them down and add more glue. Nothing a little glue and pressure can't fix.

9. let dry

10.  I put one drop of black paint onto a cup of water.  It creates a wash.  Paint over the tiles.  It helps to give the tiles an aged look.  (careful this will moisten the layer of school glue mod podge - swipe/paint/ wash over evenly).

11.  let dry

12.  sand edges

13.  screw to the wall from the inside of the box.



(Here the thermostat is covered up...but...you can also see the phone jack and the light switch...

that's why this wall was such a pain.  Too much going on.  Now it's way better!)

cost = FREE

I had everything I needed...
except for the paint chips (which I got for free:)
so...it's still free:)

Happy Hide-a-Boxing.
I have plans to use this idea but in a different way...stay tuned.

mileka:)