{Super Easy} Photo Display DIY

Ever had one of those projects that sits around for months 'cause you're not exactly sure what it's gonna be yet?  This was that for me.  I water color painted over this inexpensive thin canvas months ago & have been puzzled as to what I wanted to do with it since.  That is, until today...

Above are the supplies needed for this project.  If you'd like to make a stand for your photo display {instead of leaning it against something}, you'll also need some sturdy cardboard.  P.S.: A ruler is quite helpful, too!

Paint/decorate your canvas {or leave it clean & simple minimalist white}, find the center of the canvas with a ruler, & attach a metal clip near the top center using hot glue.  {NOTE: If you have a certain size photo you want to display, it's helpful to place the metal clip on the image prior to hot gluing to see how you want it spaced on the canvas before you affix the clip down.}

If you decorate your canvas, printing a photo or quote on a piece of vellum lets your design peek through.

It feels good to get things done!  I like the fresh simplicity of this project & it's versatility... it would make a great recipe or note holder, too.

DIY Love,

-Bess-

6 Easy DIY Napkin Rings

I love the idea of using cloth napkins, but in all honesty, I get around to actually using em once in a blue moon.  I want to change that, & so I thought if I fashioned some napkin rings I'd get into using them on a more regular basis.  Here's hoping!  I think these would be a fabulous addition to the upcoming holiday dinner table!  

Super Easy:

1. Fill little drawstring sacks with candies & tie around napkins.  In this case, the napkin ring can double as a favor for guests to take with them!

2. Fold the napkin in a square or rectangle & tie present-style with tinsel or ribbon.

3. Look for over-sized buttons like these at the craft store {though any button will do}.  Thread twine or thin ribbon crisscross through the buttonholes & tie around your napkin, securing in the back with a loose knot or bow.

Bit More Work, But Still So Easy:

4. String beads onto craft wire & form into a small circle by twisting wire ends together.  Take plain gift tags or labels & personalize with each guests' name & tie around the napkin rings.  Not only will each guest feel special, but they'll know right where to sit!

5. Cut thin strips of felt {mine are approximately 1 1/2 in. X 6 in.}.  Take a button & sew it onto one end of the felt strip & carefully snip a hole with scissors in the other end {make sure the hole will fit your button well}.

6. Again, string beads onto craft wire {or you could use jewelry elastic} & form into a small circle by twisting the wire ends together {or by tying a knot if you're using elastic}.  Create a simple tassel & secure around your napkin ring at the place where you twisted the wires together {your tassel will work great to conceal any visible wires}.

DIY Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I hope this has inspired you to get busy & create your own napkin rings for all the little special days that fill up the calendar {all 365 of em}!  I love a bit of fancy in the midst of regular life, & in my book, napkin rings are pretty fancy stuff. =)

DIY Sharpie Mugs

It really is that simple!  Draw your design with any Sharpie permanent marker, bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, let cool, enjoy - oh, & hand-wash {the dishwasher isn't too friendly with these creations}. 

I've seen this DIY all over Pinterest / the Web, but had never given it a try.  It worked great - it's just a little tricky writing on the curved-ness of a mug.  I can't wait to try out making more!

DIY Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What would you write &/or draw on your mug?

Guest Posting Today! {DIY Word Art Pillow}

Hello all!  I'm guest posting today over at sweet Charlotte's blog {Inside Charlotte's Mind}.  Stop by & learn how to make the pillow shown above, won't you?  Be sure to explore the brand new Inside Charlotte's Mind, too!

DIY Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: Can you believe October is almost here?!

DIY Jelly Inspired Barrettes

I rocked jelly sandals back in the day & am glad to see them back in full force {though I remember them being sticky in the summer heat like real jelly, maybe they've improved upon them now, those jelly scientists {chemists?} {oompa loompas?} (or maybe it was just me)}.  

True story: I remember begging my mom to get me these platform clear jelly sandals cause my best friend Julie had em & I, of course, wanted to be a cool grown-up-extra-tall 5th grader, too.  I did get them & nearly sprained my ankle - I remember my class was walking in straight-line-school-style & I turned my ankle & ended up on the floor.  Ah, those were the days!  Really, they were.

Here's a DIY hair barrette inspired by that nostalgic jelly plastic!

Inspiration...

I recently found these plastic sparkly bows on an end-cap in the stationary/party department of my local Target.  They had been marked down to $0.45 each!  Yes, I did pile a few into my cart, cause I knew I could do something with them - even if it was just to top off a gift {which is what they are actually intended for}, but I thought they had more potential then that... & once I got to thinking about my jelly clad feet of childhood I knew what I wanted to do.

All you do is hot glue your plastic gift bows to metal hair barrettes {found at most any craft store}.  Make sure you are careful with the hot glue, as you don't want to melt the plastic {either use your regular hot glue gun as soon as it warms up or use a low heat one}.  I decided to snip the ends off the greenish bow for a little different look.  If you can't find the gift bows at your Target, I suggest trying another party store for similar plastic package toppers.

Remembering the Jelly Days of Summers Past,

-Bess-

Super Easy Anchor DIY

This is an uber-easy DIY - so simple, really.  All you do is place some alphabet stickers on an anchor {mine's a felt one from Joann's}, then figure out how you want to display/hang it.  I hot glued magnets to the back of mine so it could easily be displayed on my metal door; you could also use the ring at the top of the anchor to string ribbon or twine through to hang it that way.  

I love the rest of the verse/chapter that goes on to say, "It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, (v. 20) where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, is my firm hope!  What about you? =)

Hopeful Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I also made this simple wall art with the same message...

DIY Painted Wooden Spoon Handles

I know I've been absent lately - life has been crazy busy, but it's about to be crazy not busy {at least that's the plan}, so I should be back in full force within the next few days.  I've missed you girls!  In the meantime, here's a little DIY I whipped up some time ago.  Ever since I moved apartments because of the big flood, I've been trying to update my kitchen.  I've swapped out the bright pink & green accents {from my old place} for a more - ahem - mature palette {at least I think so}. =) I'll give you a hint: It's definitely mint to be!  Can't wait to share more on that later.  Now, onto the DIY...

  

Supplies:

+ don't forget the wooden spoons {mine are from Walmart}

Instructions:

All you need to do first is decide on the width & color(s) of your stripes, then wrap 2 pieces of tape around the handle the width of your stripe {which you will paint in between for a straight edge}, paint, let dry, remove tape, & repeat as much as you like.  I did a mismatch of various width stripes in 2 paint colors.  

Love & Wooden Spoons,

-Bess-

P.S.: These look great stored in a Ball jar!

5 Easter DIY Ideas

Upcycling Plastic Easter Eggs

"Bunny Tails" Printable

Resurrection Jar

Easter Egg Sign

Easter Egg Hunt Party Printables

Happy Easter!

-Bess-

Candle "Shine" DIY

"You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp & put it under a bowl.  Instead they they put it on its stand, & it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in heaven."

-Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

What You Need:

tall glass candle; plastic letters to spell "shine;" hot glue gun

What You Do:

I found these plastic scrapbooking letters at Michael's craft store & the candle at the Dollar Tree.  Attach each letter to the glass with a little hot glue.  Enjoy & may the candle glow remind you to shine His light!

Love & Shininess,

-Bess-

P.S.: I love simple powerful crafts!

Tree Slice Mini Chalkboard DIY {Inspired by "Smashed Peas & Carrots"}

I was perusing Pinterest the other day when I saw a sweet/easy craft that seemed perfect for spring {& it involved chalkboard paint (which I love)}.  So, I clicked through & stumbled onto a new-to-me blog charmingly called "Smashed Peas & Carrots" - yes, it's a momma's blog, but this single girl can still appreciate the creative craftiness!  Click here to visit & to find Maggie's tutorial! 

Here's the supplies I used... {+ I also used some mint colored twine from Target's dollar section & a power drill to make the holes - oh, & the chalkboard paint is Martha Stewart in "green" from Michael's}.

Hello, spring!  Won't you stay awhile?

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I think spring is paying me no mind, because we've got a week in the 40s coming up again.  I feel like I'm in Narnia {before the battles/victory}, here.

7 Valentine's Ideas

It's definitely a 'love match' with this cute & easy wall art DIY.

Give Valentine pencils this year {with free printable tags}!

Sweet ideas on how to turn vintage flash cards into adorableness! 

Carve your own heart stamp out of an eraser.

Free printables to frame - easy, peasy!

20+ free printable Valentine's cards!

Here's a bonus little something for all my fellow single sisters {it's hard to believe I wrote this back in 2011 - & yes, I'm still single - oh, ho hum}! =)

Love,

-Bess-

Black Cat Beanie DIY

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but recently where I live it's begun to feel very autumn-y, & even downright cold!  This hat idea had been in my mind for some time now, & I'm happy to say I've finished it just in time for all the end-of-October festivals & activities, not to mention the turn in the weather.  It's a fun alternative to a complete head-to-toe costume.  I think I'll wear it to my church's fall festival this weekend! 

Click the image above to enlarge & see the supplies you need for this craft.  SIDE NOTE: My beanie came from the Dollar Tree.  Knit hats {like the one above} are best if you choose the no-sew option.

what you do:

Cut out 4 large triangles of the same size from black fabric for your cat ears, leaving enough room to hem & attach to your hat...  

sew:

If you can sew, take your needle & thread {or machine} & sew 2 sides of each of the triangles, right-sides together.  Then, reverse each ear, so the right sides are showing & sew to hat.  

no sew:

If you can't sew, or rather wouldn't, you can take your hot glue gun & carefully glue your 2 triangles together, folding the raw edge to the inside - & repeating for the 2nd ear.  If you have a knitted/crocheted hat, you can poke your ears through the natural holes in the hat & secure with a small amount of hot glue.  If not, you can carefully attach your ears to the top of your beanie {less hot glue is more, in this case}.

Love & {Lots of} Meows,

-Bess-

P.S.: I think I'm about to chop off my long locks!  I'm nervous, but if you could have seen the amount of blond hair I pulled from my vacuum {after running it unaware & nearly burning it up} the other day, you might understand why I'm ready for short {or, at least, shorter}.  I honestly think I could have made the Guinness Book of Records with the amount of tresses I pulled/cut away from the underside of my sweeper - it was about 2-3 years of accumulation!  Ugh!

Sweet Little Owls {Inspired by "A Beautiful Mess"}

The other day I spied the most adorable owl DIY over at "A Beautiful Mess" {click the underlined link to visit & see Elsie's owl babies for yourself + her tutorial}!

It's hard to believe these owls started out as junk mail wadded up & covered in duct tape! =) This is definitely a green project!

I covered mine in felt I had lying around.  For the time being, I decided to not add the stick/twig feet to my flock - maybe later. 

Love these owls scattered about for fall! 

Hoot Hoot {Owl Love},

-Bess-

Good Neighbors {+ Free Printables}

"Love your neighbor as yourself." 
-Matthew 22:39 NIV

That's a pretty big deal - to "love your neighbor as yourself."  It becomes an even bigger deal after "an expert in the law" asks Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" in Luke 10:29.  In classic Jesus-style, He responds in a parable that makes it crystal clear {read the full details in Luke 10:25-37}.  The story of the Good Samaritan shows us that a neighbor is not defined by location, creed, or status, but by mere humanity.  As human beings on this planet earth, all descended first from Adam & Eve, & then Noah & his boatload of kin, we are more than neighbors, but fellow relations {created by our Father God} who are called to love our other billions of fellow relations as we love our own self.  Can you say deep?  That's some ocean full of purpose right there!  If we were truly to love others - all others - as we love ourselves what would that look like?  What would change?  Would we share our faith more, extend our grace further, take the chances we are given every time, & truly live & love to the full?  While we are but flesh & bone humans & our progress is at best imperfect, we can seek to every day show more godly love {the love that the Samaritan showed/the love that Christ showed}.  We can try to, in our own imperfect way, "love our neighbors as our self."  
* * * * *
I've seen many neighbors come & go since I moved into my apartment nearly 3 years ago.  And, although the "neighbors" in scripture stretch far beyond next door, those found a hop, skip, & a jump away are included as well in the command.  Here's a free printable tag to tie around a tin of cookies, a potted plant, or any other new neighbor token you can come up with.  Let's start loving our neighbors as ourselves... & remember, it goes beyond your neighborhood to the farthest reaches of the globe!  

Click on each printable, right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste},
open in a word document, resize if necessary {I found these need to be shrinked down quite a bit}, print, & love your neighbor!

tags:

bonus art print:

CONDITIONS OF USE FOR PRINTABLES: My printables are free for personal use only. Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}. If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it). Thanks & enjoy!

Neighborly Love,

-Bess-