Halloween Soaps

Here's a festive holiday accessory to add to your bathroom that is actually functional. I made two different soaps, a glycerin bar soap, and dressed up a pump of liquid soap.

For the bar soap you will need a block of glycerin soap, a soap mold (both found at Michael's), glitter, and any accessory you want in the soap.

Cut a little chunk of the soap. Place in a microwave safe bowl.

Heat up the glycerin in the microwave until it is all melted.

Pour mixture into soap mold. Working quickly, add glitter, food coloring, any accessory you want in the soap (like an eyeball), and some fragrance oil if desired. Swirl around ingredients until it looks the way you want. You will need to drape a knife across the eyeball if you use one, since it is made out of Styrofoam and will float...Pour the extra soap back into the container of glycerin.

Dress up those Bath and Body Works soaps as well with a few simple steps. You will need some cute Halloween/Gothic scrapbook paper, Halloween brads and/or buttons, and ribbon.

Cut out the paper to fit the front of the soap and glue on. You are ready to embellish. Buttons and brads can be placed randomly on the front of the soap pump. You can even layer a brad on top of a button to make them stand out. Ribbons are tied at the neck.

The finished products can be used in your bathroom or given away as gifts or party favors.

Safety Pin T-Shirt

I'm so inspired by this month's InStyle magazine. There was a column on jazzing up your wardrobe in crafty ways which is right up my alley. I love the safety pin shirt the columnist came up with! Mine is super simple and quick.

You need a tee with a pocket and some safety pins

Start pinning! Mine were straight up and down but you can go diagonal or horizontal

Finished shirt (looks a lot cuter on)

Pair it with a cute scarf, hoodie, some jeans and Ugg boots and you have a loungy, cute outfit with a hint of metal that takes the place of a necklace.

Possibilities are endless! You can make shapes, stripes, bows, or anything else you can think of.

Fall Flowers

It is so nice to have an extra day off for Labor Day! I spent part of my day making flower clips. I went with more simple designs this time for a more "grown up" look, although the pink ones would look cute in a little girl's hair.

Piggy Gets A Makeover!

Those piggy banks from Target are adorable! You can make yours even cuter in a few easy steps. A very girly gift or addition to your girl's room. Sorry about the poor picture quality, I'm hoping Santa will bring me a new camera this year.

You will need ribbon, a needle and thread, rhinestones, flowers, hot glue, and any other embellishments you like.

Use a needle to sew through a piece of ribbon- very loosely, it does not have to be perfect.

Glue on 2-3 rows of the ruffled ribbon, add a straight piece of solid ribbon to hide the ruffled edges. Add flowers or rhinestones if desired.

Give her some "pouty lips" with foam shapes:

You can add a flower or bow in her hair with some marabou and some rhinestone "earrings"

Halloween Craft

I'm feeling Halloween-y this week with all the cute decorations out now. I am also still on a cellophane kick. I thought cellophane would make a great pair of bat wings! I made a spider too just because. Super easy and quick project that you could do with your kids or in a classroom.

You will need: Cellophane in purple or green or black, wiggly eyes, black craft puffs, fabric paint, scissors, wired ribbon, white felt, and E600 glue (I'm beginning to think I need to buy stock in this glue!)

For the bat: cut a rectangle from the cellophane- I used two pieces. Bunch together in the middle, secure with a rubber band or piece of wire. Glue to back of puff. Cut two small triangles of felt for the teeth, puff paint a ling over the teeth to make the mouth. Add eyes and bow.

For the spider: Clip 4 long pieces of ribbon. Twist together to make the legs. Glue to the underside of the black puff. Add embellishments: eyes, puff painted mouth, bow if desired.

A cute pair of spooky decor items! Add a clip to make it a hair thing, or attach it to a gift, or simply lay them on an entry table.

Kitchen Towels That Stay Put

Sorry for the delay in posts. I finally got my towel project done. Have you all seen those knitted top kitchen towels? I don't knit or crochet so I thought this would be a nice and more modern alternative. The whole thing took about 20 minutes and was very cheap to make.

You will need: a sewing machine, thread, kitchen towel, coordinating fabric, a button, piece of paper, and a marker.

Draw a template. It doesn't have to be perfect. Draw in the shape of a "broom."

Cut out your template, then cut out your fabric around the template.

Turn fabric inside-out with both side together and sew around the edges. Leave the bottom longest edge open and unsewn.

Fold in raw edges of fabric. Cut towl in half length ways or it will be too thick. Tuck in folded towel. Sew shut.

Sew the button on by hand. Make sure you measure the width of your oven bar so that it fits correctly.

The finished product!

Detailed view. I am really hoping to get a better camera for Christmas so the future pics will be better!

Home Decor Candles

Here are some funky, adorable candles to decorate your home or office. It is a very easy project. The candles come out looking expensive, but the total cost is quite low. I purchased the crosses at Hobby Lobby. The feathers came from Michael's. The belt was mine that I never wore anymore. Candles and holders were from Target.

You will need: candles, an old belt or piece of leather, feathers, crosses or other decorative piece for the centers, nails or furniture tacs, hot glue, and E6000 glue

Cut a piece of the belt long ebough to wrap around the candle. Nail a small gauged nail through the belt and into the candle.

Hot glue feathers over the spot where the nail is to cover it up. You can also use marabou or netting or tulle. E6000+hot glue the cross over the feathers.

Tie ribbon to the holes at the top of the candles to cover them up or glue a rhinestone over it

The finished product adds a cute, funky touch to your mantle or wherever the candles will be displayed