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12 Simple Fall DIY Projects to Decorate Your Home

on September 21, 2016

Fall is upon us you guys… well, not quite yet. In Southern California, we’re still having 100 degree days so it doesn’t necessarily feel like fall. Considering it’s my favorite season, I decided that I’m going to go ahead and get into the spirit anyway.

What do you do to get into the season? Is it watching certain movies? Getting a pumpkin spice latte. Mine is a mix of all of that but mostly, I like my apartment to really feel like fall. The first thing I do is light a candle of my favorite fall scents, Cider House Ghouls from Simon and Duffy Candles. It smells like mulled cider and magic! If you’re local to LA, you’ve probably seen them at a crafts fair and found all of their wonderful fandom scents intriguing. If you’re not, you’ll probably fall in love with the pure magic that happens when you light them.

So yeah, I light a wonderfully scented candle, turn on Practical Magic and start some Fall DIY decorating! I feel like once my house is decorated there’s at least one place in this super hot weather that feels like fall.

ByChelsea

DIY Embroidered Doctor Who Blanket

on September 12, 2016

Is it fall yet? Because I am ready. In the coming weeks I’ll be pulling out my yarn stash and start blogging about scarves and hats and other warm things and I could not be more excited. I’m also starting to pull out all of my geeky fall items (most of which are Doctor Who and/or Harry Potter themed). This DIY Embroidered Doctor Who Blanket is a product of inner Whovian coming out and I must say, it gives me the warm fuzzies…. inside and out!

Also can we talk about the ridiculous amount of Jammie Dodgers I ate while making this? If you’re not a whovian you probably won’t understand, but these cookies are a self destruct button for the TARDIS… well, not really. But they’re great for fooling Daleks and buying more time and just happen to be a delicious cookie! I’m so glad that I can get these at my local Cost Plus World Market because they also make really great gifts and party favors to my geeky friends.

This Doctor Who Blanket is a bit longer than my other projects (a couple of hours max), but it’s really impressive. All of your friends will be jealous that you made your own blanket(-ish). These also make really great and impactful gifts.

Time: 6+ hours (depending on length of quote)
Cost: $15 or less
Geek Level: 6

ByChelsea

19 Doctor Who Crafts You Gotta Try

on September 7, 2016

What was your first experience with Doctor Who? Was it the classics or the new? Was it with a parent or best friend? I’m sure we all have stories of when we first saw one of our most beloved TV shows. If it wasn’t Doctor Who, what was it?

I very distinctly remember seeing it for the first time on the Sci Fi Channel (before they rebranded to SyFy) with my dad flicking through channels. He had been watching the very first episode and when I asked him what it was, he just said it was some cheesy scifi show and switched the channel. I didn’t re-discover the show until I was living in England some 3 years later. I didn’t realize how much I had been missing. Donna was the companion and I found out that we were on the 2nd Doctor of the new series and I felt like I had come late to the party. Once I went down the rabbit hole, there was no going back. I found that there was an entirely different set of Doctors before this and I had so much to catch up on!

The thing is though, being late to the party can sometimes be a good thing. There’s like this whole treasure trove of things to discover. It’s like falling in love with The Beatles ‘Let it Be’ and realizing that there is an ENTIRE back catalogue of musical era’s to discover. Pretty epic right?

Okay, so back to Dr. Who. What kind of crafter would I be if I didn’t give you a list of Doctor Who Crafts? Here are 19 Doctor Who Crafts for you and your companions to make.

ByChelsea

DIY Unicorn Spray Paint Shirt

on September 5, 2016

This post contains affiliate links. Shopping from these links helps support this website and my addiction to cupcakes and craft supplies.

I’m sure I have told you guys about my obsession with Unicorns recently, but if I haven’t… sometimes I think I’m going to quit life to go be a Unicorn. Adulting is just too hard.

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Okay, so I may not be able to grow a tail (and a horn and extra legs and full body hair) and prance off into the sunset, but I CAN make a shirt that displays my love for them. Right? Okay good. When I made this spray paint shirt I only had it in child size so one of the kiddos is getting it… because I like to give back okay?
Make a tie dye style tshirt with this DIY Unicorn Spray Paint Shirt. Simple, quick and unique styles for you to create!

Time: 30 minutes + dry time
Cost: $15 or less
Cuteness level: 1202734 (j\k I made that number up)

ByChelsea

Sugar Cookie DIY Magnet Board

on August 29, 2016

This post contains affiliate links. Shopping from these links helps support this website and my addiction to cupcakes and craft supplies.

I like big cookies and I cannot lie… wait, what? Okay, now that my Sir Mix A Lot reference is out of the way, it’s time to talk about this DIY Magnet Board. Do you have one? What do you use it for? Up until recently I had this giant cork board that has since fallen and cracked beyond repair. Don’t ask me what happened. I’m blaming the cat.

So I needed a new, fun way to keep track of upcoming things, leave a note for the room mate, or just plain have it as decoration. I’m a big believer in the whole form and function thing as I move forward in life. I guess it’s part of the “de-cluttering” thing I’m attempting and potentially failing at. I’m also using a lot of 3M Command Strips to hang things. Honestly, I’m a bit in love with them. Command strips are great and mighty for hanging pretty much anything. They can take the weight and are better than putting nails in your rental!

BUT! Did you know you could make one out of a pizza pan? Yep! So get thee to a dollar tree and let’s make some fun stuffs!

Time: 1 hour + dry time
Cost: Under $10
Cuteness level: 9

ByChelsea

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies with Pic’s Peanut Butter

on August 8, 2016

When I was a kid my dad worked with the 4 Tops. Yes, those 4 Tops. Allow this song to be your jam while baking today.

While he was with them recording their Christmas album, my sister and I would bake cookies for them. I was probably around 7 or 8 at the time, but I very distinctly remember one phone call with my dad where the 4 Tops road manager and long time partner Fred Bridges very loudly asked “Who’s been eating my peanut butter cookies”. To which we all laughed and then sent Fred his own box of crunchy peanut butter cookies. It is due to this incident that peanut butter cookies will forever remain linked to Fred.

I recently came into some deliciously crunchy Pic’s Peanut Butter, this was all I could think of! I really like Pic’s because not only is it all natural, it has a TON of roasted peanuts so there’s a lot more crunch to it. The company also makes cashew butter and almond butter if you’re into that kind of thing.

ByChelsea

DIY Emoji Pillow Busy Bag

on July 26, 2016

Did you guys know there were actual rules to the kootie game? And actual instructions on how to play? I just always thought it was a twisted buggy version of Mr. Potato Head. I’m pretty sure my mom would just take that game out to keep us busy trading parts and makng funny characters. (both Kooties and Mr. Potato Head) Well, the more you know.

Anyway! I’m a bit in love with this project. Seriously. It started when two of my girls each asked for a DIY Emoji Pillow. Both with different expressions. They looked pretty easy, so I figured I’d give it a try. Well, instead of creating just two looks, I ended up creating a pretty fun busy bag that the girls absolutely adore so I’ve added it as a staple to my Babysitting bag. What are your favorite busy activities for the kiddos?

ByChelsea

DIY Pokémon Go Pins

on July 13, 2016

Show your Pokémon Go Team pride with these fun DIY Pokémon Go Pins!

You guys! You guys! I’m sure you’ve noticed, but you can now play Pokémon in real life and I feel like it’s 4th grade again except we’re actually leaving the lunch table and walking around.

I’m not going to lie, I’m walking around a lot more, meeting new people and taking random pictures of my friends petting Pokémon. It’s pretty amazing. So… health benefits y’all. Also!!! It is now okay for all of us to walk around looking completely geeked out. People think it’s awesome. The boys I babysit are even excited to leave the ipads at home (WHAT?) and take a walk with me!!!

So, as you play this awesome augmented reality game and wander around your city trying to catch them all, you may want to show your team pride. I made these fun DIY Pokémon Go Pins in about 30 minutes and am wearing them all over town. So the real question is… are you team Instinct, team Mystic, or team Valor?

ByChelsea

DIY Watermelon Shoes

on July 11, 2016

To say that I’m a bit in love with these shoes is an understatement. I’ve had them just sitting in my closet waiting for the perfect project to come along and well, this is it…. for now.

You guys, I’m not a shoe person by any means. I literally have like 3-4 pairs that I wear until they fall apart then bemoan the fact that I have to go find another pair. Yes folks, life is rough. (can you sense my sarcasm?)

BUT back to these super cute watermelon shoes. Aren’t they cute?!? They take about 15 minutes to make and then you’re out in the sunshine showing off your love for the best summer fruit ever!

ByChelsea

Hank the Octopus Bark

on June 22, 2016

Make this fun Hank the Octopus Bark for your next Finding Dory party! Fun and colorful party snack kids can help with.

This post contains affiliate links. Please consider shopping from them. It helps support my craft supply addiction.

First off, let me tell you that I was first in line to see Finding Dory…. well maybe not because I do not deal with large crowds of kids. I went on a Monday and it was mostly to get out of the ridiculous heat or I would have gone later because I unfortunately am really bad at making time for myself. Can we talk about the fact that it was 112 degrees in LA that day? Thank goodness I don’t wear makeup or it would have been melting off. Seriously.

Okay, so Finding Dory. If I had gone at opening night, I would have pictured myself like Moses parting the red sea… of children. I’d be all like “Get out of my way. I need this in my life more than you do.” Because that is how I roll.

Now, I’m not going to give away the movie if you haven’t seen it yet (What is wrong with you?!?) but I will say that next to little baby Dory the breakout character for me was Hank the Octopus (septopus?). I mean, I love octopi (unless it’s like Sharktopus or something) anyway, so his character was a total bonus.

And keeping with my current love of chocolate bark, (Click here for some Dory Bark) I was inspired to make this Hank the Ocotpus Bark. He’s a little salty so I put some pretzels in it and kids will love adding the cute candy eyeballs.

ByChelsea

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