$0 - Doily Candle Holders

I've seen similar doily jars on the web lately but all the tutorials I could find were using spray adhesive.  I have to say, I'm not a fan of spray adhesive at all.  It gets everywhere and gets everything sticky and gross and I find myself cleaning it up for days to follow.  So, I was not into the spray adhesive route and decided to attempt a different version.  These are so easy to make and all you need is (all currently on hand and this project is $0!):

Doilies (I used old ones from my mom but I would search antique shops)

Recycled Glass Jars (I used spaghetti sauce jars for mine)

Mod Podge

Sponge Brush

Ribbon or Hemp Yarn

Tealight Candles

Sorry I don't have good pictures for this tutorial.  I know, I'm not very good at capturing moments throughout my projects. This is so easy though, you don't need them.

1. Peal the label off your glass jar and clean any "gunk" off.  This is seriously the hardest step of the whole project.

2. Once you have your clean glass jar, spread a thin layer of mod podge on about 1/3 of the jar.  Press your the center of your doily to the area of the jar that you just applied mod podge.  Slowly apply more mod podge to the jar where your doily will be attached.  Once your whole doily is mod modged to the jar, press all around making sure it adheres.

3. I then applied mod podge all around my glass jar (even where the doily was not attached) in order to make it consistent around the jar.  With light shining through once you add the tealight, you will notice where there is or is not mod podge applied. Set your jar aside to dry completely.

4. Once your jar is dry and your doily is attached, add your ribbon or hemp yarn to the the top ring. Embellish with buttons or beads if you like.

5. Insert your tea light and enjoy!

$0 - Picture or Word Blocks

My first project for the zero budget party are these picture and word blocks that I have had sitting there staring at me since Mother's Day when I made others as gifts.  These are so easy to make and although mine were free to make right now, they are really cheap to make if you don't have the supplies on hand. Here's what you will need:

Wooden blocks

Acrylic paint in a color of your choice

Acyrlic antiquing medium

Small hinges

Sponge brush

Pictures or scrapbook paper (not pictured)

Sand paper (not pictured)

Mod Podge

First you will want to sand all of the rough spots on your wooden blocks.  You can skip this step if you wish but it will make your blocks look much more finished.  Once all are sanded (don't forget to wipe any dust off the blocks), paint each block.  I recommend only doing one coat because it will make the antiquing/sanding part of the project much easier.

Once all of your blocks are dry, you will apply your antiquing medium.  Follow the directions on the bottle, it is very easy.  And remember less is generally more with this stuff.  Paint a thin layer of the medium all over your blocks and then wipe away with a rag until you have just a hint of brown to make it look "antique".

Note: I didn't apply the antiquing medium to the center since the picture or scrapbook paper would cover it.

Wait for all of your blocks to dry and then you will sand each one around the edges.  You don't want to sand all the paint off and be back where you started, just slightly sand the edges and a couple rough spots to give it a worn and ragged look.  Once all your sanding is complete, make sure you wipe your blocks down good to get all the dust off.

Finally you are ready for your pictures or words.  I did one with pictures and one with words for reference.  If you are using pictures, you will want to cut down each picture to the size of the front of your block.  If you chose to do a word, you will need to cut a piece of scrapbook paper to the size of the front of your block.  Then you will need to cut letters out that will fit on top of the piece of scrapbook paper you just cut.

And now it's time to get out the mod podge.  Follow the directions on your bottle but again, this is very simple.  Apply a thin layer of mod podge on the front of your wooden block.  Place either your picture or your piece of scrapbook paper on top and press down evening out any bubbles.  Place aside and let dry.

If you are doing letters, you will need to apply another thin layer of mod podge on top of the scrapbook paper (once your other layer is completely dry).  Press your letter down and smooth out.  Set aside to dry.

Once your pictures and words have completely dried and are attached to your wooden blocks, you will want to apply a top coat of mod podge to seal the deal.  Once again let them dry completely.  I would recommend leaving them be for about 48 hours.  They will be dry within a couple hours but the modge podge is still sticky and does not set for a couple days.

Lastly you will attach your hinges to create an accordion style display!  You can also sand just a bit around the edges of your pictures to create even more of an antique look.  So many possibilities with these...I've already made tons as gifts and for around our home.

Recycle Bins

These bins are similar to the storage bins I did awhile back except that I lined them with plastic to help save the box.  These bins are so easy and fit perfect on my little shelf.  I don't exactly have room for those huge recycle bins I see in the stores.  Plus with a detached garage and 20 degree weather, we don't exactly want to take our recyclables out to the giant bin everyday.

First start out with you box and some fabric.

I just cut fabric to fit around my box and modge podged it to my box.  I didn't have enough fabric to make a box to pull over it like my previous storage box post.

Then I took an old waterproof mattress liner and lined the inside of the box and around the top edges.  This will help protect it from water damage.

I used modge podge to attach the liner as well.

Then I just lined the space where the liner ends with ribbon to hide the frayed ends.

I also glued an extra piece of cardboard to the bottom of the boxes to make them a little more sturdy.  Finished...

Menu board

We have been trying really hard in household to cook dinner and eat out less.  We started looking through our cupboards on Sunday night and making a menu for the week on piece of scratch paper.  Then throughout the week the little piece of paper would get misplaced.  I've seen these menu boards that other crafters out there have done so I thought I would make my own.  I know I say this a lot but this project is super simple.  Just take an old frame, mine is 8X10 so we have enough room to write in our meals.  Then I just simply took a piece of scrapbook paper and printed the days of the week on it and put it in the frame.  I had these wooden squares so I painted four green, cut out MENU on the Cricut and mod podged the letters to the squares.  You could also just print out MENU on the top of your sheet of paper.  Super simple project that cost nothing.  Now we can just write on the glass with dry erase markers our menu for the week.

Nothing Quite Like Cheap Storage

I love the look of cute little baskets throughout your home to store little nic-nacks but baskets seems ridiculously expensive to me. I have a few that I find on clearance every now and then but now with a newborn I've found it hard enough to run to Target for a few minutes, I don't have time to shop around for deals anymore. So, I decided to make some storage boxes out of all these diaper boxes I have laying around the house. Plus it's a great way to use up some of this extra fabric I have laying around that I have no idea why I bought in the first place.

What you'll need:
A cardboard box (you want it to be sturdy enough to stay together once you put stuff in it)
Fabric (as much as need to cover the size box you want)
Mod Podge
Ribbon (optional)

First cut the box to the size you'll want your storage box to be. I just cut a diaper box in half to make two storage boxes.

Then measure the bottom of your box and two sides. You'll want to cut a piece of fabric that is the width of the box (plus an inch for seam allowance) and the length of the box plus the height of the side (plus a couple inches to fold over the top). Then you'll want to cut two pieces of fabric that are the width of the box (plus an inch for seem allowance) and the height of the side (plus a couple inches to fold over). The picture may help explain this better.

Then you sew the two sides onto the long strip to make a fabric box. Again, the picture may help.

Finally, you pull the fabric over your cardboard box. I like to make mine fairly snug so it may take a little while to get is on and positioned right. Then I simply modge podge the fabric down over the side (on the inside of the box) and finished it off with ribbon.

They are nothing terribly fancy but they work fine for me. I made a bigger one to hold blankets too.