Latest Craft Endeavors

My niece's birthday is today! She turned 5. I found a project on pinterest the other night that looked simple enough, and I thought that it would be a neat gift for her - especially since she's starting kindergarten this fall! It took me a few tries (and a lot of messy, gluey fingertips) to figure it all out. But I loved it so much that I made one for my kiddos too. And I will probably be making more in the near future because they are simple, affordable, and useful!

How many of you have tons of these lying around your house like I do? I have a round DVD case that we keep in the van for the kids' DVDs, so they're no longer in their cases. But I felt like there was always a chance that I would want the DVD case, just in case I needed to give it away/sell it/etc. Well, instead, I found a different use for the cases!

I cut out the center of the case where the DVD sits to allow room for a nifty colored pencil holder (made from cardboard covered in fabric.) No sewing needed!! I just used spray adhesive and good ol' duct tape! The side opposite the pencils is perfect for holding sheets of paper. Hello! Is that not simple or what? If you wanted an "adult" version, swap out the colored pencils for pencils and pens to keep in the console of your vehicle, purse, or drawer in your kitchen. 

Then just replace the DVD cover with a colorful piece of scrapbook paper, and there you have it! A perfectly new and recycled art case. 

The hardest part is definitely cutting out the round DVD holder on the inside of the case. And be sure that you measure each case before starting (instead of using a universal cardboard template) because I found that not every DVD case is made exactly the same! :) Which is why I have a fabric covered cardboard insert all put together with no case to fit it in. :( 

And Allison, if you read this before Harper opens her gift, act surprised when you see it! :)

Oh yeah! I also created these for a friend and me. Of course I found the idea on pinterest, and instead of buying them from etsy, I decided to make them for myself!

You print each image as an 8x10 to hang as a collage in your bathroom. She was able to print all four for around $10 at Walmart. I'm not sure how much she paid for her four frames, but these days, you can find cute frames fairly inexpensively! Not too bad for wall art for your bathroom! Here is what her finished product looks like hanging on her girls' bathroom wall. I can't wait to have a new bathroom to hang ours in! Hopefully soon!!! ;)