No Glue Tile Coasters, 10 Minutes No Drying Time!

That's right NO GLUE tile coasters, feeling like a bit of a genius right now..a lazy one but a genius nonetheless!

Anyway so after my whine fest last week I took a dose of concrete and harden the hell up and told myself just to go and try something. I love all those tile coasters all over pinterest but I read you have to wait a month for them to cure before you can use them...A MONTH!! Seriously who's got time for that? Not me so I have made some that are ready as soon as you're finished and they only take 10 minutes to make, here's how.

Supplies:

• Tiles
• Assorted Scrapbook Paper
• Xyron Sticker Maker
• Xyron Laminate/Permanent Adhesive

Run your paper through the sticker maker.

It's laminated on one side and permanent adhesive on the other side.

Stick on the tile and trim the edges.

Save the left over for another fun idea tomorrow.

10 minutes later cool new tiles that can be used right away, they can also be wiped clean immediately too.

DIY Delight or Disaster? This was just what I needed to get my mojo happening bright and funky but quick and easy. There is practically no room for error, Elizabeth who is 12 can make these with no supervision.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

One Dollar DIY iPod Skin

Hey guys,

I've done the iphone cover, the iphone wallet and the ipad covers here and here and today here is the iPod case, this should tell you that I have too many apple product (although if they want to toss me a couple freebies, I'll be gracious in my acceptance)!

Funky Tween Sunglasses Case

Hey guys,

So you might remember a while back I made this bag for Elizabeth, you can see it here.

And I decided that she needed some matching accessories, so immediately I decided that she had to have a matching sunglasses case. I really love this fabric from Wholeport available here.

I was going to measure and couldn't get motivated then I remembered that Amy from Clippie Dips had done all the hard stuff for me over at the Inspiration Cafe, it was a nice and easy tutorial to follow and I think hers is just awesome. It was really easy to follow.

DIY Delight or Disaster? It's just a fun and funky little case perfect for the tween who thinks she's 21 instead of 11, delight!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Paper Straw Stars

Oh first star I see tonight I wish I may, I wish I might.....

DIY Plaster Ornaments

If you have every crafted with kids this post is going to make you think that I have gone crazy. Kids crafts should be sturdy and strong because they're rough but instead I went for very breakable plaster ornaments.

DIY Mood / Colour Change Rings

Are you ready to do the hippy hippy shake and get all groovy??

Well these mood rings will get you in the mood!

These are so much fun to make and seriously so simple! I found some colour change nail polish for a couple of bucks at the reject shop (think dollar store my northern hemisphere friends) and thought it would make for some groovy bling.

You'll need (just click the link for any of the items (Amazon Affliate Link)

• ring blank
• Color Changing Nail Polish
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Paint the ring blanks with the nail polish, I did two coats.

Pour the Dimensional Magic in and I set it in polystyrene to rest flat while it dried.

And you're done, how crazy simple is that, I wanted to show you how they looked after the colour change so I heated up a rice pack. You can see a dramatic change in the pinky purple one but the blue/green is very subtle change. Obviously Elizabeth was more impressed with the Pink/Purple change.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh it's a Delight, so simple to make and they really did work, I was worried the dimensional magic might affect the outcome but it was perfect. I used to love mood rings as a kid, then I saw the movie My Girl (you know Macaulay Culkin) and now they make me cry a little but these are pretty groovy man!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

B

Silhouette Scarf

If there is one thing I know about kids, it's that they're kind of vain! Seriously show me a kid who doesn't like to see their name, I doubt you can! So I upped the name thing with Elizabeth's head on this scarf.

I seriously love all those silhouette crafts but couldn't think of anything to do then I made Elizabeth the Silhouette Toiletry Bag  and she loved it. All the girls on camp apparently wanted one and she was thrilled and said what else can you make? Challenge accepted but I had no idea. Then when I was making my Easiest Patchwork Blanket I had a piece of minkee left over that was just the right size for a scarf.

Wanna make one?

Supplies:

Minkee or is it Minkey? I don't know! Cut to desired size

Cotton Fabric cut same as minkee

Black Cotton

Heat'n Bond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive

Sizzix Big Shot  (Optional)

Lifestyle Crafts Jump Rope 4-Inch by 4-Inch Alphabet Die (Optional)

A picture of your kid, side on profile

General sewing supplies

Sew minkee and fabric together, right sides facing and leave a gap to turn right way out. The close gap and topstitch all the way around.

Using the photo trace around the head onto the Heat'n Bond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive. I used Ultra because you don't have to sew it. I would wash it on gentle cycle or in a pillow case but seriously now fiddly sewing, oh YEAH!!!

Iron it onto the back fabric and cut it out.

Grab your Sizzix Big Shot and cut out your letters using your Lifestyle Crafts Jump Rope 4-Inch by 4-Inch Alphabet Die. You could also embroider the name.

Iron it on your scarf.

Bob's your uncle one silhouette scarf! Bob in fact was my grandfather so that's a really stupid saying!

DIY Delight or Disaster? Umm me likey!! It's such a fun and simple thing to do but a huge impact and she loved it. Her friends want me to make them one. I think you could even buy a scarf if you're not keen on making one and do it with some tween girls as a craft night. Or they could put their head on one side and their BFF on the other. Although knowing girls that could be a dumb move, they tend to argue. On the whole I am calling this one a delight.

I know I am already a million times behind on the silhouette thing but is it truly over, or am I bringing it back like Justin Timberlake brought sexy back?? Either way I like it!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Funky Tween Bag

Hey all,

Well it's finally happened my little girl is growing up and she wants a "real' bag or purse depending on where you are.

however since I don't want to let my baby girl grow up too quickly I wanted her to have a bag that makes her feel grown up but to be young enough for her to still be my girl and this gorgeous fabric I was given to try from wholeport fits both our requirements. you can find it here.

I used the Convertible Clutch pattern from LBG Studio which I purchased as part of the Sew Fab promotion over at Sew Jereli.

But I also wanted to show you a trick I have for patterns when I am using fabric that can't be pinned.

I print my pattern and stick it together.

Then trace it onto the back of a piece of adhesive vinyl (or you could use contact paper)

Cut it out and stick it onto the vinyl. For this fabric I wanted to make sure I got the images of the girls in full.

It works great the fabric does't slip and I have the perfect pattern in one piece for next time, so no reprinting, just copy your darts and instructions onto it. It doesn't slip and I have never had any issues with sticky residue however I would suggest that you test it if you're concerned.

I used a pretty polka dot for the lining and the handle

DIY Delight or Disaster? Elizabeth loved the print and I plan on making her a few more accessories with the left over fabric. It's perfect for a young girl on the go. Being waterproof it wipes clean and it's grown up enough for her to feel like a lady but young enough for me not to cry that my baby is no longer a baby....Delight!

Don't forget to check out the rest of Wholeports fabric range here

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Be Delighted Every Day, Follow Mellywood's Mansion!

Button Name Charm Bracelet

Sometimes you plan crafts and sometimes they just smack you in the head and are begging to be done, this one literally started with a bang to the head!

So I have a little fabric store up the road from me that also sells a few craft items and whenever I am down the street without children, I like to wander around and poke at everything. Often times I don't buy,  I just love the assortment of things she has...I'm sure it doesn't annoy her having someone walk around and not buy...right?

Anyway I was poking up on the top shelf, higher than my head, when a plastic jar fell off and hit me. It was filled with alphabet buttons. As the fuzz cleared, I knew I wanted to make Elizabeth a bracelet with them, only one problem, no A.

I had some of these little alphabet beads so I thought I could come up with something so I gathered

• A charm bracelet
• Jump rings
• Jewelry Tools

Then I began placing the letters on.

But what to do with the A? My sister gave me some of her old beading stuff and I found this loop thing (no idea what they're called, let me know if you know what they are)

Grabbed some seed beads and made it into a little charm

 Popped it onto the bracelet and called her done!

DIY Delight or Disaster? To be honest I'm on the fence, it's not bad but I'm still not happy with the A. According to my friendly fabric shop owner, they have been there so long that she doesn't even know where she got them and won't be getting anymore. Did Elizabeth like it? Of course, she's 11 any bling with her name on it is a winner in her book! But I'm not calling it either a delight or a disaster.

Any other suggestions on the A issue?

Also, HUGE news Mellywood's Mansion has been nominated in Voice Boks Top 50 Craft and DIY blogs, can't begin to tell you how excited I am and I would really appreciate it if you guys would do me a favor and vote here

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Be Delighted Every Day, Follow Mellywood's Mansion!