Chalkboard doily art.

Remember me?  It's Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, back with another project for your decoupage pleasure.  I've had a dollar store frame hanging around for quite awhile, and I decided it was time to put it to good use.  Given my recent obsession with spray paint, and the fact that I have a large fabric stash, I was inspired to make a sign.  I also love Chalkboard paint, so you can definitely say that I threw this all together.  Enjoy.

Book of Love

It is that time of year...Valentine's Day is approaching.  You all know gifts from the heart are the best.  But, time seems to escape us.  I'll admit right away that this idea is time-consuming.  It takes careful thought and consideration.  But, anyone would love to get this.

Write a book of poems.  You aren't a writer?  Who cares. Just write what you feel.  Grab a couple pieces of cardboard...cover them with a fabric or textured paper.  These will be your front and back cover.

Connect them with small hinges at the top, middle, and bottom.  Use brads with cute shapes to hold the hinges on each cover.  Now, you have to connect your pages to the book.  Cut several long sheets of paper to size so they can be folded in the middle.

In the center, connect the pages with strategically placed eyelets.

Two vertical eyelets at the top about an inch apart...same deal in the middle...same at the bottom.  These should correspond with your hinges.

Then feed a thin piece of wire through each section and wrap the wire around the hinge, holding the pages in place.  You can cover the pages inside the book with cute backgrounds.  Then, embellish each page, matching the theme of your poem.

Spring Flowers In The Winter

Every once in a while I get a hankering to play with yarn. You will often see it in my scrapbooking projects and probably more rarely in an item you can wear. I'm not an expert at crocheting- in fact I'm pretty much a rookie when it comes to it! But that doesn't stop me from trying! A soft, fuzzy hand-made item can be just the right gift for this time of year. While I'm sure there are some of you who are amazingly gifted and patient and can probably crochet a king sized blanket- I'm just not there yet! I wish I was. I thought it would be fun and manageable to make a cute little baby scarf. This was the result. It's perfect for a cute little 3 year old!

If your pockets are kind of empty this holiday season, why not make someone a gift! I love handmade gifts. I always beg my husband to have the kids make me something- it just feels so special to me. You don't have to be perfect about it- it's the thought that counts. Why not try making something out of your comfort zone?