DIY Marshmallow Roasters - Summer Fun!

Since summer and roasting marshmallows over the camp fire go together I thought I would share the DIY upcycled marshmallow roasters that I made with my Girl Scout troop (when they were in third grade....which was five years ago).

These babies are really easy to decorate, but they do take a tad bit of elbow grease to assemble. To be honest, I had my husband do the hard part.....but I told him what to do.

First thing you will need are a few pants hangers from the dry cleaner.  Our dry cleaner gave me over a dozen for free. 

Next, remove the wire hanger from the cardboard tube.  First part of applied elbow grease!

Wearing protective eye gear, snip off the curved ends of the hangers.  After the ends are snipped off, use pliers to flatten the "hanger" part of the hanger and smoosh the arms so that they form a V shape.

 This really isn't difficult, it just takes a little bit of muscle.  Having a vice gripe would probably make the job easier, but my husband did it all with just his manly bare hands and a pair of pliers.

Now here comes the fun crafty part.......decorating!

Cut strips of tissue paper approximately 1/2 an inch wide by an inch long.  I was working with 3rd graders so having the strips a little longer helped them handle the paper. You can cut your tissue paper any size you want.

Working in small sections, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the outside of the cardboard tube.  Lay down a single piece of tissue paper in the glue, wrapping it around the tube. Use a small dab of mod podge to seal down the ends of the paper. Once you get the entire tube covered in tissue paper paper let it dry and then add a few coats of Mod Podge to seal it. 

To use the roasters, stick the looped hanger part of the hanger into the end of the tube and add marshmallows.

When you are done, simply burn off any leftover marshmallow bits, let the metal hanger cool off......then squeeze the two prongs together and push them into the tube.  Built in carrying case!

You can't get the tubes wet, but you can gently clean them with a slightly damp sponge or wet wipe. And don't leave them outside over night while you snooze away in your tent.  Sitting out in moist air will ruin them (says the experienced Girl Scout leader). With proper care these upcycled DIY marshmallow roasters can last for years of roasting fun.

Cheers and happy crafting! 

Linking with:

 

Easy Tissue Paper Flower Centerpieces - tutorial

Last week I helped host the teacher appreciation luncheon at my daughters middle school. Since we like to spend the majority of our budget on the food I try to come up with inexpensive centerpieces for the tables. This year I created these super easy tissue paper flower centerpieces for a mere $1.00 a piece.

Here are the list of supplies you will need: Sturdy tissue paper, holder of some kind (mine were pencil holders from IKEA), floral wire (thin jewelry wire also works), foam peanuts or newspaper for planting your flower, shredded paper to hide peanuts, drinking straws or wooden dowels, scissors and a ruler.

The tissue paper I bought was 16.5 x 24.  Tissue paper comes in a variety of sizes so no need to get hung up on having the exact same size because making these flowers is a very flexible process.

Stack five sheets of tissue paper and then cut them into 8 x 16.5 strips.  Next, start at the short side of the paper and make a 1 inch fold.  I find that the folds end up being about 1.5 inches wide if you start the first fold at one inch. Fold the paper accordion style. If you get to the end at the paper and you do not have enough to make another full fold just cut the extra off (but if it is a little smaller than the rest it really doesn't matter).

Next round off the ends of the paper with your scissors.  You can cut the paper pointed for a different look.  Now fold the paper in half to find the middle and loop a 14 inch piece of wire around the paper twisting the ends together with your fingers.

If you are usually multiple colors make sure the tail of the wire is on that bottom of the flower.  For example, I wanted the one yellow sheet to be at the top so I made sure the tail of the wire was pointing away from the yellow paper.

Now spread open the paper and gently start peeling each layer towards the center of the flower. I peel up each side before I start on a new layer.  Pull the tissue paper from as close to the center of the flower as possible. This makes the flower full and puffy.  If the paper starts to rip don't worry, you won't be able to see it.  Just keep going until you have all the layers pulled towards the center.

 

 Once you have all the layers separated you can fluff and adjust each layer until you have it the way you like it.

The edges sometimes get folded over so just smooth them open with your fingers.

Next you need to plant your flower in your pot.  When I have made these flowers or poms in the past I have attached them to wooden bamboo skewers, but I had a bunch of light green drinking stars (also from IKEA) that I thought would look cute so I simply threaded the wire through the straws as the base.

To secure the flowers I gently places one piece of tissue paper into the base of the pencil holder and then I shoved (and I mean shoved) foam packing peanuts into the base about half way up the holder. Once I had a secure base I created a hole with my finger in the middle and stuck the straw and flower into the holder.  I then shoved in more peanuts until the flower was in there securely. 

Last but not least I topped the foam peanuts with shredded paper (the kind you get for gift bags).  And whala......super easy, super inexpensive festive table centerpieces.

 I am linking up to Todays Creative Blog.  

Showing the love with stuffed hearts - tutorial

Last week while on Pinterest I repinned this adorable crafty idea that was pinned from Mooreaseal's blog.  Her guest blogger, Katie shared her cute little stuffed hearts that she used to stash around the house for her Dad to find. A little way to show him how much she loved him.

Since Valentine's Day was coming up I wanted to make a bunch of hearts so I could do the same thing for my girls. Well, one daughter as the older one wanted to do it for her boyfriend. :)

Who wouldn't love finding little stuffed hearts that say, I love you! through out their day?

Let's get started..........
Cut two pieces of fabric large enough to fit your desired sized heart on.  Put the the right sides together, fold the square in half and trace the heart. You can use a stencil or just free hand it.  Turn the fabric so the wrong sides are together and stitch the heart together leaving an open for stuffing.

After doing a few hearts I discovered that it was much easier to leave the bottom point of the heart open for stuffing.  If you don't have a sewing machine you could hand stitch your hearts.

If your hearts are small, use a wooden skewer to stuff some batting into your hearts.  If you don't over stuff the hearts you can close off the stuffing hole with your sewing machine.  Or just stitch them closed by hand.  I am far to lazy to stitch my hand so I used my machine.  The beauty of this craft is that they don't have to be perfect.


(**Also, a little up-cycling tip......save old pillows to use as batting for your stuffy projects.)

So here they are........I cut some smaller hearts to applique on to the puffy hearts for added cuteness (do that before you stitch them together). Since they were so small that I didn't use any fusible webbing....just sewed them on. Wham-bam, thank you mam.

Once you have a collection of puffy hearts give one to your sweetie and tell them that the hearts are just a little something to show how much you love them and that they will be finding them here and there through out their day.

I bought Kate this Sock monkey for Valentine's Day and had him sitting in her room holding the first of the hidden hearts.  I hide hearts in her school folder, back pack, lunch, in her make-up bag, by her tooth brush, in her favorite cereal bowl!

When she came home from school she was beaming when she showed me the hearts that she found.  Seeing how much joy it brought her I am definitely going to keep it up during the year.

Now go on and share the love and Happy Crafting my friends.

Oh, and head over to one of the various bloggers hosting Scrappy Happy Me. There are a TON of people linking up with cute ideas.

PSF - Last minute costume idea

A few years ago I was looking for something different and fun to wear to my daughters Elementary School's Halloween party.

After a quick search on the internet I found an idea that was right up my dog lovin' alley.

Create a shirt for your very own Attack Dog Academy....only you are the cruddy training that has been chewed on one too many times.

You will need an old white shirt (I used a mans button down dress shirt), some scissors, needle and thread, a stuffed dog and sharpie markers in both Red and Black ink.

Take the scissors and cut/tear holes in the shirt so it looks like you have been attacked by your dogs. Use the red sharpie to add blood to the ripped areas.

On the back of the shirt add the name of your Attack Dog Academy.

Of course make sure to identify yourself as a trainer on the front pocket!

Finally, sew a small stuffed dog by the mouth to the edge of the shirt tail or sleeve.

This was so fast and easy to make and the kids thought it was hysterical.

Here are my real life attack dogs practicing on each other!

Another funny quick costume:

Take several Smartie Candy rolls and pin them to your pants.

You are now a Smarty Pants!

Do you have any funny quick and easy costume ideas to share?

Hosted by Cecily and Kelli

Tribute Tuesday!

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.
This is my first time joining in on Tuesday Tribute with Jay and Deb.  My tribute today is quite simple really, and something I think all of you can relate to.
Today I honor the Internet, the world wide web, my life saver!
As a cook, photographer (amateur for both), Girl Scout leader, doctor mom, gift giver, book reader,  and over all information seeker.......you have helped me in more ways than you will ever know.
What did we ever do without you?

Here are the tissue paper flowers my Girl Scouts made yesterday!  All thanks to a tutorial I found on the Internet.
Hopefully, they will bring a smile to the face of the 50 home bound Seniors that will receive one of these little beauties on Valentine's Day.