Noodle Chucks, or Nun Noodles, or Dollar Store Crafting

Squeeeeeeeeee!

I am really excited about this one.

My daughter is having a small party with "The Sasquatch Gang" as the center and theme.

It's an older movie but we love it.

I of course will go overboard and have corn dogs, tater tots and chocolate pudding but I also came up with this idea.

Quick run to the dollar store and rummaging through my duck tape pile.

Can ya guess?    No?  O.o

Ok I'll tell ya, I'm gonna make numchucks.

First you cut some pool noodles, I got 2 pair out of each noodle. 

One necklace for each pair.

Cut it.

That's it just make a cut. 

Make a big knot on both ends. 

Shove knots inside of noodle.

Really can't get more simple than this. 

Now is the time for the duck tape.  Rip off a piece and rip it down the middle half way.

Use it to secure the necklace.  Then do another one in the other direction.

Cover the noodle in duck tape and do the top in a different color just to be official. 

There ya have it!

Numchuckery TA-DAAA!!!!! 

Yes, we did try them out and they were fun. 

Had to bring out the Ninja to demonstrate, 

Talk about an affordable party favor I know teens will love.

Less than a dollar to make....each!  I know right :D

Cheap Therapy

With so many big projects that tend to eat up my time and money.

I've gotten into a funk.

The blah, sore, can't quit staring and wishing for things I really don't need.

Do know what helps me with that?

People telling me to quit it. ahhahaaha

Also just being able to do something fun, simple, and colorful and also cheap.

Off to the dollar store  (sound the trumpets)

With the sun shining weather and so many people planting things that grow.

I remember my thumb is not very green and refrain from herbicide.

It's just not pretty.

So I found this fun ribbon and foam ring and fun butterflies.

Then the crowning touch?

Drink umbrellas!!!! a couple dollars for 144 of them. 

Yes, this craft has been seen on Pinterest, it is where I saw it as well.

As usual I did not read directions just looked at the pretty pictures. 

Honestly how hard could jabbing umbrellas be?

It looked a little lumpy.

Maybe the ring is too small.

hmmmmm, I will fake it. :) 

 A quick burst of color TA-DAaaa!! 

See, feeling better already and no monthly payments.

whoot whoot

Give it a try, it's amazing how creating something makes you feel a little saner

rainy days and coat hangers

So it's been raining for the past few days and I've been feeling a little stiff and sore in knuckle areas.

Yet I am bored out of my mind and have to do something.  With the help of my lovely daughter and my feet we will create.

No More Wire Hangers!!!!

No actually that is exactly what we need.  I only have little sticks so we are using little hangers.

Grab one, stick one's foot in it and pull.  It will resemble a petal.  Work it around the cheap hangers are the best because they move easily. 

Now these little things are knee-hi's.  Find the colors you like but I would avoid flesh tones, not just flowery enough.  Did I tell you I'm making a flower?  No? oh.....I'm making a flower.

There will be duck tape! 

And some wire.  It's just easier to show you. 

These are my rods, stick, thingies.  There were once part of a pants hanger that I converted into a headband holder.  headband holder thingy 

Check out this duck tape flower it's veyr similar to this flower.

So you stretch the knee-hi over wire petal and hold it fast with piece of wire.  Then bend and shape it until you like the looks of it.  Take duck tape and tape straight piece of coat hanger to dowel, stick, rod thing.  One petal at a time.  Then cover stick with green tape. Find a ball or other fake flower and glue in center of nylon petals. 

Now you have flower fit for twirling.  Make a few more for a bouquet.

I decided to experiment using the same technique. 

Can ya guess?

I used a light green nylon and then sprayed dye on the edges and dried with blow dryer. 

I glue another ball on top but covered it in black duck tape.

 I then realized dragonflies do not have antennae. 

So I ripped them off and put them on the wings instead.  I held it there with a little embroidery floss. 

a couple sequins for the eyes 

Added some more wire just for added interest.  As I was wrapping wire around wire I had a flashback to when my mother use to bring home telephone wire from work.  She was one of the telephone operators that would plug away at the giant board until computers came along.

So anyway I remember making all sorts of things out of that colorful wire.  Wish I had some now.

Anyone else remember that wire?

So there ya go, something to do with coat hangers and knee-hi's.

Who knew?

These would really make some great party decorations.

I already had all this stuff at the house but to make them I would guess...3 dollars?

Help! I'm a craftomaniac

Ok, so I was doing my blog runs and I stumble upon this brilliant idea by one of my favs Life in Rehab.

I immediately stole the idea and ran off to the dollar tree.

I glued them together and decided to wait until I went to Wal-Mart to find something fun and pretty to put in  it. 

As you can see they are still empty....boo

It's been an odd few days, couldn't wake up one day and couldn't fall asleep the next.  Today I realize I have shingles.....(add big BOOOO here)

The store is out of the question and laying here is all I can muster.

I continued to surf old blogs and a few new ones only to find myself stealing yet another idea.

Some one needs to call the blog police and report me.

The other day I scored this for a dollar at a garage sale. 

It was filled with broken, or singular earring dating from the 50's to the 80's 

I was just hoping to find something amazing to do with some of them.

I did :) and before the down time I had found real Goop (thanks Sunni).

So you slather on the goop 

I am working with a clipboard today. 

Add random earrings until you like the look. 

They pull out the ModPodge and scrapbook paper and get creative. 

I made this for Fairly Godmother  to be able to use.

Using black and white with touches of hot pink....

makes it even harder to give up.

I think it came out fabulous!  I just wish I remembered where I saw it first. 

Alas I am not the original on this one.  I give props to who ever did it first.

I am just glad I found a craft (something to do) while somewhat horizontal and with the help of my lovely daughter.

The Goose is getting fat......

I'm gonna try to put a penny in an old man's hat.  The season is coming, yes, Christmas!!!!!  My daughter asked what scheme I was up to this year.  I asked her what she meant.  She reminded me of past Christmases and how I tried to get people involved with giving of themselves instead of stuff.  Sometimes it succeeded but it never became tradition. 

So this is my new "scheme" there is a young family I know (actually they are related to me) and money is tight and they have two little kids and a mom with disabilities.  I do not have the abilities to change any of that and buying gifts seems......well, too common. 

The other day while talking to the mom she mentioned her husband would love for her to decorate the house but she doesn't trust her craft ability and climbing on a ladder is not possible.   That's when it hit me!  I would come in and decorate their house for the family.  It would be a way of blessing the whole family to make it fun and magical.  I could use my frugality with my crafting abilities and make the stuff as well as incorporate help from friends to really do it up.   I am giddy with excitement.

 These are the things I've been working on....

I went to the dollar store and gathered supplies.

I have achieved 2 dollar store hurricane vase things  With filler.

I would tell you how but it's too easy.  Glue a candlestick to the bottom of vase.

Then fill with stuff.  I used some scrap paper as a ribbon.

I am going to stick with the basic red, green and white colors and make that the theme.

Got a few more things to make so will be posting them.

I love using the gifts given to me by God to help others.

$1 Chandy Shades

Well I did it again.  Forgot to take the before picture.  I get an idea, and I'm on it before I remember "hey you should blog about this".  By then it's too late, it's either torn apart or transformed.  When will I learn?  Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

I redid a chandelier a couple of months ago and put it up on Etsy, but no buyers.  I then hung it above my desk, and decided I don't care if anyone buys it.  It works great and brings in the light and the funk.  I also realized it's pretty bright for a small area.  Sooooooo this is my solution.  Shades, "futures' so bright, gotta wear shades".  The chandy needed some shades. 

So wandering around the Dollar Store (again) and I find these small shades.  The fabric on them is great, if I was doing the sweet cottagey thing with a side of grandma.  But that's not how I roll.  I figured for a dollar what truly have I got to loose?   I bought five and brought them home and then torn them apart.  I really don't know how they make these things.  But I do know how to fake something pretty good.

I ended up with a piece of plastic and two metal thingy loops.

 Pretty simple, I used the plastic thingy to trace onto craft paper I thought would go great with the black and white chandelier.

After gluing it on I used a small piece of painters tape to attach the rings.  Not knowing how to make the really sticky ribbon they had used and knowing that it will be covered with the fringe anyway.  I decided to use black duct tape.   I love duct tape and use it any chance I
Re-attaching the fringe and popping them on the chandelier this is how it came out.

 One is off and the last is on.  I think they came out pretty good.
If I get tired of them, I can always tear them apart again and add a different style, color, medium, theme.  For a dollar it was well worth it.  Not sure I'd want to tear up something that cost me a lot of money.

Zombie Cupcake Stand for under $5

So the zombie party is lurching forward and we have accomplished another cheap crafty item.  We needed a cupcake stand for 100 cupcakes.  Have you ever seen how much they are?!  So I knew I would be making one but the ones we saw were soooooo  BORING.  They may work great for the cultured, refined and proper parties but we are talking teen zombie here.  So it's gotta be big and over the top and most of all CHEAP!

I came across these items in my garage.  They are the end rolls from the local newspaper.  They love to give these things away and they are so solid and sturdy, I have many ideas on how to use them.  So I found one I already strip the paper off and then using my miter saw I cut slits half way through.  I then painted it black and pillaged my supply of cardboard.  You know the cardboard that comes from the packaging.  I had quite the few all the same size and strong enough to support weight.  I then thought how can I re-enforce these to make sure they don't fold over from the weight.  So I looked to my chopsticks and duct tape.  I covered the top with scrapbook paper and the bottom with chopsticks and duct tape.  I then covered the scrapbook paper with packing tape to be able to wipe it clean when necessary.

Then we headed to the Dollar Store to find embellishments.  The glitter skull, mini skulls and beware tape for a total of 3 dollars plus tax

This is it completed, think I might add glow sticks around the column for the party.  It's almost 3 feet high

It's a Lolliclock!!!

I am soooo excited I found these GIANT lollipops at the Dollar Store!!!!!  I love the way lollipops look, the color and the memories of childhood. ~ sigh~ but how to make them last?

Why turn it into a clock of course. :)  After breaking a few here's how I got it to work.  Drill a hole through the plastic and pop.  Make sure the drill bit is big enough for the clock works.  Remove plastic and spray several coats of varnish until well sealed.  Add clock works and viola' instant whimsy!  I painted the boring brass hands to candy colors.