This was my gift to J for last year’s Valentine’s Day.  Here are the cool things about this gift:

1. It’s FREE.
2. It lasts all year long.
3. It is also a gift for me.
4. You really learn to show love for each other better.

I covered some canisters with paper and stickers.  I used decoupage, but you could use double sided tape, too.

Here are the rules:

His & Hers Requests (aka Love Bucket)

-Write 46 things (since there are 46 weeks left in the year) that we want our spouse to do with us or with us.
-Put those sheets of paper in your canister, and then we will swap canisters.
-On Sundays, we will each pull a strip of paper out of each other’s jar, and we’ll have to do whatever the spouse asked for.
-We will have the whole week to do the request.
-We will put the papers (with the writing hidden) on our bathroom mirror as a reminder.

On Sunday, J and I each drew one strip of paper (his were blue; mine were pink). Some of his said things like: Create a new meal without a recipe; compose a rap song for me; invite 3 couples over for games; iron 4 shirts for me.  Mine were requests like: Bring me a candy bar home from work; rub my feet; take care of Abs on Saturday morning so I can sleep in; write me love notes around the house.

I got this idea from an article I read, and I was happy that J was super excited about this project.  Yea for a good, free gift!

Do you have any good, cheap ideas for gifts??

Related posts:

1. Our Vday Project for the Year
2. Freezer Paper Stenciling
3. How To: Make Wall Letters for Baby’s Nursery

I’ve been asked several times how I made the following projects:

The answer is with Freezer Paper Stenciling.  It’s super easy.  I’d say the hardest part is cutting out your design with an exacto knife.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Freezer Paper (I got mine at Walmart in the section that has Aluminum Foil, Wax paper, etc.)
• Exacto Knife (also purchased at Walmart, in the sewing section)
• Fabric Paint (I got mine from Hobby Lobby and Walmart.)
• Iron
• Paint sponge/brush
• Cardboard

I’ve made up a video to describe the process for you.  One thing though, at about 50 seconds into the video, I gave the wrong info. . . .  You actually put the middle sheet of paper waxy side UP (not down, as said in video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axlMyRlJziE

Some extra information . . .

• ****I’ve been told by one person that she had a problem with printing her image (the paper got really stuck).  Sooo, you might wanna be on the safe side and trace your image onto the paper side of the freezer paper.
• Freezer paper is rolled up like wrapping paper.  I like to cut mine in 8.5×11 inch sheets, so they can go directly in the printer.  If you don’t want to print onto the freezer paper, you can print onto a normal sheet of paper and then trace the image onto freezer paper.  Regardless of how you print, you want your design on the freezer paper to be on the paper side because you want the waxy side to be ironed onto your fabric.
• Also, cut the image with an exacto knife on top of cardboard, cutting board, or a rotary board.
• I open the shirt and insert a cardboard in the middle, so the paint won’t bleed.
• You can use tweezers to remove the small bits of freezer paper after you’re finished painting.

Any questions?

Related posts:

1. How to Make: Fabric Headbands
2. How To: Make Wall Letters for Baby’s Nursery
3. Inexpensive Wall Art for Baby (Tutorial)

Several women have commented on Lyds’s car seat tent, so I’m finally getting around to doing the tutorial.  It’s SUPER easy!

I remember going out with Abs and getting frustrated, trying to keep the sun completely out of her eyes with the car seat sunshade.  And don’t even get me started about when it would rain.  Also, the wind, oh the wind where I live is killer and blankets would always blow off, and it was a hassle to hold her car seat, while trying to keep a blanket over her.  So, thank goodness I discovered an awesome way to cover up your newborn with a car seat tent.  Here’s what you need to have on hand to make one yourself . . .

Supplies

• about 2 yards total of fabric (if you want it to be reversible, you can use 1 yd of one color and 1 yd of another color, or you can simply use two yards of the same fabric)
• thread
• velcro (not the adhesive kind; buy the kind for sewing)

Okay, so I started typing up a tutorial for this but erased it all, but I don’t have the patience to remember what all I did, since it’s been about 4 months since I made this.  So, I’ll just leave you some links to some car seat tent tutorials that will be helpful.  Also, here are some of my measurements that might help you (keep in mind that this won’t make sense to you until you look at the tutorial links):

• I cut 2 inches off the bottom; it left my fabrics to be 36 L x 42 W (35 long when sewed)
• For my velcro straps: soft side up, facing back (velro down, facing front) 7-8 inches long
• When I measured the cloth front to back, I sewed the straps directly in the middle lengthwise (21 inches) and measured side to side; 12.5 from outside (7 ¼ in b/t each other).
• 

Related posts:

1. How to Make a: Crinkle Square Mini Blanket with Taggies
2. How to Make Baby Burp Cloths
3. How to Make: Fabric Headbands

Okay, here are two pictures I found of the day we started doing the redo.

And here are the “after” pictures

I made her wall letters.  Here are instructions of how to make your own.

We painted a block wall (I talked about it here).  Eventually, I’ll do a tutorial for you.

J painted her doors; they used to be a nasty brown wood.

The window treatments are made from tulle.  A friend made the bow holder.

J and his dad made the clothing rack.  The shelf has picture of Abs at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 weeks old.

Still lots of work to be done.  I want to make tissue paper flower pom poms.  We need to convert her crib to a toddler bed.  And we need to get new door hinges and knobs.  And I want to make a wall decal and vinyl lettering.  Oh, and J’s going to build her a low play table that we can put her baby doll house and barn on top and store her toys underneath.  But overall, we’re pretty satisfied with her room, and she loves it!

Related posts:

1. Update and a Sneak Peek at Abs’s Big Girl Room
2. Inexpensive Wall Art for Baby (Tutorial)
3. Art Work Display Options???

I’m not a very crafty person, so that’s why you can know that this project is very easy. Plus, I’m a cheapo, so you know this didn’t break the bank. In fact, it saved me $98 from not buying them online– no joke! And I was proud of myself for making the letters below for my DD’s nursery, with the help of my very good friend Tiffany.

Here’s what you need (I got all of these items from Hobby Lobby):

• Wooden Letters. The ones I found were already painted white.
• Mod Podge
• Sponge/Foam Brushes
• Scissors
• Scrapbook Paper– or any construction paper. I got four 12x12in paper.

Here’s how to do it yourself:

1. Trace the wooden letters onto your scrapbook paper. I could fit 2 letters on a page.
2. Cut these paper letters out. We cut them shorter than the tracing so that there would be a white outline on the letters.
3. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to a wooden letter. Try to make sure there are no bubbles or big globs.
4. Cover with the patterned (or solid) paper. Smooth it out so that you can’t see any gaps or bubbles between the letter and paper.
5. Apply a few coats of Mod Podge on top of the patterned paper, drying between coats

Quick, easy, and inexpensive.  Leave me a comment, if you would like for me to make you some.

Here are some other ones I’ve made:

Related posts:

1. Inexpensive Wall Art for Baby (Tutorial)
2. How to Make: Fabric Headbands
3. How to Make a: Crinkle Square Mini Blanket with Taggies