DIY Flip Book

This is a project I made to help me with anxiety and panic attacks. Some of you may be familiar with that bag of worms but most probably not. Its something I deal with from time to time and so much of it is rooted in negative thinking. When things get rough for me I like to put positive affirmations up all over my house to remind me to hang in there and to reprogram my negative thoughts with positive ones. Sounds silly but it works for me. However, when things get better I throw them all away. The next time I need them, I find myself having to look them all up again online. This got me thinking of a more permanent solution so that I could have all of my favorite quotes and affirmations where I see them often and easily accessible.


I came up with the idea of making a flip book. This now sits on my nightstand where its the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. The cool thing with this concept is you can replace what I have used it for with your own favorite quotes, scriptures, calendars, recipes, family pictures, Halloween or Christmas mini albums or whatever you want.

Here is an example of one of my favorite positive affirmations.

A lot of my anxiety stems from me worrying about my anxiety flaring up in public and how that will effect what others think of me. I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter if people think I am weird because I get panic attacks. It only matters what I think of me and I have to remind myself that I love and respect myself the way I am even with my anxiety no matter what anyone else thinks.


This particular page has a little bit of symbolism on it. The handwriting (ok traced handwriting hehe) and the crackled paper are to remind me that I don't have to be perfect to be beautiful. The number one in the corner is to remind me to put myself and my happiness first.

This was REALLY easy to make for anyone interested in doing their own. I'm keeping mine simple because I don't want it to get too big. My supplies for just the flipbook all came from my local Hobby Lobby or home and were:

2, 8X8 pieces of thick cardboard from the back of a sketchbook
1, 12X12 and 1, 8.5 X 11 piece of cream cardstock paper
1 8X8 piece of patterned scrapbook paper
Tim Holtz grungeboard book (This will be for the different sections) I will use a thinner grungeboard paper for the individual affirmations so the book isn't so thick.
Photo splitz and a gluestick

I used the tutorial found here to make my blank flip book. It took me maybe an hour and cost less than $15.00 (Can be cheaper using coupons).

The stand looks like this from the side:

I'm really excited about this because its so easy and customizable to whatever you want.

Here are a couple other similar ideas using rolodexes:

Enjoy!

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Artistic Scripture Journaling: Koi Watercolors

I have been spending a lot of time studying and journaling about Lehi's vision in Chapter 8 of 1 Nephi. I have never before gone into it with so much depth. Although there is more about the vision I've journaled about, I wanted to dedicate one layout to the different symbols of the vision and what they represent. Here is how I did this page:

I got my inspiration from this digital scrapbook layout:

I love the concept of the boxes with doodles and journaling. Since my scripture journal has lots of text and little pictures, I thought this would be a great way to incorporate both. I had to make adjustments based on the size of my journal and the amount of information I wanted for each symbol. First I did everything lightly in pencil and then filled it in with black micron pens and colored pencils. Because my paper has ridges in it, there were darker lines showing and I wanted a smoother look. So I busted out my new Koi watercolor brushes that I have never used before. I was a little intimidated to use them and wasn't quite sure how they worked. I checked out some tutorial videos found here. They have a lot of different ones you can learn from. Here's an example one:

Finally feeling brave I gave it a shot. It was super easy and really fun! I felt like a kid in art class.

I also used other materials such as gelly roll metallic pens and perfect pearls. I took a picture with the light shining on the journal so you can sort of see the shimmery effect perfect pearls has on the tree when it is in the light:

and the glitter glue on the fruit:

This was a liberating experience for me because I am a true perfectionist and to freehand the boxes knowing they wouldn't be exactly straight was really hard. But I like it that way.

For the straight and narrow path, I made it straight, but I changed the texture along the way. Starting on the path to Heavenly Father can be rocky and difficult. Repenting isn't easy. As you make your way to baptism the path gets less rocky. And then the closer you get to the presence of the Lord the shinier, more beautiful and smoother the path gets. 

There are a lot of beautiful paintings that already exist of Lehi's vision. But this page is special to me because of the time I put into it. I will remember so much more from this experience. I hope it helps you to think outside of the box when journaling what you are reading about.

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Scripture Journals Tutorial: Part 1

This is a series of posts that I am sooo excited to share with you. I feel very passionate about it because it has CHANGED MY LIFE. I recently came across the idea of making scripture journals from Shannon at The Red Headed Hostess blog and I have spent the last few months creating my own through trial and error. I want to share with you what I've done in hopes of helping you feel enthusiastic and excited about studying scriptures. It's no longer a chore for me. It's my favorite part of my day and I want it to be yours too.
It doesn't matter what religion you are. If you study the Bible, Book of Mormon, or any scripture you can apply this idea to your studying. The best part about this is that you can be as simple, straightforward, and logical as you want, or you can get as artsy and creative as you want. Wherever you are in the crafty spectrum and have time and patience for YOU CAN DO THIS. The important thing to remember is to make this yours. Do what works for you.

Why keep a scripture journal? 
Here are a few reasons:

"We often leave the most precious personal direction of the spirit unheard because we do not record and respond to the first promptings that come to us when the Lord chooses to direct us." -Elder Richard G. Scott

"I've found, as I'm sure you have, that when you are trying to learn from the spirit, it's important to make a note so it will not be forgotten. The more you not only hear but abide by what you've been told, the more the Lord will give to you. It will come more and more rapidly and you will begin to hear and feel those impressions of the Spirit more quickly than you have previously done." -Elder Gene R. Cook

"The prompting that goes unresponded to may not be repeated. Writing down what we have been prompted with is vital. A special thought can lost later in the day through the rough and tumble of life. God should not, and may not, choose to repeat the prompting if we assign what is given such a low priority as to put it aside." -Elder Neal A. Maxwell

In the few short months that I have started my scripture journals, the knowledge that I have learned and retained is more than I have learned about in years of just reading a chapter a day (which is how I used to "study").

My main reason for doing scripture journals is to give them to my children as a family heirloom after I am gone or when they are old enough to appreciate them. As Shannon said (I'm paraphrasing)- it's a way to keep teaching my children after I am gone. 

I give full credit to Shannon at her blog for this idea and I thank her for all the work she put into sharing her journals. I want to help spread the word to more readers because its worth sharing if it helps people grow spiritually.

Materials Needed:

1. First you have to pick some journals. This is important. You want to find some that is the right size, enough to hold lots of information, will function the way you want it to, and look the way you want it to. If you plan to keep it simple, pick a lined journal that you can do lots of writing in that has thick pages so your ink won't bleed through. I planned to be more artsy and wanted to decorate my covers using scrapbooking supplies so I bought a coptic journal kit from Etsy. When it is all done I will bind it so that it will open and lay flat.This may be a little more extreme but for me this is my creative outlet so I needed a blank canvas. Any journal will work. The way I have mine set up is I have TWO journals. One that is for chapter by chapter study and another is for Topic based study. They can be referenced to each other.
2. Also get a good ballpoint pen that won't bleed through pages, or leave puddles of ink that will smudge and make a mess.
3. OPTIONAL: Colored pencils, glue stick, scissors, scrapbooking supplies (paper, stickers) art supplies

What do you put inside?

This depends on you and your style. This is not a daily record of your personal thoughts like a diary. This is a record of what you have been learning during your scripture study. This means a record of quotes you want to remember, promptings, stories, talks, word definitions, scriptures you looked up, etc. I have created templates that you can download in the store that are an easy way to get started quickly.

Some of my pages are purely artistic in nature. Others hold pictures that I love. Others are journal entries with my personal insights from a story, others are character analysis on the people I have been reading about.

But getting it all organized is the tough part. Here is a post from Shannon that talks about how to set one up. 

I Have Been Born of Goodly Parents

I will post some additional tutorials and ideas on creating these journals. I highly recommend checking out the following sites for additional inspiration and tutorials:

• Here is my pinboard that I keep for my scripture journals if you want to follow that. It lists sites, talks, quotes, etc. that I plan to put in my journal somehow or art supplies I plan to use.
• The Red Headed Hostess- she even has some journals you can purchase that are already set up and ready to go (I bought a set and they are really great for outlining how to study). She is the main source for all my inspiration so you should really check her site out. I want to be her when I grow up.
• Here is a sheet you can download with some ideas from Dana Cockrum that was also taken from The Red Headed Hostess. 

I hope you find this as fun and uplifting as I do. Enjoy!

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Decorative Hanging Balls

Vanessa from V and Co. has a tutorial here about how to make these adorable decorative hanging balls out of t-shirts. I love her stuff! She created them for a wedding, but how cute would they be in pink or purple or yellow in a little girl's room!  

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Refurbished Craft Chair Tutorial

I mentioned before how I am putting together a craft room. Currently its in an unfinished room in my basement, but to me its still my own space to create, so I am very excited. I got a desk from IKEA that I will post about later on, but first, I'll share with you my first chair remodel.

I took an old chair that we weren't using anymore: 

And with a screwdriver I removed the padding section of the chair by undoing about 3 screws. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I put the padding aside and took the chair outside to paint it. I had to lightly sand the chair down first but if you have some primer spray than no sanding is required.

I got Rust-oleum spray paint because I heard thats the best. (White, satin finish). 

The handle was a separate purchase but was very nice for spraying a lot of furniture. My fingers didn't cramp up at all. Following the instructions on the can, I put a few coats on of the paint (I used the entire can and should have used more for a better finish but decided it was good as is) Then I followed it up with a clear coat of polyurethane.

While waiting for the polyurethane to dry, I focused my attention on the padding section. I had previously gotten a yard of the fabric that I wanted from Hobby Lobby. (Oh Hobby Lobby, I {heart} you!)


The plan was to staple gun it to the chair padding, but I was too impatient to wait for my hubby to help me with that. So I did the next best thing. I got my glue gun. I simply hot glued the new fabric right on top of the old. I payed special attention to the corners to make them bunch as little as possible. 

Then I just screwed the padding back onto the chair and voila! It's done. It took me just a few hours to do (with having to wait for the paint to dry) and it was a fairly simple project.

I plan to still reinforce the new fabric with a staple gun. But for now it will work great with my desk! Ignore the cement walls :)

 I love how girly and fresh it looks. When I see it I instantly want to craft!

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One of a Kind Hand Stamped Washer Necklaces

Customized washer necklaces are all the craze these days in the crafting community. I made some of these for myself and for some family members and friends for the holiday season and I love them! It is nice to wear something that has your spouse and your name on it, or your kids and their birthdays. It helps me to remember them all the time throughout the day. These would be great wedding, anniversary, valentine's day, or birthday gifts! Is a new baby coming? Show up to the baby shower with one of these babies and you'll be sure to get "ooos" and "ahs." They are so versatile. You can wear one washer, or several at a time. With beads, with charms, or alone for a more simple look.These necklaces or pendants can range in quality and price to make due to the metals used, size of washers, designs, and font styles. However, if you just want to dip your toes in and try them out, you can do so very easily and for way cheap. Here's how:

1/2" (1" in diameter) washer

Tutorial & Tips 
Materials Needed:

-washers

-hammer

-steel lettered stamps

-chain necklace

-black sharpie

-baby wipe

-drill (optional)

-jump rings (optional)

-beads or charms (optional)

-pin heads for beads (optional)
-polishing supplies (optional) 

1. Gather your supplies. 

Purchase the size of washer you wish to use at your local Lowe's or Home Depot. 

Important Tip: Note that the size on the package refers to the size of the hole in the center of the washer, not the diameter of the washer itself. You may find washers marked the same that are different sizes because the whole in the middle is the same, but the entire width varies. 

I have tried a variety of sizes and found that the best size for adults is a 1/2" washer which measures about 1" in diameter. This both looks the best and is the easiest for stamping on. You can purchase about 5 of them for a dollar, but plan on it being a learning process with a lot of messups until you get the hang of it, so you may consider 3 washers for every successful one you finish. 5/16" washers are a good size for necklaces with multiple washers, or for smaller sizes for kids, but they are harder to work with.

You'll need some steel lettered stamps to apply your message. Nice fonts usually run for about $165 big ones at jewelery stores, however if you are okay with the font shown in these pictures, you can purchase them at Harbor Freight for about $8.99 plus shipping when all is said and done. Make sure you select the 1/8th size of 40 stamps so you get all the punctuations you need. 

If you don't have a drill to drill holes into the washer, you can just wrap the chain around in a slip not as shown in the picture with the message "Be Still."

If you do have a drill you can use to drill holes in, than you will also want to purchase some jump rings (I use 6mm ones for the chain, and 4mm ones for adding beads and charms). These will run you about $1-$2 dollars a bag for about 60 jump rings.

Any accessories you want- beads, charms, a chain, etc. If you want to add beads, you will also need pinheads to attach them as well.  

If you are going all out with the drilled holes, jump rings, charms, and beads, you may want to pick up some pliers you can use to open the jump rings and twist the pinhead wires.

Finally, grab a hammer, a black sharpie, any polishing supplies you may have, and a baby wipe or two.

2. Stamp it Up!
Find a concrete surface such as your garage or basement floor. Do not attempt this on a table or tiled floors. Decide on the message you want to apply to the washer. Find all of the stamps you need to create the message so you can get a flow going without having to stop each time to look for the next letter or number.

Place your washer face up on the concrete floor and place your stamp on the washer. Hold the washer as tight as you can so that it won't slip. If using the Harbor Freight stamps, I have found that depending on the letter, you will want to hit the stamp several times very hard with the hammer.  If the letters are made of straight lines such as "L" "I" "T" for example, you will only need to hit the stamp 1-3 times. These letters tend to leave a deeper impression than rounded ones. Rounded letters like "O" "C" "R" need to be hit up to ten times. Also, instead of using their "W" use the "M" instead, just upside down. It's easier to work with. 

3. Oxidize Your Letters
After your message is complete, take a black sharpie and fill in the letters pressing down into the grooves very hard. Don't worry about getting marker on top of the washer. This is a cheap way to oxidize the washer, and it makes the letters stand out more.

4. Clean and polish
After the letters are filled in, wipe the excess ink off with the baby wipe. You may find depending on the washer you are using, that it is better to wipe it off right away (if using a 5/16 washer), or to wait a little while first to let it dry. If you have stubborn ink that won't come off, I have found polishing (with a dremel) the necklace helps take it off. You can use a dremel tool with a polishing kit like I do, but that can get pricey if you don't already have it. If power tools aren't your thing, the cheaper route is to use a wipe designed for polishing metals. 

If you aren't drilling a hole into the washer, than you put the chain on and you are done!

5. Drill Hole and Attach Jump Rings and Accessories (optional)

If you have a drill, go ahead and drill a hole in the top of your washer. Attach a jump ring (6mm) by pulling it apart and sliding it through the hole. Attach another jump ring (6mm) to the first one. This second jump ring will be used to slip the pendant onto the chain. 

If you have any beads or charms to attach, you will want to apply another jump ring (4mm) to the first one that is wrapped around the washer hole, and attach the accessory to that. 

Beads need to have a pinhead slid into the holes, and a loop formed at the top so it can be slid onto the jump ring. The picture to the left should give you an idea of how it should look.


Purchase Your Own Customized Necklace
Do you like the idea of customized washer necklaces but don't have the time or desire to make them?!? I have placed some in our Etsy shop where you can purchase a custom necklace just for you. The names in the pictures are only examples of what you can do. Just let me know the name(s), date(s), or message you want and I can make it for you!

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"I See a Monster" Sock Puppets!

Last month was my nephew's 1st birthday. I thought about what I wanted to get him, and I knew I wanted to do something that was a little more personal than a store bought toy. I can't remember where I saw this idea but I came across something similar to this:

You give the gift of The Very Hungry Caterpillar  book along with a sock puppet that looks like the caterpillar, and food with holes in it that he can eat through.

I liked that idea and went to my local Walmart and found a book I knew a little one year old boy would love:

This book is a touch and feel book all about the different kinds of monsters this little boy sees.


If you click on the book it will take you to Amazon, but it was cheaper at Walmart. Then again, what isn't cheaper at Walmart? 

So I went over to the socks department and picked out a few monsters from the book that I liked and thought I would give it a go at making resembling sock puppets.

SOCK PUPPET TUTORIAL


Materials Needed:
Fuzzy Sock(s)
hot glue and glue gun
cardboard
felt
googly eyes

pom poms (optional)
pipe cleaners (optional)



I couldn't find any fuzzy socks that were long so I had to get a few pairs of ankle socks.

 

I cut a hole into the toe of one and hot glue them together like this (sorry the picture is a different pair- I forgot to take the first picture until after the puppet was already made):

IMPORTANT TIP: I found that when you are gluing the two socks together, it helped to have your fingers stretch the socks out as the glue was drying, otherwise it would dry and not be able to stretch at all when you try to put it on. You may get a few glue gun burns, but its not really a good project unless you do right?!?

Then I cut an oval out of cardboard ( I think I just used an empty snack box from my pantry) and I just eye-balled the size I wanted. This will be the inside of your puppet's mouth:

Then I hot glued some felt onto the cardboard. I used a different color than the sock itself so it would stand out. (Think Sesame Street puppets).

Then I cut the toe off of the top of the puppet, adjusted the cardboard so that it would work as a mouth. I folded the cardboard so that it was similar to the shape of my hand shaped as a C:

and then I glued the edges of the sock to the cardboard as if it were sewn (the outside of the sock was rolled under and glued):

Now comes the fun creative part. Decorate your puppet however you want using googly eyes, pom pom balls, felt, and pipe cleaners. I ended up making three puppets and here's the finished results:

Enjoy!

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