Gift Ideas Archives - Page 7 of 28

Cute Critter Plant Stakes

Spring is here and so brings the critters, but these are the cute kind you’ll want to keep. Jaime here from That’s My Letter sharing how to make cute critter plant stakes using wood parts and pieces. I’m a sucker for any project with wood and today is no exception. Gather up all the wood parts you have and let’s make some cute critter plant stakes!

No slime on this snail, he’s just hanging out in the plant with his ladybug and spider friend. You could create any kind of critter and paint them many fun colors. My kids wanted in on this project so I added it to our summer ‘to-do’ list. I can only imagine the creations they will come up with.

How cute are those ladybug antennae? I sprayed the critters with clear gloss poly so they could live in my outside planters.

Below are step-by-step instructions to make these cute critter plant stakes. Get creative and attach parts as you like, it doesn’t have to be true to form.

Materials:

1/4″ plant stakes (you can repurpose from yard fertilizer sign)
1 3/4″ dowel cut into 1/2″ thick slices (bodies)
1″ wood balls (heads)
12 mm wood beads (antennae & eyes)
wood skewers
acrylic craft paint
paint brush
drill and drill bits
wood glue
small saw or scissors
colored craft wire
colored straight pins (spider eyes)
clear gloss spray poly for exterior

Instructions:

Step 1: Paint critter bodies using acrylic craft paint.

Step 2: Paint remaining body parts, use a skewer to hold balls and beads while painting.

Step 3: Pre-drill hole for plant stake using matching size drill bit.

Step 4: Cut skewers about 1″ using coping saw or scissors.

Step 5: Pre-drill body for skewer and insert using wood glue. Set head onto other end of skewer.

Step 6: Add colored wire to antennae beads and twist ends together. Pre-drill a tiny hole in head for wire then fold a short portion of end of wire in half and insert into critter head with wood glue.

For the spider eyes use colored straight pins. Pre-drill holes in spider head then insert pins down into bead, use wood glue.

Spray the critters with clear gloss poly for exterior use to seal the paint and protect from the elements.

Stick all the critters plant stakes down into the soil. Now you have a fun addition to any plant, inside or out! These are the type of cute critters I can enjoy. Hope you do to.

~ read more of Jaime’s tutorials ~

May 18, 2016/5 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

arts and craft, Gift Ideas, Upcycling

Simple Washi Tape Vases {Teacher’s Appreciation Gifts}

Teacher’s Appreciation Week is coming up. I needed a gift that would be special and would make the teachers’ smile. And, I needed a gift that would require very little time to create. As I strode by the recycling bin, I grabbed some jars and had a wild idea. I’d make some Simple Washi Tape Vases for teacher appreciation gifts! And best of all, the cost would be next to nothing.

Welcome back to the Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea Series! All this week, we’ll have simple and inexpensive last minute gift ideas for the teachers in your life.

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas:

Decorated Chalkboard | Thank You for Nurturing My Child Plant | Apple Pencil Holder | You Rock Gift 3D Card | Simple Washi Tape Vases

Materials:

Recycled jars
Washi tape
Scissors
Flowers

Instructions:

Are you ready? This is complicated, so pay attention! (You know I’m kidding, right?!) Read more

April 22, 2016/30 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Gift Ideas, gifts

You Rock 3-D Card

You Rock Appreciation Gift Idea | Pretty Handy Girl

This week is Teacher and Staff appreciation week at my sons’ school. Monday was bus driver appreciation. Our bus driver is a really great guy. He’s young, but man is he on top of things! He is always polite and learned the kids’ names the first week.

I wasn’t sure what to get him. I have no idea what a guy who looks to be in his mid-20’s wants. Flowers would seem weird. And I have no idea if he likes cookies. And then it hit me. I remembered Otto, the Simpson’s bus driver!

That guy loved to Rock n’ Roll! I figured, what young guy wouldn’t appreciate a little iTune credit? In addition to the gift card, I made a 3-D YOU ROCK Card to hold an i-Tunes gift card using the Silhouette. (If you don’t have a Silhouette, you can use a computer print out and an x-acto knife to cut out the letters.

Welcome back to the Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea Series! All this week, we’ll have simple and inexpensive last minute gift ideas for the teachers in your life.

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas:

Decorated Chalkboard | Thank You for Nurturing My Child Plant | Apple Pencil Holder | You Rock Gift 3D Card | Simple Washi Tape Vases

DIY Apple Pencil Holder

Need a cute gift idea for the teachers you know? How about a teacher appreciation gift idea like this DIY apple pencil holder made using scrap wood? Jaime here today from That’s My Letter sharing how to make this apple shaped pencil holder that makes the cutest teacher gift!

Welcome back to the Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea Series! All this week, we’ll have simple and inexpensive last minute gift ideas for the teachers in your life.

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas:

Decorated Chalkboard | Thank You for Nurturing My Child Plant | Apple Pencil Holder | You Rock Gift 3D Card | Simple Washi Tape Vases

This apple has tons of space for lots of pencils or any kind of supplies (pens, scissors, etc.) and would look great on the teacher’s desk ready and waiting. You know kids are constantly losing their pencils, so hopefully this supply comes in handy for my kids’ teachers.

I attached a circular dowel in the center to mimic the apple stem but I think that’s optional and not necessary. Plus, if you want more space for pencils, you can leave it out.

And, of course, this apple has a bite taken out of it just for fun! Below are step-by-step instructions to make this apple pencil holder.

Materials:

1/2″ mdf scraps
2 – 1×6 scrap wood @ 4″ long (see cut layout below)
1/4″ plywood scrap (4″ x 3 1/4″)
1″ circular dowel @ 8″ long (optional)
Scissors
Apple sketch printout: (download here)
Pencil
Jigsaw
Sandpaper
Wood glue
Nail gun & 1 1/4″ finish nails
Drill & drill bits
1 1/2″ wood screw
Acrylic paints & paintbrush
Clear spray poly

Instructions:

Step 1: Print out the apple sketch and cut out along the outer edge.

Step 2: Trace the apple shape onto MDF, twice.

Step 3: Cut out the apple shape using a jig saw and sand edges smooth. Read more

April 20, 2016/4 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

Gardening, Gift Ideas

Thank You for Nurturing My Child – Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Thank You For Nurturing My Child Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea | Pretty Handy Girl

Every year my son’s elementary school has a staff and teacher appreciation week. It sneaks up on me and catches me off-guard (every year!) In the spirit of last minute teacher appreciation gift ideas, I’ll be bringing you a week’s worth of ideas that are quick, easy and affordable!

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas:

Decorated Chalkboard | Thank You for Nurturing My Child Plant | Apple Pencil Holder | You Rock Gift 3D Card | Simple Washi Tape Vases

I REALLY appreciate those men and women who give their time and patience to my child and the other kids in the school. So, I want to make sure I give them something a little different than a card (not that a card isn’t a nice gesture though.)

I spotted some glass votive holders at Goodwill (previously purchased at IKEA), and knew I could do something special with them. Then while browsing Lowe’s I found myself staring at the succulent plants. Eureka! I had my gift idea! A “Thank You for Nurturing My Child” Teacher Appreciation gift idea!