a how to for you: button head salt & pepper shaker.

it is common knowledge that buttons make damn good closures.. but to use for salt and pepper shakers???

..i think yes!

this how-to is super simple, super cheap, and super seasoned.

level of difficulty: easy peasy.

supplies:

♥ baby food jars (or any other little pair of containers)

♥ aleene's tacky glue

♥ two large buttons and various tiny buttons

♥ scrapbook paper

♥ double-sided tape

♥ salt & pepper

1. drive a nail through the center of the top.

2. widen the hole you made so that its roughly ¾ inch wide.

3. place a circle of tacky glue around the perimeter of the large buttons, so that it adheres to the jar top. let dry.

4. cut little strips from the scrapbook paper and label the seasonings appropriately.

5. adhere the labels to the outside of the jar using double-sided tape.

6. glue the tiny buttons around the top for decorative effect. let dry.

....& voila!

..adorable little salt and pepper shakers, perfect for a spring picnic..

♥♥♥

a how to for you: clipboard calendar.

this tutorial is crazy easy. anybody can do it. plus its cheap.

what you'll need:

clipboard

string/yarn/ribbon

pen/pencil

tape

scrap paper (i used paint chips)

calendar pages

1. print off some calendar pages. i used lisa rupp's, available here. she uploads a new one at the first of every month. or you could make your own.

2. using paint chips, cut out a little tag to put the year on. just tape or glue onto the clip part of the clipboard. i heart paint chips. they are free and you can find them in any color.

3. tie string, yarn, or ribbon to the top of the clipboard and to the top of a pen...leaving enough slack so that it is usable.

easy-peezy.

it's perfect for keeping near your workspace to stay organized.

x's & o's, kg.

a how to for you: display frame.

this project was inspired by my friend sara.

she created a great display frame to show off her polaroid collection.

i use mine to show off inspirational sayings, photos, artwork, etc.

what you'll need:

frame

small nails

small binder clips

craft wire (use a heavy gauge)

ruler

hammer

paint

photos and pretty little things

1. i purchased my frame at a thrift store for only $4. i disposed of the glass and pulled out the staples around the frame for a a fresh piece. it was rather plain, so i painted it a nice green color.

2. starting 2 inches down, drive a nail into the back of the frame...making sure it will stay flush with the wall once you hang it. continue adding nails down the frame. i added a total of 4 on each side, 5 inches apart.

3. take your craft wire and wrap around one nail about 8 times. pull taut and wrap around the nail directly across the frame about 8 times. cut excess wire with wire cutters.

4. once you've done this to all the nails, it will look something like this...(its kind of hard to see, but there are four rows of wire going across).

5. finally, hang the frame and add binder clips to the wire. now you can display whatever inspires you and keeps you organized. hooray!

a how to for you: wrist support.

sometimes our wrists need a little lovin'.

especially, if you're like me and spend most of your day on the computer.

and so...this how-to was born.

a cushy little sleeve pillow for your wrists to rest.

i have an obsession with plaid shirts.

cutting them up..sewing with them..crocheting with them..and so on.

because i have lots of shirt remnants lying around, i decided to utilize a sleeve for this tutorial.

what you'll need:

an old plaid shirt sleeve

uncooked rice (or flaxseeds work even better)

essential oil (i used peppermint)

sewing machine

needle/thread

1. flip your sleeve inside out. measure your keyboard and cut sleeve length accordingly. mine is roughly 12 inches long.

2. pin your sleeve to create a pattern for sewing and cutting.

3. using your sewing machine, sew along both ends of your wrist pillow and alongside your pins. cut off excess fabric. this is what it will look like.

4. using the opening at the cuff, flip your sleeve right-side out.

5. now, take the uncooked rice and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. through the opening of the cuff, fill the sleeve with your rice mixture to the thickness of your liking.

6. using your needle and thread, hand sew the cuff opening close.

badaBING! a cushion for your restless wrists.

...here are some more plaid shirt crafts i've created...

plaid brooches (soon available in my etsy shop)

plaid hairpin lace scarf (available here)

my next project is a quilt made completely from plaid shirts.

pictures to come soon.

happy sewing, kg.

stache mask.

anyone who knows me is well aware that i heart halloween.

i plan my costume weeks, sometimes months in advance.

in the spirit of halloween, check out this awesome easy tutorial from the naughty secretary club on how to make mustache masks from old record sleeves.

i plan on making a whole slew of them for my peoples.

a how to for you: ruffled throw pillow.

i made this dainty little pillow to reside on my couch and keep my neck free from aches and pains.

here's how i did it.

purchase a circular pillow from any thrift store.

(since i'm low on cash i made one myself).

you'll also need my favorite adhesive, fabri-tac...

...and some ruffle trim (pictured below) available at joanns.

**you could also make your own trim, its just a little more time consuming**

i used approximately 4.3 yards of the trim.

1. start by placing a dollop of fabri-tac at the base of the pillow and adhere the trim. continue adding fabri-tac to the lip of the trim and adhering it to the pillow in a circular motion, using pins to hold it in place while it dries.

2. once you close the gap to the center, cut of excess trim and glue the end into place.

3. make a yo-yo out of coordinating fabric. heres a good tutorial on how to make a yo-yo if you don't already know. sew a nice little button in the center of the yo-yo for embellishment.

4. now, glue the yo-yo into the center of the pillow. this hides the end of the trim and any glue that seeped out.

voila!

enjoy! hugs and kisses, kg.

a how to for you.

another how to for you!

my last how to was so well received, i have decided to post a second one.

ideally i'd like to post one tutorial every wednesday, if my schedule allows.

so thats the plan...

as a crafter/designer, i draw inspiration from all types of little things.

to keep this inspiration, i like to put the little things on display.

instead of that boring old corkboard, i use:

a couple of nails

some crafting wire

mini binder clips (clothespins work too :)

1. find a nice empty spot on your wall in an area where you create.

2. drive two nails into the wall as far apart as you want your display to be (mine is roughly 3 feet long). leave about 1 centimeter of the nail sticking out of the wall.

3. take some wire (i used 24 gauge crafting wire) and wind it around one nail 5 times. stretch it taut and wrap it around the other nail 5 times. cut off excess with wire cutters/scissors.

4. now use those mini binder clips, available at all office supply stores, to hold your sketches, pictures, inspirational sayings, etc....!

change it out frequently to keep inspired. do several rows to have lots of space for hanging.

and you won't have to continue to poke holes in your wall!...just the original two.

ALSO...you could cut out letters from pretty paper and display sayings, mottos, etc...like this one from failedfeminist:

stay inspired. always.

x's & o's.

::kellygeorgette::

so happy together.

one of the many crafty blogs i follow is ohsohappytogether.

the girl that runs it is always posting fantastic tutorials. like this one.

its her adorable version of an anthropologie bag that cost $298. ridiculous.

you should visit her blog. show some love.

kg.

a how to for you.

my buddy hadley was telling me about this cute mason jar soap dispenser she saw on etsy.

so i thought i'd give it try.

level of difficulty: super easy.

1. just take a mason jar and drive a nail through the center of the top.

2. remove the pump from a store bought soap dispenser (below).

3. widen the hole you made so that the pump fits snug inside.

4. put some super glue on the edge of the bottom of the pumps base, so that it adheres to the jar top. let dry.

5. now fill with soap. the more colorful the better.

purty ain't it!?