Craft Ideas Archives - Page 2 of 12 - Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

5 Super-Fun Christmas Doodles Gift-Wrap Ideas

November 27th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Christmas Doodles Gift Wrap

Idea #1 Joy to the World

In a recent Christmas post, I explained that I had been motivated by The Merry Little Christmas Project to simplify Christmas 2015.

For me, Christmas offers a season of creative outlet, so I knew I would have to simplify my December-long crafting mania. So instead of–per usual–attempting to make each wrapped gift a work of art, I decided to wrap all my gifts in kraft paper or brown paper bags. But here comes the fun part: even though I don’t have a speck of artistic ability, I would decorate them with quick and easy Christmas doodles.

And what fun I’ve had.

Gift Wrap Christmas Doodles Idea #2 Merry Christmas colored-pencil sketch on a lunch bag

My daughter, son-in-law, and their six oh-how-I-miss-them children live in Kansas–many hundreds of miles away from our New York home. Each year my daughter shops for me on Amazon; I then place the order (using my Prime free shipping) and have the gifts sent directly to their Kansas address. A great idea, but I have always felt a bit sad that I don’t get to wrap the gifts.

This year I decided to create the wrapping paper at home using paper bags so Desiree could just slip the gifts into the bags along with some tissue paper, attach the decorative sketch, and there it is–a personal touch from Grandma.

Since the bags are flat it is easy to send them via USPS.

Gift Wrap Christmas Doodles Idea #3 For this sketch I used colored pencils and drew right on the bag.

DIY Christmas Wrap Dangles Idea #4 I sketched these stars onto a grocery bag.

Christmas Doodles Nativity Idea #5 I love the simplicity of this nativity; I made a tag to adorn the simple Dollar Store kraft-paper wrapping.

And the quiet simplicity of this sketch is almost breath-taking.

I also sketched it directly on a grocery bag. No artistic skill required, just lots of love.

Bit by bit I have made an assortment of doodled paper bags to have ready to grab for last-minute gifts. [Flat bags take up so little space.]

So there you have it: five super-fun Christmas Doodles gift-wrap ideas!

And in the words of beloved Tiny Tim: May God bless us one and all!

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Want to join us on our mission to choose the LESS instead of the STRESS this Christmas season? You can grab your own copy of The Merry Little Christmas Project here.

***

dollar--store-diva-Christmas

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day!

Super Simple Gift Wrap Ideas with Christmas Doodles

November 17th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Gift Wrap Christmas Doodles

Ever since I devoured Kaley’s book, The Merry Little Christmas Project, I have been on a mission to simplify Christmas 2015. However, in my quest for simplicity, a giant-sized issue stands in my way: Creative is my middle name.

But wait! I have developed a strategy that will address both issues–the creative juices that wake me up in the morning and my deep desire to SIMPLIFY.

My most recent passion has been…doodling. Honest. [And this is the woman who has always said, “The only two things I can draw is a smiley face and a cloud.”]
That’s it! Doodling! Instead of bows and ribbons, I am using simple, colorful doodles to decorate my packages!

Along with a pair of scissors and some scraps of colored paper or card stock, these are the only tools I have needed:

Christmas Wrapping

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens

Circle Template

White Gel Pens

So here we go–my 2015 Creativity + Simplicity Wrapping Strategy:

To simplify: I will wrap all gifts in Dollar Store brown kraft paper or brown paper bags.

Christmas Bulbs Sketch

2)

To simplify: I will decorate the packages with something I find relaxing and enjoyable; for this Christmas that is doodling and sketching.

Watercolor Christmas Bulbs I never dreamed I could do this! And so much fun.

3)

To simplify: Once I practice a sketch design, I will create an “assembly line” and create several of the same kind. The time spent in creating the original sketch will allow me to quickly produce others.

Christmas Wrapping Bulbs

4)

To simplify: I will use The Merry Little Christmas Project’s 20-Minute Missions. Once I practice the first one, I will set the timer, start my assembly line, and whip up several more.

5)

To simplify: I will not wait until the last minute to frantically gather my paper and pens; I will light a candle, turn on some Christmas music and do it in November.

Christmas Snowman

The doodle decoration can double as the gift tag.

Christmas Wrapping

Because these are just flat pieces of paper, I have a pile of them ready to go so I can grab one when I have a package to wrap. It can be attached to a wrapped package or a brown bag. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Christmas Wrapping Snowman Snowman

So there you have it: creative simplicity at its best.

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Want to join us on our mission to choose the LESS instead of the STRESS this Christmas season? You can grab your own copy of The Merry Little Christmas Project here.

***

dollar--store-diva-Christmas

The Dollar Store Diva: DIY Autumn Lights Garland

October 26th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

DIY Autumn Lights

My favorite fall project from last year was this “Blessings Galore!” burlap wreath:

DIY Autumn Burlap Wreath

As I unpacked the wreath this year, I realized that I had plenty of autumn-y scraps of fabric and burlap left over. So I set to work, and look what I did in just one evening:

DIY Burlap Autumn Lights
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I didn’t need to spend a dime on this happy project, and I suspect that if you dig deep into your craft bin, you’ll be surprised at what autumn-garland goodies you might find.

DIY Autumn Lights

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I opened a Christmas bin to find a short strand of mini-lights.

DIY Autumn Lights

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The beauty of a project like this is that perfection is discouraged; I like the random and chaotic feel of this garland. I ripped the fabric into strips about one inch wide and nine-ten inches long, and I didn’t worry for a minute whether or not the burlap was cut straight.

DIY Autumn Burlap Lights

And there you have it–a lovely mantel display that will bring beauty to your home throughout the fall season.

DIY Burlap Autumn Lights

By the way–the cute-little Pumpkin Box tutorial can be found here.

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Get-It-Done-Now Tool for Procrastinators {with Printable}

July 23rd, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Do It Now Printable

I am a busy woman. {Feel free to add your name to the Busy Person List.}

In addition, I am a busy woman who regularly procrastinates. {There’s a list for that too; you can sign your name under mine.}

I have learned that procrastination is not my friend; it has created so much unnecessary stress in my life. Then add to procrastination my issue with ADD and…

ARRRGHHH!!

During the years that I ran a home business, I knew that I had to have a strategy to help me accomplish the things that I simply dreaded to do. That’s when I came up with this little ditty:

Do It Now for Procrastinators

“Nancy,” I’d say to myself, “do it now; do it cheerfully; and do it well.”

The little “ditty” has proven to be a helpful get-things-done-now tool, and I still repeat it often.

But merely chanting the refrain isn’t enough. I have so much I have procrastinated on that I have to first decide what “it” is in “Do it now”.

That’s where this handy-dandy tool comes in:

DIY Procrastination Strategy A few inexpensive supplies are needed:

Dollar Store Clip Board ……Dollar Store Sticky Notes……Scrap of Fabric……Pinking Shears……Dollar Store Sharpie……Do it Now Printable

Dollar Store Procrastination Tool I used the pinking shears to cut the fabric a bit smaller than the board and then slipped the fabric and trimmed-to-size printable under the clip. Four sticky-note pads come in the Dollar Tree package, so I matted one pad on a scrap of decorative cardstock and slipped that under the clip to hold it in place.

The magic here is the sticky notes.

Here is where I decide what the it is. I had been having trouble with my cable for months–yes, folks, months. But I absolutely dreaded calling the cable company. So I put it off…and I put it off…and I put it off. Then one day I decided that calling TWC was my it for the day–whether I wanted to do it or not.

So I wrote “Call TWC” in bold letters on the yellow pad. {That note absolutely could not be ripped off until the job was actually done.}

And I did it!

It was every bit as stressful as I had suspected it would be (over an hour on the phone with two different technicians), but it had to be done, and I did it!

Besides that, it was done cheerfully, and it was done well.

Change the ARRRGHHH!! to AAHHHH!!

Dollar Store Tool for Procrastinators

Another idea is to mat the printed motto with two layers of scrapbooking paper instead of fabric. [Surely I’m not the only one who has procrastinated on cleaning her venetian blinds.]

DIY Tool for Procrastinators

For a smaller version to stand on a desk, I bought a 5×7 easel-back plastic frame at the Dollar Tree and used colorful cardstock to mat the Do It Now 5×7 Printable.

DIY Procrastinator Strategy I didn’t attach the sticky pad to the frame, but I placed it nearby along with the Sharpie.

So there you have it. Decide what your it is for the day, then don’t remove the sticky note until it’s done.

Oh, and don’t forget: do it cheerfully and do it well. 🙂

***
dollar-store-diva

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

“Honey of a Couple” Anniversary Gift One-Minute Tutorial

May 19th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

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It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from the Dollar Store Diva (a.k.a. my MOM), but she can’t stay away for long! She has a fresh new idea that I think you guys are really going to enjoy. I already love this first quick tip for a super cute, super easy anniversary gift!

Anniversary Gift

Introducing…

Nancy’s Merry Little Quick Tips!

From time to time I will whip up a tip that might add some merry to your day. I will often present it to you in a super-quick slideshow video.

Hope this one-minute video will inspire you:

Click here for the free Honey of a Couple Anniversary card printable.

The Dollar Store Diva: Fabric-Wrapped Candy Canes with Printables

December 14th, 2014 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The minute I found this idea and tutorial here, I knew that this would be the primary craft I would concentrate on during the 2014 Christmas season.

I have since made these little works of art with friends and with family, with young and with old. In one way or another, 100% of them have said, “Oh, this is so much fun!” And 100% have been delighted with the results.

Candy Canes DollarTree

First, I bought plastic candy canes at Dollar Tree. {Can’t argue with six candy canes for a dollar.}

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Then, following the tutorial, I used homespun fabric to wrap the canes and added a cardstock star that I cut out of a Joy to the World sheet-music printable .

Fabric Candy Canes

For others, I used brighter Christmas fabrics and added these JOY Tags.

Fabric Candy Canes

It’s fun to continue finding uses for the wrapped canes. Along with greenery, they can add a festive touch to a wrapped gift.

Fabric Candy Canes

My niece Deb used her candy canes as the finishing touch on her window display. Isn’t it lovely?

So there you have it: Joy to the World! The Lord has come!

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Find more posts from the Dollar Store Diva here.

The Dollar Store Diva: Handcrafted Christmas Wreath for $2.20 {Dollar Tree}

December 2nd, 2014 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Christmas Wreath

I like walking into the Dollar Store, not looking for anything in particular, and then leaving the store with a treasure. That very thing happened recently.

I noticed these red and white knit scarves and thought to myself: Surely there must be something I could do with these scarves besides wrapping them around my neck.

Wreath

And indeed there is!

I decided to make a rag wreath using one red scarf and one white scarf.

I cut a strip of wire–that I had bought at the Dollar Tree–and tied it into a fat circle. {A wire coat hanger also works splendidly.}

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I cut across the scarf every six inches and then cut the six-inch strips into three strips. There was no need to measure the three strips–I just eyed it. That’s the beauty of a rag wreath.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I tied the strips onto the wire, alternating the red and white. I decided to push them tightly together to make a smaller wreath, but I could have made a larger one with the same two scarves.

The JOY tag came in a package of five; it was gold, and I wanted it green. I happened to have a bottle of green nail polish I had bought at the Dollar Tree for crafting purposes, so I used that to change the gold into green.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The wreath can be hung on the wall or used as a cozy centerpiece with a candle in the middle.

DSD Wreath Paige
My niece, Paige, decided to wrap her scarves around her neck after all!

So there you have it:

2 scarves = $2.00 1 JOY tag = 20 cents

For a grand total of $2.20!

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dollar--store-diva-Christmas

The Dollar Store Diva: A Thanksgiving Note-Writing Challenge with Free Printable

November 7th, 2014 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Source

While I was shopping recently, a handsome young man came up to me and said, “Mrs. Hill, you probably don’t remember me.”

I studied his face, but I had to admit that I didn’t.

As it turned out, we used to go to the same church. Years ago I said something that he has always remembered and that has actually impacted his life.

As I listened to his story, I couldn’t have been more surprised.

He went on to say, “I saw you here, and I wanted to thank you.”

In the car on my way home, I couldn’t stop crying.

Are there people in your life who have made an impact on you, either briefly or for a length of time? Have you ever told that person?

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Are you motivated by a challenge?

I know I am!

I’d like to offer you a challenge for this November 2014. {I am personally excited about this challenge because I am accepting it myself!}

1)

Choose one or two people who have touched your life; it might be extra fun if they don’t realize the blessing they have been to you.

2)

Write a note to them during this season of giving thanks. It doesn’t have to be long or amazing–just heartfelt.

Harvest-Notecards

Last year I created this printable stationery along with the “confetti”. You can print out these notecards–with or without the confetti–OR simply scribble on a paper towel. Obviously, it will be the message that counts.

3)

If you decide to accept the challenge, please let me know by leaving a comment below.

So there you have it–a Thanksgiving note-writing challenge.

Blessings galore!

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