Bella Dia

Button Clips

 
This probably says something about how my gift making is
going but here is another last minute gift that is quick and
easy to make. Buttons and paperclips glued together with hot
glue make button clips! They can still be used as paperclips
but the large ones make cute bookmarks as well. 

The view from the back. You can use a shank button or a
button with holes. Lay the paperclip over the middle of the back
of the button and add some hot glue. These look really cute with
the novelty type buttons and it's a great craft for kids too!

Free Gift Tag List Updated

   

I'm just letting everyone know that I have updated the list of free gift tags that I've been collecting from the internet for the last few years.  There are lots of new beauties this year so be sure to take a look. The link is always in my sidebar under "Pages". 

Click over to Maya*Made and see what she did with some free gift tags and ideas for green gift wrapping :) 

Rocks +Transfers = Easy Last Minute Gifts

I love that scrapbooking has brought so many products into
the crafting world that can be used in other ways. I know rub-on
transfers have been around for awhile but now they come in so
many beautiful and fun designs and that's what I found on my
last trip to the scrapbook store.  Of course, I wanted to try them
out right away and since these stones were within arm's reach
this is what I did. These small ones look like they've been
stitched together and would be just right for paperweights.

This larger rock would make a nice doorstop. Did you need
last minute gifts or stocking stuffers? Here you go!

Glittery Newspaper Tree

I saw this tree on the Martha Stewart site and almost
immediately set to making it.  I'm planning on doing a whole 
landscape of recycled trees this year for a holiday display so
this fit the bill perfectly. I have a few tips for you if you decide
to make one as well. 

* I made the polymer clay base exactly as the instructions and
it came out perfectly only I used a bamboo skewer instead of
a knitting needle for the support.

* I have a large paper cutter and I am *so* glad I did! 

* Cut out all the newspaper ahead of time so you use the
same amount of each size. 

* We used a small newspaper cone for the top instead of a
star since ours is just a regular tree in the woods
and not a Christmas tree.

* I used Elmer's spray adhesive for the glitter. The glitter is
actually small opalescent flakes - a brand new bag
that I got while thrifting, woot!

* It is surprisingly sturdy and I plan to keep if for next
year so we'll see if it stores well.

* My kids were very much involved and could easily do it
on their own but it does take awhile so you may want to
have them switch out if they get bored.