DIY Magnets-in-a-Tin

I know Christmas is only 6 days away...ACK - it IS???!!! Deep breaths. But you really do still have time to whip up homemade gifts for nearby family and friends! Most of my homemade gifts this time of year are of the edible variety, but occasionally I get my craft on. :)

So, in one of my rare crafting moments earlier this year - I actually used supplies I had purchased a few years - yes, years - before! And I did a fun little craft that you or your kiddos can do!

I made some magnets for a friend and decorated an altoid tin to put them in. I like how they turned out!

Here are the supplies you need:

• pictures, magazine images, or scrapbook paper {Mine were from magazine pages.}
• clear glass marbles with flat bottom
• circle magnets
• Tacky glue
• empty tin - such as altoids

Cut your images or paper to fit the bottoms of the glass marbles and glue into place {don't worry - the glue dries clear!} so that the image shows through top. Let dry and trim away any excess paper that sticks out.

Glue each marble to a round magnet and let dry. I used too much glue and mine took over a day to look fully clear again!

 

Now you can decorate your tin any way you like! Keep it fast and easy by simply painting the outside of the tin or cutting out images from old Christmas cards to glue to the top of the tin.

For my tin, I glued some strips of scrapbook paper around the sides. I cut out pieces of a paper coffee cup sleeve to make kind of a mosaic on top of the tin. I glued in place and added a piece of paper with a sticker of my friend's first initial. I also glued on a little bow and the bird was cut out of an old Christmas Starbucks gift card holder! Be creative and have fun!

You could even decorate tins like this and use them to give out gift cards. Or have your kiddos decorate some to give out little trinkets or candy to friends and family.

 

Have you made magnets before? Or decorated tins? What's your favorite Christmas craft idea?

It's too bad I don't get crafty very often. After I finished this one, I realized one reason I don't do it much...this pic. LOL! :)

This post linked to:
 ~ WFMW at We Are THAT Family.
 ~ Chic & Crafty Party at The Frugal Girls
 ~ I'm Lovin It at TidyMom 

You know, I really don't get crafty enough - I could only find one other craft post {Homemade gifts for kids} on my blog and it doesn't even have pics!

Have a blessed day friends!

Crafty Valentine Links

I do apologize for getting my posts up late every day this week!  Being a West-coaster, I normally write my posts at night and schedule them to be up anywhere from midnight to 2 AM my time so East coast peeps will see them bright and early ('cause I know your day just isn't the same if you don't see a post from me first thing - HA).  This week, I've been too tired in the evenings to think straight and taking care of and entertaining my sick kiddo in the mornings.  But I assure you that Chocolate Friday will be up at midnight PST because it's THAT important.  :)

I am not such a crafty person.  I can be if I feel really inspired and force myself to actually take the time to sit down and do the craft, but that is a rare occurrence!  I seem to be surrounded by crafty people though and I have seen many a great Valentine craft online!  It's not too late to get crafty for Valentine's Day!  I'll share a few ideas with you now...

Easy and cute idea with candy and notes in a muffin tin from Cathy Heck:
Valentine Candy Love Note Muffins

Darling hearts and a Valentine Swag from Kathy at Blessed Beyond Imagination:
DIY Fabric Heart
Valentine Swag

A cute bird house, tissue carnations, and a Valentine pillow from my friend Kim at Homesteader's Heart:
Bird House Project
Carnations and Pillow

Sweet Love letters in a frame by Myra at My Blessed Life:
LOVE in a Frame

Decorated box of chocolates from Alyssa at Keeping the Kingdom First:
Decorated Chocolates Box

These are just a few - there are MANY more ideas out there in blogland!  Have you seen a cute idea or posted about one?  Leave the link in your comments!

I love all you crafty people - thanks for sharing your ideas with the rest of us!  :)  Have a lovely day and remember to come back for Chocolate Friday - it involves chocolate (OF COURSE) and raspberry which equals yum!

Pumpkin Potpourri Week ~ Works-For-Me Wednesday ~ Pumpkin Fun

Welcome to Day 3 of Pumpkin Potpourri Week! Today is about having fun with pumpkin! If you're just stopping by for the first time, you better go back and check Day 1: giveaways and a pumpkin blueberry muffin recipe; and check Day 2: tea and a pumpkin bread recipe.

Thanks for coming by - get ready for some fun and more yumminess! Keep reading until the bottom for the chance to link up YOUR wonderful pumpkin posts!

Kids love pumpkins! Try going to a pumpkin patch in your area for some Fall fun. Here's a picture of my son picking out a pumpkin (4 years ago - must they grow up??).

How about getting the kids involved in some pumpkin crafts? Here are some easy suggestions that I ran across:

~ Make paper plates into pumpkin crafts by painting the entire plate orange and then decorating with paints, pens, and/or stick-on foam pieces.

~ Decorate outside of pumpkin using alphabet macaroni to form words and phrases. Use decoupage medium to stick words on outside of pumpkin and then paint over macaroni and paint on pumpkin, if you wish.

~ Use quilting pins to stick on sequins or other decorations onto outside of pumpkins.

~ Use mini pumpkins in your landscaping. Find sticks and paint with acrylic paints. hammer a nail into one end of stick, then carefully remove nail head with cutters and insert mini pumpkin onto nail. Put sticks (now pumpkin wands) into ground outside wherever you want!

~ Make a frosted pumpkin by painting lines on stem and top of pumpkin and following lines down partway using white dimensional fabric paint. Using dimensional paint, make snowflake shapes around pumpkin. Coat pumpkin with white glitter. Could even be a centerpiece on a white doily with artificial snow ( a craft book's idea - not mine!).

Pumpkin Fact of the Day
*** Pumpkins are grown on 6 of the 7 continents. ***

Can you or your kids guess which one they aren't on? Hint - Have you ever seen penguins eating pumpkin or served pumpkins on ice? That's right - Antarctica!

Your kids can also help cook your favorite pumpkin recipes. Here's a kid-friendly pumpkin recipe that is yummy enough for some grown-ups to declare they like it better than pie! What kid doesn't like pudding (OK - there probably are some, but humor me please)?

Quick Pumpkin Pudding
1 (6 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk (1-1/2 cups)
1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream

Beat pudding mix and evaporated milk according to package directions in a large bowl; refrigerate for 5 minutes. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Spoon into dessert dishes. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream.

Makes 8 servings.

I serve this at Thanksgiving for the kids. I like to put out toppings for the pudding: graham cracker crumbs, mini chocolate chips, nuts, whipped cream. Yum!! If you want to make the recipe lower fat and calories, just use sugar-free, fat-free pudding mix and skim evaporated milk.

All this pumpkin fun works for me! I hope you are enjoying it! You should stop by Works-for-me-Wednesday at Rocks in the Dryer for lots of good tips and ideas (not necessarily pumpkin-related).

But don't leave yet!! Here's your chance to link up (and another opportunity to be entered in a giveaway). Find or create your favorite pumpkin-themed post and link it up with Mr. Linky below. Some of you have already posted great pumpkin recipes, decorations, and craft ideas - link 'em up! Or write a new one and come back to link it. If you don't have a blog, please leave your ideas and/or recipes in the comments and I'll enter you in the giveaway.

Can't wait to read all of your pumpkin ideas!! Come back tomorrow - more pumpkin on the way!

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