Wish Fulfillment, The Blog

Photo and instructions courtesy of Design*Sponge

Have you been hit by the travel bug? Here’s an easy but brilliant craft that will help you keep track of all your trips – past, present, and future! Your trips in America, at least. Of course, you can totally make your own templates for other countries! We think color-coding the flags would also be a great idea.

Tools

• bandsaw (optional)
• Xacto knife and blades
• scissors
• tape
• wood glue
• drill and drill bit
• computer printer and paper
• paint brush

Materials

• 18″ x 24″ piece of thin plywood
• 22″ piece of 1″ x 2″ wood strip
• 2 eyehooks and picture hanging wire
• 20″ x 16″ piece of 1/4″ cork
• ball headed pins
• water slide paper (optional) - http://www.decalpaper.com/category-s/8.htm
• paint

Templates

• Template 1
• Template 2
• Template 3
• Template 4
• Template 5
• Template 6

Instructions

1. Cut out a 24″x18″ rectangle of thin plywood.  If you don’t have a saw you can ask the nice folks over a Lowes to help you out.  I rounded out my corners on the bandsaw for an extra aesthetic detail.
2. Paint your board desired color.  I went with a traditional blue.
3. Print out map templates.
4. Trim up map pages, tape together, and cut out paper America and circles.
5. Tape paper America and circles to cork. Using an exacto blade in a sawing motion cut out cork America and circles
6. Glue down cork pieces using wood glue.
7. Print and cut out compass and mod podge onto the bottom left hand side of your board.  I used a water slide image transfer paper, which creates a translucent image. (Find transfer paper here)
8. To hang your map, cut one 18″ piece and two, 2″ pieces of 1″ x 2” wood.  If you don’t have a saw, you can ask the nice folks over at Lowes to help you where they cut moulding.
9. Drill holes in the 18″ piece about 1 1/4″ from the end and screw in eyehooks.
10. Glue all three pieces to the back of the map, and lace picture hanging wire through two eyehooks.
11. For the flags, print and cut out flag patterns and fold in half.  Insert pins into crease and glue shut.

Photo and instructions courtesy of Obstinate Pursuit

Pick those long-forgotten buttons out of the craft box and turn them into a piece of jewelry!If you’re a crafster, you probably collect your share of cute buttons that are just sitting around waiting for a project like this. To make something that goes with any outfit, we recommend using different sized buttons but staying with one color palette, like this Victorian-inspired bracelet is truly greater than the sum of its parts!

Materials

• Buttons (shank buttons are easier to attach, but any will work)
• Beads or smaller buttons.
• Jewelry pliers and wire cutters
• A few headpins and jump rings
• A ‘charm’ style bracelet or chain with sizeable links and a closure fitting

Instructions

1. Start by counting the number of links on your bracelet chain, then choose a corresponding number of beads and buttons. Lay them out along the bracelet chain – without attempting to fix them in place. Re-arrange the beads and buttons until you find the arrangement pleasing to your eye – it may help to start with a large focal bead or button in the centre.

2. Open the central link of the chain using the pliers and attach the button directly onto the chain link by ‘threading’ the chain through the shank fitting. Close the link securely.

3. Continue to attach your buttons to the chain using the same method, leaving empty links between the buttons if necessary. (Sometimes, the shank fitting of the button may be a little too tight for the chain link to pass through easily. Don’t force it through or you may risk damaging your buttons. Instead, ‘thread’ a jump ring through the button and then attach this to the chain link)

4. Once you have buttons attached along the length of the bracelet, try wrapping it around your wrist. Check the drape and ‘fullness’ of the bracelet and, if you feel that it needs extra beads or buttons, spread it out and decide where to add your extra beads and buttons.

5. To add your beads ‘thread’ the beads onto a headpin.

6. Using your pliers, form a loop at the top of your headpin and then snip off the excess with your wire-cutters. (If you don’t have any wire-cutters, instead of forming the loop first, grasp the headpin firmly with your pliers about 1cm above the topmost bead. Bend the wire back and forth until it snaps. Now use your pliers to form a small loop closure)

7. Open the loop closure slightly and add the headpin to a chain link. Close the loop securely.

8. Continue to add additional beads and buttons to the chain until you are happy with the drape and fullness of the bracelet.

Has spring cleaning – or the idea of it – been stressing you out? Kill two birds with one stone by making this sea salt body scrub! The natural minerals will exfoliate dry skin and give your body a glow just in time for Spring! They’re ten times cheaper than the store-bought version, and you probably have all the supplies at home already. Essential oils will calm the mind and in no time, you’ll be clean and fresh as a daisy! Now if only it would dust the cobwebs for you too…

Photo and instructions courtesy of Tipnut

Ingredients

1/2 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup oatmeal (ground, uncooked)
1/4 cup flaxseed oil
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
8 drops geranium oil

Directions

Mix ingredients then massage over your body to exfoliate skin, it’s best to do this in the tub after a bath or shower

Photo and directions courtesy of Design*Sponge

This cute mini-project is not only green for the environment, but appropriate for St. Patrick’s day! Fill your room or car with the natural smell of flowers or pine instead of the chemical stuff you buy at the gas station!

Materials

• wool fabric
• scissors
• needle and thread
• fabric marker or pencil
• 2 ½ inches of thin ribbon of choice
• 15 inches of ribbon of choice
• dried lavender
• printed template (download here)

Directions

1. Cut along outside of tree shape. Lay paper tree on 2 layers of fabric and trace with fabric marker. Cut out fabric trees.
2. 2. Sew a loop of ribbon to the top inside of one tree
3. Line up trees and sew edges using a blanket stitch leaving bottom tab open
4. Fill tree with herb of choice. You may need to roll up a small paper cone to help get your herbs all the way into your tree. You can also use your fabric pencil to push them in.
5. Sew bottom tab closed
6. String ribbon through top loop. Tie in bow around the rear view mirror of your car. Ride in sweetly scented style!

Photo and recipe courtesy of She Simmers

One can never have enough last-minute gift ideas, and these French herb blends are a classy, inexpensive, and useful gift for any cook! When packaged in a charming jar with a bit of ribbon and a card, it truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Known as herbes de provence, this quintessential blend is delicious on all kinds of roasted meats and vegetables. The best way to ensure a strong, rich flavor is to dehydrate fresh herbs, but if you want to purchase them, make sure you get them from quality sources – it makes all the difference!

Ingredients

• 6 parts dried thyme
  5 parts dried rosemary
  3 parts dried savory
  2 parts dried marjoram
  2 parts dried lavender flowers
  1 part fennel seeds

Directions

1. Mix all the herbs together and store in an airtight container in a dark place.

Photo and instructions courtesy of Twig and Thistle

This is one of those never-fail decoration projects that make any room look cheerier, but we somehow never get around to making it, or shell out lots of money buying it at the store. Now, thanks to Twig and Thistle, you have a tutorial for this rather simple craft that will turn out perfect garlands every time. For anyone who can’t resist picking up those pine cones and doesn’t know what to do with them afterwards, this is the perfect project to show off your collection!

Materials

Pine Cones
Ribbon
Screw Hooks
Hole Punch
Scissors

Instructions

1. Begin by measuring your mantel or space that you’d like to hang your garland and cut your ribbon. Remember to leave extra for hanging. Once you’ve determined the length, space your pine cones out as you like on a flat surface. On the back of the ribbon discreetly mark where each pine cone will go, then punch a hole with a small craft punch.
2. Once you know how many pine cones you’ll need, screw in one screw hook into the top of each pine cone. This takes a little practice and you may need a little elbow grease but once you get the hang of it, it goes quickly.
3. Poke each hook through the hole you’ve made in the ribbon and hang!