Fabulously Simple Ideas and Designs
Cute AND cozy…..what more could you want? This DIY Mermaid Tail is super easy to create and requires very minimal sewing. If you can turn ON a sewing machine and make a few stitches, you’re good to go. The possibilities of color and design are endless, and this cozy fleece sewing project takes just about an hour to make. It’s a perfect gift option for every special little girl – and grown up girl – on your list. [Read more…]
These little DIY Button Flower Bobby Pins are so cute and super easy to make. They were inspired by my youngest daughter who found tiny flowers in our yard and tried to tuck them neatly in her hair. She finally gave up and ran to get bobby pins, but the little flowers were soon wilted and sad. We thought making a permanent tiny “flower” with craft buttons would be a fun way to dress up some bobby pins, and we figured they would last a bit longer than fresh blooms!
These whimsical little handprint art tote bags speak for themselves – they are magical, one-of-a-kind projects that can be completed SO quickly….and there is nothing that makes a happier mess than little painted hands and feet! There are so many design possibilities with handprints and footprints – use your imagination (or Google it….you now the drill). [Read more…]
These clip-on lip balm holders are a super cute, fast and easy DIY project to make for birthday party favors or thank-you gifts ! I usually make at least a dozen of these adorable little ribbon chapstick holders because they are SO easy and quick to create – and they are a great last-minute handmade gift idea. They’re an ESSENTIAL addition for backpacks, gym bags and purses so we can ALL stop the frantic search for lip balm in our overstuffed, unorganized bags (NO judgement here, friends).
We make this Easy Peanut Butter & Honey Popcorn Crunch recipe at LEAST once a week….and it usually doesn’t last ’til the end of the day! It’s so quick to make, the ingredients are simple (and usually on hand), and my kiddos love to help out with each step. It’s a great “healthier” option than cookies or candy….and even though peanut butter and honey do not top the list of super-foods, there are nutritional benefits to both. Depending what brand/type of ingredients you use, it can be GMO, gluten, and processed – sugar free! [Read more…]
These whimsical tiny flower bobby pins are so fun to create and they make perfect little gifts or party favors. You can find endless flower options for these Flower Bobby Pins at your local craft store and they are SO quick and easy to make with little or no crafting experience! If you can handle a glue bottle or hot glue gun – you’ve got the expertise to create these magical little hairpins. [Read more…]
I love Shrinky Dinks MORE as an adult than I did when I was a kid! Part of the magic NOW is that you can create your own Shrinky Dink designs – with a blank “canvas” of shrinking plastic! Gone are the limitations of gnome, butterfly, and race car drawings included in the Shrinky Dink kit back in 1980-something. So grab your colored pencils, Sharpies, and blank shrink-plastic sheets….we have some Shrinky Dink Easter Charms to create! [Read more…]
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Written Word Wraps are a beautiful way to carry a special poem, quote, bible verse, or song lyric with you all day. The written words form a unique pattern on the scarf when it’s wrapped, so the message remains your own until you choose to share it. And as with all Inspired Mess projects, this wrap requires very few materials and can be completed quickly. Inexpensive and instant gratification. Win/win, my rockstar crafting project friends. Read on! [Read more…]
To call these magical little pockets of baked apples and cinnamon “pop tarts” doesn’t really do justice to the flaky pastry shell, warm apples, and wonderfully rich spiced frosting. But the rectangle shape DOES remind me of those toxic toaster tarts of my childhood. These Caramel Apple Pop Tarts are so easy and delicious – and are so fun to make together as a family- that they will soon become a favorite weekend breakfast tradition. [Read more…]
Parenting a tween or teen can feel like navigating an emotional mine field. The strategies that worked beautifully in elementary school are suddenly useless as your daughter enters middle school and high school. She is starting to find her voice, her independence, and her strengths – and that can be very scary, for both of you. Despite her wanting-to-fit-in-and-be-independent attitude, your daughter really DOES want to stay connected with you. The “connection” just looks a little different as our daughters get older. It’s not quite as simple as taking a “Mommy and Me” dance class, but it’s just (if not MORE) as much fun. Read on, rockstar mom. You’ve GOT this! [Read more…]