DIY Christmas Gift & Craft Ideas (she: Tiffany & Amy)

Hello AGAIN!! It is soooo good to be back...and on the NEW layout...which, can I say is oh-so FABULOUS!!!

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she: Tiffany

I am Tiffany, better known as Tessa's mommy and one of the "faces" behind Steals, Deals and Heels. I started SDandH in September after people constantly telling me I needed to share the DEALS my mother and I would come across on our shopping trips. SDandH recently ended its Giveaway Week but guess what....we plan on doing a giveaway a week in 2010!!! Head on over and check us out!! We've got a BIG one planned for the first of the year!!

she: Amy

I'd like to also introduce you to my friend Amy. When Jessica contacted me to guest post again I knew that I MUST bring Amy along because I knew you all would LOVE her and her blog! She is the mother of 2 and one heck of a creative woman! Her blog Buggie and Jellybean is a MUST follow! From giveaways (including some from her own shop on Etsy...True Love Found) to crafty projects, to recipes to peeks into her perfect little family....it's a rockin blog!!

So here we go...our gift to you....a few really cheap and really rad DIY gift ideas....PERFECT for just about anyone on your shopping list!!

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Napkin Coasters (she: Tiffany):

What You Need:

Tiles (I got 16 cent ones from Lowes in matte white)

Paper Napkins

Mod Podge

Triple Thick or any kind of CLEAR non-yellowing glaze

Acrylic paint in color of your choice

3/8" Felt pads

Sand paper

Start by painting the backs of the tiles with the acrylic paint...this will make them looks less like tiles...and it will cover up any numbers printed on the back! Let dry....

If your paint drips down the sides....don't worry....

You can sand it off!!

Figure out what section of the napkin you want to use...I used monogrammed ones but any pattern will do!

Make sure NOT to use the part that has the crease/fold in it!!

Paint the Mod Podge on the top and sides of ONE the tiles...the side you did NOT paint! Don't paint the other tiles until you have completed the next step on this first tile!

Put your napkin on the Mod Podge painted tile...make sure to press the napkin down over the sides. You can either press out all the wrinkles or leave them...I like the look the wrinkles give them so I leave the wrinkles. Do the previous step and this one to the remaining tiles.

Let them dry...mine took 4 hours. Take your sand paper and sand the extra napkin hanging over the sides.You can either sand ALL the sides completely so no napkin is visible or sand a little and leave them to look "weathered".....I leave a little bit of napkin...it looks good with the wrinkles!

Now, find something you can use to sit each tile on when you spray it. You want to make sure all sides are exposed so you can spray them....I used the ONLY thing I could find....a trusty Coke box!

Don't worry I did NOT spray them inside...I just didn't have the guts to take a pic when I moved the box to the garage...let's just say the garage is a tad bit messy!

I sprayed 3 coats on mine...about 12 hours between each one. Read the recommended time on the glaze you use!

Once the glaze is dry and hard, flip the tiles over and apply the felt pads to each corner. You could also use cork if you choose!

Ta-Da!!!

Beautiful DIY Napkin Coasters!!!

Paint Ornaments (she: Amy)

What You Need:

Glass Ball Ornaments

Acrylic Paint in colors of your choice - I recommend one be a metalic or have a shimmer!

An empty egg carton

To start pick out at least three colors if not more to use. Then remove the top hook off the ornament. Place the ball in the container upside down.

Then pour about a 1/4 tsp of each color in the ornament. No worries if you get some

on the outside of the ball, since it is acrylic it will just peel right off once dry.

Once you have all the colors in the ball, just pick it up an start swirling it. Cover the whole interior of the ball. You may need to add more paint as you go.

Once it is covered, pour the remaining paint out in the tray.

Then set upside down in the egg carton. This is when gravity does its magic. The colors will start to run down.

It is best to let them dry for at least 4 hours.

Then gently replace the topper. And poof you have a one of a kind ornament!

As you can see the more colors the more dramatic the look.

Buggie picked some pretty crazy color combos, but I have to say they all worked! She has such an eye. You can finish them off with a bow around the top or not.

Happy Holidays!!!

- Tiffany and Amy

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