Gifts Ladies | A Joyful Riot

DIY Book

July 17, 2014 ·

I love this floral paper! Let’s use it to make a fun little book/journal.

Book (pick one up from a thrift store) //
Plain printer paper //
Embroidery Floss //
Awl //
Ruler //
Scissors //
Needle //
Scrapbook paper //
Hot glue gun //
Glue

Directions

1. Cut out the paper from the thrift book by taking your scissors right next to the spine and cutting where the inside page is connected.

2. Place any paper of your choice down (I chose a floral pattern in 12×12) and place the book cover on top to measure.

3. Cut out the paper, leaving a half inch or so extra on each side. Liberally place glue on the outside of the book cover and then place the paper on top. Wait about an hour for it to dry completely.

4. Measure the length you want the paper to be inside the book. I ended up trimming off a little over an inch.

5. Cut all the paper to size. I ended up cutting 30 sheets of paper. Once you cut the paper, fold the pages in half about 5 pages at a time. Use a ruler to get a nice fold.

6. Lay out one of the booklets of folded pages and mark 3 dots along the spine. I placed mine 2 inches apart. These dots will be where you sew to bind the book together.

7. Use an awl or needle to punch holes in the dots.

8. Start sewing using embroidery floss and a needle. Start in the middle inside the pages and then along the outside to the next hole.

9. Once you have taken the needle through the second hole, wrap the thread around the edge of the booklet to the inside again. Then go back to where you started, to the outside, inside the next hole and around the edge again (it is an S pattern). You will end up at the middle where you started. Once you come back to the middle, loop the thread around itself to create a knot in the center.

10. Repeat with the next set of booklets. Once you have sewn to the total amount of pages you want, you are ready to finish off the book. I ended up covering the inside of the book with coordinating paper, but you can leave it plain as well.

11. Use a glue gun to glue all of the pages in the spine. Start in the very middle of the spine and then place a booklet on each side- working your way out from the middle.

Your new book is complete! You could also use scrapbook papers for the inside or graph of lined paper as well. This one will be my next journal! And I feel like I say this a lot, but this would make a great gift :)

Stamped Fruit Tea Towels

July 14, 2014 ·

Add something bright and summery to your kitchen with these tea towels!

Another stamping project! Lately I have been loving bright fruit prints so I decided to try making some foam fruit stamps. Use the stamps on these tea towels for a really easy gift (or keep them for yourself).

Tea Towels (Target or Walmart carries them) //
Fabric paint or Martha Stewart plaid paint //
Felt //
Paper plate (or cardboard) //
Fruit templates //
Foam sheets //
Acrylic Block

Steps:

1. Print out the fruit templates- download the pineapple here and the lemon here. Cut out the fruit and place on top of the foam sheet.

2. Trace around the fruit. Use a pencil or pen to add in the details like the veins on the leafs, pressing into the foam so that it indents.

3. Cut out the fruit

4. Take off the foam backing and place the foam on the block.

5. Make a stamp pad following these instructions and then start stamping the fabric.

6. Continue stamping using a half-brick pattern or any pattern you desire.

Here is the pineapple!

7. Wait for the paint to dry and then press with an iron.

DIY Picnic Blanket

July 9, 2014 ·

Today I’m sharing how I made the picnic blanket for my 4th of July Picnic. And let me tell you it is really fast- the whole thing took less than one hour. Plus, no sewing! I can get behind that.

Canvas Drop Cloth //
Paint (Martha Stewart Plaid) or other fabric paint //
Felt //
Paper plate or cardboard //
Scissors //
Foam Sheet //
Acrylic block (or cardboard)

1. Lay out the drop cloth and gather your supplies:

2. Trace a triangle on the top of one of the foam sheets and cut out.

3. Peel the backing off of the foam sheet and place on top of a of an acrylic block. If you do two or three layers of foam, it is much easier to stamp.

4. Create your stamp pad. See this tutorial for detailed step-by-step instructions!

5. Press the stamp unto the felt with even pressure. Check to make sure the triangle is evenly coated

6. Press the stamp down on the drop cloth. I started on the top left corner and worked my way down doing two rows at a time. I alternated rows using a half-brick pattern

7. Continue stamping and don’t worry about perfection.

8. Wait for the paint to dry and press with an iron.

9. Go have a picnic!

DIY Clay Octagon Clock

June 12, 2014 ·

I love experimenting with new mediums and lately I’ve really been loving clay! It can be used for SO many projects. This clock is really easy so let’s get started!