DIY No Sew Hanging Kitchen Towel

Posted in Craft Ideas by Make Something Mondays

For as long as I’ve lived outside of my parents’ house (which has been quite a while) I have hung a kitchen towel over the stove handle. And for just as long, that towel has fallen on the floor if someone brushes up against it.

Gross, right?

Now that I have a dog that sheds a lot, I care way more than I used to. I had to find a way to keep that towel in place.

Enter, the hanging kitchen towel. It’s a real thing and it’s fantastic. However, most people sew theirs together. If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I’m not wild about sewing. Obviously, this is going to be a no-sew project, except the button. I have no idea how to attach a button effectively without sewing it.

I know what you’re thinking, yeah right. You can’t make a project like this without sewing. Well, my friend, I have a life-changing product called Stitch Witchery. If you’re unfamiliar, this very thin piece of fabric tape that bonds fabric together when activated by heat. It’s glorious for people like me.

By the way, I found my towel and pot holder at Dollar Tree but there are some really cute sets on Amazon if you don’t want to go that route.

Want to make your own hanging dish towel? Let’s get started.

Hanging kitchen towel supplies

My content contains affiliate links to products I use and love. If you take action (purchase, subscribe) after clicking the links, I get some crafting money which helps me continue to write awesome tutorials for you! This costs you nothing but enables you to support my work.

Step 1: sew a button to your pot holder

This is the only sewing part, I promise.

Thread your needle and sew your button to your potholder. Pick a spot toward the top in the middle. The goal here is to be able to connect the pot holder’s loop around the button to hold it on the stove.

Stitch Witchery used for hanging kitchen towel

Step 2: adhere the kitchen towel and potholder

Place a piece of Stitch Witchery on the center of the towel.

Lay the potholder on top so the center meets the center of the kitchen towel.

Following the instructions, position the hot iron over the dish pot holder and hold it there for 10 seconds without moving it.

Repeat on the opposite side. You might have to go back and forth a few times before it sticks.

When you’re finished, it should stick like this.

Don’t worry, Stitch Witchery is great for fabric and clothing so it can go through the washer with no problem. A match made in heaven, right?

Leave your thoughts in the comments! I’d love to hear what you think.

Happy crafting!

10Aug2019

Easy DIY Bookmarks!

Posted in Art, Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY by Make Something Mondays

I love to read and I do it frequently. You can only imagine how many bookmarks I have gone through in my life. The paper ones tear, the metal ones discolor the pages, the wooden ones break… I had to come up with a better idea because these are just not working out for me. So, I’ve seen people make magnets using this same technique and I decided I could use it to make bookmarks. It is super easy and only takes a few minutes (excluding the time you are waiting for the glue to dry.)

DIY bookmark supplies:

Step 1: cut a circle in your scrapbook paper

First, you are going to need a pattern or design.

I made mine with Photoshop but you can search the internet to find some cute ones to print out. I’ve also seen people use scrapbook paper, which always looks cute!

Cut out the design. Make your edges are neatly trimmed and that it does not extend the edges of your glass tile.

Step 2: glue the design to your glass tile

Flip your glass tile over so that the round side is face down.

Add a small dot of Diamond Glaze on the back side of the glass tile and press your fingers from the center outward to ensure the glue makes its way to the edges.

Then, add a thick amount of Diamond Glaze on the back of the design like in the picture above. Make sure you cover the entire surface so that the design does not lift. This is our sealer.

Wait for the glue on the back of the tile to dry. This will take around 30 minutes.

At this point you glue should be dry. When you flip over the tile it should look something like this.

Step 3:

Get some hot melt glue and and adhere the paper clip to the back of the glass tile.

At this point, I am regretting not adding the paper clip in the last step because the hot melt glue is looking pretty messy. Note to self.

The finished product looks cute and functions the way I want it to.

I really enjoyed making these and the results make me happy as well. The one on the far left is my favorite!

I am sure you will see plenty more of my crafts using this technique. If you decide to make any of these I would love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram or twitter if you post them. You can also use #makesomethingmondays to get my attention!

10Aug2019

How to Remove Rust From Dumbbells and Weight Plates

Posted in Upcycled Crafts by Make Something Mondays

When my husband and I decided to buy a house, one of his only requirements was that it had room for a gym. Fortunately, we found a home with space. When we started buying weights, we learned that, to get a good deal, you sometimes have to settle for rusty weight plates and dumbbells.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard to remove the rust. So, If you’re trying to get a discount on weights, don’t let the rusty ones deter you from buying them. It’s a smelly process, but totally worth it.

Follow the instructions below to try it yourself.

UPDATE 8/10/2019: we’ve been using our revamped weights and dumbells for over a year now and they still look as good as new! There hasn’t been any chipping of spray paint or re-rusting. I highly recommend this process.

Supplies needed to remove rust from weights

Water
Vinegar
stainless steel brush
Large tote or plastic box
Rust-oleum spray paint (optional, but recommended)*

My content contains affiliate links to products I use and love. If you take action (purchase, subscribe) after clicking the links, I get some crafting money which helps me continue to write awesome tutorials for you! This costs you nothing but enables you to support my work.

When we got the weights they looked like this. Not totally covered in rust, but they were not in the best shape.

Step 1: brush off the rust

Using a stainless steel bristle brush, scrape off as much of the excess rust and chipping paint as possible.

weights soaking in vinegar/water solution

Step 2: Soak the weights in vinegar and water

Pay attention to the recommended dilution ratio on the vinegar you buy. Use that ratio of water and vinegar and soak the weights for about 3 days.

I recommend keeping them somewhere you don’t have to spend much time because it smells bad. We did it in our garage.

Also, when you finished and ready to dump out your solution, make sure you pour it down a large drain and not in your yard. The vinegar will kill your grass.

Note: We used 4 bottles (64 fl oz) of vinegar. We also took some of the less rusty weights out earlier and got similar results. If your weights have a lot of rust, they will need more time in the solution.

Step 3: Dry the weights

Take the weights out of the vinegar solution and dry them really well. If they’re exposed to moisture, they’ll begin to rust again.

The olympic plate in the image above is the same plate pictured in step 1. It looks much better now. It has not been spray painted yet either! I was shocked to see the difference!

Step 4 (optional): spray paint the weights

While not necessary, I recommend taking some extra time to spray paint the weights. We used Rust-oleum 2x Paint + Primer. It’s desgined to cover rust and it’s worked well for us.

For comparison, in the image above, the first weight plate on the right has been spray painted with Rust-oleum. The one on the left was just removed from the vinegar solution and dried. It makes a big difference.

When you’re done, you’ll have some fancy, seemingly new weights. And they look so nice! You can hardly even tell a differnce in the texture anymore.

Look how rusty those round iron dumbbells were. Pretty bad, right?

These are the same ones. I’m not kidding!

So, if you’re considering buying weights or dumbells for your home gym, don’t avoid the rusty ones. And if you’re considering getting rid of your weights because they’re rusty, don’t do it! Use this process to fix them up instead.

Hope you enjoyed this one.

Happy crafting!

5Aug2019

DIY Swiffer Pads from Felt

Posted in Cleaning by Make Something Mondays

I spend a lot of time cleaning. Well, time and money. I complained a few weeks ago about the lack of eco-friendliness and the expense of products like disposable cleaning wipes and I have the same feelings about cleaning pads for Swiffers.

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my Swiffer, and it certainly makes my life easier, but the cleaning pads, dry and wet, are not great to be cleaning with. There are ingredients that concern me regarding toxicity, respiratory issues and much more. Check out the link above if you want to read about it yourself. These products are also disposable and can get expensive over time. I just don’t think it’s necessary.

Of course, when I find a need for something, I try to make it. This scenario is no different. This DIY replacement is super easy, too!

All you need is a few supplies and you might have them lying around your house. If not, that’s okay! I have links below to help you find them.

Reusable Swiffer pad supplies

Step 1: cut your felt pads

Measure your felt to 8.5×11″ and cut.

If you don’t have a tape measure or ruler, you can always just use a piece of standard US paper because it’s the same size. Your measurements don’t have to be 100% accurate either because we’re cleaning with these, not hanging them somewhere for all to see.

Step 2: attach the felt pads to your sweeper

Lay the felt pad on the floor and attach it to your Swiffer like you would the regular cleaning pads.

Step 3: choose a cleaning product

Grab a multipurpose or floor cleaner that you like and get to cleaning!

I really like Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products, but you can use whatever you want.

That’s it! Super easy, right?

When you’re done, you can rinse off the felt pad and toss it in with your laundry, wash and reuse! I love that.

Note: these won’t fray when washed but they will shrink. It’s beneficial to pre-wash before using.

Also, if you’re interested in more eco-friendly, better-for-you cleaning products, I highly recommend checking out Grove. On this site, you can buy natural cleaning products like Mrs. Meyers, Method, Seventh Generation, etc., as a subscription. I’ve used it for about 6 months now and really like it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Would you like to try reusable cleaning options? Leave them in the comments.

29Jul2019

DIY Dangle Gemstone Earrings

Posted in DIY Jewelry, Earrings by Make Something Mondays

I love dangle earrings. Ever since I was little I thought they were beautiful. As I got older I realized the expense of buying them and started to DIY them instead.

The benefit of homemade earrings is that you can be creative and make them look however you want. I went through phases of liking stacked beaded earrings, paper bead earrings, and wire wrapped earrings, but I’m falling out of all of that. I’m starting to like more modern styles like the ones I made for this jewelry project. The hammered metal loops with the gemstones are eye-catching!

Look how pretty these gemstones are! They change colors depending on the lighting. So in the first picture, they were blue, but in the sunshine, they turn a pink color. I’m a big fan.

The best thing about these earrings is that you need zero jewelry making skills to create them, so this is a great beginner project. I know, it sounds crazy but thanks to craft stores and hobby shops, you can buy the supplies and just assemble them.

If you want to make your own follow the instructions below.

Earrings making supplies

Step 1: add the jump rings to the gemstone

Remove your earring pieces from the packaging and slide the jump ring through the earring hoop at the top.

Step 2: connect the gemstone to the earring hoop

Slide the open jump ring through the loop at the top of the hammered metal hoop.

Use the pliers to fasten it.

How easy was that?! Just a few supplies and two simple steps later and you have such a cute pair of earrings! Wear them to client meetings, out for girl’s night, date night, wherever! And since they change colors, they’ll match with many different outfits. I think I’m in love.

I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave them in the comments!

Happy crafting!

22Jul2019

DIY Wine Bag with Macrame Knots

Posted in Craft Ideas by Make Something Mondays

Every time I go somewhere with a bottle of wine, beer, whiskey, or whatever else, I always worry that I’ll hit it against something and break it. That’s why I decided to make a wine bottle carrier! I had some macrame cord left over from the yoga mat straps I made last week so it seemed like the perfect craft project for today!

I know this is two macrame projects in a row, so bear with me. I’m developing a love of macrame but I promise to spread out the projects and get some other goodies in here!

I love this craft because it’s quick (about 15 minutes), easy, and functional which, as many of you know, is my favorite kind. Follow the steps below to make your own.

Wine carrier supplies

Scissors
A bottle (for sizing)
3mm macrame cord

Step 1: size your macrame cord

Cut about 7 arm lengths of the macrame cord.

Then fold it in half.

Fold it in half one more time.

Cut the cord at the bottom so half of your cords are still connected and the bottom half is cut.

Step 2: make the handle

Tie a knot on the left side about 3-4 inches from the top.

Then braid the cord until you get to an even length on the right side.

Separate the cord into 4 groups of 2 strands each.
The group on the right side goes over the second group, under the third group, and over the last group.
Repeat that process.

Tie another knot to the end the handle.

Step 3: tie macrame knots to make the bag

Separate 4 pieces of rope from the rest.
Take the end of the left piece and lay it over the middle two, but under the last one
Take the 4th piece on the far right and lay it over the end of the first piece and take it under the middle two. Then through the loop created by the first piece of rope.
Pull them tight to create the knot.
Make one more knot using the same cords.
Continue this process around the bag until there are 4 knots.

Step 4: create a second layer of knots

Take the 2 closest cords from the 2 closest knots and create two more knots.

Repeat this process the whole way around, and the whole way down until you’re ready to end the bottle carrier.

Create the gathering knot

Cut another piece of macrame rope.
Make a long loop that faces downward. Leave a little bit on the rope facing upward like in the middle image. Lay this loop on top of the excess rope from your carrier.
Take the longer piece of rope of your newly created loop and wrap it around the excess rope of your carrier about 6-7 times.
Push the end of that rope through the loop and pull the rope at the top to tighten it.
You can cut the top rope when you’re finished. Glue it if it makes you feel more comfortable.

That’s it! Now you can take your wine bag to visit friends, hang it as a display in your house, or gift it! These make great gifts for wine lovers.

It doesn’t have to be wine either. You can carry beer, whiskey, or other glass bottles too!

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave them in the comments below!

15Jul2019

DIY Yoga Mat Strap with Macrame Knots

Posted in Craft Ideas, tutorial/DIY by Make Something Mondays

I’ve been doing yoga for a long time. Going on 10 years now, I think. My mat is my favorite place because it relieves stress, helps me focus, and gives me exercise.

I’ve even made my own yoga mat cleaner because I bought it so frequently.

I choose to do my practice at home because I haven’t found a studio that I like since I moved. Occasionally, I go with a friend or coworker to a class though, which prompted my craft project this week.

When I go to a yoga class, I just roll my mat up and throw it in my trunk or back seat. During the drive, it usually gets unrolled, which can get annoying, so I decided to make a yoga mat strap to keep it contained.

Why not buy one, you ask? Let’s be realistic here… I’m always looking for ways to make things I could buy. This is no exception. Plus, macrame yoga mat straps on Etsy are like $50. Not that the price is unreasonable for the time commitment, but if I can DIY it, why pay for it?

Want to make your own? Grab the supplies and follow the steps below!

Macrame yoga mat strap supplies

Step 1: cut two ropes

Measure 10 arm lengths of macrame rope, twice.

You’ll have two pieces of rope when you’re finished, like in the image above.

Step 2: tie the role to the D-loop ring

This part comes in two steps.

First, take both pieces a rope that you just cut and fold them in half. Pull the loop through the d-loop ring.

Then, pull the remainder of the rope over the d-loop ring and through the hoop you just made.

Repeat with the second rope.

Step 3: create the macrame knots

I cut a smaller version of the ropes you just cut to show you how to make the knots.

Separate your 4 pieces of rope.
Take the end of the left piece and lay it over the middle two, but under the last one
Take the 4th piece on the far right and lay it over the end of the first piece and take it under the middle two. Then through the loop created by the first piece of rope.
Pull them tight to create the knot.
Continue this process of creating knots until you get to a length that works for you and your mat. This will depend on your hight and the thickness of your yoga mat.

The knots will create a design that twists like in the image above.

Step 4: add the last d-loop ring

take each piece of rope and wrap it around the ring. You don’t need to make any knots here.

Step 5: create a gathering knot

Cut another piece of macrame rope.
Make a long loop that faces downward. Leave a little bit on the rope facing upward like in the middle image. Lay this loop on top of the excess rope from your yoga strap.
Take the longer piece of rope of your newly created loop and wrap it around the excess rope of your yoga strap about 5 times.
Push the end of that rope through the loop and pull the rope at the top to tighten it.
You can cut the top rope when you’re finished. Glue it if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Step 6: cut off any excess rope

Cut off any additional rope to create a tassel. You can add beads or anything else you’d like here to beautify it.

When you’re finished, pull your strap through the d-loop rings to create hoops. Place your mat through those hops and you’ve got yourself a yoga mat strap!

This one is a bit time consuming, but worth every second. Find a podcast or show you like and bang it out.

It takes me back to my teen years when I would make and sell friendship bracelets. I definitely used a similar knot, too. After the first two knots, muscle memory kicks in and it’s like you never took a break from it, surprisingly.

The process is also relaxing, so you can expect a few more macrame projects from me.

Let me know what you think. I’d love to see your yoga mat strap when you try it!

Happy crafting!

8Jul2019

DIY Tiki Torch Bottles

Posted in Craft Ideas, Upcycled Crafts by Make Something Mondays

My husband and I just built a patio and I’ve been so excited to spend time out there! Unfortunately, we don’t have a ton of lighting and there are a lot of bugs, which doesn’t create the best experience after dark.

We talked about buying tiki torches, but being the crafter that I am, I save a lot of bottles and jars so I decided to use what we had to make some for our outdoor table.

It took less than 10 minutes to make them and they work wonderfully! If you’d like to make your own, follow the steps below.

Tiki Torch Supplies

Bottles
Tiki Torch Fuel
Table Bottle Torch Kit
Funnel (highly recommended)
Stones or paperweights (optional)

Note: Pick a bottle that has a twist-off cap. The couplings won’t fit just any bottle so choose wisely.

Step 1: fill the bottles with torch fuel

If you’re using weights in the bottles, now is the time to add them (before the fuel).

Be careful with this step. The fuel is flammable and can easily catch fire if it’s near an open flame so be sure to keep it off your hands and clothes and clean up afterward.

Take your bottles outside or to the sink and fill them with tiki torch fuel through the funnel. (I used one as well but forgot to add it to the pictures.) This is the easiest way to make sure the fluid is contained at all times.

Step 2: Add the couplings to the wicks

There are two important things to remember when setting up your coupling and wick.

When you twist on the coupling, make sure the side with the black rubber pieces are facing the bottom of the wick. These pieces keep the coupling from moving around inside the bottle top.
Keep the wick less than an inch above the coupling. That flame can get big, so keep the wick short.

Step 3: put the wick in the bottle

Push the wick and coupling into the bottle and you’re done!

Now you can take them to your table, light them, and enjoy!

Tiki Torch Safety

I’m probably telling you something you already know, but bear with me because I want you to be safe while you enjoy your new tiki torches. Please keep the following in mind while in use:

Tiki torch fuel is flammable. Be careful with the bottles around an open flame.
In addition, the bottles you’re using are glass. Please be careful around the bottles whether they are lit or not. If they get knocked over, that liquid will spill everywhere and the bottle could potentially break. Consider purchasing a tin bottle holder or bucket to keep bottles from tipping over.
Don’t overfill your bottle with torch fuel. As long as the wick is submerged, the wick will light. It doesn’t need to be filled to the rim to get a flame.
Don’t leave your torches unattended! We’re talking about fire here.
When you’re finished, extinguish your tiki torches. You want to make sure the flame is completely smothered before you go back inside.
Don’t use your tiki toches indoors.

1Jul2019

DIY Reusable Cleaning Wipes

Posted in Cleaning, tutorial/DIY by Make Something Mondays

Do you buy disposable cleaning wipes? I used to all the time, but then I started thinking better of it. Even the ones that are compostable aren’t the greatest. I’d rather have a product I can reuse.

Why Disposable Wipes Aren’t Ideal

Three reasons:

Not Environmentally-Friendly: paper products are thrown away so often. They can be replaced with a reusable alternative and we can keep our houses clean and put less in the landfills.
Harmful Side Effects: Many of the store-bought brands we’re familiar with contain toxic chemicals with harmful side effects. For example, Clorox wipes contain ingredients that can cause respiratory problems and Lysol wipes also have risks for respiratory and cancer. No thanks. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s guide to Healthy Cleaning to learn more about the products you’re cleaning with.
Financially Wasteful: They might seem cheap if you’re buying a container at a time, but let’s assume you like your home very clean and you buy the bigger canisters to save on money. They cost about $8. So if you buy one of those a month you’re looking at $86/year for something you throw in the trash.

How do you feel about that? I feel crappy about it, so I decided to make my own cleaning wipes with a non-toxic cleaner that will make my house smell lovely. If you’d like to do the same, grab the supplies below and follow the steps.

Cleaning Wipes Supplies

I got the cloths and sponges at Family Dollar for $4 and spent about $25 dollars on everything. That’s much better than $86, right?

thin cleaning cloths
microfiber cleaning cloths
sponges
Castile Soap (citrus scented)
Glass jars with lids

I got a small jar for the bathroom wipes and a large jar for the microfiber cloths and sponges. You can use whatever sizes work best for you.

Step 1: Fill your jars with water

Take your jars to the sink and fill them about halfway with warm water.

Step 2: Mix in the Castile Soap

Check your bottle the recommended dilution for the size of jar you have. Then mix the soap with the water and stir.

Step 3: Add the Cloths

Fold your cloth set to a size that will fit in your jar and squeeze them in!

There you go. 5 minutes later you have your very own REUSABLE cleaning wipes. When there’s a mess to clean up, or you’re just tiding and wiping everything down, take a sponge or cloth, do your thing and throw the cloth in the laundry when you’re finished.

For the sponges you have two options:

throw it in the dishwasher
microwave it

I’m not kidding! You can microwave your sponges. I learned this recently and it’s changed everything.

Give it a go and let me know what you think! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

By the way, I know it’s been a while since we talked. I’m sorry 🙁 But you’ll be happy to know I’m back in action. I have a ton of great projects planned out for the rest of the year and I’m excited to craft with you regularly again! Thanks for not giving up on me. You’ll see some great changes coming soon. Stay tuned. Talk soon!

Hanging kitchen towel supplies

Step 1: sew a button to your pot holder

Step 2: adhere the kitchen towel and potholder

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

DIY bookmark supplies:

Step 1: cut a circle in your scrapbook paper

Step 2: glue the design to your glass tile

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Supplies needed to remove rust from weights

Step 1: brush off the rust

Step 2: Soak the weights in vinegar and water

Step 3: Dry the weights

Step 4 (optional): spray paint the weights

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Reusable Swiffer pad supplies

Step 1: cut your felt pads

Step 2: attach the felt pads to your sweeper

Step 3: choose a cleaning product

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Earrings making supplies

Step 1: add the jump rings to the gemstone

Step 2: connect the gemstone to the earring hoop

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Wine carrier supplies

Step 1: size your macrame cord

Step 2: make the handle

Step 3: tie macrame knots to make the bag

Step 4: create a second layer of knots

Create the gathering knot

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Macrame yoga mat strap supplies

Step 1: cut two ropes

Step 2: tie the role to the D-loop ring

Step 3: create the macrame knots

Step 4: add the last d-loop ring

Step 5: create a gathering knot

Step 6: cut off any excess rope

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Tiki Torch Supplies

Step 1: fill the bottles with torch fuel

Step 2: Add the couplings to the wicks

Step 3: put the wick in the bottle

Tiki Torch Safety

You know you want to share it:

Like this:

Why Disposable Wipes Aren’t Ideal

Cleaning Wipes Supplies

Step 1: Fill your jars with water

Step 2: Mix in the Castile Soap

Step 3: Add the Cloths

You know you want to share it:

Like this: