Elf Donuts

This is so cute I just had to share it.

Seriously!  These are cheerios.  Check it out here.

Anthropologie Christmas Tree Hacked

I saw this tree for $48.00 on Anthropologie.  It is cute, but not that cute.  So, I was inspired to create a new weekly blog feature where I will hack high end crafts and show you the cheap and easy tutorials for making them. 

Supplies

wooden shish kabob skewer

wooden shape for base

old book

scissors (preferably decorative edge)

glitter - optional

hole punch

cardboard

ink pad for aging (optional)

beads/ornament for topper

So everything I used I already had right here at home. 

 1) I used an old book of poetry.  The size of your tree is limited by the dimensions of your book.  With this book, the largest piece I could cut was 5 1/2"x 5 1/2".  I used a craft knife to cut the pages out of the book.  The original uses sheet music.  I used a book with heavy pages so that it would hold up well.  If you have a really old book, then you will not even need to use ink to age the pages.

2) Cut your squares starting with your largest size - here 5 1/2" with the decorative scissors.  I cut 4 of each size.  The dimensions went down by 1/4" increments.  So, the next size I cut was 5 1/4" and so on until I got down to 1" squares. 

3) Next, Kamille inked all of the pages for me, which is a great way to get your kid's help.

4) You can see all of the pages have been inked.

5) I took a small wooden cut out of a star (it can be anything - even a piece of heavy cardboard) and a skewer from the kitchen.

6) Glue the skewer onto the wood with a big glob of hot glue.  I initially planned to put it into a small wooden bead for extra support but I could not find them anywhere so I just used a huge glob of hot glue.  I'm pretty impatient so I cooled it off really quickly with compressed air, but you can just hold it there until it is dry.   

7) Next, I used an old usps box that someone sent paperwork in to make the separators.   Any old cardboard or foam core or thin Styrofoam will work.  Cut it down into 1" squares. 

8) Then I layered 1 book sheet and 1 square.  They just poke down onto the skewer. 

9) Here you can see how it starts to build up really quickly.  Just spiral the pages as you go. 

10) When you get up to the top where the pages are under 2" you need to cut the cardboard squares a bit smaller.  When the squares get small they get hard to stab onto the skewer so I actually punched a small hole into each square of cardboard for the last few on the tree.

11) The tree might be shorter than the skewer, depending on what size pages you started with.  Just cut the top off with scissors about 1" from the top. 

12) Finally, I glued some beads on as my topper.  The original used a small glass Christmas ornament with the metal hanger removed.  You could use a star, a tiny angel, whatever you want.  I like glitter, so I used some scrapbook glitter glue on the edges. 

50 Things to Make from Your Mismatched Socks

After looking at the laundry basket full of orphaned socks we have, I decided to put together this tutorial roundup of loads of things to make or do with your old socks.  There are so many great things I never even thought of until I started this roundup.  I love how creative people can be.

1. Bean Bags - from A Little Tipsy

2. Long Winter Gloves - From Ruffles & Stuff
3. Fingerless Gloves - From Cut Out & Keep
4. Armwarmer Gloves - From At Home In Sussex
5. Dog Chew toys - from Ehow
6. Tiny Dog Sweater - From Dogs We Luv 

7. Pin Cushion - from Unfortunately Oh!
8. Cleaning Rags - From Money Saving Mom
9. Bunny Slippers - From Violet Le Beaux

10. Pot Holders - From Phinnywood
11. Paper Pieced Soft Ball - From Recycle Crafts
12. Legwarmers - From Hand Maid Liset
13. Barbie Clothes 
14. Sock Snowmen 

15.  Home Dec. Chair Remake -From Design Your Revolution

16. Coffee Sleeve - From Parents
17. Scarf - From Charlotte's Fancy

18. Sock Elephant - From Fretta
19. Sock Bunny - From Crafting Hazard
20. Sock Monkey - from Super Sock Monkey
21. Sock Catterpillar - From Danielle's Place
22. Sock Dog - From Danielle's Place
23. Sock Cat - Danielle's Place
24. Sock Reindeer or cow - Danielle's Place
25. Sock Vase Remake- From Craft Stew
26. Sock Wreath - From Whip Kits  

27. Stocking Ornament - From Sara Sweet Surprise
28. Doughnut play food-  From Rook No. 17
29. Beanbag Cradle for your Camera -a great substitute for a tripod for use on bumpy or other unstable surfaces.  Fill the beanbag with rice of bean and then set your camera inside to steady it.

30. As Bands to How Yarn - From Citric Sugar
31. Use to polish your shoes
32. Homemade hacky sack - from Planet Green
33. Fill with rice or lavendar and make an eye pillow or other soothing pillow. - From LiveStrong
34. Use as a soap holder for the garden or bathtub.  Helps scrub off the grime and keep the soap from slipping out of your hands.
35. Draft Dogger from old tights or knee socks. From Re-Nest
36. Save old socks to wrap up items when moving or fragile Christmas Ornaments.
37. Fill with potpori for drawers or closets. From Wondertime
38. Make a sock frog.
39. Make a cat toy buy filling with catnip.
40. Use to store golf balls, tennis balls and other small toys.
41. Use them to make wrist rests.
42. Use over ice packs.
43. Make a sock purse. from Ehow
44. Make baby legwarmers. From Ehow

45. Extend the Life of Pajamas - Save the top part and sew them onto the arms and legs of children's pajamas to extend the usage of the pj's. 

46. DIY Chia Pet - From MaddiesMinnions 

47. Hobby Horse - Horse on a Stick : - How to make a Horse on a Stick, a good toy for older toddlers (a few of the steps may cause a choking hazard). This is a perfect activity for children four and up, however would require adult supervision. from Ehow

48. Weave a Jump Rope - With this classic finger-weaving project, kids can get a jump on outdoor playtime by recycling their old socks and outgrown tights into a colorful homemade toy.

49. Lunch Money Holder : - With this clever change purse, your child will be able to keep all his cafeteria cash up his sleeve until he needs it.

50. About 50 more tutorials for making socks puppets, dolls, and other kids crafts can be found at ArtistsHelpingKids.