Creating A Simpler Life Blog

Giant Wedding Dream Catcher

8/30/2017

My daughter is getting married and we are so excited to welcome her fiancé into our family. They have plans to get married down by the beach and hopefully the weather will be beautiful that day because my daughters father-in-law to be is making a birch arbor for them to be married under with this giant wedding dream catcher hanging at the back of it behind them. This is why the dream catcher had to be big. Really big. When all was said and done this beauty measured in at 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall! Wow!

But of course none of that mattered to me as long as my little girl is happy. I made another simpler, and smaller, model that uses feathers to be hung behind their seats at the reception. Read more about DIY Giant Dreamcatcher with Feathers!

Supplies Needed:

Hula Hoop (Great way to repurpose an old one!)
Masking tape
3 skeins of cotton Lily Sugar n' Cream Yarn. I used Ecru.
4.5 mm crochet hook (to crochet center)
6.5 mm crochet hook for wrapping hoop with yarn
Yarn needle
Scissors
Small sea shell or other trinket for center (optional)
Feathers (see affiliate links below)
Lace and pom-poms (see affiliate links below)

Video "How-To"
(crochet directions and more pictures below):

I repurposed an old hula hoop from our garage that would probably have ended up being thrown out!

We wrapped the hula hoop with masking tape to keep the bright yellow color from showing through.

Crochet the center. General directions below.

Hoop Crochet Center Directions:
I really don't have directions per-say, I can just give you an idea of what I did. A couple of pointers ahead of time:
- All stitches are into spaces, not into other stitches. This is important for spacing later on.
- When you are finishing up your final loops to connect, make sure you have an even number. It helps to have an even number so you can connect the loops equally around the hoop later on.
- For this reason, every row must be crocheted separately from every other row. You cannot do this pattern in the round.
- To get to the center of each loop to start the next round I would slip stitch up the side of the first hoop in the level. When all is said and done you can't even see these extra stitches. The directions for this are in row 6 below.

Chain 25 and connect to create loop.
Row1: Chain 4, and dc into center of circle. Chain 2 and dc into center of circle. Repeat until you have a total of 16 loops around the circle in total. Note that your last chain 2 will connect with slip stitch to your original chain 4. You will have to manipulate the stitches to be evenly spaced around the 25 chain circle.
Row 2: Chain 1 and do 2 sc in next space (again, not in the stitches), chain 2, then 2 sc in next space, etc. around. Slip stitch to connect.
Row 3: Chain 6, and dc into next space, chain 4, dc into next space, etc. all the way around. Slip stitch to connect.
Row 4: Repeat directions for row 2 around. Make sure you have an even number of spaces around at this point. If you do not, you need to go back and work it so that you do.
Row 5: chain 10, slip stitch into space, and continue all the way around and slip stitch to connect.
Row 6: Now you have to work your way to the center of the loop by slip stitching in the first 5 chains to get to the center of the loop, then sc into loop center and chain 15, then sc in the center of the next loop etc., repeat around until you reconnect to the start of your first loop.
Row 7: Repeat row 6, but you will slip stitch 7 times to get to the approximate center, then sc into center and chain 20, then sc into center of next loop and continue same around.
You can continue this pattern increasing your stitches each row until the center stretches nice and tight to fit into your hoop. You can also vary it a little by connecting with dc instead, or doing two sc in a loop as well. Note that cotton yarn tends to stretch quite a lot. If you are using a different yarn the stretch will vary. Either way, the center should look way too small to fit the hoop when you are done, but trust me it will stretch! It may take some trial and error to get it right the first time (it did for me!).

Then I wrapped the hoop with a yarn. I used a double strand (so two skeins at once). It was more like macrame because I wrapped from front to back, then from back to front, etc. see the video below.

Completed wrapped hoop.

A closeup of what the hoop edge ended up looking like.

Next I connected the crochet center to the hoop. I simply used a piece of cut string, and tied each loop by alternating. In other words I did the top, then the bottom. Then one side, and the opposite side. This is what kept the distances correct. At the end I simply used a yarn needle to side the hanging strings under the yarn of the hoop and snipped off any extra.

See how to connect the crochet center to the hoop on my other Giant Dream Catcher with feathers Instructions!

Completed dream catcher hoop part....now to add the lace and feathers!

Crochet a chain 0f about 75 stitches using doubled up yarn.

Tie the chain to the hoop so you now have a way to hang it!

I gathered my supplies and cut strips of lace approximately 38" long.

I hung the dream catcher in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room to make it easier to work.

Fold a cut strip of lace in half and loop the folded portion over the dream catcher. Pull the ends through the loop gently.

Do not tighten until you are sure it is positioned where you want it. I do approximately four of each type of lace at a time so that they are evenly distributed.

Then tighten and switch to the next type of lace and do four more. I continue to do this until it is pretty full. NOTE: I save the pom pom for the absolute very end as a filler.

This is what it looked like at the end, however my daughter and I both felt that it needed some more on the sides.

Here is the finished product! Note, that is a small seashell hanging in the center. I just have to find a way to make it balance a little better.

Dream catcher used for the ceremony!

And the feather dream catcher was used behind their sweetheart table at the reception!

Check out my other Giant Dream Catcher made with Feathers!

Thanks for visiting!
Check out our other crochet patterns and ideas on our website or on our Pinterest boards and our DIY Shower & Weddings!
Have a wonderful day:-)
Sincerely,

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Why I Freeze My Cherry Tomatoes

8/24/2017

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The only, and I mean only, tomato I grow is the cherry tomato. To be more specific, I only grow heirloom sweet 100's. They are the only kind of tomato I actually like, and to be more direct, I really only like them fresh direct from the vine when they are super red, and super sweet! However, the vines produce so many that I simply cannot eat them all fresh!

These sweet 100 cherry tomatoes are called indeterminate tomatoes. This means they take a little longer to start providing the fruit, but once they do, well, they simply don't stop! In fact, I had heard of so many people complaining that they just don't know what to do with all of them that I wrote a post called "Save All Those Cherry Tomatoes" for a list of ways to make sure that no surplus goes to waste. Even my over ripe cherry tomatoes that have split are a delicious treat for my hens!

Though I dry some, eat some fresh, and save a few to add to my favorite Cucumber Salad Recipe, I actually choose freeze the majority of them! Why? Well, to make my favorite Super Simple Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce with (you can watch a video of how it's made if you check out that link)! And boy is it simple :-)

Remove stems and give over-ripe tomatoes to your chickens (if you have them)!

How I Freeze Cherry Tomatoes:

Pick them as ripe as possible - this assures that they will be super sweet!
Be sure they have no stems attached and are clean (rinse only if necessary).
Immediately place them into a gallon size freezer bag.
Remove air, zip it up tight, and freeze!

I simply continue to add cherry tomatoes to the same bag as they ripen and until the bag full. I write the date on the bag when it is filled and then I move it from the kitchen freezer to the basement freezer. This just assures that I use them in date order during the winter. Simple!

Simply put them right in a ziplock freezer bag! Only rinse if necessary.

Here's my super simple recipe:
NOTE: I use my frozen cherry tomatoes during the winter instead of the fresh. When blending the frozen tomatoes I simply and add some water so they blend better (Yes, I blend them frozen. No need to defrost so no planning is necessary!). This just means that the sauce has to be cooked a little longer, but believe me, it is just as delicious and it allows us to enjoy my fresh cooked cherry tomato sauce all winter long! YUM!

Enjoy!
Check our our other ways to
preserve and save fresh fruits and vegetables
and our easy recipes too!
Sincerely,

Sources:
http://www.grow-it-organically.com/tomato-varieties.html

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Five 'Must-Have' Essential Oils

8/20/2017

1 Comment

I believe in using natural ingredients in my daily life and that is why I strive to use essential oils whenever possible. However, I don't have a lot of different kinds of oils (Of course this is because I like to keep things as simple as possible!). So I have a basic go-to assortment of what I call my Five 'Must-Have' Essential Oils because they cover just about everything I need to use them for on a daily basis. So whether you use essential oils already, are new to them, or if you're considering getting started, then these are the five oils I personally need on a daily basis!

Tea Trea
Lavender
Eucalyptus
Peppermint
Lemon

Feel free to download and print our FREE instruction card about the Five "Must-Have" Essential Oils and their uses! It can be found below the video:-)

DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY OF THE PNG FILE ABOVE!

Thank you for visiting!
Check out our Essential Oil Pinterest Board for more uses and ideas!
Sincerely,

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DIY Giant Crochet Dreamcatcher

8/18/2017

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This post is dedicated to two special people: my daughter since I am making it for her wedding day and my friend Patty who recently said "I want to make one for my kids room." I will be posting another giant dreamcatcher soon, however the difference is that the center is crocheted a little different and there are no feathers so the bottom part is much simpler to make!

Second Giant Dreamcatcher DIY How To coming soon! See...no feathers so the bottom is simpler! It was also made with a repurposed hula hoop!!

Supplies Needed:

Sprinkler hose - I used 3/4" but you could also use 1/2". It is the least expensive here at Lowes. It is 100 psi 3/4" polyethylene tubing. NOTE: you can also use a hula hoop (see the dreamcatcher my daughter is standing next to above!).However, if you do use a hula hoop know that the tube is much thinner (and it will use less yarn to cover) but it can lost it's round shape due to lack of strength so you will need to be careful in how it is hung.
Sprinkler hose coupler (connector) - not needed if you use a hula hoop.
Two 2.5 ounce skeins of cotton yarn in your color of choice.
A large crochet hook
A 4.5 mm crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle
Seashell or other center hanging decoration
Multiple laces and ribbons
Feathers
Needle and thread

Directions:
Make the hoop and wrap it with yarn.

Sprinkler hose - 50 feet!!!

Cut the length you want to create the diameter you choose and connect ends with a coupler. We use a heat gun to make it easier to connect.

This one is about 2 feet 4 inches interior diameter. I also made one that is 3 feet 6 inches in diameter!

To wrap the tube I use two skeins and a large crochet hook. This makes the process go a lot faster!

Attach both skeins together to the hook (doubled up).

Wrapping the tube is more like doing macrame than crocheting. You will be going from back to front then though the loop, and then front to back and through the loop, etc. After doing it a few times it will seem natural. This picture shows from the back.

This pictures shows from the front.

Try to keep the yarn nice and neat and not overlapping each other.

After going completely around, you will cut off the end and pull the last threads tightly through the loop.

Then take the ends and tie them together in a knot.

Completed wrapped hoop!

Crochet the center:
HINT: always do an even number of loops.

Chain 25 and connect to create a loop.
Chain 8 and double crochet into center. Repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 loops around the center and connect to the base of your original loop.
Slip stitch up the side of the original loop until you get to the center of it, then do a single crochet into the center and chain 15, single crochet into the center of the next loop, etc. all the way around until you connect to the base of the original loop.
Slip stitch up the side of the loop to the center, single crochet into the center of the loop and chain 20, single crochet into the center of the next loop and chain 20, etc. all the way around until you connect to the original loop again.
You will continue this pattern increasing by 5 chains each round until it is approximately half the size of the hoop (see picture below). It will look way too small but it is NOT!

Completed center! I had 5 loop levels when I was done.

Cut eight pieces of string to tie the crocheted center to the hoop.

Weave a piece of string through the macrame edge on the hoop (otherwise it will not look right) and then tie down and knot one of the crocheted loops in place.

Then tie the opposite side the same way.

Then do the next pair of opposite sides...

Until all 8 loops are tied on! Be sure to keep the spacing about equal too.

Then use the yarn needle to weave all the hanging pieces of yarn. Note I also crocheted a simple chain of about 70 and created a loop at the top to hang it from.

Add the fringe and feathers:
Supplies (some are affiliate links):

Natural Vintage Lace
Ivory Cotton Lace
White Gold Dipped Feathers
White Goose Feathers
Natural Beads
Small scissors
Gorilla Glue
Needle
Thread

P.S. Sorry if some of the pictures are a little blurry - it is kinda hard to be working and snapping pictures at the same time!

Hang the dream catcher in a location where you can easily work on it.

Cut lengths of lace approximately 4' long each and loop them over the dreamcatcher as shown in the picture. Do about 8 or more of them in equal intervals from the left side to the right side.

Cut 4' lengths of cotton yarn and loop onto the dream catcher in equal intervals from left to right between the cotton lace.

You will have to lengths of string hanging side by side. You will be attaching two feathers to each one in an alternating pattern so they are not all the same length.

Thread the needle with ivory string and have your beads ready!

Push the needle through the end of the feather.

Push a bead up the yarn above where you want the feather to be. Lay the feather on the yarn exactly where you want it to be and begin wrapping the the threaded needle around and around the end of the feather.

When finished wrapping push the needle through the wrapped portion and snip off the end.

Add a drop of glue on the threaded part and pull the bead all the way down into place.

Snip off the excess end of the feather.

Do two feathers per string at different intervals and also cut off excess string at the bottoms. Also remember to use a gold dipped feather every once in a while!

Continue adding feathers and lace until it is as full as you want it! Notice how the feathers and lace go up on the sides? You can also trim the lace to length when you are done.

And here is the finished product hanging at the peak of the tent for my daughters bridal shower! We will also be using it for her upcoming wedding.

Here is a link to the other Giant Dreamcatcher instructions shown above!

The Giant Dream Catcher used for my daughters wedding ceremony!

This dreamcatcher used as the backdrop to their sweetheart table at the reception!

Thanks for visiting :-)
Follow me for more fun projects and ideas and check out our other DIY Shower & Wedding Ideas!
Sincerely,

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Fun Bridal Shower Games

8/14/2017

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My daughter did not want to spend any of her time opening presents during her recent bridal shower. Instead she wanted all gifts to be unwrapped so they could be set up on tables and viewed by everyone. This created a slight problem because bridal shower games were basically created so that guests are not too bored during the "present opening." I loved the idea of my daughter not opening the presents because I personally find that part of showers excruciating, but I still wanted there to be some fun games to play. Actually I needed guests to play some games because I intended to do a small auction during the party (I got that brilliant and fun idea from my sisters recent bridal shower and I loved it!).

This is the front of my daughters invitation.

And this is the back where we ask for unwrapped gifts!

The auction I made had about 20 gifts to give away so we gave everyone about 20 tickets as soon as they arrived. We did this simply by putting the 20 tickets in the mason jar mugs everyone would get to drink from but you could easily just hand them out which is what they did at my sisters shower. This was not enough tickets though and that is why games were necessary! Winners could earn more tickets! More tickets = more chances to win a prize gift.

NOTE: nobody would go home empty handed even if they did not win one of the auction prizes because guests could keep their mason jar mug and they also received a mini dream catcher favor - See how the mini dream catcher favors are made here!)

Mugs with about 20 tickets for the auction inside! Labels are for guests to write their names on.

Affiliate Links through Amazon.com:

Libby Mason Jar Mugs
Craft Gift Tags shown on the mugs (Twine included!)
Crochet tablecloth
Pink Auction Tickets

A picture of the auction table. The gift prizes are displayed for all to see and guests can put their tickets in the brown paper gift bags behind. We had the bride to be pull the tickets during desert time!

Affiliate Links:

So basically since we needed to give out more tickets I came up with these two simple fun games (Thank you to Pinterest for the general ideas!).

The first game is a matching game of famous 'love quotes' from movies. There is a free MS Word document download below. We had a mix of ages at my daughters shower so the movies I used spread over a long period of time. Feel free to change them as you see fit and enjoy!

Here are the two games we played. They were distributed to guests to work on during lunch.

The second game is a multiple choice 'test' about the bride and grooms lives. again, there isI have a free download for you below (MS Word document) where you can cut and paste in your own questions and answers. Don't forget to put the brides name and the date of the shower at the top too!

Both games were given out during lunch time for the guests to collaboratively work on. Toward the end of the lunch I gave out the answers and guests graded their own answers. They were rewarded an extra ticket for every correct answer! It's all in fun so nobody checked for honesty or not, because well, who really cares?

During desert the bride pulled a ticket for each prize gift and they were distributed to the winners to take home! So simple!

Everyone had great things to say about the games and the way the shower was run. The bride to be had quality time to be with all the guests during the shower and I have had many people share with me how wonderful and relaxed everything was. In my eyes that spells S.U.C.C.E.S.S.!! But most importantly, my daughter was truly happy and enjoyed herself immensely. What more could a mother ask for?

Movie "love" Quotes game download

how well do you know the bride and groom game download

Thanks for visiting!
Check out my other FREE downloads here, our DIY Shower & Wedding Ideas here, and
follow me on social media for more great ideas :-)
Sincerely,

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Solar Eclipse Safety: Are you prepared?

8/7/2017

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Just the other night someone asked me if I was planning to stay up and watch the solar eclipse that's going to occur on August 21, 2017. I didn't even have an answer. I just stared at them with open eyes and mouth....thinking.....stay up???? The science teacher in me nearly had a heart attack. Clearly this person had no idea what a solar eclipse is. If they did they would have realized that the Sun has to be in the sky so that the moon can move in front of it. This can only happen during the day. So unless they think I sleep all day, there's no reason for anyone to 'stay up' and watch it. In fact, it's going to be almost impossible NOT to watch it! And that brings me to safety.

The eclipse is going to occur on August 21, 2017, during the day, across the USA.

The Sun rises in the Western US first so this is where the first eclipse will be able to be viewed. The first total eclipse will be viewed in Oregon at 10:15 AM PST (Pacific standard time). Here in New York we should begin to see the partial at about 1:23 PM EST, and it will continue until 4:00 PM - that is 2 hours and 37 minutes smack in the middle of the day my friends. Pretty hard to miss. And pretty tempting not to look at!

Check the times for any city here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/

And yes, a total eclipse can be viewed without protection. BUT THE PARTIAL CAN NOT. I mean, you can choose to, but that would be like committing vision suicide. Stupid choice. The partial leading up to the total, and the partial that will be viewed by the millions upon millions of people that are not in the path of total eclipse MUST be viewed safely.

Source (click for more info on your town): http://americaneclipseusa.com/seeing-the-eclipse-from-home/

Now considering that it is pretty much in the middle of a regular work day (Monday), and considering it is the summer, this means that most people, including children, will be out and about. Knowing it is human nature to be curious (especially children) it is extra important to be prepared. Whether you will be picking the kids up from camp, hanging out at the beach, or simply barbecuing dinner in the backyard YOU KNOW HOW TEMPTING IT WILL BE TO LOOK UP. So please, look up safely!

Here's why you need to look safely:
Remember looking at the Sun and then seeing black spots? Or how about temporary blindness when some idiot flashes his brights in your eyes at night? Why do welders need to wear special eye protection? Basically, the rods and cones in your eyes get over excited from bright lights and it takes a few seconds to minutes (longer, maybe never, if you looked at arc welding light) for your eyes to adjust back to normal. Watch this educational video for more detail:

So what does that have to do with an eclipse? Well, you are still looking at the Sun, and probably more often for a longer period of time in order to watch the eclipse. NASA's website states: "The solar radiation that reaches the surface of Earth ranges from ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths longer than 290 nm to radio waves in the meter range. The tissues in the eye transmit a substantial part of the radiation between 380 and 1400 nm to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. While environmental exposure to UV radiation is known to contribute to the accelerated aging of the outer layers of the eye and the development of cataracts, the concern over improper viewing of the Sun during an eclipse is for the development of "eclipse blindness" or retinal burns."

Bottom line: view the partial eclipse safely. Check out NASA's page about when and why.

Oh, and using a filter for your eyes and then looking through a camera, telescope, or binoculars that doesn't have its own filter is a huge NO NO. Your eyes will not be protected enough. The device must have it's own special, approved, filter because of the magnification. So be smart and do your research!

Here's a few ways to view the eclipse safely with your eyes:
NOTE: even with these precautions do not stare constantly at the eclipse. Look, then look away. You need to continuously give your eyes a break.

Make a homemade pinhole projector.
This allows you to look at the eclipse, but not directly. It's the cheapest method to watch the eclipse and can be a fun way to teach your kids about the dangers of looking at the Sun so they will be prepared with their own box on Monday August 21st! Something for them to look forward to.
Instructions at: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html

Find the instructions here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html

Use Welders Shield/Goggles.
They must be rated level 14 (the highest level as per OSHA). Be careful though, the common number is 11 and that is not high enough so check and be 100% sure before using! Even adjustable helmets only go up to 13 so make sure you know what you have. The goggles pictured below are available online at: arczone (this IS NOT an affiliate link). You can add the #14 shade filter for an extra $3.41.

Simply buy Certified Solar Eclipse glasses! But buyer beware: they need to meet the current international standard: ISO12312-2. These may be harder and harder to get the closer we get to the eclipse date. I am wondering if any stores will be giving out inexpensive ones for free...if I had a store I would be. But you can look around and find some still on e-bay and other places. Good luck!

Here is a list of the manufacturers that are approved by the American Astronomical Association to make Certified Solar Eclipse Glasses.

Photo from NASA website video found here: https://www.nasa.gov/eclipse

These are made by LUNT which is a company approved by the American Astronomical Society (A.A.S.).

These are available on Amazon - 5 pack for $12.95 (affiliate link)

Buy Shade 14 Welders Glass to view through. This is a pretty simple option and also inexpensive. I would simply do some research about local welding stores where you live and give them a call to see if they have the glass. It comes in various sizes because welders will buy them to replace the glass in their helmets.

A Few things NOT to do:

do not use regular sunglasses or solar eclipse glasses that are fake or not approved. Check to see if your eclipse glasses are approved at AAS Certification.
do not use filters that are not approved
do not look without protection for any reason
do not leave children unattended during viewing
do not look non-stop at the eclipse even with filters
do not use a telescope, camera, or binoculars unless they have their own special filter. A filter on your eyes is not enough when magnified through modern technology!
do not commit eye suicide by taking any chances looking at the sun with your naked eye. Your retinas can not be replaced.

Enjoy the solar eclipse safely. It will be worth it!
Thanks for visiting!
Sincerely,

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DIY: Dream Catcher Shower Favors

8/2/2017

2 Comments

My new thing lately is making dream catchers. My daughter decided that she wanted a giant dream catcher for her wedding day and that was the beginning of my 'dream catcher' research! That led to the absolute first, and largest dream catcher I have made to date (post coming soon)! Since then I have made many more out of many different types of materials but my absolute favorite are all the dream catchers made out of what would normally be thrown out as garbage (or recycled depending upon where you live). I came up with this idea out of a need to make a lot of similar dream catchers as favors for my daughters bridal shower, and I think I need to pat myself on my back because, well, I absolutely love the way they came out! But you be the judge :-)

Completed Dimensions of Dream Catchers: Approximately 2" wide x 7" long (including loop to hang it)

FREE PRINTABLE (and editable) LABELS BELOW!

P.S. I know this is a lot of pictures so I am sorry ahead of time!

Supplies Needed:
(see pictures, links, and prices at very bottom of post for affiliate link supplies)

Faux suede cord in Black and Coffee (affiliate links)
Waxed Cotton string in White andIvory (affiliate links)
Brown Pheasant Feathers or Black and White Guinea Feathers (affiliate links)
Dark Brown wooden Beads (affiliate links) NOTE: we had to drill the holes larger
Large yarn needle
Grilla Glue (crazy glue)
Off white sewing thread
Small sewing needle
Small Scissors
Brown craft paper 8.5" x 11" (affiliate link)
Hole puncher
Twine (affiliate link)
Repurpose the plastic rings from bottles (an inch or larger) - Milk jugs, gatorades, vitamin water, etc. work great! Sometimes they can be tough to remove, but they are worth it and work perfectly!

Video "How-TO" (pictorial directions below):

FREE PRINTABLE TAG LABELS:
The two sides are separate so you can choose to just do one side, for example, just the "Dream saying" side. They are also MS Word documents so that you can edit as needed as far as the date and the name for the bridal shower side. Definitely do a trial on white paper if you are printing both sides so that you can tweak the positioning as needed. These were my final prints so they should be good but you never know.

Pictorial Directions :

The plastic ring from a gatorade bottle! They also are on milk containers and many other plastic bottles!

Add a bot of gorilla glue...

And attach the end of the cut piece of cotton string for the center of the dream catcher (about 1.5 feet long max).

Then begin to wrap the ring with the faux leather piece - also about 1 - 2 feet long. Be sure to leave a long piece at the beginning to use to hang it.

Wrapping in progress...

Wrapping done! Now you wrap the center string around the top pieces, pull it through to knot it and add a dab of glue to hold it.

Done! the center piece will now be threaded on the yarn needle.

Check out this simple picture for how to weave the center part http://www.craftsforkids.com/projects/dream_catchers.htm

Start weaving the dream catcher center.

When done with the center make a small knot on the back.

Add a dab of glue and let it dry.

After the glue is fully dry (I wait overnight), then clip off the end.

Cut a pice for the feathers to hang from.

Tie it in place - more like looping it in place really.

Choose feathers that will look good together.

Get a needle and thread ready.

Add a dab of glue to help hold the feather in place.

Place the feather on the front of the faux leather.

And begin wrapping it in place with the needle and thread. Nothing is sewn - I simply wrap the thread around and around and then run the needle through the wrapped portion before clipping it at the end. Then I add a drop of glue to make it permanent.

Do the same thing for the second feather. Be sure to add a dab of glue after the thread is done too!

I made two different colors and still can't decide which one I like best! But they aren't done yet...

Add a drop of glue, slip on the bead (we had to drill holes larger first), and tie a nice little knot at the top! After snipping the ends even there is now a nice little loop for hanging just about anywhere!

Print out the tag on the brown craft paper and cut them out. Notice that I printed on both sides! This is not necessary though. I also use a paper cutter for nice neat cuts but scissors will work too.

Puch a hole in each tag and cut lengths of twine (approximately 6" each).

Loop the twine through the punched holes.

Dream without fear, love without limits.

Then loop the tag onto the dreamcatcher!

I have to say that everyone loved these and my daughter was so excited over them! So not only are they repurposing plastic, but they are something nice that are small enough to be hung anywhere!

Thank you for visiting! Please check out all my other DIY Shower & Wedding projects and follow me on social media for more crafty things!
Sincerely,

2 Comments

Blog

Giant Wedding Dream Catcher

Why I Freeze My Cherry Tomatoes

Five 'Must-Have' Essential Oils

DIY Giant Crochet Dreamcatcher

Fun Bridal Shower Games

Solar Eclipse Safety: Are you prepared?

DIY: Dream Catcher Shower Favors

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