Birthday Liter

So, as many of you out there probably can relate, I have become a lover of Pinterest. So, when my brother's birthday rolled around in October (I know, so long ago!) I perused my boards and found this nifty idea. 

So, what you do is you get a two (or in this case three) liter bottle of soda (preferably one you enjoy) and empty the contents. Of course if you have a bottle just laying around, that's probably best. Anyway, once emptied, you clean the bottle out so it's not sticky, an cut a hole in the side where the name of the soda is. I recall this being tricky. I believe I had to stab it with a knife, then try and wiggle my scissors into it to cut it open, so be careful when you attempt this. I made three cuts so it could open like a lid and proceeded to fill it. My brother is a sugar-holic, so I just filled it with lots of candy from the dollar store. Depending on your recipient though, you could fill it with yo-yo's, bouncy balls, small dolls, coins, dollar bills, chap stick, make-up, cards... anything you think they would like that will fit. Next, you tape up the hole, cover the side with cute paper, and add a label if you would like. I just turned the wrapping paper around and used the white side. Also, I would suggest writing on it before you tape it to the bottle-much easier that way. Then I got some fun matching ribbons and tied them on top and added a bow and voila! A cute birthday present that everyone can love!

Time: An hour or so
Cost: I spent about $10 but it could easily cost more or less depending on what you fill it with.

Paper Flowers

A few months ago, a friend of the family died. I wanted to do something special for the family that would stand out from what everyone else does-which in my mind is buy flowers. So, being the poor, married, pregnant college student that I was, I decided to make a bouquet out of what I had lying around.

This was fairly simple. I made it out of five pieces of 12x12" paper for the flowers, and two smaller pieces for the base. I cute the 12" paper into four pieces (except the green), cut those smaller pieces into circular shapes, then cut a spiral in them, leaving a small circle in the middle where the spiral ended. Then I rolled the spiral up, and glued it to the circle in the middle. Next I cut out leaf shapes in the green, with a wide base so I could fold it in half to give it a creased look (which you can't really see). Then I bought some wires (the only part I bought. It was like $2 at the craft store), cut them in half, and glued them between the leaf and the flower. Next, I cleaned out an old asparagus can, melted wax from candles I had lying around, and poured it into my clean can. Then I stuck my wires down in the wax, and added the grassy stuff, and finally covered the can with paper for a nice vase look. 

Overall, it was pretty quick and easy. Done in less than half a day. But be warned, all that paper curling left my fingers a tad bit sore. But, I'm pleased with the result, and I think my friend will appreciate having it for years to come. (I hope... I'm bad with this whole memories of the dead thing) 

This shows the crease in the green a little better. 

Time: couple of hours, including gathering supplies.
Cost: $2- but varies based on how many supplies you have and how many you need to buy.