String Of The Art Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway

Have you seen those really amazing string art projects people create? I see friends making them or buying them, and I always think I want to try my hand at that. The only issue for me was, where to start! I was able to partner with String of the Art on a review to learn how.

Whichever kit you choose from String of the Art shows up in a really cool box. It includes everything you need to do the entire project. One of the things I need to try and find is a smaller hammer than the regular one I used. hahahaha That thing was just unwieldy with this project. I also need to practice on making my nails straighter. I didn't do too shabby of a job though making sure they were all level.

I got all of the nails hammered in and then removed the paper. I kept the paper with me to kind of help me still "see" the snowman. Then I started with the most exciting part, the stringing. The directions are super easy to follow. I think at first I had a hard time really giving in to the "free hand" part of the stringing. You really just have to go for it and string till your heart's content.

What I really enjoyed about the String of the Art kit is anyone can do it. You don't have to be Miss Crafty to do this project! If you can follow the instructions, wrap string around a nail, you can totally do these. You can also go as fast or as slow as you want. I'm guessing one of the smaller kits can be done in a day. This one could as well, but I started it later in the day. It could easily be done over a weekend.

One of the parts that totally cracked me up was messing up the white string. The String of the Art created explains that you should hang the string around your wrist as you work. And I did that, but think I pulled the start of the string wrong to start and wasn't able to use it around my wrist. You should've seen me, I was a tangled mess. The consecutive colors I did correctly and it worked like a charm.

You are going to love the project when it's finished no matter which one you pick. I was so incredibly pleased with how it turned out! We don't have our mantle up yet over the fireplace, but once it is, this piece of string art will be going there for the holidays!

I'm ready to try my hand at another one!

One person will win a Dandelion Mini Kit and then another item of your choosing from the site!

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Upcycled Solar Porch Lights

If you follow me anywhere, you KNOW I'm a Chick-fil-A fan! Last year they challenged us to use their salad containers and upcycle them. I used mine to hold plants and a bird feeder. This winter, they've challenged us to use their soup bowls and upcycle them.

Got my tortilla soup from @Chickfila under the wire a couple days ago! Man I love this stuff, and I dig my calendar card! #soup #comfortfood #ChickfilAMoms

A post shared by Mimi N (@mimibakermn) on Feb 1, 2017 at 6:09pm PST

My husband came up with the idea to make solar lights out of them somehow. I thought it was a great idea, but where to start! At first I wanted to use them along the garden, but since the garden is tucked in for the winter, it's not cleaned up enough to use in my post yet. What to do, what to do...?

I figured I'd get started on the craft, and go from there as to where I'd place it.

First off I started with 4 soup containers, tops and lids. I already had spray paint and the tools I'd need. All I had to do was scrounge up solar lights. We have some Fred put in the garden last year, but there were only a couple and they were in pretty bad shape. While we were out shopping, We found an 8 pk on sale for $5!! I need to go back and get more.

I started off by painting the bowls of the soup containers. I went with green in case I decide to put them in the garden once it comes alive with new growth! Yay to having the spray already!

From there, I cut out the square logo out out of the lid, not realizing I was going to end up using them later! After cutting out the logo, I put the round solar light on top of the lid, and gauged the size I needed to cut out to fit it in the top. It took several tries, but I'm sure I could've traced around it. I'm just too lazy!

When I put the top on, I realized that the light wouldn't shine out very well. I debated putting designs on all four sides, but that's when it hit me that I should figure out how to add the logo square. It wasn't easy to make sure it could fit, but I cut out a square roughly the same size as the square and put it in through the back so I could tape it in place.

     

I added the lid to each of them and waited for the sun to go down. I really had no idea how it was going to turn out, but it totally worked! I was actually pretty giddy about it! I made everyone go outside to admire my handy up cycling!

My step daughter told me I should add designs around the sides. Go figure! I haven't done it yet, but I still might. I really like how the light shines out the top and front. Maybe adding slits to the side or I might just let her get creative about letting the light come through the other sides!

I may get a red spray paint and make 4 more. I could put the green ones in the garden and the red ones would blend well with the brick steps! I'm excited about the possibilities!

What would you do with upcycled Chick-fil-A soup containers?

DIY Wool Dryer Balls

Not sure if you're anything like me I get around to things when I get around to them. Even if it's something I really want to do or I'm interested in. Hence these dryer balls finally being made! I've wanted to make them for ages, but for one reason or another never got around to making them.

There are things that I would like to do to make life "healthier" this year. Starting the new year off I figured on a snowy day would be the perfect day to get started with them. Thankfully the other day when we were out shopping I picked up a couple of skeins of wool.

Let's get started shall we? I used a worsted wool that's a cream color. I also got a heather gray skein. I might do that one tomorrow.

The first step was to wrap the yarn around my slightly V shaped fingers about 12 times.

After that you remove it from your fingers and wrap it around the middle about 12 times.

From there, you start wrapping around and around and around.

When I had the ball halfway rolled, about half the size of a tennis ball, I put a few drops of lavender essential oil on it.

I continued rolling until it was the "right" size, and then threaded the end through the ball several times.

After getting all 3 balls rolled, I used a pair of crazy, old socks that are like stockings to knot the dryer balls up in. I haven't had nylons since the early 90s and knew these socks would do in a pinch.

I washed them in a hot water cycle several times to get them felted. They turned out perfect! I'm looking forward to making another set. They're extremely relaxing to make.

Let me know if you've done this before! Have you used roving wool? That looks like it would be fun to use! I may try that at some point after I've tried my hand at these enough times! And what tricks have you used to keep the static down?

What ways are you making "healthier" changes in your home?