Custom Cake Pedestals

I host a lot of get-togethers with themes and color schemes. And I make a lot of desserts. Like, A LOT. So I like to have fancy pantsy dessert pedestals to display them on. It's my favorite thing, but they can get pricey and it isn't always possible to find exactly the color and size I'm looking for. So what do I do?? I make my own! Easy peasy directions after the jump!!

Summer Kids' Project: Mugs

Well, we're six weeks into summer vacation, and I don't know about your kids, but mine are ready to eat each other. Swimming, playing at the park, and mindless video games have lost their luster and I've been forced to get creative. And cheap. 

A friend suggested taking them to Color Me Mine to decorate ceramics. But dude, have you been there?? It's totally expensive! So I got creative. And cheap. Ergo, these hand-decorated, one-of-a-kind mugs:

Details after the jump!!

Spring Garden

It's February! Time to get your sun hat on and head out into your gardens!

Today we're exploring the time-honored tradition of bell jars.

More after the jump!

Thanksgiving Table Scape

Helloooo!! In my head, that sounded just like Julia Child.

I trust everyone has had an easy transition into November, what with the Daylight Savings and all. I haven't, but is that really surprising? It was dark at like 4:30 yesterday afternoon. So naturally, I didn't realize what time it really was and OF COURSE we had dinner before 5.

ANYWAY. On to fun things! Like eating! YAY!! Specifically, I'm referring to eating Thanksgiving dinner, which, is there anything better than that? I declare that there is not. So I've created a really fun, easy, interesting and INEXPENSIVE tablescape for the Annual Thanksgiving Holiday Gut-Stuff, which is how I like to think of it.

You may have seen last week's post on my Thanksgiving Trivia Cornucopia over at CraftGossip. This post is an addendum to that post, so be sure to check it out if you haven't already. I made a cornucopia filled with cool, fall-type thingies. Feathers, squash (squashes?), holly berries, golden roses, turning leaves, pine cones, corn husks, etcetera. It's all in there.

All of it. It's right in there.

Because it's the centerpiece, I thought it'd be neat to use elements from the cornucopia to liven up the individual place settings. Soooo, I did. For really funsies, I set each place with clear glass plates, and then placed red and gold fall leaves underneath.

I also hollowed out a couple mini-pumpkins with an apple corer and used them in place of traditional candle holders.

Instead of napkin rings, I tied each napkin with a ribbon and tucked a different element from the cornucopia into each bow.

I like how well everything coordinates without being so matchy-matchy. There's a lot of wonderful texture, beautiful fall color and the best part is how easy it is to pull together. It's a lovely departure from a traditional holiday table setting without seeming too casual.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Happy Anniversary!

Hello all you sexy crafters! This is our one year anniversary here at Crafty Butt, and I can't believe the cyber police haven't arrested me yet on charges of craftular incompetence.

When I started writing this little bloggy-poo I never imagined anyone would read it, and yet every day you people continue to amaze me by coming back (probably to mock me, but I won't dwell on that). I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I'm taking the day off to celebrate and raid my kids' Halloween stash before they get home from school, but in the meantime, I've written a guest post for Craft Gossip. You should totally check it out; it's awesome (relatively speaking, this is me we're talking about here).

So here's to another year of hot glue and chalk paint!

Cozy Sweater Candles

People who know me know that I can't knit. Actually, they probably wouldn't know whether I can or not, since knitting isn't something I talk about with people who know me. Or with anyone, actually. Since I can't knit. Ahem.

But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate lovely cable-knit sweater. And who doesn't, really? I love 'sweater weather' and I defy you to find anyone who doesn't. Sweaters are so rad we use them as weather adjectives.

After all, we don't say 'Bermuda shorts weather' because Bermuda shorts are horrible.

I think I may have gone a bit off the rails there. Anyway, sweaters are awesome, and I've fashioned some little sweaters for my candle holders because candles are awesome too. 

The no-knit tutorial is after the jump!

DIY: Chalkboard Cheeseboard

This project was inspird by this slate and bamboo cheese board. And although it's sort of reasonably priced, it's only available in the UK. In quantities greater than 25.

But I don't live in the UK. And I don't really need 25 cheese boards. I mean, cheese is delicious and all, but I have to draw a line somewhere.

So I made this:

More hot cheese board action after the jump!

Chalkboard Menus

First of all, this is officially my first new post of Autumn and I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about it as excited as me! I'm celebrating by gorging myself on homemade cinnamon rolls, although that's pretty much how I like to ring in every Monday morning, regardless of the season.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled shenanigans!

This week's project is a DIY menu chalkboard: 

As ever, the tutorial is after the jump!

Dollar Store Autumn Garland

Alright, so it's almost FALL Y'ALL!! Autumn officially begins this week, although that hasn't stopped me from sweating in my cutest Fall cardigans since September 1st. So I thought it'd be fitting to do a fun, cute, easy and CHEAP project in honor of my favorite season:

More after the jump!

No-Sew Burlap Table Runner

This week's project was really easy, really quick, and most importantly really CHEAP.

Burlap table runners (and DIY tutorials to show you how to make one) are pretty easy to come by, but they all require sewing. Which is fine, whatever, I guess. It's not that hard to sew a straight line. But DUDE. Sewing burlap is a pain.

It's very coarse and difficult to handle and it likes to bunch up and be crooked. So I've come up with a no-sew alternative. Dig it:

There it is, peeking out from
behind the creepy Halloween cloth.

Tutorial after the jump!

DIY Hurricane Lamps

Okay, so I know I just did a candle post, but I CAN'T STOP. Seriously, how cute and versatile is this??

And of course, as ALWAYS, the materials are available at the dollar store. Specifically, Dollar Tree. So each hurricane lamp costs $2. I love this kind of adorable, dirt cheap, easily updated decor.

Tutorial after the jump!

Pickle Jar Candles

I've mentioned that I love jars. They're the coolest. They're like, free with your Smuckers purchase and you can reuse them! It's awesome! This project cost me nothing. I used only what I had on hand in my crafting stash, and I KNOW how much my fellow craft sisters hoard, so there's a reeeeeally good chance you've got stuff to make these in your cupboards right now.

Continued after the jump!!

Bonjour! Mug

I know I keep harping on Fall and how it's almost here and I'm so GLAD the heat is nearly over and how excited I am that we're looking at the backside of Summer, but this is my blog and I can repeat myself if I wanna!

One of the best things about cooler weather is that I get to drink hot chocolate like it's going out of style. I drink it almost every evening, from October to March and before you ask, the answer is no, I do not get sick of it.

Part of the fun of hot chocolate is drinking it from a fun mug. Like this, the Bonjour! Mug.

Burt Reynolds a souhaité sa moustache
était si masculin comme cela.

This is a fun, easy and CHEAP project that you can do in no time flat.

Follow me after the jump!

DIY Patio Lights

I've done a few posts already featuring different DIY lighting projects, but this one is a little different. It's EASY. Like, no tools required WHATSOEVER. I give you:

DIY Patio Lights!
 If you already have twinkle lights on hand (and who among us doesn't have a giant ball of tangled twinkle lights in the garage right now?) this project will cost you one dollar, plus tax.

Follow me after the jump!!

Thursday Miscellany: The Little Things

Summer is finally slowing down for my family (and it's a good thing, because I am about to collapse) and I'm starting to look forward to all the great things about Autumn. Like cooler weather, watching the leaves change, spending more time in the kitchen, football, holiday dinners, new sweaters... I'm beginning to drool here.

And so, in the spirit of retrospection, this edition of Miscellany is dedicated to some of the little things that have made me immeasurably happy this Summer. Things like my hanging bud vases, which were a STEAL from CB2, by the way.

We grew these from seeds.
Super cool.

This bag of peaches from my lovely neighbor Bob.

Voted Most Likely to Become Cobbler.

 A lazy dog day, which for Dexter is very, very rare.

He didn't even try to lick the camera.
He must be sick.

This new glasses chain that I bought at Dollar Tree. My optometrist has been gently suggesting that I should consider bifocals, because I'm constantly putting on and taking off my reading glasses. Like, CONSTANTLY.

But I'm only 32, dangit!! I've got plenty of miles left on my eyes before they require bifocals! But a glasses chain? With pretty beads? That is a compromise I can make.

I bought several, in assorted colors.
Fashion!

And finally my brother-in-law, who loves to annoy me in small ways that amuse him. For example, at a BBQ we hosted recently, he drew mustaches on all the faces in my Harry Potter 2011 Calendar.

I hate to admit it, but it's actually an improvement.

And how about you? What little things are bringing you happiness today?

Cutie Pie Nursery Pendant Lamp

This super-cute pendant lamp was made using something I bought from the dollar store and a bunch of crap I had on hand. Secrets will be revealed, after the jump!!

Side Table Redo

 I'm pretty happy about this week's project. It turned out just as I'd hoped, which is almost unheard of for me. This little side table used to look like this:

 Lovely bones, but a bit on the... homely side. She just needed a little makeover. Tutorial after the jump!

DIY Retro Patio Sign: Part 2

Last week I made a retro sunglasses cafe sign, and now I'm posting the follow-up:

Instructables after the jump!

DIY Retro Patio Sign

Sooo, I was noticing that we've got this jigsaw in the garage. And loads of leftover plywood. And I've always got several cans of spraypaint laying around. I put it all together and had an idea.

See how it came together after the jump!

DIY Potting Bench

This is how I spent my 4th of July weekend!

Well, not the WHOLE weekend, just a few hours. I also spent a goodly amount of time eating corn on the cob and watermelon. And I admit, I DID spend the lion's share of my time in the pool, squirting my kids in their faces with a Super Soaker until they banded together like Voltron and flipped my floating lounge chair over.

I think we can all agree, that's how the Founding Fathers would have wanted it.

It was a great weekend.

And here we are now!! Together again. Any Monday that finds me staring fondly at something I made despite my criminal lack of formal training with power tools is a good Monday. I made this. I love saying that.

Make one with me, after the jump!!