Mel Designs

Glue Gun Sign

I love the smell of a warm glue gun! It takes me back to Saturdays spent making Christmas gifts for family and friends. So when I saw a version of this plaque on Pinterest, I knew I had to make my own glue gun sign. 

Materials and Instructions for Glue Gun Sign

• Walnut Hollow Savannah Plaque
• Elmers Foam Core Board
• Adtech Adhesives Lo Temp Cool Tool, Glue Pad and Multi-Temp Glue Sticks
• Sizzix Alphabet die cuts and Big Shot Die Cutting Machine 
• DecoArt Americana Acrylics Pumpkin Orange 
• Self healing cutting mat and craft knife
• Fabric scraps, jeweled flower centers
• Paintbrush, foam brush

I started by cutting the foam core into small pieces using the craft knife and mat. The pieces need to be small enough to fit through the die cutting machine. I used the die cutting machine and die to make letters for "Happiness is a Warm Glue Gun."  

 

Then, I used the glue gun to adhere the letters to the plaque. 

 

Although I brushed on the paint, I think it would actually be easier to spray the paint on. It wasn't a good day for outside spray painting this particular day. You can purchase spray paint or make your own using this simple recipe.  The combination of the foam brush and paint brush makes getting the paint in between the foam letters easier.

Once the paint was dry. I glued on handmade fabric flowers to add some additional flair to the plaque. 

I found some more cute quotes about glue guns on the web. 

"For every girl with a broken heart, there's a guy there with a glue gun." 

"It's not a bad thing to want a fun life and a glue gun that works!"

"Given enough glue sticks, I could rule the world." 

"Keep Calm and Hot Glue"

Live Life Creatively, 

 

Recycled Tin Ornaments

Creating something fun and useful from recycled materials has always been a favorite craft of mine. I was inspired to create these ornaments when my friend was complaining about her growing stash of cardboard boxes. I offered to take some very large ones off her hands and immediately started thinking about ways to use them. That's when I decided to create these recycled tin ornaments. 

Materials for Recycled Tin Ornaments

• Recycled Cardboard
• Recycled Tins (I used Altoids Tins) 
• Misc Wood Shapes 
• Adtech Adhesives Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks 
• DecoArt Americana Acrylics- Tuscan Red, Baby Pink, Pumpkin Orange, Lamp Black, Snow White
• Rubber stamped sentiments and pigment ink
• Assorted embellishments 
• Ribbon scraps
• Cardstock scrap

Instructions for Recycled Tin Ornaments

I started by removing the lid of the mint tin. 

I cut the cardboard box into smaller pieces- each measuring about 12" square. Then I peeled one layer of the smooth cardboard off to expose the corrugated center. I used the tin as a template to trace a shape on the back of the corrugated cardboard. 

 Then I cut the shape out with scissors and glued it to the inside bottom of the tin. 

Then I cut some 1" strips from the cardboard and glued them to the insides and outsides of the tins. 

If you have a chance to try and make these, the real fun begins when it's time to add the elements to the inside. I opted for a heart theme on one. I painted the heart red, then added a pieced of stamped cardstock with glue. I added gemstone rows and a couple more bits of sparkle. 

For the other tin, I decided on a snowman theme. I assembled the snowman from three wood beads hot glued together and painted them white. 

 

Extra tips for making Recycled Tin Ornaments:

1. The hot glue gun and glue sticks makes creating these ornaments fun and super easy.

2. Dig through your stash to see what trinkets you can use to create your own fun little themes. Some other suggested themes include winter birds and Christmas trees.  

3. Use the hot glue gun to adhere the ribbon hanger directly to the top of the ornaments. Since the cardboard is extremely pourous and sturdy, there is no need to drill or punch holes in the tin. 

Life Life Creatively, 

 

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Fabric Scrap Bookmarks

In my never ending quest to deplete my fabric stash, I was inspired to create these Fabric Scrap Bookmarks. I guess one of the best things about using your fabric scraps is that you don't feel quite as guilty about buying even more fabric! 

Materials for Fabric Scrap Bookmarks

• Assorted coordinating fabric scraps
• Smooth Fusible Fabric Foundation
• Stick Fusible Fabric Foundation (fusible webbing)
• Crafter's Choice Poly-fil Polyester Fiberfill
• Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac
• White wool felt 
• Cotton muslin scraps 
• Tiny alphabet rubber stamps and black pigment ink
• Black cording
• Embellishments of choice
• Sewing machine and thread
• Rotary cutter and self healing cutting mat
• Scissors
• Sewing machine and thread

 First of all, gather up your fabrics, 

 

 Then, start sewing thes fabric scraps together patchwork style, uisng a 1/4" seam allowance. Use an iron and pressing surface to steam the seams open on the wrong side. I chose to patchwork my fabic scraps together at an angle. 

 Keep going until you have a piece of fabric that is large enough to cut several 2 1/4" x 7 1/2" bookmarks from. I cut four bookmarks from a piece of 14" x 12" patchworked fabrics. 

Use the rotary cutter and mat to cut strips of Smooth and white wool felt into 2 1/4" x 7 1/2" strips.  

 

Now it's time to make the heart "charm." To make the stuffed heart, trace a heart shape on the wrong side of the fabric. Double the fabric over and cut two shapes out at once. Sew the shapes together with the sewing machine and thread leaving a 1/2" open for stuffing. Lightly stuff the heart with polyfil and sew the heart shape closed.  

 Use a needle and thread to sew a 5" piece of black cord to the center. Use the fabric glue to adhere an embellishment to the center "front" of the heart. 

 Fuse a 5" square of muslin to the Stick fusible webbing. Cut out into 2" sqaures. Use the alphabet stamps and ink to stamp sentiments to each square. Use the iron and pressing surface to adhere the sqaure to the bookmark.This will also heat set the ink. Now it's time to assemble the bookmark. First, sew the edges of the stamped square to the bookmark to secure. Sandwhich the Smooth in between the fabric strip and wool felt. Sew the edges together.  Then, sew the end of the cord to the bookmark as shown with several stitches. 

 

These bookmarks can be used a great small gifts for neighbors, friends. co-workers, teachers. Use them for quilt guild swaps or anytime you need a great creative gift! 

I hope I inspired you to try to create them! 

Live Life Creatively,