Annie Lang's Blog!

If you have an old plastic serving tray that may be a bit scuffed up but is not cracked and is still usable, here's a fun makeover project to give it a whole new look!  For this project, my favorite well used clear plastic tray was the ideal choice for a makeover.  Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how I was able to use craft paint, fabric cut from a fat quarter and a few basic supplies to complete the project and hopefully put this tray back in service for several more years.  Feel free to modify this project to suit the size and shape of your plastic tray.  You can also  easily  match paint colors to your choice of fabrics and then paint tray edges with any design you have in mind.  I used handpainted stripes for this tray, but polka dots, tiny flowers, flourishes, vines, etc. would also look simply amazing on any finished tray.  I can't wait to see what YOU can come up with to renew your own tray to use for serving your guests in style! 

It's a gloomy day.  It's too cold for outdoor activities.  You're bored and restless. You head to your craft supply shelves.  You discover a stash of scrap fabrics.  You also notice that wire frame you picked up from the Dollar Store.  You grab a pair of scissors and head for the table with your coffee and supplies and turn on your favorite music playlist.  Before you know it, you have made a whimsical wreath.  Hope you'll try out this traditional craft and experience the joy of creating a handmade treasure! 

Today I'm getting ready to mail out this year's greeting cards to friends and family.  I thought this would be the perfect time to reshare this " 15 fun things you can make with recycled greeting cards " project ideas post for you just for fun.  Wondering what to do with all those wonderful greeting cards you've been saving up?  Here are 15 fun DIY ideas anyone can try and I hope you'll share this fun video with your creative friends and family.   All the pictured sample crafts were created with 5" x 7" cards printed on heavy cardstock with a gloss finish.  I'm sure many of these ideas can be easily adapted for use on  cards of various sizes, so go ahead and enjoy your creatively recycled cards!

Don't throw out those wrapping paper, paper towel or cardboard mailing tubes just yet!  You can easily upcycle them for fun holiday decorating and gift items in no time at all. Here's just a few project ideas of how I used them to brighten up the holidays.  Make some holiday visitors and hide them anywhere!  Use large mailing tubes if you want your character short and stout or gift wrap tubes for long and lanky house guests.  Whether it's boots, socks or fuzzy slippers, I'm sure you'll find the perfect footwear in your closet or sock drawer to make your visitor whimsically  festive.  Tubes can be painted white or cover them with white paper.  Spray the paper with adhesive, lay it flat o a table and then roll the tube and press the paper in place.  To make candy stripes, I wrap it with red masking tape spiraling downward and pressing it in place. This idea is also great for making glittery tinsel fairy legs or black and orange striped witch legs for Halloween decorat

Here's 6 fun ideas to turn those empty Pringles snack cans into fun and useful items you can make in no time at all!  Enjoy...

When it comes to entertaining kids on a rainy day or finding group activities to keep the party guests entertained, this DIY game is an ideal way to not only keep them busy, but it's educational as well!  All you need are some fabric print swatches or patterned scrap papers, some cardstock, a pair of scissors and a bit of glue (I use spray adhesive). I've included the shape template I created to make my fabric swatch game shapes along with the basic directions.  The first time my 4 year old granddaughter used them, she immediately became engrossed in the colors, patterns and character images that were tossed about the carpet.  It didn't take her long to discover that the game challenge was not just matching single images like store bought card games, but seemed more like giant puzzle piece shapes that could be matched on both sides of each card! I created 20 different fabric card sets and it took her 30-45 minutes to complete the game, making it a perfect activity for G

Wondering what to do with all those wonderful greeting cards you've been saving up?  Here are 15 fun DIY ideas you can try to get you started.  Enjoy this fun video and Happy Greetings!

If you've got K-Cups...You've Got Party Hats! Easily recycle or repurpose your k-cups and craft them into clever little hats you can use for a variety of events. The photo sample shows a simple brim made from a round woodlet, but you can use foam, felt or cardboard if you'd like.  Use black K-Cups to make cute top hats or paint them with bright colors and add lace, beads or other trims to create adorable little bonnets!  Here's how I made the sample project... 1.  Peel the foil lid off of a used K-Cup. 2.  Remove the grounds.  You can recycle them by mixing into your garden soil! 3.  Most k-cups have an inner filter lining so just pull it off. 4.  Most of the quality coffee brand cups have a plastic strainer.  I paint them and use as craft embellishments.  They make great dimensional  "owl eyes" or flower centers when you glue gemstones or felt circles to the center hole! 5.  Apply craft glue around the top edge of the k-cup and attach it to the cent

If you save your greeting cards and need ideas for what you can do with them, I have a Pinterest Board you may enjoy!  In case you missed the original BLOG posted last year, just CLICK HERE!  Card projects are a perfect creative adventure for those long winter days...ENJOY!