DIY Canada Day Pins

Can you believe July is almost here already? Summer's just been flying by this year. If Canada Day has snuck up on you, these quick little pins are a simple way to add some red and white to any outfit. Hosting a Canada Day party this weekend? Try handing them out to guests as they arrive, or put them in a dish on the patio table.

Added bonus: if you're like me and will camping this long weekend, our car will be PACKED so having a small way to celebrate Canada is definitely right on the mark.

Supplies: Balsa wood circles (diameter 1 1/4" and 3/4"), red acrylic paint, paintbrush, scissors, hot glue gun, various red and white ribbon, small safety pins.

Method:

Step 1: Cut ribbon length as desired.

Step 2: Put a small dab of hot glue on the ribbon and fold closed, pinching at the glued spot.

Step 3: Hot glue the balsa wood circle onto the ribbon.

Step 4: Attach the safety pin onto the back of the ribbon using hot glue.

Step 5: Paint a maple leaf onto the circle. You could also use small maple leaf stamp instead.

And that's all there is to it! Pin one or more onto your shirt - bonus points if you're wearing a Canadian tuxedo! Alternatively, you could leave off the safety pins, string the ribbons onto a piece of string and hang as decoration. 

DIY Confetti Birthday Box

I'll admit it - I didn't always love funfetti, but I have definitely seen the light. Why not try your hand at some confetti crafting? Check out the full confetti birthday box tutorial over at Sugar and Cloth!

DIY Tea Leaf Reading Cards

Today's post is the third and final part of the floral tea party mini series I created for Uschi and Kay. Have you checked out the DIY Flower Mobile and the Vintage Tea Cup Invitations posts? If you saw the tea cup invitations tutorial, you'll notice that I wrote to instruct your guests to bring the teacups to the bridal shower. 

If you haven't read tea leaves before, I can tell you it can be a lot of fun to interpret the possibilities! Instead of printing out a sheet of common symbols, keep reading for instructions on how to create your own mixed media reference cards!

Supplies: Two colours of card stock, circle cutter, scissors, glue stick, toothpicks, markers, white glue, tissue paper.

Method: 

Step 1: Using your circle cutter, cut out equal numbers of circles in both colours of card stock - one colour should be slightly smaller circles than the other. If you don't have a circle cutter, you can use a compass (or trace a glass) and cut with scissors. 

Step 2: Glue the circles together with your glue stick.

Step 3: Sketch basic line drawings of your symbols onto one side of your circles. I referred to the common symbol interpretations found here.

Step 4: Write the corresponding interpretations on the back of the circles using a fine felt tip marker. 

Step 5: Cut thin 1/4" strips of tissue paper.

Step 6: Crumple up the strips.

Step 7: Use a toothpick to distribute a small line of glue over the pencil drawing. Carefully attach the crumpled tissue paper threads onto the glue - the goal is to imitate the look of tea leaves. 

Step 8: Repeat for all the circles and let dry. 

When setting your table for the tea party, scatter the cards over the table and once the interpreting starts guests can refer to the symbols to see what their future holds!

Father's Day Cereal Treat

I don't know about you, but my dad almost never wears ties, so growing up my siblings and I never had that as a fall-back option for Father's Day. Even all the tie-related father's day gifts and cards seem like a stretch. My dad does love camping though, and rice krispie treats. With that in mind, I put together this cereal treat to mimic the look of layers of earth, soil, and rocks. 

If you're planning on making your dad breakfast in bed, this would definitely be a sweet option - it is cereal after all!

Supplies: mug/ramekin (in desired size), plastic wrap, cooking spray, 1/3 cup of three different cereals, 1 cup mini marshmallows, 3/4 tsp margarine, white and green chocolate wafers, chocolate rocks, mushroom toppers, and plastic trees. 

Step 1: Line your mug with plastic wrap. Coat with cooking spray. 

Step 2: Microwave 1/4 tsp margarine until melted. Add 1/3 cup mini marshmallows and stir to coat. Microwave 20-30 seconds, until melted, and stir. Add 1/3 cup of desired cereal and mix well.

Step 3: Press cereal mixture into mug.

Step 4: Repeat with both remaining cereals. I used plain Rice Krispies, Chocolate Cheerios, and Golden Grahams. Reese Puffs, Nesquick, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cap'n Crunch, and Cocoa Pebbles would all be fun to try as well, depending on what cereals your dad likes best. 

Step 5: Remove the cereal treat by pulling on the plastic wrap.

Step 6: Place the cereal treat on plate. 

Step 7: If desired, while the marshmallow is still sticky press extra cereal pieces onto the sides of the treat to emphasize the look of layers of earth.

Step 8: Melt green and white wafers in the microwave and stir. Pour melted chocolate onto the cereal treat. 

Step 9: Spread chocolate over the cereal treat with a butter knife. It's okay if it's uneven - it looks more like grass that way!

Step 10: Place your chocolate rocks and decorations onto the chocolate before hardened.

Step 11: If desired, make a simple banner with paper and a wooden skewer.

If you're having family over, you could make a bigger batch in a 9" x 13" pan and cut squares like you would for normal cereal treats. 

This post is part of a promotion with FamilySearch.

DIY Diamond Decor

I'm definitely a fan of the diamond trend that seems to be happening nowadays, so I had a lot of fun crafting these metallic diamond ornaments for Sugar & Cloth. Go check out the full post there!

So many diamonds and not enough time! Here are a few of my favourite diamond DIYs and products:

Marshmallows by Jenny at Hank and Hunt

Cookie cutter from Printmeneer's Etsy shop

Ice cube tray by Fred

Gem piñatas by Chelsea at Lovely Indeed

Washi tape diamonds at Objects & Use