Decorative Light Switch

Hello! Today I will show you how I decorated my light switch to make it pretty and tie in all of the colors in my bedroom. This is very inexpensive, and it can add a little fun to light switches, or electrical outlets, etc.. 

All you will need is a light switch cover, which I think is called a Switch Plate, or Wall Plate. You can get them from Home Depot for less than 30 cents, or you'll most likely have one you can use around your light switch now. You will also need acrylic paints and foam brushes, which you can get from your local craft store, such as Joann's and Hobby Lobby, painters tape (I used clear scotch tape and I think it worked fine...), optional glitter and Mod Podge, and a screw driver. To do this project, it will be easiest to unscrew and remove the switch plate, paint it, then put it back on. I also reccommend setting up some paper towels under your painting sight, along with a paper plate for the paint, and a plastic cup filled with water to rinse the brushes in.

To start, I sketched out some different designs I could do. Keep in mind, it will be difficult to go into great detail on such a little space. I decided to just do vertical stripes. I put the tape down across the middle of the switch cover to make sure I didn't get any paint in the wrong spot, and to ensure a straight line when I am finished. Now start to paint. I started just doing vertical strokes but the paint would like rub off, so I would use the foam brush to dab on the paint. Then, I let it dry for a FULL HOUR or else it would chip off again. After that, I went back over it with the lightest possible strokes of all time, just to get rid of the odd textures. Let that dry for another hour (don't skimp) then do one more coat. Then, you must wait till it is completely dry and peel off the tape, and do the same steps for painting the last section. I do recommend specifically PAINTERS tape for the taping off the last section so that the tape doesn't take off the paint from our previously completed sections. 

If you choose to use glitter like me, you will Mod Podge the section, then shake the glitter on, then put another layer of mod Podge to seal it in. I go through greater detail on this process in my Glitter Easter Eggs Post. After that. I removed the painters tape and sprayed an Acrylic Sealer Spray finish it and keep it from getting messed up. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.

That's all for today! This is a careful project because you have to try so very hard not to take off the paint with the tape. Good luck!

Flipped Bun

Happy Easter, yall! I hope you all got a chance to try out some of my Easter crafts before today, but if not, there's always next year!

I got a TopsyTail from the Easter Bunny this year, so today I am going to show you how to use it to make a cute bun you can wear to church, a formal event, or just for fun!

Please bear with me today, as I am experiencing some technical difficulties, so the pictures will have to wait until later. To see what it looks like, visit my Instagram page. The link is in the contact tab above. All you will need is one TopsyTail (either size is fine) and one elastic. 

To begin, pull your hair into a ponytail. I think it looks best in a low ponytail. If you have used a TopsyTail before, this is a pretty basic way to use it, but all you do, it put the bottom handle part downward in between the elastic and your head. Then, pull the hair from the ponytail up and into the circle opening at the top, then pull the bottom handle part all the way through. Repeat this step, going into the same hole and continue to use the tails of the hair in the ponytail. Once all the hair is through, it stays pretty well, but I reccommend boobypinning it to keep everything secure. 

The good thing about this hairstyle is that it works with thick and thin hair! It may even be easier to have thinner hair! Also, if it falls out, your hair can still be cute as a flipped ponytail. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Glitter Easter Eggs

Today, I will show you how to make really cute sparkly Easter eggs! More for decoration, than an egg hunt, but it's so cute not to make! 

NOTE: This craft is for a more advanced homemaker.

You will need fake eggs. I got mine from Target, and they feel like a stronger cardboard, but I assume the wooden eggs from a craft store will work as well. You will also need glitter. More fine glitter will work best. I got a pack of 12 colors from Walmart. You will also need sponge brushes, Mod Podge Glue, a piece of copy paper, paper towels for a place setting, and optional painters tape if you wish to make designs.

To start, lay your paper towels down, so that your table doesn't get messy, and fold your copy paper in half to make a crease, unfold it, and lay it ontop of the paper towel. That will catch all of the excess glitter, so we can save it.

Now, pour some Mod Podge out onto a corner of the paper towel and dip the brush into the glue and start applying it all over the egg. After it's completely covered, dump out the glitter of your choice onto the egg and rotate it so that glitter gets all over. Hold it for a little while to let it dry. To reuse the wasted glitter, pick up the piece of copy paper that caught all of the sparkles, and fold it so that all the glitter sinks to the crease and pour it back into the glitter jar. Once the egg is dry, put more mod Podge on the spots where your fingers were and add glitter to the missing spots. Let that dry. Then, once it is all dry, gently Mod Podge over the entire egg to seal in the glitter. I do this by dabbing the brush, so that it doesn't wipe the glitter off. Hold it to dry completely, then repeat the steps for the spots where you were holding it. 

If you want to do designs such as stripes, you will need painters tape. I didn't have any, so I just only put the mod Podge in the certain areas and it turned out sort of lop sided, but for a more straight line, rip off a piece of painters tape, put it on the egg, and repeat the steps above. Remove the tape once the entire thing is completely dry. Touch up if needed. Don't forget to rinse out your brushes! 

That is all for this craft. It is a messy project, but the outcome is worth it! 

3-Strand Wrap Around Braid

Today I'm going to teach you how to do a braid I like to call, 3-Strand Wrap Around Braid.  As far as I know, this is an original hairstyle that is so easy, but looks very different from your average braid.

First, divide your hair into three equal sections. Now, start it like a normal braid by crossing one side over the middle strand, except you will cross those pieces in a full rotation from that point, so that the original side strand is in the middle, but it was wrapped around the original middle piece. Then, the side piece on the opposite side will do the same thing, wrapping around the new middle strand once and ending up in the center. Repeat those steps all the way down. It seems hard, but it's truly so easy. And another good thing about this hairstyle is that it doesn't matter if you mess up. You can wrap the strands twice, or only a half wrap, and it will still be cool and original. Now you just pull on the strands to fluff out the braid, throw in an optional headband, and it looks great! 

I wore it to school a few times and got tons of complements! That's all for this week! Check back next week for another post!

Dry Erase Tape & Giveaway Winner Announcement

Hey guys! Today's blog post is not necessarily a craft, but I saw it at the store, and knew I had to show all of you! Also, I will be announcing the winner of the 50th Blog Post Spectacular Giveaway, of a hand made, The I in Creativity t-shirt, at the end of this post, so read all the way through!

This week, I wanted to share with you this cool tape that is a "dry erase board."  I bought it from the craft section at Target.

You just cut it to the size you want, peel the back off, and stick it where you want it! Then you use a whiteboard marker to write on it, and a paper towel to wipe it off. So easy! You could use it to make a To Do List on the fridge, or to write reminders on your notebook, etc! You could even tape rows of tape onto a picture frame to make a cute dry erase calendar! 

Here's a few quick ideas I did.

That's all I have say about this fun tape! And the winner of The I in Creativity t-shirt is..... ALL OF YOU! Everyone can make their own shirt using the tutorial I wrote up last week, http://theiincreativity.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-i-in-creativity-t-shirts.html

But the one who wins the shirt made by the owner, myself, is Alanna Balado!!!!

The I in Creativity T-Shirts

It's the I in Creativity's 50th Blog Post Spectacular! Today I'd like to give back to all of my followers, so I will be showing you how to make an I in Creativity shirt! This way, everyone can have one and it's a craft, which is what started this whole blog! Also, I am hosting a giveaway for one of these shirts, so to enter, go to my Instagram page or Facebook page, (which you count find links in my Contact tab, above) and tag one friend who is not following, but you think would be interested! That is all! The contest ends on Saturday, March 5, 2016. I will announce the winner on Sunday the 6th.

Before you start, you will need a computer and an inkjet printer, an iron, scissors, a pillowcase, and three textbooks (you can substitute the books for something else. You will read why below), a white t-shirt, and t-shirt transfers (specifically for white fabrics). I got most of these things from Target, except for the things like the textbooks, etc.

To start, print out this sheet (image found below) full size on a regular 81/2x11in paper in a fast draft to make sure the ink works well and it is the correct size. Now, the next few steps will vary depending on the transfers you use, so be sure to read the instructions. Then, load the t-shirt transfer paper into the printer, and print it out in the 'Photo Paper' setting. Let the ink dry for 30 minutes, then cut it out. Cut the web URL so it is separate from the big logo, since the logo is on the front and the website is on the back.
(Print this)

Now, we will iron. You need to iron on a hard surface (not an ironing board) so we did it on our wood floor, but a table will work too. Lay a pillowcase down on top of the table, but under the shirt. I don't know why this is, but my instructions said to. First, lint roll over the section where the iron on will be, because once you do it, you can't undo it. Then, lay the logo face down on the shirt, but make sure it is going the right way. The image is mirrored because that is required by my instructions, so a way to tell if it will face the right way is to hold it, with the backside facing you, up to a light, and it should read the right way, then lay it down. Iron over it, going in a right to left motion, and bottom to top motion. Let it cool, then peel the top layer off.

Now, the first time I did this, I just flipped the shirt over and ironed the back, but then the front logo got stuck to the pillow case, so under all circumstances, DO NOT DO THAT! Instead, I built a little fort out of my textbooks. Put two parallel to eachother, standing up, then put one hard cover textbook inside the pillowcase, then put the pillowcase inside the shirt, and place that on top of the two standing books. This way, the front is not coming in contact with any heat. Iron the same way, let cool, then peel off. That is your shirt!!!!! I hope you all make some, because you are a huge part of The I in Creativity, too!

Easter Basket

Today I am going to teach you how to make an Easter Basket. It is really cute, and will cost you about $7 to make. Plus, who doesn't love homemade stuff! This is a really easy (beginners level) craft, so even you inexperienced peeps can make it! All you need is to work a hot glue gun, which can be substituted for tape! Seriously this is the easiest thing, all you guys need to make some.

I got all of my materials from the Dollar Section at Target, and everything was $1, except for the basket, which was $3. You will need a metal basket, 2 packages of little colorful fake Easter eggs (to decorate a tree or something), a bunny ear headband (or for all you advanced crafters, feel free to see your own. All you need is the ear parts if you make your own), and a small amount of yarn to match your ears. 

The tools you will need are scissors, tape or glue gun (glue gun holds better), and a small square of cardboard or something. 

To start, arrange the eggs around the lid of the basket in the way you like. I did 4 on the front, 4 on the back, then the extra three on the front middle. Now glue gun them in place. I did this by putting a glob of glue on the back of the egg (whatever side looks bad, if any) and holding it in the spot I want until it dries. This should only take a few seconds. I just left the loops to hang the eggs on something on, but if it bothers you, just cut it off.

Now hot glue your bunny headband inside the bucket by putting big globs of hot glue on the back side of the headband and hold it in place. Then release and glue in between the headband and the basket while they're already touching for extra security. 

Lastly, and probably the most challenging, take your yarn to match your ears, because we are going to make the cutest bunny tail. Take your piece of cardboard (probably the size of an iPhone) and rotate it so it is horizontal. You can really use anything though. I used a small box of chocolates, or you can actually use your phone, but it'll be harder to answer! ;) Wrap your yarn up and down around the cardboard. Do it so it is pretty thick. Then cut the end and slide the wrapped yarn off of the thing without unwrapping it. Now tie another piece of yarn that matches around the middle of the bundle in multiple knots, so you should have a loop at the top and a loop at the bottom. It should sort of look like a bow. Now cut at the top and bottom so the loops are just ends and fluff it out. 

I now hot glued the very center onto the back of the bucket and fluffed the yarn around so it looks like a bunny tail. 

That is all to this adorable rabbit Easter basket! The hardest part is the tail, and being honest, it will still look cute if you decide not to make the tail, so EVERYONE  needs to try it!!!!!

Also, keep an eye out next Sunday for something good because today is The I in Creativity's 49th blog post! You'll love what I have in mind!