DIY Glass Photo Ornaments

Around the holidays, we like to give our friends and neighbors a little something to thank them for making the world a better place.  For years, we gifted living Christmas trees.  This year, we made glass photo ornaments.  

Below, you will find examples, as well as a materials list and illustrated instructions so that you can make your own DIY glass photo ornaments.

We made this ornament to celebrate the birth of a good friend's grandson.

 And, several for neighbors ...

What you will need:

• Glass ornaments.  I used 3-inch ornaments.
• Resized photo so that the picture lends itself well to a 3-inch circle.  I tweaked mine using Microsoft Publisher, then emailed them to Costco.  I ordered extras to allow for trial and error.
• A 3-inch hole punch, or a 3-inch template and a pen (I used a 50% off coupon to purchase an EK Tools Circle Scissor Pro at Michaels - Soooo worth it for this project.  If you are making one or two, hand cutting is fine.  More than that, think about buying a three-inch hole punch or this cutter).  
• Cutting board, if using the EK Tools Circle Scissors Pro
• Buffalo snow (I found this at AC Moore.  It's nice and sparkly)
• Funnel
• Scissors
• Fishing line
• Tape
• Glue - I used my favorite glue that I wrote about HERE. 
• Two bamboo skewers (chopsticks might work) to straighten out the photo after you've rolled it up and inserted it in your ornament.
• Colored scrapbook paper for back of ornament (year or sentiment printed, optional but I think adds something)
• Printer, if adding the year or sentiment
• Ribbon (grosgrain ribbon works the best - not wired)
• Silver metallic thread for hanging (optional) 
• Tags (optional) 
• Treat boxes, or bags (optional) 

HERE'S HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GLASS PHOTO ORNAMENTS (written and illustrated instructions below):

Cut two three-inch circles, one from your photo, one from color-coordinated scrapbook paper.  I printed 2014 on the back of the scrapbook paper.

Use a funnel to put buffalo snow in your ornament.

Cut a piece of fishing line about 12" long.  Tape the center of the line on the bottom of the middle of the photo (see photo below).  Then tape it again at the top.  You will use the fishing line to help position the photo.

Glue the photo circle to the colored scrapbook circle.  

Roll glued circle and insert in ornament.  

Use bamboo skewers to flatten out the circle.  It will be a little like building a ship in a bottle, which I have never actually done but seen on TV.

Poke the ends of the fishing line through the two little holes in the ornament cap.  Tie knot.  Trim ends.

Return cap.

Add ribbon.

Add silver metallic thread for hanging.

Add personalized tag.

Tuck inside gift bag or box.


ILLUSTRATED INSTRUCTIONS:

Happy crafting!

♥ Merrill 



 

My Favorite Candy-Free Kids' Valentines

Get creative this Valentine's Day by giving these adorably cute and super FUN conversation heart crayons. The perfect answer to any child's candy-free Valentine's Day.  Each heart is handmade from broken crayon bits and pieces and features cute sayings, such as "I LOVE YOU," "BE MINE" and "XOXO."  Available at Ivy Lane Designs.  

Sold in five-packs with a free gift box.  Order two boxes for 10 different colors.  All super duper crayons in tons of different shapes can be found here.

Conversation heart crayons have been featured regularly in Etsy's gift guides.  Who's a happy girl?

Kids Toys:

Valentine's Day For Kids & Baby:

Kids Eco-Friendly:

Gift Ideas Kids & Baby:

Happy Valentine's Day!

 ~Merrill ♥

Eco-Friendly Heart Crayon Necklaces

I will look for almost any excuse to use a power tool!  This morning I've been busy making eco-friendly heart crayon necklaces for a Valentine's Day classroom party.  Heart-shaped crayon necklaces are available in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop.

Each heart crayon necklace is handcrafted from 100% recycled materials.  I travel around to elementary schools collecting their broken bits and pieces of crayons.    

Everything is repurposed, even the strings which are made from t-shirts.

Heart crayons are the perfect size (appx. 1.25" x 1.5" - or 3.175cm x 3.81cm) for little hands.  Each necklace comes individually packaged, six to a set, available in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop HERE.

Lola (she was a showgirl) owns seven crayon heart necklaces, one for each day of the week.

Check out all of the super cool recycled crayons available at my Ivy Lane Designs shop HERE.

And, Happy Valentine's Day!

~Merrill ♥

Crayon Cars :: Vroom Vroom Vroom!

Start your engines!  I am having the best time making these awesome crayon cars for my Ivy Lane Designs shop on Etsy.  The bright colors and cool car shape encourage children's creativity, and they're just downright FUN!  Vroom vroom vroom!  I wish I had these when I was a kid.

Available in gift boxed sets of six HERE:

 Or party packs of twenty HERE:

Happy coloring, and vroom vroom vroom!

~Merrill ♥

What's in a Name? Creativity, of Course!

When a child's name is spelled out in letter crayons, creativity abounds!  I have been working fast and furiously creating kids' chunky handcrafted letter crayons for a teacher in Virginia who ordered them for her entire class! <BIG HUG for teachers!> They are the perfect size for little hands.  

A cellophane bag, shredded recycled (natch) paper, personalized tag and ribbon are included at no additional charge.  Ready for giving.  Colors are representative.  Big letter crayons make the perfect party favor or stocking stuffer!  Brought to you by Ivy Lane Designs on Etsy. 

Size varies by letter. The dimensions of the letter M, for example, are appx.: 1.75" x 1.6" x .7". CHOKING HAZARD-Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

All eco-friendly crayons from Ivy Lane Designs are handcrafted from repurposed, non-toxic crayons.  It is never too early to teach our children about helping the environment.

Available:  

3 letter names,

4 letter names,

5 letter names,

6 letter names,

7, 8 and 9 letter names on request, so don't be shy! <winkie face>

Happy Holidays!

~Merrill ♥ 

Dora the Explorer-Inspired Chunky Crayons

I love the way these Dora the Explorer-inspired chunky crayons turned out.  Because they stand, little ones can play dolls when not coloring.  Best idea ever:  Cover a table with butcher block paper and let kids' (and adults') imaginations flow!  Sold in sets of six (6) at Ivy Lane Designs on Etsy HERE.

Check out all of the recycled nifty gifties at Ivy Lane Designs on Etsy.

~Merrill ♥

Make Hand-Painted Tile Coasters for Only 16¢

What happens when I combine my love of doodling with a night spent on Pinterest?  Hand-painted tiles, of course!  Pinterest showed mugs from Anthropologie.  I opted for personalized tiles.  Inexpensive and super easy!  Two of my favorite things.

If you like to doodle, this is the craft for you!  Embellishing plain tile coasters, or most any dollar store ceramic, would be a great birthday party craft for kids, although adults would no doubt want to jump in and play. 
 

I picked up a bunch of tiles for only 16¢ each during a quick trip to our local Home Depot.  I chose 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" tiles as they are the perfect size for coasters.  

The guy at Home Depot who was helping me showed me his pink flamingo underpants so, of course, I had to take a picture. <winkie face>

Here is what you will need to make hand-painted tile coasters:

MATERIALS

• Tile
• Pebeo porcelaine paint pen (Available HERE)
• Window cleaner and a paper towel
• Nail polish remover with acetone
• Q-Tips
• Carbon paper (available at office supply stores), optional
• Felt feet (or a square of felt, scissors and glue), optional

Clean your tile using window cleaner. 

Shake pen well before use.  Press tip against a hard surface repeatedly to start ink flow.  I freehanded my design, but feel free to transfer a picture using carbon paper.  If using the carbon paper transfer method, just sandwich the carbon paper between the tile and your picture.  Using a pencil, trace the picture and it will transfer to the tile.  Or, just start drawing!

The nail polish remover and Q-Tips are in case you make a mistake that you would like to erase.  I used nail polish remover then followed up with a quick wipe with window cleaner.

After you have painted your tile, allow it to air dry for 24 hours.  After 24 hours, place tile directly on the middle rack of a cold oven.  Set oven to 300 degrees and bake tile directly on rack for 30 minutes once oven has come up to temp.  Allow tile to cool in oven.  You want to avoid cracking which can be caused by a sudden change in temperature.  

Adding felt feet (found at Home Depot for 2¢ each) is optional, but I like that the coaster won't scratch a wood surface.  If you don't add feet, you can safely wash your coaster in the dishwasher after baking. 

This little tile will be a Christmas gift for my sister who lives in San Francisco.   I hope that she will like it!

If you make hand-painted tile coasters, let me know!

~Merrill ♥

Not So Scary Halloween Pumpkin Party Crayon Favors

We harvested the pumpkins from our garden so it must be time for Halloween!  I love the way these Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin crayons turned out, available in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop on Etsy.  They are colorful and not at all scary.

Each party pack set comes with 24 smiling pumpkin crayons in a variety of colors.  A super fun addition to any trick-or-treat bag, or cover a table with butcher block paper and let your Halloween party guests' imaginations fly!

Check out all of the nifty eco-friendly recycled crayons at Ivy Lane Designs HERE.

Happy Halloween!

~Merrill ♥

Recycled Letter Crayon Party Favors

Kids L-O-V-E letter crayons!  Since I have had so many special requests lately, I decided to make my recycled letter crayon party favors available to everyone at my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop HERE.  

Letter crayons come in gender neutral colors, although requests for specific colors are welcome.

They're chunky and fit nicely in children's hands.

See all of the recycled crayons available in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop HERE.

~Merrill ♥

Creativity: Recycled Paint Sample Notebooks

Painting my daughter's bedroom was truly a labor of love.  Lauren and I debated color choices long and hard.  In the end, we chose hot pink and lime green ... two walls of each ... all color washed.  After completing her cheery watermelon room I whipped up nifty recycled notebooks (available in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop HERE) using the leftover paint samples (aka chips and swatches). 

I dig ombré in a big way.  Read about it HERE.  And, check out all of the super duper cool recycled goodies in my Etsy shop HERE.

~Merrill ♥

Dogs: Recycled Crayons

Creating cool stuff from recyclables makes my heart sing!  At the end of each school year, I contact local elementary schools and travel around picking up their broken crayon bits and pieces (while singing the wrong words to songs on the radio).  Eco-conscious teachers rock! 

Today I recycled my stash to make super duper chunky dog crayons, available in my Etsy shop HERE.  I love that they stand up.  

 

I thought about making little capes so they would be super hero dog crayons.  You'll have to use your imagination.

 

It was a nice day today so I sat outside and doodled a bit.  I drew a house for my dog crayon.  He (boy dog ... he told me) seemed very happy with his new home and asked that next time I consider drawing some food in his bowl.  Roger that.

~Merrill ♥ 

It's a Giveaway!

Everybody loves free stuff!  Here is your chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Ivy Lane Designs.  To be eligible, all you have to do is follow my blog by email.  It's that easy!  -------------------------------------------------------->

★★★ Enter your email address in the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" box (in the right-hand column, above the photo of me) and click enter.

If you are already a subscriber, do nothing as you are already entered to win!

One lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced on this blog.  The $25 gift certificate may be used for any merchandise at Ivy Lane Designs, as well as for shipping.  

Update!  Thanks to everyone who entered.

 

~Merrill ♥