Sharpie "His" Mug

Every Valentines Day, I like to get my husband a sentimental part to his gift. Half of the time, this means that I'm making something homemade for him, which I absolutely adore doing. This year his main gift had been purchased, along with a few smaller things I wanted to get him, so my Valentines budget had been met.  So, I did a little brainstorming and came up with this gift idea that he'll be able to use daily and it only cost me $4.00! 

Here's the instructions: All you need is a sharpie (any color will work) and a porcelain dish. I purchased my mug from Crate & Barrel.  The great thing about this gift idea, is you can use it as a party favor or for part of a friend's birthday gift. Just draw on the surface of your mug and bake it for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow it to cool completely before washing or using. 

After I made my mug I tried scrubbing it with a kitchen sponge and soap. It held up super well to hand washing and the image didn't scratch or fade at all.  I'm pretty sure that even though it's a permanent marker, it'll fade in the dishwasher (according to what I've read online), so I would advise against it!  Just hand-wash your pretty homemade mug to ensure the writing fully stays intact :)

I hope your mug turns out lovely! 

xx
Colleen 

A pretty return address.

There's something about the elegance of an envelope sealed with an address embosser.  I thoroughly enjoy sending loved ones cards for holidays or 'just because', any chance I get. I think it really brightens their day when they open their mailbox to find a little 'love' inside :) Of all the stamp embossers on the market, this one in-particular is a favorite of mine.

xx

Colleen

DIY Watermark Tee

What I love about this project is that it's completely customizable! You can use favorite quotes to decorate your shirt but you could also use song lyrics, bible verses, favorite book excerpts, etc. You can also choose whatever color you like. I think it would be a very kid-friendly project as well; for all my Mommy readers out there! :) 

Materials:

Elmer's Blue Gel Glue (it must be the blue gel, white won't work)

Fabric Dye (RIT is the best brand)

A white cotton Tee, Tank, ect.

Tutorial:

Step 1: Prepare

Wet your tee with cool water and place a water resistant board between the layers of fabric.

Step 2: Design

After you finish designing your shirt with the Elmer's Gel let it dry completely.  Drying will take several hours.

Step 3: Dye 

Your dye bath should be prepared using cool water. Experiment with different amounts of dye until you find the right concentration. Keep in mind that the color that comes out of the dye bath will be a couple of shades darker than the dry, finished garment. Continue dying until you get the color you want.  When you are finished, let the garment  completely dry.

Step 4: Wash

When your tee is dry (to let the dye set) soak it in cool, soapy water for about 15 minutes. This soak washes the extra glue out. Throw it in the washer and dry as you would normally.

             Step 5: Wear & Enjoy!