DIY Custom love you bookmark

Need a Custom gift? Well, I did. So I made these custom bookmarks recently, and thought I'd share it with you in case you are the same kind of I am. That's why I'm posting this .
 What you'll need: 
1) the printable PDF of the template, get it here
2) letter-sized cardstock
3) fabric scrap
4) craft knife
5) short length of thinnish ribbon
6) .25 inch hole punch
7) spray adhesive
8) bone folder
 Here we go. Print the template on cardstock and cut out the rectangular fabric template. I cut mine out window style, so I can place it just so on the fabric. Use it to trace and cut out a rectangle of your fabric scrap.
 Now cut out one of the bookmark templates (of which there are two on the page) using a craft knife and ruler. Cut straight lines only, as shown, leave the curvy bits for later. You'll see.
 (Wow. I didn't realize how grubby my craft knife looks until now. I've had it since freshman year at college, so like 22 years. I understand they come with cushy handles now. Notice especially the petrified band of masking tape. That was to keep my fingers from slipping. In COLLEGE.)
 Score it down the middle using the BACK of your craft knife (not the sharp edge), only light pressure required. Or you can use your fancy bone folder.
 Now cut out the heart with your craft knife. Wow, that sounds violent. Craft knife newbies, do not be fainthearted (ha), you can do this! Don't attempt to go all the way round in one direction, do it in parts and approach the corners from opposite sides for smoother results. The heart is not symmetrical, so if you are a little off, big schmeal. Do yourself a favor and use a new blade. If you use a dull blade, you will not be happy with the results and you may give yourself a hand cramp, especially if you are doing more than one.
 Now fold the bookmark with the black lines on the outside, not the inside. Press the fold with your fancy bone folder. Or, as in my case, with your cheap plastic folder from Wal-Mart.
 This is now folded the opposite way from how it will end up, but you'll want to use the curved lines on the corners as a cutting reference right now. Cut through both layers to make the rounded corners, making sure to keep it tightly pressed together while you cut.

10 Ways to Trick Out Your Flip Flops

Here's the deal. Flip flops are absolutely essential for summer, but sometimes they are downright boring. The fancy ones hurt your feet and the comfy ones look like shower shoes. So naturally, we hit up Old Navy, stocked up on 10 pairs of cheap flip flops, busted out our super glue, needle and thread, and got crafty with it. Make your own beautiful custom flip flops. We recommend getting a bunch of pairs and making a few pairs you can mix and match! :)
 Materials:
– flip flops!
– Gorilla Glue
– needle & embroidery floss
– trim: ribbon, yarn, zippers, buttons, etc!
 The how-to for each of these styles is basically stitch, glue, or stud. For gluing the trim down, you'll want to use Gorilla Glue as it works super well on various materials. For stitching, you'll need a pretty heavy duty needle, and the studs are pretty self- explanatory.
 1. Gold Stars: We'll kick it off with gold stars! We found this playful trim at our local fabric store. This is a great way to bling up any pair of flops, and these would be a perfect late night option for a summer wedding.
 2. Fringe: You know we love our boho action. The combo of black and white gives this hippie-fied sandal a graphic edge.
 3. Colorful Yarn Wrap: Sometimes those plastic flops can get a little blistery, especially on a really hot day. Give your feet a break and add a little color to your look by wrapping them in yarn. We used a few spots of glue throughout the wrapping and at the base to keep it in place. For a more temporary look, use hot glue instead of Gorilla Glue.
 4. Studs: A few months ago we studded our collars, and now we're studding our flops! We used traditional studs that poke through and fasten on the underside of the flip flop straps. Super easy to do, and pretty simple to change up.
 5. Crocheted Trim: We had some extra trim left over from our Beach Wrap DIY and decided to boho up our navy flops. Simply sew around the strap and create a soft, earthy texture for your darling feet.

DIY Compact Mirror

Hello guys, inexpensive gift.
 These custom pocket mirrors are very easy and turn out so cute! Cost: if you use your 40% Hobby Lobby coupons or catch sales, about $2 per mirror. See below the jump for details.
 supplies:
wood medallion (found in the unfinished wood section of Hobby Lobby)
craft mirrors with beveled edge (pkg of 3, found in craft section of Hobby Lobby)
acrylic paint
one large and one detail paintbrush
mod podge or some type of sealant
strong glue (not pictured -I use E6000 religiously)
 steps:
1. paint medallion
LET DRY COMPLETELY.
2. apply sealant (as you will notice, I forgot to paint the detail colors before I applied sealant. I painted over sealant and then sealed again - worked okay but not ideal).
LET DRY COMPLETELY.
3. Glue mirror to medallion.
LET DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE USE.

DIY WATERCOLOR COFFEE MUG

 If you are a coffee fan, then you certainly have your favorite personalized cup – the one that you never share with anybody else! However, if you do not have one (or if you accidentally broke your favorite mug), then you will definitely get to love this tutorial. Here is how you can make your own custom mug, a beautiful and lively colored marbled coffee mug, within seconds:
 Watercolor Coffee Mug

 Step 1: Gather All The Materials For this project, you will need:
One white coffee mug (with no patterns or drawings whatsoever)
One plastic bowl filled with water (the bowl must be deep enough to sink the entire mug in) and some fingernail polish in the desire color.
 Step 2: Start The Project!
Once you have filled the plastic bowl with lukewarm water, add the fingernail polish to it and let it spread out. After that, take another polish (a different color) and add several drops of that one as well. Carefully mix the two colors with a toothpick and then dip your white coffee mug into the entire mixture.

DIY the Girl Custom Graphic Hat of Summer

 If you've scrolled through Instagram at some point this Summer, you've likely spotted an accessory taking over your feed: a wide-brimmed hat embroidered with cute sayings like "Do Not Disturb," "Out of Office," or "So Busy." It was an item I lusted after since the moment I saw it, but on top of the hefty price tag of $440 for the original design — a number that's well beyond my budget — it happened to be sold out everywhere I looked.
 So on a day where I found myself with a good amount of free time, I took matters into my own hands, vowing to DIY something similar, or custom hats. Read on to see my inspiration, then find out how you, too, can make your own 'gram-worthy topper — for a fraction of the price, make your own personalized hat.

 Step 1 First, Gather Up Everything You'll Need That'll be a hat with a wide and flat brim, iron-on letters from a craft store, and a pair of scissors.
 Step 2 Cut Out the Letters You'll Be Using The bonus here is you can literally write whatever you want on your hat. Be sure to keep the plastic layer on top of your letters, then lay everything out so you can see what your finished product will look like.
 Step 3 Plug In Your Iron The iron-on letters package will likely advise you to place a towel between the letters and the iron. Personally, this didn't work for me, so after a while I ditched the towel and carefully ironed — on a fairly hot setting — on top of the plastic layer (which, surprisingly, didn't melt). And if you're nervous about ironing a hat (um, can you iron a hat?!), don't be. People use this method to straighten out brims all the time.
 Step 4 Wait a Few Minutes, Then Peel Back That Plastic Layer This will leave you with your finished product: a cute sunhat with a saying on it!
 Step 5 Post It to Instagram Yes, this step is very necessary. Haha. LOL.

How to Make Personalized Burlap Bags

Love burlap. But want a stylish personalized burlap bag?
How? to make a personalized bag?

Supplies:
Burlap or Jute Bags Supersoft Transfer Paper
Ink Jet Printer
Iron

 There are several ways you can personalize the bags:
1. Silk screening or freezer paper stencils. (see my Beach Bag Tote tutorial here)
2. Spray paint with stencils
3. Fabric applique
4. Transfer Paper

 I chose transfer paper for these particular bags because I want pretty detailed graphics and it takes way too much patience to hand cut a stencil for something like that.
 First, I created this little “Groceries” graphic in Photoshop. If I’m making a graphic that prints out onto multiple pages I usually use Powerpoint to size and print it because it turns out easier to visualize and match up. I printed out the graphic onto Super Soft Transfer paper.
 I carefully cut out my graphic and made sure the two sides matched up, placing them face down onto the burlap bag. Pressing a hot iron for a few minutes (careful not to burn the paper or bag!) transfers the image to the bag. An instant custom bag comes out.
 Now we can make custom bags for sister or friends as a gift.This would be a great bridesmaid gift or graduation gifts for friends. Bridesmaid Gift Idea or Graduation Gift Idea: Add a monogram to your personalized burlap bag.
 We can make different sizes. Large size,make big enough for the beach, also Label one with a favorite quote, add a quote to a burlap bag for a gift.

 Let me know if you make one… personalized bag.

This DIY Emoji Clutch Bag Is Too Cute to Handle

Looking for your next trendy accessory?

Look no further than this supereasy DIY emoji clutch bag from A Beautiful Mess! 
While I certainly enjoy making items that are more of a timeless style that I can keep for a long time to come, there's always something extra fun about making projects that are purely based off of trendy fads too. They are just, well, fun! We've been pretty emoji obsessed around here and thought it was high time that we devote a wearable accessory to the lovable icons. A wristlet clutch seemed like the perfect project to feature the faces! Want to make one too?
 Supplies:
vinyl fabric in yellow, pink, and black
zipper
fabric scissors
fabric glue
X-Acto knife
emoji clutch template (right click to download)
round bowl or plate about 8" wide
binder clips (optional)
non-stick sewing machine foot (optional)
Chicago screw for handle (optional)
 Get your bowl or plate that you're going to use as your face template (shoot for a size of 8-9"). Trace two circles onto the back of your yellow vinyl, and cut out your circles.
 Designate one of the circles to be the back of your bag, and cut a slit that is 1/2" wide and 7" long down the middle of the circle. Try to find a zipper that is exactly 7" long if you can, but if you can't find one, you can use wire cutters and scissors to trim the zipper down to size (the wire cutters are to cut through the metal zipper section more easily). You can also adjust the length of the window you cut to accommodate a different size zipper.
 Use the fabric glue to glue the zipper under the cutout so that the zipper fits perfectly in the window.
 Once the glue dries, stitch around the window about 1/4" from the edge to secure the zipper in place. I would suggest using either a nonstick foot for your sewing machine (handy for lots of different materials), or putting a piece of scotch tape on the bottom of your standard foot. The material will move much smoother through your machine than if you don't.
 Cut two pieces of black vinyl that are 3/4" x 11" and 3/4" x 12". Glue the pieces wrong sides together with the shorter piece centered in the middle of the longer one (see first photo above). Making the last 1/2" of each side only one layer thick instead of two will make the strap less bulky when you fold it in half and sew it into the side of the clutch. Before folding, you can either leave the strap just glued together, or you can stitch along the sides with black thread for a more finished look.
 Fold the strap in half and glue the two ends together to make a loop. If you want to add some sort of decorative hardware here (like a Chicago screw or stud), just punch a hole and install the screw at the beginning where the strap goes from two layers of fabric to four.
 Use the template in the supply list to cut out your heart eyes and mouth from pink and black fabric, and glue the cutouts into place. This is another detail where you can simply leave it glued on or stitch over the cutouts to secure them further and give a more finished look. It's up to you!
 Once the cutouts are in place, use the glue to attach the front circle to the back circle (wrong sides facing each other), and glue the end of the handle loop between the two layers to secure. Use binder clips to keep the edges together as the glue sets.
 Sew around the edge of the bag with a 1/4" seam allowance (removing the clips as you go), and your bag is ready for its big debut!
 Make it your own custom bag , DIY Emoji Clutch Bag?