Park your stuff!

Project nineteen is a great gift for anyone, man or woman- a valet! If you don't know, a valet is simply a box you put your jewelry, wallet, change or anything that might come out of your pocket at the end of the day. We did two different styles. Let us know which one is your favorite!

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Wood box
• Paint
• Water
• Plastic cup
• Paint brushes
• Scissors
• Glue
• Fabric
• Safety lighter

First, make sure your wood box is clean and dry.

Blend a small amount of paint with enough water to make a thin mixture.

Spread thinned paint on top of box, making sure to fill any indention.

Once the top is covered, use a dry paint brush to dab off any excess paint.

Allow to dry completely before going on to the next step.




With a long, safe lighter, burn the top of the box to accent.

Here is how the top looks completed, now on to the inside.

Fit your fabric to the inside of the box.

Cut off any excess fabric before applying glue.

Carefully, one side at a time, apply multi-purpose glue

to the inside edge of the box and hold in place to secure.

This is our first completed valet box!

Now, here's what you'll need to complete our next valet:

• Regular white glue
• Multi-purpose glue
• Scissors
• Paint brush
• Fabric (for the inside)
• Plastic cup
• Wood cigar box
• Tissue paper
• Utility knife
• Scrapbook paper
  

For a change, we decoupage the exterior of the box.

Mix white glue with a little water.

The mixture should be thin.

Cut your tissue in pieces small enough to cover the sides and top of your box.

One piece at a time, paste on to the box.

Once you paste on the last piece, allow to dry completely.

When the box is dry, use a utility knife to carefully cut

along the edge so you can open the box.

For the inside, we repeated the fabric inlay and did a custom

framed quote on the inside lid.

Here's our completed cigar valet box...

...and what we spent on this project:

• Multi-purpose glue (Walmart, $1/tube, about a quarter used) - $.25
• White glue (any store) - $.25
• Boxes: cigar (recycled)- free and carved (Dollar Tree) $1.00
• Fabric: scraps (recycled) - free (approximately $1.50 value)
• Tissue paper (recycled) - free (approximately $1.00 value)
• Scrapbook paper: approximately $.25
• Household items: scissors, utility knife, lighter, paint brushes, plastic cup.

Total of our 2 valet boxes: $1.75

Many times, it is hard to come up with a practical men's gift that you can make, but the valet box is a grand slam! It can be customized for the man (or woman) in your life so that they think of you every day. Park your stuff here, mister...

We make some tea soap...

...for Project Eighteen and what is tea soap, you ask? Watch and learn...we try two types for fun!

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Glass jar
• Melt and pour soap (we used Shea butter)
• Molds
• Tea (we used peppermint and pomegranate green tea)
• Peppermint essential oil (on one type of soap)
• Grits (for the exfoliating soap)
• Plastic fork
• Tea kettle
  

We took two pictures, for two different batches.

Melt the soap in the glass jar in the microwave according to package directions.

Brew strong tea in measuring cup;

steep five to seven minutes.

Open tea bags and scrap out wet tea leaves into melted soap....

OR


...open dry tea bags and add to melted soap.

For exfoliating soap, add 1/3 cup grits...

...and five drops of peppermint oil.

Stir well.

Pour into molds.

Here's our finished product: flower tea soaps!

To package, put soaps back into dry tea bags.

Place tea tag inside bag...

...and staple to secure.

Cover existing tag with a custom tag.

Here's our packaged flower tea soap...

...and our square cut tea soap.

Here's what we spent on this project:

• Melt and pour soap (Michael's, $10/32 ounces, 1/8 used) - $1.25
• Mold (Dollar Tree) - $1.00
• Tea (Kroger) - $2.00
• All other items are household items - free (to us)

Total cost: $4.25

...including 2 small bars, 10 decorative soaps and 4 mini tea soaps

or about $.27 per soap!!

Soap making is so easy, plus you have a consistent project that won't let you down come gift time. We've tested our soaps and they're awesome so get jiggy with some soap!

This t-shirt bag is easy-breezy crafting...

Project Seventeen is an awesome recycled t-shirt shopping bag. This project has quickly become our personal favorite, since it combines actual recycling with using our recycled product.

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• old t-shirt
• scissors
• iron
• hem tape

Start by cutting out the neck band of your t-shirt.

Then, cut the sleeves off.

This is what it looks like.

Iron your shirt flat and fold in the bottom hem.

Measure your hem tape and place it inside the fold.

Iron over the the hem tape, on both sides, until it adheres.

Here are three of our t-shirt bags!

We tested these with 5 cans and a jar to determine their durability and they passed!!

Here's the breakdown of what we spent:

• T-shirt (out of our closets) - free (note if you have to buy one, check garage sales, secondhand stores or clearance)
• Iron & Scissors - household items
• Hem tape (Walmart, $2.47 roll, does approximately 30 shirts) - $.10
  
  
  Total per bag: $.10-$.25!!
  
  
  This project is, in a word, fabulous. It's cheap, easy and is something absolutely everyone can use. It's also really fun and makes great gift wrap! When you pull out all your fall clothes, dig out all those t-shirts that are too big, too small or too not you, and make bags to use and to give.

Check out our....Custom Flask and Bag Set!

Project Sixteen is a birthday gift for a dear friend, so we're customizing a flask with a cool carrying bag. It's what she asked for and we brave epoxy to make it...

Here's what you'll need to complete this project:

• Stainless steel flask
• Custom metal adornment
• JB Weld Qwik epoxy glue
• plastic fork
• paper plate
• recycled wine bag
• ribbon
• bead adornment

With the end on your plastic fork, on the paper plate, mix epoxy according to package directions.

When the glue is mixed, carefully cover the back side of your metal adornment.

Place carefully on the stainless steel flask and hold until quick-set.

Here's our finished product!




For our bag, we used a recycled wine bag with a frayed bottom edge.
Size your bag to your flask and cut off the bottom of the bag.






Fold the bottom cut edge in and place hem tape inside the fold.







Iron over the hem tape inside the fold until set.

For the ribbon adornment, we frayed the edge of this gold ribbon.

By pulling strands out, we make our own 'tassel'.

Attach the ribbon to the bag with hem tape and/or a stitch as needed.

Tie the bead adornment on and your bag is complete!

Here's the cost breakdown:

• Stainless Steel Flask (Walmart) - $3.88
• Metal adornment (we made our own) - free
• Bead adornment(s) (Hobby Lobby) - $2.50
• Ribbon (Hobby Lobby grab bag) - $.25
• Wine bag (recycled, approximate value) - $1
  

Total cost of our set: $7.63

This project was fun and rewarding to give as a gift.

Get creative and design your own!