2-in-1 Picnic Blanket Game Board

The only thing better than playing board games, in my opinion, is playing them al fresco (even if you find yourself caught in a passing rain shower!). Grab an old flat sheet or a plain table cloth and draw a checker/chess board, a tic-tac-toe grid, a Chinese checkers star, or a backgammon board. When it's time to picnic (hello, Fourth of July), grab the sandwiches and the game pieces and hit the park with your new blanket (PS: it works on the grass or on the picnic table). Game on!

Laminated Leaves Fall Table Runner

In my house we jump from Halloween to Christmas in the decorating department. That is until this year when my daughter went to dumb old kindergarten and started learning about fall. Gah, why did you guys have to let her in on the fact that there is a holiday to decorate for in-between my two biggies. Sure she knows all about turkeys and pilgrims, she just didn't know people decorated for it. I had no choice but to embrace fall this year. With the help of some Tacky Glue, colorful leaves and a laminating machine I might just be getting the hang of this fall decor thing.

Watermelon Tablecloth from Apple Stamps

A long-time warm-weather classic, nothing screams SUMMER like a big cold slice of watermelon on a hot day. Watermelon motifs are becoming especially popular this year, popping up on everything from shoes to hair accessories to fingernails. This summer will be all watermelon all the time.

Let’s hop on this trend with Tulip fabric paint and a helpful hand from another fruity friend from the kitchen – an apple!

This project is kid-friendly, inexpensive, and can easily be accomplished in under an hour (plus drying time). Let’s get started!

How to Make a Spiral Tie Dye Tablecloth

Spiral Tie Dye Tablecloth 

Jaderbomb for iLoveToCreate

There is just something about a warm day and lounging outside. Sure, you could go buy a bright whimsical tablecloth but why do that when you can make your own. Since it's almost Summer I thought it would be a blast to make a tablecloth with tie dye. Yes even if you think this is "not" for you I promise it is. When you complete this it will make your heart feel warm and cozy. 

The good thing about this crafty project is you can use it with your kids or a fancy dinner party. 

So put on your gloves and let's get busy! 

You will need:

*Tulip One-Step Die-Dye Kit : Vibrant (Blue, Lime & Violet)

*Tablecloth / Decorative Shower Curtain / Fabric

*Craft Brushes 

*Container for Water 

*Lot's of LOVE

When you tie dye a large surface like this you want to lay out a piece of visquin on the ground. Make sure you are working in a fairly large space. Trust me this will make you happy when you are moving from one end to the other.

I recommend filling each bottle to the fill line then squirting into glass containers. I only put a little in the container at a time. Next you will take a brush, lightly dip it into dye and brush it onto the spots you want to highlight on your fabric. You can absolutely do this same technique on fabric that has no design on it. I found this shower curtain at Ross and when I saw it I knew it was perfect. I wanted a piece of fabric that I could use in many different ways. 

*Tablecloth

*Shower Curtain
*Curtain for your windows

Start by pinching parts of the fabric then wrapping a rubber band around it. You will get rubber bands in your tie dye kit. Since my fabric has a design on it I pinched the center of each big pattern. When you are done with the rubber bands scrunch the rest of the fabric. Grab the tie dye bottle and squeeze right on top of the rubber band. Continue adding more colors around the center, going in a spiral motion. I did not wet any of my fabric for this technique. 

*Note the colors will bleed when placed next to each other. 

Don't forget you can create "other" colors by following this:

*Red+Blue= Purple
*Red+Yellow=Orange
*Blue+Yellow=Green

*Yellow+Green=Lime Green

(These are just some colors you can create)

How beautiful are these tie dyed doilies! I used my left over dye to make these. Trust me they will fill your space with happiness! 

 

What a great way to spend a warm summer afternoon. Lounging around, drinking water, eating chocolate covered coffee beans, eating strawberries all while admiring your unique tablecloth. 

This tablecloth will make you smile, even if you are having a bad day. Tie Dye usually does that ya know. So what are you waiting for! Go get some and dye everything in sight! 

P.S. When you start doing this you will not stop! (hehe)

*Find more of my DIY decor at JADERBOMB.COM*

Oh and check out my other posts for iLoveToCreate below!

Outdoor Vinyl Banner

I love bunting in all shapes and sizes. Today's I Love to Create project was inspired by a combination of two adorable banners I have seen recently. There is this cute as a button recycled book bunting by Kojo Designs. The second was a banner I saw on iCandy Handmade whipped up from a vinyl tablecloth.

SUPPLIES

Vinyl Tablecloth

Aleene's Tacky Glue

Scissors

Zippers

The first thing I did was trace triangles onto the backside of my tablecloth. Right now vinyl tablecloths are on end of summer clearance sales so you have your pick.

Cut your triangles out. I used pinking shears because I am fancy like that.

I just happen to have some funky zippers on hand, but you could use any kind of ribbon or trim for this part. Using Tacky Glue attach your triangles to the back side of your zipper. Use the teeth as a placement guide.

All that is left to do is hang your banner. I chose to adorn the shopping cart herb garden that lives on my front porch. Since your banner is vinyl it will hold up outside or inside.

The longest part about this project is waiting for your glue to dry and even that did not take that long. You can make your triangles bigger or smaller. Add a pom pom at the tip. I'm thinking of adding my street numbers to the triangles so my Vietnamese take out always gets to me.