Linking up with Tonya for the blog hop.
I am happy to say I have been approved as a Top Mommy Blogger!
What does that mean? You ask. Top Mommy Blogs is a ranked list of mommy blogs. Blogs are ranked overall and also ranked by categories. There are many different categories ranging from Stay at Home Blogs (that’s the category I am in) to Working Moms and everything in between.
Blogs are ranked based on “unique referrals” or votes. In order to vote for my blog (or any blog that is a Top Mommy Blog) simply click on the banner on the side bar once a day. Clicking on the banner will simply take you to the Top Mommy Blog home page. You can do this once every 24 hours to vote. Ranking is based on a 30 month average, so if you like my blog please vote for me whenever you visit. 🙂
My current rankings: Stay at Home Blogs #11 Overall #172
Now, onto some more Fourth of July fun.
So, I have been working a few decorations for my mantel for Fourth of July. I made some fabric garland and the USA letters (on the left).
First up are the letters:
While I was at on of my weekly trips to JoAnn’s I stumbled across some letters for sale at 0.25 a piece. So I picked up a U, S and V (which worked just as well as an A).
#1: Pick out your letters
#2: Chose some scrapbook paper and cut it out so fit over your letters. Then apple a coat of Modge Podge over it.
Note: To get the paper to lay flat without air bubbles, use a credit card (or other then piece of flat plastic) to smooth out the letters. It really works well!
Put 1-2 more coats of Modge Podge over you letters (allow about 20 minutes to dry between coats)
This tip works not only for Modge Podge but for any painting project:
Just don’t let them sit overnight.
#3: Since my letters couldn’t stand on their own I had to add some blocks to the back. I gave them a quick coat of paint, but wasn’t too worried about how well they were covered.
#4: Make sure you are satisfied with the Modge Podge on your letters.
#5: Use wood glue to glue the blocks on the back of your letters if needed. Then clamp it in place and let it dry for 24 hours.
After it’s dry, you are done! You’ve just made and easy, cute and cheap inexpensive decoration for Fourth of July. I only spent 0.75 on this project since I had everything else at home already.
Next up is the fabric garland.
Step One:
Cut strips of fabric. I cut my fabric 2 x 17″. How many you need depends on how long you want your garland. I used fabric and tulle to give it some different textures.
Step Two: Step two take a piece of fabric and fold it in half.
Step Three:
Take your fabric and place it over your string, so you see the string through the loop.
Step Four: Fold the fabric in half so that you trap the string in the middle, the two loose end of the fabric strip should be by the top of the loop.
Step Five: Push the loose ends of the fabric strip through the loop, make sure the string is trapped. In the picture above you want to push the loose ends between the top of the loop and the the string. Then you end up with this:
Step Seven:
Pull the ends of the fabric strip to tighten the knot you just made.
And there you have it. Keep on doing that until you get your garland as long as you need it.
Phew! That was a long post! I just wanted to get out some more Fourth of July stuff before the holiday was over.
And, what post would be complete without a little AnnaB. 🙂