DIY a Travel Valet Tray

Make your own travel valet tray that can be used for so much more.

finished travel valet

Have you ever seen a travel valet? They are basically a basket or tray if you will that you use to collect all your pocket items when traveling. This is a quick and easy-to-make version using a placemat from the Dollar Tree and a Snap Kit from Gwen Studios.

The links provided are for your use and may contain affiliate links.
They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

snap kit

The Gwen Studios Snap Kit is available at Walmart. On top of it is a cut-down piece of a woven plastic placemat from the Dollar Tree.

parts needed

From the kit, you’ll need the tool with the appropriate parts installed for the snaps you are using and the snaps. An instruction sheet is included in the kit to guide you on the use of the different snaps. You can see 8 stars and 4 of each male and female parts in the above photo.

snaps in place

A close-up image with the snaps in place before using the tool to set them. Watch the video tutorial for detailed instructions on how to make the travel valet.

tool

Place the tool on the snaps and squeeze tight to secure them in place. It really is easy to use.

Video Tutorial:

The finished travel valet is flat on the left and snapped together on the right. It is really handy for so much more than travel. The valet can withstand getting wet, making it work well in the bathroom or kitchen because it is plastic.

Creatively Crafty Link Party #331

Time to link up your craft with Creatively Crafty Link Party. #linkparty #ccbg

link party sq

Life Beyond the Kitchen | Try it – Like it – Create it

This week’s Link Party

There are just a few simple rules:

  • Link to a specific post, not your homepage.
  • Link up something YOU made/wrote/created.
  • Giveaways, other link parties, Etsy shops, or business links are not accepted.​​
  • ​Don’t link and run. Try to visit at least one link and show them some love. You may make a new friend.​ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

DIY Butterfly Earrings

Learn how to make butterfly earrings with shrink film and UV Resin.

final earrings

I was so happy with the result of these DIY Butterfly Earrings. When my daughters saw them they requested pairs be made for them too, so I knew I had stumbled upon something good.

stamped image

I began with a stamped image on Grafix shrink art film in white. StazOn ink is great for this process because it is made for every surface and stamps a rich dark black.

cut out film

After stamping the image and allowing the ink to dry, I cut out the butterflies with a small detail scissor.

colored in

Coloring the butterfly with water-based markers was a bit of a challenge on plastic but I have a few tips in the video tutorial to make it work.

size difference

See the size difference between the stamped image and after the film has been shrunk. I used a heat gun to shrink the film, a dedicated toaster oven also works well.

I colored the edge and the back of the butterfly with a permanent black marker. Then I coated the back with matte UV resin and the front with jewelry resin both from You-V. The cool thing about You-V resin is that it is a quick cure resin, less than a minute under a UV flashlight.

You can see the gloss of the resin on the butterfly now. Drilling a hole into the top of the wing prepares the piece for the jewelry findings.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates
AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other
Grafix Shrink Film
Grafix Shrink Film
Shop at:
AZ
Jewelry Tool Kit
Jewelry Tool Kit
Shop at:
AZ
StazOn
StazOn
Shop at:
AZ | SSS | SB
WRMK - All-In-One Tool - The Works
WRMK – All-In-One Tool – The Works
Shop at:
AZ | SSS | SB
You-V Resin
You-V Resin
Shop at:
O

How to Make Embossing Powder Film

How to make film from embossing powder.

cards

After seeing a tutorial on YouTube, I gave this technique a try. I made a film out of embossing powder to craft with. You can use the film in different ways while crafting, I used them to make two different cards.

materials

To make the film you will need a few different colors of embossing powder. I chose to use all the same brand of powders so the heating time was the same. Parchment paper is used to sandwich the powder. Once heated with a heat gun, a metal palette knife will assist in removing the film from the paper.

Video Tutorial:

films

Once made, the film will appear dull on one side. If you want a glossy look, you need to heat it again without the parchment paper. Be warned that holes will begin to happen so you will want to use low heat or a large distance between the film and the heat source.

film closeup

This is a close-up image of one of the cards. You can see the detail in the embossing powder film, the glossy surface, as well as holes that are created when heating the surface. To adhere them to the card, any kind of adhesive will work.

Here are the close-ups of the two cards made with the embossing film. The film is delicate, handle it with care. I suggest making it as you need it rather than making some and trying to store it.

Creatively Crafty Link Party #330

Share your creativity with Creatively Crafty Link Party. #linkparty #ccbg

link party sq

Life Beyond the Kitchen | Try it – Like it – Create it

This week’s Link Party

There are just a few simple rules:

  • Link to a specific post, not your homepage.
  • Link up something YOU made/wrote/created.
  • Giveaways, other link parties, Etsy shops, or business links are not accepted.​​
  • ​Don’t link and run. Try to visit at least one link and show them some love. You may make a new friend.​ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Simply Earth June Box

See the contents of the June Simply Earth subscription box and use the discount code.

box contents
June Box

I am so excited every month when my Simply Earth box arrives. It seems like each box is better than the last. This month’s box is focused on nature’s touch. All the materials and simple directions are included. This box retails for $180.36 but you can get it for just $39. Be sure to use my discount code: TRYITFREE

This post contains affiliate links

oils

The full-sized oils that are included this month are Timber, Citronella, Orange, and Ho Wood.

The recipes included in the June box are:

  • Woodland Diffuser Blend
  • Beach Feet Sugar Scrub
  • Earthy Diffuser Necklace
  • Nature’s Calm Roll-on
  • Timber Beard Oil
  • Boho Diffuser Bracelet

One of the biggest differences I find with Simply Earth is the monthly recipes. In the past, I have ordered essential oils and when they arrive, I don’t remember what they do or why I ordered them. The Simply Earth recipe box contains the recipes for the oils included in the box as well as necessary additional support products to make the recipes.

simply earth's big box
big box

With your first subscription order from Simply Earth, you will get the Big Bonus Box free! If you were to purchase these products it would cost $44.84. The Big Box includes:

  • Almond Oil
  • Fractionated Coconut Oil
  • 10 mL Roll-On Bottles
  • 5 mL Amber Glass Bottles
  • Coconut Oil
  • Beeswax

Unboxing Video:

box

And here is the best part: my coupon code: TRYITFREE
Use this code to get a $40 gift card with your first purchase. Basically, get your second box free!

How to Make a Leather Bookmark

How to make a leather bookmark with Real Leather and Cricut.

bookmark

Silver Creek send me samples of their leather to work with. I tested it with my Cricut Maker and it cut well. My first project was this bookmark. The SVG file is linked further down in this post and is available free in the store. The bookmark is rather simple but elegant and would work as a gift for any book lover, male or female.

The links provided are for your use and may contain affiliate links.
They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with their use.

leather

Silver Creek Leather Co. sells leather under the brand name Real Leather. You can find it in your local craft stores and online at Amazon. These are some of the samples sent to me, a variety of beautiful colors to work with.

cricut

I cut on a Cricut Maker using a purple mat and knife blade with a setting of light tool leather (0.02-0.03 cm).
This setting cuts with four passes through the Cricut Maker machine with no issues at all removing it once done. I recommend making some alterations and not placing the leather directly on the mat since it leaves a lot of leather fuzz behind on the mat.

mark on leather

I didn’t move the Cricut Maker rollers over before cutting which needs to be done to not mark the leather. – no worries for this project but something that needs to be known ahead of time for future projects.

Grab the free SVG file from the store here: [leather bookmark svg]

placed in book

Place the first angle of the bookmark to the back of a group of pages. This image shows the book closed with a small amount of leather sticking out the top of the book. You could choose to embellish the bookmark further with a tassel if you desire.