Princess and the Pony Painted Sweater Craft

Reading with your child is such an important activity. It brings you closer, improves his or her skills, and provides many opportunities for important conversations. That is why I take part in the Monthly Crafting Book Club every month. (You can see previous months on the Kid Crafts page.) The book for this month is The Princess and the Pony. I had never heard of this book before but I must say that it is spectacular! The story is adorable and the illustrations even more so. The best part is that it easily lends itself to this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

 

[bctt tweet=”Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft! #books #kidscraft” username=”diyadulation”]

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Materials

Step 1

Create a workspace for your child to work on. This is a messy craft and you don’t want to ruin your table. Cover it with a tablecloth or newspaper to protect it.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 2

Keep your kids’ clothes safe with an apron, like this kid decorated apron.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 3

Lay the sweatshirt flat on your work surface.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 4

Put a piece of cardboard inside the sweatshirt to protect the back from any paint that might bleed through.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 5

Put a selection of paint colors on the palettes and let your kiddos go nuts.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 6

Allow the sweatshirt to dry for at least 12 hours.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 7

Throw the painted sweatshirt in the dryer on high for a full cycle. This sets the paint.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Step 8

Wash and dry like normal.

 

Reading with your child brings you closer, improves skills, and is fun! Enjoy The Princess and the Pony with this fun and messy painted sweater craft!

Your kids will love making this painted sweater craft after reading The Princess and the Pony. They will love wearing it and showing it off even more. While they are creating it, take the opportunity to ask them if they have ever been disappointed in a gift they received. Ask them how they handled it and if they eventually enjoyed it. Follow up the questions by telling them about a time you were upset by a gift you received and how you dealt with it. Once you’ve finished this craft go check out the other awesome Princess and the Pony crafts from my friends!

See where I’m linking up!

Upcycled Thrift Store Tray

It’s that time again! I’ve paired up today with 19 other talented ladies to bring you a monthly Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge. Each month we will create a new home decor piece from an item(s) we’ve found at a thrift store, yard sale, resale shop etc. There is no budget or specific theme so we are free to let our creativity run wild! This month I’m bringing you this beautiful upcycled thrift store tray. You can check out last month’s challenge where I made this Bathroom Organizer as well as see everyone else’s awesome upcycles.

Meet the Hosts

Thrift Store DecorUpcycle Challenge

Amanda | The Kolb Corner      Chelc| Inside the Fox Den
Erlene | My Pinterventures     Kim | Made in a Day     Sara | Twelve on Main
Debra | Shoppe No. 5      Shirley | Intelligent Domestications
Marie | DIY Adulation     Lindsay | Crazy Organized   Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Julie | Live From Julie’s House     Dru | Polka Dot Poplars
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles     Pili | Sweet Things     Channell | Hobnail House
Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek     Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Paula | Virginia Sweet Pea     Sherry | Savvy Apron     Stacy | Anastasia Vintage

You can also follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!


 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

 

[bctt tweet=”A beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or for parties! #upcycled #diy” username=”diyadulation”]

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Materials

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 1

Paint your entire tray with white latex paint.

Tip:

  • Because of the material of mine, I didn’t sand or prime it first. If you are using a tray made of a harder wood or one that is lacquered, you will want to do this first.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 2

Once your paint is dry, use your tray to measure out your contact paper. Remember that you want to make it smaller than the footprint of your tray so that it will fit on the inside of the tray.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 3

Pull back the edge of the backing on your contact paper (but do not completely remove it) and press the exposed edge of the paper to the inside of your tray. Smooth the rest onto your tray by peeling the backing off a little at a time and smoothing into place.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 4

Seal the bottom of your tray with Mod Podge.

Note:

  • I used the gloss version on this but it you are going for a different style, you may want to use Matte instead. It simply depends on your tastes.

Step 5

Using fine grit sandpaper, lightly sand the corners, edges, and sides of your tray to give it a distressed look.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 6

Drill 2 holes on either side of the tray roughly 3 inches apart. Make sure that the drill bit you choose makes a hole big enough for your rope to fit through.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 7

Thread your rope through the holes and knot each end.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Step 8

Trim off any excess at the end on the knots.

 

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

Gorgeous decor doesn't have to cost a fortune. This beautiful upcycled thrift store tray is perfect on your coffee table or as a serving tray for parties!

This upcycled thrift store tray turned out so much different than I expected but in the best way possible. There’s a really good chance that my family members are getting decorative trays for Christmas because I want to make more so bad! Before you go, don’t miss the projects from my fellow bloggers below. You can also find previous months’ hops on our Recycled Crafts page.


 

Be sure to check out all of the other creative upcycle projects my fellow bloggers have come up with!


DIY Monogrammed Tote Bag

I don’t know about you but I love the beach! If our house were a dictatorship, with me as queen, every family vacation would be to the Gulf Coast. Unfortunately, we take turns deciding destinations. This means more often than not our trips consist of hiking and camping. If your family vacation finds you -anywhere off of the trails, this is the perfect do-it-yourself project for you. This monogrammed tote bag can be customized to your style and holds everything you’ll need for a day out! (Or you can do what I did and give it as a wonderful gift.)

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

 

[bctt tweet=”Get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag! #diy #totebag” username=”diyadulation”]

 

Materials

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 1

Using your fabric marker, draw the initial you want in the middle of your tote bag.

Tips:

  • You will need to go over the initial multiple times to darken it. Think of it as multiple coats of paint.
  • If you would like, you can add decorative swashes to it (as I did).
  • If you don’t trust (or like) your handwriting, you can use a stencil for your monogram.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 2

Once the paint has dried, go over the design with a heat tool.

Tip:

  • Hold the tool at least 12 inches from your design if you are using the same bag in the photos. The material it is made of will melt if exposed to the extreme heat that a heat gun can put out.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 3

Next, remove the metal clips from your flowers as well as any packaging.

Tip:

  • The flower clips pictured were easy to disassemble. Gently pulling on the clip made it come right off.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 4

Cut the remaining stems off of your flowers.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 5

Add a generous amount of hot glue to the back of one of your flowers and adhere it to your tote.

Tip:

  • Let the glue cool slightly before pressing the flower to your tote. A few seconds should be enough. You simply don’t want the glue to melt through the bag.
  • Slide your hand inside the tote and press firmly from behind to better secure the flower.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 6

Repeat step 5 with each remaining flower you would like on your tote bag.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Step 7

Allow everything to cool and then use as wanted.

 

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

Whether you're hitting the beach or traveling historical sites with your family, get yourself vacation ready with this DIY monogrammed tote bag!

This monogrammed tote makes a perfect beach bag because of the size and material of it. Of course, you will love it so much that you’ll be happy to sling it on your shoulder even if your family adventures don’t take you to the sand. To wash, simply wipe your tote down with a damp cloth. Mild soap is okay if needed but no bleach or heavy duty cleaners. Also, be sure to wipe it down by hand. The washer will make the flowers come off. Lastly, if your little girl will be traveling with you, make her this adorable little purse to show off on your trip!

See where I’m linking up!