While He Was Napping

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Printable Valentine Lip Balm Label

If you’re looking for a creative, useful and easy Valentine gift that isn’t overloaded with sugar, then I’ve got just the thing for you! These printable Valentine lip balm wrappers are the perfect way to dress up a little gift everyone will love – because, who doesn’t use lip balm?
 
Valentine Lip Balm Wrappers

 

VALENTINE LIP BALM LABELS MAKE EASY VALENTINE GIFTS

In 2012, I tried making my own lip balm. I did some research, bought my ingredients and it wasn’t long before I was totally hooked. I haven’t bought a single tube of lip balm since.

But whether you make your own or use your favorite brand from the store, these cute wrappers are a super easy and fun way to give a little valentine that doesn’t come with a sugar crash. And is actually useful too!

 

VALENTINE LIP BALM WRAPPERS

While I’d love to send you all a tube of lip balm with fun wrappers, I don’t have the hand muscles to write out that many address labels, so how about some printable labels instead?

You can make your own lip balms (my favorite recipe is below) or just wrap the labels around your favorite tubes you get at the store.

Easy peasy.

Just save, print, cut out and wrap. In 4 easy steps you’ll have Valentines you actually want and that won’t add to your waistline. Or your kids’ hyperactivity… You’re welcome.

 

MAKING YOUR OWN LIP BALM

Here’s my disclaimer on making your own lip balm: When you first decide to take this on, there is a bit of an investment.

This is a great project to split with some friends if cost is an issue. The shelf life of every ingredient is long enough that you won’t have to buy again for quite a while, depending on how much you make.

Affiliate Link Disclaimer

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE YOUR OWN LIP BALM:

 

MEASURING YOUR WAX & OIL

  1. Disinfect and sanitize your lip balm tubes. You can boil them in water for 1-2 minutes or run them through a sanitize cycle in the dishwasher. Just make sure they are good and dry before you try to fill them.

  2. Measure out a 2 part wax and 1 part oil ratio into your glass measuring cup. I typically use approximately 3 Tbsp of wax and 1 to 1.5 Tbsp of oil. 

* Note: If you’re thinking, “Uhm, lady that’s bad math! That’s not a 2:1 ratio!” you’re right, it’s not. 

My husband carries his lip balm in his pants pocket and he likes it a little firmer so it doesn’t melt and get squishy from his body heat. I do more of a 3:1 ratio for him. That’s why there’s a little math discrepancy there.

You’ll have to play with the ratios a little to figure out what you prefer.

 

MELTING YOUR WAX AND OIL

  1. Carefully place the glass measuring cup in the small pot. Fill the small pot about 3/4 of the way full with water, being careful not to get any water in your glass measuring cup. If you get water in the measuring cup, your lip balm may not set up correctly.

  2. Place the pot, with the measuring cup in the water, on the stove over medium heat. You want the water to come to a rolling boil, but nothing so rapid as to overturn your measuring cup.

  3. Melt the wax completely and use a transfer pipette to mix the oil and melted wax together.

  4. Add 1-3 drops of liquid vitamin E oil for extra moisture and protection. The vitamin E even offers a little SPF protection which makes it perfect for wearing outdoors.

  5. Using the pipette, mix the melted wax and oils.

FILLING YOUR LIP BALM TUBES

  1. Stand your sanitized lip balm tubes up on a steady surface near the pot.

  2. Use the pipette to transfer melted wax into the tubes. Add as much wax as you can before it overflows, as the lip balm will compress and shrink as it cools down.

    Some times this is just a little trial and error. If you over flow a tube, just move to the next one and you can clean up any spillage after the lip balm cools with a paper towel.

  3. After the lip balm has cooled, place the lids on the tubes and snap into place. Use a paper towel to wipe up any lip balm that has gotten on the outside of the tubes or your work surface.

 

STORING YOUR LIP BALM

I store my lip balm tubes in the fridge to extend longevity, but jojoba and vitamin E typically have 1-2 year shelf life, minimum. Check the expiration dates on your oils because sometimes they sit in a warehouse before you ever get them. You’ll know the oils have gone bad if they start to smell rancid.

I’ve never made a batch with these ingredients and had them go bad. We use them too fast and I make 20-40 tubes at a time. This usually lasts us about 6 months or so.

I have used other oils and had my lip balm go rancid. If you use other oils, you’ll need to check their expected shelf life and expiration dates.

Once your tubes are cooled and cleaned you’re ready to apply some fun labels.

 

PRINTING YOUR VALENTINE LIP BALM LABELS

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR VALENTINE LIP BALM WRAPPERS!

 

ASSEMBLING YOUR VALENTINE LIP BALM GIFT

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

  • Wrapper label download. Hit that blue link above to download your labels
  • Printer paper or sticker paper to print your labels
  • Scissors or paper cutter
  • Glue stick or packing tape
  • Lip balm tubes to wrap

Valentine Chapstick Labels

 

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Download and save the file to your computer.

  2. Print the labels on your printer paper or sticker paper. If you use sticker paper, make sure you’re printing on the label side of the paper, not the backing. This will depend on your printer and you may need to do a test print of the labels to check it.

  3. Cut out the labels with the scissors or paper cutter.

  4. If you want to write a personalized message on the wrapper, do it now – before you put it on the tube. Your kids can still address their class valentines if they want with this method.

  5. Stick the wrapper labels to the lip balm tubes with the glue stick or packing tape if you used regular printer paper. If you used sticker paper, remove the backing and stick the labels to the chapstick tubes.

    Note: I still recommend covering the labels with packing tape, even if you print on sticker paper because it gives the label a little extra protection.

    If you print with an inkjet printer, the ink will still run and fade if you drop the tube in the tub or send it through the laundry, but little water drops and splashes won’t hurt it.

    If you print with a laser printer, the tape helps keep the label from rubbing off.

 

* Disclaimer: Due to different monitor and printer settings, I can’t guarantee color matching.

 

WANT MORE VALENTINE LIP BALM WRAPPER DESIGNS?

If you’d like 10 more designs that are a little more grown up, you can get the whole collection in my Etsy Shop, including one you can personalize after you print it. Just use a pen or marker to write your favorite initials on the tree trunk wrapper. 

Valentine Lip Balm Label Wrappers

 

 

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{Sweet Haute} Outdoor Holiday Wreaths

Christina is back again and has a fun way to add some holiday cheer to the exterior of your home.  I bet these would look great inside too.  Here’s Christina with the details:

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Season’s Greetings! Hello blog ‘neighbors’ I’m Christina from the SWEET HAUTE Blog…here again with a fun and wonderful tutorial just in time for Christmas decorating. I am so happy to be here to share some fun and also beautiful DIY decorations that I made with very inexpensive supplies and all you will need is some ‘time’ to put them together and a little bit of elbow room depending on how many you will be making. This craft is also perfect to spend some quality time with the kids.

DIY Outdoor Christmas Wreaths

Here’s a picture with only some of the wreaths up, it got dark early so I needed to finish the next day. I added a few more up on the second level and then on the four cute small windows on the lower level. Yes, I forgot to shut the garage so I tried to make it look shut by adding some white paint. Decide on how many windows you want to do, we have 50+ windows so we only did 10 large and 4 smalls wreaths.
Supplies:
Wreaths 
  – Large (20 inch shown)
  – Small (10 inch shown)
Red Bows
  -Large (30 inch shown)
Red Ribbon
Hot Glue Gun
Staple Gun
Step 1:
Acquire your supplies. I measured my windows and decided that I wanted 20 inch wreath in the center of each window. I found mine at Michael’s and they were about $3.00 each. Find yourself a coupon and it’s even a sweeter deal. My bows I got on ebay for cheap (off season) and they were about 30 inches from top the bottom. That’s what you see hanging from my counter top. Then I added another center ‘piece of ribbon’ to make it fuller looking, with a hot glue gun. That’s why they’re all stacked and ready to assemble. The red ribbon used for the top ‘sash’ portion, I got at Garden Ridge but it was on sale. My small wreaths not shown here, were 10 inches and I found them at Dollar Tree, and also the smaller bows I used on them…and my porch banister etc. (seen in the last picture on this post).

Make room, they can be a little bulky.
 This is the size of faux velvet red ribbon you’ll need, 2 1/2 inches by 20 yards. I got mine online when it was on sale. But it says regular price is about $3.99 plus tax.
Step 2:
Cut your top ribbon ‘sashes’, made from the ribbon above. I cut mine 30 inches each, but it will differ for your size of windows so measure and test it out before hand.
Step 3:
Hot glue your sashes onto the wreath by making a small ‘loop’ shape (soft velvet side out) and gluing a small section to adhere it to the ribbon. Try not to use too much ribbon, about 1-2 inches of ribbon to ribbon glued….if you need more be sure to add it to the slack in the measurement of each ribbon cut to compensate.
 WARNING!: the glue is extremely hot through the ribbon so children should not help with this step. I even got burned a little because some got on my nail bed, and I had that delayed pain reaction…OUCH!!!! LOL;)
Step 4:
Add your large red bows! Remember…..to fluff each bow, fluff each wreath before hanging. And try not to smash down the fluff when handling and hanging them up. Hahaha:)
My bad, I know it’s blurry but you get the picture….fluffy and beautiful…..and repeat (a million times) my fingers were definitely sore, couldn’t even take focused pictures!!!
Step 5:
Finally, hang them outdoors and make your exterior window Merry and Bright with Christmas Cheery decor! First, staple the top of the ‘sash’ ribbon to the top of each window. Next, this is where the extra center piece of ribbon came in handy as well…..I took the extra ‘center piece o’ribbon’ that I had hot glued to the center of each large bow and tucked it into the bottom of my windows and then shut it into the window and locked each window. This actually helps on the windy, rainy days and keeps the wreaths in place.
This is an action shot, but that middle longer ribbon would then be tucked into the open windows and locked into place when closed.
 Here’s the view from the front, though not a high quality image, or good  lighting…, yet you get the idea of how darling they came out. Our son wanted to be in the picture too. In this image you can see the smaller 10 inch wreaths on the for smaller windows…so cute! I chose not to do all the window on the top level, instead I centered the 2 above between the ones on the lower porch. I’ve gotten so MANY compliments, too and including my children and husband who say something almost everyday on how cheery the house looks when coming home. Home sweet home!
I chose to do this decor because it was energy and cost efficient. Everything used was under $5 each, but if you buy ready made (artificial) wreaths they will be much more $20+ depending on the size. Real natural wreaths are about $7+ depending on where you purchase them, which can get pricey and to only have them dry out and ‘die’ after the season is through. I’m happy about the result and will continue this decor by freshening the hot glue or switching out the faded red ribbon or bows.
Do you decorate your home’s exterior with DIY crafts? If so, what kind?
~Be Sweet
Christina
Sweetest Haute
Please be sure to follow on Pinterest, follow on Instagram, and like on Facebook!
sweethaute.blogspot.com
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I love the way those turned out!  And not a terribly expensive project, especially if you store them for next year too!  Great job, Christina, thanks for sharing!  Check out more great content from Christina on Sweet Haute.

Find Christina Here:

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.


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#fabulouslyfestive Ornament Wreath Trio

This post is part of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft’s Celebrate the Season series.  I was compensated with supplies and a gift card for any additional supplies necessary.  All content contained in this post is 100% original, my honest opinion and my own project.

I have been very intrigued by wreaths this Christmas season.  The variety available is amazing.  Evergreen, ribbon, garland wrapped, real versus faux… and the color schemes are endless!  If you’ve been around here for very long, you know I love a personalized project.  Something you can take and make your own is absolutely right up my alley.

But I went a step further than just a wreath.  I went for three wreaths.  A fun trio.  Like The Three Musketeers, The Three Stooges, The Three Little Pigs, a delicious BLT trio, or me, myself and I (my favorite trio!)… you get the idea.  It’s more fun with three, right?!  There’s always someone there to back you up, except with the me, myself and I thing…  Anyway, this project is three times the fun and makes quite a statement with it’s awesome trio.

ORNAMENT WREATH TRIO  

 

Materials:

– One 12″ wreath form
– Two 10″ wreath forms
– Ribbon (I scored two 50 ft rolls for less than $4/each.  Jo-Ann had their Christmas ribbon for 70% off.)
– Baker’s Twine or other twine
– Ornaments (I got mine at Dollar Tree in a five-pack.  They aren’t great quality, but I wanted something that wouldn’t break if it was dropped or used to play catch… in my house full of boys, that’s possible.  I saw some really pretty ones while I was at Jo-Ann though.)
– Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Directions:
– Wrap the wreaths in the ribbon using hot glue to secure the ends.  I left extra at the end to use as a hanger, but ended up cutting it off and using loops of twine to hang them.  More on that in a minute…

– Tie the ornaments to the twine with a single knot.  Leave the ends long enough to attach to the wreath form.  You can see the knots up close in the second photo.  Just something that will hold the ornaments in place.

– Using the glue gun, attach the ends of the twine to the wreath.  Hold the wreath up as if it’s hanging to get an idea of where to attach the strings.  You can see where I had to cut the twine off and re-attach it because I didn’t test it before gluing down the ends.

– If you left extra ribbon at the top of the wreath, trim it off and secure the end with hot glue.  Tie a small loop and center it at the top of the wreath to create the hanger.  Glue it down with a small dot of glue.  I made my loop small enough that the wreath form mostly covers it, unless you’re looking down on the wreaths.

– Repeat with the other two wreath forms.
– Hang and enjoy!

I started with my large wreath and hung the ornaments in a simple swoop.  With the small wreaths, I opted for unevenly hung ornaments.  This makes a larger swoopy visual through out the entire trio, adding continuity to the whole set of wreaths.  Sorry the first photo is a little blurry… I had a “helper” on my back and didn’t realize it was that bad.

You can check out more great ideas in the Craft Catalog.  And use the coupon below to save yourself some money when you shop at Jo-Ann this month!  Who isn’t looking for a deal right now?

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.

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{Somewhere in the Middle} Sled Ornament

Rebekah from Somewhere in the Middle is back again today to share a fun little sled ornament with us.  These would be so perfect for a fun crafty afternoon with the kiddos.  Write everyone’s name on their ornament and the year for a fun little keepsake!  Here’s Rebekah with the how to:

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Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

I adore homemade ornaments for the tree and I especially love ornaments that kids can help make. It’s so fun to unpack them every year and see how excited the little ones get about the ornaments they’ve made in the past. These little sled ornaments are super quick to put together and a great project for the kids to help with. Here’s the super short supply list:

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

  • Craft Sticks (regular size)
  • Mini Craft Sticks
  • Glue gun
  • Twine (or yarn/string)
  • Paint (I think they’d be really cute in red, but we went with turquoise)

Paint both sides of the craft sticks. You need 6 mini sticks and 3 regular sized per sled.

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

You’ll need to cut one of your large sticks in half and trim off the ends. I just used an old pair of scissors.

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

Heat up your glue gun and put the sled ornament together as show in the photo below.   Then add the remaining sticks to the sides and front as shown in the next photo.

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

Add the twine.

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

And there you have it – a cute little sled ornament. Now if we could only get some snow so my girls would understand what a sled actually is. 😉

Sled Craft Stick Ornament found on while He Was Napping

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Super cute, right?!  I love these. I’m going to have to make some of these sled Ornaments for my boys! They are just darling and I love that you could decorate the sleds differently for each person – or let the kids decorate them!  Thanks for sharing, Rebekah.  Check out more great ideas at Somewhere in the Middle.

 

Find Rebekah Here:
 

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping. 
 

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{Gift Guide 2013} For Teachers

Do you have a teacher that is totally rocking your year?  Give a thoughtful, useful gift this holiday season to say “thanks for your hard work!”  Check out the twelve ideas below, both DIY and purchasable.  Is that a word?  Spell check didn’t underline it.  Anyway…

1.  Savory Sweet & Cinnamon Popcorn (recipe via Creative Home Keeper contributor post on While He Was Napping)
2.  Handmade Jewelry.  It’s functional, cute and doesn’t have apples on it…
3.  The Everything Pouch.  While I originally designed this to take in the car on road trips, it could easily be used to keep in a desk and hold things like band-aids, hand sanitizer, Tylenol, nail clippers and file, change for the vending machines and other things teachers need.
4.  Bird’s Nest Necklace.  Cute and personalizable with the color of beads you include in the nest.
5.  App Store (or Play Store) Gift Card.  Granted the App(le) a Day is super cute and the link includes the  printable tag, maybe double check to see if the App Store card would be useful.  Guest post from My Sister’s Suitcase on Everything Etsy.
7.  Helping Hands Gift Set via Teach With Me.  Stuffer gifts included in the post!
8.  Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder via Sprinkled with Glitter.  I would probably tuck a couple tea bags or hot cocoa packs into the cup too.  No sense wasting the cup, after all.  Cute gift wrap and functional.
9.  Personalized Tumblers via ExpressivelyOurs on Etsy.  You could also DIY this project with some vinyl and a blank tumbler.  I liked these ones that were for a teacher, but weren’t covered in apples and rulers.
10.  DIY Personalized Coffee Cups via Que Rica Vida.  Don’t worry, the tutorial is in English and it’s a great tutorial.  A fun way to gift something useful and made by the kiddos.  I remember most of my teachers carrying around coffee mugs all day long, even if they were full of cocoa or tea or soda.
11.  DIY Hand Sanitizer/Soap Dispensers at The Idea Room.  We did these at Super Saturday this year and they were cheap and super easy to mass assemble.  And what teacher isn’t sanitizing or washing their hands a hundred times a day?  All the sick ones, that’s who.
12.  Stamped “teach” Necklace via Simple Starfish.  The price tag on this baby is pretty steep ($65), but it’s incredibly cute.  If you want to try your DIY hand at stamping, you can find a cheap stamp set at Harbor Freight and you can use washers or find stamping blanks on Etsy as an experimental project.  If you have never stamped and lack in the patience department, this would probably be one time to buy the gift.  

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.


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