DIY Halloween Spell Books

These DIY Spell Books are absolutely Creeptastic!

Be sure to watch the full Video Tutorial below!

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You'll need: 

Books 

Cardboard 

School glue (Dollar Tree) $1 

Hot glue gun (Wal-Mart) 

Hot glue sticks (Wal-Mart) 

Assorted mini Halloween creepy crawlies (Dollar Tree) $1 

Mod Podge (Dollar Tree) $1 

Paper towel or tissue paper (Dollar Tree) $1 

Paint brushes

Black paint 

Brown craft paint 

Gold metallic craft paint 

Tea bag

Hot water

To start this project you'll need some books. Although it doesn't matter what the book is really about, I chose to be a little authentic and used some actual "witchy" books. You can use whatever old books you have lying around or you can get some old books at the thrift store.

Two of the books I chose to use are soft covers, but I want them to be hard covers. So, I'm going to start with turning my soft cover books into hardcover books by using some cardboard and school glue.

I'm going to take my cardboard and tuck it inside the front cover of the book, then with a pencil or marker trace around the edge of the book cover marking where to cut your cardboard. With your scissors or rotary cutter cut the cardboard to size. I used a craft roller to flatten out one side of the cardboard that would be tucked inside along the spine, this step is optional. I then covered one side of the cardboard with school glue and glued it inside the front cover of my book; I then repeated this step with the back cover of the book. Set aside to dry.

Next we're going to take our hot glue gun and we're going to embellish the covers of our books by using the glue gun for writing and drawing designs, also to glue on our creepy crawlies. This is where you can get really creative. After our hot glue has dried we can start working on covering our books. You can cover them with paper towel, single ply is best. However after trying the paper towel method, I can definitely say I prefer using the tissue paper.

So to cover our books we're going to take a paintbrush and our Mod Podge and paint over the cover and everything that we glued on. 

We're then going to take our single ply paper towel (if using paper towel you'll need to dampen it first) or tissue paper, crumple it up (I personally didn't like the effect of the paper towel so, I ended up only using the tissue paper), then open it back up and gently lay it down over your Mod Podge cover and pat it down. When using the paper towel you'll need to use a paintbrush or foam brush to really get into all the nooks and crannies of your design. With the tissue paper, just pressing firmly with the palm of your hand seems to be all it took for me. Now we're going to set our book aside to dry for a couple of hours.

After the Mod Podge on our newly covered book is fully dried, we're going to trim the excess paper towel/tissue paper, however leaving enough to wrap just inside our covers.

Now we can take our black craft paint and paint the entire book Black, again set aside to dry. 

After the black paint has fully dried we can then go in with a dry brush and some of our brown craft paint and stipple the brown paint onto the book to give it an aged look and /or use our gold metallic paint to dry brush the raised bits of our creepy crawlies and our hot glue gun designs to add dimension. 

Now to finish our cover by folding the extra paper towel/tissue paper over and glue it to the inside of your cover. Then take a plain piece of paper and cut to size to cover the inside of our covers and glue in place. Then, set aside to fully dry.

After our painted books are dry we can move on to the final step to really give our books an authentic aged and creepy look. For this last step you need a tea bag, hot water and a paint brush. Steep your tea bag in a small amount of hot water until the water reaches your desired color. Then dip your paint brush in the tea and gently bush the edges of your book's pages. This really gives a nice aged look to your books and in my opinion really completes the overall look and feel of this project. 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out our DIY Halloween Spell Books Tutorial! What did you think of this project? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! 

If you enjoyed this post, we’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend or sharing it on Twitter and/or Facebook. Don't want to lose this? Pin it on Pinterest so you can get back to it later!

Have a great day!

    

Do you love Halloween? Be sure to check out all of our Spooktacular Halloween posts!

• 3 DIY Halloween Arrangements Tutorial
• DIY Halloween Apothecary Tutorial
• DIY Halloween Spell Books
• Gluten-free Cheesecake Brain Mold
• 2017 Spooktacular House Tour

How to Save Money on Your Car

How to Save Money on Your Car

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For most people in the United States, owning an automobile is a need. Public transit is not readily available, and urban sprawl ensures that the places you need to go are likely a significant distance away. At the same time, it is no secret that cars can be money pits. Here are some ways to lower the costs associated with owning a car.

Get Better Loan Terms

You might be able to find a better deal on your auto loan than what you got when you purchased the car. Look into refinancing it. There are two ways this can save you money, and the type you choose is up to you. If you need more cash in hand each month, you might be able to find a lower interest rate with another company. This will, in turn, lower your monthly payments and the total amount that you will end up paying on the car. You can also find a loan that allows you to pay off your car sooner. This will raise your monthly payments, but a shorter-term means money saved in the long run.

Take it in for Maintenance

It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes you have to spend money to save money. Regular maintenance minimizes the risk of major repairs down the road. It also keeps your car running smoothly, which gives you better gas mileage. Follow the recommendations included in your owner’s manual, but most cars have a similar list of general maintenance needs. This includes regular oil changes, fluid replacements, new filters, alignment checks, and tire rotations, among other things. Being meticulous about maintenance will extend the life of the car and save you money.

Learn to Make Minor Repairs

You can save a great deal of money by learning to make minor repairs yourself. Some of the most common car troubles are ones that you can fix on your own. All you need is the right tools and a good online tutorial. Some things that you should be able to learn how to do are replacing worn down brake pads, changing a drained battery, replacing windshield wiper blades, changing out the lights, performing routine oil changes and coolant replacement, trading out spark plugs, and more. While you will still have to pay for the parts, you will be saving a lot of money on labor costs.

Make it More Efficient

There are simple ways to keep your car running more efficiently. Both the condition of your car and the choices you make as a driver can have a major impact. Some things you can do to your car to help it be more efficient are to check the tire pressure monthly and adjust when needed, keep your tires aligned, use the type of oil suggested in your owner’s manual, run the air conditioning less, and change out dirty air filters. Some steps you can take as a driver to increase your fuel efficiency include driving more slowly, never idling the car for longer than a minute, parking in the shade, and running your daily errands in one longer excursion, as opposed to taking many smaller trips. You also might want to consider getting your windows tinted. Window tinting can block 98% of solar heat, making your car more efficient to keep cool.

Stop Buying Premium Gasoline

Unless premium fuel is required for your car, you can save money by purchasing regular gas. In the past, only premium gasoline had the necessary additives to make them cleaner and more efficient. Now, most brands of regular unleaded gasoline feature the same inclusions. Additionally, modern cars are generally made to handle lower-octane gasoline. Historically, some cars were not able to deal with the engine knock that would occur with lower-grade gasoline. Now, most new car engines have built-in control systems that limit knocking. Again, it is important that you follow the manufacturer's directions and use premium fuel if it is required for your car. But if not, your car will perform just fine with regular unleaded, and that means money in your pocket.

Lower Your Car Insurance Rates

It is possible to lower your car insurance rate. Start by calling your insurance company to find out if they have any discounts. Some insurers offer savings to people with a good driving record, to people who take a defensive driving course, if you have reached a certain age, and if you have taken steps to improve your credit scores. If there is nothing for you there, feel free to shop around. You may have chosen a car insurance company without comparing prices, and there could be some less expensive options. Additionally, you can probably drop some of your coverage if your car is older and low in value. It is definitely worth looking into.

Pay it Off

The sooner you can pay your car off, the less it will cost you in the end. If you have some extra cash flowing in, consider using it to pay off your car. You can do this by paying larger lump sums when you get them, or you can add a little bit to your loan payment each month.

Make Insurance Claims Wisely

You don’t have to make a claim to your insurance for every fender-bender or minor bump. You raise your premium significantly whenever you make a claim, especially if you are at fault. Consider paying out of pocket for minor accidents where there are no injuries. Most motorists will be happy to work with you directly. Even if you aren’t at fault, it is a good idea not to make a claim for small repairs. Work with the other driver or, if necessary, pay for any repairs yourself.

You don’t have to break the bank to keep up with a car. There are many ways to save money, and wise consumers take advantage of all of them. By following these tips, you can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year on auto expenses.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out our tips on How to Save Money on Your Car. Which tip was your favorite? What other tips would you suggest? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! If you enjoyed this post, we’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend or sharing it on Twitter and/or Facebook. Don't want to lose this? Pin it on Pinterest so you can get back to it later!

 

Have a great day!

    

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Dollar Tree Succulent Planter DIY

Dollar Tree Succulent Planter DIY

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This Dollar Tree DIY was inspired by my daughter and her love of succulent plants. Not including the spray paint which we had left over from a previous project, this DIY craft cost only $8. See how I made it in the video below!

Thank you for stopping by and checking out our DIY Dollar Tree Succulent Planter DIY, we hope you enjoyed! What’s your favorite go-to plant to brighten your décor?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, we’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook. Don't want to lose this? Pin it on Pinterest so you can get back to it later! 

Have a great day!🌞

    

Other Krazy Deal Daze Post You May Be Interested In:

• https://www.krazydealdaze.com/2018/03/diy-furniture-makeover-transforming-old.html
• https://www.krazydealdaze.com/2017/08/diy-beauty-light-ring-tutorial-w-video.html
• https://www.krazydealdaze.com/2017/10/diy-halloween-apothecary-tutorial.html
• https://www.krazydealdaze.com/2017/11/diy-fall-no-sew-decorative-pillowcases.html

DIY Fall Pumpkin Arrangement Tutorial

This DIY Fall Pumpkin Arrangement was the perfect addition to my Fall decor!!

Be sure to watch the how to Video below!

This post contains paid affiliate links, please read our Advertising Disclosure Statement.

Premade Pumpkin arrangement (Wal-Mart)

Glass pillar candle (Dollar Tree)

Glass plate (Dollar Tree)

Small Willow Wreath (Dollar Tree)

E6000 glue (Wal-Mart)

Spray paint (Wal-Mart)

Snippers (Dollar Tree)

Fall florals (Dollar Tree)

Floral Foam (Dollar Tree)

I got the pumpkin arrangement at Wal-Mart and although it's cute the way it is, I wanted to bump its wow factor up a notch and was perfect for this project!

So for this project you're going to take your E6000 glue and glue your taper candle holder to the glass plate and set aside to dry fully.

After your glued base is dry, it's time to paint it with your spray paint; I wanted it to still be translucent so I did a light dusting with the paint. This gave it a colored glass effect.

After the painted base has fully dried it's time to grab your E6000 glue (For long term hold) and glue gun (For immediate hold) and glue your willow wreath to the top of the plate.

Then again with your E6000 glue and glue gun, glue your floral foam to the center of your plate.

Now trim and sort your Fall florals. I pushed all the leaves on each stem towards the top before using my snippers to cut to size.

For the next step I grab my premade pumpkin arrangement and set it on top of the floral foam and added my first row of Fall floral around the base of the pumpkin so I knew where I needed add the rest of my florals.

I then set the premade pumpkin arrangement off to the side and continued working my way around the floral foam adding my Fall florals until I was happy with the look and fullness.

Once I was happy with the look and fullness, I grabbed my E6000 and hot glue gun and glued my premade pumpkin arrangement to the center of my floral foam.

Finally it's time to enjoy your new creation and find it, its new home amongst your Fall decor!!

DIY Fall No Sew Decorative Pillowcases Tutorial

I'm in LOVE with these DIY No Sew Pillows!!

Be sure to watch the how to Video below!

This post contains paid affiliate links, please read our Advertising Disclosure Statement.

So I have two BIG projects coming up and I was thinking of using canvas dropcloth for them. However, I had never worked with it before. I have also been wanting to make some decorative pillows for the holidays. So I thought, I'll use the canvas drothcloth for my decorative pillows and "kill two birds with one stone". I get my pillows and I get to see what it's like working with the canvas drop cloth! Win, win!! I really love how the pillows turned out and am planning on making some more for Christmas.

You'll need:
Canvas Dropcloth, size depends on how many pillows and projects you want to use it for.
Ink Jet T-Shirt Transfers
Scissors
Iron
Fabric Glue, I used FABRI-TAC
Optional: Velcro if making a deceptive pillow cover.

First we're going to cut out two 16.5" x 16.5" panels from our dropcloth.

Then we're going to create our image and print it out on the T-Shirt Transfer paper. Please follow the instructions included with you transfer paper.

Cut out your image, leaving a small border all the way around the image per transfer instructions.

For the ironing part you need a solid surface that is heat resistant. My current crafting table is plastic and will melt and warp so I grabbed a scrap piece of plywood to protect my table.

Cover your heat resistant surface with a cotton pillowcase and iron out any wrinkles.

Then lay your canvas panels on top of the pillowcase and iron out any wrinkles and creases.

Now we're going to lay our transfer print side down on our freshly ironed canvas panel.

Next, cover the back of the transfer with another cotton pillowcase.

Then Iron transfer per Instructions provided by the manufacturer.

After ironing, let the transfer cool completely before carefully removing the paper backing.

Then flip the canvas panel so that the image is sandwiched in between the two panels.

Now fold up a side and run a continuous strip of fabric glue along the edge of three sides of your canvas panels. Make sure the 4th we're not going to glue just yet is what will be the bottom of your pillow when completed.

Now for what will be the bottom; if you’re making a full pillow like I did, you’re only going to glue the ends of the full opening. Leaving the center (about 5 finger widths apart) unglued. If you are making a decorative pillow cover then you can glue Velcro strips on.

Once the glue is dried per instructions on your glue, you’re going to reach your hand in the unglued opening and turn you pillowcase right side out.

Make sure to really get the corners pushed out. Voila, you're halfway done with your new pillow!

Time to stuff it! Since I'm making a purely decorative pillow that will be in my outside entryway, I have chosen to stuff mine with plastic store bags because I have an abundance of them... Mine as well make use of them for more than just bathroom garbage bags!

Once you've got your pillow all stuffed you can glue the opening closed.

I used two binder clips to hold the opening closed until the glue dried.

Once fully dried, it's time to find its new home in your Fall decor!!

Thank you for stopping by and checking out our DIY Fall No Sew Decorative Pillowcases Tutorial! What did you think of this No-Sew project? Have you ever made a No-Sew pillow before? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! 

If you enjoyed this post, we’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend or sharing it on Twitter and/or Facebook. Don't want to lose this? Pin it on Pinterest so you can get back to it later!

Have a great day!

    

Do you love Fall? Looking for more Fall and Autumn decor ideas? Be sure to check out all our Autumn Decor Post!

• DIY Fall Leaves Place Mat Tutorial
• DIY Fall Leaves LED Candle Set Tutorial
• DIY Fall Bucket Vase Floral Tutorial
• DIY Fall Pumpkin Arrangement Tutorial
• Falling into Autumn Décor Tour