DIY Butcher Paper Wall Calendar

Staying organized can be tough. But when it looks this good, it is actually pretty easy!  With different events, study sessions, and all of the birthdays we have to remember, things can fall through the crack easily!  That is, unless you have a ginormous (cute) calendar hanging on your wall!

Things you’ll need: A roll of kraft paper, a roll of string or cord, a wooden dowel, washi tape, scissors, a hot glue gun, chalk pen markers, a ruler and Command hooks.

Step 1. Roll out your kraft paper and draw your calendar. Here is where a ruler comes in handy. We traced ours out before, creating a grid that was seven squares wide by five squares long.

Step 2. Tie your cord around the end of the wooden dowel. Measure out about six feet in cord. You’ll have plenty leftover, but it is better if you have too much than too little.

Step 3. Secure the cord to the end of the dowel by wrapping it around a few times and gluing it down.

Step 4. Thread the dowel through the middle of your kraft paper roll and repeat steps 2 & 3 on the opposite end.

Step 5. Use washi tape to mark important dates, appointments and meetings on your calendar. You can write the details (time, place, etc.) directly on top of the washi tape with a permanent marker.

Happy Crafting!

A Day At The Pumpkin Patch

TSS Readers, meet Maddie... an Alpha Chi Omega from San Diego State University!  Maddie is the newest addition to our It Girl team for 2014.  Want to learn more about her?  Well, you're going to have to wait a little bit-- our new It Girl team will be unveiled soon!  Until then, here's a sneak peek into the life of the newest member of our It Girl family!  Welcome, Maddie!

There’s something magical about fall- the leaves change, the air is crisp, and you can order pumpkin-flavored anything. We don’t exactly get a traditional fall season in San Diego; we’re still wearing flip-flops and going to the beach. But, our sisterhood event at the Pumpkin Station in Del Mar let us pretend! We picked out pumpkins, rode the rides, bought huge buckets of caramel corn, and pet adorable animals. It was a great way to bond with our new members and celebrate this beautiful season.

When we got back to our chapter house, we held a decorating competition- it was so fun to see everyone’s crafty side. We split the girls into teams and gave them supplies to decorate with, including pipe cleaners, pom poms, paint, glitter, and different types of candy.   One team crafted a hilarious witch with hay, a paper hat, and a pickle nose.  Another team did a cute aqua ombre pumpkin using paint and glitter.  All of the pumpkins make a festive addition to the front of our chapter house.

We love the mix of Halloween tradition and glamour on the pumpkin with the jeweled spider on it. Some pumpkin patches sell kits with stick-on jewels, but you can also get large gems and rhinestones from any craft store and hot glue them to your pumpkin!  When you decorate your pumpkins, you can get inspiration from Pinterest, your favorite movies, and even the supplies you have lying around. We had a blast at this sisterhood event! I encourage you to go with your chapter or your friends. Even if you don’t pick a pumpkin, you’ll get loads of great photos together!

DIY: Photo Collage Monogram

Between move in, recruitment, big/little reveal, and initiation, there is no shortage of sorority crafts to be made. This is a fun, simple, and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to any of your upcoming crafts. You could make a monogram for your bedroom, spell out your chapter's name to hang in the chapter room, or even apply the same process to a picture frame or paddle! The best part is, it cost less than $15 and all of the supplies can be purchased at your local craft store.

Did you know that both Michael's and Hobby Lobby have free apps for your phone? You can look up and instantly download coupons, and the stores will scan them right from your smartphone. I saved 40% on the large wooden letter that I purchased from Hobby Lobby! 

All you need is:

-Large wooden letter 

-Mod Podge (the 4 oz. bottle is more than enough for this project)

-Acrylic paint (2 oz. Craft Smart acrylic paints are only 69 cents each at Michael's)

-2 Foam paint brushes

-Scissors

-Pictures printed from your computer at home

Step 1: Print out your favorite pictures. If you are making this for yourself or your little, these can be specific to a certain event or just from your whole experience in your chapter. Now in my senior year, I decided to make this one as a keepsake for myself with my favorite memories. If you are making them for your chapter house, you can do a collection of all pledges classes throughout the years! Be sure to use regular printer paper, not photo paper, and choose pictures in a variety of shapes and sizes. I did this example in black and white because I think it gives a cleaner look, but you can do it in color as well!

Step 2: Cut out all of your pictures and lay them out on your letter. Your pictures will probably shift, and not end up exactly like you have planned out, but this helps give you a starting point. If you are a perfectionist, like myself, this may drive you a bit crazy at first. However, that is one of the best parts about this project. You don't have to worry about straight lines, smudging paint, or uncooperative fabric. Collages aren't meant to be perfect, and I guarantee that you will be happy with the end result! 

Step 3: Starting at the top, remove one picture, cover the back completely with Mod Podge, place onto the letter, and Mod Podge over it. You will continue this same process until all pictures are glued to the surface. Don't be a afraid to overlap them, or fold them over the sides. Don't be afraid of the Mod Podge! It will dry completely clear. Just be sure to coat it evenly and don't leave any thick white lines. There is no right or wrong way to do this. You may have to shift and adjust your photos as you are gluing them down. The paper will become wet from the Mod Podge, and therefore very flexible to smooth over the edges.

Step 4: Once the Mod Podge is completely dry, which should only be a few minutes, flip the letter over. In any color paint of your choice, paint one coat on the back. Let dry. Now, carefully paint the first coat along all of the sides. If you accidentally get some paint on the picture side, don't freak out! It should wipe right off with a damp paper towel. Let the entire first coat dry and repeat. 

Step 5: Once the paint is completely dry, paint one more coat of Mod Podge over the entire piece, including the back and sides. 

Step 6: You can add any personal touches to the edges such as rhinestones or flowers, or leave it as is! 

Ta da! Your letter is now ready to give as a gift or hang on your wall! 

Ali's "I Do" Diary: Bridesmaid Proposal Boxes

Craft Supplies: Michaels

Here comes the bride... and it's our very own TSS Co-Founder, Ali!  Yes that's right, Ali and her honey Jon are tying the knot in May of next year, and we will be documenting their journey along the way.  We love weddings, and Ali is beyond excited to share her tips and ideas with all of our readers.  And yes, we will be there when they share their "I do's" too!  For other brides-to-be or those dreaming of their big day, we hope that we can provide a little dose of wedded inspiration!  We are thrilled to announce Ali's "I Do" Diary column... take it away, Ali!

Ali's "I Do" Diary: June 19, 2013.
Little girls dream of planning their big day with their prince charming, and I am so lucky to have found the man of my dreams.  Now that we've set a date and started putting our plans together, I needed to do something else that was very important-- ask my best girlfriends to stand by my side!  My wedding day wouldn't be complete without the girls (and sorority sisters) that I've shared my favorite memories, laughs, and cries with too.  Because they mean so much to me, I wanted to do something special when asking them to be my bridesmaid.  So, I decided to "pop" the question!

I'm a bit of a Pinterest fanatic, so naturally I went right to Pinterest when looking for bridesmaid inspiration.  I came across a few ideas involving Ring Pops, and I knew it was the perfect way to ask my girls!  Sweet, creative, and a little silly, it described what I was going for perfectly.  I headed straight to Michaels with my color scheme (light pink) in mind, and got down to crafty business!

I used natural cardboard gift boxes, scrapbook paper, rubber stamps, stickers, pink paper shreds, gift ribbon, and of course the key ingredient- Ring Pops.  Double sided tape made for an easy (and less messy) adhesive to attach the scrapbook paper to the boxes.  Testing out the rubber stamps on some scrap paper first was helpful to get a system down just right.  Once I put the boxes together, I tied them with a bow, and voilà!  An adorable little bridesmaid proposal box was complete!  I added a personal note with each box, and sent them on their way.  Hearing each of their reactions was priceless; I'm so happy to have asked my bridesmaids to be a part of our special day in a creative way!

I can't wait to share more bits and pieces of our wedding planning with all of you!  More to come soon!

DIY: Glitter Starbucks Cup

During the hot summer months, we need to remember to stay hydrated!  To make drinking your H20 more fun, what better idea than to drink it out of a pretty water bottle?!  Thank you to our TSS It Girl, Avery, for telling us how to make our very own glitter Starbucks cup!  "I have not been drinking enough water in the dry Arizona heat, so I figured I would drink more if I was obsessed with my cup," Avery says.  We love this fun, easy (and so pretty!) DIY project... and can't wait to make our very own!  Here's to a healthy & hydrated summer!

How To Make A Glitter Starbucks Cup:

You will need a venti reusable plastic Starbucks cup, glitter of your choice, and spray adhesive.

Step One:  Remove the inside layer of the Starbucks cup.  We don't need it at all in this process until the very end.
Step Two:  Spray the inside of the outer layer with the spray adhesive.
Step Three:  Add loose glitter.
Step Four:  Find a lid (a piece of cardboard or a firm paper plate will do) and cover the cup opening.  Shake until the glitter is dispersed throughout.
Step Five:  Repeat steps 2-4 until you are happy with the coating of glitter inside your cup.
Step Six:  Let it dry, put the cup back together, and enjoy your sparkly new cup!

Want to show off your glitter Starbucks cup?  Share your pictures with us on Instagram, mentioning @thesororitysecrets!