And they're as cute as they are useful! I can't stop collecting them. I love them so much that I decided to try making my own custom needleminders with my own design.

Where to get custom needleminders

I was really worried about the whole process until I talked with our friends at WizardPins for help. Working with them was so easy!

I sent them a high-res image (JPG or PNG works) to start, and they worked with me to simplify it and develop the final design that would work on a needleminder. They sent me several proofs along the way, and we tweaked things until we had it just right.

I had my choice of finish (I chose gold) and hard or soft enamel (I chose hard - more on that below). The final result was fabulous, and I couldn't be more pleased!

If you'd like to give WizardPins a try for your custom needleminders, use our special discount code of CHICAJO10 for 10% off your order.

Tips for designing a great custom needleminder

Here are some of the tips I learned from designing my own custom needleminders. They are relatively small and can be very detailed, so keeping these things in mind will help you create a successful design.

• Keep the designs simple: Fine details can disappear at small sizes. Bold shapes and clear outlines translate best. (The WizardPins team worked with me to get just the right level and color detail on my design!)
• Limit the color palette: Using fewer colors often produces a cleaner final result, especially with enamel designs. (WizardPins lets you include up to 8 colors in the base price.)
• Choose the right size: Most needleminders fall between 1 and 2 inches wide. Smaller designs are lightweight and easy to move around a canvas, while larger designs allow more artwork detail. If you're unsure what size would work best, try printing your image at various sizes to see which one looks and feels right. (My couch design was 1.75" wide and it turned out to be the perfect size.)
• Use strong magnets: Even the most beautiful needleminder won't be useful if it doesn't hold it's spot and slides around your canvas. Most high-quality needleminders use neodymium magnets, also known as rare earth magnets. You can often select between a round magnet or a rectangle, it depends on the size and style of your design which will work best.

Hard enamel vs soft enamel needleminders

One of the most important decisions when ordering custom needleminders is choosing between soft enamel pins and hard enamel pins. Both options are made using durable enamel and metal molds, but the manufacturing process makes them have a different finished effect.

Hard enamel pins

Hard enamel pins are known for their smooth, polished, jewelry-quality finish. Each color is filled into the recessed metal areas all the way to the top, and then the entire pin is polished flat. This polishing process removes the height difference between the enamel and the metal lines, leaving a completely smooth surface across the entire design. Your needle and thread are less likely to get caught on the smooth surface provided by hard enamel.

Soft enamel pins

Soft enamel pins have a textured, dimensional surface that many people love for artistic designs. In this process, the metal outlines are die-struck and remain slightly raised above the enamel color areas. The enamel is filled into the recessed sections but is not polished flat with the metal. This means you can feel the raised metal lines when you run your finger across the pin, creating a tactile surface that highlights the design.

We chose a hard enamel finish for our Golden Girls couch needleminder, and I couldn't be happier with the final result. The team at WizardPins will help you decide on the perfect finish for your design and needs.

Production time and minimum quantities

WizardPins is great to work with for small businesses, because you can order as few as only 25 needleminders for your design. Finalizing the design took about a week, and once my order was placed, the total production and shipping time was just around 3 weeks.

We've got templates to make these classic 80s toys:

• Atari 2600
• Connect Four
• Easy Bake Oven
• Lite Brite
• Cabbage Patch Kids
• Barbie Dream House

You can print, cut, and fold these templates to create perfect scale versions of the original product packaging from the 80s. Keep reading, and I'll show you how to make these minis.

How to use 80s toys miniatures

These mini toy templates are sized at 1:12 scale, which makes them the perfect size for most dollhouses.

They are a great addition to an 80s-themed room in your dollhouse or diorama.

But they're also fun on their own, as trinkets to put on your desk or as a unique gift for a GenX friend.

I first designed these to use in my "80s Christmas morning" Altered Moments creation. (Read our Altered Moments story to learn more about this trend) My girl woke up on Christmas morning to a classic 80s scene, complete with classic toys and iconic, tinsel-covered tree.

How to make dollhouse miniatures from printable templates

Turning these templates into miniatures is pretty easy - just print, cut, fold, and glue. Let me walk you through it, step by step.

Step 1: Print the templates

The templates are sized perfectly to print onto standard 8.5" x 11" stock. If you have access to a laser printer (rather thank inkjet), you'll get richer colors and a satin-y finish that will look more like real packaging.

The paper choice is up to you, and there are pros and cons to each.

If you use cardstock, you'll get a stiffer box that's fairly sturdy, but the folds won't be as crisp and the color (especially black) will crack along the crease, revealing the white fibers below.

If you use regular copy paper, you'll get crisp, clean folds, but the overall box will be pretty flimsy and easy to accidentally crush.

My recommendation is to use regular copy paper and a laser printer, and use my advanced technique below for creating sturdy, crush-proof boxes.

Step 2: Cut and fold

Carefully cut out the templates, taking note of the tabs.

Fold the template along each edge of each panel/tab.

Step 3: Assemble

Once all the edges are folded, your box will sort of cave in on itself and you'll see how it goes together.

Tuck the tabs under the flaps they line up with, and use double-sided tape or paper glue to secure them in place.

Advanced technique for crush-proof boxes

Now that you know the basic steps for creating your mini boxes, let me show you my cool technique for making them more durable and crush-proof.

The trick is to fill the boxes with something solid so that they can't be crushed. It makes them so much more durable and gives them some weight, which makes them more satisfying to hold and play with.

The secret supply to fill them? Chipboard.

Chipboard is a great choice because it's inexpensive, crush-proof, easy to cut, and has a good weight to it.

Just cut a bunch of pieces of chipboard to the size of the box and stack them up until you get the thickness needed to completely fill the box.

By the way, if you don't have any chipboard in your craft supplies, it's also easy to find around the house. Check the backs of old notepads, cereal boxes, or even soda cartons.

When you've built up the thickness you need, wrap some tape around the stack to secure them all in place and create a solid block.

Now just wrap the template around the block and start attaching it at the tabs, just as before. You'll find it's SO MUCH easier to do with that solid block underneath.

And when you get to that last flap, you'll have a solid base underneath that will let you actually press the flap down firmly in place without risking crushing the box.

This solid interior makes the boxes stackable and easy to handle without fear of damage.

Aren't they just perfectly delightful? Did I miss any of your favorite 80s toys? Let me know in the comments below, and maybe I'll add them to the set!

The inspiration for this giant shamrock wreath came from our horse head wreath tutorial, and we used much the same process to create one for St. Patrick's Day.

VIDEO: How to make a four-leaf clover wreath

As you'll see in our full tutorial video, creating this four-leaf clover wreath for St. Patrick's day is actually pretty easy, and can be done with scrap wood and inexpensive faux greenery garland. (You know that cheap garland that never looks good at Christmas? It's perfect for this!)

If step-by-step instructions are more your style, keep reading to see exactly how we made this DIY giant shamrock wreath that's perfect to hang on your door, or tuck anywhere into your St. Paddy's day decor.

Step 1: Cut a clover shape out of scrap wood

To create the four-leaf clover wreath, you'll need to start by sketching the shape onto a piece of wood.

If you're not comfortable drawing the shape by hand, you may want to purchase our easy pattern that's 20" wide and 20" tall, the perfect size for this wreath.

Once you print the template, tape the pages together to create a large pattern and cut it out. Then put the template onto a piece of scrap wood and trace it.

Use a jigsaw (or scroll saw) to cut it out. Don't worry too much about the fine details, because the garland is going to cover up most of it.

Step 2: Paint the base green to hide gaps

The wood will eventually be covered in greenery, but to make sure that you no bits of unfinished wood peek through, give it a quick coat of green spray paint. This doesn't need to be perfect, just get some color down in case there are gaps in your garland. And make sure you hit the edges!

Step 3: Cover the base with garland

Now it's time to cover the clover. Get some low-profile, soft garland — nothing too full or stiff — and use a staple gun to attach it. Go back and forth across the shape until it is covered.

Step 4: Trim the garland

Now that your clover is covered with garland, you may notice that the edges aren't very crisp or defined. That shaggy garland just needs a haircut! Grab some scissors and trim away any needles that extend beyond the edge of your wood base.

This step is especially important on the clover's stem, so that it's defined and separated from the petals.

Step 5: Add a bow

To bring the rainbow design in and give the wreath a little pizzazz, make a bow out of some rainbow-striped ribbon. If you need help, check out our bow-making tutorial video for my super easy technique.

Use the staple gun to attach the bow in the middle of the wreath, and you're done!

The finished clover wreath

With the addition of a sawtooth hanger on the back, your giant clover wreath is ready to hang on the door. I just love how this simple shape and inexpensive materials transformed into a real statement that welcomes guests into your home with a lucky four-leaf clover.

Why cork bulletin boards are so expensive

In order to hold a push pin, your bulletin board needs to be at least 1/2" thick. If you shop around for 1/2" thick cork you'll find that it can cost $5 to $10 per square foot. That can add up fast and make a full-wall bulletin board too expensive for most budgets.

You can buy thinner 1/8" cork for a lower price, but it won't be thick enough to actually accommodate a push pin. So that just won't work...

My budget-friendly alternative to cork

My solution for large cork boards on a budget: textured ceiling tiles!

Ordinary "drop ceiling" tiles are made of a compressed material that takes push pins very easily, and is thick enough that the won't pop through the back. The tiles also have a textured finish that makes them self-healing like cork.

And ceiling tiles are WAY more affordable than cork, coming in at only $0.75 to $1 per square foot. That's about 10-15% of the cost of cork!

Here's my YouTube video showing you exactly how to use these tiles to create big bulletin boards on a budget. (Or keep reading for a written how-to!)

Making a simple one-panel bulletin board

Using one of these ceiling tiles can be as easy as just screwing it onto your wall. That's exactly what I did in my office, where I used a 2 foot by 4 foot panel on the wall behind my desk.

To finish off the edges of my panel, which were are admittedly a bit rough, I used some simple quarter-round molding that I painted a bright blue color. I cut pieces to length and pin-nailed it right in place.

How to make custom sized bulletin boards

One of the best things about using ceiling tiles as bulletin boards is that they can easily be cut or grouped together to create custom sizes. You can line up a series of 2 foot by 4 foot panels next to each other to cover a huge area of the wall.

As I demonstrated in my video above, you can arrange the panels in any way and easily cut them with a utility knife to get the size you need.

That's exactly what we did for Jo's recent craft room makeover. We used duct tape to hold two and a half panels together, and then covered the whole thing with fabric.

The result was a huge bulletin board that fit the space perfectly. She uses it to hold her needlepoint canvases that are waiting to be stitched. It's the perfect way to display them in the room for inspiration.

Finishing ideas for colorful bulletin boards

While my plain white bulletin board is find for my office, and Jo's simple linen-covered great works great for her craft room, there are more options for creating bold, colorful looks.

As I demonstrated in my tutorial video, you can use spray paint or acrylic paint to customize these panels to any color you wish. Or you can cover them with a fun, patterned fabric to bring a strong design element to the space. The color and pattern possibilities are endless!

If you look closely at Jo's finished bulletin board, you'll also notice something special in the corners. She spray-painted some decorative shelf brackets gold and placed one on each corner to give the whole piece a "photo corner" look. It's the perfect little accent.

The room had cosmetic flaws — the floor was chipped cement with paint, the walls had exposed plumbing and the utility sink area was a nightmare. It also had functional flaws — things weren't organized the best they could be and it was hard to find space to work.

But this craft room makeover wasn't just about cleaning and organizing &mdashp; my goal was to create a space that supports how I wanted to spend my time. I wanted to create a "Ladies Lounge" for reading, needlepointing, playing Mahjongg and crafting.

First I'll share my tips for how to create a craft room that works for you.

Define how you'll use the space

Before beginning my craft room makeover, I thought really hard about my current hobbies. I find myself spending a lot of time playing American Mahjongg, needlepointing, and doing general crafts to share with you. Figuring out what I wanted to do in the room guided my decisions on furniture layout and lighting.

Be honest about what you actually use. That yarn you haven't touched in 10 years? The scrapbooking supplies from a past life? This is the moment to let go. Keeping only what supported my current hobbies instantly made the room feel lighter and more usable.

Measure before you plan. Mahjongg tables, storage cabinets, and comfy chairs all take space. Measure the room (and doorways) so you don't design a layout that only works in theory.

How to purge and organize a cluttered craft room

Purging was the hardest part, but also the most freeing. The task was so intimidating that I actually hired Tara Stewart and her team of organizers to help me. This project would not have taken off if it weren't for her. Her team came in and taught me some lessons on how to organize my craft space.

Here are a few of the lessons I learned about how to purge and organize:

Sort by category, not by location
Pull everything out and group supplies by type. For me, those general categories turned out to be:

• Needlepoint canvases and threads
• Craft tools
• Paper goods
• Mahjongg supplies

This approach helped me seeing all the duplicates I had and the craft supplies I hadn't touched in years. This made the decision to purge much easier.

Use the "Keep, Donate, Discard" Method
Tara kept telling me that if an item doesn't support how you plan to use the room now, it's time to donate or toss it. I ended up with a huge pile of items I didn't need anymore. Luckily, we have a wonderful organization in our town called Lexington Center for Creative Reuse and they are like a Goodwill just for craft supplies. I felt good knowing the supplies I no longer used would be going to a new home.

Store like with like
Once everything was pared down, we stored items together in clear bins or labeled drawers. The goal is to be able to grab what I need without have to dig for it. This approach has also made it a lot easier to keep things organized. Once I finish doing a project, I put my supplies back where they belong instead of letting them pile up on any horizontal surface.

Make your most-used supplies easy to reach
Daily tools go in open bins, jars, or drawers. Things that are rarely used go higher up or in labeled boxes. Remember, if you have to move three things to get to something, you won't use it Clear containers are your friend. If you can see it, you'll use it.

Create a landing zone for unfinished projects
Unfinished projects are usually the biggest mess-maker. Try one basket or bin per project, and no more than three projects going at a time. Or use a rolling cart or shelf that's labeled, "CURRENT PROJECTS ONLY". When that space is full, you don't start a new project until one of them is finished. I am really trying to hold myself to this standard.

Designate a "Dump Bin"
This sounds counterintuitive, but it works! Have one bin for random stuff you don't want to deal with right now. Once a month, or when the bin is full, empty it properly. This prevents random clutter from landing all over surfaces you actually want to use.

Once everything was organized and moved to an attached storage area, I had a clean slate to start building my dream room.

Ideas for creating a Mahjongg Room

One of my goals for this space was to have a defined area for playing Mahjongg. I was turning this room into a "Ladies' Lounge" after all, so I wanted to make sure my new favorite hobby was included.

Choosing the right table for a Mahjongg room
A square table anywhere between 36" and 42" is ideal for playing American Mahjongg. Since I also wanted this table to double as a crafting table, I chose this expandable table that converts from square to rectangular.

Select comfortable seating
You'll be sitting for a while, so look for cushioned chairs with good back support, and make sure they can tuck neatly under the table when not in use. I like these low-profile rolling chairs.

Storage for Mahjongg essentials
I added a rattan corner cabinet for storing tiles, dice, cards, etc. and then this rolling rack for my mats and other tiles.

Add the decorative touches
From rattan wall art to the bold wallpaper, I added decorative touches to fit the vibe. The monkeys and pagoda wallpaper is actually our design, and we teamed up with Limitless Walls to create it. Our design is even available for purchase here (use code CHICAANDJO35 for 35% off!)

The wallpaper coordinates perfectly with my Oh My Mahjongg Capri mat, and the vibe of this room is completely made for Mahjongg. (P.S. Use my discount code JOMAHJ to get 10% off your Oh My Mahjong order!)

Needlepoint-friendly design features to include

Since I am really into needlepointing, I also wanted an area of the room that really focused on that hobby. Needlepoint deserves special consideration, as it's really all about comfort and good lighting.

In this corner, I wanted extra lighting, so I chose this floor lamp that arches over my chair. I also added a second comfy chair so that I had another stitching spot available for visiting friends. A small table between the chairs holds supplies and drinks.

I also made an over-sized custom bulletin board to hold all of my canvases that are waiting to be stitched. Watch our YouTube video to see how we made this oversized bulletin board on a budget.

For holding my other supplies, I selected this rattan armoire with two drawers. It not only looks pretty in the space, but it works great for storing all of my extra threads, stretcher bars, canvas painting supplies, and finishing supplies.

Create a bar and snack station

One final area of the room that needed an upgrade was the sink area. I decided to get rid of this awful utility sink that was covered in paint and replace it with a smaller sink and a storage cabinet. The doors hide all of those messy (yet necessary) cleaning supplies, and the counter gives me a large surface to put drinks or food on for serving guests. The open shelves overhead allow for decorative storage opportunities as well.

One of my favorite additions to the room is my Bartesian. It's like a Keurig for cocktails! You buy the various flavored pods and then pop one in to make a cocktail or a mocktail.

This fun drink-making machine is perfect for entertaining because the cocktails are small, allowing my guests to sample several different flavors. And because all the flavorings are in the pods, it limits the number of mixers and syrups that I need to have on hand.

I set my Bartesian on this sideboard cabinet that also allows me to store things like napkins and table cloths. It also serves as extra storage for my frequently used craft supplies.

Shop the look

I couldn't be more pleased with how this room came together. If you'd like to incorporate some of these elements into your space, you can find the whole collection linked in our Lowe's storefront.

And don't forget — our wallpaper design is available here (use code CHICAANDJO35 for 35% off) and you can shop our favorite mahjongg supplies here (use code JOMAHJ for 10% off)

These already nearly-perfect drink side tables are even better when you add a custom needlepoint insert, fitting for the season.

The needlepoint pattern

I started with this Ralph Lauren needlepoint pattern from Bluegrass Needleworks, which is sized perfectly to fit these tables.

The pattern comes with four designs: the stag head, the horse head, the snaffle bit, and the horseshoe. I stitched the stag head first because it is the most Christmas-y.

I painted the pattern onto canvas using my Shuttle Art acrylic markers, which are SO easy to use for canvas painting. I found it easiest to paint the grid lines first, then paint the stag on top.

Stitching the design

Next, it's time for the fun part... stitching! I used a very basic Continental stitch on the whole canvas. With the Blackwatch plaid background is busy enough, so I felt a simple stitch would work best.

The colors I used are: Perle Cotton 3 (3345, 310, 319, 939, 844) and Silk Lame Braid LB94.

Finishing the canvas

To finish the canvas, I did a "simplified cookie", which means that I just used mat board cut slightly smaller than my finished canvas and I did not use any padding.

Since this is going to be inserted into the table, no cording edge is needed. This makes it a great project for a beginner finisher.

Adding the insert to the table

With the insert done, I just had to pop it into a cocktail drink stand and it was a perfect fit.

I topped it with a custom-cut glass glass circle that I got from Etsy to protect my project, and it was good to go.

These little tables perfectly hold one glass and fit easily next to your sofa or chair. And this needlepoint insert takes it next level with a festive design that can easily be swapped out for different holidays or seasons.

I also love that this is a unique way to display my needlepoint creations. What other designs do you think would work well in these tables?

"On Your Mark - Get Set - BAKE!"

Every challenge on the GBBO starts with the classic phrase "On Your Mark - Get Set - BAKE!" spoken by the hosts, and I have to admit that I always say it along with them as I watch.

Our "Great British Baking Show" Stickers

I decided to capture the essence of this phrase and the show with my custom design that also features a bright red stand mixer and the iconic Union Jack flag in the background. And I made lots of extras, so that I could make them available to fellow fans like you.

Sticker Features

These stickers are die cut to shape (with a white border) and come with a peel-away liner. The sticker is 2.5" wide at the widest point and 2-3/8" tall at the tallest point.

The sticker material has a satin texture for a subtle sheen, and is removable (but not re-usable).

They are flexible, waterproof, durable, and long lasting. They can even go in the dishwasher or microwave! With all those features, they seem deserving of a Paul Hollywood handshake, don't you think?

You can embellish your laptop, water bottle, bumper, notebook, or anything with this fun vinyl sticker!

Great gift idea for home bakers, cooks, and chefs

If you're looking for a great gift idea for the baker in your life, we also have this design on more than just stickers. This same fun design is available on mugs and pot holders in our Etsy shop.

We designed two fun Christmas-themed Mahjong shirts to wear to our December game nights.

Mahjong Christmas Shirt with Elves, Santa, and Mrs. Claus

Our first shirt features a fun scene with two elves playing Mahjong with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. With a fun distraction like Mahjong, we're afraid Christmas might be a little late this year!

You can get our exclusive design in a variety of colors, available in our Etsy shop in both T-shirt and sweatshirt styles.

Mahjong Christmas CRAK-ers Shirt

Our second shirt combines Mahjong with a classic Christmas tradition -- English Christmas Crackers. Add in a Mahjong pun and you've got Christmas CRAK-ers!

You can get our exclusive design in a variety of colors, available in our Etsy shop in both T-shirt and sweatshirt styles.

Mahjong Halloween T-shirt Design

Our brilliant Mahjong pun for our Halloween shirt? Bam-BOO! This cute little ghost is carrying his set of BAM tiles and he's ready to play.

You can get our exclusive design in a variety of colors, available in our Etsy store and also in our Amazon store.

With this shirt, you're all set to play Mahjong near Halloween. But if you need more ideas for hosting a Halloween-themed Mahjong game night, I've got you covered!

Mahjong Halloween Party Theme and Atmosphere Ideas

• Haunted Mahjong Parlor - Decorate like an eerie 1920s parlor with LED candles, lace tablecloths, cobwebs, and fake ravens or bats. In the background, play soft Chinese instrumental mixed with eerie wind or ghostly whispers.
• Witches' Mahjong Coven - Have guests arrive dressed as witches, warlocks, or mystical beings. Replace regular snacks with "potions" and "elixirs" (that are really just colorful drinks in glass bottles).
• Ghosts of the Mahjong Temple - Blend traditional Chinese motifs (red lanterns, paper fans) with Halloween details (skeletons, ghosts). Use black and gold table runners and LED lanterns for lighting.

Mahjong Halloween Party Food and Drink Ideas

• "Mummy dogs" - hot dogs wrapped in crescent dough
• "Bat wings" - spicy chicken wings
• Dumplings - dyed black/orange with squid ink or pumpkin puree
• Mahjong tile sugar cookies - with spooky symbols such as blood-dripping dragons or cobweb-covered bamboo
• "Potion" drinks - use dry ice in a tray around your punch bowl for a spooky, smoky effect
• "Graveyard" tiramisu - use crushed Oreos and gummy worms
• Signature cocktails - Check out our Mahjong cocktail recipes for more derink ideas

Or set this game out on your porch on Halloween and let your Trick-or-Treaters play. Give them a tasty candy treat if they land on the jack-o-lantern or candy corn! For a sinister touch, give them a "trick" like raisins or a toothbrush if they land on the bats.

Making your own Plinko board

This Halloweens Plinko game starts with our basic board that we made with our DIY Plinko board tutorial. I painted it white before adding all my custom directions for Halloween.

Our "Trick or Treat" Halloween designs

To transform this basic Plinko into a fun kid's game for Halloween, we designed a whole set of digital files that can be cut out of vinyl for an easy stencil.

We titled the game "Trick or Treat" and created fun images for the bottom compartments of the game. Imagine the kids playing and determining whether they will get good candy or not based on a random chip falling into one slot or another!

I'll show you how I added these elements, which we've made available as a digital bundle for you, to make it super easy for you to recreate this design yourself.

Cutting the stencil

I loaded the designs into my cutting software and cut them out with vinyl. I cut the "Trick or Treat" sign for the top of the board, and since I was just using the vinyl as a stencil, I used whatever scrap of vinyl I had. (Stencil vinyl also works well for this.)

Similarly, I cut stencils out for the compartments at the bottom of the board — one jack-o-lantern, two bats, and two candy corns.

Painting the designs onto the board

After positioning the stencils onto the board with transfer paper, I used a cosmetic sponge to dab on acrylic paint for smooth coverage.

TIP: Apply several light coats to get good coverage without the paint seeping under the vinyl.

Adding extra touches of color

For the triangle shapes along the sides, I printed the PDF template from our bundle onto construction paper and cut out the pieces. I used a little double-sided tape to attach them, alternating with red and green as I went.

And for a little extra fun, I dabbed purple and orange paint onto the very tips of the pegs.

The finished Halloween Plinko board

These decorative touches turned that plain, white Plinko board into a fun Halloween-themed game.

How to play Halloween Plinko

To play the game, you just drop the chips down from the top and let them fall into the compartments at the bottom. We use these air hockey pucks! that are the perfect size for our peg placement.

Then will bounce and plink and plonk their way down to the bottom! We like to play with the jack-o-lantern in the center spot being the biggest prize, but you can adjust the tricks and treats for each spot however you like for your game.

Besides being a fun kid's activity at a Halloween party, this game would also work well in a classroom setting. The teacher could reward kids with one Plinko chip a day, with the potential to earn more by demonstrating good behavior.