A Wreath for All Seasons

The first few weeks of the year I always find myself bored to tears because I catch up on everything I need to, and find myself idle...for a girl with this much energy, that doesn't last long. I had an idea for a gift for my grandmother and decided to take it on since I found myself with extra time. What I didn't realize, was how QUITE ambitious this was! She loves to decorate for each holiday so I thought I would create a wreath for her (that seems to be my specialty these days) that she could leave hanging the whole year, but change out the decor for each season. I started with Easter, then Memorial Day and 4th of July. Then I found some adorable chevron ribbon (this girl can NOT pass up anything chevron) that I could use for Halloween. Finally, I thought I had to finish out the year with Christmas. It still needed more, so I added monogramming for that final oomph! I put pieces of velcro on the wreath and then on the decor she could change out. I was pleased with the outcome and even better, she loved it!

An Empty Wall

I had an empty wall in my kitchen that was just screaming for attention. I decided to add some color and incorporate some organizational possibilities since it was near my command post. I found some hooks on a board and added a basket for storage. My favorite part is the collage I created out of scrapbook paper. I bought a round punch and started to punch circles out of a stack of paper I had in my craft box. Then I tried to punch them further to create petals. I arranged the petals like I have some of my paintings and it almost looks like a small quilt (minus the hours and hours of sewing!). I liked it so much, I made another one for my bathroom.

When One Door Opens...

I am constantly buying Magic Erasers to keep my white front door clean (the inside...). After surfing Pinterest one day, I saw someone had painted their interior door black and it really made an impact. While I was bored out of my mind during Christmas Break, I decided I could tackle a project like that. I had the paint, I just needed to make the effort! I'm so glad I did. Now the door makes a statement and you can't see how dirty my family is :)

More Fun with Washers

After our first craft with washers, I decided to keep going. We had plenty left over and I saw another idea on Pinterest to paint them with fingernail polish. I then decide to monogram them, so I printed out letters on the printer and Modge Podged them to the washer. Then I had to tie them up with string. My daughter has worn her's everyday since I gave it to her, so I guess it was a hit!

A Little Bling

I saw the idea for some jewelry my daughter and I could make using washers and ribbon. It was quite funny when I went to the hardware store to find the washers. I was looking down the right aisle, but couldn't seem to find them so a worker asked me if he could help. I told him I was looking for washers, but he asked which size. Holding up my fingers to make a "O", I said, "about this big." I told him it was for a craft project so he didn't think I was a complete moron. It took me a while to figure out how to braid them through the ribbon to make the pattern, but after four or five attempts, I finally figured it out. My daughter, who just wears the necklace (but didn't participate in the craft), loves it. I also made some for her friends as gifts and smaller ones for bracelets.

Little Men

After making some baby shirts some time back, my sister put in a request for a set for my nephews. I figured I would make some for their Christmas gifts. Knowing their parents were both Gator and Bulldog fans, I decided to make one of each. I then made a blue plaid one, since what little boy doesn't look good in navy. I have to say, the shirts are cute, but look even cuter on the boys!

Craft-astrophy!

I found the idea on Pinterest for some candy wreaths. I thought they were adorable and wanted to try it out. I was going to hot glue them to some red ribbon wrapped wreaths and add a green bow. I figured I would seal them so I started to paint them with Modge Podge...only, they started to run and turn pink. Then I got the bright idea to spray them in Polyurethane. I let them sit outside to dry and everything was looking great. The tops were drying nicely. I let them sit overnight before I added the green bows. I guess it was a good thing, because when I went to work with them the sides were a big goopy mess. They were sticky and the coating had melted them. What started as a good idea failed miserably. I guess candy and crafts just don't mix!

Little Gifts with a Big Impact

I wanted to make some gifts for some special folks this year and had my heart set on wreaths. I found some small wooden wreaths in the floral section of the craft store. I decided to wrap them each in ribbon, I found all different types of green ribbon for the wreath with a red bow accents at the top. It still needed more. I added a red felt flower to each to make them pop. I was excited with the final outcome and I ended up with many different variations to share.

Updated!

I love my new wreath, but something was bothering me. The black R on the black front door, had lost its impact. It needed some pizzazz! I decided to add some bling and berries. So much better!

Welcome Christmas!

I spent the weekend after Thanksgiving decorating the house for Christmas. I was so excited to put up the tree, decorate the house, and put my wreaths in each window outside. Then it hit me, I've spent all year making wreaths for each holiday and I don't have one for Christmas...let's get the ideas going. I went to the crafting mecca, Hobby Lobby, to find my supplies. I really like the look of burlap (thanks to my sister), wanted to add some red berries, and wanted to monogram it too. I pulled together all these ideas and created a monogrammed wreath with ribbon created holly leaves accented with berries, all sitting on a burlap wrapped wreath. I then hung it using a cheerful polka dotted ribbon. Now I can properly welcome my guests and I feel like my decorating is complete!

Christmas Mantle

Last year I wanted to create a Christmas Mantle that was not the norm...I decided to create some Christmas artwork and paint canvases to give my boring mantle some personality. I wanted at least one to have spiritual meaning, so we had a constant reminder of why we celebrate this time of year. I decided to paint one plain red (The coated needed for the background of these canvases took the most time. They need a lot of paint!) and hand painted the phrase, "For unto us a child is born..." For the two smaller ones I wanted to add some dimension. I decided to get some plastic candy cane sticks (harder than you think to find). I found some plastic candy canes, and after almost losing a finger, cut off the curved part. I then took a small wooden disc and painted it white to help center the sticks to create a sunburst. I found a wooden R and painted it and decided it would look good on an ornament for the third canvas. This year I decided to add some additional items to the arrangement (in addition to my stocking hangers). To give it some height, I added a wooden reindeer and a white birch tree. The tree wasn't high enough, so I put it on a candle holder to give it some flare and hight. The final touch was a Christmas Cactus, since it went with the season. Since I have a window above my fire place (weirdest place for a window and quite the decorating challenge!), it creates the perfect spot to boost plant growth. We'll see if I can get this Christmas cactus to bloom again!

Trees, Trees, Everywhere Trees...

Last year mom found a great craft project for her girls to try during one of our girls night out--Christmas Tree cones. We took poster board and created cones, then sprayed them with adhesive, and covered them with fabric. Then we decorated the trees with sequins, ribbon, and trimmings to give them pizzazz. While that sounds so easy, it was not! We spent an hour getting the poster board to cooperate and cut the bottoms square so we didn't create any leaning trees. Then we spent another hour spraying the adhesive and and getting the fabric on them, just right, without wrinkles or folds. Once we achieved our nine trees (three each), we sat back and admired our work. Mom was so proud of us. She was so excited and boasted these are selling for $50 on Etsy! I asked how much she spent all on all the fabric and supplies, and she said it was under $60...so we had to laugh. Luckily we got two more sets for the same price! I then decided a wanted a smaller set (the first set had the largest one at over two feet tall) for my kitchen table. I learned from our test and it was much easier (and cheaper, ha!) the second time around with a smaller goal. I now am enjoying my second season with my two sets of trees. I just need to figure out another room I can add them to!

Give Thanks

After the Halloween mantle came down, I must admit, I was a little sad. I had to hit Pinterest and get some ideas to transform it for Turkey Day. I always loved the phrase, Be Thankful, so that's were I started. I printed out a font that I liked on the computer and put a piece of burlap over it. I then took a sharpie and traced the letters and framed it. I also found a great printable to define Thanksgiving, along the same font and on a burlap background. I just printed it out and framed it as well. Finally, I found some pumpkins I had used in the past, and put them on candle holders. I pulled the whole thing together and really like the finished product!

Block Art

I found these blocks in the Halloween decorations last year. The front says Happy Halloween with a witch in the middle. I thought they were so cute, I wanted to keep them up a little longer...so, I turned them over and painted the black ones brown. I modge-podged some scrap book paper and found some great copper glittery letters. Give Thanks is a little shorter, so I improvised and added some leaves and a bird. Now I can keep them up a little longer, and appreciate that I recycled store-bought decor into a craft of my own.

Count Your Blessings

Last year mom and I embarked on a evening of Wine and Design at the pottery studio.

The instructor walked us through each part, from taping the edge to get a clean line, to tracing the letters to make them perfect. I then used some puffy paint to help add some dots and character.

It was a great evening and I walked away Count Your Blessings plate (well, after they fired it for me!). I was so excited this year to break it out for display after Halloween. It's a great reminder that we should be thankful for all we have!

Zig Zag Pics

I wanted a bulletin board in my office at work to spice up one of my walls. I found some fabric scraps and picked out some bold ribbon. I used my staple gun to tack the whole thing down to a batting-covered canvas. Now I can display some loose photos neatly with some flare!

Halloween Treats

It was time to decorate for Halloween and I was a bit disappointed when I got down my boxes from the attic. I hadn't crafted anything for this holiday yet and the boxes were a clear indication of that. I needed a mantle statement! It was time to get on Pinterest and get some ideas. Three things came into focus, a chevron pumpkin, a "boo" print, and "trick or treat" garland. The printables I usually found don't print as nice as I need them to...today wasn't any different. It was time to make my own. I found some scrapbook paper and some letters. I then printed out the trick or treat letters on my printer and cut them out. I had some fabric to use as the background and got out my glue stick to bring it all together. I gave up on taping the pumpkin, like Martha Stewart would do, and just decided to paint the chevrons myself. My three little pieces came together with my other mantle items and now I can be happy to walk by my Halloween display. Yay!

For a Good Cause

My daughter and I painted some canvases for an upcoming silent auction at our church. We were challenged to paint using geometric shapes using the base colors of turquoise, brown, and red. We used two different techniques. I used a small bowl to draw a pattern of circles creating a petal effect. I then randomly painted each petal using alternating color. For hers, we used painting tape to map out a cross and then alternative blocks around it. She then painted each and put a black border around it. We liked the end result and hope to raise some money for a good cause!

Money Does Grow on Trees

When my nephew turned Sweet 16, I wanted to do something special. I saw some ideas on Pinterest for everything from an umbrella raining cash to money mobiles. I used the ideas and decided to go with a money tree. I found a cute bonsai tree and folded up 16 one dollar bills and tied them on. It turned out really well and he loved it!

A Little Color Never Hurt Anyone

I was in the mood to craft and I really wanted to refresh the front door wreath. While I love the one that currently welcomes my guests, I really wanted something with a bit more color. I thought I would try a new technique, wrapping the wreath in yarn. I found a bright yellow yarn (at a store I refuse to give credit to, for the sake of tarnishing my reputation...you guessed it!) and dug into my fabric and ribbon scraps to make the flowers. I found a whole spool of colorful ribbon to hang it and I opted to use it for some flowers too. In the end, I kept adding more and more flowers, with more and more color. I like the finished product and think it will be great for what's left of the summer. Luckily for me, the summer in Florida lasts well into October and sometimes November!