Christmas Crafts, Part 2

Here's yet another Christmas craft creation. I did this one to fill a void above our fireplace. Very simple. And I can't take credit for this one. My husband actually suggested using these miniature stockings. Kudos to him because it turned out pretty good, I think.

Christmas Crafts, Part 1

I have several wonderful hand-crafted gifts made but I can't post the pictures until after Christmas in order to keep the recipients from finding out what they're getting for Christmas. I can't wait to post the pictures, though because these projects turned out really well.

However, the Christmas decorating bug has bitten me and I've been doing some new things around the house. To quote Dear Husband: "It's like I'm looking at Pinterest with our house in the background." Yes, dear, indeed it is.

Halloween Home Decor

These did not turn out exactly like I wanted, but it wasn't bad for a first time attempt at this sort of craft. I think I'll do it again for Christmas and take what I learned from this experience and apply it to my next set.

Fall Wreath

I've been wanting to experiment with using different wreath forms for a while. It's impossible to find wreath forms where I live and I can't afford to run to the city for one whenever I want/need one so when I came across a series of pins on Pinterest talking about using pool noodles for wreath forms, I was all over it. Pool noodles are plentiful around here during the summer. I picked one up at the store the other day on clearance and used it for this project.

I won't go into detail on how to make the wreath form with the pool noodle as you can find a great tutorial (and adorable wreath) here. As you'll be able to see, I even followed the same steps for using fabric with mine. Note: I cut off about a foot from my pool noodle in order to make it the right size for our door.

I found some beautiful fall leaves at Dollar General the other day and thought they'd be perfect for this project. I think they were a dollar a package and me being me, I misjudged how many I would need and purchased six packages. Depending on your own design and tastes, it may take that many, but I think I ended up using maybe 2 packages. I now have lots of leftover leaves for other projects. Each package contained different colors.

And here the finished product.

 I hot-glued everything, including the loop of ribbon on the back to hang it. In sum total, the entire project cost me less than $10. I used leftover fabric I'd bought on clearance long ago, the pool noodle was on clearance, and the leaves were cheap. It looks great on our door, too, but I don't have a picture of that.

Enjoy and keep crafting!

"Redneck" Cake Stand

I haven't posted in quite a while. When May rolled around, it seemed that my calendar filled up quickly with things besides work. June wasn't much better but after this week, here's to hoping that things slow down until the middle of August.

With Independence Day around the corner, there are always parties and festivities to attend and most of those are going to require you to take some sort of side dish or dessert. Lately, I've been into the taking desserts mode and this month is no different. I volunteered to work on Independence Day but I figured if I was going to work, I'd make it a bit more bearable for myself and my co-workers by bringing in a special treat. My special treat will be these hot treats and I wanted to make the presentation a little more festive. I don't have any fancy carrying cases or cake stands and I definitely don't want more clean-up than necessary, so I cooked up this idea all on my own: "Redneck" cake stands!

Who doesn't have a little fondness for the ubiquitious red party cup? It's so versatile and the universal symbol of fun. And it's turned out to be the key supply to my cake stand. I just hot-glued it to the bottom of a red plastic plate, and viola! Instant cake stand. I'll post more pictures once I've made my tasty treats and put the cake stand to the test.

Faux Decorative Mirrors

I thought this up shortly after making my faux monogram bar mirror. My husband thinks I'm crazy because I love using this Looking Glass mirror paint so much.

 (Ignore the reflection of me. I'm still learning how to photograph my projects.)

This project cost me $7.50: The cost of the frames at the local dollar store. I already had the spray paint and the scrapbook paper on hand.

Here's a photo play-by-play.

Washer Bracelet

I realized today that I have less than 3 weeks to get a package prepared for a Step-Mothers' Day swap so I went into crafting mode. I wanted to make something fun and unique for my swap partner so I decided to make her an easy and funky bracelet.

I saw this idea all over Pinterest but I found the best directions in this post on The Evolution of Home.

So, here are a couple of photos of my results. Sorry, no pictures of the process. I was too lazy to take them.

I certainly hope my swap partner enjoys this little creative endeavor.

Monogram Bar Mirror

With Mother's Day coming up and some recent uproar in my family, I decided I needed to something really spectacular for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day. I've been experimenting with faux mercury glass lately, thanks to a Pin from Take the Side Street on Pinterest. Her technique is very easy and works very well.

Instead of snatching someone else's idea from Pinterest, I struck out on my own and came up with this lovely little piece:

The whole thing was very inexpensive and very easy. The whole project cost me less than $20 because I already had the spraypaint on hand and Hobby Lobby had one of their spectacular sales.

Here's what you need:

• Picture frame.
• Enamel paint in your choice of color and paint brushes.
• Letter stencils. 
• A sheet of scrapbooking paper. 
• Krylon's Looking Glass spray. 
• Spray bottle with 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar.
• Paper towels. 

Instead of stenciling a letter on the glass, I chose to trace a letter I printed from my computer and then painted it on the reverse of the glass.












Here's what it looked like after I painted on the reverse of the glass. I then baked the glass in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. I wasn't sure what would happen to the paint if I didn't bake it on the glass and I started the faux mercury glass technique.




Once the glass cooled off and I was sure that the wind was low enough, I went outside and spraypainted the glass with the Looking Glass spray.

And after applying the 50/50 mixture and distressing the glass:

I let the paint dry and then put the picture frame back together with the scrapbook paper behind the glass.

I can't wait to send this next month to my mother-in-law. She's going to love it and I love it so much, I'm thinking about making this for our house, too.

Recently Made Goods

A Start?

I feel the need to post at least a little something to start this blog. I haven't had much of an opportunity to do anything seriously crafty lately due to a schedule full of work, appointments and activities. I did do a little adventure in faux mercury glass that turned out well. I'd post it but there seems to be a pretty extensive collection of faux mercury glass DIY blog entries out there already.

Once things sort of slow down after spring break, I'll be back in my crafty mode. I've got plans, I've got designs and my husband thinks I'm crazy. I think I need an outlet for pent up energy.

Until next time, grab your glue gun and craft on.