An "easy" wreath...

I say easy...

And I mean easy because you only need 3, scratch that, 4 things!

1st is some crepe paper.  

I bought mine at JJWD for only $1.19 for 2 rolls.

I used 3 rolls.

2nd  is a piece of cardboard 

Cut into the shape of a heart. 

It doesn't need to be scientific.  Your flowers will hide any imperfections!

3rd thing is A LOT of glue sticks.

I bought mine at JJWD.

You get 20 for $1.00!!  

So buy extra...you will need them!

I wrapped my heart with crepe paper.  ( just so you couldn't see the brown cardboard)

Next is the fun part (not really)

Cut strips of paper.  Wrinkle them up. Unfold them. Fold over one edge. And start wrapping and gluing.

I found the instructions and Tutorial is here!

Much more detailed than I just gave you!

Be prepared to burn your fingers a time or two!!

The 4th thing you need is some DVR'ed entertainment.

I had 4 episodes of Tori and Dean.

It took a little longer than I thought...

But it was worth it!

I loved how it turned out!!

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Christmas Plaque

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

...and I LOVE it!

I am trying to stay focused this year.

Focused on the true reason for our celebrations.

I thought this would be a good way to keep that

focus front and center in our home.

(This would also be so so cute with a family picture!

I'm going to try that after the holidays.)

I started with my picture.  Mine was just an old Christmas Card that I cut the front off of.  I used Modge Podge to adhere it to a piece of wood that was cut to the same size as the picture. 

This gives the whole thing some cool dimension.

 

Next I found an old frame and replaced the

glass with a piece of beadboard.

Then comes the paint.

I used a cream color first, and then I brushed on this fun glaze that I found at Home Depot.  It gives it a shiny, pearly look that I love!

Last step...just glue the picture onto the frame.

 

Now it REALLY looks alot like Christmas!

My try at an Ornament wreath....

These have been everywhere on Pinterest.  So I thought I would take a whack at it. 

I bought my ornaments from Walmart for $4.96 for each color. 

I had this wire in our garage.  I just sort of eyeballed the size that I wanted it to be. 

Knowing that by adding the balls it was going to get bigger.

Warmed up my favorite tool!!

And started sliding the ornaments on the wire. 

I really don't think there is a right or a wrong way. 

You will fill in later. 

Just keep adding them....

Next is the fun part. 

 Just start gluing and filling in...

Hot glue can be a little tricky.  It can be messy if you aren't careful.

Just make sure to pull all your "glue strings" as you go. 

It's looking better and taking shape.

I hung it up to see where I needed to add to it.  Just keep filling in until you are satisfied. 

Finished!!

Now I need a table runner....

Stocking Holders

Anyone else out there love PINTEREST??  Because I am addicted!

Love, Love, LOVE it.

{Where do all those creative people come from anyway??}

So....I have seen different versions of these stocking holders all over Pinterest...

They are pretty basic...... 

 I used an old 2x4 cut into 6 inch blocks.  You can do whatever size you want,

but my mantle is huge so this size was good for me. 

After a good sanding,  I used wood glue and a nail gun to attach them together. 

Glue a decorative knob on the top, screw in a hook to hold the stocking, and paint!

This is where it gets fun!

There are a million ways you could decorate these....I've seen kids pictures, chevron stripes, polka dots, monograms, glitter, all kinds of cute ideas....just get CrEaTiVe!!

It's FUN!

{I used scrapbook paper and some spray painted, Dollar Store jingle bells on mine. 

I had too many helpers at the time to get too crazy, so I went with easy.....and my little boys love the bells.}



Hmmmm.  Now I need some cute stockings.....



Drab to Fab!

I know I should be getting ready for the holidays...It's creeping up on me and I have alot to do!

But...I wanted to finish this latest "drab to fab" project first!

I was running out of room to hang my necklaces, so I was in need of another hanger.

I found a solution at the local D.I.  

An old Family Home Evening Board that looked similar to this one..... 

 except it said OLSEN. (Ya, I forgot to take a picture first)

First step was to sand as much paint off as I could...and then I had Mike put a little trim on the edges and add a small shelf to fancy it up a little bit.

Next I added a few coats of paint and then just modge podged a little scapbook paper into the back.

Just a few simple touches and it changed so much!

Now....on to CHRISTMAS!!

A "thanksgiving-ish" wreath...

Halloween is officially over.  

It was time to take down all the black and orange stuff.

I really don't have a ton of Thanksgiving decor.

A great excuse to make something new!!

I LOVE the look of square wreaths.

A project that would only require cardboard,

leaves, and the trusty glue gun!!

It only took a 1/2 and hour,

start to finish!

Here are the instructions...

in a condensed version.

Tuesday's Tip

It's November!!!  Yay!  I love November....

I love the chill in the air!

It makes me want to fire up the oven and make something yummy.

So, since I'm ready to be spending alot of time in my kitchen,

I thought I would share a fun kitchen tip. 

I always get annoyed when I am wiping up the cupboards and I come across a crusty spot that I have to sit and scrub at.....or when I am doing dishes and have to change my dishcloth for a scrubbie to get off something that's caked on.   

Here's an awesome solution!

Here's what you need:  Green scouring pad (I found a pack of 5 at the Dollar Store)

Dish cloths. ( You can find these there as well if you need some fresh ones,

or just use what you have)

Cut a small square of the scouring pad....and sew it onto a corner of your dish cloth.  Just zig zag around it...It doesn't have to be pretty.

That's it!  When you find a dreaded crusty spot, you already have a scrubbie in your hand. 

Just find the corner and scrub away.

{Drab to Fab}

Don't you LOVE taking old, ugly things and making them look fabulous??

I DO TO!!

This is my latest project.......an old ugly lamp I found at the D.I.

 It clearly needed just a little love.....

All it took was a few coats of silver spray paint on the lamp base, with a light coat over the shade...and a few hours (well, it seemed more like many hours) of rolling flowers out of silver satiny material that I grabbed at Walmart.  (It took 2 yards total) 

I just glued them on with my glue gun. 

 

Ta Da!  Drab to FAB!!!



Paper Mache Witches Hat

Ever want to make something fun, but don't want to go to the store and spend money on supplies?

Ya, me too. 

That was my challenge with this project....to use only what I had on hand.

I wanted an embellished witches hat....only,  I didn't have a hat.

So I made my own...out of paper mache.

I am NOT an expert in paper mache...{I think I've only made a couple pinatas...that's it}

I'm sure there is a more accurate way...but here's what I did.

I started with a piece of cardboard...and cut it into a ring for the brim of the hat.

Then I gathered the rest of my supplies....duct tape, newspaper, and a bowl of flour and water mixed into a runny paste. 

I made a tube out of the newspaper that fit into the ring of the hat and duct taped it so it was the right size to fill it up.

Next step....cut around the newspaper every couple of inches about 2 inches down, and tape it in place with duct tape.  Go all around the ring. . 

 It doesn't have to be pretty

It should look like this.  A long tube.

Now form the newspaper into the shape you want. 

I wanted mine to have a little character, so I made it kind of funky with a bend to it. 

Now, using lots of duct tape, tape it up so it holds that shape.

Then start covering your mold with small strips of newspaper that you drench in the paste.

It is MESSY....so put something under you.  Yuck.

I did 3 layers, letting it dry completely in between, so it won't mold.

Now paint and decorate!

{the funnest part} 

I used what I had and made some flowers out of burlap.

I also threw on a piece of beaded garland I had laying around.

Set it on top of a candle stick for a little height, and you're done!