Frame Repurposing

While I love to show off my kid's artwork....this 'clothesline' type spot behind my table was beginning to bother me. It always looks messy. And when you open my front door, it is directly in your line of vision.  But, I also use this to hang Christmas cards and things on too at different times of the year...so I knew I couldn't get rid of it all together. Then I saw an excellent idea in a Woman's Day from 2012 that I'd ripped out....

So, I went down to the local Salvation Army store and found the biggest frame I could find. They had this beauty for $13! (outside dimensions: 43x31 inches) I set to work. I removed the print, pulled off the gold foil covering the frame and sprayed a coat of Kilz on top. Then I started to paint it silver. In the middle of painting it silver I decided I wanted to keep it white....so I started back with the Kilz primer! :)

I finished up with a coat of white spray paint, and stapled in some chicken wire. In the idea from the magazine, she was hanging cards with what they were thankful with for the Thanksgiving holiday. I will probably do that with the family too...and it will look great with Christmas cards!

Pallet Wood Ornament

This is one way that I am passing on a legacy of homemade Christmas to my children: I make an ornament each year to give to family. This means that my children each have at least as many ornaments as they are old! I am really enjoying doing it and they are enjoying putting them on individual trees in their room each Christmas season!

This years ornament was inspired by some I saw for sale at the Daisy Festival this year. They ended up completely different than what I saw there, but I love to improvise! :)

I cut lengths of pallet wood, sanded and stained them. Then I used ModgePodge to attach a paper to the front that has the names of Jesus all over it. I scoured the craft store and did not find a manger that was bold enough, so I used some scrap stamp rubber to make my own manger stamp and stamped it in brown ink on the front. Then I drilled two holes in the top, used clothesline wire (because that is what I had and I hate running to the store for more stuff when I can use what I already have!) through the holes and twisted them around with my jewelry pliers. The last touch was a little bow made of twine that I tied on one end of the wire. I am so excited about the result!

Cork Christmas Tree

 I made three of these and gifted two to my Mom and Sister for Christmas over the weekend! They were quick and easy, and they turned out better than I ever thought!

I had my mom and friends collect corks for me, and then cut them all to about a inch and a quarter length. Then I rubbed a few in some metallic ink pads I had (silver, copper, gold) and one in brown. I hot glued the triangle for the tree and a twine bow on top for hanging. Then I cut a trunk to a point and glued it to the bottom. I am really enjoying the natural look and it pops on the tree.

Pallet Christmas Tree

 My husband picked up this pallet from me in the trash pile down the street because I had seen some great Christmas trees at the craft fair I went to recently. Then I looked online and found an idea that I knew would be just right for me.
So we cut the pallet, increasing 2 inches on either side, to look like a tree and removed the back boards. The middle piece is 4x4 and perfect for a sturdy stand, so we left it just like it was.








Then I stained the middle piece with a mahogany stain (painting carefully between the slats). Next I used a little white paint I had left from a house project, mixed it with water, and did a little whitewash on the slats.

After that, I had to decide on lettering, and ended up choosing to use my Cricut to cut vinyl and and adhered it to use as a stencil. I spaced them out, gave the letters one good coat of brown paint and let it dry.









Lastly, I cut a few twigs, formed a star with wire on the tips, nailed a little nail in the top section and hung the star on it. (I figured that little star would never make it in and out of the attic without breaking apart, so I wanted to be able to remove it and put it away safely!)


Now I just have to wait until after Thanksgiving to be able to display it!!!

Crocheted Stockings

When we got out the Christmas stuff this year, we did not have enough for all four of our kids to have matching ones. So we have two pairs of two that match, displayed alternatingly. Then we have the issue of Curt wanting to use the one that I crocheted for him back in our first year of marriage (green, white and blue in pic) which never matches and that only bothers me! I decided to try to make a matching set for all the people in our family, so I bought red, off white and green yarns. Then I searched online and found a pattern to help me get started...and though it was not the same, it was helpful. Since the green was not the same color - figures! - I decided to introduce some deeper red scrap yarn I had too...that way the one I made years ago doesn't stand out as being totally different. I made three, but have two more to go. And just over a week to do it.....

Quilled Christmas Scene

I made this a year or two ago, but I realized I don't think I ever showed it to everyone! I had a little frame that was a shadow box type, no spot for glass, just a back. I put paper on the back of the frame that had just a bit of pattern to it, then put it back in place. Then I made a few Christmas quilling items to fill the spots. I knew I wanted a manger scene on the bottom space, because of the size of it, long length & short height, but had no idea waht to do with the rest. I decided to fill it with other traditional Christmas things: stocking, wreath, and poinsettia. Last year I remember not having a spot for it and feeling like I was frustrated by that, but this Christmas I cleared off my photo shelves and piled them with lots of decorations, and this was the perfect spot for my quilled Christmas scene.

Milk Jug Snowflakes

The kids and I made these recycled milk jug snowflakes, way before Christmas, to hang in the yard. I love them because I know they will NEVER disintegrate since they are made from a milk jug, and they were a fun way to decorate the yard without lights. We just cut a jug or two apart and used the flat sections to cut these shapes. My kids are young, and could only cut a simple star shape out.

I tried to use my die cutter to do one of these, but it was not strong enough to go through the plastic. It did make an impression on it that I was easily able to easily follow and cut with my scissors this shape. I also made a free handed one, and took close-up photos of both, but am having problems with Blogger photo uploads and will not be posting the close up photos of those. I love how well they showed up.

Manger Magnets

I had an idea I couldn't help but get to doing today! I took one of those magnets from off the front of phone books and removed all the paper off the front. To do it, I peeled off the original picture and was left with a bunch of white. Then I wet it and scraped it off with one of those Pampered Chef brown square plastic scraper-things.

Once I got it down to black, I cut the stable, manger and star out and put it on the fridge and here it is!

I am glad I practiced up on my paper cutting earlier in the year, or I don't think I would have attempted this project. It was quick and easy though with an exacto blade and a cutting mat. These magnets are really thin and easy to work with.

My plan for this magnet set is to put it on my mailbox (which is also white) and I think if it can survive the wind & cold out there, that is just where it will stay! I love the look of the black sillouette and the simplicity of it, and had been wanting to decorate up the mailbox for Christmas. But if it won't stay put out there on the mailbox, it's coming back in for the fridge! :)

5 Minute Snowballs

I made a few of these 5-minute ornaments today.

I found this frilly, white yarn, some crochet cotton, and a bow-maker in my craft closet.

Then I made a pom-pom. For those who don't know how that works, I took a photo. I used my bow-maker to hold the yarn. Wrapped it around 50 times, and then tied a doubled over piece of crochet thread tightly around the center (I left the loop on the crochet thread long and used it to hang it on the branch). Then I cut the ends, so there weren't any loops on the frilly yarn, fluffed (I recommend doing this outside, it was really messy!)

They show up so well on the tree and were so easy and my little girly-girl loves it!

Kanzashi Butterfly Ornament

I have started working on Christmas ornaments! I like to give a different one each year and I am bound & determined to have them finished for the season. This is not the one I'm making to give everyone, and I had never made one of these, so I thought I'd share a photo:

It is made with fabric, using a kanzashi fold. The larger wings are simply a larger square of fabric. Then you put a string through the wings at the bottom (order: small, lg, lg, small) the same way you would a kanzashi flower petal and they gather together to make the shape of the butterfly. I hot glued on a piece of black cording I had that is kind-of flat and put a hanging string through the back of one of the large wings.

I know I hung it on a pineapple plant...I do like to put my Christmas tree up early....but even I can't do it this early!

Christmas Card Ribbon

I have been wanting to do a little greenery in our house. For one, I love the look of live greenery. For two, we use an artificial tree, so I wanted a little green-smell. For three, the rosemary grows like a weed, and we have a bunch of it.

So I pulled out these ribbons that we used in the church when we got married, wired together a little trimmings and put them on either end of a ribbon that I'm using to fill an empty wall and to display the Christmas cards this year. I like it! The greenery really adds a lot to it.

You will see in the bottom of this photo that we have a fun recent purchase! Anyone want to come over for a game of shuffleboard!?

Recycled Ornament IV

Another envelope craft! This was red & white. I thought it was perfect for Christmas! I did every other scalloped circle red and added the ribbon. See two posts below for the other sample!

Recycled Envelope Ornament III

Another ornament from recycled envelopes. I am really enjoying these! 10 punches from the scalloped circle punch, folded into triangles, glued the edges together. There are lots of samples of these out there, but mine are almost FREE!

Angel Ornament

My mom sent me this idea. Fun, and didn't require much time or any stamping. It was meant to be a tag, but I made it an ornament instead. The dress is just a section of the scalloped circle punch. The wings are vellum and the head a simple, 1/2 inch, circle punch.

Tags

I was in the mood today, inspired by the upcoming Christmas holiday, conversations with friends, and a few paper magazines. These are the ones I created....

I need to get a "to/from" stamp or two from the store this week!

Recycled Envelope Ornament II

My second ornament made from recycled envelopes. I have kept these envelopes aside because I love the rich mustard color of the pattern, and thought they would be a great ornament. I punched 5 scalloped circles from the envelope, folded them in half and glued them together. Before gluing the last one on, I put the wire on the inside of the middle. Then added the beads to the bottom of the wire and made a little loop on the top. Easy, simple ornament...made almost for free!

Recycled Envelope Ornaments

I saw an ornament in a magazine that gave me this idea....



I cut strips of an envelope in about 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch lengths, then folded them in half twice to get crisp creases. Then I unfolded them only once and glued the bottom half of each side to the next strip. Then glued the strips all together in the center with a 1/2 inch circle on the front. You can see (I hope!) that the difference between the two is the pattern in on the inside of one and on the outside of the other.

What do you think? Cool, or cheesy?

Ornament Trio Card

I got the inspiration for this card here. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1078313?cat=all&what=keywords&si=CCC08

It's supposed to be three ornaments. Sometimes they just do not look as good in real life as they do in my head! I stamped the three ornaments on ivory paper in burgundy ink. Then I colored them in with pencils. I punched out the three circles wiith the only size circle punch I had (I think it looks much better in the example with different sizes). I stamped on the burgundy bow and used a ruler and marker for the hangers. Then stamped the grey cardstock with the linen background and Versa Mark Ink and a sentiment. I put the ornaments in place and then glued down the grey piece to a burgundy card. Ta da!

Santa Ball

Is this an old idea and I've just never seen it? I thought these were so cute when I saw them recently. Then I ran across a sleeve of 5 red balls for $1 today and snatched them up. There were 3 shiny ones and 2 fuzzy ones. This is one of the fuzzy ones. It takes about 2 minutes to make one. So simple & so Christmas! I'm excited about the season already!

Cut a strip of about 1/2 inch black paper (8 inches long) and a square of metallic gold paper a little bigger than the strip is wide. Glue the gold square to the end of the paper with part of it sticking off the end, so three sides have gold edges. Then attach the black paper around the width of the ball. I used SNAIL adhesive to attach it all....I have never used it on a project like this, so we'll see if it holds around that circle.

Funky Color Christmas

I feel this is similar to the my last post (the same stamp sets), but different enough to include. I love the Green Galore and Regal Rose for a 'sassy' Christmas card! I stamped the stars from Background Basics and the tree (from Year After Year) in Green Galore, and colored in the tree with my blender pens and ink pads. Then I cut a Regal Rose strip and stamped the sentiment from Holidays & Wishes in Regal Rose on it. I wanted something extra on the strip, so I inked only part of the background stamp in Rose and added it to the strip, near the Merry Christmas. Isn't it fun?!