Homespun Rag Ball Ornaments

December 20, 2015March 25, 2018Leave a comment

This year, I wanted to do a small little tree for the dining room.

A simple homespun tree with strung cranberries and hand-made ornaments.

I had grand ideas and a galvanized pail.

But reality hit, a long with the cold and flu, which knocked me out for a week.

It took my creativity level down to a one.

And sad to say… My small little tree didn’t get done.

I did string the cranberries… (a first for me)

They were so bright and colorful. I loved the look and took lots of pictures.

After a week or so, the cranberries started getting a mushy.

So… I put them out on the tree in the front yard for the birds to eat.

It looks pretty out there too.

Next time, I’ll make them last minute.

For the Rag Ball Ornaments…

Instead of just wrapping the strips of fabric until it formed a ball,

I made the rag ball using a Smoothfoam 2-Inch ball*.

Supplies used: (*affiliate link)

- Smoothfoam 12-Pack Balls Crafts Foam for Modeling, 2-Inch, White*
- Fabric Scraps
- Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue*
- Paintbrush
- Twine
- Ribbon
- Sanding Block*
- Craft Glue*

Directions:

Lightly sand the ridge around the ball.
Cut the fabric into 3/4″ strips.
Apply Mod Podge onto the back of the fabric and adhere to the ball.
Continue until the ball is fully covered.
Add an additional coat of Mod Podge over the ball to finish and seal.
Poke a hole on the top of the ball and add a dab or glue into the hole.
Insert twine into the hole to use as the ornament hanger.
Embellish ornament by gluing a bow on top.

Wouldn’t a whole bowl of rag balls would be cute? (maybe next year)

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Smoothfoam and uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Christmas in a Pickle Jar

December 6, 2015November 21, 201816 Comments

Christmas Crafting with Repurposed and Recycled Items…

Sometimes you have to find and save something for awhile before their purpose is revealed.

Like the base used on my Christmas in a pickle jar. (the inspiration for this project)

This past summer we had a new ceiling fan installed in my son’s room.

It was flush mounted to the ceiling, so, they didn’t use all of the parts that came with the kit.

I came across the unused parts in the garbage and decided to save them.

FYI…It’s not hoarding if you use them. (I’m just saying.)

Because I wanted to be informative when writing this post,

I emailed my brother for the correct name of the part. I am told it is called a canopy.

I glued the canopy onto the jar using Beacon Glass, Metal & More Premium Glue*.

Here’s what I used for my Christmas in a Pickle Jar:

Small Pickle Jar
Canopy (base)
Old Knob
Black Spray Paint*
Cream Bottle Brush Trees* (*affiliate link)
Plaid Ribbon
Wood Deer Cut-out
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Vintage Photo*
Ink Applicator & Blending Tool*
Small Bottle Brush Wreath
Adhesives
Epsom Salt*
Beacon Glass, Metal & More Premium Permanent Glue*

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

I painted the pickle jar lid and the old knob with semi gloss black spray paint.

I added a circle cut from a decorative scrapbooking paper and glued it onto my lid before

gluing on the knob. (I could have added a hole and screwed on the knob, this was easier.)

I spruced up the plain little wreath by adding a new bow and jingle bell and a small holly

berry embellishment. I added the ribbon to the neck of the jar before gluing on the wreath.

The little wood deer would of looked fine just as it came.

Instead, I decided to rub brown ink onto the deer to give it a stained look.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Inkpad* with a Ink Applicator & Blending Tool* (*affiliate link)

To make installing the deer a little easier, I glued the finished deer onto the front of one

of the trees before I placed it in the jar.

The Cream Bottle Brush Trees* come with a little wood base.

I added a super sticky craft glue dot under the base of each Cream Bottle Brush Tree*

before adding to my jar.

You can use a liquid glue instead of the sticky glue dots. (this was just faster and easier for me)

Next, I added Epson Salts into my jar for snow.

A great Holiday Gift Idea.

Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

November 28, 2015November 3, 20213 Comments

No matter how you decorate for the Holidays…Shabby, Homespun, Country or Cute.

You can easily customize these Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments to fit your personal style.

Easy to make and sure to impress.

How To make Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

Finished Size : 3”

Materials Used:

3″ Foam Ring*
3 yards of Ribbon (1/4” or 3/8”)
1/8″ Scor-Tape*
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive*
Jingle Bell and Jump Ring
Adhesive Pearls*
Mini Bottle Brush Trees
Computer Generated Greeting printed on Cream Card-stock
Burlap or Scrapbook Paper Backing
Thin Metallic Trim for Hanging
Chipboard*
Scissors

Directions:

Apply a strip of 1/8″ adhesive around the outside edge of the Smoothfoam wreath. This keeps the ribbon securely in place while wrapping.
Wrap ribbon tightly around wreath. When you’ve wrapped the ribbon half way around wreath add the jump ring with jingle bell to ribbon so that it hangs on the bottom of the wreath and continue wrapping. When finished wrapping the ribbon, glue ribbon end onto back of wreath.
Add metallic ribbon trim on top of the wreath as the ornament hanger.
Glue mini bottle brush tree inside wreath.
Glue a piece of burlap or scrapbook paper onto a piece of chipboard and cut into a circle that will cover the inside of the wreath and glue to the back of the wreath.
Print a computer generated greeting on to a piece of cream card-stock. Cut down to size and notch out both ends to create a banner.
Give the banner a quick wave using your fingers and glue onto the bottom of the wreath.
Add adhesive pearls on to the wreath.
Add bow on the top of the wreath to finish it off.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Etched Snowflake Candy Jar

November 19, 2015June 7, 20182 Comments

When it comes to the Holidays I love Quick and Easy Gift Ideas.

For the Snowflake Candy Jar…

I used a small canning jar etched with snowflakes and filled with candy.

It’s a project that I was able to put together in under a half hour.

To make the Snowflake Candy JAR…

etchall Etching Creme*
etchall etchmask*
etchall® Squeegee*
snowflake punch
ribbon
greenery craft stem
jingle bell and jump ring
red button and twine
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive*

Punch a strip of Snowflakes using etchmask™ vinyl and a snowflake punch.
Carefully cover the jar with the vinyl.
Make sure to burnish the vinyl to get out air bubbles and to make sure the all edges all down.
Apply a thick coat of Etchall over the snowflake cut out using the squeegee.
Wait 15 minutes. Scrape excess etching crème from the side of the jar and return extra etching crème back into the bottle. (it’s reusable)
Rinse jar with warm water to clean.
Remove Stencil and dry.
Add adhesive rhinestones to the center of each snowflake.
Wrap craft stem around the neck of the jar and glue on a red button.

Cut a small circle from decorative scrapbook paper and adhere to lid of the jar.
Embellish jar with greenery stem, jingle and bow.

This would make a great Teacher, Hostess, Bunco, or Gift Exchange Gift.

This project was created for and sponsored by Etchall®.

Don’t Miss a Thing…Make Sure to Follow me.

Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

How to make a Frosted Pinecone Wreath

October 26, 2015August 6, 20211 Comment

Autumn has come to the Midwest bringing with it crisp air and colorful leaves.

I’ve even given up my flip flops for socks and shoes…

I like Autumn.

Really I do. (If only it’d turn right back into Summer.)

Now that I’ve given up on Summer, I thought I’d better start with my Fall Decorations.

I like making projects that serve more than one purpose.

Like this Pinecone wreath. After I’m done with my Fall Decorations…

I plan on adding red berries and re-making it into a Christmas Wreath.

How to Make a Frosted Pine Cone Wreath…

You’ll need:

14″ Smoothfoam Wreath
Assortment of Pinecones
White Spray Paint
Craft Moss
Craft Glue
Hot Melt Gun and Glue
Ribbon and Raffia
Thin Wire

Directions:

Gather an assortment of various sizes of pinecones.
Spray one side of the pinecones with white spray paint.
Glue Moss onto Smoothfoam Wreath. (leave the outside of the wreath bare)
Hot Glue and wire larger pinecones onto the wreath first.
Fill in the Wreath with the smaller pinecones.
Tie Ribbon around the outside of the wreath.
Add raffia bow.

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Etching for Fall

October 15, 2015September 24, 2017Leave a comment

I picked up this very old bottle at a yard sale…

The story with this bottle is that the guy bought a collection of old medicine bottles from the

early 1900’s that came from the old Bartonville State Mental Hospital.

If your not from around here, rumor is, the old State Hospital is haunted.

I believe the show “Ghost Hunters” did an episode there.

So… that and the fact that it was only $2.00 had me intrigued.

The old bottle was in rough shape.

When I tried removing the cork, it pretty much disintegrated on the spot.

To breath new life into the old bottle…

I masked the top and the bottom of the bottle with removable painters tape and added

a thick coat of etchall Etching Creme*. (*affiliate link)

After waiting 15 minutes, I removed the excess etching crème and put the excess back

in the container. I rinsed the bottle with warm water and let dry.

(make sure to read the instructions on the bottle of etching crème.)

To give the bottle a little Fall color…

I used a StazOn Ink Pad, Orange Zest* and rubbed the ink over the bottle.

The ink only adheres to the etched area.

To finish the look, I added a rub-on decoration to the front of the bottle with

a little raffia and key around the neck.

A new look for a very old bottle.

This project was created for and sponsored by Etchall®.

Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Preserving Summer Memories

September 7, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

I’m holding on to Summer as long as I can.

This summer Nicholas learned how to swim the entire length of the pool without the aid

of a floatie and he learned how to float on his back.

Warren learned how to jump off the side of the pool.

Pretty impressive when you consider they’re only 4 and 1 1/2.

Nicholas loves the water, we call him a polar bear because it doesn’t matter how

cold the water is.

Yesterday… we had our last pool party of the season. Thanks to a little 95º heat wave.

I’m going to miss summer.

My Summer Layout uses:

Simple Stories Collections: Summer Vibes and Freedom
Bo Bunny’s Boardwalk

Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Colorful Chalkboard Frame for Kids and grownups

August 23, 2015May 27, 2017Leave a comment

A simple paint and stencil project, fun for kids or grown ups.

I decided to finish painting this colorful Rustic Pallet Frame* that I started working on

yesterday evening. As the name suggests, the frame is rustic and somewhat rough.

Because I was planning on stenciling on it… I sanded the front of the frame to make it smoother.

I wasn’t worried about making it completely smooth.

The Colorful Chalkboard Frame would be a great project to make with the kiddos.

Directions to make the Colorful Chalkboard Frame:

Sand the front of the frame.
Paint the frame with white acrylic paint.
Paint the top of each pallet section with different acrylic colors. Sort of a modified rainbow.
Because the stencil had four unique patterns, I decided each color needed its own pattern.
Mask off each section of the wood before stenciling.
Stencil using a stipple brush and white acrylic paint.
Allow to dry completely
To mute to colors: Lightly sand the frame with a sanding block. (optional)
For an added sheen: Apply clear crème wax to front of frame, allow to sit for one hour and buff.
I added a small chalkboard to the inside of the frame.

Supplies Used: (*affiliate link)

Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet Frame, 11 by 12 by 2-Inch*
DecoArt Americana Mixed Media Stencil, 12 by 12-Inch, Retro Mod*
Deco Art American Acrylic Paints: White Wash, Watermelon Slice, Marigold, Foliage Green, French Grey Blue
Paintbrush
Americana Creme Wax 2Oz-Clear*
Sanding Block
Clean soft cloth
Small Chalkboard

*Thanks to Walnut Hollow and DecoArt for providing the materials used on this frame.

For more Summer fun with the kids…click on SIime Ad below.

Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Creating a Decorative Display Board for all my Little Pretties

July 29, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

My project started as a Memo Board and…

While I was looking for some push pins I stumbled across a collection of little pretties.

Tucked away in a cabinet along with a lot of other embellishments were these little

metal frames. Something that I’d been hoarding since my K & Company days.

I added those frames along with some other little pretties onto my board. (Love!)

To make my Memo/Display Board I used: (*amazon affiliate link)

Smoothfoam 12 x 12 Scrapbook Page Mount
Wood Laser Cut Frame
Gingham Material
American Crafts Homegrown Layered Flowers*
Cream Acrylic Paint and Paintbrush
Craft Knife, Cutting Mat and Ruler
Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive*
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive*

Directions:

Paint wood frame with cream acrylic paint.
Cut the Smoothfoam sheet a 1/4″ larger than the center opening of the frame.
Apply spray adhesive to the front of the Smoothfoam and lay onto the fabric.
Wrap and glue the fabric around the back of the Smoothfoam.
Glue the frame onto the front of the covered Smoothfoam.
Decorate the top and bottom of the frame with dimensional flowers.

*My little pretties are stuck into the display board with decorative garment pins.

A really fast and easy project.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

Kindness Matters

July 10, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

Kindness Matters. All Day. Every Day.

This card was made using Art Play Paintables and Blender Basics.

I water colored the image using a waterbrush and a variety of inks from markers and inkpads.

Happy Friday Everyone!

*Disclosure: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!