Crafty Christmas

After six years of setting up Christmas, Ben and I have accumulated quite a lot of decorations.  I certainly have my favorites and also try to mix it up every year. This year, I wanted to get a little crafty.  I have not done this previously and have had a couple things in mind the last couple of years.  So, I got the supplies out.

The Branch-Twig Tree
I have wanted to do this for a couple of years.  It was so easy, I am not sure why I didn't.  My dad gathered (or maybe cut down) a nice branch for me that I then spray painted a warm white.  You could leave it natural too.  I glittered some of it, then stuck it in a $2 pot (which I also spray painted, sanded and glittered).  Then I added some 50 cent and $1 ornaments.

I am trying to keep the dining room neutral with golds, silvers and whites.  I added a book theme (you'll see) so I put this potted tree on a couple of books borrowed from the spare bedroom.

The Pottery Barn Book Wreath
OH MAN.  I saw this in their catalog last year and have wanted to make it sooooo bad.  It wasn't for sale, it was just a prop in one of their bedrooms.  I found a great tutorial here.  It was so easy, I made two.  I love it so much, I may find somewhere to keep them all year.

 Supplies gathered, a pizza box, a 50 cent book from Goodwill and some liquid fuel...oh and a glue gun.

 A colorful treat always helps the creative juices flow.

Lastly, the Better Homes and Garden yarn ball wreath:
Seriously, I have never been a wreath girl before.  This will be the first time we have had one hanging inside our house.  We typically keep to the Christmas door wreath.  But, when I saw this wreath, I thought it looked easy, cheap and my Mom convinced me it would in fact go with "our decor."  I love it.  Stella even tried to help me make yarn balls.  It was cute, but I have no pictures as the battery died.

 You can't see in the picture, but some of the yarn balls were made with a silver, sparkly yarn (fun!).

The Hungry Caterpillar

I try to think of something creative for Stella to do every week other than just painting and drawing.  She loves to have art time, but she is definitely more engaged with a goal.  I found this on another blog and thought it would be perfect for her!

What's that?  You noticed that the top cabinets have finally been painted too? Oh, yes, that is one of the things I have been working on!  And we have finished all the kitchen but scraping the ceiling and repainting it.  Soon, before and after pictures.  Soon.

Just Another DIY

Ok, as you know by now, I love making my own, cheaper Pottery Barn "looks."  I saw this cool wire display for walls and thought it would be the perfect solution to my fridge problem.

Stella loves hanging her art as much as I do, BUT I am not crazy about the way the fridge looks, plus they fall down if the right magnet isn't chosen.

So I bought this...all for under $10 (yea!)

 I strung the clips on my picture wire...

 ...fixed the wire to screws...(sorry Ben, I know you hate putting holes in the wall, but I am the one who usually patches them anyway!)

 There are so many ways you could make this pretty.  I saw some people (in the blog world) use knobs.  I chose these because they were half off, cool looking, and the 'C' and '7' just happened to be in bright colors.

Yea for Art!!!

$2.99

This table was $2.99.

I HAD TO BUY IT.  Seriously?  $2.99?  Granted, this picture does not do the dirt and peeling paint justice.  But, it took me about 10 minutes to clean it and then lightly scrape/sand any loose paint away.  The table I originally picked up for Stella from a garage sale, just didn't fit the space right (so sell it for twice as much on Craig's List, right?).

The drawer did not have a knob before. So, I picked this sweet glass knob up from Hobby Lobby.  When they have a 50% off on knobs (which doesn't happen often), you should seriously buy enough knobs for your entire house.  They are cheaper than the basic knob at Home Depot or Lowe's but unique.

 It is a flower; perfect for her room.

Taking Pottery Barn

I REALLY wanted these prints for the spare bedroom.  They were in the Pottery Barn Catalog for the last year.

 So....I made these...

 I still have two more typewriters to make.  It is tedious work.

A Safety Project

 

 So...this is a problem.  Actually, I am not sure you can see the problem.  It is not that the baby is on the first step...I am ok with that.  The problem is that the baby likes to follow the toddler through the balusters up stairs.  If you look closely, you will see that Stella actually has a leg hanging out. 

Just between the first step and the second step is the problem. My solution: an old shower curtain.  I loved this shower curtain, but it doesn't really go in the kids' bathroom.  It is nice to see it again.

 Cut two squares of fabric the length you need and don't forget to make sure it is long enough to make it around the balusters.  Always best to leave a little extra!

 The holes where the shower rings go are going to become button holes; 

so make sure that they are on the "length."

 Finish your edges (I guess you wouldn't have to do this actually).

 Gather up some old buttons.  You know you have these stuffed in drawers here and there.  I have trouble throwing them away with every shirt I buy.

 Sew the button on the other side where it would meet the shower ring hole.  Make sure it is tight.  We do not want a baby girl sliding it down!

 VOILA!  I turned it around after this photo so the buttons were on the inside.  So far so good!  The baby has been unsuccessful on getting up the stairs!

Like it a Lot

Simple, easy, cheap, but I like it a lot.

First, buy a cheap frame...like $2 from Goodwill.   Punch out the glass and dated picture.

Get yo'self some supplies from a craft store; sample paint from a hardware store. 

Mmm...loving this color.

Now, this part is important.  DO NOT leave the sample paint on a table where a toddler could climb on a chair and stretch across to reach the paint pod, where she would then open it, accidentally spill it on the one year old carpet, and then cry because it got on her finger, all while Mama is getting a drink for a baby (we are talking like a minute people).

 I had to "mess" mine a little bit with some sand paper.  Screw hooks in on sides, then thread the frame wire and snip, snip, snip.

It is good for special cards from Grammies and pictures...

Or a toddlers artwork...preferably done on paper, not carpet.

 *note: carpet eventually did come clean of bright aqua paint the diameter of a melon with lots of water and soaking.

She's Crafty

With our kitchen soon on it's way to being all white (beautiful!) I am working in splashes of color.  The girls' chalkboard is a lime green.  The curtains are red.  I thought the "EAT" could use some sprucing.  I fell in love with the fabric covered letters from Anthropologie.  Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately) they were all out of E A T.  So, I made my own.

Buy some cheap wooden letters and some fabric.  Lay the letter on the fabric and cut around it.  Then begin hot gluing the fabric to the wood.

E is for Esme.

I am a little unsure about the fabric on the E...but I loved the colors and the "bigger picture" of the print.  

I am pretty happy with end result though.