DIY Wooden Letters as Gifts

One of the simplest, most fun gifts to make for yourself or someone else is a wooden letter purchased at any craft store and embellished with scrap book paper, mod podge, and fun little novelty items.  Here are a few that I just gave as Christmas gifts:

e

Fun and easy to personalize!  It's also fun to make words like "Play", "Imagine", or "Create" using the same concept.  In fact, I am planning to remodel my spare room and want to make a "Play" sign - I hope to show you soon.

Do you like making letters also?  Have you made any words?  Please share your pictures!

More Adventures of Sniffy the Elf

Just a few more pictures of Sniffy the Elf.  He will be leaving soon to go back to the North Pole.  He has been so much fun again this year.  He has brought coloring sheets, games, crafts and sweet surprises.  He has played card games with Sponge Bob, took a ride on a reindeer and rocked Baby Jesus. 

What has YOUR elf been up to lately? 

White Christmas Vignette

I love mostly white Christmas vignettes.  I also love bottle brush trees - I found a lot of them at the Dollar Tree.  Combine them on a shelf and throw in a cute little snowman under a glass cloche and there ya go!

Do you like white Christmas displays?  Bottle brush trees?  Cloches?  Please share.

Sniffy the Elf and the Scavenger Hunt

So, now that Sniffy the Elf has returned, he is already up to his old tricks.  He first perched on a brass horn to get a good look at the family.  Then, we noticed that he was holding a small card which then led the kids on a scavenger hunt around the house.  The card said to look under the Christmas pillow, then the next card said to look under the dog bed, the next one said to look under the Christmas Snoopy decoration, then finally they were led to a candy treat.  It was SO much fun.  What will he do next?

What is YOUR elf up to?

Welcome Sniffy the Elf!

Last year, thanks to my youngest daughter, we added an Elf to our family.  One of my grand-daughter's named him Sniffy.  He got in to lots and lots of mischief last year and we loved looking for him and anticipating all the silliness he would get into.  Everyone has been anxiously awaiting his return.  Our Elf always arrives on Thanksgiving Day, so he is back and we look forward to another fun time with him!

He is sitting next to his mailbox where he sometimes leaves little surprises or treats.  It's going to be a fun time!

My take on a bundt pan wreath

One of the blogs I love to read is "Chipping With Charm".  Laurel always has a fun and unique way to use everyday items.  Recently, she posted about using a bundt pan as a wreath for Fall.  You can find the link to her post here.  Be sure to visit her site often for inspiration.

When I found this old bundt pan in my dad's basement, I immediately knew that I wanted to try Laurel's idea.  I just painted it "pumpkin orange", tied some twine around it for hanging, and added a book page leaf and a wire spiral for a "stem".  It is a fun and quirky addition to my fall decor.

I love using unexpected items in my decor.  Has anyone else made a bundt pan wreath?  Or a Fall wreath out of something unusual?  Share your ideas here!

Burlap Fall Banner

My mantel needed some extra "Fall", so I made a banner.  I used burlap triangles clipped on to some yellow string with clothes pins.  I then embellished it with both silk and scrap paper leaves.  I also used coordinating scrap paper cut into squares and wrote the words "fall" and "blessings" with marker.  I ran across a paperback book of Charlie Brown's "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".  Some of the pages were missing so it was not going to be an option to keep for the grandkids, so I cut out the page with Linus waiting in the pumpkin patch and clothes pin clipped it on along with an excerpt from the book:

"Each year on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere and flies through the air with his pack of toys for all the good little children in the world."

Planning to post soon about the bundt pan wreath as well.  Have you made any Fall banners?  Please share!

No-Fuss Fall Table Decor

Sometimes, decor can just be, well . . . simple.  Simple is no stress, simple is easy on the eye, simple is uncluttered.  Simple makes a statement.  For instance, a simple pumpkin sitting on an orange cloth, sitting on a pedestal, surrounded by a grapevine wreath - lovely.  No special skills required, just layer and admire!

What simple ways do you display your pumpkins?

Little White Pumpkin Love

I love little white pumpkins and picked out a cute little one to put under a glass cloche.  I nestled it into a clear custard cup layered with crocheted lace and moss.  A simple but cute vignette.

I love Fall.  Do you like white pumpkins?  Have you used any in your Fall decor this year?

Framed Button Initial

What to do when you need a gift and there is no time to buy one?  Improvise of course!  Use what you have and I had some buttons.  I also had a small wooden frame - I started with that:

I glued a sawtooth picture hanger on the back of it.

Then I painted the frame pink and distressed it a bit.  I then took some leftover pink patterned scrapbook paper and glued that to the back.  Next, I arranged the buttons into a "J" , the initial of the person receiving the gift.  It still needed something, so I glued on a fabric flower that I had in my stash.  Viola - a sweet gift for a sweet girl.

I made a coordinating gift bag to go along with it by simply stenciling a pink flower on a brown paper bag and adding a homemade gift tag.

I like buttons, I always have - they have a certain coziness factor for me.  Do you like buttons?  What kinds of things have you created with them?

A Sibling Baby Gift

So, I had a sweet new great-grand-daughter born and my 5 year old grand-daughter wanted to make a present to give to the baby.  Since her nursery was done in pink frogs, I had my 5 year old gd start by coloring a frog that we found in one of her coloring books.  I then found an old frame in my stash and using the frame backing, I mod podged some pink scrap book paper, then mod podged on the frog.

Then, I painted the frame a soft pink and distressed it.

It looks perfect in the nursery :)

Have you ever thought to do pink frogs in a nursery?  How about sibling gifts - any great ideas?  Please share!

A Couple of Shabby Projects

First up is an old tool box that I painted and distressed and filled with flowers.  I like to change out the flowers to match the season or the holiday.  It started out like this:

After some painting and distressing with fall flowers:

Here's a close up:

To go along with this, I wanted to make something to cover my fireplace when it was not in use.  I just didn't like the idea of a big, black hole staring at me every day.  I used pallets to make a shabby board which I also painted white and distressed.  I intend to hang different wreaths on the front of it which will also coordinate with seasons and holidays.

Sorry, this wreath is not finished yet, I just wanted to get a feel for the size I needed.  I'll be showing you different views of it throughout the year.

How about you?  If you have an old tool box, what do you use it for?  I've seen a lot of different uses for them.  And, if you have a fireplace, do you leave it open all year, fill it with candles or other decor, or find something decorative to cover the hole?

Upcycled Picture Frame

Here is a little project that I made for my grandson using an old picture frame that I found collecting dust in my basement.  I cleaned up the frame and painted it.  Then I added some coordinating scrap book paper for the background.  I painted the frame two colors (orange and baby blue).  Next, I wanted to add a colored binder clip so that either a photo or a drawing that my grandson made could be inserted.  The clip allows the photo or doodle to be changed out often and easily.

 I used an orange paint pen to write his name across the bottom.  I then printed out a little circle describing the frame's purpose.  Here is a close up of the clip and note:

 I presented this to my daughter to celebrate the adoption of her little boy who is a real cutie.

This is a quick and easy gift for birthdays, adoptions, a new baby, or for yourself!  It was fun to make as well.  

Buttons and More for Valentine's Day!

These are both pretty simple crafts to do.  This first one is a button wreath.  I just took a round, press board circle from Michaels - sorry, I forgot to take a picture before I started, this is the back of it, but it looks the same on both sides.  Then I painted it a soft pink color.

Next, I used hot glue and glued on some pink and white heart-shaped buttons.  I glued on the first layer, then just started adding layers until it looked full and not too much of the pink underneath was showing.  See all of the hot glue "strings"?  They pull right off though, so not a problem.

Then I just tied it with a pink yarn ribbon.  Here it is hanging on my china hutch:

Next up is a sweet and quick project even the kids can do.  I just took pink pipe cleaners and taped on scrap paper and foam hearts.  Then I put some styrofoam in the bottom of a tin heart that hangs from the Hoosier Cabinet in my kitchen and stuck them in, really quick!  They look so sweet.

I am just about done with Valentine decor here how about you?  Are you almost finished or just beginning?  Do you have any quick little projects you've whipped up lately?

A Few More Valentine Crafts

Here are a few more simple Valentine crafts I've been working on:

This could NOT be more simple - just pick up some inexpensive chipboard letters, paint them pink, and add silver glitter using Mod Podge.  I then sealed it with a clear sealer to keep the glitter from flaking off.  So cute against the turquoise bowl.

Next, I found this little "tree/topiary" craft on Pinterest:

You can find the tutorial for it here

I followed the directions except that I used a flower on top instead of a heart.  I got the flower at Hobby Lobby in the scrap book section.  Here is how it looks sitting on my dining room table.  I draped vintage hankies over the backs of my chairs and also used one as a doily under the grapevine wreath to add to the overall feel of the room:

I love using vintage finds in decorating and these hankies are perfect.  Do you have any vintage hankies?  How do you incorporate them into your decor?

Valentine Heart Garland

This is simple, quick, and cute - 3 of my favorite things.  All you need is assorted scrapbook papers and some yarn.   I chose 6 different papers, three dark and three light.  Cut out a heart template to use so that all of the hearts will be the same size and shape.  I just folded a piece of printer paper in half and cut half a heart shape, then unfolded it.

Next, use the template to cut out a heart shape from each paper.  Again, I just used my template in half and cut around it, I didn't want to mess with pencil marks.

Once they are all cut out, lay them out in the order you want them to be.  I wanted mine to alternate a dark and then a light colored pattern.

Use a hole punch to make holes in the top for hanging.  I put 2 holes on each side of the heart so they would hang nicely.  Then, run some pretty yarn through the holes and hang where you like.  I hung mine in front of my fireplace mantel.

Cute.  I like how big and chunky they turned out.  Have you made any heart garland yet this season?  Do you like your hearts fat and chunky or small and dainty?

"A Valentine From God"

To begin the Valentine season, I wanted to share a sweet poem which takes one letter from each line of John 3:16 and highlights it to spell "Valentine".  "For God so loVed the world; that he gAve; his one and onLy son; that whoEver; believes iN him; shall noT; perIsh but have; eterNal; liFe."

More Valentine crafts coming soon.

"Chair Bench"

This is what I refer to as a "chair bench".  I've seen a few on Pinterest and in magazines.  This is my version.  The three chairs used are all from my mother's aunt's dining room set.  All three were sitting in my dad's storage room collecting dust.  None of them had seats.  I asked my dad if he would cut and attach a board for the seat (you need to remove and reattach the seat brackets, they just screw on and off).  Then a piece of moulding was added to the front of the board to make it look more finished.  I then painted and distressed the board and stenciled on the pink flowers.  I love the look of it, it fits right in with my shabby chic/cottage decor.  I also like that you can see through it because I have a small house and it makes the space look more open.  For this picture, I had my son hold up a blanket behind it so that it would photograph better.  I love it a lot.  I also love pieces with family history.  Have you remade or upcycled any family heirlooms?  I would love to hear your stories.

Window Screen

This started out as a curbside find.  It was originally a wooden picture frame (I think).  It had no back or picture when it was found.  It would have made a nice mirror, or even a great picture frame, but I saw something completely different.  I have a small kitchen and have tried different window treatments over the years.  I've found some I like, but none that I love.  I've seen so many kitchen windows left bare which I really like.  In fact, the window above my kitchen sink is bare and I love being able to hang a grapevine wreath in the window instead of a curtain of some sort.  My back door is made of glass panes which was purchased from Habitat for Humanity Restore and it is also bare of curtains.  The remaining window needed SOMEthing, but what?  I wanted light to come in through the window, but didn't quite want to leave it bare either.  So, I took my curbside find and painted it the same color red as my kitchen cabinets.  Then, I took some fabric that I had stored in my craft supplies and attached it to the back of the frame.  A staple gun would have been great, but I didn't have one, so I just used packing tape.  I told myself that would be better anyway in case I ever want to wash it, sure.  After that, I just simply propped it in the window and hung another picture on top from the window frame.  It turned out very shabby chic and the perfect fit for my kitchen window. 

Here is the view of the window screen alone.

Here is the view of the entire window.

Here is a close up of the detail at the top - so cute.

Have you used some odd creation for a window treatment?  Do you like your windows bare or with curtains?