Dollar Tree Tree Topper

I decided I wanted a new Christmas Tree Topper this year for no reason other than I did, and makers make right? 

I was originally looking for the kind that have the coil thingy and went to Dollar Tree looking for one to use as a base but they didn't have any. But, makers make right? We also have to adapt and improvise so that's what I did. 

Supplies: 

• 2 Gold Glittered Dollar Tree Star Ornaments (Large)
• Toilet Paper roll...yep...toilet paper roll
• Gold duct tape 
• Gold and Black glitter vinyl (scraps in stash)
• Large bottle cap ( I had in my stash )
• Gold wire
• Hot glue and glue gun

Cost: $2 since I had everything on hand except the Star Ornaments

I covered the  toilet paper roll with duct tape. Using my Silhouette I cut the gold glitter vinyl to fit inside bottlecap and cut the number "25" from black glitter vinyl.  The number works especially well this year since we celebrated our 25th Anniversary earlier in the year but obviously also works for the date of Christmas! 

Now in the spirit of radical honesty, this part didn't go totally as planned. If you look really closely at the bottlecap, you can see the grid lines from the transfer tape because I layered the numbers after I put the circle of vinyl inside the bottlecap. I should have done this before I put the circle in the bottlecap which would have made it easier to get the transfer tape off. At least that's what I'm telling myself. So since I couldn't get the transfer tape off without screwing up my numbers and a lot of swearing, I left the transfer tape on and it looks like ledger paper or something. At least that's what I'm telling myself! 

I marked the toilet paper roll where I was going to glue the stars ( front and back) but to make this contraption sturdier, I used some jewelry wire to secure the two stars together at the top and right and left sides. Then I glued my oopsy bottlecap to the front and done. 

Since I'm just taking down Thanksgiving and we won't get our tree until Friday, I can't show it to you atop a tree but here it is atop the mantle. 

This was my Thanksgiving mantle which I never posted so "Happy After Thanksgiving"!  I update my chalkboard for each holiday but I'm kinda thinking I'll leave this sentiment through Christmas since PhD boy ( man...he's a man...but that doesn't sound the same) comes home on Friday for a month!!! Not that I'm excited or anything. 

I've been practicing my lettering too! 

BFF Open House Link Party: Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving ! Our annual feast day of eat ti'l you can't move then shop til you drop tomorrow. We skip "Black Friday" but those of you who are going out be safe and have fun. Since I'll be hosting the rest of the day, throwing the party open early and wishing everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thankful that you make my little party a part of your weekly routine!

Here are some features from last week's party !

How perfect and timely is this from Lolly Jane?! If you're like me, the leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving. 

Printables are such a great and simple way to change up your decor. My Busy Bee Hives has a great collection free for you to download!

Time to start finishing up handmade gifts and Mich in LA has a great way to use an eclectic bead mix. Love these handmade earrings and Mich has a tutorial you can follow!

This time of year we all use a lot of ribbon but don't throw those ribbon spools away. Raven Would has a great idea to turn them into ornaments! 

OK on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all. Can you believe this time next week those of us in the US will be stuffing our faces ( no pun intended) or passed out in a food coma? I'm not sure how Thanksgiving is only a week away but it is. 

Here are some ideas from last week's party that you can still do in time for the big day. 

Love this Farmhouse Center Piece from Woods of Bell Trees. Isn't it gorgeous? 

Whether you're hostessing or going as a guest, these fun Wood Earrings from Sugar and Succulents are a great wardrobe addition. 

If like me, you buy fresh herbs but don't use them all before they go bad, this idea from The Crafty Lumberjacks is perfect. Herb smudge sticks. 

Continuing on my quest to bring more chocolate to Thanksgiving, this is another find from Pinterest that I'm looking at adding to my desserts. Fudgy Chocolate Pecan Pie from Real House Moms. YUM!

Now on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Jazz Loves Disney....And So Do I !

This is a sponsored post through partnership with One2One Network, Disney Music and Verve. Opinions are mine. 

I recently had the opportunity to review the album "Jazz Loves Disney". It was perfect for me since we  are huge Disney fans. 

The first thing most people think of when it comes to Disney (well, after Mickey Mouse) are the parks and the rides. But for me, it's also the music. Every attraction has a theme song increasingly tied into the movies. 

To say that we are Disney fans is an understatement. We've been to the parks for so many of the special occasions in our life starting with our honeymoon, to  childhood trips with our son including while dropping him off at college and then celebrating his graduation. Most recently we celebrated our 25th Anniversary there.  

On roadtrips there and back, Disney music was  part of our travels. When not there? We've celebrated birthdays and other occasions with Disney music. One of my favorite memories is from when our son was little and we staged Disney parades marching  to Disney music throughout our house. 

You get the picture of why I jumped at the chance  to review this album. This is Disney for grown ups. These are some of the classic Disney songs done in mellow and memorable ways that will have you humming or singing when you're not thinking about it. Not in that eyes glazed over because your kids want to listen to things over and over ( been there, done that and no offense to some Disney tunes but you know what I mean!) but because you enjoy the music. 

You can download from iTunes or Amazon and here is the full track listing: 

Track Listing:

1.  Jamie Cullum – "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" – from The Aristocats

2.  Melody Gardot – "He’s A Tramp" – from Lady And The Tramp

3.  Stacey Kent – "Bibbidi Bobbodo Boo" (French version) – from Cinderella

4.  Gregory Porter – "When You Wish Upon A Star" – from Pinocchio  

5.  China Moses – "Why Don’t You Do Right" – from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

6.  Raphaël Gualazzi – "I Wanna Be Like You" – from The Jungle Book

7.  The Rob Mounsey Orchestra – "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" – from Cinderella

8.  Hugh Coltman – "You’ve Got A Friend In Me" – from Toy Story

9.  Anne Sila – "Let It Go" – from Frozen

10.  Melody Gardot & Raphaël Gualazzi – "The Bare Necessities" – from The Jungle Book

11.  Laika – "Once Upon A Dream" – from Sleeping Beauty

12.  Nikki Yanofsky -"Someday My Prince Will Come" – from Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

13. The Hot Sardines – I Wanna Be Like You (French & English version) – from The Jungle Book (US release only)

I didn't think anyone could sing "Let It Go" from "Frozen" as well as Idina Menzel, but Anne Sila's rendition is wonderful. I  also love Melody Gardot's "He's a Tramp" from "Lady and the Tramp" but honestly, there isn't a song on here I didn't enjoy. 

This quote from Stacey Kent who did "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" sums things up for me: 

The song BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOO, speaks to the child in us all, that still believes - or would like to believe - that we can do magic. As we grow up, we are at the risk of losing that sense of possibility but music has always had the power to transform the world and make it a better place; If that’s not magic, what is?”

I need a little magic in my life right now and for me, nobody does that better than Disney.

BFF Open House Link Party

Hi all. Happy Thursday / Friday Eve and welcome to this week's party. Here are some Thanksgiving inspired features from last week since it will be here before you know it! 

Let's start with "Hooty" the Baking Owl from Artsy VaVa. You don't have to be a baker to love what she did with these baking pans! 

Not only do I love this checkered banner from Lolly Jane, it's REVERSIBLE so you can use for multiple occasions. 

I've been so lazy ever since Windows Live kinda went sideways on me. That's how I used to watermark my pics and now when I remember, I do it manually in PicMonkey. So this tip from My Messy Little Nest is perfect. I need to do this! 

Now for this week's chocolate feature: 

Every year, I'm on the hunt for how to "chocolate-i-fy" Thanksgiving. I pinned this awesome looking Bittersweet Chocolate Pumpkin Tart from Love and Olive Oil.  Even someone like me who is not fond of pumpkin could tear into this don't you think?

On to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy November everyone! Hope you had a fun and uneventful Halloween. Now that it's November time will really fly by for the rest of the year. Let's take a look at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party. 

Halloween may be over but you can still pin this idea for next year. Love this chalkboard  sign from Much More Creative! 

I have morphed into this person who can rarely wear a coat anymore, even in the Pacific Northwest! I get too hot inside but still need something for outside. So wraps and ponchos are perfect and Woods of Bell Trees has a great project to convert a shawl into a poncho!

Printables are such a fun and easy way to add some seasonal decor and the ladies at Lolly Jane have a really cute one they're sharing. 

We are in prime baking season ( OK when isn't it time to bake?) so these Nutella Chip Cookie Sandwiches are a must add to Fall baking. From Sweet Meets Bake Shop. 

OK on to this week's party! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up