Bird's Nest Easter Cards

Sometimes the least expensive materials have the biggest impact. I saw potential in this “nest of eggs” stamp I found on sale at Michaels for $1.  It was perfect for my Easter cards.

For these cards I went back to my card making roots and stamped the nest on white paper with clear embossing ink and embossed with gold tinsel embossing powder. I went back and forth deciding whether to color the eggs in or ink up some papers before stamping,  but ultimately decided on the simplicity of a white and gold heat embossed image. I wanted a fresh Spring look so decided on Robin’s egg blue and Kraft papers.

I cut my 5x7 cards from plain white cardstock, then panels of the blue and kraft. Ran the blue panels through my Cuttlebug using a honeycomb embossing folder and then a scrap leftover from the card through a border folder from the same package. All by Cricut.

I mounted my embossed nests onto matching blue glitter paper by American Crafts , scraps from the kraft paper, and added a strip of gold metallic American Crafts glitter ribbon to the white embossed panel. Layered as shown and finished with a strip of gold and white washi tape.

I thought my cards needed just one more thing and remembered this fun shabby Melissa Frances ruffled ribbon I picked up at a scrapbook show, and made a bow from some color coordinated ribbon I had on hand.

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Vintagey "Chocolate" and Rose Egg

Of course it’s no secret that I love chocolate, and this time of year, chocolate eggs abound. This one is not edible but still delicious I think!

For this project you will need:

• 6” plastic egg
• Tissue paper ( not fancy, whatever comes in a bag when you buy something at the store)
• Mod Podge
• Acrylic craft paints ( I used a dark umber and Martha Stewart Glitter paint in “Brownstone”
• Embellishments ( I used a scrapbook border by K&Co )

I first shared this technique in this post: Twine and Tissue Paper Egg. Tear your tissue paper into small pieces, apply to your egg using Mod Podge. Cover all over and let dry. Then paint with you choice of colors.

I like the unevenness and texture of the tissue paper. I applied one coat of the plain acrylic paint and three of the glitter paint.

Once my paint was dry, I applied a decorative scrapbook border and sealed it with some more Mod Podge.

I had some paper roses in my embellishment stash and decided to hot glue those to the top of my egg at an angle.

While I was waiting for my Mod Podged border to dry, I  cut a length of  crepe paper streamer ( a roll from the $1 goes a long way!), folded it in half then in half again and cut strips of it and plopped them in an ice cream dish I found at Crate and Barrel for $1.95.

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Alderberry Hill: Make The Scene Monday
homework: The Inspiration Board 
The Well Crafted Home

BFF Open House Link Party #96 and Last Week's Features

It's time again already for another party! As I mentioned last week, starting with this week's soiree, I'm going to combine features from the prior week's party into one post. You all are making it harder and harder to highlight just a few things because there is so much talent shared each week. Here are just a few ideas: 

From a cute new blog called I Dig Pinterest and I Did It Too, blogger Christine shared these super cute Easter egg candlesticks. 

As someone who loves neutrals, I couldn't resist these cotton tailed bunny napkins from Natalie at Sophisticated Yellow

A yarn wreath is still on my craft bucket list. Check out this beautiful Spring wreath with burlap flowers from Life On Lakeshore Drive

Since St. Patrick's Day is this weekend my chocolate feature was obvious. I'm not sure there would be any of this Lucky Leprechaun Cookie Bark leftover for any Leprechauns at my house. Visit Leigh Anne at Your Home Based Mom for the how tos. 

Now let's get to this week's party. If you're new, following isn't required but I love to follow back and meet new bloggers. Thanks to everyone who links up each week. Don't forget to share the bloggy love. Who doesn't love comments? Happy Weekend everyone. It will indeed be one here. College Boy comes home tomorrow for Spring Break. So excited! 

Easter / Spring Decor: Real Eggshells Under Glass

Today was one of those days when a project just clicked for me. It started at breakfast when I remembered to save some eggshells. I keep meaning to try blowing some eggs out, but don't remember until usually right after I crack them into a bowl. Even though I forgot AGAIN, this time I decided to keep them broken just as they were and use them in this little Easter / Springtime vignette.

For this project you will need:

• Egg shells ( I used the shells from 2 eggs)
• Cheese cloche ( I found mine on a “Goodwill Thrift Hunting” trip)
• Craft paints ( I used Martha Stewart Feldspar and Smoky Quartz Glitter)
• “Nest materials” I used bark covered wire, coffee filters, and shredded crepe streamers)
• Decorative paper to coordinate w/ your paints

Here are the basics of my project before I started. I painted the wood cheese board and the outside of the egg shells  with the Feldspar. While that was drying, I cut out a circle of decorative paper the same size as my board (I had this Japanese washi paper in my stash) and then tore around the edges. Once the paint was dry, I used Mod Podge to apply the paper to the wood.

While the MP was drying, I “speckled” my egg shells using the Smoky Quartz glitter paint. Just kind of glop it on until your satisfied.

I also went around the edge of the wood board with the Smoky Quartz.

While everything was drying I made my nest. I used bark covered wire I found in the floral section at Michaels and just kind of made a free form nest by loosely wrapping in in circles until I was satisfied then twisting the ends together.

I tore the centers from two natural coffee filters, scrunched them then tucked them into the “nest”. I also wanted some type of grass but didn’t have any and was too lazy to go outside and dig up moss. I grabbed a roll of crepe paper streamer from my stash, pulled out a length I didn’t measure, folded it and cut in strips. Crumpled then uncrumpled it. Now it’s time to assemble everything!

I placed some of my streamer grass on the board then placed the nest in the center and added a couple of my painted egg shells. Positioned the others, and added some more crepe grass and then put the lid on. I didn’t glue it down so I’ll disassemble the whole thing when I put it away and if the eggs survive storage they do. If they don’t, they’ll be quick to re-create next year.

I added some bits of jute twine in the middle because birds use whatever they find to build nests right?

I didn’t want to paint the top of the cloche but I felt it needed a little something so I covered a small manila tag with a scrao of leftover washi and kraft papers, added an eyelet and a butterfly charm. Tied the tag to the top of the cloche with plain cotton baker’s twine.

The funniest thing about this is Mr. C didn’t even bat an eye when he saw the eggshells drying by the sink after breakfast. You know how there's a meme "You know you're a crafter when..." We may need to start a new meme called “You know you’re married to a crafter when…”

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Easter Decor: HOP Printable

I have done absolutely nothing for Easter. True confession time. I still had my St. Patrick’s Day printable in the frame that I change out each month / holiday! What can I say? Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans to decorate for Easter.

I couldn’t let it go another day  so I made a new Easter printable :

The font I used is called Grolier Beveled which I downloaded free here.

And what’s the fun of making a printable if you don’t share? I went with the orange version here because I usually go so neutral and Mr. Chocolate likes orange. Plus what's a bunny w/out a carrot so he has a carrot orange background! True to form, I made a neutral version just because ….

Natural:

Orange:

Lavender:

Robins Egg:

Click on your preferred color to bring to full size, then right click to Save As. I re-sized mine to 5x7 to fit my frame.

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Our Thanksgiving Table

Cleaning out and cleaning the refrigerator don’t count as creative projects. Necessary, but not creative! But I did also set our Thanksgiving table so I did do get to do something a little creative.

We’re not super formal on holidays but Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two times a year I at least get to break out the wedding china. This year I went for a mix of nature and glitz.

Our menu is pretty traditional. Herb roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, glazed carrots, fresh homemade cranberry sauce, and an egg bread I’ve been baking since I was 16.  I’m one of “those” people…I cook it all and I love it. For dessert there will be pumpkin and apple pies, vanilla whipped cream, and a chocolate pecan tart.

I’ve had these raffia bows forever and this year I used them as chair decorations, with metallic organza ribbon and mini Indian corn.

For my table runner, I used a woven chocolate brown and gold giant ribbon roll I found at JoAnn’s for 70% off!!! $3 for my table runner ! I also found these felt maple leaf place mats at Bed Bath and Beyond for 2 for $3. I bought 2 in maize and 2 in dark brown and just angled them along the runner.

Here are the Thanksgiving candles and place cards I shared earlier.

For napkin rings, I just used mini grapevine wreaths I found at Michaels for $.49 ea.

I don’t put out all the flatware that you’re “supposed to “ for a proper place setting because the unused stuff ends up getting scooped up between dinner and dessert and I end up starting all over anyway. SO it stays put and I get it out when its needed. Sorry Emily Post.
I filled my table favor cones with Hershey’s Toffee Crunch Nuggets wrapped in cone shaped cellophane bags that fit perfectly in the favors.

I’ll leave you with this recipe because every time I mention I make cranberry sauce from scratch, people look at me like I have three heads. It is SO SO EASY ( but you can definitely let people think it’s hard). Mr. Chocolate eats this stuff as a side dish so I start stocking up on fresh cranberries as soon as they hit the stores, freeze them right in the bags, and make this several times during the year.

Picture and Recipe, courtesy of Ocean Spray’s website

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 12-ounce package Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries

Directions:

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil; add cranberries, return to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Makes 2 1/4 cups.

Can it get any easier than that? I usually add some fresh orange zest or even just strips of peel to the sugar / water before I add the cranberries, or if I don’t have oranges on hand, reduce the water by 1/4C and replace with orange juice. You could also add a cinnamon stick or cloves if you want a little spice.

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