Tuesday, December 16, 2014

MERRY and Bright Wreath

Merry Wreath DCWV

While taking down our Christmas decorations last year, I had to concede that the evergreen ( faux) garland I’d been using to decorate the railings had seen its last Christmas. I needed to come up with something to do this year and came up with this wreath idea that hangs on the railing you see when you enter the front door.

For this project you will need:
  • Wreath form ( I used one from Dollar Tree)
  • Fabric scraps (I used drop cloth scraps from a never ending painter’s drop cloth)
  • Hot glue and glue gun
  • Paper ( I used DCWV Sparkling Holiday Stack)
  • Glitter cardstock
  • Black Cardstock
  • MERRY die ( Savvy Stamps) or letters
First, prepare your wreath:

Dollar Tree Wreath

I cut strips from my never ending painter’s dropcloth I bought at Home Depot a few years ago. Using as you would ribbon, wrap your wreath form until covered.

Drop Cloth Covered Wreath

If you end up with an ugly spot well there’s where  you’ll glue your focal!
Here’s the stack I used. DCWV’s Sparking Holiday which I fell totally in love with and picked up at Michaels even before I knew I’d be guest designing for them. LOVE this beyond measure!

DCWV Sparkling Holiday

About 1/2 the papers are foiled. Pretty!

I chose a couple of papers for the medallion ( rosette, pinwheel, fan thingy) that would be the focal.

DCWV Sparking Holiday Rosettes

Cut into 6x6 sections and scored 1/2 inch folds using my scoring board. I found an image for the angel wings online, printed and cut a template from cardstock, and traced and cut from glittered paper in my stash.

DCWV Sparkling Holiday Medallion

I used four sections of the grey paper for the larger medallion and two of the gold paper for the smaller one. Layer as shown and use hot glue to assemble and adhere to wreath.

For the banner, I cut the shape from black cardstock , and die cut the MERRY letters. To make this really pop, I added these mirrored stars from DDCWV:

DCWV Adhesive Mirrors

They twinkle so much more than this picture shows.

Merry Banner

Where this hangs isn’t conducive to a great photo shoot ( and of course I forgot to take pics before I hung it …bad blogger) but I love seeing it twinkle as I go up and down the stairs.

Merry Wreath DCWV

Sharing At:



Saturday, December 13, 2014

Altered Mailbox Christmas Card Holder

Santas Mailbox Believe

I had so much fun with this project that I hope you’ll bear with me because it involves all kinds of things that I love. The star of this is the glitter vinyl that I received from Expressions Vinyl in support of this idea!

I decided I wanted a new place to hold Christmas cards this year and what better place than a mail box? If you’re going to alter a mailbox, why not use a real mailbox? I’d seen some old ones in antique stores but they came with antique store prices. I looked online and found I could get a reasonably priced one at Lowes. Even better, when I got to the store, they had one that was missing parts and was half of what I expected to pay ($12) so I got mine for $6!

Altered Mailbox

The Lowes people were very concerned that I didn’t understand it was incomplete. I didn’t even attempt to explain why I didn’t care.

For this project you will need:
  • Mailbox  to alter
  • Acrylic craft paint (I used black , cream and glitter red)
  • Vinyl (As mentioned Expressions Vinly provided me with the vinyl used in this project.)
  • Embellishments
To start, paint the mailbox black. It helps that the flag was one of the thing missing parts so I didn’t need to remove it:

Altered Mailbox Base Coat

Once dry, dry brush and/or crackle with cream paint. To crackle, paint a coat of white glue ( I just used generic office store glue) and when almost dry, paint over with cream. Let dry.

Altered Mailbox Dry Brush

While your paint is drying, cut your vinyl.

Altered Mailbox Believe Vinyl

I found this “Believe” design in the Silhouette online store and cut it using my Cameo from red glitter vinyl.

Expressions Vinyl Glitter

I used the black and silver glitter vinyl to cut out the initials SC ( Santa Clause) and North Pole for the other side of the mailbox.

Expressions VInyl Silhouette

Santas Mailbox North Pole

To finish off my mailbox, I added a large glitter bow ( Dollar Tree) and had fun embellishing the flag for the mailbox with coordinating scrapbook paper from DCWV’s Candy Cane Lane stack :

DCWV Candy Cane Stack

This section from a page of tags in the stack was a perfect match. I added some sequins and snowflakes to complete. I used a couple more tags from the stack on the top of the mailbox. To cover the holes where you'd normally attach the mailbox to a post, I used self adhesive rhinestones and superglued the flag onto the box.

The completed mailbox now sits next to my altered coffee can Snowman Hat!

Santas Mailbox 1

Santas Mailbox 2


Sharing At:



Thursday, December 11, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #188

The Answer Is Chocolate

Hi all, welcome to another party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. The countdown to Hanukkah and Christmas continues . Hope those of you dealing with Northeast storms are holding up. We here in the PNW are bracing for a doozy of a windstorm tonight so hoping the power stays on! 

Here are some features from last week's party! 


I love paper. I love roses. I love paper roses...you get the picture. So does Kelly at The Moon and Me who made these gorgeous rolled paper rose trees. So pretty. 


These vintagely delicious Altered Readers Digest Books from Artsy VaVa would go perfectly with Kelly's trees. 


The always genius Mich in LA has a fantastic idea using vintage brooches. You'll have to visit her blog for the secret ingredient she used for the background of these fun ornaments. 


This week's chocolate feature looks good enough to eat but is not edible...Chocolate candles! How cute are these? Cost is even better. Head over to The Pin Junkie to find out more. 

Now on to this week's party! 

   
   




Monday, December 8, 2014

Altered Vintage Grater Christmas Decor

Altered Grater

While walking through an antique store looking for a pair of ice skates ( no joy) I stumbled upon this old grater. Along with the ice skates I was actually looking for a box grater ( also no joy).  I had no idea what I was going to do with it (it’s not like I knew what I was going to do with the box grater either) but I knew I’d regret not getting it.

Dimensional Mod Podge Charms

The focal for this is actually the “25” charm which is what I’ll show you how to make.

For this you will need:
  • Dimensional Mod Podge ( I used silver glitter)
  • Mod Podge Matte
  • Jewelry bezels (Michaels)
  • Scap of scrapbook paper
  • Punch (my 1” punch fit the bezels perfectly)
This is one of those easiest projects ever that people will think is a lot harder than it is. Let them. Also, you can use one of the pendants for actual jewelry!

Mod Podge Charms 1

Here’s how difficult this is:
  • Punch circles from paper
  • Adhere circle to bezel w/ Mod Podge Matte
  • Flood bezel with Dimensional Mod Podge, let dry
25 Charm

For the grater itself? Easy peasy. Wrap the grater with a scrap of dropcloth or fabric scrap. Make a pinwheel from more paper scraps. Add a star and the “25” charm. I added another charm I made from microscope slides. Finish with a strip of washi tape and a button.  Mine sits in my kitchen because it’s a grater and even though I alter them with all kinds of non-kitchen stuff….duh!

Altered Grater 1

Sharing At:


Thursday, December 4, 2014

BFF Open House Link Party #187

The Answer Is Chocolate

Happy Friday Eve and end of the first week of December. Time's flying by and hope everyone's getting their decorating / baking / shopping / wrapping done for Hanukkah and Christmas. 

Here are some features from last week's party and can't wait to see what everyone's been up to this week! 


OK so Mariah from Giggles Galore  linked up the very cool deer mugs she included in her very cool hot chocolate basket, BUT I had to include the whole c basket for full effect because it's a totally awesome gift idea. She used her Cricut Explore ( Aren't you seeing lucky bloggers everywhere sharing awesome things they've made with this new machine? Can the Cricut people feel my mental telepathy sending out pick me to try one out vibes? Oops I digress)


Michelle from Fitting In Life doesn't think she's creative but I have to disagree. In this season of thinking of other people she put together a gift to cheer up a friend . Hers uses an adult beverage but if the harder stuff isn't your thing, you could easily do sparkling cider, soda, etc. Both thoughtful and creative. Sorry to break it to you Michelle, you are creative and you are going to have to get a glue gun now. It's in the bylaws. 


Jenna from 24 Cottonwood Lane is back with a super easy DIY wreath. Supplies from the Dollar store. I love how the pattern repeats and is so crisp and clean!


This week's chocolate feature is from Mama of 3 Munchkins : Hot Fudge Sundae Cake Pops. Yum!

OK on to this week's party!
   
   




Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Coffee Can Snowman Hat

Coffee Can Snowman Hat

I am convinced that Frosty the Snowman drinks a lot of coffee ( iced of course) in order to keep up with everything during the holidays. He left me an empty can to prove it so in his honor, I decided to make a hat out of it to add to my Christmas décor.

I’m also excited that this project is my first as a Guest Designer for DCWV (Diecuts With A View)! I have loved their papers and products for years and to get to design with them? Priceless!



For this project you will need:
  • Empty Coffee Can
  • Chipboard or cardboard for brim
  • Craft Paint
  • DCWV Candy Cane Lane Stack
  • DCWV Glitzy Glitter Stack
  • Embellishments
DCWV Candy Cane Lane

The Candy Cane Lane stack is so much fun filled with black and white ( my fave!) and bright red papers.

Coffee Can Snowman Hat Prep

Step 1:
Prep your can. You could paint the whole thing but I just painted the edges and then cut plain black paper to fit around the can. I did the same with the bottom of the can which became the top of my hat. Apply paper with strong double sided tape or glue.

Coffee Can Snowman Hat Prep 1

Step 2:
Cut a circle larger than your can. This will be the brim. I used chipboard and painted it black. Once your “brim” is dry hot glue your can ( bottom side up) to the brim. Now comes the fun part. Now comes the fun part! Decorate!

DCWV Holiday Glitzy Glitter

Step 3:
One thing I love about the DCCWV products is that the colors of the different stacks and papers often coordinate so you can use papers from different collecttions together. To decorate my hat, I punched circles from the Holiday Glitzy Glitter Stack using a red and silver glittered candy cane striped paper.  Apply these with strong tape or glue ( I broke my Xyron…Santa?)

DCWV Candy Cane Lane Tags

Step 4:
Back to the Candy Cane Lane Stack, I chose a sheet of tags and cut a couple of them to use for my hat. I mounted these on scrap chipboard and embellished with sequins and glitter glue .


At this point I was having fun with my hat and didn’t take pictures ooops!  I grabbed some ribbons from my stash and wrapped around the brim as shown ( so don’t worry if you have glue showing...use a wide ribbon and no one will know).

I had some pompom and silver ribbon that I hot glued around the top of the brim. I added some metallic pipe cleaners, a snow shovel, and large jingle bells, and gave the top of my hat a dusting of snow using glue and large glitter flakes.

Coffee Can Snowman Hat Top

DCWV Holiday Glitzy Glitter Circle

DCWV papers are available at JoAnn's and Michaels. I was provided with materials used in this project. Project idea and opinions are my own.  For other great DCWV ideas, please stop by the DCWV blog !

Sharing At: 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Pottery Barn Merry Christmas Knockoff

Pottery Barn Merry Christmas Knockoff

I think I’m one of the last people in the world or at least in the blogosphere who doesn’t decorate for Christmas until December. The first weekend in December has always been our tradition. Of course that doesn’t mean I don’t work on some things before that!

Everyone’s favorite place to find knock off ideas, Pottery Barn, had this very cool and very expensive “Merry Christmas” sign. I think it was $99 and it’s also no longer available.


Loved everything about it except did I mention the price and that it’s no longer available? And theirs was 30x30 which would have been too big anyway.

So, doing what all creative bloggers do, I went looking to see if any like minded creative types had already created a printable and voila, Kristy from The Diary of Dave’s Wife had done just that.  Because she’s awesome you can get the printable from her for free and she’s also got a project idea you should check out.  Thank you Kristy!

For my version you will need:
  • 12x12 frame  (re-purposed one I had on hand)
  • Red craft paints ( I used red and glitter red by Martha Stewart)
  • Printable
  • 12x12 black scrapbook paper
  • Chalk

I started with my plain frame:

Pottery Barn Knockoff Sign Frame

and gave it a couple of coats of flat red and a couple of coats of the glitter red paints.

Pottery Barn Sign Knockoff Painted

I don’t have a 12x12 printer (and was too impatient to send the printable somewhere that prints 12x12 prints) so I sized it as big as I could (8.5x8.5) and printed it out. Still, I needed to fill my 12x12 frame so lightbulb moment, mounted it on some 12x12 scrapbook paper. To make it blend, I chalked up the black scrapbook paper background:

Pottery Barn Knockoff Sign Background

Just rubbed a piece of chalk all over like you would to prime a chalkboard.  Then I trimmed my printable and did the same thing to it:

Pottery Barn Knockoff Sign Printable

Centered and taped it to my primed background and done and done.

Pottery Barn Merry Christmas Knockoff

Cost to me: $0. I like my price!

Sharing At: