Patriotic Birthday

A dear friend is having a birthday next week, so I put together a little patriotic fun. Using a metal decorator wagon, battery lights, a BBQ towel, candle and scratch off lottery tickets...this was was a fun and easy gift that looks so festive. 

Deco Mesh Wreath

We've been renovating our master bathroom and designed a wash station for our 3 furbabies. I wanted to add a special touch to their area & I felt like crafting today so here's what I came up with...I've never made a deco mesh wreath before so this was my first go at it. It still needs a little adjustment but I think it turned out well.

Floral Memories

I'd like to share with you the latest floral piece I put together. My sister is going to visit our maternal Grandparents gravesite & we both wanted them to have a little something special. It's been over 40 years and neither of us have ever been there; so it had to be something meaningful.

Grandma was noted as saying "some just champagne taste on a demitasse pocketbook" so I used this as the theme.

The colors reminded me of the lipstick she wore in my favorite photo of her. The magnolias are a piece of my sister as she has always loved them. The rustic container represents the beauty of Grandpa and Grandma's aging. Since I didn't have a cardinal to put with it, I adorned the container with a cross...burgundy as it's my signature color & shabby chic bling accent that reminded me of a brooch she wore on her black coat.

Fun with yarn

I decided this is my year to get back into crafting. I had put it aside for way too long. So this morning I took my first class in learning to crochet. Here's my first attempt...

I'm so proud of myself.

From the Craft Room

Now that all the Christmas decor has been put away, I still needed to hang my winter wreath on the door. Problem is - I don't have a winter wreath! So here's what I came up with...

From the craft room

It feels so good to get back to my crafting. I feel so accomplished. Here are a few more wreaths I made today.

Water Hose Door Wreath

Several years ago, I saw a wreath made from a water hose. I loved the idea but never got around to making one until today. A trip to the dollar store and here's what I've come up with.

From this.....

To this....

I'm so proud of my handiwork!  I'm definitely getting my craft groove back.

Fall Fun

I so love all things Fall....from the colors, the aromas, the temperature changes to decorating. It's a season that evokes the love of family and friends. So as we prepare our homes and tables for the upcoming Fall festivities of Halloween and Thanksgiving, I wanted to prepare a little something special. 

We all like to receive gifts at birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, etc, but I think anytime of the year is a great time to bless someone with a little something to let them know they are thought of. What better time to do so than during the season of thankfulness. These cute little buckets and Fall design treat bags made the perfect containers for a few little goodies. I think it's important to let others know they are thought any time of the year. 

Since I had the craft room open I thought I'd revamp my Fall wreath while I was in the crafting mood. This sweet thing survived a hurricane, and 2 moves. So I thought she was deserving of a little sprucing up. So with a little hot glue, ribbon and some TLC she went from this....

To this...

Now it's time to sit back and enjoy a little Autumnal aroma therapy.

Baby Shower Crafting

I am not one that particularly cares for giving gifts that you simply wrap in the traditional gift wrap paper and slap a bow on or tossing it into a gift bag and call it a day. Now don't get me wrong, I have been known to do that but it just isn't my favorite and just as any chef would say, "it's not just about the flavor of the meal, it's about the presentation..."

After receiving a baby shower invitation for a dear friend, I began to spin my crafty mind wheels to see what could I give her that would be different. Nowadays, the popular items are diaper cakes. Although I find those to be really cute, I wanted to think outside the "cake box." So here's what I made instead.....

Since we are a Harley loving family & ride as often as we can, I thought the motorcycle was only fitting. I absolutely love the teddy bear....you press the left foot and record a message & then press the right foot to play the recording. How neat is that!?! 

Bathtubs are so bulky & rarely get their spotlight in the sun of gifting presentation. So by draping the edges with diapers and washcloths and the touch of a simple ribbon...viola! It didn't take long to make either one but the satisfaction of 'crafting' made it so much fun. 

From the Laundry Room to the Crafting Room

I love pumpkins during the Fall, but how do you decorate with them yet keep them from spoiling after craving or just sitting around? Easy...you make pumpkins! This way you'll have it year after year.

Here's what you'll need: spray paint in the fall color(s) of your choice, dryer vent tubing, spanish moss, twigs, metal cutters, scissors & hot glue.

Stretch and bend your dryer vent tubing to any size you desire to form a circle. Cut the end with your wire snips.

Using your hot glue gun, glue the ends of the vent tubing to form a circle. This now becomes your pumpkin.






 The vent tubing is very flexible and depending upon the size of your pumpkins, you can make several out of one tube. In my case, I used left over vent tubing that I had at home that had been previously cut for the dryer, so I was able to get 4 good size pumpkins out of a remnant of tubing.

Next, using quick, short passes, spray paint your pumpkins as desired. I strongly urge you to do this outdoors. This took me about 4 light coats to reach the desired shade I wanted. It had also been raining off and on, so I had to do it when the weather permitted.

Finally, decorate your pumpkins by hot gluing spanish moss atop of the pumpkin and using the twigs to form a stem.

Kitchen Crafting

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."

 -- Albert Camus 

Welcome morning, it is so wonderful to see you again & 

thank you for reminding me that with each new day...

anything is possible!

I love crafting, but often, time & finances can take the fun out of things. So here's a quick, easy and inexpensive craft that you incorporate year 'round. All you need is a kitchen towel, matching pot holder, a pair of scissors & hot glue. I found these great Fall/Thanksgiving prints at Dollar General.

Fold the corners of the pot holder to form a "pocket." Make sure you fold it so that the fabric hanging loop is still near the top. Simply hot glue the folds together.

 

Instantly you have a matching tea towel & scissor holder to use in your own kitchen or to give as a gift. I love making these during the different seasons. It's a cute and easy way to add a touch of holiday flair to the kitchen. They also make a really great basket stuffer. 

Crafting With Sandra Lee

While browsing through the Sandra Lee Christmas magazine, I happened upon an idea that I thought would make a great gift, not just at Christmas but all year round. So tonight I ventured into the kitchen with supplies in hand to make these adorable bird seed wreaths.

Bird Seed Wreaths

3 envelopes of plain gelatin
6 Tblsp. cold water
1 c. boiling water
6 c. birdseed
Bundt pan or mini Bundt pans


In a large bowl combine gelatin and cold water. Allow to sit for 1 minute.


Pour in boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.


Slowly stir in birdseed.


Spoon birdseed mixture into a well greased Bundt cake pan or mini Bundt cake pan. Press down firmly to pack the birdseed in place. Place pan in refrigerator and allow to set for several hours.


Once wreath(s) have set completely, remove from pan and tie a ribbon around the center of the wreath for hanging.