Easy napkin ring and table decor

I wanted to freshen up the decor after Christmas and really wanted some white in my home for the new year. I previously shared my white vignette with you. Here is how I very easily freshened up the dining room table.

I added some white candles and flowers. I purchased a couple of 99 cent bunches of gerbera daisies from Michael's. One bunch went into the vase.

I took another bunch and clipped off the flowers from the stems. I wrapped some floral wire around the small piece of stem left on the back of the flower and formed a loop. I slid some ribbon into the loop and tied them to my napkins. Very easy napkin rings!

Hope you have a great week. I'll be linking up to the parties on the side and Get Your Craft On.



Bright and shabby rosette headband

I took another try at the headbands. Again, this one is a gift my 12 year old neighbor. I can't see myself wearing this although this one has peaked my interest. I may have to make myself one.

I've made this one from a really bright fabric that is not very stylish on its own now, but rolled into these flowers it looks great. I covered the band with a strip of fabric this time also instead of ribbon.

I'll be linking up to Get Your Craft On and other parties listed on the side. Thanks for stopping by.

Birthday Bonanza sale event

BIRTHDAY BONANZA EVENT: FROM FEB. 21-25, PURCHASE ANY THREE CARDS FROM MY SHOP AND RECEIVE A FOURTH ONE FREE. CONVO ME WITH YOUR CHOICE OF FREE CARDS. (Free card must be of equal or lesser value than your most expensive of the three purchases.) ALL CARDS IN THE BIRTHDAY AND ALL OCCASION SECTIONS QUALIFY TOWARDS YOUR PURCHASE. STOCK UP ON THOSE BIRTHDAY CARDS NOW SO THEY'LL BE ON HAND FOR THE LAST MINUTE.

You know birthdays sometimes slip up on us or the kids forget to tell you they got an invitation to a party. Just keep a few cards on hand and you'll be prepared. A handmade card says you care even more and they'll never guess it was a last minute thought.


Here are a few of the designs available.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Gamer boy

I've been making gift card holders again. My hubby and nephew love video games. This gift card holder would be great to hold a Gamestop gift card or other game store card.

I can't resist linking up to a challenge once in a while. Stampin Sisters in Christ always has a great message with their challenge. This week the challenge is to use green. The Basic Grey Lime Ricky papers I've used fit this perfectly. I'll also be linking this up to some of the linky parties on the side.

If you want to make your own gift card holder, you'll need a piece of cardstock 11 inches by 4.25. Score at 5.5 and fold. Glue the two long outer edges, but just the edges. You'll want the insert to fit. Cut a piece of cardstock 3 inches by 5 inches. The rest is up to you. Use whatever image or craft goodies you want to embellish your gift card holder.

If you don't want to make one, you can always pick one up from time to time in my shop. From Feb. 21-25, I (along with other etsygreetings team members) will be offering a buy three, get one free special on birthday cards. It's a great time to stock up so those last minute gatherings don't catch you unprepared.

White vignette

I was really in the mood to put out some white decor after Christmas. Problem is- I don't really have any. I couldn't fill a very big area with stuff, but I knew this little corner in my dining room needed some love. Here is the before:

This is my grandmother's sewing machine. Many, many quilts, aprons, and clothing items were made with love in her lifetime on this machine. Now it just sits in  my dining room. The photos are my mom and grandparents and I love vintage photos but those frames are really too big for the space on the machine, so I decided I would redo.

I found a pretty little cream/white pitcher at the thrift store for $1.50. I thought it would be lovely there. When I got home with it and started my arranging, I decided it was too small and the other things I had with it really weren't working. So... I did some more thrift store and discount store looking and found the fake book and ceramic bird cage at Ross. I got both for less than $10.  I pulled some old angels from another room in the house and a picture frame my mother gave me but I had never used. I printed a quote to put in it. The printable is one I picked up on the net but for the life of me I cannot find where I got it from so I can give credit to the proper person. I did change it a little in photoshop by changing the background to sepia.

Here is my finished vingette:

A closer look:

It took me a couple of weeks to get this to a state I was happy with, but that's okay. It's like solving a puzzle to me to be able to find things I have around the house and other things to go with them and make them all work together.

Of course,  I'll be linking up to all the parties on the side. Have a great day.

So blue

Bright blue, that's what these earrings are. I made these a few weeks ago for my niece's birthday. This is my first try at earrings. I made them with memory wire, following these directions. Pretty simple and quick. I was happy with them and will be making more when time permits.

I had the beads left over from a memory wire bracelet that I made her for Christmas. I forgot to photograph the bracelet before I wrapped it, but here it is on her.

I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day. I'm ready to move on to some Spring projects.

I'll be linking these up to

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

and other parties listed on the side bar!

Rose ball candlestick topiary (and mantel decor)

I loved all of the flower topiaries in blogland, but did not really have time to make all the flowers for one. Then I saw THIS ONE at Stay at Home Artist. I remembered that I had a ton of little silk ribbon roses left over from ornament making days 10+ years ago. I actually had put them and some silk covered ornament balls in the yard sale/Good Will box. And even though you aren't supposed to take something back when you decide to get rid of it, I took them back. I was actually going to use them, so I figure it's okay.

I started with this:

And ended up with this:

I removed the silk threads from the balls and went to town shoving roses into the foam. I only used glue in the places that they didn't want to stay. Some are holding fine without glue. I didn't cover the bottom of the ball. I decided I need a smooth surface for it to sit on and it doesn't show. I made another one in pink roses.

I've paired them with my heart specimen art on the mantel.

I put my framed hearts on the other side along with a plate purchased from Ross for $3.49.  And here you have my rather simple mantel decor.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a Happy Valentine's Day! Spend some time with someone you love or doing something you are passionate about.

The table is set

I waited until today to decorate the dining room table for Valentine's Day because I didn't think  I would really want to look at the stuff all that long. I've never really decorated for Valentine's Day. However, I'm quite pleased with my setting and may have to leave it up for a while. I'm more pleased with the fact that I only spent about $14 to achieve this.

I purchased three packs of paper heart doilies, three bunches of roses,  one bunch of babies breath, and a pack of heart glitter picks from the Dollar Tree. I got a set of napkins from Tuesday Morning. Everything else I already had.

I created a runner from the doilies and then used some for place mats. I added the glitter heart picks to the bouquet.



Hubby really likes it too. Thanks for stopping by. I'll be linking up to the parties on the side.

Altered mini jar candles

I picked up these mini jar candles at Wal-mart's after Christmas clearance for 25 or 50 cents each. I had Valentine's Day gifts in mind for these. I took out some paper scraps, punches, rhinestones, Prima flowers and ribbon and had a blast decorating these. I think I'll be on the lookout for more to decorate for spring and Easter.

I started with this

and ended up with this

I made five total. Here they are:

These were a lot of fun to make. I'll be linking up to

All Things Inspired

Blue Cricket Design Show and Tell

Whatever goes Wednesday

and others. Check out the list on the side.

Ruffled valentine wreath

So.... I told you yesterday that the fuzzy heart was just a sneak peak and that it was part of a bigger project. Here it is:

My ruffle Valentine wreath.

My ruffles didn't quite turn out like I planned, but that's the beauty of DIY. You can take something and morph it and make it yours. You can still make things work even when they don't go as planned. I was inspired by this wreath at Sunshine Mama.

Since I put myself on a craft spending diet, I started with a cardboard box and cut a circle wreath form, much like she did. Her directions are probably better than mine would be. I started out tracing a cookie sheet and another lid and then got the husband involved with a measuring tape.  Just follow her directions for the base. I coated my cardboard form with Mod Podge for some extra stability as we live in a humid climate and I was afraid the cardboard would not hold up outside.

I had some canvas-like material that I bought at Goodwill. When I got it home and unfolded it, I discovered that it was a curtain someone had cut the bottom off of and did not hem. I don't blame them- it's really hard to sew and absolutely did not want to ruffle. I had to ruffle by hand. I sewed them with my running stitch on one side, so I did not get a two sided ruffle like the inspiration wreath- hence, mine is flatter. But I went with them anyway and glued two rows all the way around. Since I did this, I opted to have all of my strips the same width. (Well, I would if I had it to do over. A few are a little narrower than others, but again, I think I made it work. 10 foot rule- that's what the hubby says about movie props and costumes- made to look good from 10 feet away. No one passing by on the street will be able to tell, LOL. ) I had a few narrower pieces left over that I actually got ruffled somewhat on the machine and rolled them into flowers for the bottom.

 I then tied my fuzzy heart to the wreath at the top  and that was it!

Took a little longer than I wanted it to, but I'm happy with it for this year. I see some modifications coming for next year as I think it might be missing something. I'm open for suggestions.

I'll be linking up to GET YOUR CRAFT ON  and others listed on the side.

My fuzzy heart... for free

When I first started working on Valentine's ideas, I realized I had no heart shaped things and not much in that theme at all. I made a vow to not bring in new stuff until I had cleaned up this room and used some of what I had. So... I dug in deep in the stash and came up with some knitting fibers that I have had for a long time. I don't knit, I bought them for scrapbooking and they have been used on many tags, notebooks, and bookmarks but I can't seem to use them up. Well, this put a big dent in them. I made myself a heart shape from a clothes hanger and started tying on strips of the fibers. And tied, and tied, and tied, until finally I had a finished heart.

I like how fluffy and fuzzy it is. It's part of a bigger project, so this is really just a sneak peek. I'll show you the bigger project tomorrow. Here is the heart:

 Thanks for stopping by. I'll be linking up to some of the great parties listed on the side this week.

Framed hearts

I created this with thrift items and stash  for very little cost.
Back during Christmas I saw these felt heart ornaments at Target. They have glitter on them. I immediately thought "Valentine's Day project." I took my chances and waited for the after Christmas clearance. I got lucky! I got them at 50% off and got three of them! (50 cents each)

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Habitat Home store and found the perfect frame for $1.50. You must see the before shot to appreciate this.

The mat inside has some yucky brown stains.  I removed the glass and mat. I cleaned the frame, lightly sanded it and painted it with some acrylic paint from Michael's and foam brush (both purchased on sale- paint 3 for $1 or  33 cents and brush 14 for 1.00 or .07 cents).

When it dried, the finish was really flat, almost chalk like. Not what I wanted. So it had to have a top coat. I searched my stash and found some Triple Thick. This stuff creates a very shiny thick, epoxy-like finish.

Next I got some fabric from my stash- a black and white paisley print. I'm pretty sure this came from my grandmother's stash. After playing around with finding a way to make this interchangeable so I can reuse the frame, and consulting with my hubby who always has great ideas, I "borrowed" some poster board from his stash.  I cut the poster board the size of the frame mat. In order to get the material to lay flat and smooth, I attached it to the poster board piece with spray adhesive (another item on hand from previous craft projects). 

I inserted this piece along with the backing piece into the frame. (I can later remove this piece and replace it with another mat for another holiday or decor theme.)

I removed the ribbon hangers from the ornaments and covered the holes these were tied into with a red rhinestones- also in the stash.  I attached the hearts to my fabric panel with glue dots. And viola! A really inexpensive piece of Valentine's decor that I'm really happy with. Total spent: $3.64 (not including cost if items in existing stash.)

I'll be linking up to these parties and others (check the side bar for more.)