My Crafty Christmas

via elledecor

Did everyone have an amazing Thanksgiving? I hope so!! Still have some Tofurkey, cranberry sauce and potatoes left. Oh yes, the Vegan chocolate cake. Yep, still there. Although, now that I've said it, I might have to make a wee trip to the fridge.

OK, I'm back!!

Are we ready for Christmas?? I know I am. Started sorting through "The Christmas Closet". I think we all have one. Well, because of my over abundance of everything Christmas, I actually have a closet that holds just that. Everything Christmas! And, it sounds very magical to my daughter when I tell her it's time to go peek in . . . The Christmas Closet! Didn't you just get a waft of happy??

I believe we are a crafty family. I am a diehard DIYer. If I can make something with my own hands and save some money, that makes my heart just a flutter! What a perfect holiday to make some festive adornments! 

The cranberry ball at the top was my inspiration for this post. So many things you can do with a dollar store version! You can glue just about anything on it! Pom poms, moss, beads, feathers . . . go crazy!!!

via ohmyhandmade

I definitely like the idea of a garland strewn around the living room in various places. Over a picture frame or intertwined along a bookcase. Some home made ornaments hanging from a few tall twigs that you acquired on a stroll outside. Hmmmmm I'm thinking dollar store figurines, spray paint, craft glitter and ornament hooks. The sky's the limit!!

via favecrafts

I love the idea of transforming these clear balls into art. You could also stencil a design on the ball and then paint it. Glue some felt "Christmas" themed designs on them and add sequins or rhinestones. I was thinking a felt dove or a Christmas Wreath with rhinestones. Ever modpodge??  Cut out some old newspaper or Christmas paper and brush on the modpodge! 

via homedecoratingtrends

This spray painted wreath is a clever idea. It has an oldy worldy feel to me. Imagine a different hue. A deep cranberry would be beautiful. How about as a centerpiece for your dining table with a tall taper in the center? 

via seesuestitch

I must make some garland this year. I love the idea of pom poms! They're so . . . HAPPY!!! Also some yarn and felt cut into small triangles would be nice. Maybe both!!

So many crafts to conquer!!

Are you going to do anything crafty this season?? Theres still time, right??

 Time to settle down with some hot cocoa, some Bing Crosby and a needle and thread. Oh yeah, don't forget the spray paint!!

DIY Dreamy Canopy!

It is a rainy day in Orange. Really wanted to go thrifting but, too yucky! So, I thought while I have a wee moment I would add another DIY project that I am very proud of. 

I feel like my daughters room is the guinea pig for experimentation when it comes to all things crafty.

My husband says it's the room I always wanted as a child. Hmmm, I think he might be right :-)

I started with B's mahogany crib that I wanted to expand upon. Of course, I am thinking ultra girly. A canopy would be amazing but,  how do I do it? I started pouring over catalogs that I have laying around and happened upon my Posh Tots catalog. Ok, I've never bought anything from there . . . yet . . . but you can get creatively inspired just looking at the pictures!

Anyway, after a little studying I came up with a plan. I had, all ready, 4 burgundy curtains in storage. Now I needed a box to attach them to. Off to the thrift and I scored a perfect size box for just under 4 bucks. So, I have my box, curtains and now just a little burgundy paint. After painting I grabbed my staple gun and started to staple the curtain to the inside back of the box, pleating as I went. I actually started on one side and stapled it down and then went to the other to meet in the middle.

This is the back inside of the box.

I then grabbed curtain #2 and started stapling and pleating, right side facing out, making sure to staple on the inside of the box, starting where I designated the front left side of the box as it would be facing out into the room. Does that make sense?? Hard to explain, but when you see the finished product you will understand. Then I started stapling curtain #3 on the right inside of the box. When your pleating, the material starts to get thick because your overlapping and the staples don't want to go all the way through. The hammer was used to make sure some of those staples were lying flat and gripping into the wood.

 I added a little brown satin ribbon as a trim using double side tape.

 I had a large wooden bow that I had gotten on a thrift venture and painted it the same burgundy color as the box. I hammered a nail to the middle front of the box for it to hang.

Next, I attached a picture hangy thingy to the back of the box. What are those things called?? Will have to google that one.

Now it will go flat against the wall.

This beauty I got at a thrift store in Jersey. It is a vintage resin art piece. Beautiful! And was actually the inspiration behind the colors I chose for her room. I wanted to include this in the canopy so it was prominently featured. There is actually a nail on the wall and I had to poke the nail through the curtain for the art to attach!.

Arrange the animals and pillows.  :-) Okay, I just added this pic cause I was proud of the arrangement!!

I then attached a safety pin to each side of the curtain to lift it up and hooked that onto a nail on either side of the back part of the bow. It gives it a more grand appearance rather than just letting them hang down to the sides. Now we get the drapey effect. The 4th curtain I used as a bed skirt to tie it all together. I took off the front rail and the mattress, folded the curtain in half and laid it down, adjusting the "skirt" to get the desired length. Put the mattress on top of the curtain and attach the rail. Voila! 

The top of the box is now a shelf so I added a little rocking horse to top it all off. 

Well, what do you think?? 

 It honestly didn't take that long to do and the results are amazing! Ummmm if I do say so myself!! Think of the possibilities! Maybe some light linen curtains and a creme and baby blue damask covered box. Adding a trim to the curtains would be a nice touch, too. 

What would you do??

 So much fun creating and not having to break the bank to do it!

Happy crafting all!!

Sania Pell Liberty Garland!

Before I headed off to la la land, I wanted to leave you with this. I was on one of my favorite blogs, Decor8 and ran across this beautiful, delicate garland. 

I think I might have to give it a try! There are a myriad of materials you could use but the Liberty fabrics, I have to say are just extraordinary!

Well, happy crafting and goodnight!!

Dresser Makeover

 I was really looking for a cute dresser for B's room and stumbled upon this dresser off of Craigslist. Solid wood. Great bones. Just needed a little TLC. 

I knew I was going to go with an almond for the main color but what was I going to do about the knobs and pulls? Being the vintage thrifty girl that I am, I scoured eBay for some inspiration. I'm just saying there were too many to choose from but I knew I wanted either glass or brass and decided on the latter.

I saw these and knew that they would be perfect for this dresser. $30 and a week later, they were mine!

I just had to show you the detail! Just the most gorgeous pulls I have ever laid eyes on!! So dainty and feminine.

You can gasp now but yes, I primed and painted them. I know!! My husband was in disbelief! " They're solid brass and your painting them?" Yeppers!
I had a vision and leaving them in there original state was NOT in my plans. For the knobs I actually went back to eBay and scored some vintage pink bakelight ones with a brass fitting.

                                                     
After a little sanding and two coats of Kilz primer she was ready to be painted. I went with RustOleum Painters Touch in Almond for the main color. For the drawers I went with Pink Ginger from Behr and Kona Brown from RustOleum Painters Touch. The drawer pulls, after they were primed with Kilz, were painted with the same almond color as the main dresser.

I have to say that it was a lot of work but I am pleased as punch at the final result!
See, paint CAN be your friend!

                                                   

DIY Starburst Mirror!

Meet my bare wall. Above the tele, that is. Pretty lonely and I wasn't quite sure how to jazz it up. Just a side note: the wall opposite this is my art wall so I didn't feel I could do another.

 Enter, the mirror. Small, with a slight crack in the side but kept it around for a few years thinking I could use it for something.

Having a 2 year old means that I have an abundant stash of everything crafty! Hot glue gun and skewers! I just cut them to size and glued them on. Hoping I wouldn't run out.

Well, here she is! Just needs a little paint.

 I used RustOleum Painters Touch in Almond.

Well, what do you think?? I had so much fun doing it, too! Are you crafty, too??

Now, on to my next project!!

DIY Whoville Clover!

I REALLY needed a centerpiece for my dining table. I had a beautiful vase with some very tall decorative sticks that I got from the dollar store. It needed some jazzing and I wanted to bring a green element. 

Off I went to the dollar store and found some creativity for a few bucks! Styrofoam balls of various sizes, glue and spanish moss.

I put glue on the balls and added the moss. Rolling each ball tightly in my hands like a ball of dough so it would adhere. Let it dry. Would have included a picture but it came out blurry but you get the idea, right?! Then you just pop them onto the sticks at various heights.

Voila!! I had so much fun creating this, I might have to make a small vase display for B's room. Wonder if you can dye the moss a deep pink or lilac. Hmmmmm, will let you know! Whenever I get a creative idea in my head I pounce on it!! Happy crafting!!