DIY: Glittered Chain-Link Holiday Garland

HGTV has a simple, but wonderful idea for those last minute holiday decorations!  We love this easy to make and inexpensive garland idea! 

 

Materials Needed:

• 12x12 sheet of gold scrapbook paper (enough for 3 feet of chain)
• mint-green acrylic paint
• small bowl for paint
• 1" Paint Brush
• pencil or pen

• Ruler
• 1"-wide blue painter's tape
• X-Acto knife
• hot glue gun and glue sticks

Paint Back of Paper Then Mark Chain Links

Completely cover non-glitter side of gold scrapbook paper with mint acrylic paint. Once paint has fully dried, make inch marks on both edges of paper. Connect marks to create 1-inch stripes.

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Score Then Bend Paper

Using an X-Acto knife, carefully score (but don't cut) along marks. Make sure not to cut all the way through; cut the paper just enough to make it easy to tear later. Flip paper over and slightly crease at score marks to make them more visible.

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Tape Off Then Paint Strips

On paper's glittered side, place painter's tape along the center of each scored line (Image 1). Paint exposed paper with mint-green paint. Once paint has dried, carefully remove tape to reveal tone-on-tone pattern (Image 2).

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DIY: Acorn Wreath in Any Color!

Made has a tutorial that is completely customizable to your taste and home decor!  This seems like it may be a little time consuming, but we bet that if you get a few friends together and perhaps have a coffee or a glass of wine together, this will be together in a jiff!  

Sewing is a love to me. In fact, it may be addiction. But crafting is a new-found interest. Until we moved into a house two months ago, I had kept the crafts at a minimum. Our old 2-bedroom apartment felt like piles of projects were caving in on me. The last thing I needed was more decor. But now that I have bare walls that can breathe, I’m exploring all those wonderful craft projects I’ve admired from afar in the blogging world. And this one caught my eye.
I love the simplicity of it and monochromatic color. And better yet, it was made from acorns!….something the kids and I see everywhere at the park. So last week, with empty bread bags (from feeding the ducks) the kids and I loaded our bags as full as we could with brown acorns. I felt like one of my toddlers, gathering treasures, slightly giddy with craft excitement. And I loved that we were working on a project together.
Though my acorns are not as cool looking as hers, I hope you enjoy my acorn wreath adventure. Let’s get started!
Skill Level: Beginner
Needed:
* Acorns (or nuts or wooden beads)
* Floral wreath
* Hot Glue-gun
1. Gather acorns. If you can find the ones with the little hats on top, totally cool. I just had these to work with. But in the end I still liked the result. If you don’t have acorns in your area, you might try what the woman in the above link did. She posted on her blog, asking readers to send her some and four boxes showed up on her doorstep! What an amazing network this blogging place is.
2. Clean and BAKE your acorns. Oh my, this is an important step. At first we brought the acorns home and since they had been outside, I washed them and just laid them on a towel to dry. Then I read the post above in thorough detail. And when I got to the part about her dormant box of acorns festering with little maggots, I freaked out and threw my acorns in the oven for 15 min at 350 degrees to make sure any little creatures living within had croaked. (for more info read here).
3. Gather a wreath and glue gun. I purchased one of these very inexpensive straw wreaths (only because we were at the end of our budget for the month and I was trying to be a responsible wife). You can also use floral or wooden wreaths.
4. Start glue-ing! I chose to do mine in a diagonal wrap-around pattern. So first I drew one line with a marker around the wreath, put some hot glue on that line and laid the acorns on top.
5. Glue acorns all around the wreath (But don’t bother glueing them on the back. No one will see it and it will lay flatter on your wall or door. ) As you go around the wreath, it may be hard to keep each line curving with the same degree as the previous one. I continually adjusted here and there as I went.
6. Add a ribbon, admire your (tedious but exciting) work, and hang it up.
Total cost for the project:
Wreath: $2.50
Spray Paint: $1
Acorns: FREE!
This ribbon was made of braiding three strips of white gauze fabric together:
Of course, if you’re anything like me, it’s hard to decide which color you like best. So, I spray painted it white. And I love this version even better. Jordan Almonds anyone?
Next to the charcoal gray door, white adds perfect contrast. And it works for most seasons! When Thanksgiving is over, tie a red, green, or gold ribbon on there.
Or better yet, paint it green!
Raspberry pink for Valentine’s Day:

DIY: Chrysanthemum Paper Flowers

Cherished Bliss' blog tutorial on chrysanthemum paper flowers that we plan to try the minute we get home.  We love paper flowers in every variety.  Just think - you can make them whatever color / pattern you want, you can change them anytime, and they never die!  We love making them out of recycled paper as well!

Don’t you just love these colors? This is pretty easy to make. Your kids might even love to make this with you, it’s pretty easy!

{What you need}

- 2 pieces of scrapbook paper
- scissors
- glue
- paper circle cut out

{Steps}

one. cut out a bunch of strips I started with the bottom yellow layer of strips at 3 1/2” x 1/2” but this depends on the size of the flower you want. Then fold it in half and glue the ends together. The first layer of pink strips are 3” long and the inner pink strips are 2 1/2” long.

two. Start gluing your paper strips around your paper circle cut out. Mine was approx. 1 1/2” in diameter.

three. Keep going around with your different layers by filling the next layer in the spaces of the previous layer. I did two layers of the yellow, two layers of the pink, and then I filled in a few gaps with the pink in a 3rd layer of the pink (but this is only necessary if you fill you have a few gaps).

four. Add your center. For my center I took another 1 1/2” circle and cut it into a spiral then wrapped it around tight and glued it down in the center. You could also add buttons, rhinestone, or whatever suits your project

There you have it. A beautiful paper flower for embellishing all kind of projects!

DIY: Upcycled Dollar Store Candles

Libby Dibby has a great upcycle tutorial for Dollar Store candles.  We love the idea of taking something that is already usable, but making it so that it fits our home and decor - or even fits a holiday, party or wedding theme!

Check out their blog for more DIY!  This one couldn't be more simple!  We like instructions that are so easy they take up less than a paragraph.

We took Dollar Store candles, the kind with saints on them... And used ModPodge to secure tiny fabric scraps to them... They look even better than I expected them.

DIY: Jeweled Planters

Centsational Girl has been one of our favorite blogs for a long time now.  We love her sense of home design and fashion on a budget!  Check her out!  Today we are featuring her blog on how to fancy up your planter.  These would be fantastic for a garden party or an outdoor wedding perhaps?  What do you think?

This planter makes a gorgeous statement, on a wedding table, surrounding your orchids, or adding glamour to your outdoor table.

How to Make a Jeweled Planter:

Supplies:

1. Inexpensive terra cotta planter(s)
2. Outdoor spray paint
3. Glass marbles (with flat side) from craft store
4. Silicone rubber sealant or epoxy glue from hardware store

Step One:  Spray paint your terra cotta planters with some outdoor spray paint and allow to dry.  I use a beautiful shade of cream by Rustoleum called ‘Heirloom White’.

Step Two: Attach your glass marbles with silicone rubber sealant.  This product is waterproof and will withstand outdoor abuse.

Silicone sealant takes about 24 hours to cure, but after that, your ‘jewels’ will stay on regardless of moisture.

This DIY project makes your planters look like they’re wearing jewelry!

DIY: Halloween Tin Can Luminaries

Jolly Mom's blog has a very easy to follow DIY that features tin can luminaries.  There is still plenty of time to whip up these guys to line your steps or driveway.  Ideal for a party!

Head on over to her blog for even more DIY!

What You'll Need:

* Sharpie or marker in the same color as your paint
* Clean empty tin cans {I like to use the big coffee cans, any size will work}
* Hammer and large nail or awl
* Paint
* Paint brush
* Candles


Instructions

Fill the tin can with water and place it in the freezer. When the water in the can is frozen, remove the can from the freezer.

Using the marker, draw whatever image or word onto the tin can. You can freehand or print a design from the internet and then trace it onto the tin can. Keep the design simple though. Design Ideas: outline of a cat, a bat, a witch's hat, words like Boo or Happy Halloween.

Place the tin can on a folded towel. This will help brace the tin can and reduce the impact of punching the holes with the hammer.

Then, use the hammer and awl {or nail} nail to puncture the design in the can.

When you're done punching the holes, place the can under hot, running water to melt the ice.

Also, since water expands as it freezes, the bottom of your can will probably not be level. If not, then turn the can over, cover with a towel, and hammer down the edges until the bottom of the can is level.

Paint the tin can using either spray paint or acrylic paint. Once the the paint is dry, you'll probably have to go back with a toothpick and poke some of the holes through on the can since the paint can clog them up.

Place a candle inside the can and enjoy!

NOTE: You can also puncture one hole on either side of the tin can, attach a piece of wire, and then hang the luminaries as well!

DIY: Dipped Votives - Dollar Store Craft Idea

Nest of Posies made one of those dollar store crafts you know we like - since it's pretty and it's cheap!  We know she made them in bright summery colors (which are stunning), but we could totally see these in holiday colors - autumn, Christmas, etc. - with glitter or other funness!!

Check out her blog for more DIY!!

I used some votive candle holders I had from the Dollar Store & some craft paint.

Plastic bowls for dipping, newspaper & parchment paper for drying.

The only instruction I'll give, is once you start turning your votive around in the paint, don't pick it up until you are done.  

*Keep the votive against the side of the bowl that has the paint & continually move in circular motion until it is covered.*

DIY: Autumn Leaf Luminaries

We are either hit of miss with Martha Stewart's crafts - but this one we love!  Sometimes they can be just too detailed and complicated for our liking, but this one is just up our alley with simple materials and even more simple instructions.  You can get everything you need for cheap, and they look expensive - bonus!

Tools and Materials
- Fallen leaves

- Colored paper treat bags, matte-colored SOS in Sunbrite size No. 6, and Orange size No. 4, $10.10 to $11.19 per 100, from Paper Mart

- Acrylic paint (in colors that contrast with bags)

- 2-ounce misting bottle (176062), $1.29, from The Container Store

Autumn Luminarias How-To:
1. Collect fallen leaves, and arrange them on top of colored-paper treat bags.

2. Put 1 teaspoon acrylic paint (choose colors that contrast with bags) in a 2- to 3-ounce misting bottle. Fill halfway with water and shake to mix. Mist bags and leaves. Let dry 20 minutes. Remove leaves. Repeat on other side. Fill bottom of each bag with sand.

3. Illuminate: For safety reasons, use either glass holders that are three times as tall as candles or substitute battery-operated lights.

DIY: Upcycled Magazine Paper Wreath

Childhood 101 has a great craft that includes our favorite thing - upcycling!  Everyone has old magazines of some kind laying around and this is the perfect way to do something creative and useful with them.  

Check out their blog for more DIY!

Homemade Magazine Christmas Wreath

First step was to cut lots of strips from the magazine pages. I chose pages that featured predominantly red and white print to match the Christmas theme. Then ruled them into 2cm widths (the width of my ruler) and Immy and I got cutting (though Immy quickly lost interest in this step!)

Then we folded each strip over and stapled it at the bottom to form a petal shape. Unsurprisingly, Immy was back to help with this bit

Before long we had a big pile of red and white magazine ‘petals.’

I recycled a piece of cardboard and traced around a dinner plate and a glass to form the base of our wreath.
Next, it was time to start gluing.  We used a glue stick and started arranging our first row of petals about 2 or 3 cms in from the outside edge of the wreath base.

We continued pasting petals the whole way round and then began a second row to overlap the first…

…and then we added a third and a fourth row of petals…

…until the whole base was covered. I then stapled a few simple, small curls from the remaining strips of paper to cover the staples of the final row of petals.
We hung our Christmas wreath with double sided tape on our front door to spread a little Christmas cheer and welcome visitors to our home