Archives for November 2011

Dollar Tree Snowflake Garland DIY

This project takes about 20 minutes and costs about $2. The glittery white plastic snowflakes are available from the Dollar Tree (got mine this morning) in packs of 10 for $1. I grabbed 2 packs since I wasn’t sure how long I wanted my garland to be. The strand pictured here uses 12 of the snowflake ornaments, some jute string and that is it!

I just looped the jute around a spindle on each snowflake and hung them over the pine I already had on my mantel.

What do you think? Are you already decorating for Christmas?

Handmade Christmas Ornaments: Six on Sunday

by Johnnie Collier

Skeleton key ornaments at Country Living, along with 18 other handmade ornament how to’s!

Paper ball ornament at Better Budgeting

Felt wreath ornament at Family Fun

Pom pom snowman ornament at Martha Stewart

Pinecone picture frame ornaments at, again, Martha Stewart. This one is for you, Cheryl!

Book page Tree ornament at All Free Crafts

Quatrefoil Framed Joy Printable

by Johnnie Collier

Because I am in full swing Christmas decor mode, I decided to design this “JOY” trio, perfect for the silver dollar tree frames I picked up a couple of weeks ago. I love how this turned out, and I have apparently decided to add black and red to my silver and white Christmas theme. Below is the link for you to download these prints. I put them all on the same 8.5×11 inch page to save room and paper. My frame size is 3.5 x 5 inches, so they all fit. You may need to resize for your project.

Click here to download.

Here they are on my mantel…

They would be cute dangling vertically from the bottom of a Christmas wreath too.

Thrifty Thursday Week 49

by Johnnie Collier

Thursday, already?? I know. This time of year is on fast forward. Thanks for taking the time to be here, and for sharing what you have been creating.

How it Works: No giveaways, shops or links to your main blog, please. That way we know when we come to Thrifty Thursday, we will only encounter DIY projects and not end up sifting through a bunch of other links. Entries not related, or to main blog pages/shops/giveaways will be deleted.
Other stuff:

*Stop by my new Facebook page and Like it, if you like it – Click here.
*Please add a text link or my button to your post!
*I will choose 2 participants to feature the following Thursday, Please drop by and love on the features! Their links are in the post where their projects are featured.
*Please visit the at least the 2 blogs above you and shower them with comment love.
*Leave me a comment and let me know you were here. I love hearing from you.
*Have fun and be inspired!
*Stop by and say hello to my crafty friend Nikki and link up to her thrifty party too…

Last week’s favorites:

No Sew West Elm Origami Pillow by Design Fluff

Thanksgiving vases from Freaking Craft

Handmade Christmas gifts with scrapbooking supplies at Alderberry Hill

Let’s get it started in here…

T-shirt Wreath DIY

by Johnnie Collier

This project is quite simple, inexpensive, and green. Who doesn’t love repurposing old rags into festive holiday decor? Raid the closet or the local thrift stores for your favorite colored cotton T’s and join me in my very first upcycled T-shirt craft!

Supplies:

T-shirt strips
Wreath form
Embellishments of your choice

Instructions:

I used my rotary cutter and a straight edge to cut thin strips of t-shirt. They don’t have to be perfect. Fabric scissors would be fine too.

Begin wrapping the strips around the wreath form. When you get to the end of a strip, join a new strip by tying the 2 ends in a simple knot. I pulled and repositioned the strips so that the knots were all on what would be the back of the wreath (see below).

Tie a ribbon or other hanging mechanism and embellish as desired. I used a fleece scarf from the dollar tree to hang this wreath. For the bunting, I paper punched scrapbook paper and adhered it to twine with glue. The letters came from Wal Mart. I painted them silver and adhered them with hot glue.

That is it! Are you using old t-shirts in your crafts? I have seen some amazing projects on pinterst.

Paper Bead Trio Set

by Johnnie Collier

A beautiful necklace, earring, bracelet paper bead set. This necklace is about 34 inches long, double stranded wire work with purple glass bicone, green faceted glass beads and rock like cream and transparent glass beads. It showcases 30 paper beads, which I showed you how I make in this post.

The necklace is similar in design to the one I showed how to create here.

To see my new favorite way to seal the paper beads, go here.

The bracelet is a simple elastic cord bracelet with 6 paper beads and purple glass bicones between each. The earrings are each composed of 1 paper bead and, 2 green glass faceted beads and one larger purple bicone.

I love this set!! It looks best with white or pretty much any earth tone. The paper beads are so light, you hardly know they are there, except for all the people commenting on your rocked out set.

To purchase this set, visit the listing here.

As Seen on Mod Podge Rocks

by Johnnie Collier

I would tell you what it is, but nah. Go see. Ok, a hint… missoni… chevron… now go on, why don’t you?! SBLC At Mod Podge Rocks…

DIY Crepe Paper Tree

by Johnnie Collier

I know, I know, it is not even Thanksgiving yet, but I have moved right onto Christmas decor. Blame Dollar Tree. I innocently stopped by there to kill some time before the pharmacy opened, and I had no choice but to buy supplies to make this crepe paper tree. Super easy project that cost a total of $3 plus a few supplies I had on hand. This sweet little tree can be made in any color to coordinate with your own holiday decor.

Supplies:

Glue gun
Cemetery vase from Dollar Tree, or Styrofoam cone shape
Crepe paper
Tree topper ornament from Dollar Tree
Foam base from Dollar Tree floral section (optional)

Instructions:

You can glue and pleat as you go along, or pleat strips of the crepe paper, then glue them to the cone shape. I switched randomly between both methods. They both took about the same amount of time. This was a 30 minute project.

Once you have covered your entire cone, embellish as you like. I covered the foam base in burlap with hot glue, then glued it to the crepe covered vase for a tree trunk. Hot glue an ornament to the top for a star, spritz tree with glitter mist, or paint little polka dot ornaments. I left it simple, and absolutely love it.

It is the beginning of this year’s silver and white Christmas theme at our house. What are your colors this holiday season?

Seal Those Paper Beads

by Johnnie Collier

Last week, I showed you a the best video I have found on making paper beads, here. The method used to seal the beads involved painting each one individually with glaze, for a total of 3 coats. Ugh… how time consuming. I knew there must be a better way. Today, I will share how I sealed 125 beads in 5 minutes (not including dry time, of course)!

Supplies:

Paper beads
Minwax Polycrylic
Fishing line
Toothpicks
Newspaper
Some kind of place to hang your strands of beads to dry

BTW, that handy little sharp tool you see, a needle tool I think, is way handier than toothpicks for rolling paper beads. Just saying. I got it in the clay section in a pack of tools at Michael’s.

Instructions:

So easy. Just string your paper beads on fishing line (cause it is strong and cheap). I tie toothpicks at both ends of the string of beads so that I don’t lose any, and to hang the strands from in the drying step. Here are some strung beads…
Now, dip the strung beads in polycrylic, submerging every bead. You hands will be dripping with the stuff. Do this over newspapers to protect the surface, and do it where you plan to hang them. I use my closet wire shelving, with plenty of newspaper on the floor to catch the drips. As you pull the strand out of the polycrylic, run it between 2 fingers over the can, to remove excess polycrylic. It will still be drippy, but you won’t waste as much.

My handy dandy drying area:

Tips: I like to separate the beads from one another about 1 hour into drying so that they don’t completely dry together. You can even turn the strands, hanging them from the other end. After 2 hours, I dip them one more time and let dry for an hour or so.

I think this method is way easier, and quicker, especially if you are sealing a lot of beads at once. Since I am so obsessed with making these things, they are everywhere, and I needed to find a quicker way to do this. The dry time is slower than if I individually paint each one, but the hands on time is literally 5 minutes, leaving me to do one of the 10 other projects I have going at any given moment. I love the shine and durability afforded by the polycrylic too. Check out some comparisons…

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Thrifty Thursday Week 48

by Johnnie Collier

In just one little month, Thrifty Thursday will be a year old. I am so grateful for all of the inspiration and friends I have gained through hosting this link-up. Thank you for sharing your talent, and for participating in what has become my favorite day of the week. Blogging has brought me so many blessings. I appreciate each and every one of you!!

Weekly featured eyecatchers:

Thanksgiving subway art decorated glass cube by Pittypat Paperie

Gorgeous knit cowl using a spool knitter you can make on yourself at Etcetorize

Are you kidding me with this stinkin’ adorable dog in that DIY doggy bed? Head over to Crafted Niche for the full cute overload.

Party!!

Archives for November 2011

Dollar Tree Snowflake Garland DIY

Handmade Christmas Ornaments: Six on Sunday

Quatrefoil Framed Joy Printable

Thrifty Thursday Week 49

T-shirt Wreath DIY

Paper Bead Trio Set

As Seen on Mod Podge Rocks

DIY Crepe Paper Tree

Seal Those Paper Beads

Thrifty Thursday Week 48

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