Archives for November 2012

Make a Felt Poinsettia Wreath

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This Sizzix Poinsettia petals die has gotten quite the workout from me lately. I love the paper and the aluminum can version, but there is nothing quite like a felt flower wreath, in my opinion. For this project, I did the same thing I showed you for the paper poinsettia wreath, except instead of gluing the petal layers, I stuck a pearl head pin through them to hold the flower together.

I didn’t have another styrofoam wreath form, so I traced a small plate inside a large plate onto some foam board and cut out a DIY wreath form. I wrapped it in duct tape for strength and durability.

I used wire cutters to trim the excess pin from the flower center that stuck through the back of the wreath.

I used a gold wired ribbon to create the bow, and stuck it on with hot glue.

This one is currently in a box, on it’s way to spread holiday cheer to a home in Texas! I will miss it.

Make a Christmas Tissue Bouquet

by Johnnie Collier

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Every once in awhile, I love a project so much that I am not ready to get rid of it for the next season. That is how I felt about the Halloween bouquet I shared with you early in the fall. I decided to replace it with a Christmas tissue pom pom bouquet. The process is exactly the same as for the orange and black bouquet, except for the tissue paper colors. I used silver, red and white. Some flowers I made with petals of all three or two colors together.

For the vase, I used a milk bottle. Silver wired ribbon tops it off as a shiny bow. To see the process, visit here.

50+ Things to Make From Wine Corks

by Johnnie Collier

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This week’s 50+ is all about wine bottle corks. Did you know there are a ton of ways to repurpose corks? I was surprised at all the different projects I encountered while compiling this round-up. Between this and the wine bottle repurpose round-up from awhile back, no part of your wine purchase will go to waste!

My friend Vivienne at The V Spot created a super cool piece of artwork, with a wine cork mat. Go check out her detailed tutorial, and you are sure to see why her site is one of my very favorite places to be inspired.

This trivet and coaster set from horizontally sliced wine corks would make a great Christmas gift set for the wine lover in your life. Or anyone really. I am not a wine person, and I would love to get this for Christmas. Eco friendly, handmade and functional… yes please.

Grab the kiddos and create some whimsical wine cork mushroom ornaments at Red Ted Art’s Blog. These would be adorable on the Christmas tree, or as decor for a woodland creature themed party, don’t you think? Anytime is a good time for cute mushrooms, I always say.

Bespangled Jewelry put a unique twist on the DIY stamp, using wine corks for this mustache stamp tutorial. I’ve seen potatoes, erasers and foam for DIY stamps, but this is a first for wine corks. What a clever repurpose!

At Simple City Style, I spied this wine cork placeholder. I love the look, and while there is no tutorial, I think even the least crafty among us can crack this code. Looks like you just cut what you want to be the bottom to create a flat surface. Then make a slit across the top for the place card.

Check out these and several more cork upcycle projects and start hoarding those corks!

Z Gallerie Inspired Dollar Store Winter Wreath

by Johnnie Collier

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This wreath was inspired by the Z. Gallerie silver magnolia leaf wreath that I fell in love with, but not $70 in love with. More like “make my own version for $10” love, is what it was. I had the spray paint, primer, wreath form and ribbon on hand. I just needed leaves. Hmmm. I scoured my city for some magnolia trees, to no avail. I did find some leaves in my neighborhood with the same basic shape. I gathered up a pile, dipped them in beeswax and spray painted them silver. They look stunning, but I wanted a big wreath, and was not about to dip and spray that many leaves. You will see that technique in an upcoming post. For today’s tutorial, see how I primered and sprayed dollar store leaves to create my own Z. Gallerie inspired silver magnolia leaf wreath!

Supplies:

16 inch Styrofoam wreath form

10 bundles (5 leaves each) of big oblong leaves from Dollar Tree

White Primer

Silver Spray Paint

Wire Ribbon

TUTORIAL:

I left my leaves on the stem and splayed them out to spray them. Protect your work surface for over spray first!

Primer, let dry overnight, then spray with silver.

When that dries, cut leaves from bunch, leaving 1.5-2 inch stem to insert into wreath form.

I made 3 concentric rows of leaves around my wreath form. I stuck the leaf in perpendicular to the form, then bent it at 90°.

NO GLUE REQUIRED!

Add a bow and hang.

Here is the Z Gallerie inspiration:

I love my $10 version. What do you think? What is on your door this year?

Make a Double Wrap Bracelet

by Johnnie Collier

Need a quick, easy, stunning Christmas gift to make? This double wrap bracelet tutorial from Adrianne at Happy Hour Projects fits the bill. It brings sparkly shine that is perfect for the holidays. I am thinking New Year’s Eve accessory! Head over for the full photo step by step and make a few for gifts this year.

Make an Aluminum Can Poinsettia Wreath

by Johnnie Collier

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Last week, I showed you this paper poinsettia wreath tutorial using a Sizzix flower petal die and card stock. I decided to use the same die to create this aluminum can poinsettia wreath. The “wreath form” is a stove top piece I picked up at my local Habitat for Humanity Restore, making this an all around eco-friendly holiday decoration. Total project cost – about $1.

My Aluminum can rose video shows you how to cut the cans. Be careful – they can be sharp when cut.

For creating the flowers using the die or template (provide in the following linked post), see the paper poinsettia wreath tutorial:

I use alcohol inks to color my poinsettia petala , like I showed you in my aluminum can leaf wreath tutorial. To give each one some variation, I went over the petals with copic markers. For the leaves, I used Martha Stewart Glitter paint. I sealed my leaves with Mod Podge Pearl Spray Sealer. I love the look of this sealer with the alcohol ink.

How to Make A #Christmas #Wreath from #Recycled Cans #Upcycle #DIY @savedbyloves #Sizzix

To adhere the flowers to the circle stove part, I use Beacon Fabri-Tac. This stuff rocks. It is like hot glue in a bottle. Dries strong and fast.

I finished the wreath off with a silver wire ribbon bow. I love it against our off white door. It was going to be a gift, but it just can’t leave that spot. Sometimes that happens, right?!Like aluminum can Christmas decor? Check out our aluminum can angels:

New Christmas Printable Trio

by Johnnie Collier

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Thanksgiving is behind us, so let’s get our Christmas decor on! At Printable Decor, you can download the new Christmas printable set I created for my seasonal frame trio. The Love, Joy, Peace snowflake set is sized at 11×17 inches, but crops to a 11×14 matted frame well. You can have these printed at your local office supply store for around $1-2 per print. Head over for more pics, more Christmas printables and ideas for display!

Dollar Store Stenciled Gift Mugs

by Johnnie Collier

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I snatched up these plain white coffee mugs from the dollar store recently, with Christmas gift mugs in mind. These are perfect to fill with treats, greeting cards, or gift cards for display on Christmas morning. Stencil custom monograms and text with Martha Stewart’s glass paint and adhesive stencils for a personalized keepsake. Give them to neighbors or coworkers. They will never know you paid $1!

SUPPLIES:

Dollar store coffee mugs

Martha Stewart glass paint

Martha Stewart adhesive stencils

Rubbing alcohol

Paint daubers or stencil brush

TUTORIAL:

Clean mugs with rubbing alcohol

Plan design and place stencils

Apply Paint

Carefully remove stencil before paint dries completely

The paint is permanent after 21 days of air drying, or you can speed this up by baking per instructions on Plaid’s website.

Comfort Zone® Products & My Dog

by Johnnie Collier

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort Zone® products for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have ever spent time with a Jack Russell, you just know they are “energetic” and quirky. My 9 year old male, Bovie, is no exception to that rule. He minds well in general, but absolutely never tires, and is on a relentless pursuit to rid the world of cats, skunks, squirrels – pretty much all woodland creatures. He will wine and pace for hours if a squirrel runs along the fence, scratching at the sliding door with astonishing persistence. There was the day a kitty wondered onto our porch and just hung out there, watching Bovie freak out…

Oh yeah, and there is something he is convinced lives just behind the baseboard at the bottom of my stairs. He will scratch and dig at it every chance he gets, until one of us hears the sound of our trim being destroyed and stops him. I won’t even go into the neighbors that he traumatized when he pulled a Houdini, freeing himself from his collar and cornered their poor cat. Finally, thunderstorms and fireworks… big time stress for Bovie. He whines and barks and tries to claw his way out of his crate. No sleep for anyone on July 4th around here.

Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to try out Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). Stress causes pets to act out with these annoying and sometimes destructive behaviors. Comfort Zone® products mimick the natural pheromones of cats (there is a feline version) and dogs, which helps them feel calm and comfortable in their space. This reduces stress-related behavior like digging and excessive barking.

I plugged the diffuser in near the baseboard that my dog thinks is hiding a creature. You are supposed to have 90 days for full effect, but I have definitely noticed decreased digging behavior, and will be continuing to use the diffuser. When the next thunderstorm rolls around, I will use the pheromone spray in his crate and let you know if it was helpful.

To learn more about Comfort Zone® Products, visit them on Facebook.

Make Birchwood Candle Holders

by Johnnie Collier

Need an inexpensive, quick handmade gift or home decor accessory? This birch wood candle holder DIY from Oleander and Palm is the answer. Bring the outdoors in for eco-chic decorating for little to no cost.

Want more craft ideas from things you find outside? Visit our 50+ nature craft collection:

Archives for November 2012

Make a Felt Poinsettia Wreath

Make a Christmas Tissue Bouquet

50+ Things to Make From Wine Corks

Z Gallerie Inspired Dollar Store Winter Wreath

Supplies:

TUTORIAL:

Make a Double Wrap Bracelet

Make an Aluminum Can Poinsettia Wreath

New Christmas Printable Trio

Dollar Store Stenciled Gift Mugs

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

Comfort Zone® Products & My Dog

Make Birchwood Candle Holders

Meet Johnnie

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Recent Printables

50+ Roundups

Archives for November 2012

Supplies:

TUTORIAL:

SUPPLIES:

TUTORIAL:

Meet Johnnie

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