Pinecone Love

I have this fascination with pinecones for the holidays.  I think I initially got hooked on them in the Fall because they were used in so many "Natural Fall" decorations.  Now that Fall is over, I want to decorate with them for Christmas.  I'm always a day late and.....well, you know.


I've been pinning tons of Christmas decorating ideas on Pinterest lately, especially the ones involving natural elements. 


Here are some of my favorite pictures from my Pinterest "Holiday" board.

Pinterest

Pinterest

The above picture inspired me to create a pinecone ball to hang in my living room window.  I spray painted a white foam ball (found in floral dept. at Wal-Mart) brown.  Then, I attached some miniature pinecones (also from Wal-Mart - discounted fall decor) to the ball with hot glue.  I hung it form the curtain rod above my large living room window.

In this picture, you can see my back porch.  Can you see the other group of pinecones hanging from a lump of holly?  Well, that one has a story behind it.

My inspiration for this decoration was this picture from Pinterest.

Pinterest

My goal in making this was to hide the hideous "porch pet" my husband insists on keeping on our back porch.  He bought this stupid looking squirrel figure on a tire swing at the dollar store to hang on a post on the porch.  It looks like something a 5-year old would pick out.  Can you tell I don't like it?

I tried to take it down but he has it practically welded to the hook.  Ugh!  So I decided to cover it.  I bought a green foam rectangle and a fake holly bush bundle from Wal-Mart.  I gathered some pinecones from the backyard and used some red ribbon that I already had.  This is what I came up with:

Here is a picture of the back of it.  You can see the little squirrel legs and tire but, thankfully, not from the front.  

My husband is OK with this "temporary" solution as long as his precious little squirrel is unharmed.  Seriously?

Does anyone else have a husband with a weird fascination of gaudy "pieces of art" (his words, not mine)?  How do you decorate around it?  Please tell me that I'm not the only one....

My Pinterest Challenge - Braided Fleece Edging

I found another idea for a Christmas present on Pinterest.  I saw the coolest way to finish the edges on a piece of fleece fabric.  It was a great alternative to the usual tying of 2 pieces of fleece together with knots to make a throw.


I searched my usual fabric stores for some fleece and scored big time on a Hobby Lobby Black Friday sale.  When I saw this fleece fabric, I had to have it.  Long story short, I decided that a fleece throw would be a great present for me too, lol.  I've had an obsession with damask print lately so when I saw this, my heart jumped a beat.

Gorgeous, huh?  I just re-decorated my bedroom in brown and blue so, yeah, it has to be mine :)

This is the picture I saw on Pinterest.  This pin was from the blog, Nebraska Views, and the author, Lynn, has an awesome tutorial on her site.  I'll refer to it several times because her pictures are much better than mine.  Please feel free to visit her blog for instructions that (I think) are better than mine.

I purchased 2 yards of the fleece fabric because it completely covers the top of my queen size bed.  To start the edging, I cut 1 inch "tabs" along the edge.  Here is my picture:

In each tab, I cut a small "buttonhole" by folding the tab in half and cutting.

I know this makes no sense, lol.  I'm going to show you Lynn's picture because it's better than mine.  And I think it is much easier to see the tabs with a solid color fabric.

Makes more sense now, huh? 

I did this on all four edges of the fabric.  For the next part, I used the largest crochet hook I had.  I inserted the crochet hook through the small buttonhole on one tab and pulled the tab next to it through the buttonhole.  I was left with a tab sticking out of a buttonhole so I inserted my crochet hook through that tab's buttonhole and inserted the next tab through it.  I repeated this over and over on all 4 edges.  Here are some pictures.

It's easier to see this done on the solid fabric on Lynn's blog.

When you are finished, the edge looks like a simple braid.  It's smooth, with no annoying knots.

Again, this is so much easier to see on a solid fabric.  Here is Lynn's finished edge:

I think it looks much better with solid fabric but I love my damask print.  Merry Christmas to me :)

Kid's Christmas Mantle with Fairy Lights

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Have you recovered from the feeding fest yet?  Not me, I'm still pigging out on leftovers.  The holiday week was more chaotic for me than I had thought it was going to be.  Lots going on and I was not able to be on the internet much.  I missed my little blog :(  

I did, however, start a few more Christmas decorating projects.  Unfortunately, I only started them...  More unfinished projects, imagine that, lol.  I did get my mantle decorated for Christmas though. 

I always decorate my mantle for my youngest son.  He is a special needs child and his "daybed" is in front of my fireplace.  As you can imagine, decorating the mantle for every holiday isn't easy but when I do, there is always LOTS of Christmas lights involved.  He LOVES to look at Christmas lights so I have them all over my house year 'round.

Here is a picture of his daybed with my mantle decorated for spring/summer/fall.  Remember, I don't change it often, lol.

For Christmas, I decided to use red, lime green and a touch of pink in my decorations.  I wanted the mantle to be bright and cheerful with lots of lights to entertain my sweet little man.

My inspiration came from Pinterest, of course.  I have seen lots of door wreaths made from deco mesh ribbon on Pinterest.  I loved the colors in this one.

And I loved the idea of lights behind fabric here.

I decided to use the deco mesh ribbon on the mantle instead of making a wreath.  I bought one roll each of red and lime green at Hobby Lobby.  I attached it to a "Christmas" green branch swag that I already had.  I followed the same instructions to do it as was shown for making a wreath.  There are tons of tutorials on youtube for this.  Just search "deco mesh wreath".

I also pulled out some Holiday fabric that I got from JoAnn Fabrics a few months ago.  I bought a yard of it, not knowing what I would use it for...I just had to have it, lol.  I do that alot.  I liked it because it had all of "my" holiday colors and a fun, retro look to it.  I knew my son would love it.

I attached the fabric to another empty frame that I had using hot glue.  This frame was an ugly brown color with shiny gold accents but it was well made and large so I spray painted it white.  I added a string of white LED Christmas lights behind the fabric using the metal prongs on the inside of the frame.  These are the prongs that would have held the glass and backing to the frame.  I should have taken a picture of the back of the frame before I hung it but I forgot.  Oops, sorry!

I also added a string of white LED Christmas light to the swag on the mantle.  The two strings had 50 lights each.  My son loves it.  He is laying on his daybed, staring at it right now:)

Now I'm off to find more ideas on Pinterest.  Oh yeah, and finish the other projects that were started a few days ago.  

Linking to:

5 Minutes Just For Me  Pinterest Party

C.R.A.F.T. Making Monday Marvelous

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Craft-O-Maniac Monday Link Party

You're Talking Too Much Meet Me Monday

Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party

Teenage Boy's Room Makeover....The "While You Were Out" Edition

I had every intention of taking it easy this week.  Do a little online shopping, make a few little Christmas decorations and, of course, eating until my stomach exploded.  This was going to be my Thanksgiving vacation.  


Until, this happened:  My teenage son was going on a trip with his grandparents for the holiday week (hence, my vacation).  As he left, he said to me "don't try to re-do my room".  You see, I have been asking, begging, him to let me makeover his room for months.  It was still decorated in "little boy mode" with a cute-sy tractor wallpaper border.  Not exactly teenage material.  


So, when he said "don't re-do my room", I immediately thought to myself, "challenge accepted" (yes, just like Barney Stinson).


Here's my "quickie" room makeover. 

 I replaced the border with a large lime green stripe, trimmed with a smaller gray stripe.  I also prepared the head of the bead for an upcoming headboard (black) and added the letters F L Y.  His hobby is flying R/C airplanes.  


I was going for the Pottery Barn look with the letters.  PB letters are uber-expensive so I just spray painted some MDF letters (from a craft store) black.  


The lower third of his wall was already black.  He wanted black walls when he was 5 years old and that was the compromise.  It worked well during the wallpaper border years.  The upper part of the wall is "builder beige".


I got the duvet cover and pillow sham from Target.  It was my color inspiration.  I've had them stashed away, waiting for the just the right time to carry out my devious plan to "re-do" his room.  Here are two more pictures.  You cannot see the entire room.  It's for your own protection.  Remember, this is a teenage boy's room and they're not known for cleanliness.

The black line things you see above his bed are the brackets to a shelf.  He just got his driver's license so I gave him a key hanger for his room (below the light switch).  It was brassy gold (mine from my college days) and I spray painted it black to match his F L Y letters.

We'll see what he thinks when he gets home.  Knowing him, the first thing that he will think is "did she look under my bed"?  Yes, I did.

OK, that's done.  Now, back to my vacation :)

Linking to:

Domestically Speaking's Power of Paint Party

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy  Me Thursday

A Creative Princess:  It's A Party

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday

Christmas Craft Table

I thought I would show you where I get my craft on.
I stole a little corner of my breakfast room adjacent to the kitchen to set up a table to work on stuff. 


Or, as the teenager in the house calls it, "Mom's crap table".  I just love him.


Lately, it's been full of Christmas stuff.  You can see what I was working on today.  I'm making another cone (foam) Christmas tree...this time with some small shiny red ornaments that I got from the dollar store.

You may notice the small coffee maker on the corner.  That's my coffee maker.  My husband has his own.  We have a difference of opinion on what good coffee is.  I think mine is better and refuse to drink his.  After numerous arguments over it, I just got my own coffee maker.  When we have company over, everyone prefers my coffee....told ya, mine's better :)

That's my little New Orleans Saints snowman hanging in the window.  He's my good luck charm.  And the tall white candleholder/lantern is one I posted about last month.  I decorate it for each holiday.  

I also decorate my small shelf above the table.  On it is the green tissue paper tree I recently made and the magnetic board that I made is below it.

The framed Christmas printable is from thejacobsclan.blogspot.com.  I love the colors in it.

I also pulled out alot of painter's tape for another project that I started.  I'll give you a hint:  STRIPES!  Details coming soon....

Craft Store Sales...and other Christmas shopping events

In case you haven't heard (haha), it's a great time to bargain shop for Christmas presents.  I'm an online shopper kind of girl so I check out the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales on bfads.net.  Today, I found this:  "Take 25% off your purchase at Michael's this weekend".  It gets better....read about it here.

If you are making some of your Christmas gifts like I am, this is a great time to buy supplies.  I LOVE Michael's but don't have one close by...POO!

I also wanted to share some info about 2 other cool events happening in blogland.  Pretty Things is hosting a Virtual Craft Show on Nov. 26 - Dec. 3.  I love a good craft show and a virtual one?  I'll be there with my moola!!!

Also, Centsational Girl is hosting a holiday link party.  Check it out!  Have a great weekend :)

My Pinterest Challenge - Memo Frame

Today, I finished making another Christmas gift on my  "gifts to make list".  It is for my Mother-in-Law.  I never know what to get her every year.  She's alot like her son, my husband, in that she likes the simplicity and functionality of things.   


I decided to give her a "memo frame" (I don't know what else to call it) similar to the one I made for my husband (posted here).  I made it a little different but she can use it to hold loose photos, grocery lists, receipts, etc....  Functional and simple.

It is an empty frame (spray painted brown) with 3/8" brown satin ribbon attached to the back side of the frame.  It is propped up against a door in the photo.

I added some pictures of her great-granddaughter and a clip art picture of a red bird (she loves them).  They are pinned to the ribbon with small clothes pins.  This would look lovely in other colors but I chose brown to keep it simple and neutral. 

My inspiration came from a couple of photos I had seen on Pinterest.  I just combined the ideas to make my own version.

Pinterest

Pinterest

It feels good to get another gift done.  Now I just have to figure out how to wrap it securely for the long trip to her house....

Linking to:

5 Minutes Just For Me Pinning and Singing on the Weekend Pinterest Party

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

2805's Potpourri party 

The DIY Showoff Project Parade

Craft-O-Maniac Monday Link Party

Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop

You're Talking Too Much Meet Me Monday

Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party

My Pinterest Challenge - Kid's Tent

I made another Christmas gift for my little niece and nephew today.  It's an idea I got from Pinterest...a kid's tent, nook, hideout, fort, whatever you want to call it.
Here is the one I saw on Pinterest:

It's made from a hula hoop and a pair of curtains.  I used white sheer curtains because the kids are still at the age when they think they can't be seen behind sheer fabric.  So cute:)  They can "hide" but their mommy can still see them.  Here is my version, hanging from a doorway.

I made this in two easy steps: 

1.  I put a string through the rod pocket on the sheers and cinched it together tight to make a small circular "ruffle".  The remaining string will be used to suspend the tent from the ceiling.

2.  I attached fishing line to four sides of the hula hoop and brought them together in the center.  I put the gathered fishing line through the top of the gathered curtain "ruffle" at the top and attached it to the string used in the rod pocket of the curtain.  The two curtain panels can then be spread around the outside rim of the hula hoop.  You can see the fishing line tied to one side of the hula hoop in the picture below.

I added some red ribbon to decorate it a little bit.  Red is all I had but I want to try to find different colored ribbons to decorate the outside.  I think it will look cuter and more "playful" that way.

I'll be back tomorrow with another handmade gift.  It's another idea I saw on Pinterest.  This time for my mother-in-law.

Linking to:

Happy Hour Projects Freestyle Friday

5 Minutes Just For Me Pinning and Singing on the Weekend

The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday

Christmas Family Photo....Disaster!!!

I had the bright idea of taking a family picture today.  I thought it would be good to put it on Christmas cards this year and we were due for an updated family photo anyway.  I picked today to do the photo because it was the only day this week that we would all be home at the same time.  


Instead of showing you a lovely family photo, I am going to share with you all the things that went wrong.  I wanted to do a casual outside photo.  Well, today was the wrong day for that.  The temperature was 82 degrees with a humidity level of 200%...therefore "winter" photos with sweat beading on your forehead just looks wrong.  It was HOT! In November!  Trying to dress for a cool, November day in this heat seemed crazy.


Of course the boys in my family did not want to do the "photo shoot" at all.  After many complaints, they agreed and we went outside to attempt the photo.  Problem number two arrived when the Hubs and the teenager start making faces and laughing at each other.  For some reason, the Hubs decides to act like a 12 year old when he is around the teenager.  This always occurs when I need them to be serious and act their age.


Yes, there is a photo.  But I'm too embarrassed to show it to you.  Instead, it will make a good photo to "play" with in Picnik.  Have you seen the Holiday clip art they have to put on photos?


Today, I worked on decorating my kitchen shelves for Christmas.  I can't get to my fireplace mantle very easily (I'll explain why another day) so I decorate my shelves for different holidays.  I got this idea from Shelley Smith at House of Smith's.  She has a set of shelves on a wall in her dining room(?) that she decorates for each holiday.  Of course, it's beautiful and has been "pinned" on Pinterest often.

Christmas

Halloween

I started decorating my "Christmas" shelf.  I had the perfect place for a beautiful frame holding our family photo.  That was plan A.  There is no plan B.  I have to re-work my whole "Christmas shelf plan".  Ugh.....

Here's what I have done so far.

still needs lots of work :(

I fell in love with the vinyl scroll Christmas tree sticker that was displayed on Shelley Smith's Christmas shelf.  She sells it in her store, thehouseofsmithsdesigns.com, and I bought one in olive green to use on a white plate. 

I also changed the scrapbook paper in my diy dry erase board to a Christmas theme.

Again, the diy dry erase board idea came from Pinterest.  I started out with a Fall theme (posted here).

Making one of these as a Christmas present for someone is cheap and easy.  I bought my frame at the dollar store and the scrapbook paper from ebay.  The total cost for mine was $3.25.  Such a cute and useful gift.  

When I figure out my "plan B" for my Christmas shelf, I'll post better pictures.  Today was just an all around flop :(

My Personal Shopper....(don't hate)

For several reasons, I am a true stay-at-home mom.  I can no longer go to craft shows, street fairs or garage sales.  I loved going to them.  Antique stores?  I could live in them.  And I could walk up and down a mall with the best of them, lol.  


Those were the days but now I just shop online and.....have my "personal shopper".  I'm lucky to have a mother that knows what I like.  So when she goes to garage sales and craft shows/fairs, she shops for me :)  She knows what I like and if she sees a good deal, she grabs it.  If I tried to post a picture of everything she has found for me, this post would go on forever.  


Instead, today I'll show you what she picked up for me at a garage sale this weekend.  The garage sale was at a family friend's home and she had some good stuff.  Here is a picture of my loot:

A gorgeous cream/dk. red toile tablecloth.  You know how I love fabric and I love, love toile!

A pair of linen, magnolia print hand towels.  I have lots of magnolia decor in my home and these will fit in wonderfully.  The quality of the linen is outstanding - great texture.

A beautiful framed print of a Victorian woman holding a bouquet of flowers.  It matches a Monet print that I already own.  The frame is gold and I'll probably paint it.  I just don't like gold frames but the quality is also excellent.

And, lastly, a pair of cute bird plaques.  They are a creamy ivory color and are made of resin.  Won't they look great over a picture on the wall or a Spring table display.  My mom knows I love birds and knew I'd want these. She was so right!

I'm really blessed to have a mother like her.  I know I've said that before but I get my love of antiques, fabric and family heirlooms from her.  One day, I'm going to post pictures of all the gorgeous antiques I have gotten from her.  It will make you drool.......

I'm finishing up another Christmas craft for tomorrow. Stop by to check it out :)

My Pinterest Challenge - Christmas Crafts

I was up to my elbows today in tissue paper and Elmer's glue...crafting and watching an awesome football game (New Orleans beats Atlanta in overtime...WHO DAT).


I'm still on my football high but here's what I finished today.  I started making some Christmas decorations for my home.  One down, lots more to go.

My inspiration is from Pinterest (found here).  I have some open shelves in my kitchen to decorate for Christmas and I thought this would add color as well as height to them.

All of my supplies came from the dollar store.  I bought two styrofoam cones, a roll of Christmas wrapping paper and some green tissue paper.  I also used some Elmer's white glue but I already had that.

The first "tree" I made was a striped one using the wrapping paper and a styrofoam cone.  I cut the wrapping paper into 1 inch strips and glued them on the cone using a foam brush.  It came out OK, I guess, but I think a first grader could have done better, lol.  Oh well, the colors are pretty.

For the taller green "tree", I cut up the tissue paper into 1x1 squares.  Using my finger, I touched the center of the square and ruffled the edges of the square up and around my finger.  Does that make sense?  I should have taken a picture (bad blogger).  I used Elmer's glue to attach them to the cone.

First, I had to cover the white foam with a sheet of green tissue paper so the white wouldn't show.

Again, this is how it turned out.  I'm not taking credit for the uneven stripes on the small one, lol.

I have two more cones but haven't decided how to do them yet.  Maybe I'll make a red tissue tree with rolled up strips of tissue like the one in the Pinterest photo.

I failed to mention (although you've probably already guessed) that my Christmas colors this year are red, lime green and a touch of pink.