A little inspiration...

        The Holidays are approaching! Are you getting ready? Or waiting a few more weeks?

     We are doing things a little different this year. We typically are not completely done with shopping and/or decorating before Christmas Eve. Sincerely. I couldn't really tell you why. It is just how it has been. Our "style" you could say. This year we are in new territory! Our shopping is very nearly done, and I have a jump start on our decorations! I must say.... It is kind of nice! This lull, the quiet before the holiday storm. Taking advantage of this slow time has been most productive! Now ordinarily crazy time will be spent snuggled up in a blanket downstairs with my cute family. Christmas lights glowing on the tree.... Yes! We even have one of two trees up!

    Last Saturday while the hubs was pheasant hunting my gals and I headed into town. Our little valley is the newest to welcome Tai Pan Trading. Really exciting! I did not want to leave. I was completely enamored  by the hanging Christmas wreaths they had displayed. As I quickly began formulating a plan to duplicate the wreath, the total started to creep upwards. Although completely head over heels with the store and their wholesale pricing, I could not bring myself to spend the nearly sixty dollars it would have been to purchase all the supplies.... and really, sixty is not bad, but cursed am I with a frugal mind.

 
    A simple Christmas garland can be purchased for less than a traditional wreath. I wrapped a tree garland around an old grapevine I already had. Then secured it with wire. I used white string to attach silver snowflakes at different lengths to the grapevine on the outer edge. My old reliable friend jute was used to hang the ornaments from the ceiling first then through the middle of the wreath after it was hung.  I literally only spent $10 on this wreath! Hobby Lobby is having a fantastic 50% off sale on all of their Christmas items. I bought 5 large ornaments. Everything else I had from previous years! The cute deer? Dollar store!

  Inspiration and creativity are endless. It is really what we do as bloggers. Inspire one another. Make our own special touches and contributions. I really love Tai Pans wreath. Like, love it! I really love mine too! Maybe a little more. Something rewarding about creating for my family.

    How have you been inspired this Holiday season?

Tulle Mermaid Tail...

   Tulle and hot glue have always been kind to me. Seriously if the house was on fire I would grab the kids, family pics, my craft bins and my glue gun... Maybe some clean underwear if there was time to spare.

     There was the seven (fingers bleeding by the end) Peter Pan fairy costumes. Two Halloweens ago an adorable Hoot Owl . Last years Olaf and Elsa. Tulle and I are friends. Inexpensive, easy, with endless possibilities....

   This year the baby doll has been dreaming. Dreaming of mermaids... or "wormaids" as she pronounces it. She is dreaming of red flowing hair and a shiny green tail. However, one thing I truly cannot stand about tulle is how messy bunches of it can get. I have tried everything to keep it from bunching up. Its usually a catastrophe. The Elsa dress was fabulous, but by the end of the night it was a ball of static electric leaves and crud.

    I kept thinking about this as I began to formulate a plan for the wormaid tail of a little girls dreams. After playing around a bit... this is what I came up with. I used this technique for fairy costumes and it was a hit. I have had numerous dance teachers ask how this was done. I am finally getting to posting a tutorial. By far my favorite. A little tedious, but totally worth it! The best thing (besides its not a fluff ball) is that she can use this tail for dress up after Halloween!

Supplies needed:
For a child size tail.
*4-6 rolls of 25 yard tulle. You can do solid colors or mix up a few.
*Safety pins
*Measuring tape or ruler
*Sewing thread and needles
*Scissors
*Hot glue gun and sticks
*Ironing board. Not necessary, but will make life much easier.

1. Start by taking two measurements. One of the waist and one from the waist to the floor. Add a few extra inches to both of these so the waist can be tied in a fancy bow and you have material to work with on the bottom. Double the waist to floor length so you can fold the material in half, securing it to the waist piece in a slipknot. This is how a basic tulle skirt is fabricated. If you are new to skirt tying Ben Franklin Crafts has a quick and easy tutorial here. Use your waist to floor measurement to cut multiple strips before beginning to tie.

 2. You can tie all of your strips onto the waist band first or take it in sections. I find sections easier. You will be braiding three strands and stitching braids together. The excess tulle will get in the way. Its really up to you. I have done it both ways.

   3. Taking three strands create a braid. Keep even tension. Use a tape measure or ruler to decide where your braid will end and the flared portion of the tail will begin. I like to use safety pins to secure the bottom until they are stitched together. This will also help you keep your braid ends consistent and even.

  4. Take two completed braids, secure your thread at the top of the braid closest to the waist band and use a simple whip stitch to bind the braids together. When you get to your safety pin at the bottom whip stitch the ends of the tulle braids as well to prevent them from coming undone. The third picture in the frame below shows how this is done. Each braid has a straight line of stitching along the bottom.

     5. Secure the end of your thread. I found that the bottom was not quite thick enough, and could be fluffier. Simply add an additional strip of fabric to the backside of the skirt as shown above.

  6. Continue tying, braiding, stitching (I just noticed the typo in my photo) and gluing until the desired width is achieved. Once it is wide enough to go around that wiggly little body you are done! You can stop there, or flip it over to the front and add some bows and additional length and thickness on the front. Your little one will adore you! Tie the excess tulle on the waist band into a fancy bow. I did not apply fixed fasteners on the back. I found looping extra tulle through the braiding secure, adjustable and flexible enough for her to run around in! Trim any long pieces from the bottom.

 
    The stitching portion could be done with a sewing machine for added strength, or just to be a bit quicker. Someone more talented than myself with the sewing machine could probably accomplish this. I found the sewing machine difficult. Once you get the hang of it, the whip stitching goes pretty quick!

    What is your go to material? Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Simple Halloween decor!

    October is finally here! Hooray!! Time to get real crazy! If you are on a budget, finding funds to create can be frustrating! I am big at looking around the house to see what I can use that we already have! Kids always have construction paper! Cut out some fun characters! Cost $.00

    Dig out those old vacant frames! I need to find some fun round ones! Cost $0.00

    Get creative and have fun! Use chalkboard paint for a unique spin! 

A Jutorial and Burlap Spiders!

    As the Fall season begins and the chilly air moves in I have found myself a little busy! Busy creating! Here is a fun, fast, low cost, and unique Halloween decorating tutorial! 

   

    For the jute spider web it is easiest to find a semi heavy blanket you can lay out on the floor! This was my second web! The first one was held down on my kitchen counter with coffee mugs! It worked, but this is much easier!

1. Cut jute to desired lengths.

2. Pin strands of jute to the blanket to secure it while you work!

3. Fire up the glue gun.

    Working in between strands create your web! It is easier to cut the inner stands as you go! I tried one continuous piece and the look was not the same! Cut and glue as you work around the web. Once you have the look you like, remove the pins and hang it in an awesome location! 

Does your web look empty....

   

     These cute burlap spiders are the perfect occupant for your new jute web!

1. Fold a 5x7 strip of burlap in half and cut the head and body shape.

2. Glue or sew the inner edges of the burlap, leaving about a 1/2 inch border from glue to edge, and leave a small hole near the shoulder of your spider.

3. Stuff stuffing through the small hole. Fill it up full! Glue or sew access hole shut.

4. Use a piece of tulle to separate the head from the body, and for a cute bow!

5. Cut eight pieces of wire to the same desired length.

6. Carefully use hot glue to secure and wrap jute around each wire. If the ends are fraying add a small drop of hot glue. When the glue is cool enough to handle, but not set... roll it between your fingers until the fray is gone!

7. Fold up the sides where the 1/2 inch border is on the body. Hopefully your burlap is frayed and will create a "fur" up against the body. Use glue to secure.

8. Sew or glue the legs into place! Once in place you can bend them however you choose!

Happy Haunting!

Peppermint log candles...

     I have had these logs kicking around for awhile now. The intent was to turn them into pumpkins. The pumpkin logs I have already made have been holding up real good. Sooo these logs have sat in the backyard making my husband irritable for some time:)

     I cleaned them up. Brought them in and painted them white. I was relieved when the spray paint did not stick to the oil treated logs because it was chilly outside! I painted them with a latex semi gloss instead whilst keeping warm!

     While the paint dried I gathered some random items still not positive what I was doing. I used some old bulbs we had laying around, some jute, and a few bamboo sticks to fashion my wick and flame.

     When the paint was almost there...I am low on patience:) I used red ribbon and a matching red acrylic paint for my peppermint striping effect.

I really like them! They turned out just like I imagined! Good luck!

Coke can snowflakes...

   I love to find ideas that suite any budget and ability!  

    Cut your can in half...don't throw the top away just yet! Carefully cut and bend the can into strips. Fold the strips in half to begin your snowflake design! Have fun! I used a white spray paint and iridescent glitter to finish...

 

Hang anywhere using fishing line! Love that stuff!

I am working on something fun with this old window.

    Save the tops of your cans to make a lighted snowflake garland! Carefully snip the pop top off and place light through opening. Use the remaining portion of the tab to secure:)

Save the date! An invite only tutorial...

 
 I am feeling old today! The wedding season is upon us! Awhile back while pondering a gift for the daughter of a good friend I stumbled unto "my thing"... What is "my thing"? Well every bride gets a mixer right?! I got out my Cricket and pressed for time and sanity I was admittedly going to slap the initials of the happy couple unto a piece of glass and call it good...while looking at their invite I was grabbed by the notion that I should use their invitation in some form...

So! 

    That has now become "my thing" I create gifts using the invitation! It has been a huge success! An announcement is the first announcement to the world of their new life! I love these projects! It also gives me time to reflect on fond memories of friends and family! The beautiful bride here is my cousin whom I used to babysit! Hence the "I feel old today!"

Using the first letter of the soon to be last name I had a few ideas!

Remember the lace stencil from a few posts back? I still love it!

     I painted the front and back of one of the letters. Then used hot glue to adhere them together once I had completed my collage...

    My little sister introduced me to modge podge! I am now convinced it is the most underrated craft supply!

    I carefully ripped their beautiful invitation to shreds, and created a collage. Be creative! Get sloppy! When your collage is finished simply flip over the letter and trim the excess paper off with a razor blade.

Back view! I attached small wooden blocks as the stand.

Front beautiful view! What are your wedding gift traditions?

                                                                                Loressa

Make a mercury glass mirror out of a vintage window!

    You know! My favorite DIY materials! Spray paint, Krylon looking glass spray and a random vintage item! I have had a set of old windows sitting in our shed begging me to do something, anything with them!

    I started by cleaning it off really good! Remember, you are more than likely working with lead paint and if you have little ones like I do clean up is uber important! I then sprayed the back of my window with looking glass spray to create a mirror! Looking glass spray will scratch easily so apply it to the surface least likely to be handled.                                                                                                                                                

      I did not tape off the back because I knew I would later sand off any over spray. When  preparing for the next step I did however tape off and cover the front.                                                               

                                                      

    In the next step I covered the length of my window frame with lace. Then with a soft Ivory spray I used the lacy pattern as a stencil. It is such a soft and intimate touch.                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                    

    Curious I also rounded up the first few items I could grab and tried this technique on as well! I found this bottle at the DI for only $2.00! Definitely like the lace stencil!                                                                

    Curiosity satisfied I moved on to finish my mirror! I found this great handle that happened to be 50% off at Hobby Lobby! Then instead of hanging it flat, I wanted to be able to hang my mirror on an angle and adjust it as I saw fit. My sweet husband applied two hinges, top and bottom to the frame and wall and there ya have it! An awesome adjustable mirror!