Oh so simple Christmas decoration from a spool

I found this wooden spool at Meijer.  It was an ornament.  I cut off the hanger and drilled a hole down the center.  Wrapping some twine around the spool gave it a little more character.

Then I took a sprig of a glass bead pick from Michaels, and stuck it in the hole with a dab of glue.

The end result is a beautiful little tree.  

It's large enough to be on my mantel.  Maybe if the sunny shines tomorrow I can finally photograph my mantel.  That would be so nice!

But in the mean time I was looking at Pottery Barn and I saw this tree, and it reminded me of my tree. Only it was $69, and mine was around $5.  I like the rustic nature of mine better.  Just sayin. . . 

source: Pottery barn

Where I'm partying at:

Poinsettia Crate

I seems that I have gone crate crazy this year!  In addition to the Christmas crate I created for the outside, I decided to use a old crate from my basement to create a crate for in front of the fireplace.  I so love the way this turned out.  Now, if I can only keep those poinsettia live until the new year! 

 This crate originally held canned ham from Poland.

I kept the contents simple (and cheap).  The rustic bells are from the Dollar Store, only hold it, they only cost .50 cents!  The felt garland, a $1 clearance find from Jo-ann.  I used some burlap garland and $2.46 lights from the Home Depot.  

3 poinsettias from the Home Depot at half off the day after Black Friday.

The glittered reindeer are 2/$1 at The Dollar Tree.  And the sticks are, well sticks. :)

I've never liked poinsettias before this, but I am really digging them in this arrangement.

Christmas mantel is almost done and right above this, but I'm not quite ready to share.

Thanks for stopping by.

Diane

Where I'm partying at:

Christmas pallet crate

 Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving with family and  friends.  We spent a great day at my in-laws and as always enjoyed the company and the food.  So now that Thanksgiving is over, it is legally acceptable to be in full Christmas mode.  Like it or not.  We experienced a beautiful week of Fall weather last week in Michigan.  A real treat for it to last so long!  I took advantage of the warm weather to get up my outside decorations and remake my Fall pallet crate into a Christmas decoration.  You may remember that it used to look like this:  

See the full article on my Fall Owl display here

We lost a few trees when the remains of hurricane Sandy blew threw.  My husband took this as a sign that he should buy a chain saw.  I took it as a sign that I could use some of that wood to create a little fence.

So while he worked on the big logs, I found some smaller branches that were nice and straight.  Trying them with twine and standing them in the crate.

I added some natural looking berries and pine branches to my old grape vine wreath and hung it on the fence.  Cost at this point about nothing.

I then purchased these four giant Christmas lights from Michaels.  30% off plus an extra 25% off brought the cost to around $13.  Using some red netting I bought at Hobby Lobby and other moss, pinecones, and picks I already had, I filled in the box.

I then created this sign from an old sign in my kids clubhouse.  Again everything I already had, so no additional costs here.  I am very pleased with the end result!  It's so fun & unique!

  

Please look at my baby dog crying in the window.  What a goof!

So after 3 days of working outside, it is finally finished (the box didn't take three days, just getting and arranging all the other lights), and guess what?!  In true Michigan fashion, it's freezing out again.  Yesterday was 60 today is in the 30's and so windy.  Hey, at least my box has held it's own in the weather.  Can't say the same about the other lawn ornaments.  Had to fix them already!

Thanks for stopping by and remember to follow me on FACEBOOK or on the sidebar through blogspot, email, or Linky Followers!!

Diane

Where I'm partying at:

Thetablescaper.blogspot

      

Dollar store candlesticks tutorial

Well hello!  It's been a while since my last post.  Would it make it any better if I told you I am done with my Christmas shopping with the exception of the one person who hasn't given me any ideas?  

Today I'm sharing a really quick and easy Dollar Store candlestick.  I cost me three dollars for the materials for this project.  All the other items I had around the house.  

I began with my three dollar store items.  
1. candle
2. candlestick
3. glass candle holder







Glue together the two pieces of glass.  I use E6000, but a hot glue gun will work too.  I then painted some glue onto the candle and rolled it in glitter to give the plain candle, well more glitter!

I then added a strip of burlap and topped it with a strip of ribbon to the glass jar.  Last I added a Christmas pin that used to be my Mom's.  

And that folks is it!  The result is a simple yet beautiful candlestick that doesn't scream dollar store.

Where I'm partying at:

Simply Thankful Thanksgiving Mantel

 I've never done a Thanksgiving mantel before.

but after I took down the Halloween mantel, I felt like I needed a calm before the storm, so to speak.

Christmas, though beautiful, is chaotic.  In the nature of the season, where I am running around, shopping too much, baking too much, partying too much, eating too much, and decorating too much.  I've never been one to have a lot of things sitting out.  

It makes me feel messy and out of order.  As a matter of fact, I am usually ready to tear down the tree the day after Christmas and get back to not having so much stuff around. Breathing room. So it just felt right to reflect on what Thanksgiving is all about, Appreciation and Gratitude for the things I have been blessed with.

My family, my friends, my health, the ability to stay home with my kids, a wonderful, kind, caring husband.

Alright, even my goofy dog.

And so my mantel is the calm before the storm.  Simple, quiet, restful.

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving.

Diane

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Chicken wire memo boards

I wanted to share with you some memo boards that I made last year as gifts for some of my family members.  I know these were all the rage last year, but I never posted about the ones I made, and maybe someone is looking for a Christmas gift idea.  Plus I'm just feeling a little down about the hurricane that went through last night.  I don't live on the Eastern Seaboard, but my heart has been breaking and worrying all day and night for them.  I pray that everyone is OK and that not too many precious memories and antiques were lost.  Is that weird that I feel sad about the history of that area that might have been lost?  Weird or not, it's on my mind, not to mention I keep wondering about if people are finding sea life in their houses and streets.  

Anyway, I've been busy working on updating my bedroom and painting a custom bed and cedar chest for a customer.  The painting is turning out to be much easier than the bedroom.  

The bedroom is a slow work in progress, but I am very excited about how it is coming out! Slowly I am finding the things that I need to make it my own.  I'll share that at a later date.

These boards were made out of old frames, which I hand painted and then distressed.  Chicken wire is stapled to the frame.

And then fabric was stapled on last.  

I used a variety of establishments to add some whimsy.

 Buttons, sequins, and some stickers.

It was a good way to use up some of those last stragglers you have lying around, and you are thinking you really don't have enough left to do anything with.

It's fun to be able to personalize them for the people you are going to give them to.  Each board seems to have a personalty of their own.  Funny thing is I remember feeling rushed to finish these in time for Christmas, but looking at the date, I'm thinking I had it in total control.  

This Christmas I am already done with my presents for these same people.  Can't say too much since they may (or may not) be reading this!! 

Tomorrow is finally Halloween, and I feel like Christmas is going to explode on November 1st.  Seems everyone is busting at the seams to get started.  I can't believe the amount of bloggers who say they have finished their Christmas mantels.  I can't go there yet, or for another month.

Hope this day finds all of you safe, sound, and in a warm place.

We'll pray for the others.

Take care and never forget how fortunate you are.

Diane


Where I'm Partying at this week:

Blind Cleaner

These are my blinds before:

And these are my blinds after:

I've been in this house for 3 1/2 years.

The blinds were dirty when I moved in. 

I cleaned them, but the gunk was stuck on them. 

They looked better, just not great. 

They are metal Hunter Douglas blinds.  

This window is above my kitchen sink and gets a lot of splashing, and I'm assuming, cooking grease. 

Every now and then I would try to clean them again, but the grease was tougher than I was!  

So, what miracle product did I use?  Nothing more than my

 HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT  !!

Click on for link

So not only did it get rid of the stink in my front loader washer, it has now saved my blinds (and my pocket book, I was about to give up).  All I did was take them down and put them in the bathtub with a scoop of detergent and hot water, let them soak for about an hour, more or less, rinsed and wiped clean!  They are so shiny I seriously can not believe it!

I wish all of my blinds could fit in the tub, but I am planning on using a bucket and doing the ones that won't fit.  

Clean blinds make me happy. 

If you haven't tried making your own laundry soap, what are you waiting for?