Christmas Decor at our House!

These pics are actually more for me than they are you-lol I can never remember exactly how I decorate from year to year- and even though it is always different- it is neat to look back at the blog and remember what I did the year before!

The piano is always my fav. I love all the glitter!

An Unique Challenge.

Hay Bale Art.

Who knew there existed such a thing. But I guess there is. My Mom-in-law had someone spray paint a pun'kin one for Halloween.

We talked and talked about what we could do for Christmas. I think we were both picturing something different. But I had in my mind to do a wreath (cuz the bale is round....duh-lol)

so anyway- I used a template that I made for the leaves and spray painted the berries, joy and bow freehand. I see my mistakes (Like the bow coulda been a lot bigger) but for my first time taking on this kind of challenge, it turned out alright!

I Love Being A Girl!

There are sooooo many blogs that I have been using lately for inspiration.

I got the idea for my sweater Here. I didn't do a whole lot to it- just added the ribbon collar to this thrift store find. But it was such a sweet little touch.I loved the color too.

This above pics are a little truer to the color that it actually is.

(I made my skirt outta some fabric that I had from Craft Warehouse- The first article of clothing that I made without a pattern. Since I didn't have a lot of fabric, I didn't have a lot of options, but I like the way it turned out.)

Then, I first saw this belt HERE. Stephanie has amazing fashion sense. But I was so excited when I saw the how-to for the belt HERE! (love the green belt they used!)Seriously people, I just got out one of my 2 glue guns and glued the eyelet that I already had to the back of this belt. (I did sew the front eend over though to avoid fraying) So easy peasy! I only wish that I dipped it in starch. I used spray starch and it helped a little, but the eyelet moved and fell around the front of the belt- I wished it stayed up a little more like a normal belt- but some people probably like that natural movement of the belt.

Then, I happened to be flipping through some blogs that I haven't checked out lately and came across my felt flower HERE. While I was there, I noticed that Grosgrain also is having sweater embellishment month. I think I am in love with her ideas! Family, house cleaning, Christmas shopping and sleeping are all getting in the way of me sitting and recreating these so- adorable sweaters. (A small addiction-eh???)

Anyway- I loved my yellow flower so much that I made a red one for the holidays too.

Hope inspiration finds you this month.

Turkey Hair Clip

If you go HERE, you can see where I got *coughcopiedcough* this idea. (Scroll down about 5 or 6 pics) I loved theirs with all the grosgrain ribbon- but I love mine with all the different types that I had onhand too. I made this for Carli's buy and sell last week. I only had time to make the one- but will have to try and make another one for her for church.

Halloween Hair Dealys.

I was making tons of the satin circle flowers, when my neighbor showed me the one she made. It was orange and had a googly eye in the middle. I snatched up that idea so fast and made tons. I thought they were cute the way they turned out. I wore one of the headbands to church and got a lot of compliments and some "that is so cute,"- giggles.

Candy Bracelets.

I saw THIS and knew it would be perfect for Carli's buy and sell at school. Then we got creative and used other candy too. I sent her to school with 7 bracelets and she came home with 0.

Visiting teacher gift.

I needed something quick to give to the girls I vt.

I saw THIS and new instantly that I would copy the idea. Easy, simple and darling!

You try and find coveralls for an 11yo.

My son decided that he wanted to be a ghostbuster this yr for Halloween. My hubby is in charge of the gun pack/ machine thing- but I was in charge of the outfit. Now I know that I coulda done 2 separates- but I had in mind that I wanted coveralls just like the ghostbusters wear. I searched every thrift store here (twice- not kidding) and finally found his coveralls in a really weird yard sale store. (That used to be a tile, trim, wallpaper and carpet store- but now has yard sale stuff mixed in with all the old stuff) It was $5. The only problem was that it was a size medium mens. My hubby said it would be big if he (Jon) wore it. The pic really doesn't show how super big it was. It was also white with a green collar and green back pockets. (Wait- that is 2 probs, not one-lol)

(Before)

Well- after a lot of taking in, and dying it twice in tan RIT dye. It turned out much better. I also took off the dark green color and made him a new one out of scraps. (After)

I bought some iron -on paper from Joanns and printed out this Ghostbuster symbol from the movie. Then I cut it out and ironed it on. I also did the same iron on thing with his name on the front pocket.

My dh is still working on his gun pack but I would certainly hire him to get rid of my ghosts!

I Needed One!

I saw an awesome idea last week and while I was at the dollar store, I bought some extra things to make it.

Give up yet to what I was doing? You can find it Here

I did mine a little different. I had to build my wreath from scratch. I still need to build it up some more with roses on the sides. And I used the black cheesecloth from $ Tree instead of black Tulle. I also didn't have black glitter so I used my opalescent glitter and put it on the spiders and the center of the eyes. (after I painted them). The spooky skeleton key came from Micheal's, as they are having a 1/2 off sale for all Halloween stuff. (I think it was $1) All in all I needed a Halloween Wreath and I love the way it turned out!

Carli's Buy and Sell.

My daughter told me the night before that she was supposed to have items for a class store. Their teacher has the class set up like a community. Carli is the secretary in the community. (She wanted to be secretary because she read it as 'Security' and her first choice was police- but the teacher wasn't able to choice her for her first choice- there's always next month.) They even made their own class money. Each student brought an item to 'sell'. Carli thought we could make some hair flowers that I have been making lately anyway. They were a big hit. She said even her teacher bought one. She also sold candy too (which was also a big hit among the boys-lol)

I have seen these on 5000000000 blogs lately. You cut satin circles and then melt or burn the edges by candle flame. Then hot glue together.

Dressing it up!

I found this lovely dress at Ross. I knew I loved it when the price tag read 12.99.

I knew it was pretty short (for me anyway) when I bought it- but still liked the way it fit. So I went to my local fabric store and bought 2 colors of pink fabric that would cordinate with the dress.

Now it is more interesting and modest!

I was even able to make a head band outa the fabric to go with!

And look at these beauties- 13.99 at Ross and Darling!!!

Dollar Store Planter

We have a dollar store that is going outta business. So everything was marked down. I bought these sweet little planters for 80 cents each. I loved them and they reminded me of something from Anthro. However- I wanted a color for them to really pop.

So I painted them yellow and when they were dry, I took a white glaze and painted it on the raised details with my finger.

Then, even though you probably can't tell from these pics, I also lighted sanded the raised parts- so a little of the dark underneath shows through.

Top it off with a fake dollar store strawberry plant and we are in business!

Silhouette Necklace

I love silhouettes! I had in my mind that I wanted to make necklaces for Mother's Day to give as gifts to Gramma's. I went to the craft store, trying to find a frame- charm that I could attach to a necklace that I could put the kiddos silhouettes in. I really couldn't find any- but came home with these bottle caps after I saw an example necklace made with them in the craft store.

I had never made silhouettes before. So I am not sure if I did it the right way- but I did it my way and it worked. I took side view pics of the kids and then colored them in with a sharpe. Then I cut then out, scanned them in my computer and played with them a bit until I was able to print them out on cardstock. Then, I cut it to fit in the bottle cap and had this resin- hardener stuff from another project that I poured in each one and let dry. (you can see in the pic how this one for my mil sits on. You can also tell- I wasn't finished with the bottom bottle cap yet).

I liked them so much-I made one for myself.

I printed my kids silhouettes on old book pages instead of cardstock.

I am not a jewelery maker- but I sure am happy with em!