Halloween and Fall Wreath's

I know everyone is busy. I realize it more and more everyday as I find myself with more to do's then I know what to do with and no time. But there is something about making your home festive for the Holidays. It helps create memories for your family and especially your little ones. 

As I've been thinking about a lack of time and how to handle it I've  decided there are  few ways to go about it. Either do things sloppily, which would drive me insane because I like things done right. Or drive myself crazy trying to find time among a million other things that need done to do large elaborate projects that look amazing. Or last and my chosen method, find ways to simplify so I can do a bit of everything. 

So rather than show you a long winded project I have more of a challenge for you. 

Look around your house and see what you already have that you can add to quickly or buy something small to add. In the picture below I bought this wreath almost 4 years ago. It is just a basic twig wreath from Michaels Craft but I love it because I can add small things to it each season and make it different. One of my Halloween decorations a half moon got a makeover with some ribbon and then I tied it to the side of the wreath so it looks like it belonged there all along.

This wreath below is similar. Basic white berries can have other berries, pinecones, small pumpkins, flowers, or any number of things added depending on the season. If you need berries or flowers you can usually find them at a craft store for just a few dollars for a stem of them. Easy, Easy. So adding that moon to my wreath was my accomplishment for the day and finished up my outdoor Halloween decor. Don't worry that is my only decor this year. With a new little one its lucky I have any at all. So no judging. :)

Starfish Star

Return of Summer....

So many missed months of no posting. Apologies. Changed jobs and had some other personal life things going on so 4 and 1/2 month delay since my last post. Back to the blogging world. I'm a bit of an ocean/beach/sunshine junkie. Have never lived near the beach, but love vacationing there. As a result I have seashells aplenty and love to use them in the summer for all kinds of things. Not sure what to call this but it turned out ok.

I used the large popsicle sticks to create a star then glued on dozens of real starfish. If you were to use regular popsicle sticks it would turn out a bit smaller. You could also use larger shells and have it turn out larger. 

Just some summer fun. I could not decide what to do with it so it ended up on my mantel. 

DIY Valentine Nut Wreath

I realize that nuts are not the first thing that come to mind for Valentines Day but sometimes the most unlikely things are just what you need.

There are probably several ways you could do this project so fine tune it as you'd like to fit your needs. 

Supplies I used:

• Cardboard-cut into the shape of a heart-I used part of a cardboard box.
• Walnuts-halved and hollowed out
• Red paint
• Glue
• Ribbon

Directions:

• Find a large piece of cardboard and cut it into the shape you would like. 
• Hollow out your walnuts and paint them the desired color.
• Glue the walnuts in a pattern around your heart. I placed mine back to back and then placed a layer down the middle.
• Hang with ribbon or twine.

Easy Christmas Decor Ideas/Tips

Part of the magic of the Christmas season comes from your surroundings. Everywhere you go in December seems to have had its halls decked. There are some things in my home that I love to spend time on and other areas that I would like to come together quickly and with as much simplicity as possible so my time can be spent elsewhere.

You have heard of KISS? Keep It Super Simple. I like that. It works for me as I think the simplicity of some things makes them stand out and look better. So read on for some tips and ideas for simple holiday decor to add to items and/or spaces that will dress them up for the holidays but leave you with time to spend baking, shopping, or gasp spending time making memories with your family!

• Add Christmas items to wreaths currently on display in your home or outdoors. I found these two Christmas Stockings at Target, added some red berries and a green bow. Finished. Simple but festive. I use this wreath all year long and just change the items on it. 

• Table Centerpieces can be as elaborate or as simple as you would like. Use your nativity set for the middle of the table. Fill a basket or bowl with scented, painted, or plain pine cones. Or dress it up with a glass container of ornaments. Stay with similar colors for a pulled together look.

• Add greenery where ever possible. Nothing says Christmas like fresh or fake if you have to greenery. Draped on cupboards, shelves, mantels and staircases greenery will most likely add that touch you've been looking for.

• On bookshelves and other areas of display add punches of red and white mixed together. Red makes the white "POP" and the white looks fresh and clean like snow. Add in your greenery and you have a beautiful look.

• Mantels- Mix high and low objects to create a great look for mantels. Try not to go overboard on your mantel as you most likely have stocking to hang from it as well. Try and keep the look pulled together with everything you are adding.

• Display a collection. I love using stars and Nativity scenes for the Holidays. Whatever you enjoy collecting or using find an interesting way to display it.

• Look beyond the basic wreath. Try a stocking filled with pine cones and greens. Or a large star, jingle bell, or kissing ball. There are so many options outside of a green wreath.

• Candles- Find a way to use candles, even if you are not going to light them. Place them in hurricane or mason jars. Put them in lanterns or on candle sticks. Get creative with them but do try to find a way to use them they add a bit of elegance and simplicity to your decor. 

• Last and most important. KEEP IT SIMPLE. It's easy to get carried away with Christmas Decor because there are so many fun things out there. But don't over do it. When there is a little less going on your eye has a chance to roam and focus on the pieces that are on display rather then those special items getting lost because there are so many of them.

DIY Snowflake

Christmas Wreath Replacement

I love the look of Christmas Wreaths on all the doors in the neighborhood as you pass by. I love looking at each house and seeing the "creations" that go up instead of wreaths. I got tired of my wreath and made this snowflake instead. Very very easy. I believe I got the idea from Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Magazine 2 years ago. They had something similar to this so I thought I'd give it a try.

If you are looking for something a little different this year from your green wreath with pinecones you may want to try this.

Supplies Needed

• Paint Sticks
• Large Popsicle Sticks
• Regular Popsicle Sticks
• White craft paint
• Ribbon
• Glue-Hot Glue
• Optional-pine bows and pinecone real or fake

Step 1

Paint all of your sticks white. I watered down my paint quite a bit so it would look whitewashed and not white white. But you can do it as heavy or light handed as you would like. 

Step 2

Decide upon a pattern and lay out your sticks as you would like the snowflake to appear.

Step 3

Glue your snowflake together.

Step 4- Optional

Spray your snowflake with a glitter spray. I did this and liked it quite a bit.

Step 5

If you are using greenery and/or pinecones attach them to the back so they peed out through the holes.

Step 6

Attach the ribbon in the back so you have something to hang it with.

Step 7 Hang and enjoy. 

I had my snowflake hanging outside my door for most of the month but moved it inside to the kitchen pantry door as I had a new idea for the outside.

See more great DIY Holidays projects on the DIY Showoff blog at:
http://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/holidaybutton.jpg

Star Christmas Wreath and/or Card Holder

Easy Christmas Card Holder

I began making this in hopes I could use it to fill some blank space on top of my cupboards during the Holidays. I love using stars at Christmas time. But as I completed it I found it was not as sturdy as I wanted it to be and so my thoughts changed on its purpose.

Using paint sticks, hot glue, and twine. I made a large star. Once finished you can add ribbon and use it as a wreath for your front door or inside your home or use cloths pins to attach Christmas Cards. It keeps them all in one easy place where you can enjoy them throughout the month and it makes a festive decoration at the same time.

If you follow my instructions you'll save yourself a good amount of time as I had to experiment with this several times before I finally figured out the best way to do it.

Supplies Needed

• Twine, Ribbon, Burlap
• Paint Sticks or if you'd like it smaller use popsicle sticks
• Glue- I used hot glue from a low temp glue gun

Step 1

Wrap your sticks in ribbon, twine, or burlap. I put the star together first and then tried to wrap it. It was very time consuming and didn't work well on the hinges with the twine. They slid to the side even after glueing and left large gaping pieces of wood.  If you used a thick ribbon you would most likely be fine to assemble the star first if you would like. But if you use twine. Wrap your individual pieces together first.


Step 2
Glue two pieces together in a "V". Then glue the other pieces together 2 at a time in "V"s also. This will insure that all the points of your star are the same size. (Forgive the blurry image. Its what happens when you have children waiting on you.)

Step 3
Assemble your star by gluing your "V"s together one at a time until you have your desired shape.

Step 4
Add a ribbon to hang your star. If you are using it as a wreath you are done. Simply hang it wherever you would like. Add greenery, pinecones, whatever you like to the inside or sides.

Step 5

Using clothes pins or any other form you prefer attach your Christmas Cards to different points on the star. You are done. Such a good way to get cards off of your counter and enjoy them.

Check out other great projects that are part of Tuesday Link ups on these great blogs at  http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com  http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com  and   http://todayscreativeblog.net

SeaShell Wreath

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the beach, waves, sand, sun, and shells. So when I saw a sea shell wreath for sell I really really wanted it. However when I saw the price tag I decided I didn't want it anymore. I thought that surely I could make something similar. So I did. It was fairy easy.

Supplies:

• You'll need a foam wreath base from any craft store.
• Seashells of your choosing. I used all white clam type shells.
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Ribbon
• *Paint- Optional- but see note below

Directions:
Pull out your supplies. Heat up your glue gun and pick a starting point on your wreath. Once you have placed the first shell fill in around it to cover the wreath. You can do a pattern or just place them as you go.





Helpful Tried it Hint:
*The wreath base I chose was green. Beforehand I assumed my shells would cover all of it. But where the shells don't form perfectly around the wreath because they are hard firm objects there are places in mine that you can see through to the green foam. I wish I would have thought to paint the foam white first. As I glued I did my best to cover the foam with the way I layered the shells but if it would have been painted white the inside of the wreath would not have shown through so much. See picture below. You can see into the dark parts. I need to redo it.


Final Product
Here is the final product. I really like it. It is currently hanging in my bathroom. I get comments on it from visitors all the time wondering where I bought it. I love it. Good luck if you try it. I may try another one with mini star fish or a mixture of small shells not just white.