tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26370389628431342672023-11-16T02:56:59.465-08:00with 2 hands {4 you}Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-48287214032580419892020-07-17T10:10:00.000-07:002020-07-17T10:10:10.377-07:00Quarantine Project #5 - Falls Park Beauty Paper Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So our self-imposed quarantine continues and so do my paper quilts. But honestly, I'm not sure how successful this particular quilt is.<br />
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I wanted to do a project incorporating the Liberty Bridge in Falls Park in Greenville, SC. I thought about doing an acrylic painting, featuring this curving pedestrian bridge. Then I came across a quilt pattern called, I believe, New York Beauty.<br />
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This pattern features spinning circles, that are usually cut into quarters. Each quarter can have a different color combination, and the circles can sometimes flow in to one another and interlock.<br />
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I though this flowing pattern would be great to represent the water flowing over the falls in Falls Park. But, although I had fun piecing and designing the twisting bottom part, I think it overtakes the overall image and the landscape and bridge get lost. I still like the completed paper collage, I just wish it had come out a little more balanced.<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-6856342216472792122020-07-07T08:05:00.000-07:002020-07-07T08:05:17.234-07:00Quarantine Project #4 - Woven Seashell Wreath Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here's another project that I had on my "To Do" list that I was finally able to complete during our stay at home orders. <br />
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This beachy twine wreath features a woven pattern that is easy to do and adds some interesting texture to this fun wreath. I have put the <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-Wrapped-Woven-Twine-Wreath">step by step instructions</a> on my blog if you are interested. <br />
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I decorated my wreath with three starfish and some flowers. I also have directions for attaching these items <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-Wrapped-Woven-Twine-Wreath">on my other blog.</a><br />
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I really love this finished wreath. I'm torn between giving it to my sister for her house in Maine, or keeping it for myself. What do you think? <br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-28939532053366935942020-05-12T10:36:00.000-07:002020-05-12T10:36:19.868-07:00Quaratine Project #3 - Large Paper Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here is my big accomplishment during my self quarantine. I've had this idea on my project list for over a year. It started with a Ohio Stars quilt that I saw on Pinterest that I really loved. I don't sew, but wondered if I could piece together something similar using scrapbook paper. I've used quilts as inspiration for <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Project-How-to-Easily-Frame-a-Stretched-Canvas-Painting-or-an-Artists-Canvas">paper collages before</a>.<br />
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I drew out the pattern on a 24 x 24 inch stretched canvas, using the quilt on Pinterest as my guide.<br />
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Then I came up with a plan: I'd start my quilt with a map piece at the center. Then I'd use light color pieces for the center star. Once I got a combination of pieces together that I liked, I glued them down using acrylic medium.<br />
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Next, I started laying down pieces to create my brighter square (see finished photo above), using mainly reds, pinks, and greens.<br />
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Then I completed the outer large star with dark pieces of blue and purple paper.<br />
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I finished the corners using light paper again. This went pretty quickly as I was able to cut multiple pieces of paper at the same time to complete these areas.<br />
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As I often do with these quilts, I added some stamping using household items like pen caps and pencil ends to add additional color. I dipped these items in acrylic paint, then stamped them around my canvas where I wanted some more color or texture.<br />
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This has been the silver lining of our stay at home orders - I've had this project in the works for a long while and this quiet time has given me the opportunity to see it through. I'm working on framing this large quilt collage, as <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Project-How-to-Easily-Frame-a-Stretched-Canvas-Painting-or-an-Artists-Canvas">I did with this collage</a>. I'm really happy with how this project turned out. <br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-14504022266203605282020-05-09T14:13:00.001-07:002020-05-09T14:13:31.151-07:00Quarantine Project #2 - Children's Scrap Yarn Rainbow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And here's another project that I've been working on during our stay at home orders - a children's weaving project to make <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Childrens-Craft-How-To-Make-A-Paper-Plate-Rainbow-With-Yarn">a rainbow using scrap yarn</a>.<br />
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This craft begins uses half of a paper or foam plate with a raised rim. The plate needs to be strung with some cord or string before beginning the weaving process. Adults should do the initial preparation for setting up the plate loom,
but kids will enjoy watching their rainbow appear before their eyes.<br />
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This is a "make and make do" project, using materials that are basic and
handy. You can use any weight of scrap yarn for this project. For each
color of the rainbow, you only need about 3 feet of yarn. If you don't
have one color, you can just substitute two shades of another. I have all the directions with photos <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Childrens-Craft-How-To-Make-A-Paper-Plate-Rainbow-With-Yarn">on Hubpages for you to follow</a>.<br />
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Once you rainbow is completed, you can finish it by adding some fluffy cotton ball clouds! Check out <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Childrens-Craft-How-To-Make-A-Paper-Plate-Rainbow-With-Yarn">the full tutorial here</a>. <br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-80862603228184529912020-05-06T07:10:00.001-07:002020-05-06T07:10:24.163-07:00Quarantine Project #1 - Hearts and Flower Mother's Day Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although I haven't been posting, I've managed to complete a few projects during my self-quarantine that I'm excited to share. The first is a scrapbook paper Mother's Day card that I made for my Mom. I didn't plan on posting this project, so I didn't take any process photos. But yesterday I went to the store and noticed there was very little stock in the card aisle. So I thought others might be looking for a homemade card idea.<br />
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It started with a sketch and a simple idea to make a flower using hearts as the petals. Then when I drew in the background, I thought to add another heart detail to the back.<br />
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I traced a number of hearts on to some coordinating scrapbook paper. I had a small heart sticker that I used as my template for tracing.<br />
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I used a pre-made store bought blank cards with an envelope to begin. I glued down a piece of sky blue paper for my background and added my green landscape. To create the flower, I layered seven hearts in a circle, alternating the pattern of the paper. I was going to use a button for the center, but used a gem stone instead.<br />
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I wanted my image to have a cute patchwork look to it, so I pulled out a jelly roll opaque white pen I had in my supplies. I tested this pen on some scrap to see if it would show up on my paper. It worked perfectly.<br />
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I used the pen to draw a dotted line around most of the large images on my card. I'm pleasantly pleased with the finished look.<br />
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For the inside of the card, I searched for a Mother's Day greeting online and printed this out on another piece of paper. I then trimmed this paper to size and glued it into my card using glue stick.<br />
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Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day and find some time for crafting too! <br />
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Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-63584129257153833692019-11-09T12:14:00.001-08:002019-11-09T12:14:07.730-08:00New Paper Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a long time since I've posted here. I'm going to pass over the excuses and just talk about my latest paper quilt. This paper collage was loosely inspired by the amazing quilts of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/melody-johnson-quilts/albums/72157623601924673">Melody Johnson</a>. I was inspired by some of her mini quilts which feature a small cabin-like building in the center of them. These buildings some times have an image inside them that seems symbolic. <br />
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I used a similar idea to make this collage. I was trying to go for a color palette like the cool tones that Melody often uses, but my colors kind of moved away from that.<br />
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In my excitement for create this paper quilt, I forgot to take any process photos, but you can see a tutorial for one of my previous quilt-inspired collages <a href="https://www.hometalk.com/27061772/use-scrapbook-paper-to-make-quilt-inspired-wall-art">here</a>. <br />
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My next step is to frame this collage. I have a simple way of framing most of my artwork and I'm excited for this finishing step. Check out my easy <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Project-How-to-Easily-Frame-a-Stretched-Canvas-Painting-or-an-Artists-Canvas">framing tutorial on my blog</a>.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-5121097503364269862018-12-04T08:06:00.002-08:002018-12-04T08:06:51.953-08:00Easy Handmade Christmas Card Tutorials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I like playing around with scrapbook paper to make collages and cards, but I don't do enough of it (yet) to invest in a die cut or other special equipment that a lot of scrapbook tutorials require. So this year when I decided to make my own Christmas cards, I thought up some easy designs that I could make with just a pair of scissors and some glue sticks.<br />
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I created four different designs, each with multiple variations. So far, I've made 16 cards. If you're interested in seeing more, I have photos and links to the tutorials below. Each tutorial includes any templates or stencils that you might need to make your own cards.<br />
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First, <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/How-To-Make-A-Reindeer-Christmas-Card-Without-Any-Special-Equipment">my Reindeer with holiday branches and berries</a> card.<br />
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Next, one of my favorites - <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/How-to-Make-a-Poinsettia-Christmas-Card-Without-Any-Special-Equipment">my Poinsettia card</a>. I made a bunch of these cards by changing up the colors that I used for the flower.<br />
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My <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/How-to-Make-a-Patchwork-Dove-Christmas-Card-for-the-Holidays">Patchwork Dove card</a> - this is made with strips of scrapbook paper and washi tape.<br />
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And my <a href="https://hubpages.com/art/How-to-Make-a-Quilt-Inspired-Christmas-Tree-Holiday-Card">Quilt-Inspired Christmas Tree</a>. I hope these cards inspired you to try making your own cards this year!<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-54987546633349334922018-04-08T10:31:00.002-07:002018-04-08T10:31:50.224-07:00Easy Journal Makeover Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi all! I know I've not been posting for a while, but honestly - I didn't have much to share. But this is a quick, easy project that I thought might be of some interest.<br />
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I've done <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Woven-Paper-Journal-or-Sketchbook-Cover">journal transformations</a> before, but for this book I wanted to do something quick and super easy. My mom found this unused notebook/journal (above) at a book sale and asked if I wanted it. I didn't love the cover, but the book was in good shape and seemed like an empty canvas. I decided to do a simple acrylic paint design of transform the cover (Unfortunately, I picked a rainy day to do it. So my photos are a little dark).<br />
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1. The first thing I did was put a piece of wax paper between the front cover and the pages of the notebook. This would keep the pages clean if I spilt any paint.<br />
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2. Next, I used a broad brush to paint the front cover a light blue that was similar to the actual cover. I used acrylic paint for this.<br />
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3. Once my paint was dried, I divided the cover into 9 equal squares. My cover is not exactly square, so each box is slightly rectangular, but I didn't care.<br />
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4. Then I painted the interior of each square with a light cream color.<br />
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5. When my cream paint was dry, I used a thin brush and a dark blue-purple paint color to sketch a circle into each box. These circles were not perfect and each was slightly different.<br />
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6. Next, I switched to a slightly wider brush and added more color to each circle. I built up the color using purple, green, and blue with loose brush strokes to create a different painterly circle in each box. I worked quickly so in some places, my colors were able to blend together before the paint dried.<br />
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7. Then I started to add some lighter, brighter colors to each circle.<br />
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8. When I was happy with the overall look of my circles, I let my paint dry completely.<br />
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9. As a last step, I added a few sweeps of metallic gold paint to each circle. The metallic gold is hard to photograph but I like how it lightens up my design.<br />
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I'm excited to fill my new journal with some new project ideas!<br />
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Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-17875174560861001722017-11-27T09:13:00.000-08:002017-11-27T09:13:40.233-08:00Holiday Project: Cute Cat with Wreath Christmas Ornament<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't believe that the holiday season is upon us, but I'm getting ready for Christmas with a new round of holiday projects. My latest is this <a href="https://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Holiday-Project-Cute-Cat-With-Wreath-Christmas-Ornament">Cute Cat with Wreath Ornament</a>! I've made this for my knitting group's annual ornament exchange. To keep with our group's theme, I've added a little green ball of yarn to my kitty's accessories and knitted the wreath around his neck. However, this ornament is easy to personalize with other details and accessories. And I've included a template for a fabric wreath if you don't want to knit your own.<br />
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All the directions with more photos are on my <a href="https://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Holiday-Project-Cute-Cat-With-Wreath-Christmas-Ornament">Hubpages site</a>. I'm posting the template for the cat's body pieces here for easy access. The template below is one image so the pieces should be sized to fit together. You should be able to click on the image below, then right click on it to save it. Once it is saved, you can resize it as you wish, and print it out for making your ornament.<br />
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I hope you have fun making this ornament for your holiday decorating. He's a cutie!<br />
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Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-50840373957500378372017-05-30T11:51:00.000-07:002017-05-30T11:57:29.305-07:00A Great Jewelry Resource and A New Tutorial ~ My Stained Glass Polymer Clay Pendant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a few new polymer clay jewelry tutorials to share with you this week. First, my stained glass inspired necklace pendant. This easy technique can be used to make many decorative things, not just jewelry. You can use these steps to make a brooch, Christmas decorations, or even drink coasters.<br />
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This project takes about a 1/4 of a block of polymer clay, a stamp or some interesting buttons to make a design, and some colored pencils. You can find all the directions, with photos, <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Jewelry-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Stained-Glass-Polymer-Clay-Necklace-Pendant">on my Hubpages</a>! <br />
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I liked my finished necklace so much that I used the same technique with a different stamp to make another pendant. <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Jewelry-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Stained-Glass-Polymer-Clay-Necklace-Pendant">Check out my full tutorial</a>!<br />
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If you are looking for more jewelry tutorials and ideas, head over to <a href="http://allfreejewelrymaking.com/">AllFreeJewelryMaking.com</a>. This site is loaded with great jewelry projects, tutorials, videos and information. They even have a free newsletter you can sign up for. This site is a wonderful resource for jewelry makers of all types and experience levels. I love this <a href="https://www.allfreejewelrymaking.com/Peyote-Stitch/Intarsia-Peyote-Stitch-Bracelet-Fusion-Beads">peyote stitch bracelet</a>!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-62920824231060620732016-11-25T12:49:00.000-08:002016-11-25T12:49:31.132-08:00Christmas Tutorial: An Easier Way to Make an Ornament Wreath for the Holidays!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love bright ornament wreaths for decorating for the Christmas season. But from personal experience, I know they can be a hassle to make. Fitting all those ornaments together can be like working a jigsaw
puzzle, and these wreaths can require A LOT of ornaments to look full
and colorful. <br />
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So I came up <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-An-Easier-Way-to-Make-an-Ornament-Wreath-for-the-Holidays">with a tutorial</a> that creates an ornament wreath from a plain grapevine form that is
easy to construct and needs a lot less ornaments. The resulting wreath
is a festive and fun decoration for your holiday home. I have all the directions with photos <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-An-Easier-Way-to-Make-an-Ornament-Wreath-for-the-Holidays">on my Hubpages!</a><br />
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I really love how my finished wreath came out. <br />
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I also wanted to reuse the artificial pine wreaths that I usually hang on my front windows. So I found a way to decorate these smaller wreaths to match my larger ornament wreath. There are directions for decorating these pine wreaths <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-An-Easier-Way-to-Make-an-Ornament-Wreath-for-the-Holidays">on my Hubpages</a> too! Enjoy! <br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-185697717855330192016-11-17T10:29:00.001-08:002016-11-17T10:29:40.319-08:00Christmas Craft Project: Turn a Gift Box into a Holiday Floral Arrangement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took a looong break from crafting and blogging over the summer, but the upcoming holiday season has reinvigorated me and inspired some new projects.<br />
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I bought this cute Santa wine bottle gift box a few years ago at an after Christmas sale. I loved the image on it, but didn't really have any plans for what to do with it. Then I realized that I could repurpose and show off this festive container by using it as a vessel for a <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Holiday-Craft-How-to-Make-a-Christmas-Floral-Arrangement-and-Tree-Ornament-from-a-Gift-Box">holiday floral arrangement</a>. In fact, you can use any medium or large size gift box to make a similar arrangement.<br />
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So I bought some floral foam and some fake greenery and berries to make an arrangement to use as a decoration for my holiday table or mantle. I don't have any experience arranging flowers, but I've posted hints and suggestions, along with the full directions for this project, <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Holiday-Craft-How-to-Make-a-Christmas-Floral-Arrangement-and-Tree-Ornament-from-a-Gift-Box">on my Hubpages</a>.<br />
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I've also come up with a fun holiday project to use the box lid. <a href="https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/DIY-Holiday-Craft-How-to-Make-a-Christmas-Floral-Arrangement-and-Tree-Ornament-from-a-Gift-Box">Check out my Hubpages</a> for the full tutorial!<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-69506378881271761462016-03-31T08:47:00.000-07:002016-03-31T08:47:21.868-07:00Saying "Hello" to Spring ~ Bee's Knees Wreath Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wasn't planning to make a new wreath this spring, but as the weather got nicer, I decided I needed to celebrate with some fresh flowers to welcome visitors to our door.<br />
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So I went to the store and bought some artificial pansies,some burlap and lace ribbon, and made this wreath. (You can find a tutorial to make a similar wreath <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Double-Grapevine-Welcome-Wreath-for-Every-Season">on my Hubpages</a>.)<br />
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This flower wreath was fine, but I wanted to add some more color and fun. So I headed to my craft supplies for some paint and <i>bubble wrap</i>.<br />
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And ta-da! I made this fun bee-friendly sign to hang in the middle of my wreath. This sign was easy to make. I have posted all the directions with photos <a href="http://www.hometalk.com/15171496/my-bee-s-knees-spring-summer-wreath">on Hometalk</a>.<br />
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I love how the finished sign came out and I smile every time I see my spring wreath hanging on my door :) <a href="http://www.hometalk.com/15171496/my-bee-s-knees-spring-summer-wreath">Check it out on Hometalk</a>!<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-71527992253420918052016-03-15T04:33:00.000-07:002016-03-15T04:33:18.655-07:00Crafting Crossover: Free Knitting Pattern for Confetti Cup Cozy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many of you may not know that I also have a knitting blog called<a href="http://fiberforthought.blogspot.com/"> Fiber For Thought</a>. Well, I do. There, I share information on all things knitting and yarn-y, including free knitting patterns.<br />
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And I just posted my latest free knitting pattern for my <a href="http://fiberforthought.blogspot.com/2016/03/two-free-knitting-patterns-for-spring.html">Confetti Fringe Cup Cozy</a>, along with a similar pattern for the Confetti Fringe Pillow Cover. I love these two patterns, particularly this cute and colorful cup cozy. It's a quick and easy pattern and oh so satisfying :) I think it's the perfect spring pick me up to brighten up your table, desk, or day! <br />
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Check out these patterns and more on my knitting blog!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-56666633799872319402016-03-06T17:01:00.000-08:002016-03-31T08:29:03.937-07:00Recycled Birdhouse Planter or Flower Vase - Celebrating Spring with a New Tutorial and a Blog Hop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring is on its way and I'm thrilled to celebrate its arrival with a new tutorial and a DIY My Spring Blog Hop!<b> #DIYMySpring</b></div>
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A new season is great inspiration for a new craft project, like this <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-Recycle-a-Birdhouse-into-a-Planter-or-Flower-Vase">Recycled Birdhouse Planter or Flower Vase</a>.<br />
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We're starting to have more sunny days than not, and I've noticed the soft sunlight coming through our front windows now. I realized that this window area might be the perfect place to put some pretty African violet plants. My mom always had African violets growing in her windows and I love their little blooms and soft colors. But, alas, I'm not very good with houseplants. I have more of an orange thumb than a green thumb (sad face).<br />
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So I thought if I made a pretty planter, maybe no one would notice that my plant was dying (LOL) I came upon the idea to reuse a birdhouse as a vessel that could serve as a planter or a flower vase. <br />
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I "crafted" my recycled birdhouse out of household items, but you could also use a pre-made birdhouse as the base for your planter or flower vase. I have all the directions with photos for making either a planter or flower vase on <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-Recycle-a-Birdhouse-into-a-Planter-or-Flower-Vase">on my Hubpages!</a><br />
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Once you have your basic birdhouse, there's lots of fun ways to add details and personality. I decorated my birdhouse with stencils and a sweet little bird made from clay. You can find a full tutorial to make your own <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-Decorative-Clay-Birds">here on my Hubpages</a>. These cute birds are so fun to decorate with stamps and buttons.<br />
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This spring project is only one of many featured on<a href="http://www.hometalk.com/"> Hometalk</a>, as part of their DIY My Spring Blog Hop! Please take a moment and check out all the other wonderful home decorating and craft ideas and watch for the hashtag<b> #DIYMySpring!</b>
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-18487961510051474722016-02-23T06:16:00.000-08:002016-02-23T06:16:26.976-08:00{Tutorial} How to Make Decorative Birds with Clay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMj1pbmQ6syR8KAnmD_jQmSj0OyJYtoVkiY2v8g2846qdQJGjq0ZP2LzFS2hndBILfGO0d4E0biTuSGwde-WPhwsTC-VAn0g-N1HDXBr6hU6-UuJeDwcFpFYEJzgYaHl7z6VCuKV_SR_3/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMj1pbmQ6syR8KAnmD_jQmSj0OyJYtoVkiY2v8g2846qdQJGjq0ZP2LzFS2hndBILfGO0d4E0biTuSGwde-WPhwsTC-VAn0g-N1HDXBr6hU6-UuJeDwcFpFYEJzgYaHl7z6VCuKV_SR_3/s400/cover.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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I've been having a lot of fun making these clay birds from Sculpey and some items from around the house. You can find the <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-Decorative-Clay-Birds">full tutorial on my Hubpages</a>.<br />
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My favorite part is creating the designs on the wings. I used various items I had hanging around, like vintage buttons and beads. I made these birds to sit on a natural branch, but you can also use them to decorate a mantle, a flower pot or planter, a wreath, or as a Christmas ornament.<br />
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You can also add more decoration and color to these birds after they've hardened with colored pencils or paint. You can find <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-Decorative-Clay-Birds">this easy step-by-step tutorial on my Hubpages!</a><br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-86360009862478629082016-02-08T13:10:00.000-08:002016-02-08T13:10:11.158-08:00Trying My Hand at Basketmaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've posted before about my love with <a href="http://with2hands4you.blogspot.com/2014/08/friday-favorites-handmade-baskets.html">handmade baskets</a>, so I was thrilled to take my first basketmaking class this past weekend.<br />
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We made a woven market basket with a wooden handle. The basket measures about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. The design included darker reed detailing and we got to choose our contrasting color. I chose a wine color for this detail, which is hard to see in these photos.<br />
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Basket making isn't really easy, but the process is pretty straight forward. It took us about 5 hours to make our baskets. And it was a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vgc76iw9rwLpRUJumJpbojn5ANmNQ9wqtxli1gAeVZELbOXTzPdE1xwDZYox-2toaGCSSNF5I71pnNfGNvy2ceeyLRpBbzdrv6qK8AtiU9rYfLl1lEPgsGHRHRT1exVdvm5hBCT-b4X8/s1600/IMG_7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vgc76iw9rwLpRUJumJpbojn5ANmNQ9wqtxli1gAeVZELbOXTzPdE1xwDZYox-2toaGCSSNF5I71pnNfGNvy2ceeyLRpBbzdrv6qK8AtiU9rYfLl1lEPgsGHRHRT1exVdvm5hBCT-b4X8/s320/IMG_7219.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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I really love my finished basket. It isn't perfect, but I'm very pleased with my first attempt. I'm already scheduled to take another class and learn to make a different style of basket.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-25076239204214762222016-01-28T09:02:00.000-08:002016-01-28T09:02:00.421-08:00A New Necklace Made with Recycled Charms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFi38qP_bM9AklKNZEazPQDCLLAtvB537Ryi-HB1LMcCUdUV7HtuQocKP-dz3qeqSzazLb6R9DzIshNgjBUnKBWTfYd8r8NlYF6108DOnKUBIFeX9oERf0_Y0XRr08-FRHzpi4EZiBe3s/s1600/IMG_7137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFi38qP_bM9AklKNZEazPQDCLLAtvB537Ryi-HB1LMcCUdUV7HtuQocKP-dz3qeqSzazLb6R9DzIshNgjBUnKBWTfYd8r8NlYF6108DOnKUBIFeX9oERf0_Y0XRr08-FRHzpi4EZiBe3s/s400/IMG_7137.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I just finished this new beaded necklace, featuring some <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-Jewelry-Charms-from-Recycled-Materials">handmade charms</a> made from recycled pet id tags.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3Z0XbQghKQgWcxhDkogoLTnBh6Q3aXSc6-yzLj40zAuOJD4lDTlVKDpM8zU6JyMfVZ071RwFvLFA6lmiquWTqeFWD9MCDt6vYKgcH5HEYWexm3uJpYT7hBVCmanmjejDgf85hvqiU1E/s1600/IMG_7132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs3Z0XbQghKQgWcxhDkogoLTnBh6Q3aXSc6-yzLj40zAuOJD4lDTlVKDpM8zU6JyMfVZ071RwFvLFA6lmiquWTqeFWD9MCDt6vYKgcH5HEYWexm3uJpYT7hBVCmanmjejDgf85hvqiU1E/s400/IMG_7132.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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I had made a few of these charms with images of birds on them, to make up a bracelet. The tutorial for making these charms from various recycled materials is <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-Jewelry-Charms-from-Recycled-Materials">on my Hubpages</a>. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a bracelet wearer, so my charm bracelet got very little use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIGy6Czjb_4vLSm1g62ojMKeXVMIBp4c7H3D8LYIMSnPLiwSvd3IwH5QD1n4R7dGWEhn0mtHSwZvrGp_W2lU8SQIsdTFH48gGHrf62QyZRvsjirDgQ_JSLlHP4uO51CcmQeg-Wm4z6M6K/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIGy6Czjb_4vLSm1g62ojMKeXVMIBp4c7H3D8LYIMSnPLiwSvd3IwH5QD1n4R7dGWEhn0mtHSwZvrGp_W2lU8SQIsdTFH48gGHrf62QyZRvsjirDgQ_JSLlHP4uO51CcmQeg-Wm4z6M6K/s400/me.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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So instead, I chose a few of my favorite charms and strung them with some beads to make a new necklace. It may not be everyone's style, but I really love how it came out. I used a mix of my random beads, and tied them together by repeating black beads throughout the pattern. I think the colors look great with my charms.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-9336429550582733652016-01-22T05:33:00.003-08:002016-01-22T05:33:54.165-08:00{Quick & Easy Craft Project}: Peacock Covered Notebook or Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3oLJKasOwpUB5xpPZrtxPjNH1ioVLue_fIYSY0-NNdzhHyPxqRnO2Sw9RqmFcWpX8bY1rhOtjMu4YgPDrOjtJVQnHUqf2xM_vL8GRuHcCHTSKImNZE-GerTG33L7OHXkLq4KT1aevuKI/s1600/peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3oLJKasOwpUB5xpPZrtxPjNH1ioVLue_fIYSY0-NNdzhHyPxqRnO2Sw9RqmFcWpX8bY1rhOtjMu4YgPDrOjtJVQnHUqf2xM_vL8GRuHcCHTSKImNZE-GerTG33L7OHXkLq4KT1aevuKI/s400/peacock.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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So this project isn't groundbreaking, but I'm pretty pleased with it. My husband brought home this notebook from work, about 6" by 8". It had a dark blue cover with his company's name and logo on it. He asked me if I wanted it. It wasn't pretty, but I can always use more notebooks. And I thought I could make something out of it, <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Woven-Paper-Journal-or-Sketchbook-Cov">like this woven paper journal cover I made</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO6OdPH7j43Z3xvrmOzfY4LbgIf3O9HmqG-iqVMqNbR9DzbEJQr4_d0puPBqEKYYzR6wgHG-Qu-Rsh-20kw0TwQMcwpw3B2vc3W6WCzDWDME90ndlKXuKgcqmRH3gLr4yR051VZCsCoEY/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO6OdPH7j43Z3xvrmOzfY4LbgIf3O9HmqG-iqVMqNbR9DzbEJQr4_d0puPBqEKYYzR6wgHG-Qu-Rsh-20kw0TwQMcwpw3B2vc3W6WCzDWDME90ndlKXuKgcqmRH3gLr4yR051VZCsCoEY/s320/IMG_6986.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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I had seen other projects where people covered things with these decorative paper towels/napkins. I bought this package months ago at the Christmas Tree Shop for crafting. I think I paid $1 for the package. I wish I had bought more of them because they had a bunch in so many great designs.<br />
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I think my mother would call these "paper guest towels". They're larger than napkins, unfolded they're about 11 inches by 15 inches. The towel is made up of a couple layers of paper. There's an inner layer of thicker paper, then the decorative layer is actually made of two very thin layers of tissue paper, one plain and one with the image on it.<br />
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These towels are great for découpaging. This is such a quick and easy way to transform a lot of items. I didn't
take any photos pf the process because I didn't plan on sharing this
project. But the end result is so pretty, I just had to post it. <br />
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Generally, you remove all the layers and just work with the thin outer decorative layer of paper and modge podge or glue. But since my notebook had a dark cover with lettering, I first used the inner white thick paper to glue down a base layer over my cover. Once that was dry, I brushed on more glue and laid down my thin decorative paper. When that dried, I trimmed my paper down to the edge of the notebook. Done!<br />
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You should put your glue on kind of thick and make sure you spread it all the way to your edges. Your paper is going to wrinkle when you put it down in the glue, so just accept it as part of your design. But you should press down on your paper to get out any bubbles.<br />
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The back of my notebook was easier to cover, because it was white with just a logo. I just used the thin outer decorative layer of my towel to cover the back, but you can see where the company logo shows through my paper. It's ok though, happily it kind of works with the peacock design.<br />
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I can take no credit for this project. The end result is really pretty, but that's because of the towel design. I'm not really a peacock person, but this image is really stunning (even prettier in person). I've made a few other things with these decorative towels and plan to make more.<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-48972205706502404522016-01-20T04:55:00.000-08:002016-01-20T04:55:50.607-08:00{DIY Tutorial}: Long Distance Valentine Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl2Hxd5r8zih9OUkb2afzGvDvvnBwoLVywy76ov5Rwi4MjGL3chcNaWaTfja2SYFkm1Zka8aeronqHNJW-pcilIznO39agZ91-reGiqBjx5rZccGy8gIsHM6EmguMLd8RIHWpVnyR9OFT/s1600/cover+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl2Hxd5r8zih9OUkb2afzGvDvvnBwoLVywy76ov5Rwi4MjGL3chcNaWaTfja2SYFkm1Zka8aeronqHNJW-pcilIznO39agZ91-reGiqBjx5rZccGy8gIsHM6EmguMLd8RIHWpVnyR9OFT/s400/cover+2.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
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My latest project is a Valentine for my husband, who'll be away and traveling on Valentine's Day. It features a ruffled heart made of map pieces and the sweet sentiment: "together forever, never apart." Although I made this Valentine as a piece of framed art, you could use this same technique to make a larger heart wreath or a smaller heart for a Valentine's Day card. <br />
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The full tutorial is <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Craft-Tutorial-Heart-Valentine-for-Long-Distance-Relationship">on my Hubpages</a>.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-81056031336894235072016-01-07T11:49:00.000-08:002016-01-07T11:49:48.544-08:00How to Make a Skeleton Key Necklace Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2AhmKjmWqncQuQhJEphhZvydHoL1GWNPQbrBY7kAzdSk00uYlH3h_eXjAqX7AVkuQL_2QTTLhxG2PPzmJ07lB56LH50w21giP5uPayCUY2bpZEsgN7K-f57Bc44aDLoYIe4fPwqXEY_k/s1600/cover+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2AhmKjmWqncQuQhJEphhZvydHoL1GWNPQbrBY7kAzdSk00uYlH3h_eXjAqX7AVkuQL_2QTTLhxG2PPzmJ07lB56LH50w21giP5uPayCUY2bpZEsgN7K-f57Bc44aDLoYIe4fPwqXEY_k/s400/cover+2.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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My new favorite necklace, featuring an antique skeleton key, some jewelry charms, and multi-colored beads. Love how this came out! I have more photos and the full directions <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Jewelry-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Necklace-with-a-Skeleton-Key-and-Beads">on my Hubpages</a>. Check it out!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-17867222527550232332015-12-30T08:59:00.000-08:002016-01-01T08:14:02.340-08:00Update: Rustic Metal Star Christmas Decoration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before the holidays, I posted <a href="http://with2hands4you.blogspot.com/2015/12/craft-tutorial-adding-special-touches.html">a tutorial on adding handmade touches to store-bought Christmas ornaments</a>. In my post, I mentioned that I thought I should find another frame for my rustic metal star decoration.<br />
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Well, over the holidays, I had to buy a cheap frame to use to replace the glass in picture frame which had broken. Since I was buying this frame simply for the glass, I chose a simple wooden frame that I knew I could transform to work with my rustic star.<br />
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I painted my cheap wooden frame with acrylic paint in a blue/green teal color. But while my paint was drying, I dipped my brush in some clean water and gently brushed it over the surface of my frame in long strokes. This thinned my paint in places and let the original brown surface come through a little, giving my frame a slightly worn or aged surface. It was exactly what I wanted.<br />
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Then I attached my rustic star to the frame and stuck my cardboard backing back in place.<br />
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We've been having rainy weather, so the colors are a bit off in my photos. But I love how this rustic metal star looks on my holiday mantle. Hope you had a wonderful holiday season! Best wishes for a bright new year!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-29476853477301473342015-12-20T08:47:00.000-08:002015-12-20T08:47:34.653-08:00{Craft Tutorial} Adding Special Touches to Store-Bought Christmas Ornaments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWsFs7r_u2BpPJCntlZs2W8gIxMJRLbDm1tKBlvgcFN0qhyphenhyphennKeySWRt7PDAK2K-v3gmP_84q-MPJ3F1GzJ5g6JQJQKSrBi2dcYLL4IWSNrRT65a1fxRVtINB3XKk7jQUKsPlOL9XsYMu3/s1600/IMG_6647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWsFs7r_u2BpPJCntlZs2W8gIxMJRLbDm1tKBlvgcFN0qhyphenhyphennKeySWRt7PDAK2K-v3gmP_84q-MPJ3F1GzJ5g6JQJQKSrBi2dcYLL4IWSNrRT65a1fxRVtINB3XKk7jQUKsPlOL9XsYMu3/s400/IMG_6647.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
I bought this plain galvanized metal star at Michael's as an impulse buy (sorry, I didn't take a photo of just the plain star I bought). I think it was $2.99 and I had a coupon. I didn't have any plan for what to do with it, but I liked it and I knew it could be made into something special.<br />
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Then dumb luck and some inspiration hit:<br />
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1. When we were hanging our wreath over our mantle, my husband had to trim a little piece of branch off of our fake pine wreath. I knew I could use this pine piece to add a little color and holiday cheer to my metal star.<br />
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2. I also knew I had a rusty brown bell somewhere in my craft supplies. I dug out the bell, ran some wire through it, wrapped it around my pine pieces, and strung it through a hole in the galvanized star.<br />
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3. Then I looked through my bits and pieces of artificial flowers and found some red berries that had fallen off something or other. I nestled those in among my pine pieces and hot glued them in place.<br />
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Total time for this endeavor: about 7 minutes.<br />
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So then I had a pretty, dressed up ornament, but didn't really know what to do with it (since we don't have a Christmas tree). But I decorate our mantle with framed Christmas stuff, so I thought of hanging this ornament in a frame.<br />
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I grabbed the closest frame, which was this shiny fake silver frame. I took out the glass and backing stuff so I had just the rectangular frame. Then I wired my ornament so that it was hanging in the center of this frame. This worked really well, but when I put it on my mantle, it got kind of lost.<br />
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So Plan B - I left my star still in the center of my frame, but put the backing material back in it, including the corrugated cardboard filler. This turned out to be the perfect backing for my little ornament. I think the cardboard perfectly compliments the rustic look of this galvanized metal star.<br />
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I probably need to look through my other frames and see if I have a wooden frame that would look better with my star, but for now, I like it. I'm glad I bought this little beauty!<br />
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Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-72806414548500099502015-12-09T07:27:00.000-08:002015-12-09T07:27:41.198-08:00Easy No-Sew Christmas Pillow Cover Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year, I like to add a few new elements to my Christmas decorating, and I try to make things using materials I have on hand.<br />
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This year, I made this festive no-sew pillow from two pieces of scrap fabric, some paint, some glitter glue, and a few more embellishments. You can find all the materials and directions <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Christmas-Craft-No-Sew-Winter-Holiday-Decorative-Pillow">on my Hubpages</a>.<br />
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The pillow pieces are held together with fringe ties. Then you can decorate each side as you choose.<br />
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On one side, I created a winter wonderland with a snowman using some acrylic paint and a pencil eraser. On the other side, I added a reindeer head outlined in glitter glue. Then I used some buttons and plastic snowflakes for extra decoration. Check out the full tutorial <a href="http://hubpages.com/art/DIY-Christmas-Craft-No-Sew-Winter-Holiday-Decorative-Pillow">on my Hubpages</a>!<br />
Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637038962843134267.post-11723453651291455952015-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:002015-12-01T08:00:12.470-08:00Decorating Ideas: Refresh the Look of Your Fall Wreath!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, this used to be our fall wreath for our front door. I bought it at Homegoods about 3 years ago and I still love it. But with sun and weather, the bright falls colors had faded from the leaf accents on the wreath and it looked a little sad and worn.<br />
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I happened to find a super cheap bag of fake leaves at the dollar store. They were a little cheap looking, but I liked the colors of the leaves and I realized I could use them to pump some cheer back into my wreath.<br />
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I figured the easiest way to add these leaves was to hot glue them around the center of the wreath. The brightness of the new leaves would blend with the existing accents and give the whole wreath a fresh look.<br />
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<br />I may decide to add more leaves in spots around the outer edge of my wreath, but for right now, these additional leaves adds the boost of fall color I needed (particularly when viewed from the street). This was an easy and inexpensive way to extend the life of my wreath. I'll definitely get one more year of use out of it next fall. Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03381636925485717652noreply@blogger.com0