31 Days of Fall - Day 11 Pumpkin Topiary

 

This lovely now adorns our front porch.  Make with 50% off pumpkins from Michaels and supplies from my craft closet, it adds a punch to my outdoor fall decor.  It has been out for about 2 weeks and is hold up well, even through a couple of storms.  I found inspiration at A Little Tipsy and Reinvented. 

 

 

To start from the beginning -- 31 Days of Fall posts.

Hair Bows

Boo Boo and I have been making lots of things lately.  She really wanted some new hairbows, but I didn't want to pay a lot for them, so I read several tutorials and took the best of all of them to create these hairbows.  What I like best is that they match all her new spring outfits perfectly because we got to choose the colors and color combinations. 

Flower Hairbows

Materials

large silk flowers

sparkly buttons, gemstones, etc.

alligator clips

ribbon (colors to match or your flowers or white)

Hot glue gun and gluesticks

Directions

Cover alligator clip with ribbon . 

Remove flower from the stem and separate the layers.

Using hot glue, glue each layer of the flower to the center of the ribbon covered alligator clip. 

Once all layers have been glued, glue your decorative piece (button, gem stone, etc).

Corkscrew Ribbon Clips

To make the corkscrew ribbon clips I used the tutorial I found at The Frugal Girls. 

How to Make Korker Bows

Linking up to

Sundae Scoop

Made By You Monday

It's a Blog Party

Make It Yourself Monday

Link It Up Wednesday

Delightful Order

Showcase Your Talent

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Tatertots and Jello

Easter Decorations

Traditionally I don't do a lot of decorating for Easter, but since I am hosting Easter Dinner this year, I thought it would be a good idea to decorate a bit.  I made the Hydrangea Covered Eggs last year, so this year used them as my table center piece.  I also made some new napkins to complement the quilted table runner my mom made for me years ago. 

To bring a bit of spring color to the rest of the house, I made 3 paper pennant bannesr in about 30 minutes.  I  pulled spring scrapbook paper from my paper stash,cutting them in 4 x 5.5 x 5.5  inch triangles.  Using a hole punch I threaded them on jute and hung them with clear push pins. Quick, easy and they really make a statement. 

Linking up to
Tatertots and Jello
Sundae Scoop
Somewhat Simple

Fleece Poncho

I've had this fleece laying around for awhile and finally got around to making something with it.  Boo Boo LOVES her new poncho and since the weather has been mild in the Southeast this winter, she has gotten many opportunities to wear it.  I used this tutorial and it was fairly easy.  I had a difficult time with the neck opening, but this was due to my lack of sewing experience and not the tutorial directions.  I would play around with the fringe next time, either tying them or adding beads for a little punch, especially for a little girl.  I'm thinking about making one for myself as well next time fleece goes on sale.

Linking up to 

Sundae Scoop

Made By You Monday

It's A Blog Party

Make It Yourself Monday

Show Me What You Got;

Link It Up Wednesday

Somewhat Simple

Delightful Order

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Tatertots and Jello

Pennant Bunting

I have  been in the process of redecorating Boo Boo's room for several months.  We have done it in stages, as money and time have allowed.  This has actually been beneficial as we did not have everything planned out and going slowly has allowed us to pick and choose items we wanted to add to the decor and figure out what will work in her room.

Several months ago we painted it her walls a lovely shade of lime green and purchased a comforter set in lime, blue and purple.  One of the decor items we decided upon was a pennant banner, similar to the one we made for the 4th of July.   We selected several fabrics in her decor colors and got to work.  Once again, I followed the wonderful tutorial I found at My Homebased Mom. 

I cut all the pieces

Stitched them together

Sewed them to the bias tape

And hung them in her room.  It added just the right pop of color and interest to her new decor.

Linking up to - 

Sundae Scoop

Made By You Monday

It's A Blog Party

Make It Yourself Monday

Cozy Home Scene

Somewhat Simple

Delightful Order

Link It Up Wednesday

Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Tatertots and Jello

I'm Lovin' It

Weekend Wanderer



Ribbon Scarf

This is my favorite quick scarf pattern.  It is called the Ribbon Scarf and I found the pattern here.  I have made this pattern at least 3 different times, but each time I used a different type yarn and size needles.  It turns out great each time.  It is an easily memorable pattern, which makes it perfect for working on while watching TV. 

This scarf was made using the size needle and yarn specified in the pattern.

Linked to -

Sundae Scoop

Made By You Monday

It's A Blog Party

Somewhat Simple

Delightful Order

Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Link It Up Wednesday

What I Made Wednesday

Tatertots and Jello

Time Out Cowl

My Time Out Cowl for Maybe Matilda's Crochet Along

Well, I did it, I learned how to crochet and completed my first project.  I'm really glad I joined up with Maybe Matilda, her tutorials were wonderful!  If you don't know how to crochet and are interested in learning, I highly recommend jumping over the Maybe Matilda and trying it out.   I also think the pattern for the Time Out Cowl is a great first project.  I completed it in just a few days and it is ready and waiting for the first cold snap.  I did put a little twist in mine when I stitched the ends together.  I just liked the way it lays better. 

Linking to
Somewhat Simple
Delightful Order
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Skip to My Lou
What I Made Wednesday
Well Made Wednesday

Fourth of July Decor

Each year I add to our 4th of July porch decor.  This year I made pennant banners and a flag painting.  I have wanted to make pennant banners for a long time and after finding a GREAT tutorial at Your Homebased Mom, I made 6 in just one afternoon.  Leigh Anne created VERY easy to follow directions and I love the results.  I used more fabrics than Leigh Anne did, simply because I had 1/4 yds of a variety of 4th of July fabrics left from another project.  You know, use what you've got and all that!

My second project was a flag painting using my kids hand and feet prints.  They had a great time making this wonderful keepsake.  I lifted this idea too, from Beth at Sewing for Sanity.  I used a 22 x 28 artist canvas for 2 reasons -- first,  I had a pretty large space to full and secondly, my son's feet are pretty big! 

Here are my two artists, usually my son, at 12, is reluctant to participate in my crafting endeavors, but he even let my daughter paint his feet for the project. 

 And finally, a view of our completed porch for the festivities.

Linked to It's A Blog Party
Tatertots and Jello
Itsy Bitsy Paper
Home Stories A 2 Z
Skip to My Lou

Lemon Mint Soap

I was determined to make all our teacher appreciation gifts this year and thanks to Stephanie at Henry Happened... I was able to do so.  Her recipe and directions for Homemade Herb Soap were a hit.  Great directions, so easy to follow and great pictures to guide the process.  The very best part was I had everything in my craft closet, kitchen and herb garden to make these.  I ended up using lemons and mint. 

I wrapped each soap in a cellophane bag, made a personalized tag and tied it up with raffia.  Looked like I bought it at a fancy soap boutique. 

Please visit Stephanie for her wonderful tutorial and make some of this great soap.

Linked to Sundae Scoop
Made By You Monday
It's A Blog Party
Somewhat Simple
Delightful Order
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Tatertots and Jello

Easter Table

I know I'm a bit late posting my Easter goodies, but I wanted to share my Easter table.  Boo Boo had such a great time helping me pull it all together I just had to post.

 This is truly a homemade tablescape.  The table runner and napkins were made my by mom several years ago and are one of my favorite holiday decorations.  The plates are hand painted by Laurie Gates.

 Boo Boo and I made the Hydrangea Eggs that were all over blogland this Easter season.  So lovely and so easy!  I used part of my extensive milk glass collection as pedestals.  My mother in law fell in love with them.  I will have to make her a set next year. 

The sugared bunnies are an idea I found in an old Southern Living cookbook.  We brushed 99 cents white chocolate bunnies with meringue wash and dusted wtih sugar.  So easy, so cute and what a great added sparkle to the table.  We used pink and blue sanding sugar on two bunnies and that did not turn out so well.  I highly recommend just sticking with plain 'ole white granualted sugar. 

Linked to Sundae Scoop

Burlap Table Runner and Napkins

This is another kitchen project using the fabrics I bought at Hobby Lobby inspired by my Lemon Grass Fiestaware.  I also created a Menu Board and Burlap Wreath with these same fabrics. 

Inspired by all the burlap crafts I have see lately, I designed and stitched up this table runner and matching napkins for my kitchen table.  I got a new sewing machine for Christmas which made putting this together a breeze. 

For the table runner
1.  I cut the burlap the length I wanted (if I were to do it again, I would hem the ends for a more finished edge.)

2. Cut, press and hem the floral fabric to the dimensions of the burlap.  My kitchen table is really wide, so I made my table runner wider than average width.  Keep in mind the width of your table for this step.

3.  Sew floral pieces to burlap piece.  Press down seams.

4.  I then stitched matching orange grosgrain ribbon over the seams where the burlap and fabric met, giving a much more finished appearance. 

5.  Press and put on your table!

For the napkins -
1.  Cut fabric in 17" squares. 

2.  Press a 1/4" double hem.

3.  Sew hem, press and use.

Here is another view of the finished project -

Linked to
Sundae Scoop
Skip to My Lou
It's A Blog Party
Somewhat Simple
Delightful Order
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Well Made Wednesday

Fabric and Burlap Wreath

Last spring there was a lot of buzz around the blogsophere about this great wreath from Tatertots and Jello.  I looked and looked and finally found the right fabrics at Hobby Lobby to make my own. 

These fabrics also became the inspiration for my kitchen decor, which was sparked by my lovely new Fiestaware Lemongrass dishes. 

image courtesy of www.macys.com

I used these fabrics to not only make the wreath, but to make a Menu Board, a table runner and napkins to really tie all these colors into my kitchen. 

How I Made My Wreath
I used a straw wreath and wrapped it in strips of the darker burlap.  I also cut random circles in 3 different sized from the burlap, fabrics and tulle.  Using scrapbook brads, I layered the circles into a variety of flowers. 

I had a great helper for this part of the project. 

Then I randomly hot glued the burlap flowers to the wreath. 

Once completed, I tied a matching ribbon to use as a hanger and hung the wreath at the entrance to my kitchen.  Love how it introduces my accent colors into my kitchen and adds just a bit of color to this other wise blank and very boring wall.

Linked to

Sundae Scoop

Made by You Mondays

It's A Blog Party

Delightful Order

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Tatertots and Jello

Simplifying Birthday Party Gifts - Pencil Rolls

I am always looking for ways to simplify my life.  As the working mom of 2 busy kids with a husband who owns a restaurant, we are always busy.  One of the things that used to fall through the cracks were birthday parties.  I was always forgetting we needed a present and we had to run into Walmart or Target on the way to the party.  This mad rush always meant spending more than I wanted to and usually resulted in a less than creative present for the birthday child.  Pencil rolls to the rescue! 

Last summer I found this WONDERFUL tutorial to make crayon rolls at Skip to My Lou.  The 7-8 year old girls are all into drawing and coloring, so this seemed a great gift.  However I felt they might think crayons were a bit babyish, so I altered the pattern to accomodate colored pencils.  I found the pencils on sale for $1 at the back to school sales.  I figured we usually attend 6 - 8 birthday parties/school year, so i bought 10 boxes of pencils, just to be safe. 

The pencil rolls are a HUGE hit!  Everyone wants them and the moms are super impressed with my "superior" sewing skills.  If they only knew how easy their were to make.  Just follow the crayon tutorial, but adjust the size of the fabric pieces to 16" x 9".  You will then have 15 spaces for pencils.  12 for colored pencils, 2 for regular drawing pencils and 1 for a Happy Birthday pencil. 

I make 4 or 5 up at a time when I have a free Saturday afternoon and we always have a ready to go birthday present.  Birthday party present stress alleviated!

Linked to
Sundae Scoop
Made By You Monday
Its A Blog Party
Delightful Order
Somewhat Simple
Fireflies and Jellybeans
Tatertots and Jello

Purse Stitch Scarf

I knitted this great scarf in about 3 hours.  It is a fantastic, easy pattern, too bad I seem to have misplaced it!  I even bought yarn to make another scarf in red and can't find the pattern.  I am sure it will turn up, but for now I can tell you it is made using the purse stitch, a stitch I had no idea even existed until I found this pattern.   I used one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn in Pumpkin. 

Close up of stitches - there are several tutorials on Youtube for learning to make the purse stitch. 

Linked to
Sundae Scoop at I heart Naptime
Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou
SYS at Somewhat Simple
Fireflies and Jellybeans
It's  A Blog Party
Tatertots and Jello
The More the Merrier

Menu Board

A long time ago, I saw a great idea to turn an old picture frame into a menu board.  (Wish I knew where I originally found it to give credit)  I LOVED it and set out to make one.  Well, turns out my friends and family loved the idea too.  Once they saw it in my kitchen, they just had to have one. 

There are several things I like about this menu board:
1.  It does not use chalk (just not a fan - too many years of being covered in it from teaching - before whiteboards)
2.  It is soooooo easy to customize.
3.  It is cheap.
4.  We actually USE it!

I made this one for our kitchen -

This one was a gift for my sister's birthday.

And I made this one for a friend for her birthday.

Supplies -

1 11 x 13 hanging wall frame

burlap

stickers, Cricut or Silhouette for letters

3 or 4 coordinating fabric (scraps are great)

3 brads

ribbon

spray glue

hot glue and gun

dry erase marker in matching color

1.  Spray glue on the picture frame backing.  Adhere piece of burlap,  cut to fit.

2.  Cut 9 - 12 circles in various sizes in 3 - 4 different fabrics.

3.  Using circles and brads, make 3 flowers

4.  Adhere flowers in bottom corner of frame using hot glue (make sure all flowers can be seen even when frame is on)

5.  Hot glue ribbon across top of frame.

6.  Adhere MENU letters in desired location.

7.  Adhere letters for days of the week.

8.  Reassemble frame.

9.  Display and use dry erase marker to make your menus.

Linking up to

Sundae Scoop
Skip to My Lou

Its A Blog Party

Tatertots and Jello

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Valentine Crafts

I'm really not one to decorate for Valentine's Day, but there are so many great Valentine crafts online that I just couldn't resist making some of them. 

First - this cute topiary from Simply Crafty -

This adorable frame, also from Simply Crafty

and finally, these fantastic wood blocks from My Garden of Eden.   I have wanted to make some embellished blocks for a while now and these seemed like a great first project.  They were so easy and I really like how they turned out.

So thanks to all you creative crafy bloggers, who come up with these great ideas for me to steal and make my house more festive!

Linked to Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou
Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
It's a Blog Party's Hugs and Kisses Valentine's Party
Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots and Jello
Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Christmas Pomanders

One of our family holiday traditions is making pomaders to display.  This is an activity my husband brought from his family traditions and I am so glad we have adopted in for our small family.  These smell heavenly!  Everyone that has walked in my house remarks on how good the house smells.  They claim it smells just like Christmas. 

All you need to make pomanders are oranges, whole cloves, some willing helpers and time. 

Select thin skinned oranges, navel oranges will not work, the skin is to thick and you will break all of your cloves.  Buy a large container of whole cloves, I get mine at a restaurant supply store, but I am sure Costco, Sam's, etc will have them. 

Simply, push the cloves into the orange.  It is that simple.  We cover some entirely, others we make simple patterns. 

When finished, place them in a festive bowl or basket and display.  We like to place them on our coffee table for maximum smell power.  Protect wood furniture from these as direct contact with the oils from the orange and cloves may damage wood. 

Linking up to Skip to My Lou, Tater Tots and Jello, Fireflies and Jelly Beans, Somewhat Simple

Oh, Say Can You See....July 4th Inspiration

It's been a long time since I have had the chance to get in my craft room and be creative.  For the first time in our married life, I am hosting not one, but two 4th of July celebrations at our house.  We typically spend the day at my inlaw's pool, patiently waiting for DH and FIL to get home from the restaurant so we can have our own celebration.  This year the pool had to be totally redone and is not open yet and we are in the process of relocating our restaurant, so we get the chance to do something a bit different this year.  There is sooooo much inspiration for 4th of July decorations online that it was difficult to choose my projects, but I finally narrowed it down. 

This wreath was inspired by Homemade Mamas.  I made two of them, one for each set of windows on our back porch. 

Side tablescape on the back porch.

These pinwheels were inspired by Leanne at Organized and Decorate Everything.  Her step by step directions made this a very easy to do project. 

Linking up to the following parties:

Censational Girl - Stars and Stripes Party

It's A Blog Party - Fourth of July Party
New Nostalgia - Fourth of July