Week 5 - Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!!!

For us Washingtonians, there's no denying it...it is officially fall. Wet roads, boots, scarves, Pumpkin Spice Lattes..fall is in full force. So naturally we had to incorporate the most popular and traditional craft project of the season....Pumpkins!!! 


But no need to bring out the carving knives or cover your floors with yesterday's newspaper, instead grab your glue guns, glitter, paper and mod podge and get ready to create the most chique pumpkins ever.

Here are some examples from Pinterest to give you a little inspiration!

  

 

PUMPKINS

Our lovely Kaitlyn Campbell will be the instructor for the project this week. She is super creative when it comes to decorating for parties, or weddings and pretty much any event! So this week, she’s going to show us some cute new ways to decorate pumpkins. Don’t worry we won’t be sawing gutting them….just dress’n them up and making them into fabulous center pieces that can be on display for the whole fall season!

This is a great tutorial if you are wanted to get a sneak peak at how to do this project: Mod Podge Pumpkin Tutorial

      

This project will be fun, and hopefully by now you are building up your supply resources so there is less you have to go out and purchase. As always, we’ll be sure to have some extra glue guns and some other basic supplies in case you don’t have them.

SUPPLY LIST

1. Pumpkin: Any pumpkin will do…you can even use a fake one if you want to use it again next year. Choose whatever size or shape you like!

2. Tissue Paper: You will be using this to cover your pumpkin so be creative in the colors you choose. You can pick up Tissue Paper pretty much anywhere and it’s really inexpensive which is always a plus!

3. Scrapbook Paper: We’ll also be using this to cover the pumpkins so mix and match it with your tissue paper!

4. Modpodge: After the canvas week you are all pros at using Modpodge and hopefully you have some left over! Since we’ll be using this as the “glue” for adhering the paper to your pumpkins you’ll want to bring enough. (Hint: For this type of project Elmers Glue with a little bit of added water will work as a substitute for Modpodge.)

5. Embellishments – This is where you can let your creativity run wild. You can add whatever you want to your beautiful pumpkin creation! Here are some suggestions: fine glitter, rhinestones, puff paint (for adding delicate designs), paint, feathers, leaves, ribbons….etc, you get the picture!

Additional Tools and Supplies Needed!  

• Scissors
• Paper Towels
• Foam Brush 
• Empty Garbage bag (we’re using these to put under your pumpkin to keep things clean)   
• Rag (for wiping up drips)
• Pencil or a Sharpie Pen
• And of course a GLUE GUN!

This is going to be such a fun project and something you'll be proud to display for all your friends and families thought out the entire season.

I can’t wait to see teach this project and see what you all come up with. And remember to send us pictures of you finished products each week so we can post you beautiful creations!
God bless all you beautiful ladies!

Jo








  

Week 4 - Jewelry Boards!!!

As I mentioned last week, we were on a very tight budget for Christmas last year so Pinterest became my "go to" for Christmas gift ideas. One project I fell in love with was Jewelry Boards! They don't take very long to make, they use very few supplies AND they are honestly the best solution to organizing your jewelry. Every girl should have one of these...and if they don't have one, you should make them one!!!

Below are some different examples of Jewelry Boards so you can get some ideas...

These are two Jewelry Boards that I made and use daily!
I love them and they hold all my  earrings and necklaces perfectly!

This "R" on this one was done using the freezer paper stencil technique! Click here for tutorial.

This one is done using a strip of wire mesh and actual wire. 

This one was done on a wood board rather than using a frame. 

This one was created using an old radiator grate! Love it! Click here for tutorial.

Jewelry Boards

This project is fun because a lot of the supplies are things you can pick up at garage sales, second hand stores, or you may even have some of these supplies collecting dust in your very own garage. Just like our other projects, these boards are very easy to customize and allow you the freedom to get as creative as you want! They also make AMAZING birthday and Christmas gifts so keep that in mind for the holidays as well!

Gathering Supplies

Hopefully you'll be able to use some of your previous supplies as well as your savvy saving skills for gathering your supplies this week. I encourage you to try and get the majority of your supplies from your own home, Goodwill, Value Village, or any other second hand store in your area (and if all else fails, stop by the parents house and ask to rummage through their house....guarantee they'll have an old frame or two laying around that you can snag). There are a few supplies you will probably need to purchase elsewhere, but now that you are getting to know each other better, you can always shop together and split the cost of the supplies!

Supply List

1.       Old Picture Frame: If you have any old frames lying around or pictures with a frame that is just collecting dust…then use that one. Otherwise you can check out your local second hand store and see what they have…it’s always hit or miss. Don’t worry if the frame is an ugly color or even if it has scuffs or scrapes…we’ll be painting them and little dings are perfect because they add character! The only thing you will want to make sure of is that the frame is made of wood and it is no less than two inches wide.

• QUICK TIP: A trick to finding cheap new frames is by going to a store that does custom framing (JoAnn’s,  Michaels, Aaron Brothers,…) and asking if they have any damaged frames for sale or frames that were returned because they were cut to the wrong size.

2.       Fabric or Wire Mesh: The fabric you use is what you will be hanging your Jewelry from, so you want to be sturdy enough that it can hold all of your jewelry. Also, make sure you have enough material to cover the entire frame as well as the opening in the middle. You want the material to be at least in inch larger than the frame on all sides.

• Suggestions for Fabric and Mesh selections: You can use Burlap (such as an old coffee sack), Denim (tear up some of your old jeans), Thick Lace (maybe from an old table cloth or curtain from good will) or any type of Wire Mesh

• FREE BURLAP TIP: Local Coffee Roasters often have their beans delivered in Burlap Sacks which they end up throwing away after they dump the beans out to be roasted. This burlap is GREAT for all the projects we’ve been doing and since its garbage to them; they’re usually willing to give it away for FREE!!! So if you know of any local coffee shops that roast their own coffee go in and ask them for their left over burlap sacks!

• CHEAP WIRE MESH TIP: A great and cheap Wire Mesh option is Yardgard Hardware Cloth. You can get it at Home Depot (2 ft. x 5 ft. x 1/4 in. 23-Gauge Galvanized Hardware Cloth) for $9.77 a role. It’s 5 ft, so you could probably split it with someone else and then it would only be $4.50 each!)

3.       Paint: We will be painting the frames (unless you like the way it looks already, then you can skip this step). For those who want to take the creativity up a notch, we will also be using the Freezer Paper method I showed last week to create our own stencils which you will paint right onto your fabric.  You can use any paint for both the frame and the fabric…acrylic paint, regular house paint, spray paint, as long as it is not oil based you’re good to go!

• CHEAP PAINT TIP: A great place to pick up cheap and durable paint is at the hardware or even at Fred Meyer or Walmart. They usually have paint samples in the house paint section that come in 4oz – 8oz containers and are premixed. They generally have  a good selection of colors and since they are intended for painting walls, they’re pretty durable and water resistant!

4.       Sponge - A clean kitchen sponge or a dollar store sponge will work. This is how we will apply the paint to the stencil

5.       Ribbon, Chord or Chain – This is how you will hang your board. I’ll have a staple gun so we can attach it at the end of class!

6.       Knobs or Hooks (Optional) – For those who want more hanging options for necklaces, adding hooks or knobs to the bottom of the frame is a great option! You can often find bags of old kitchen nobs and at Goodwill or Value Village along their back walls. You can also buy a bag of hooks any store that has a hardware section. JoAnn’s has some really cute decorative door knobs as well so if you have your coupons you can go there and probably pick a few up for not too much. Be creative too! Look around your house and see if there are things that you can use as hooks or knobs…or ask your friends or neighbors if they have any. 

7.       Freezer Paper or Stencil (Optional) – If you have a stencil that you want to use to paint on your fabric, bring it.  If you want to venture out and try to create your own Freezer Paper Stencil here is a few tutorials on different ways to create your stencil. The easiest way that I have found is to either print your image directly onto the mat side of your Freezer Paper OR print our your design on regular paper and trace it onto the Freezer Paper.

• Freehand Freezer Paper Stencil Tutorial: http://www.julieannart.com/2011/08/freezer-paper-stencil-tutorial.html

• Print Design and Trace Freezer Paper Stencil Tutorial: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2012/04/freezer-paper-tutorial-better-late-than.html

Supplies needed for Freezer Paper Stencil Project

8.      Tools and Additional Supplies Needed for all the projects!

• Scissors
• Paper Towels 
• Paint Brush (You’ll only need this if you are painting your frame)
• Empty Garbage bag (we’re using these to put under your frame to keep things clean)
• Washcloth or Rag (for wiping up paint drips, Staple Gun (If you have one great, if not, I’ll have one there so no worries)
• Exacto Knife & Cutting Board (if you are doing the Freezer Paper Stencil)

 I can't wait to do this project with you ladies! Start shopping and keep and eye out for sales or call each other and shop or rummage together and get the best bang for your buck!

See you Monday! Love you tons!

Jo

Week 3 - Canvas Art!!!

Last Christmas we were really tight on money so I decided to make gifts for everyone instead of buying them. We've all received "handmade" gifts....sometimes they're really cool or useful but often they end up living in the corner of our closet under the heap of junk we've been meaning to take to Goodwill. I didn't want to give "that" kind of homemade gift which in the end is more of a burden than a blessing to the recipient. I decided to turn to Pinterest (or more accurately...I decided to feed my Pinterest addiction) and found an inexpensive, quick, tasteful and easy to customize gift option.......CANVAS ART!

If you go to Pinterest and type "canvas art" in the search bar, you will see countless different techniques for turning a plane white canvas into a beautiful work of art! The best part is, you don't have to be Michael Angelo, Rembrandt, Monte, or Thomas Kinkade to create a piece that is worthy of showcasing above the fireplace or on a main focal wall. 

Below are some of my favorite canvas projects. At the bottom I'll show you the three canvases we will be working on this Monday and the list of supplies you need for each. If you want to brave all three you are more than welcome to, but if you prefer to just focus on one, you can do that as well! 

I can't wait until Monday! We're going to have a great time working on these together! Okay, now scroll down and check out these amazing canvases and let the creativity flow!

God bless you ladies!

Jo

My FAV Canvas Projects!!!

Some of these projects were done on wood, but we can do the same design for less work, less money, and still end up with a piece just as awesome as the pic's below.

(Original Art from unknown source)
This one is done on wood but the same design can be created on canvas using freezer paper,  paint, and an iron!

(Orignal Art Winthrop Chronicles)

(Original Art B is For Brown)

Okay, so once again these aren't technically on canvas, they are on poster board, but it's such a cute design I couldn't resist and it is totally something that could be done on canvas therefore I deem them applicable for this project!

(Orignal Art from Unknown Source)

(Original Art from Photo Barn)

(Original Art from Blue Cricket Design)

(Original Art from The Johnston's)

So for those who have left over burlap from the wreath project, this is a great use for any scraps you may have laying around.

(Original Art from Brassy Apple)

(Original Art from A Beautiful Mess)

(Original Art from unknown source)

 (Original Art from Two Peas in a Bucket)

 (Original Art from Not On the High Street)

Week 2- Headbands and Hair Accesories!

Hello, pretty ladies!

This week's project is all about hair accessories. These are great for adding some punch to everyday hair looks, and keep you from getting in the "ponytail" rut that so many of us get stuck in!

This headband is adorable, and is completely customizable. You can use any stencils you want, or you can simply create your own design as well. The hair clips I made are just as easy, and are pretty much a "anything goes" kind of project!

These accessories make great gifts for friends, younger girls, or are great in your own hair as well!

Here is the inspiration for the the headband:

Original Headband Tutorial

And here is my take on it:

 Supplies Used:

 Cardstock Scrapbooking Paper (I used the glitter paper!)

Glue Gun

Ribbon 

Stencils

Felt

Pen or Pencil

 Step One:

Using your stencil, trace the amount of stars (or whatever shape you want) on the backside of your scrapbooking paper. If you have some original ideas, draw right onto the paper if you'd rather not use a stencil! The more creative the better!

Step Two:

Cut out the shapes. Be careful not to bend the paper while doing so.

Step Three:

Using your hot glue gun, glue the shapes onto your felt. Tip: Make sure you cover the entire surface of the paper before attaching it to the felt. Otherwise you'll have to go back afterwards to add more glue. After it dries, use the paper as a guide to cut out the now attached paper/felt shapes. This can be tricky depending on your scissors, so go slow and take your time!

Step Four:

Measure the amount of ribbon you'll need for the headband. It's always better to be more generous with the length, as you can always shorten it later on if needed. Then lay the ribbon out flat, and hot glue your felt pieces to the headband.

That's it! You now have a fabulous and totally original headband! I kept this headband pretty simple, but you could add a few embellishments (think buttons, beads, sequins, etc) if you want some extra pizazz!

Here are a few of the other accessories I made:

For the star I used the same cardstock/felt tutorial, but I added a big gem in the middle and then glued it to a hair clip! For the feather I cut out an oval shaped piece of felt, and simply glue the feathers right onto it. Then I glued a few pearl beads to the top. Just as a side note, feathers are not the easiest things to deal with when it comes to glue. So be careful, I may have messed up a few feathers in the process ;). 

I cannot wait to see what you guys come up with! Hope you enjoy this project!

xoxoKelsey.

Week 1- DIY Wreaths

      Last month, I happened across a pin that led me to a website with 80 different wreaths!  I have to admit, I could not resist scrolling through to the very last one! My eyes danced across the screen landing first on a simple elegant all cream number, and then a buttery yellow yarn delight. 

     The combinations of color and fabric are endless and allow each crafter to create a masterpiece that speaks to their style. Yarn, burlap, torn fabric, branches or pinecones… you name it and we can make a wreath with it. Thank goodness it is appropriate to have a wreath up on your door or mantel during every season and every holiday. So let’s get to it!

 Here are some wreaths featured on My blessed life (http://myblessedlife.net/), a blog that I adore and get a lot of my inspiration from. 

One 

Two

The recipe for a beautiful wreath is pretty simple. Gather all of your scrap materials, leftovers from other projects and make pretties with them. On this wreath that I made, I used a wreath form (Styrofoam or straw will do), yarn, and a variety of scrap material and ribbon to make flowers. 

You will want to start by wrapping the yarn as closely and evenly as possible around the form, using a hot glue gun to glue into place. 

  I then took two kinds of ribbon and two different fabrics and made flowers.

 I followed the tutorials from these incredible ladies here:

 Mazie Hutton

 Fabric Flower Tutorial

                                                               

My Sparkle

 

 Rolled Flower Tutorial

Here are my first attempts at flowers:

And my attempts at wrapping the wreath form: 

 The finished products:

The options are endless and the seasons are abundant with reasons to make pretty wreaths. Good luck with your next creation & God bless you all!!

-Hannah