Glitter Bottle Brush Tree

This time of year everything is better with glitter on it! I just can seem to stop glittering.

These are bottle brush trees that I glittered today when I should have been doing many other things that were not as fun as this project.

Supply List:

Spray Adhesive, silver glass glitter, mica snowflakes, craft tac glue, vintage white paint, bells, cork tops and bottle brush trees.

First I lightly sprayed the tree with adhesive and sprinkled on the silver glitter. Then I took my bell and glued the top of it and stuck in the tree.  I used a hemostat to hold the bells to put in the tree. It seems whenever I do a project that is small in size my fingers seem to triple in size so the hemostat makes it so a lot easier.

I painted the cork bottoms with a vintage white paint. Once the paint was dry I applied the glue to the cork and rolled it around in the mica snowflakes.  Last I took off the bottom of the tree, put a hole in the top of the cork and stuck in the tree.

Gift Tags

 About a month ago I was shopping at Michaels and bought the Martha Stewart glue pad for stamping. I have been dying to give it a whirl, so today I tried it out on some gift tags.  I was actually quite happy with it, but admit I was a little nervous on the first stamp because you can't really see if you got all the adhesive off the stamp. I am excited to try it out on some of my other Christmas stamps.

The ornament gift tags were stamped with ink.  Then I put a big drop of glue on one of the ornaments. I wanted the glitter to pop out and give it a dimensional look.

I applied my glitter and then gently shook off the extra.  You don't want to shake to hard otherwise the glue drop will move and become oblong.  The snowflake gift tag was where I stamped with my glue pad and then applied glitter and shook off extra. When they were all dry I added the bakers twine.

Blues and Silver

Silver and gold

DIY Glitter Snowflake Ornaments

These glitter snowflakes make a great tree ornament or you could add some fish line and hang them from a light for a snowy effect.  Either way they are beautiful!

 You'll need a snowflake punch, card stock, glass glitter, glue and a paint brush.  I bought some card stock paper that coordinates with the glass glitter. 

  

I punched out my snowflakes. I glued two of the snowflakes together to make it a bit firmer.  Punched a hole at the top for my hook.  Then I brushed on the glue and sprinkled with glass glitter.  I found it to be easier to glue and glitter sections of the snowflake at a time verses the whole thing.  I let the front dry and then did the back. Now they are ready for my tree, when I actually get a chance to put it up!

Pocket Hand Warmers - New in Shop

These pocket hand warmers are the latest addition to my Esty shop.

They are made with a super soft 100% cotton flannel fabric and filled with uncooked rice and dried lavender.  Available in 5 yummy fabrics and your choice of Hearts or Rectangles.  Just microwave for 25-30 secs and put them in your pockets.  They will stay warm for around 20 minutes.  Perfect for those of use who are always cold this time of year! 

You can also use them as cold packs by putting them in the freezer.

They also make great stocking stuffers!

Mushroom Ornament

There are a lot of tree ornaments that are symbolic.  For instance the pickle, which is a sign of good luck.  It would be the last ornament placed on the tree but hidden.  On Christmas morning the first child to find it would be rewarded an extra gift from St. Nick.  It was started so children would appreciate all the ornaments on the tree and not just what was under it.

Then we have the mushroom, it was displayed on Christmas trees in Germany in honor of the peoples reverence for nature and in hope of good luck in the New Year.  This year since I already have a pickle, I thought I would add some mushrooms. I could use a little more good luck.

Here is the quick and dirty on how I made them.  I removed the floral wire from the bottom of the spun cotton mushroom, added  a eye screw on the top (because of the lacquer top I used my x-acto knife to poke a small hole to help the screw get started)  and inserted a skewer on the bottom so it would be easier to handle.  With a paint brush I brushed glue on the mushroom top and sprinkled with german glass glitter.  Instead of a traditional hook I chose to use bakers twine.  I am going to make a few extra to add them to my gift tags for Christmas.

Wool Strawberry Sachet

This little strawberries are great for drawers or slip them over a hanger in your closet.  I love the smell of lavender it is a nice clean , calming scent.  When I was making these the whole room was lit up with the scent of lavender.

For the strawberry base I  made a circle and cut it in half and cut about 1/5 of it off.  I then stitched some seed beads on the top.

Sew the straight edges together and turn.

Sew a running stitch along the top, I like to use silk thread it just blends into the fabric nicely.

Add Lavender.

Cinch up the top and secure.

Glue or sew on the strawberry tops.

I added a small string and a little flower to the top. 

Butchers Apron

With baking season just around the corner I thought I would share one of my favorite aprons to make.  I like it because it is very fast and easy to make and it has lots of coverage especially for us messing bakers!  The pattern for this apron is in French General's Home Sewn book.  I absolutely love this book it has so many nice patterns for the home.  I like buying books like this because they have more bang for your buck. And lots of inspiration!

Here is a peek at the page with the aprons I made. 

This one is similar to the one in the book. 

It also has a nice big pocket in the front.

This apron I shorted up and left off the pocket. 

Halloween Pop-up Cards

This Halloween I thought I would make cards for Jackson and Tanner, since most of the store bought cards are way over priced and boring.  And I get to use up some of my Halloween stash. 

Below are directions for a basic pop-up card.  

1.  With a piece of card stock score a line in the center to fold in half. Then score a line 1" above   and one below the center to about 3/4" from the edge of the paper.
2. Use an x-acto knife  and cut from the top corner of the scored line to the bottom corner of the scored line.  Repeat on other side.
3. Fold the scored lines as shown to make your first pop-up.
4. For the second pop-up score another line 1" below the other scored line. Draw lines from the center scored line to the score line you just made.  
5. Cut on the lines with your x-acto knife.
6. Fold the scored lines for second pop out.
7. You can flip it if you want the 2nd pop-up on the bottom.
8. For this one I am going to have the pop-up on top.  I cut out 2 small pieces on the center scored line.  These are what I will be attaching my stars too.
9. Take another piece of card stock a little bigger than your other piece and score in the middle
10. Fold in half and make sure your pop-ups are folded correctly and the card will lay flat.
11. Glue the back sides of your pop-up piece, match up the centers of each piece and press into place.
12. The finished card.

The ghost card has the 2nd pop-up on the bottom

The witch card has the 2nd pop-up on the top. 

 I used glow in the dark moon and star stickers .

I kept the front of the cards simple looking since there was enough going on inside of the cards. 

Peewees Halloween House

Jackson's (aka Peewee) Halloween House

This post I am sharing my grandsons creation.  My daughter picked up this cookie kit at Target for him.  I thought they only made gingerbread house kits, the Halloween is a new one to me. Anyways, he had a blast making it and I thought it turned out really cute.

He even wrote the words "Boo" on the side.  

Proud little man!  Great job Jackson!

Off they go....

Today I am excited to be finally sending out a box of phone cases and potato baker bags to Round About Way in Reidsville, NC.  I have never heard of the Potato Baker Bag until last month.Where I have been???....I am not really into microwaving my food but I made one for myself and actually they make really good baked potatoes.  I hear they are good for corn and other veggies too.  Although I prefer my corn on the cob on the grill, I just might have to try it!

Skeleton Poison Bottle

Ok...I am having too much fun crafting Halloween decorations!

I had this empty Trader Joes Moscato bottle sitting around for a few months now, knowing it would be useful for something.  

I watered down my craft tac glue and poured it the bottle and the I added green and black glitter.

I cut a hole in the bottom of one of the skeleton heads with a exacto knife.

I glued my cork into the hole and added a bat headband. It seems most skeletons are non gender so I changed it up a little and made it a girl skeleton.

I found this poison label at The Graphics Fairy.  After I printed it I use some fine sand paper and roughed it up a little for a worn look and then I glued it to my bottle and coated with Mod Podge. I glued some felt bats onto the bottle.  I was thinking it would be fun to do with a full bottle of wine too instead of putting glitter inside.  One for looks and one for use!

Pumpkin Candle Holders

With all the pinning I do for crafts, I finally did one!  Every Wednesday my mom goes over to my sisters house and I will go if I am not busy.  Last Wednesday we decided to do a craft and we choose this one.  It was really quite easy and quick to do, a perfect group craft!

They had already purchased everything on one of the Wednesdays together, so we were all ready to go.  They picked up the glasses at the Dollar Tree and the garland at Michaels.  First we painted the base orange and the stem green.  Then we added the brown lines and highlighted with some yellow in between the lines.  And sealed it up with Mod Podge.

Voila!  A Pumpkin Candle

This is the one my sister made.

My Mothers.

The 3 amigos! 

We had such a fun day I am looking forward to our next craft day!