DIY Rustic Santa and Snowmen Ornaments

It's DIY day at ASPTL! Linking up...check it out!



I made these a couple years back and they are one of my favorites on our tree...which is generally a hodge podge of ornaments we've collected over the years, ornaments we've made, and ornaments from the kiddos. I used to love the idea of a classy "themed" tree, but you know...Christmas is so much about family for me...I love our tree just how it is.






Rustic Snowmen and Santa Ornaments

You need:

Sticks (or Dowels) cut into approx. 3 inch pieces
Acrylic Paint
A drill with a fine drill bit
Ornament Hangers
Paint Marker

So...I used sticks I collected from the yard, but you could just as easily use dowels. If you use sticks, use a knife or razor blade to scrape the bark off. (Also, rather than doing a clean cut, because I used sticks, I snapped them off for a rougher edge and a more "rustic" look.)

Next, drill a hole in the in one end of each stick...this will be wear you put the ornament hanger through later.

Next, get your acrylic paint...I used white on the bottoms and black on the top for the snowmen, and red with a peach "face" and white beard for the Santa. When these dried, I used the paint markers to add the details. You could easily do this with a small paint brush if you are so inclined.

Once everything is dry, add the hangers. I used the the larger end of the hooks...the end you'd normally use to go over the branch, and slide it through the hole you drilled, twist it around and finish it. Then open up the smaller hook end to use for hanging on your tree.

TADA! A little bit rustic...a little bit country...and lots of charm and fun! :)

Christmas Wreaths - DIY

I am finally posting the two wreath projects I promised. I have one more in the works...hopefully I can work on it over this long weekend!

This first one I saw on several blogs, but the instructions for most originated from Eddie Ross. I must say...it was harder than I thought. I super glued all the tops on these christmas ball ornaments (all from Dollar Tree). I managed to completely cover myself in glitter...couch too...I looked like Tinkerbell threw up pixie dust all over me. It was lovely.

I bent the hanger into a what LOOKED like a circle (until I had it filled with bulbs and then realized otherwise...meh!), strung the bulbs on, bunched them together and then screamed and (almost) cried and fought with this thing to get it closed at the top.

I finally just did some "creative wrapping" (ha)with some wire edge ribbon. Don't hate me. I was about it throw the wreath...LOL! It will stay this way for this year, but after I take it down, the bow is coming off and I'm gonna let the man close it up with some sort of tool and snip the "hook" part of the hanger off for me. (And for what it's worth, that cluster of silver ornaments on the one side drives me CRAZY but I'm NOT fixing it...it doesn't have to be perfect...or so I keep trying to convince myself!)

Inspiration for my other Christmas wreath came from AnNicole at Our Suburban Cottage. She fell in love with a pretty Pottery Barn wreath, but not so much in love with their price tag. She did a FANTASTIC knock-off, which inspired me to revamp an old wreath I had. I wish I would've taken a before picture of this...it was T-A-C-K-Y!! Seriously.

I put this wreath together in about five minutes, five years ago. I pulled EVERYTHING out of it, used some wire ornament hangers to wire some gold balls nestled into the branches, added in some sparkly berries for "filler" and DONE. SOOOO much better...you have NO idea! (I only wish we would've made the time to paint our front door black over the summer, but...there's always next year!)

I am linking this post up at Kimba's DIY day...there is a TON of crafty goodness going on over there, so make sure you stop on by!!

Coming later today...tried and true Thanksgiving recipes and tips!!

Family Rules Canvas

It's DIY DAY at A Soft Place to Land!! I'm all linked up! Stop at Kimba's to check out all the other DIY fabulousness! It is also TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY at "The Shabby Chic Cottage" As my readers know, I've been participating in the 10 Tasks in 10 Days challenge there, so I will be posting a full update on that later, but ONE of my tasks was this. My Family Rules Canvas. So I'm also linking up for Transformation Thursday!

While browsing some of my fave blogs awhile back, I came across the most FANTASTIC idea at "The Pleated Poppy". She created a great big canvas displaying their family rules. I knew immediately that I had to do it!

I had a big 16x20 frame to fill, so instead of buying a gallery wrapped canvas like I think she used, I used canvas covered boards ($8 something for a three pack at Walmart).

Here's the skinny on how I did it...
1. I painted the entire canvas with a pretty turquoise-y blue acrylic paint. I let it dry...then I painted it again. I was planning to leave spaces between my rules, so I painted the entire thing.

2. I don't have fancy scissors, so I used a paper cutter and cut different width strips of paper that suited my fancy.

3. Then using a white or black fine point paint marker (depending on the color of the paper), I wrote OUR family rules. Earlier that day, I had found some fonts I liked, downloaded them, and made myself a "cheat sheet" of sorts. I typed out all the rules in different fonts. Then I used that to look at while I hand-wrote the rules...made it much easier to "free-hand" having the inspiration right in front of me.

4. Then, I decided how I wanted them arranged, and went to town with some Mod Podge. I used Mod Podge (matte finish) as both my glue and a sealant. When my kids are a little older and it's time to change up the rules, I think I will try using spray adhesive to glue the rules down and then just use the Mod Podge as a sealant. I've used Mod Podge a lot in my life, and I was using thin layers, but the paper had a severe tendancy to ripple...badly. I pulled a few off and redid them actually. Oh...and as I mentioned, I intended to leave spaces in between. I kind of just winged-it...there are some spaces, but I they're not al the same. I'm happy with the imperfect-ness of it...that's very much US.

5. After my sealant was all dried, I popped this baby in a frame and on the wall she went.

LOVE it!


A closer view of the rules...


Our rules (some of them borrowed, some not) are:
1. Always Tell the Truth
2. Ask First and Use Your Manners (Yes Please and No, Thank You)
3. Keep Your Promises.
4. No fussing, No whining, No complaining
5. Hands to yourself unless you're high-fiving or hugging.
6. Be Creative at all times.
7. Allow People their Privacy and show respect!
8. Use Nice Words
9. Tummy to the Table and Hands to yourself. Chew with your mouth closed and Swallow before you Speak.
10. Don't forget to say "I Love You"
11. Inside: No running and use inside voices.
12. Be a Good Brother

And, just for fun...our poochers, lookin' good. Love these fluffy guys. :)


Don't forget to check out Kimba's and "The Shabby Chic Cottage"!

A.D.D.

Project A.D.D. that is! I am the master of starting things and then leaving them unfinished. In fact, if there were a "Land of Unfinished Masterpieces", I would be their QUEEN!

Gina at the Shabby Chic Cottage has issued a challenge...complete ten unfinished projects in ten days! Do I think I can do it?? Hmmm...probably not. I have a busy week this week...BUT, if I get even a few things on my list done, that's an accomplishment, right?

So, onto my list...my never (ever) ending list...in no particular order

1. FINALLY organize the office/dining room.
2. Paint Will's Headboard
3. Hang my chalkboard and washboards in the laundry room
4. Make fridge photo frames
5. Finish Kids artwork display Project
6. Finish Family Rules Canvas
7. Work on my door turned dining room table
8. Put up beadboard in kitchen
9. Finish painting (kitchen, trim and hallway)
10. Make gourmet caramel apples

Whew. I'm tired just THINKING about all of that! Now like I said, there is no way I'm going to get it all done. (Just being realistic here.) BUT, having the list out there for everyone to see will keep me accountable and I know I can get SOME of it done! I will post a daily update and a recap on October 15th!

Check out the Shabby Chic Cottage blog if you want in on the challenge! Ready...Set...GO!

Canvas Makeover!

I'm linking this up to DIY day at ASPTL! Head over there to check out all the DIY fantastic-ness!


One of my favorite quotes in the world is "All You Need Is Love" (I even have it tattooed on my foot!!), so when I saw these signs...


... I knew I had to have it. BUT, it's expensive. REALLY expensive. And really expensive and I just don't get along, you know?

SO my next thought was, well...I could maybe make that...maybe...I think?? I had planned to do it on one big board (rather than split into two as they did) BUT, then I saw THIS at a yard sale and thought "Oh yes...I've got this."



WHAT?!?!? You think I'm joking?? I paid $4 for that baby at a HUGE yard sale (and was so embarrassed to be carrying it around I brought it immediately to my car and returned to browse more, because God forbid people actually think I WANTED that!!!!!! LMAO!)

So anyway...first things first, I taped off the frame and sprayed it with white spray primer. (Just the cheapie stuff.) To be honest, I didn't even do that good of a job.



This thing was HEAVILY textured. You could still make out the skull thing just in texture, and I considered sanding it down, but decided that it wouldn't be nearly as noticeable when I painted it black, and I was quite right. (Thankfully!!!)

To do the lettering I printed out the letters I needed, cut them out (YUCK...I am a TERRIBLE cutter! Seriously! I think my kids could've done better! LOL!) and traced them onto the canvas with a pencil.



Then, I took my trusty 25 cent sponge brush and a bottle of black acrylic, and I went to town.


I was as careful as I could be around the letters, but I touched up some of my mistakes with a white paint pen later and then I painted the frame black.

Are you ready for the finished product? Let me tell you...it's not even sort of perfect, but I'm ok with that. (Actually though, now that I am looking at the inspiration and my version side by side, I think I am going to do some sort of brown color wash over the letters to antique them a little more, but..................anyway...this is what I've got for now.) :)



I can't decide if I love it leaning against the wall like that, or if I want the man to hang it above our dresser. Either way, I LOVE it...and love is all you need. ;)

I'm linking this at the Trash to Treasure party over at Along the way with K + J...head over there to check out more yard sale finds and makeovers, and also at the Knockout Knockoff party at It's so very Cheri!

Windowsill Makeover

The process of redoing our house is slow-going, and I was feeling discouraged this weekend about all of it. I know it will get done and be SO worth it, but I want it done...like, NOW! LOL...guess I need 8 more arms and about 15 more hours in a day, hey?

So anyway, I was at DOLLAR TREE of all places, and found some inspiration, here:


Now, my man doesn't agree (hehe!) but I ADORE this fabric! It's actually place mats that I turned into a valance (no-sew!) and I went from there!

A couples dollars and a couple hours later, and I had redone the windowsill behind my kitchen sink. As is my style, I totally forgot to take before pictures. But what we had were f-ugly lace curtains, that little metal tin, and a random smattering of...stuff. Which, I guess this is still "random stuff" but now it's deliberate, you know?

Ahhh...makes my heart happy. :)


Some up close details...a pot holder Luc made me in school last year.


My blue Ball mason jars that I scored at a rummage sale this weekend...I'm going back next weekend to see if the rest of them she had are still there and if so, if she'll mark them down! :) Also, a photo tile I created years ago of my two youngest boys. It's the only one I ever got to work using the technique I used...displaying it now has inspired me to try again. Will post results if it works! :)


A sweet note from my oldest, Will, some colored glass, and a change jar.


That tile will eventually be covered in beadboard and that shelf, replaced...but until then it's nice to have things I love to gaze at while I do dishes. :)


I'll post a how-to on the valance later. It's super simple and I love the results!

Trifle Dish Decorating + Taco Dip Recipe

I have THIS trifle dish...


It's a huge pain to store...it's tall and oddly shaped...I just don't have room for it in any of my cupboards. So what does one do with a trifle dish not filled with...uhh... "trifle"?? (What the flip is TRIFLE, anyway? LOL!) Well I am going to show you...but not yet! Photos later! Promise!

In the meantime, my favorite recipe to prepare in the Trifle Dish is my layered taco dip! So absolutely delicious you'll think you've died and gone to Mexico. YUMMY stuff!

Super easy to make too (love that!)

Layered Taco Dip

In a trifle dish or another DEEP dish, layer the following from bottom to top:

1. I can refried beans mixed with one packet of taco seasoning.
2. 1 16 oz. container of sour cream mixed with 1 8 oz. package of cream cheese.
3. 1 16 oz. jar of salsa
4. 2 cups guacamole and 1 bunch of green onions, chopped
5. 1 small head of lettuce shredded
6. 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
7. 1 small can sliced black olives

Things I’ve learned since making this for the first time…drain the salsa REALLY WELL or the liquid will make the whole thing runny. (I strongly reccomend Pace Salsa...NOT Picante...it's thick and chunky with very little extra liquid.) And I used a bag of shredded iceberg lettuce just to make my life a little bit easier!

Tastes delish AND looks fantastic! Can't beat it! ENJOY with your favorite corn chips! (We tend to rock the Tostito's Scoops at our house!)

Alright...trifle dish decor tonight!