So often I see things in boutiques that I really, REALLY like, and I think, "I can totally make that." Then I think, "But will I make it?" and then I see the price and I know I will totally make it. This was one of those times. I recently saw some super cute frames with crosses in them. Of course this was during Neath the Wreath and I'm totally not shopping for myself, so I put it into my mental "I Can Do That" folder, and move on. So I've been collecting frames, and crosses and ribbon and... well if you could see my craft room you'd see I'm collecting a lot of stuff for future projects.

So a good friend of mine was having a birthday, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make one of these super cute frames. I started out with a nice black frame.



Then I covered the glass with some cheetah fabric I had left over from my Christmas tree skirt I made this year.



I then forgot to take pictures of the next two steps. I hate when I do that. So you'll just have to imagine it. I made a double layered bow out of some pretty brownish ribbon that I had and I hot glued it to the top of the frame. Then I hot glued two different crosses to the center of the frame. I love this layered look. And if you have a good imagination, this is what you get...



Okay, now I have to make one for myself!

I have been so super busy the past month and really just haven't been all that crafty. Subbing for a first grade class will do that to you. So when you get that sudden "craft itch"... well, you've gotta scratch it. (Does that sound inappropriate... oh well)

So earlier this week, I noticed that my house just wasn't feeling so festive. I mean Vday is just around the corner for God sakes, and I didn't have a heart in sight. February is my birthday month, and I want to be surrounded by fun and beauty I tell you. (I've been reading a lot of Junie B. Jones this month, so "I tell you" has suddenly become part of my vocabulary. Go figure I would actually pick up something.) Well in an attempt to add some love to my house, I set out to make something with what I had on hand. The thought of going to Hobby Lobby at the end of the day with two very tired little ones, dinner to make and papers to grade was just honestly too much for me to attempt. So I searched and moved, and emptied and, well just basically made a huge mess of my craft room. But in the end I found what I needed and what I thought would work. I can honestly say, I am super proud of what came from the mess of a craft room. Who knew that MDF, scrapbook paper, modge podge and furniture tacks could look so cute?



Hmmm, well now I'm thinking there must be something else in that huge stash of stuff I can use to spread even more love. So guess what I'm doing today??

I'm linked to these parties...

Little things make me happy. Yummy smelling candles, blingy jeans, Sonic ice, my kids putting their dishes in the sink. Really it's the simple things... and I do love me some easy to do crafts. So I thought I would put up a tutorial for those who want to make their own tassels so you could see they are really pretty stinkin' easy to make.

First, you need an ornament with a flat base. Really... it doesn't even have to be an ornament. It could be a small snow globe, a cute knob, just as long as it's flat on the bottom. So for this tutorial, I went to Target to find this super cute Santa that my friend Julianne used for her tassel.



and you need one of these little wood things... they are called candle cups, although really I've never seen these used for candles.



You glue the candle cup to the bottom of your ornament.



Next you find fun ribbon that coordinates with your ornament. If you're like me, you have lots and lots and lots of ribbon (don't tell my husband). So find yourself some cute ribbon and start making loops. I can't really give you a length since really it depends on your personal preference how puffy you want them.



Then you start hot gluing them to the candle cup in rows starting from the bottom and working your way toward the ornament.



Then you just continue to layer the ribbons until you make it to the top of the candle cup.



Once you're done with that, then you add some kind of trim or a fun boa to cover up the ends of the ribbon... and it makes it super fun too. You can also add some to the inside of the candle cup just to finish it off. You could also add cut ribbon or fringe to the bottom to lengthen it.



And voila! You're done and you have a fun, cute and unique tassel. These would make cute gifts don't you think??



Make sure you send me photos of what you create. I'd love to see them!

I'm also linked to this party...


*ciao
Deb

I love crafting with friends... it just makes it so much more fun. And oh, the conversations we have... WOW!! Laughs, crafts, and a few glue gun burns later we have some "SUPER FUN" Christmas crafts to show off.

First the tassels...






And then a super cute sign and glass block...




We are definitely feeling festive and crafty today. Still have a couple of other little crafts we are working on. I'll be posting those tomorrow. So make sure you check back!!

*Ciao
Deb

Wow, has it really been 8 months since I last blogged?? How embarrassing! No really, that is totally embarrassing. It makes me feel like a total slacker, which I haven't been, but really I feel like one. I've actually been quite productive here at home, and have been working a TON. I have to admit that I misplaced my creative "wild hair" for a bit, but lately it has somehow found it's way back. There are several little and big projects I've worked on over the last few months and I'll be showing them here and there.

First up... my dining room chairs. I really love my dining room, and I guess at some point in the past I really loved the chairs as well, but that time is long, long gone. I have a tendency to get bored with things quickly... and my hubby knows when it's happening. I apparently get this look in my eyes. Well, actually it's more like my eyes start looking at things in a way that says, "hmmm, how hard will it be to change things around?" This means trouble for my hubby cause he knows he will somehow be involved. Well, I left him out of this one.

So here was my dining room chair.




It was fine, but I just wasn't loving the fabric on the seat anymore. A little dated, and way too light when you have kids. I wanted something that reflected us a little better.

So I found a fun fabric and recovered the chairs ( which took me way longer than it should have but at least it's done ) and tada...



Sooo much better, and I'm not so paranoid about eating in my dining room anymore.

-ciao
deb