scrapbook paper clothespins

I was originally going to make covered clothespins with ribbon, but decided that scrapbook paper would be that much more fun!

Step One: Get papers that you like and clothespins (found clothespins at Walmart)....
Step Two: Cut paper into strips 3/8" wide...Step Three: Mod Podge the clothespin with a sponge brush and put on a paper; let mod podge dry...Step Four: With an emory board or sandpaper, rough up the edges and distress with an ink pad....

Step 5: Mod Podge over the top again, letting it dry 15-20 minutes between layers...you can put up to 5 layers on...You're done! What a fun, inexpensive craft! Enjoy!

Jar of Joy

I originally saw a post similar to this for a Valentine gift for a teacher, but thought that this would be the perfect "ray of sunshine" for Mrs. Atkinson's birthday!

I had each of the kids in the class write a memory or something that makes their teacher special...each submitted 3 papers for the jar....
I added the instructions on the back....it was a perfect class gift!

monogram tags

So I saw these on a website and also in the Pottery Barn store...how cute are these?! This is a dilemma I have been having this year...we have stockings that I have yet to monogram. I just can't justify the $15 each to put a name or a simple initial....

So, I decided to make my own....today..Christmas Eve....never go to Pottery Barn 2 days before Christmas! They were inexpensive in the store, but I made these for free with stuff I had at home....

Step 1: Cut out a 1 1/2" monogram letter of your choice...I used the simple Plantain Schoolbook on Shadow on the Cricut
Step 2: Cut out 2 circles from cardstock - 2 3/4" and 3 1/4"...I might have done smaller circles and shadowed them, but I wanted a wide lip for the glitter.....don't forget to hole punch or gromit a hole before you glue on the glitter:-)!
Step 3: Taking glue (I just used Elmers)....brush glue around the edge of the circles...front and back, if you want. Step 4: Glitter the edges. I used a fine glitter that I had, but I would love to make these with vintage glass glitter...I liked the greet, since it matched our stockings....Step 5: I wanted to make these more vintage-y, so I sprayed the whole tag with spray mount and used snow glitter over the whole front....let dry and tie them with some ric-rac.....I love them!

waterless snowglobe

I am big time into jars and into creating a scene in jars or buying jars to display and hold things. Remember those houses that the girls made over Thanksgiving break? I saw those houses on the BHG website and thought that they would make a beautiful little winter wonderland....

You're going to need some basic supplies....a gallon glass jar, a thin piece of chipboard (like the kind you might find on the back of a paper slab), a craft knife, a corner-rounder punch or a lacing tool, a ruler, a bone folder, hot glue, glue dots, fake snow, fishing wire, patterned paper, and various decorative elements and embellishments that might suit your fancy...

Just create your own winter scene...I glittered the roofs and used a lace edger to give a Swiss "chalet" look...Once the glue had dried on the house and the trees in the jar, we filled it with some fake snow and iridescent flakes....You cant give out the jars without decorating the lid, too....I took fishing line and glued little stars from varying lengths and used glue dots on the lid to hold them in place. That way I could reposition them if I needed to....I love the results! Hope our teachers do too!

Thanksgiving in a Jar

Thanksgiving was coming up and I was trying to think of something new and fun for our family to do. I thought about buying a tablecloth and having everyone who was coming sign it and use it year after year. My great grandmother did that for Christmas and it is the neatest thing to see who came to their house year after year after year. The only thing is that right now in our lives we're the only ones at Thanksgiving when we make our own dinner. Byron's family does their own Thanksgiving that we go to every other year....

So, I thought about all the things I was thankful for and all the things the kids might want to write down that they are thankful for too....well, here is the result....Step One: Find a super cute apothecary jar....I found mine at Walmart for $4 a piece....
Step Two: Find super cute scrapbook paper and cut into 1 1/2x7 inch strips...I guess the length would depend on how tall your jar was....Step Three: Put a sheet around the inside that says something like "Family" or "Thanksgiving Memories." I found some cute Thanksgiving rub-ons for my paper...
Step 4: Find some cute fall ribbon...Walmart actually surprised me and had this cute vintage looking satin...
Step Five: You need some directions...attach the following poem to your jar..."I made this jar that we can write. After passing it around the table tonight. Each one of you give thanks if you are able. Then make a chain and hang it above the table." Of course you could hang your chain anywhere...on the mantle, on the chandelier, anywhere....

Halloween teacher goodies

So, both of our elementary teachers said that she wanted to have some of my Halloween decorations....okay, I thought...so, I'll start with one of my favorite ones!

I didn't take pictures of the banner as I was making it, but it basically came down to super cute scrapbook paper from here...I used just the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge on my cricut on shadow and cut out the "Boo"...Then I cut my triangles out in different sizes and pinking shear cut the bottom black layer....I took 3 silver pipe cleaners and twisted them together and added some decoration to cover the twisting bits....I think they turned out pretty cute! Hope the teachers enjoy!

feelin' like Halloween....

It's my favorite...it's true....I could have my Halloween decorations up all year long....I laugh thinking that I should have been born in another era - with bats, ravens, candles...maybe Victorian England...I love this stuff.....

So, as the weather has definitely turned "Fall like" here in So Cal, I decided it was high time I put up my decor.... below is just a sampling of the fun... enjoy!

My mantle with ravens, eyeballs in a jar, a skull under a cloche, and dead twig garland....
What halloween decor is not complete without bones, a tree, and some ghoulish items in jars?
The ever glowing skull....
The kids' favorite decoration...a haunted house that makes sounds and lights up.....
Jars full of pumpkins and ravens.....ohhhh....

Happy Halloween!