Recycled Frame Wreath

I have been wanting to make a square wreath for a while...the only problem was I couldn't seem to find a wreath form that was square! So when I decided to finally do something with my big stack of old dusty picture frames, I realized that I didn't need to buy a square wreath form:) I could just recycle some old frames and turn them into a cute wreath! 

Recycled Picture Frame Craft #2

I started with an 8X10 frame {that's what I had on hand, but I think a bigger frame would look even better},
some red burlap, and some fun polka dot Christmas fabric.

I cut the burlap into long strips that were about 4 inches wide, and I cut the polka dot fabric into long strips that were about two inches wide. You are going to layer the polka dot fabric on top of the burlap, so you can make your pieces any width that you like, just make sure that the burlap is bigger so it can be seen under the polka dot material.

Layer the polka dot material on top of the burlap and the make ruffles.

**Use whatever technique works for you or google instructions for how to make ruffles, because I have no tips on ruffling...I had a really difficult time with them {this is the project I was working on when I burned my thumb with hot glue}! I'm even thinking of getting a ruffle foot for my sewing machine after the fun I had trying to get my ruffles to work:)**
After you get your ruffles made, line them up along the length of your frame, measure, cut, and hot glue them in place.

Use your hot glue gun to add a strip of fabric or some coordinating ribbon to the top of the wreath as a hanger, and then marvel at how lovely your old dusty picture frame is as a Christmas wreath!

My sweet friend Liz is having a fun Countdown to Christmas every Thursday in December. Hop over and check out all the fun Christmas things that she and everyone else are doing this year:)

Wordless Wednesday: Boys and Beignets

Countdown to Christmas Craft

A few months ago we redecorated our living room. That left with me with a ton of old and really dusty black frames that had previously been on the walls of our living room. I didn't throw them away because I knew at some point I would find a good use for them. This week I'm going to share three uses for old and really dusty picture frames with you!

Recycled Picture Frame Craft #1

Countdown to Christmas
{Just in case there was any confusion, the SUPER cute printable that I used for this craft was designed by Sarah at Life Sweet Life. I simply printed it out and mod podged it!}

Supplies:

glass insert from picture frame

mod podge

Christmas printable {I found mine HERE}

ribbon

black paper

Coat one side of the glass with mod podge.

Lay your printable, print side down and coat the backside of it with a layer of mod podge. I also added a few strips of black paper because my printable wasn't the exact same size as my glass. Make sure to smooth your paper while the mod podge is drying to prevent any bubbles in the paper from forming.

After the mod podge has dried, use your hot glue gun and attach some black ribbon to the back to make a hanger.

If you are giving this for a gift, cover the back with a piece of black paper just to make it look more finished...if you are keeping this craft for yourself, this step isn't really necessary:)

And now you have a SUPER cute Countdown to Christmas that was basically FREE! This would make a really cute neighbor or teacher gift with a pack of dry erase markers!

Make sure to hop over to Sarah's cute blog and tell her thanks for sharing such a fun and original Christmas printable!

**Check back on Thursday for the first of two of my crafts using the empty frames this glass came from:)

Helpful Holiday Hint

The day your hubby gets the Christmas decorations down from the attic is a TERRIBLE day to get a stomach virus!

Beds, Baths, Burns, and Boring Blogs

Last week while the boys were out of school for Thanksgiving, we decided it was time to turn their two twin beds into bunk beds:) Henry and Grant are loving it...and surprise, surprise their favorite part is the ladder! Eli is loving it too, even though once he gets up he can't get down! And just in case you weren't sure from the picture, the boys' bed rarely get made:) I do have a question for any bunk bed veterans out there...what kind of blanket or quilt do you use on the top bunk?!? I really wish there was something that fit the top without hanging down or having to be tuck under the mattress.

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This little piggy had to take a bath.

I'm pretty sure most of you moms can figure out with two guesses or less just why this little piggy had to have a bath:) Apparently the massive amount of raisins that Eli ate last night before dinner didn't sit well with him, so around midnight last night they violently make a reappearance. Needless to say little piggy got caught in the crossfire, and into the washing machine he went along with Eli's blanket, sheet, pajamas, and the dust ruffle off his baby bed.

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This bandage:

is covering up a disgusting burn on my thumb caused by my hot glue gun. Yesterday while making new Christmas wreaths for my front door, I thought I was doing to die from attempting to make ruffles:) Now I think I might die from the huge open wound caused by HOT GLUE! Here's  a little tip for anyone who isn't sure just how much damage a hot glue gun can do:

Never attempt to wipe a big glob of hot glue off your flesh while it is still really hot...you might just take your skin off with it!

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And now that I've bored you {with three thing that start with B}, I have to say that I'm afraid my blog is getting boring! I'm a little bored with it, and it is obvious from the {very few} number of comments on my last couple of posts that you all think it is pretty boring too. The thing is, I'm not quite sure what to do about it. Do I take a break and hope that the boring goes away on its own, or do I trudge on with my boring-ness and hope that at some point the boring turns back into interesting? Any suggestions?!? Or is there something that you find interesting that you would like for my to blog about....I'm open to {almost} any suggestion for getting rid of the boring:)  Well, have a great {hopefully not too boring} weekend!

And just to make things a little more intersting, I'm linking up with Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading:) Go check out all the fun links!

Glittered Snowman Ornament Two Ways

{This is a tutorial that I shared over at Under the Table and Dreaming last week.}

Today I am sharing a tutorial with you on how to make a SUPER cute Glittered Snowman Ornament...two ways!

Glittered Snowman Ornament: Version One

You will need:

a clear glass ornament

black and orange felt

Mod Podge

foam brush

white glitter

clear gloss spray paint

Cut out two round black eyes and one orange triangle from your felt, then attach the felt pieces to the ornament using a hot glue gun. Using a foam brush apply Mod Podge to the ornament being careful not to get any on the felt pieces. Cover the entire ornament with glitter and shake off any excess. Spray a light coat of clear spray paint onto the ornament to help set the glitter.

Tie on a piece of felt for a hanger, and you have a SUPER cute Glittered Snowman Ornament!

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Now if you are like me, and you have more than a few curious little hands running around your house...and the thought of a glittered ornament brings visions of you & the vacuum cleaner being really good friends, then this second version of my Glittered Snowman Ornament is for YOU!

Glittered Snowman Ornament: Version Two

You will need:

a clear glass ornament {this could be done with plastic too to make it even more kid friendly}

Mod Podge

white glitter

black and orange Sharpies

Use the Sharpies and draw on two round black eyes and one orange triangle nose...I added in a cute smile too! Dilute a little bit of Mod Podge with a few drops of water, then add pour it into the ornament.

 Use your finger to cover the opening of the ornament and shake around the Mod Podge making sure to coat the entire inside surface of the ornament. Pour in some of your white glitter and shake it around {again making sure to coat the entire inside surface of the ornament}. Turn the ornament upside down and shake out any excess glitter.

Tie on some white yarn and you have a kid friendly version of a SUPER cute Glittered Snowman Ornament!

Wordless Wednesday: Resourcefulness

Christmas Advent Calendar Again

{This is a repost of my advent calendar from last year.}

I have been wanting a cute advent calendar for a few years. We had the cheap felt one from Walmart for a few years, but it wasn't nearly as cute as it could have been....so I decided to make my own. I did a little research online, and I got a ton of inspiration from other blogs and from Etsy! I took a few of the ideas that I found and mixed them all up and came up with my own advent calendar.

I hit up Hobby Lobby for

a canvas

wedding favor tins

scrapbook paper

and

a painted star

I already had some stuff at home

fabric

rick rack

mod podge

and

hot glue

I started by cutting out a lot of circle...48 to be exact. 24 without numbers for the inside of the tins.

24 with numbers for the outside of the tins.

I applied a thin layer of mod podge to the inside of the tin and to the inside of the lid. Then I place the unnumbered circles inside the tins and mod podged them in place.

I put the numbered circles in the lids {with the paper and number showing through the plastic} and then mod podged them into place. I cut out a Chrismas tree from leftover fabric and used spray adhesive to attach it to the canvas. I finished off the edges by hot glueing on some white rick rack.

After everything was dry, I put the lids on the tins and hot glued them to the fabric Christmas tree.
Starting on December 1st the boys will get to remove the lid to one tin a day and get a special treat that is inside. I also placed small pieces of paper with special Christmas activites {bake cookies, sing Christmas songs, wrap presents, watch a Christmas cartoon, read the Christmas story} for us to do in some of the tins.