Quick paper wreath- in a color you can't resist

Our wreath recently decided it had enough and fell off out door;-(  I bought a few wreath forms before so this was a great time to dust it off and put it to good use.

My problem is TIME.  I didn't want to spend too much time on this project.  I plan on making a new one when I feel like I can spend a bit more time on it, but I think it is a fun one in the meantime.  

I did some "shortcuts" with this project and I will tell you what these are...if you have the time I recommend you do it the right way just for its longevity.  I just wanted some color on our door for now:)

(I know my door needs painted.  Excuse the imperfections)

I will make a felt wreath very soon but I like this quick paper wreath with its gorgeous color for now.

Shortcut#1: You can use the book pages as is (not painted) and it will make your project faster!  I, however had to take the longer route here because I am in love with this color.

Here is what I used for this project:

Book:

$0 (I picked one up from the local library's giveaway shelf a while ago for free)  I used about 15-20 pages so don't think you need a think book like this:)

Wreath form.

$3.99

I used the straw one because that is what I had at home.  Mine is the 14" one.  Next time I will go for a bigger one.  I like a more substantial wreath.

Acrylic paint

$1.99

I used this Martha Stewart one in Beach Glass.  Gorgeous color.

Thumb tacks

$1

I ONLY used these because that is what I had at home.  You can buy longer sequin pins or wreath pins in the craft stores and those will work better!  These thumb tacks are way too short.  The paper sticks much better if you have a longer pin.

TIP: to make it last as long as possible I will use the pin AND glue gun next time.  It does take a bit longer but I will go the extra time for it to last a long time.

String

$0 (I had this at home but the dollar store sells something like this so at most this will coat you $1)

Depending on your style you can either use twine (which is what I used) or a satin ribbon...or anything of your choosing.  I used this:

If you add up the prices of the supplies we are at: $6.99  Not too bad.

Here is the quick process of how I made it:

1.  I tore the pages of the book out

2.  I painted the book pages (one side only).  I wasn't very careful.  I deliberately didn't cover the entire page.  The words were showing and I didn't go all the way out to the edges.  You see that some of the petals have missing paint- but I like it that way.  It adds to its rustic-ness.

KIDS: you can do this with your kids.  They will love the paint job:)

3.  I let the pages dry.  Well...not fully.  I am way too impatient to let them dry fully so I admit they were a little damp when I did this next step...

4.  I first wanted to go with the bay leaf shape petals, but then decided to go with the round petals instead.

decided not to go with this.  I am showing it in case you want to go with this shape.  This is the shape you would cut and you can use the same technique I did here:

 5.  This is the shape I went with:

 and here is how I cut them so it is faster:

I put 2-3 pages together.  

I folded them in half length-wise:

then I folded them in half again (length-wise)

6.  depending on how big you want your circles to be (mine were about 1.75" in diameter) you will cut this strip into squares.  I had enough space for 3 squares.

then I rounded off the edges.  it is OK if your circles are not uniform.  If you do want them to be uniform in size and shape then just use a round object and trace it then cut it.  or better yet: use a hole puncher if you have one.  I just cut it about the same.  About is the key word here.

I didn't cut them all at once because I didn't know how many circles I needed.  I just kept cutting more as I needed them.  I didn't count them but the tacks had 300 pieces in them and looks like I used around half of them or maybe a bit more (so around 150-170):

7. I tied the string on the wreath form:

8. and started putting the circles on in a row:

 I admit I am the worst at following recipes to the T so that translated into this as well.  I deviated from the perfect row pattern but it still worked out ok.

just keep going round and round.  It doesn't take that much time.

at the end just try to fit in the circles in the missing areas and reach under the petals to put the tacks in.

Then hang your creation and admire it.

details: see how the paint isn't even and it is still ok.  The possibilities are endless with colors!!!!!!!

This took abut 1 hour.  Again you can make yours faster if you don't want to paint the book pages:)  But who can resist this yummy mint color?!

Enjoy!  I will definitely make more wreaths!  I'll post them as I do them (hope I won't forget to take pictures)

Who can't use more hair ties!?

My jaw drops every time I see how much stores sell these hair ties.  So I wanted to create an affordable add on for my customers.  It ships free with any item (no extra shipping).  Click here to see it in my etsy wonderland

It did take a while to design a tag that the hair ties fit on.  I love how it turned out.  And it is so true!  I don't know one girl with longer hair that can't use more hair ties;-)

hair ties 

how to take the best jumping silhouette picture with your iphone

ever wonder what the best way to capture you while jumping backed by a sunset (or light) is?  when your picture is just an amazing silhouette in front of the sunset?

we went to our local beach one evening and it just called for a sunset silhouette picture.  while I was doing my very best capturing my kids jumping before one of the most glorious sunsets I had very little luck getting the awesome image I was looking for.  either I was too early or too late for the big moment;-)

while my kids were getting frustrated with me having to jump 15 times for one image I had my 13-year-old beautiful adopted daughter for a month (house guest for a month;-) gave me a very trick little tip.  here is her brilliant way of quickly capturing the perfect jump:

what you need:

your iphone (I don't know what generation of iphone can do this, I have a 4S) NOTE: any phone that can take a screen shot/ screen image will work perfect

sunset (or light coming from the back of the person jumping)

yourself (photographer)

subject jumping;-)

here is what you do:

1.  the photographer faces the light (so the photographed subject's back is to the light)

2. you take a VIDEO of the person jumping

3.  you play the video and pause it at the jump

4. take a screen image or screen shot by pressing the top right button of your iphone and the menu button at the same time (it may not be called menu button but I mean the round button on the face of your phone- on the bottom)

5.  voila!  there is your awesome jumping picture!

here is ours;-)  or a couple of ours' ;-)

Conclusion:

if you need help with your iphone just ask a teenager!

What to do with your packaging peanuts?

In the midst of buying everything new for the Holidays, let's think of what we can create that doesn't use brand new materials.  There is SO MUCH around us that can be turned into something COOL.  Look at this for example:

Last year I ordered a few products and the box was full of packaging peanuts.  But not just any kind...this time it was a light mint color packaging peanuts;-)  You know me, I got instantly inspired by the COLOR.

I was thinking to myself I can't get myself to throw away this...there must be something I can make out of these!  

Since it was close to the Holidays I decided to make hanging decorations (pomander balls).  They turned out SO COOL!  I meant to post this right away (but I had no blog at that time) so here it is.  Hopefully you guys still have some packaging peanuts.  They come in all colors and shapes and sizes.  I have seen stark white, dirty white, pink...and yes...the very rare ones that are mint-ish color;-)

I added regular bigger size Christmas ornaments with the same ribbon (no bows on those) in between.

Here is what you need:

styrofoam ball

ribbon (satin or grosgrain ribbon)

packaging peanuts 

hot glue

hot glue sticks

and

something to attach it to the wall with: I used

thumbtacks

Here is how you make it:

(sorry I wasn't documenting this)

1. first hot glue the ribbon on.  Leave it as long as you want depending on how low you want it to hang.  I picked a deep maroon/red ribbon that ended up looking AMAZING and very Christmas-like with my mint/light seafoam color packaging peanuts

2.  start gluing the packaging peanuts on the styrofoam ball.  I went all around and then just filled in the spots.  You can do a pattern or just do it randomly.  LOOK AT MY TWO different ones...one is more random and the other is way more "organized" looking.  Both look great!  most of the packaging peanuts can be squeezed into smaller spaces, so you should be fine.

3.  When I was done gluing (you will use a LOT of hot glue sticks!) I added a bow on the ribbon.  I did this by hot gluing the ribbon bow to the actual ribbon;-)  It just made it that much more festive to me.  (totally optional though)

4.  take your pushpin (or whichever method you want to use) and  attach it to the wall

5.  if you do not like the color of your packaging peanuts you can PAINT them or SPRAY PAINT them once you glued them on.  It will be still visible that it is recycled reused packaging peanuts and you can totally match your decor with it.

Hope you have fun doing it!

It is my second year of having them up and it still looks amazing!  I stored them in a plastic bin.  Intact;-)

Happy Holidays!

PINK beauty designed by Kelly;-)

A very sweet customer, Kelly asked me to create a pink stocking for her mom.  Instead of the "traditional" white feathers she chose the black feathers and we matched it with black glitter font.  

It turned out so nice that I decided to post it in my etsy store 

 

...and it is one of the most popular color combos I sold;-) (I think it would compete for first place with the traditional red one had I been offering it from the beginning;-)

Thanks Kelly! <3