Friday, November 30, 2012

Create Your Own Ornaments


Well Thanksgiving is over so on to Christmas! I love decorating for Christmas, it's one of my favorite things to do. But sometimes buying decorations can be pricey, so I enjoy making my own. Plus it is a great way to add a personal touch to your holiday decor. So I thought I would share some quick and easy ways to make your own ornaments.

Here's what you'll need:

1. Clear glass ornaments
2. Glitter (I used fine glitter, but you could use the bigger kind if you so desire)
3. Ribbon
4. Fake berries (like what you would put in a fake bouquet)
5. Pledge
6. Wire cutters or scissors

First off, take the metal top off of your ornament as you will be putting things inside it. Just set it aside for the time being.

We will be making two different ornaments. The first one being a glitter ornament. For this one, take the Pledge and spray it on the inside of the ornament. Try not to spray TOO much, but coat the inside. I actually ended up using a napkin and a pen to fully coat the inside. Then pour a decent amount of glitter into the ornament and swish it around...dump out the excess glitter. The Pledge will help the glitter stick to the sides of the ornament. That's pretty much it for this one, set it aside for the moment.

 For the second ornament you will need the berries and wire cutters.

 
Snip the berries off of the stems with the wire cutters. You can use scissors for this as well, but if you have wire cutters, I recommend using them as it is much easier. Just be careful as the berries may fly across the room, and then your cat will chase after them and shove them under the china cabinet (or at least that's what happened to me...but I digress)

Put the berries inside the second ornament.


Please note that since glitter is the herpes of the craft world, I ended up with glitter in both ornaments, even though that was not my intent. And the same may happen to you. But I think it worked out anyway.

Put the top of the ornaments back on them. Cut two pieces of ribbon off and tie them around the top of the ornaments.

 
That's it! Your very own ornaments. You could obviously substitute many different things on these and even add to them. I thought about doing one with fake snow on the inside and going from there. So feel free to play around with these. I'd love to see what you come up with!

~Jessica





Thursday, November 29, 2012

Covered in Christmas

I found these great vintage Christmas cards on an Etsy shop called Pumpkin Truck. They're too cute to send out and never see again, so I chose to display them as art. I just popped it in a frame that I had tucked away and I'm decorating for Christmas on the cheap!




I always want my home to be covered in Christmas...but in a classy way. I got this paper angel at a garage sale. Last year, I just placed it on the wall. I currently have a black and white collage in my living room, so I added some Jesus flair to it by taping the angel to one of the pictures... I really like the way it looks! 


Love you,
Kelly

Friday, November 23, 2012

Cardigan DIY

With the weather now seemingly permanently chilly, I am constantly cold. Therefore feel the need to stock up on sweaters and the like and in the process rid myself on old sweaters that no longer fit. If you're like me, you may have a few of these lying around but just don't want to give them up. Here is an idea for a way to recycle an old sweater, or even long sleeve shirt.

Sweater to Cardigan:


What you'll need:
1. A sweater 
2. Hem tape (I used Stitch Witchery and it worked great)
3. Scissors
4. An iron
5. A button and thread (optional)

And here we go! First, lay the sweater flat and cut down the middle of the front of the sweater (this is the opening of the cardigan)


Next fold over where you have cut and determine how much of a seam you will want. I folded it over about and inch. Place the hem tape on the inside part of the sweater's hem. Fold the remaining fabric over on top of the tape and follow the instructions on your hem tape.


My instructions say to put a damp cloth over fabric and iron taped area. It is important to not drag the iron, rather press bit by bit.


Find a button of your choosing and sew it on wherever you like. I made mine just for show, but if you're real ambitious you could add a hole on the other side and make the button functional.


 Thats it! You're done, now go wear your "new" cardigan and try to stay warm this winter!


~Jessica




Thursday, November 22, 2012

Professionally Recycle

The other day my co-worker brought in a small box of unwanted dishes because she is moving in with her boyfriend. What a blessing for me. I never thought I'd find my ceramic soulmate.




Instead of saving your unwanted stuff in an unsightly heap until garage sale season, why not try this? Bring in a small bag or box of clean unwanted items to work. You might find this strange, that's okay. I think it's great ;)

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! Here's how I spent my day. Waiting in line for Golden Corral in Port Huron, MI. I wouldn't expect anything less.

Love,
Kelly




Thursday, November 15, 2012

Surprise!

Hanging doily globe. Been wanting to make it for some time now. 



Supplies: 
  • Wallpaper Paste
  • Doilies
  • Round balloon
  • Newspaper to cover work surface
  • Paint brush





Blow the balloon up. Brush a little glue over small surface of balloon enough to keep the doily on it. Then, liberally brush glue over doily.


Dry for about a day.

Then, pop!




Love,
Kelly

Friday, November 9, 2012

Music Friday

I have an amazing talent for throwing myself into deep depressions, and today is no exception; therefore all I really want to do is sit in my room, by myself and listen to music. With that being said, I thought I would give you all a taste of some of the tunes, yeah, I said it, "tunes" that I am currently listening to, and frankly think you should check out, if you haven't already.

First on the list is my current obsession, a little band from the UK by the name of ∆ (thats Alt-J). I love them, for real. I suggest listening to their single Tessellate:


This is the song that got me hooked on them, but their whole album is awesome. I currently have their song Matilda on repeat.

Next up is Laurie Levine. I subscribe to the Communion newsletter (an excellent way to hear new music BTW, I suggest signing up) and their free download last week was from this lady. I absolutely love her single Oh, Brother, it has a bluesy feel that I just die for:


A couple weeks back a coworker asked me if I wanted to go to a show; a band by the name of The Octopus Project. Frankly I was not too familiar with them, but I am always up for hearing new music, so I said okay. And I'm glad I did. The show was awesome, the company great and I kind of fell in love with the band.  I was actually unable to embed their stuff here, but you can check out their YouTube channel here. It's all great.

Lastly, I can't end a music post without mentioning my loves; Mumford and Sons. That's right. They just released a video for my current favorite (it changes weekly) song off their new album Babel by the name of Lover of the Light. I'm actually not too terribly thrilled with the video, but check it out and make your own decisions there.


Enjoy!

~Jessica

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

burgundy, burgundy everywhere


The 90s are back y'all. If you look anywhere recently, you will have a 90s flashback - and I am loving it. I was never a big fan of this color, but it seems so refreshing recently. Burgundy is everywhere. On nails, shoes, pants, lips, and hair. 






I am currently crocheting a cowl inspired by the picture above...to match my new lipstick of course. Refer to the series of pictures below on how to apply burgundy or other dark lipsticks.




1. Using the side of the liner, line your lips. I start on the bottom lip because it's easier. It is okay to draw "slightly" outside of your natural lip line.. I emphasize the word "slightly."
2. Line your upper lip carefully.
3. Blend the line you have made by coloring in the parts of your lips near the line you made. This will prevent the cholo effect. 
4. Add lipstick and blot on your nearest checkbook or junk mail.


*TRICKS*  - CONCEAL any and all blemishes around your mouth. Sometimes, placing a subtle line of a sheer white powder or eyeshadow will help highlight and define the shape of your mouth.

Do you like my scary 60s anatomical lipstick diagram?



wearing M.A.C. "Dark Side" lipstick with "Burgundy" liner

Please be sure to wear a light BRONZER as a blush. This shade can really wash white girls out. I would also be interested to see this lipstick shade with a light pink blush...


Lovvvv
Kelly

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Go Vote!



Political affiliations aside - the most important decision you make today is your decision to make yourself heard.  Make your vote matter.  Make your own decision.

So, no excuses! 

Get out there and vote!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Found Type

I love typography. I especially love type you just happen to find when you are out and about. So I thought I would share some such finds. These are actually from when I lived in Chicago, which is great for this kind of thing.

In honor of Halloween passing

Super awesome natural distressing happening here

Okay, granted not actually type, but it looked like a "B" to me.

No ball playing...

Til next time!

~Jessica

Thursday, November 1, 2012

How to make a welt

Chairs before. Purchased for $15 each at an estate sale.
My dad and I reupholstered these chairs months ago. Since then, I have been dreading making a welt for them since I had no idea how to do it. So, instead of googling, reading, and researching, I bought the supplies and just did what made sense to me. haha You can also purchase a special sewing foot so you can get as close as possible to the piping while sewing, but the standard foot worked just fine. You just have to be especially diligent and firm with the fabric.

3 yds of fabric from JoAnn Fabric $20/yd

3 yds of piping
Place roping inside a fold of the fabric where you will sew.   Pin fabric about 2" from welt.
Set tension at 2-3 and sew as closely as possible along the edge of the  piping.



Using a strong adhesive, glue the welt to the edge where the fabric and frame meet.

Trim the stray fibers.
Finished product on the left


Love,
Kelly