Embroidery Hoop Wreath

August 15, 2019 By Linda Leave a Comment

Embroidery Hoop Wreath DIY – How To Make Embroidery Hoop Wreath With Faux Eucalyptus & White Roses.

For the next four years I’m going to try and spend as little as possible on craft supplies. Let me count the reasons why:

#1 – College. While my first child graduated from college in the spring, my second (and last) child starts her freshman year next week. And with the start of college comes the tuition bill. And this time around the bill is bigger. Gulp. So I’m going to be scrimping, scraping … and praying that nothing big decides to malfunction around the house. Fingers crossed.

#2 – Random Craft Supplies. I have boxes and bins and drawers and shelves filled with various crafting supplies. Things that I thought I wanted to make but never made. Supplies for things I thought I wanted to make, never made … and now can no longer remember what I wanted to make! There’s extra supplies from things I did make. And then there are craft supplies I bought with absolutely nothing in mind; I just thought they were cute.

#3 – Ad Revenues. I’m not sure what’s going on (and it’s probably because I’ve taken a couple of very extended breaks from blogging over the past year … or perhaps things are just slow in the summer and I never noticed before), but my blog ad revenue took a nose dive these past few months.

#4 – College + Ad Revenues. Did I mention college? 🙂 And did I mention ad revenues? Because those ad revenues are what I use to cover that college tuition. And when ad revenues are down … well, my stress levels go up! Fingers crossed (I’m doing a lot of that lately) things will pick up for the upcoming holiday season.

#5 – Recession? I haven’t fulled recovered from the last one and I feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder for signs of the next one …

So I’ve decided I’m going to be much more frugal. I’m going to dig through those boxes and bins and drawers and shelves and (for the most part) craft with what I have. And what I don’t have, I’ll spend as little as possible to acquire.

Take this embroidery hoop wreath craft.

I picked up those hoops years ago. One of those I can’t remember what I wanted to make left over craft supply. The faux eucalyptus leaves were purchased in the spring, long before I started panicking about college tuition! The faux roses are from the dollar store; again picked up years ago. The only ‘new’ craft supply purchased for this project are the faux eucalyptus stems. They were a very frugal $3.19 (link in materials list).

How To Make An Embroidery Hoop Wreath

Materials*

Embroidery Hoop

Faux Eucalyptus Stems

Faux Eucalyptus Leaves

Faux Roses

Florist Wire

Floral Tape

Wire Clippers

Jute or Rope for Hanging

*some affiliate links included.

How To Make Embroidery Hoop Wreath With Faux Eucalyptus & White Roses.

Attach eucalyptus stems to bottom of hoop using florist wire.

Cover wire with floral tape.

Strip the rose stems of the plastic coating. Then remove the wire.

Use florist wire to replace the original faux rose wire.

Make a little loop thing at the end so the wire stays put.

Attach roses to hoop.

Add a jute loop and bow and hang.

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You can find all my craft projects at this link …

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

August 8, 2019 By Linda 1 Comment

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter – Mason Jar Planter Ideas.

Every few years, I like to try my hand at growing things. Again.

Translation: Every few years I contract a bout of amnesia and forget I do not have a green thumb.

And this year is “every few years.”

I started on my “I Can Grow Things” spree with my front and back yards. My track record of growing grass is not … well … not strong. So this year I decided to try again. For the umpteenth time.

Translation: When I say I’m trying again to grow grass in my front and back yards that means I doled out a ridiculous amount of cash to a landscaper to try and take back my yard from the weeds and plant grass seed in the front, and sod in the back.

The experiment is still in the early stages, but I have to say there is quite a bit of green going on around here!

Translation: There was quite a bit of green going on until (1) the dog peed on the sod out back and; (2) the city of Chicago finally got around to trimming my (technically their) tree out front and left a 6 foot pile high of branches on the newly-seeded-and-growing parkway grass for the weekend.

But before the dog and the city’s Bureau of Forestry decided to test my resolve, I felt empowered … emboldened … to try my very own hand at planting some succulents. In a mason jar. With seashells.

No large sums of money were doled out for this project. 🙂

How To Make A Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

Materials*

Pint Size (16 oz) Mason Jar

Pea Gravel or Aquarium Gravel

Seashells

Potting Soil

*affiliate links.

Add pea gravel (or aquarium gravel).

Add seashells.

Add potting soil and succulent.

Water.

I also made some using sea glass that I shared on the other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love …

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Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots

July 30, 2019 By Linda 5 Comments

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots – How To Age Flower Pots Tutorial

Easy distressed terracotta pots - how to age flower paints with paint and sandpaper

Let me set the scene for you:

It’s a gorgeous summer day. Like a day you wish each and every day could be like. Like a day you want to retire to … and a day that has you wondering exactly what city, what state, what country, what island you could you move to that would guarantee you a full year of days just like this day.

Or at least 300 days out of 365 like this day.

It’s sunny (of course). Temperatures are in the mid-70’s. There’s a slight breeze; just enough to rustle a few leaves. Absolutely zero humidity.

Am I right? Did I not just describe the perfect day.

I’m out the back porch working on this easy distressed terracotta pot project, listening to the sounds of the city around me.

Birds are chirping. I can hear the garbage truck working it’s way down the alley. The dogs next door start barking when they see me. Across the alley I hear the little voices kids playing out on the second floor balcony.

In the distance, I hear a drumbeat. And not the tom tom kind. But a full on rock and roll riff.

And as I “paint’ these terracotta pots … and I use the word paint very loosely because I’m basically just dry brushing and cross hatching away … that rock and roll rift picks up speed and volume. So I start dry brushing faster and faster along with the beat.

And the little voices across the alley on the second floor balcony hear the drums too. And they call out for the drummer to stop.

But I’m digging it. It the perfect background music for this particular project. And in no time at all, I’m done.

And the music ends.

But now the little kids with their little voices on the second floor balcony across the way call out, “hello person.”

Are they calling out to me? Perhaps another neighbor is working in their back yard too?

I wave. And they wave back.

So yes, they were calling out to me! The perfect icing on the perfect day.

End of scene.

P.S. I add a little drum riff tune to the video tutorial to help set the mood for you too!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots Tutorial

Materials*

Terracotta Pots & Saucers

White Chalk Paint

Chip Brush

80 Grit Sandpaper

*includes some affiliate links

Start with paint. I prefer chalk paint because it’s easy to work with and dries incredible fast. But you can use an acrylic paint too. Just use a matte finish.

Using a chip brush, dry brush on pot in cross hatch pattern. Don’t worry, you can’t make a mistake.

Keep painting until you get your desired look. I went a little heavier on the paint, but made sure some terracotta color still shows through.

Don’t forget to paint the saucer too!

Optional: Distress with 80 grit sandpaper. I just hit a few of the edges around the top rim and bottom.

Easy distressed terracotta flower pots - age flower pots with chalk paint and sandpaper

Just add plants to finish them off!

Now back to finding the perfect city/state/country/island where I can find the perfect day, day after day …

I’d also like someplace that I can enjoy the sounds of the city in the background …

and little voices calling out “hello person.”

Rock and roll drum riff optional.

🙂

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Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots - How To Age Flower Pots with Chalk Paint - DIY Aged Terracotta Flower Pots

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Succulent Place Card Holders

July 23, 2019 By Linda 10 Comments

Succulent Place Card Holders – Gold Dipped Terra Cotta Pot Planters

I created a video!

I know, I know. No big deal, right?

Nothing to jump up and down about, right?

Nothing to phone home about, right?

I mean, let’s get real here: people have been making videos for decades. Just look at the success of YouTube. Not to mention all the videos flooding Instagram and Facebook feeds.

People have actually gained fame … and fortune … for their video creations.

As the saying goes, you can’t swing a dead cat online without hitting a video!

So my little video is really not a big deal. But then again (for me) it feels like a pretty big deal.

You see, I noticed some blogs started featuring “My Latest Video” videos as part of their blog posts. And I wanted to get in on the action. Only problem?

Where to start!

What I did know: I didn’t want to actually shoot video footage. Instead, I wanted to use still images from my blog posts and turn them into a video slide show with music and text.

Now, many years ago, I recall working with Windows Movie Maker with the kids on school projects. But, alas, Windows Movie Maker is no more.

After much Googling and watching many, many how to make a video tutorials, I settled on the Microsoft Photo app (which I used on my laptop, not phone). There are limitations when it comes to fonts and font size and font placement. And you need to find your own free music sources …

perhaps one day I’ll offer my own video tutorial on how to turn a blog post into a video slide show using Microsoft Photo app …

but at the end of the day. I’m pleased.

For the most part.

And if anyone has a better program or app I should look into, please let me know! Preferable something free that offers more flexibility with fonts and font placement!

For my first video, I turned my how to make a succulent place card holder tutorial (below) into a slide show with music and text (above) …

How To Make A Succulent Place Card Holder

Materials*

Potting Soil

Painter’s Tape

Alphabet Rubber Stamps & Ink Pad

*includes affiliate links

Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots Table Setting

Step 1: How To Make Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots

Use Washi tape (which is more flexible than painter’s tape on these mini pots) to tape off area to be gold “dipped” (which means spray painted).

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holders with Mini Terracotta Pots Gold Dipped

Use painter’s tape to tape off the top of the terracotta pot.

Spray with gold spray paint. Remove tape when dry.

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holder Table Setting

Step 2: Plant Succulents

Add a little bit of potting soil to bottom of mini terracotta pots.

Add succulent. Water lightly.

Using Craft Wire to Make Place Card Holder Succulent

Step 3: How To Make Custom Place Cards & Place Card Holder

Wrap light gauge craft wire around end of pencil three times.

Squash the rings together (yes, my very technical “squash” term is used here!

Use card stock paper and mini stamps to make place cards.

Slip into craft wire holder.

Add to succulents.

And that’s it!

And it feels like (to me) that I made two projects in one!

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Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Mini Terracotta Pots Place Card Holders - How to Make Simple Place Card Holders for Summer Table Setting

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Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY

January 31, 2019 By Linda 14 Comments

Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY – How To Make Cork Board with Fabric.

In case you were wondering ….

yes, it really was that cold in Chicago yesterday.

When I woke up my Weather App told me the air temperature was a brisk -21 degrees.

-21 degrees!

Yeah, that’s normal. Not. Just like the Chicago river filled with blocks of ice is normal. Not.

I supposed I shouldn’t complain. Great Forks, North Dakota supposedly reached -38 degrees last night.

I honestly had zero expectations of actually experiencing the cold yesterday. I honestly had zero expectations that I would set foot out the front … or back … doors. I honestly had zero expectations of even getting within a few feet of said doors (especially the front door which is super drafty!).

And in preparation for honestly not experiencing the cold yesterday, on Tuesday I did a big shop. Five-filled-to-the-brim-shopping-bags-and-a-12-pack-of-diet-Coke big shop …

but then …

karma kicked us in the butt.

Though, is it really karma when all I did was prepare to not go outside in polar vortex sub-zero temperatures? I always thought karma was some kind of cosmic payback for doing something … well … bad?

So what happened, you’re probably asking (or, perhaps pleading?) me to tell you instead of rambling on about what karma is or is not.

Well …

the furnace died.

Dead. Nada. Nothing. We flipped the switch and …

silence.

No humming motor sound of the furnace turning on. No booming metal sound as the furnace kicked in and started blowing warm air out.

So here we all are … Mike home from work; Molly home from school; Ernie the beagle home because, well, he’s a dog and he’s always home … shivering in our home.

Now, on the plus side-ish: We have two furnaces. And the one that decided to kick the bucket heats the new addition. So the bedrooms upstairs are still warm.

But the main first floor living spaces — living and dining rooms and kitchen — can’t get above 60 degrees. Not exactly cold enough to drive us out of our home to a warming station. But just cold enough to be uncomfortable.

Luckily the heating guy showed up relatively quickly. And luckily it wasn’t a full furnace replacement (phew).

But why does this always happen on the coldest day of the year? Or, at least happen to us on the coldest day of the year? The last time we had to replace the furnace (the one that heats the main living spaces and bedrooms) happened on …

you guessed it …

the coldest day of that year!

So now I’m trying to figure out what horrible things I may have done to inflict this cold karma on me and my family! 🙂

So today, in honor of sub-zero temperatures, I thought I’d share a project worthy of a polar vortex kind of day …

How To Make Fabric Wrapped Cork Board DIY

Materials

Cork Board (I used 12 x 12 cork tiles)

Fabric (I used this gray/beige/white paisley fabric, purchased from an Etsy shop)

Glue Gun

Scissors

Cut the fabric, leaving a 1-2 inch border around all sides.

Add a dot of glue at the corner.

Fold down the corner piece onto hot glue. Hold for a few seconds until dry.

Add a bead of glue along one length of the cork board.

Press fabric down and hold for a few seconds until dry.

Add an extra dot of glue at corner. Fold over and hold until dry.

Okay, now I’m suppose to show you more pictures of how I folded over the other edge of fabric to finish off the corner … but I must’ve gotten distracted or something. Because I simply cannot find any more photos.

So instead I’ll just leave you with the finished fabric wrapped cork board diy project …

Oh, and in case you were wondering, it really is that cold in Chicago again today. Woke up to be greeted with a -16 on my phone’s weather app …

brrrrrrr …

but at least the heat is working today! 🙂

I’ll just leave you with a shot of the Chicago polar vortex from @online.chicago on Instagram …

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Summer Nautical Navy And White Party Ideas with Paper

June 6, 2018 By Linda 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of A.C. Moore. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are so many things to love about the craft store.

So many things to inspire my creativity.

So many shiny things I want to take home and glue to something. Anything.

So many shades of paint I want to splatter on anything that doesn’t move. And even some that do! 😉

But the one section in the craft store that draws me in … calls my name as soon as I step foot in the store ... is the paper aisle.

So many colors. So many designs and patterns and beautiful color combinations. So many themes.

So many possibilities!

In the paper aisle, my head explodes with all those possibilities. Paper flowers … and origami … and custom cards … oh my!

Not to mention how many affordable ways I can use paper to create something beautiful for my home …

or, even better, how many affordable ways I can use paper to create something beautiful I can share with friends and family at a summer party!

For my summer nautical navy and white party ideas with paper, I zeroed in on these amazing Love Nicole paper collections at A.C. Moore in “ahoy” …

… and “seaside.”

You can find both of these collections (and even more amazing designs and colors) at A.C. Moore … and even more design inspiration by watching the A.C. Moore Hour, a recent partnership with Create and Craft airing every Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern time. Now you can tune into your TV and regularly get great craft ideas. You can watch Create and Craft on DISH Network or stream online at createandcraft.com.

Summer Nautical Navy and White Party Ideas with Paper

Paper Gift Box Tutorial

Trace cube box template onto back side of your paper (click here to download & print the template).

Cut it out.

Fold. Fold. Fold (per template).

Using a glue stick, apply to flaps.

I also used a little tape to better secure the sides of the box.

Finished box measures about 2 1/4″ square.

Paper Bow Tutorial

You can download the bow template by clicking here.

Trace template on wrong side of paper and cut out.

Add glue.

Fold over each side to form bow’s loops, adding more glue to stick ends to center.

Use a paper clip to secure until dry. (If it doesn’t stick, you can use tape or a glue gun).

I used glue dots to secure the looped bow to the base (you can also use glue or glue gun).

Wrap small strip around center of bow to finish off, secure in back (again, I used glue dots but you can use glue gun or tape).

Paper Sailboat Cupcake Topper Tutorial

You can download the triangle template by clicking here. (I used the smaller triangle for the mini cupcakes; the larger triangle is for standard size cupcakes)

Trace on wrong side of paper and cut out.

Add a small hole to top of triangle (using a small hole hand punch) along the right angle side.

And add a second small hole at bottom of triangle.

Feed through a small dowel (I used a wooden vegetable skewer that you can find at the grocery store). Add a small jute tie at bottom of triangle.

Cut dowels and insert in cupcakes.

Mason Jar Paper Topped Sippy Cup Tutorial

Trace mason jar lid on wrong side of paper.

Cut out.

Step not pictured: Before inserting circle cut outs into mason jar bands, punch holes for straws (you can also use a knife to make an “X” after you insert into bands)

Add straws … and serve!

Paper Navy & White Flag Banner

Click here for banner template.

Trace and cut out. Add to jute string using mini clothespins (you can find them at the craft store).

Paper Napkin Ring Tutorial

Cut 1″ strips of paper.

Wrap around rolled up napkins. Trim excess and secure in back with tape.

Finish by tying off with a piece of jute string.

Pull it all together and you’ve got an amazing nautical themed party exclusively using paper to create your decorations!

Sharing: Between Naps on the Porch |

Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

May 4, 2018 By Linda 7 Comments

Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage – Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs.

I just realized something.

Nothing big. Nothing earth shattering. Nothing to write home about.

But …. my blog design and my home’s decor are becoming synergistic.

I’d like to say it was by design.

Literally.

But no. It’s pure coincidence.

…. or is it?

Perhaps when I was drawn to a blog design with gray with gold highlights so many years ago it was a sign of things to come?

Or maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy?

If we look waaaaaaaaaay back to October 2011, my first blog design was blue and white.

Do you remember that?

And as I type this, I sit in a blue and white room. Okay, navy blue (unlike the original French blue color). But blue nonetheless.

Yet, when I first chose that blue and white blog design my home was all red and green and purple and jeweled tone.

Could that original blue and white blog design also have been a self-fulfilling prophecy?

And then …

do you remember when the blog design went full on color crazy? I wish I had a screen shot of that design with all the different colored paint rollers?

That design happened about the same time I was painting my son’s room bright orange.

Dare I say …. self-fulfilling prophecy?!?

🙂

So, for now, I’m all about the gray and white. I’ve painted my entry in that color palette recently. I’ve painted the powder room in that palette (and will be sharing the full reveal with you soon) …

and next up this month is tackling the living and dining room with some gray paint.

I’ve even decided on the color (the most challenging part of all!).

So stay tuned …

And, in the meanwhile, I’m sharing how to add some pretty gray and white bathroom accents with fabric mason jar cozies bathroom storage with glam gold tops with crystal knobs.

How To Make Fabric Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

Materials*

Ball Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jars

this Etsy shop

Gray & White Fabric (I purchased my fabric from this Etsy shop)

Measuring Tape

Thread

Pins

Sewing Machine

Iron

*Includes some affiliate links.

1 – Start by measuring your mason jars. You’ll cut the length of fabric and extra inch (or two) to allow for a 1/2″ seam allowance when sewing.

2 – For the quart jar, I cut my strip 3 inches wide (I actually did the fabric rip thing versus cutting to get a clean edge. Just snip a little at the edge of the fabric and then rip.

3 – For the pint size jars, my fabric width is 2 inches.

4 – For an unfinished edge look, I pulled a few threads to give it a frayed look. I also trimmed off a few of the longer pieces.

5 – Wrap fabric around jar (good side towards the jar) and pin.

6 – Sew along pin line (right sides together). Cut off excess fabric.

7 – Iron seams open.

8 – Slip onto jars.

How To Make Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs

Materials*

Metallic Gold Spray Paint (my go-to metallic is Valspar)

Clear Multi-Surface Glue (I used E6000)

Regular Mouth Mason Jar Lids & Bands

Crystal Knobs (I found mine at Home Depot)

*includes some affiliate links.

1 – Spray lids and bands with metallic gold spray paint. Let dry overnight.

2 – Add glue to lids. Attach crystal glass knobs.

3 – Let dry overnight.

4 – Fill jars and add your new, glam gold lids with crystal knobs.

So the lesson learned here today (besides how to make mason jar cozies and mason jar gold lids with crystal knobs) is that they next time I change up my blog design, my home design will follow suit!

🙂

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Sharing: | Between Naps on the Porch |

White Rose Valentine Heart Wreath

January 9, 2018 By Linda 3 Comments

White Rose Valentine Heart Wreath – Grapevine Heart Wreath with Roses.

The house feels … well … naked.

And not naked because it’s clutter free. Quite the contrary; clutter and errant pine needles abound.

No. The house feels naked because the trees are down …

and with them goes the twinkle light warmth.

Ah well.

Time to move on.

Time to move forward.

Time to finally fully embrace 2018.

I mean, if twinkle lights were year-round they would lose their magic. 🙂

So instead of tackling the clutter and pine needles, I decided to look forward to Valentine’s Day. And make a white rose Valentine heart wreath …

How To Make A White Rose Valentine Heart Wreath

Materials*

Grapevine Heart Wreath

White Faux Roses (I used 4 bunches found at The Dollar Tree)

Wire Cutters

Length of Twine

*some affiliate links included

Start with your materials – grapevine heart wreath from Michaels and four bunches of roses from The Dollar Tree.

Cut roses from stems leaving a short length of stem.

Push that short length of stem through the grapevine to secure.

You could hot glue gun to attach the roses for a more permanent solution.

Continue adding roses.

I used 4 bunches of The Dollar Tree stems and a total of 18 roses.

Then I just added a bit of twine (tied through the grapevine on the back and hung it in my entry.

The white rose Valentine heart wreath …

… and the entry …

are setting the tone for my home in 2018.

De-saturated.

Neutral.

Simple.

And … hopefully … clutter (and pine needle) free. 🙂

Pin It!

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Sharing: | Savvy Southern Style | Between Naps on the Porch |

Yarn Wrapped Hearts

January 4, 2018 By Linda 15 Comments

Yarn Wrapped Hearts – Neutral Valentine’s Day Craft & Decor Idea.

I was toying with putting together a top 5 or top 10 posts of the year post.

But then I looked up from my computer screen at Kelly & Ryan on my television screen. And they were doing a show showing their top moments (or maybe it was favorite moments) from the past year. And it hit me …

the only people who enjoy a show featuring the show’s top moments from the past year are the people working on the show.

Hmmm.

And that put a kibosh on a top 5 or top 10 posts of 2017 post.

Instead, let’s look forward and open our (yarn wrapped) hearts to 2018. 😉

But seriously, I don’t want to make any resolutions. Per se. Because then I’m destined for failure.

Instead I’ll call them minor improvements. And minor adjustments. Things I want to improve upon — and adjust — in the coming year.

Let’s start with health. Eating better. Exercising more. And, most importantly, trying to get on a real and sustainable eating-better-and-exercising-more schedule.

Then there’s the rabbit hole that is social media. In particular, a Twitter feed I used to keep apprised of current events. I hop on first thing in the morning and …

well ….

fall head first down that hole, only emerging for tea refreshes and bathroom breaks and sustenance.

To put it in perspective, over the past 12 months I’ve tweeted and re-tweeted 11.6K times. In my defense, 95% are re-tweets …

but, yeah, this Twitter habit needs to be cut back. Waaaaaaaaaay back.

Even as I type this post I keep jumping back on Twitter to peak at my feed.

Sigh.

Next up is blogging.

Last year was, quite frankly, lackluster. Weeks would go by with no posts. No projects. No motivation. There was even a time my blog was hacked and I didn’t realize it for days. Or maybe weeks?

Yeah. I was inattentive.

I hope to remedy that this year. I actually spent the past weekend putting together a list of projects. With deadlines. And creating an editorial calendar for January.

Fingers crossed I can keep to the schedule. Though this post was supposed to go up yesterday.

Oops.

Finally (because I think it may be too ambitious to focus on more than four “improvements” when I’m already failing on “improvement” #2 on this 4th day of the New Year) there’s my heart.

I need to open it up more. Wider.

Okay, I truly do have an open heart. In theory. Now I need to take that open heart and put it into action.

In my community.

In my city.

In my state.

In my nation.

I started small yesterday. With a donation to a group in Chicago helping the homeless stay warm with clothes, blankets, and meals.

And I will continue to look for opportunities for open-heart-driven improvements. And adjustments. 🙂

In the meanwhile, I’ll be wrapping up my heart with yarn …

How to Make Yarn Wrapped Hearts

Materials*

Cardboard

Yarn (I used this Lion’s Brand chunky yarn in Wheat)

Heart Shape (you can download & print at this link)

Pen & Scissors

Masking Tape

*some affiliate links included.

Print out and cut out heart shape (you can download at this link); trace onto cardboard (I used an old box that was originally destined for the recycle bin)

Cut out cardboard hearts.

Use a piece of masking tape to tape end of yard to cardboard heart.

Wrap yarn randomly around the cardboard heart. Continue until cardboard is completely covered.

When covered, cut off yarn and then loop the end through another piece of yarn and knot.

Cut off excess length.

And you’re done.

And you know what the best thing about this project is? I used what I had.

Hey, that’s going to be my improvement/adjustment number five in 2018. Craft with what I have …

because I’ve accumulated a lot of crafting materials over the past 6 years of this blog. 🙂

What improvements and adjustments do you have planned for the coming year?

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Sharing: | Between Naps on the Porch | Savvy Southern Style |

Epsom Salt Mason Jar Snow Votives

December 8, 2017 By Linda 5 Comments

Epsom Salt mason Jar Snow Votives – Christmas Mason Jar.

I’ve been having cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime/Netflix Christmas-movie-filled days this month.

It started innocently enough. As a backdrop as I decorated the house …

you know, to keep my holiday spirits up as I wish and hope and pray for snow.

And now? Well, now it’s devolved into something much more … um … sinister?

I must admit that, as the Hallmark/Lifetime/Netflix Christmas-movie-filled days stacked up, I started to take a small bit of pleasure in watching my teen daughter squirm with discomfort as the cheese factor is turned up.

Like during the awkward kisses.

And (bonus points) when the lead male actor serenades the lead female actor.

And, yes, that happened. And, yes, my daughter fled the room in horror. 😉

Honestly, it all started out as a silly experiment. Just background noise …

but now?

Now it’s become a ‘thing.’ My thing. MY. THING. Ack!

And now I’m not sure what I’ll do with myself once the 25 days of Christmas TV movies ends!

🙂

How To Make Epsom Salt Mason Jar Snow Votives

Materials*

Regular Mouth Pint Mason Jars

Regular Mouth Quart Mason Jars

Mod Podge

Epsom Salt

Foam Brush

Jingle Bells & Baker’s Twine (Optional)

*includes affiliate links

Start with a coat of Mod Podge.

Generously sprinkle on Epsom Salt.

Let dry overnight.

I didn’t seal. Not sure what that would do to the Epsom salt? Admittedly, they are a bit messy …

but then again, aren’t most holiday decorations messy? 🙂

Pin It!

P.S. I’m going to share a list of my favorite super cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies (so far) this December. I mean, there is still 17 days to go in the 25 days of Christmas after all so this list just might grow … 🙂

1 – Angry Angel – a new, original Lifetime movie and my daughter begrudgingly agreed this is a winner (okay, winner among the Christmas cheese). Oh, and it was serenade-free.

2 – Holiday in Handcuffs – who can beat the combo of Melissa Joan Hart & Marion Lopez? The premise is ridiculous but they have great chemistry.

3 – Santa Baby – Santa Baby the original. Not Santa Baby 2 with Tori Spelling’s cheater husband.

4 – 12 Dates of Christmas – It stars now grown-up Zack of Saved by the Bell. Need I say more? Okay, Amy Smart as the female lead is charming too.

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Sharing: | Between Naps on the Porch |

Easy Fall Wreath DIY

October 3, 2017 By Linda 2 Comments

Easy Fall Wreath DIY – Rustic Fall Wreath with Pumpkins

Sometimes the words come easily …

quickly …

so fast and furious that I can’t write and/or type fast enough to keep up.

And when I do write them down, I can barely make heads or tails of my own rapid-speed-scribbled-handwriting. 🙂

Other times?

Not so much.

Just nothing. A blank page. A blank screen.

A blank mind.

There’s nothing worse than staring at a blinking, blinking, blinking cursor that’s just waiting, waiting, waiting …

This writer’s block phenomenon becomes even more frustrating when a project is done. Photographed. Edited. And just waiting, waiting, waiting to go from the “Blog 2017” picture folder to a real, live blog post.

But when words elude me? The project languishes in the “Blog 2017” picture folder.

I want every post to be witty. Or wise. Or, at the very least, a moderately interesting read.

I don’t want to resort to the obvious. The “Hey hey there” opening. The “I love fall blah blah blah” opening to a fall project because that’s not what you signed up for.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been struggling for wise and witty words this year. This upside-down year full of daily shock and horror and outrage.

But I’ll try. I’ll dig deep. I’ll remember that we really are good and caring people deep down.

Right?

Because, honestly, I’ve lost a little faith in humanity.

Okay. That’s deep enough. This is a craft blog after all.

So here goes. Hey, hey there! I just love fall blah blah blah and you’re just going to love this super duper easy fall wreath diy project …

😉

Easy Fall Wreath DIY

Materials*

Grapevine Wreath

Decorative Grapevine Garland (found mine at JoAnn Fabric & Craft Store)

here are some on Amazon

Grapevine Pumpkins (found mine at JoAnn Fabric & Craft Store but here are some on Amazon)

*some affiliate links included.

Step 1: Attach decorating garland to front of wreath. Use gold floral wire to attach.

Step 2: Thread piece of gold floral wire through bottom of pumpkin.

Step 4: And then thread the gold floral wire attached to twig pumpkin through the wreath form.

Step 5: Repeat for all three twig pumpkins.

And that’s it.

A tutorial that used only a few words.

Stay safe, my friends!

Pin It!

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Hydrangea Wreath

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Geranium Monogram Wreath & My Secret Pinterest Boards

May 9, 2017 By Linda 4 Comments

Geranium Monogram Wreath – Monogram Wreath DIY.

I have a “TV Shows to Watch” secret Pinterest board. You know, one of those boards that you can hide from public view.

That’s normal, right? Or is it a sign I have an excessive television viewing problem?

In my defense, between regular old network TV, 500+ cable channels, Comcast On Demand, and premium channel subscriptions (I’m HBO and HBO Go) it’s hard to keep up with what’s new and what’s watchable. Add in Amazon Prime and Netflix memberships and my head starts spinning like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

I do balance it out with a Books board. Which isn’t a secret Pinterest board because it’s so much more respectable to share with the world that I read.

Or, more accurately, want to read …

if only I could find the time that doesn’t cut into my television viewing. 😉

I have another secret board called Retirement. We are a decade away from that “official” word. Maybe less. Maybe more. But we really have no retirement plans. So I started the board to pin potential warm, beachy places we may want to live. I also pin house plans from Southern Living on that board. Sweet cottages with wrap around porches and sun rooms and bright, airy, large and open kitchens …

hey, a girl can dream, right? Maybe in retirement I’ll finally get my dream kitchen.

Then there’s the New York trip secret board. Molly and I plan to spend a week (or very long weekend) in New York next Spring. Just the two of us exploring the big city. So I pin things we may want to see and places we may want to eat and tours we may want take …

would it be wrong for a 50+ year old woman and 17+ year old young adult to take the Sex and The City tour?

The hardest secret board to fess up to is the one labeled “movie.” It’s not where I pin movies to watch. It’s where I pin actresses who I would like to star in the Nancy Meyer-esque movie I will (or more likely won’t) write one day in the future.

Cart, can I introduce you to horse? 🙂

On the not so secret board end of things, I have your typical home design and crafts and kitchen boards. They all start with “it all started with (FILL IN THE BLANK).” You know, in an attempt to be clever and play off the blog name. Though, honestly, it’s probably not the smartest Pinterest strategy. Then again, I’ve never really had a Pinterest strategy.

Ah well ….