Painted Snowy Tree Mason Jar

November 5, 2019 By Linda 1 Comment

Painted Snowy Tree Mason Jar – Christmas Tree Mason Jar Craft.

I seriously debated if perhaps I should wait another week …

or two …

before pulling out the Christmas crafts.

Because, between you and me, I’ve been Christmas crafting up a storm. With the requisite cheesy Lifetime and/or Hallmark Channel Christmas love stories playing in the background, of course! 🙂

And when I’m not Christmas crafting, I’ve looking on Pinterest and Google Images for some potential craft ideas I can adapt and customize and share with you.

(As an aside, hey Google when are you going to recognize the spelling of Pinterest? Every time I type it into a blog post you give me the big red underline that screams “Hey dummy, don’t you know how to spell?“)

But then I took my dog for a walk last evening. And did you know what I spotted?

Two — count em two — houses with their Christmas trees up. Lights and decorations and all!

Who knows how many more trees I would have spotted if we had taken a longer walk? 😉

So that right there settled it. If Chicago is ready to embrace Christmas, then so am I!

I actually made this mason jar as part of a wedding gift for my newly married niece.

Now, I’ve never seen her house but I’m guessing she might like a painted snowy tree mason jar because (1) she got married in a barn; (2) she paints hand made signs that she posts on Facebook and; (3) she has chickens in her back yard!

That’s like a perfect trifecta for some mason jar crafty love!

Painted Snowy Tree Mason Jar Tutorial

Materials

Ball Regular Mouth Pint (16 oz.) Mason Jars

Gray Paint (I used this Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint, but you can use an acrylic gray too)

White Paint

Americana Holly Green Paint

Paint Brushes

80 Grit Sandpaper

Toothpicks

Matte Spray Sealant (this is my go-to favorite that never yellows the whites)

*some affiliate links included.

Start with two coats of paint. Let dry completely between coats (I typically give it an overnight to dry).

Distress along raised letters and edges with 80 grit sandpaper.

Add a dot of green paint.

Use toothpick to stretch paint upwards to form tree top …

… and downwards to create branches.

Use toothpick and white paint to add snow to the top …

… and the branches.

Add brown tree trunk using toothpick.

Sprinkle in some dots of snow.

Finish with spray of matte sealant. This is my favorite brand (link here) which never yellows the whites.

P.S. I guess technically this mason jar isn’t just Christmas. It’s more of a winter craft … if that makes it any better that I’m sharing it two months before official winter kicks in! 🙂

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Twine Wrapped Mason Jars

October 3, 2019 By Linda 8 Comments

Twine Wrapped Mason Jars – Jute Mason Jar DIY.

Twine Wrapped Mason Jars - Jute Wrapped Mason Jars - Mason Jar Crafts for Fall - Easy Fall Crafts - Twine Craft Ideas - Jute Craft Ideas

I’ve adopted a new mantra this year: K.I.S.S.

And, no, I’m not talking about the crazy costumed and make-upped 70’s metal band.

I’m talking Keep. It. Simple. Stupid.

And the Stupid is me … not you. Not ever, my dear readers! My wonderful, smart friends!

It’s a reminder to me (the Stupid in K.I.S.S., that is) to stop overthinking and over-complicating things. Because I can be the queen of overthinking and over-complicating things …

In fact, this whole blog started with my overthinking and over-complicating. With paint chips that were taped to wall for months … okay, years … on end as I contemplated the subtle differences between four shades of sage green.

Yes, sage. That’s how old this blog is. Sage was still around. Albeit, on the way out. But still around!

And every project I contemplated (back in time before Pinterest) included notebooks with pages ripped from magazines. And those pages would linger in those notebooks for so long that when I would revisit to add yet another ripped out magazine page, I couldn’t remember what it was I liked in those older ripped out pages!

Sigh.

But I’m done with my drag-my-heels-overthink-over-complicate-things approach to home decor and diy … and even crafts. Yes, I overthink crafts!

Hot glue vs. Mod Podge? Paint brush or Spray paint? Sew it or hot glue it?

Okay, maybe I’m not 100% done overthinking. More like 95%. 😉

Today’s twine wrapped mason jars is the epitome of K.I.S.S. In fact, this project is so K.I.S.S. that I debated if I should even create a tutorial …

How To Make Twine Wrapped Mason Jars

Materials*

Regular Mouth Quart (32 oz.) Mason Jars

Jute Twine

Hot Glue Gun

Scissors

*includes some affiliate links.

Start with a dab of hot glue.

Add end of twine to hot glue. Press down (but be careful! Don’t burn your fingers).

How To Make Twine Wrapped Mason Jars DIY - Easy Mason Jar Craft for Fall

Keep wrapping twine around the jar. About half way through, add another dab of hot glue.

Press in place. Carefully!

Keep wrapping until done.

Add dab of hot glue.

Cut twine and press in place.

And you’re done!

See? Super duper K.I.S.S. 🙂

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Twine Wrapped Mason Jars - Jute Wrapped Mason Jar Craft - Fall Crafts with Mason Jars - Easy Fall Crafts - Twine Craft Ideas - Jute Craft Ideas

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White Painted Pumpkin Mason Jar

September 6, 2019 By Linda 6 Comments

White Painted Pumpkin Mason Jar – Painted Mason Jar Craft for Fall.

Today I will share with you all some of the things that are pinging around in my head.

Lucky you! 😉

Let’s start with my love for September in Chicago. I won’t get into the particulars of that love today. That’s a post for tomorrow …

yes, a rare Saturday appearance! I’ll be joining a few other bloggers as we share our thoughts (good and bad) about the month of September.

There’s a fly in the house terrorizing my dog who simultaneously wants to catch it … and hide from it.

At one point while writing this blog post I got up to make a cup of tea with milk and Equal. I then spent the next five minutes searching for my reading glasses …

only to realize they were perched atop my head the whole time. Sigh.

I’m slowly adjusting to not having my daughter (and best friend) here with me in Chicago. Yet, I still get these pangs of sadness (and loneliness) when I realize she won’t be walking through the door at 4 pm with tales of her day at school. Or (like this past weekend) when I see a Yard Sale sign and think that Molly and I should go … and immediately realize, oh.

But she’s loving her new independence and even celebrated feeling like an adult when she did her laundry! 🙂 And we text and talk. A big thumbs up for modern technology!

Finally, don’t hate me, but where are the pumpkins? I’ve been stalking the grocery store all week, but no pumpkins. Yet. I did spot some mums so they can’t be far behind … 🙂

So I had to resort to making my own pumpkins. On mason jars, of course.

How To Make A White Painted Pumpkin Mason Jar

Materials*

Pint Size (16 oz.) Regular Mouth Mason Jar

Gray Paint (I used this Chalked Aged Gray Paint); but you can also use acrylic paint

White Acrylic Paint (Americana Snow White)

Brown Acrylic Paint (FolkArt Real Brown Acrylic Paint)

Black Acrylic Paint

80 Grit Sandpaper

Paint Brushes

Toothpicks

Matte Spray Sealant

Give your jar two coats of gray paint; let dry overnight between coats.

How To Paint Mason Jars - How To Paint Pumpkins on Mason Jars

Distress with 80 grit sandpaper.

How To Paint Mason Jars - How To Paint Pumpkins on Mason Jars - White Painted Pumpkins on Mason Jars

Add dot of white paint.

Add second dot of white paint right next to the first dot, overlapping. This makes the pumpkin base.

Let dry.

Mix together black & white acrylic paint to make a light gray. Using a toothpick, create three vertical lines in the pumpkin.

Here’s a closer shot of the finished jar where you can see the vertical gray lines.

Add stems with brown paint.

I finish all my jars with a matte finish spray sealant. This is my preferred brand.

That’s it!

Now I’m off to the grocery store, where the search for pumpkins continues …

though I do have another idea for a pumpkin craft. So perhaps I need to hit the craft store too. 😉

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White Painted Pumpkin Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft for Fall - Fall Crafts using Mason Jars - Pumpkin Crafts.

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You can find all my mason jar craft projects at this link …

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

August 8, 2019 By Linda 2 Comments

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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White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

June 13, 2019 By Linda 9 Comments

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar – Painted Flowers on Mason Jars DIY

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

My husband is frustrated with the weather.

In Chicago, of all places.

And he’s lived here all his life! He wants it warm and dry …

and Chicago is just not cooperating.

How to paint poppies - Marimekko poppies - white poppies - Mason Jar crafts - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

Sure we get a throwaway gorgeous day peppered in here and there. A casual reminder of what we’re missing by not living in one of those warm climate states.

And, admittedly, he’s hankering for summer weather when, technically, it’s not actually summer.

But my biggest fears about his demands for warm and dry means my retirement dream of a downtown Chicago condo with spectacular city views from every room will remain just that …

a dream.

Sigh.

I do have one teeny tiny hold out sign of hope. And it’s called Uber.

We had a meeting with the IRS last week at their downtown Chicago offices (no, we’re not being audited; in fact, the IRS owes us quite a sum of money and we had to prove our identity).

But I digress …

Anyhoo, we took Ubers to and from our appointment. At off-peak travel times. And it was a very pleasant experience.

And during that very pleasant drive, my husband did admit that while he’s not the biggest of downtown Chicago fans, he would be up for exploring the Chicago Riverwalk area.

Hey, it’s a small sliver of hope!

So maybe on a warm and dry summer evening in mid-July, he’ll become as intoxicated as I with downtown Chicago as the sun sets and the skyline lights up … 😉

So, now you may be asking, Linda what do white poppy painted mason jars have to do with the weather in Chicago and my dreams of living downtown? Not much, really. Except despite the wet and temperatures vacillating from high 50’s to high 60’s, the flowers are a blooming! So I thought I’d get in on that blooming flower action with some painted flowers on mason jars of my very own …

and share with you all the tutorial on how easy it is to paint poppies!

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar Tutorial – How To Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars

How to Paint Poppies - Easy Tutorial DIY painted Poppy - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

Materials*

Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint

Linen White Rust-Oleum White Paint

Raw Umber Americana Acrylic Paint

Pint Size (16 oz) Ball Mason Jars

80 Grit Sandpaper

Paint Brushes

Clear Matte Spray Sealant

*affiliate links included.

Rustoleum Chalk Paint in gray - How to Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars - Easy Poppy Painting Tutorial

Start with two coats of Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint. Let dry thoroughly between coats (I tend to give them overnight, but chalk paint dries quickly so if in a rush you can add the second coat in a few hours).

Rustoleum Aged Gray chalk paint - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Easy Tutorial on How To Paint Poppies on Mason Jars

Once dry, use 80 grit sandpaper on raised lettering, numbers, areas to distress.

White Chalk Painted Mason Jars with Painted Poppy

Use Linen White Rust-Oleum Chalked paint to add poppies using a medium tipped brush.

White Poppy Flowers Painted on Mason Jars

Use paint brush to create six connected dots to form the base of the poppy.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked paint and your medium tipped brush, add dots to the middle of the poppies.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Raw Umber Americana acrylic paint and a fine tipped brush, ad dots to the middle of the poppies, like so.

Using the same Raw Umber acrylic paint and fine tipped paint brush, add small stems to each poppy, like so.

Let dry completely before proceeding to next step (I typically give this an overnight dry before sealing with a clear coat – see below).

Finish with a coat of clear finish matte spray (this is my go to brand that doesn’t cause the white paint to yellow).

I also made a second jar using Rust-Oleum Country Gray Chalked Paint (which I refer to as greige)

And I made a third jar with a white base and gray and greige painted poppies …

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You can find all my mason jar projects at this link …

Christmas Tree Painted Mason Jar

December 18, 2018 By Linda 3 Comments

Christmas Tree Painted Mason Jar – Christmas Mason Jar Craft.

Ernie got a little taste of the blog last week …

and turns out he thinks it tastes even better than Kibbles N Bits.

Though not quite as tasty as that Sloppy Joe he stole off the dining room table a few years back and devoured before a single drop of Sloppy or Joe hit the floor. 🙂

If you missed it, I put up a picture of Ernie looking at (okay, more like avoiding looking at) the Christmas tree as part of my Christmas living room post. I also shared on Facebook and Instagram.

And as the likes and comments rolled in, I could see Ernie’s little doggy ego growing bigger and bigger. He was really eating it up!

You get it, right? Eating it up. Like Kibbles. And stolen Sloppy Joe’s. 🙂

So when I moved into the living room (again) to take pictures of my newly created Christmas tree painted mason jar, Ernie stayed put. Didn’t move. Burrowed in, in fact …

Which is not his normal behavior.

Normally the minute he sees the camera and tripod move into a room …

he swiftly moves out.

And as I moved around the room with the previously feared camera and tripod, he didn’t budge. Barely even noticed me.

So strange.

Now granted, he was on daddy watch. Which, I suppose based on his refusal to move, might actually taste better than both Kibbles N Bits and a stolen Sloppy Joe.

But there he is. In the background. My constant companion. Paying me no mind as I took pictures of my finished painted Christmas tree mason jar …

How To Make Painted Christmas Tree Mason Jar

Materials*

Ball Regular Mouth Pint Size (16 oz.) Mason Jar

Santa Red Americana Acrylic Paint

Holly Green Americana Acrylic Paint

Snow (Titanium) White Americana Acrylic Paint

Real Brown Folk Art Acrylic Paint

Design Master Clear Matte Finish

80 grit sandpaper

Paint Brush

*includes affiliate links

Start with two coats of acrylic paint in Santa Red. Let dry overnight between coats.

Distress along raised lettering and markings with 80 grit sandpaper.

Add a dot of holly green acrylic paint.

Use a toothpick to drag the green paint up to make the top of the tree point.

Then use the toothpick to drag the paint to make tree limbs.

Continue process until you cover the jar with little trees. Let dry.

Use fine tipped paint brush to add tree stems using Folk Art Real Brown acrylic paint. Let dry.

Using a toothpick and white paint, add snow to trees. Like so.

And so.

Repeat. Let dry.

Finish by adding some snow.

Let dry overnight before sealing with matte clear coat.

I’ve decided that this little painted Christmas tree mason jar needs a little fame of its own. So I’ve added it to the Etsy shop. You can find the listing at this link …

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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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Peppermint Bath Salts

December 22, 2017 By Linda 2 Comments

Peppermint Bath Salts – Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas.

Once upon a time, I watched a lot of House Hunters on HGTV.

A. Lot. Of. House. Hunters.

Because, once upon a (long) time (ago), it seemed like House Hunters made up 90% of programming on HGTV. Well, at least during the daytime hours …

hours and hours of House Hunters reruns.

This was a time before all the House Hunters spin-offs. Before Tiny House Hunters. And Beach House Hunters. And Log Cabin House Hunters. And Lake House House Hunters. And expanded hour-long House Hunters Renovations. And International House Hunters (which, by the by, I still tune in to when they are hunting in Europe).

But regardless of location or size or beach front views (back then and now) there always seems to be similar “demands” or “must haves” or “deal breakers.”

Whether it’s hardwood floors or granite (or no granite) or stainless steel appliances or man caves, the bathroom/bathrooms is/are always a sticking point.

The number of bathrooms. The double vanity. The master en suite. And …

drum roll please …

the bathtub.

Admittedly, I’m not a huge bathtub fan. Sure, they’re important if you have little kids (have you ever tried to give a toddler a shower? Trust me, not fun). But the whole soaking in a hot tub with a book and glass of wine scenario eludes me …

Not sure why? But somehow water and books and wine stresses me out. The whole juggling the book and wine and trying not to drop either in the hot tub of bubble-filled water causes me anxiety.

The clear opposite of relaxing.

But my daughter is a bath fan.

A huge bath fan.

And in her future house hunting, I’m pretty sure a bathtub will be on her “deal breaker” list. 🙂

So today’s post and project is in celebration of my bath-loving daughter …

How To Make Peppermint Bath Salts*

Materials**

Epsom Salt (4 cups)

Baking Soda (1 cup)

Peppermint Essential Oil (15-20 drops)

Red Food Coloring (5-10 drops)

Mason Jars (I used regular mouth pint sized Ball jars)

*Makes enough to fill two full pints & one 1/2 pint mason jar – or five 1/2 pint mason jars.

**Some affiliate links included.

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together Epsom salt and Baking Soda. Add 15-20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil. Mix well. Split mixture in half. In one half, add 5-10 drops of food coloring. Mix well. Layer mixture into mason jars.

And if you’re looking for a last minute gift idea, this is a perfect handmade homemade gift that is sure to thrill …

… the bath lover in your life! 🙂

P.S. My bath-loving daughter has given this Peppermint bath salts recipe a thumbs up!

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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? 🙂

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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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Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe

November 30, 2017 By Linda 8 Comments

Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe – Mason Jar Snow Globe Ideas.

Sometimes when I’m feeling a little blue … like after days and days of cold and rainy weather … I like to go to my Etsy shop to read customer reviews.

They (almost) always cheer me up. Well, the five star reviews do. Which there are many. Which makes me happy. But the four stars? Well, those make me a bit sad.

You see, I’m a pleaser. And an over achiever. And I realize four stars are great ….

right?

Fabulous. Wonderful. Worthy of a standing ovation.

And I realize that some people can never, ever give five stars. They feel there is no such thing as perfection and there is always room for improvement. I blame Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10’s at the 1976 Montreal Olympics opening up the discussion about if there really is a perfect 10.

I get it. Kinda.

And I realize in some reviewer’s minds the missing one star is somehow suppose to motivate me to do better. Give more. Reach for perfection …

Sigh.

But it still hurts. Just a little.

And, depending on my mood and psyche, this seeking out of approval backfires.

Perhaps it should. Because this exercise of ego-stroking is not really a good look on me.

Sigh.

But at least a four star review is always better than 3 stars. And 2 …

😉

And speaking of my Etsy shop, it’s time for some self-promotion to go along with this self-congratulations post. This year’s car and trucks in jars are up for sale. But, being the magnanimous person I am, I’ll share a little tutorial on how I made them here as well …

How To Make Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe

Materials*

1/64 Red Ford Pick Up Truck (you can find a selection at this link)

Ball Elite Wide Mouth Pint Mason Jars (click here for Amazon sellers)

20mm Red Jingle Bells (click here)

Red & White Baker’s Twine (click here)

Mini Bottle Brush Trees (click here)

Faux Snow (click here)

Start by wrapping baker’s twiner around mason jar three times and tie a knot.

Hook twine through tops of jingle bells. Knot and cut away excess twine.

Cut base off bottle brush Christmas tree.

Feed backer’s twine through window.

Place tree in flat bed of truck. Wrap baker’s twine around tree and knot off.

Knot and cut off excess twine.

Add faux snow to bottom of mason jar.

Insert cart. Twist on lid and band.

And you’re done!

Now I’m currently selling this vintage truck in mason jar snow globe on my Etsy shop (click here).

I also have a vintage Jeep Wrangler at my Etsy shop (click here).

Along with a vintage VW bus snow globe (click here).

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Stamped Snowflake Mason Jar

Christmas Sweater Mason Jar

Mini Mason Jar Snowmen Stocking Stuffers

You can find all my mason jar creations at this link …

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Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars

September 27, 2017 By Linda 5 Comments

Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars – Fall Mason Jar Craft Ideas

In my alternate universe Linda world, my house would be permanently and perpetually clean and organized …

without lifting a finger.

The cleaning fairies would get it done (quietly) while we slept soundly in our freshly laundered and fluffed beds.

Oh, and my house would be self-purging too. 🙂

In my alternate universe Linda world, my weight would never fluctuate …

no matter how little or much I ate. Or how little or much I exercised.

It would just readjust nightly as my house is cleaned by the cleaning fairies while I slept soundly in my freshly laundered and fluffed bed.

In my alternate universe Linda world, I would age backwards until I reached 30 (no full-on Benjamin Button here) while I retaining the hard-earned knowledge, experience and wisdom of my 54 years.

Don’t you love how I just called myself wise? Ha! 🙂

And in my alternate universe Linda world, this blog would run like a well-oiled-machine …

replete with monthly editorial calendars.

Calendars that would be mapped out to make sure there is a mix of posts alternating from crafts and decor to recipes and mason jars. With some Chicago (and my) life mixed in.

But, alas, I’m real world Linda. And that is the world I live in. A world in which things like this happen …

where I publish back-to-back mason jar craft projects.

Sigh.

But I really need to share these painted pumpkin mason jars today. Mostly because they’re so cute. Mostly because they’re so timely (with a listing up at my Etsy shop to arrive in time for Halloween festivities). And mostly because they’re so done …

as in completed, staged, photographed and edited. 🙂

How To Make Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars

Materials*

Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jars

Paint Brushes

Rustoleum Chalked White Paint

Folk Art Pumpkin Craft Paint

Folk Art Pure Orange Craft Paint

Folk Art Forest Moss Green Acrylic Paint

80 Grit Sandpaper

Design Master Clear Coat Sealant (my go-to sealant)

*affiliate links included.

Give your jar two coats of white paint. Let dry completely between coats.

Dry overnight. Distress lightly using 80 grit sandpaper over raised areas on jar.

Using paint brush, add orange dot (using FolkArt Pumpkin acrylic paint).

Add second dot of FA Pumpkin touching first dot. This forms your mini pumpkin shape.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get it … 😉

Using a thin tipped brush and FolkArt Pure Orange Acrylic paint, add three small lines to pumpkin. (This is optional to add a bit of depth to pumpkins).

Using thin-tipped paint brush and FolkArt Forest Moss Acrylic paint, add stems to each pumpkin.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get it … 😉

Finish with matte clear coat spray. Design Master is my go-to because it doesn’t discolor and/or add yellow sheen to jars.

Welcome to Linda’s real world. 🙂

If you prefer for real-world Linda to make these for you, click here for the listing at my Etsy shop.

And if you’re looking for something a little less subtle, I also have this Google Eye mason jar set at the shop soon. Click here for the listing …

Pin It!

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Bats Flying Across Pumpkin

Paper Pumpkins

Hydrangea Wreath for Fall

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Nautical Striped Mason Jars … and is Anybody Out There?

September 21, 2017 By Linda 15 Comments

Nautical Striped Mason Jars – Coastal Painted Mason Jar Craft.

{Knock. Knock}

Hello?

{Knock. Knock}

Is anybody out there?

{Knock. Knock}

Is this mic even working?

{SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCHHHHHHHHHHH}

Oops. Sorry.

So after months of hit-or-miss-will-she-or-won’t-she, here I am with two … count ’em two … blog posts in a single week.

It’s a blog miracle!

Or a blog curse for those of you who prefer me to be more miss than hit; more won’t-she than will-she. 😉

I’ll be honest, I wavered about even sharing this project.

And if I’m truly being honest I have to honestly confess that, contrary to this blog post about what I did not do on my summer vacation, I actually did work on a few summery projects …

which means I’ve bent the truth a bit here. It’s not an all out trendy alternative fact. More like a massaging of the truth.

And most of the summery projects I worked on this summer involved mason jars. Like these nautical striped mason jars in navy and white and light blue and white chalky paint.

And once those summery projects were completed — like these nautical striped mason jars — they sat on my camera card. Patiently waiting for their time to shine in the spotlight that is this blog.

And as summer days marched on …

as July melted into August …

as August jumped into September …

there they sat. Waiting, waiting, waiting. On my camera card.

Which brought me to a crossroads. As I stare down the official first day of Fall … less than 24 hours away … do I dare share a summer project? At this late summer date?

Do I dare download these summery project images from my camera card to my laptop? Do I dare straighten and lighten and brighten and sharpen and …

do I dare? …

do I dare share them on this day? This day before the official first day of Fall?