Well, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so I guess we won’t be seeing Spring until sometime around St. Paddy’s Day. 🙁 To brighten things up, I thought I’d add more color around our home. I’m decorating candles again. I’ve decorated candles before, but these are a little different. And since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, red is a natural. These Beaded Candles are easy to make and can be done using any color that you want.
Here’s how I made them.
I thought I’d make something that I got from my Pat Catan’s Haul. I got some heart shaped beads while I was there, and I immediately thought of making some earrings for Valentine’s Day.
Here’s how I made them:
I want to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine’s Day.
Things around here have been so busy. We’ve been working on the Sewing/Crafts Room ReDo. (photos coming soon) and lots of St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Stay tuned for more tutorials and a tablescape or two.
Please let me know if you have any special requests for projects. If I know how to do it, I’ll be sure to include it.
Making your own wreath for the holidays is easy. With this wreath tutorial, I’ll show you just how easy it is.
What you’ll need:
Grapevine Wreath
1 1/2″ wide wire edge ribbon & 2 1/2″ wide wire edge ribbon. (one spool each that are 9′ long)
Purchased bow or make your own
Valentine’s day sprays (I used 3) Purchased at http://www.michaels.com/
hot glue gun & glue sticks
Chop stick or wooden dowel (to hold items in place while the glue dries, it saves fingers from getting burned)
paddle wire to anchor the bow to the wreath
wire cutters
Scissors
floral tape
Take apart the sprays using wire cutters. Gather the parts in odd numbers, small bunches of 3 or 5. Cut the longer pieces in half. (they are much too long for the wreath). Use the floral tape to create little bouquets. I made little bunches of loops with several of the spray pieces, and several were left straight. Leave the white sections in singles. I also cut the stems of the sprays into small sections & used them as stems for some of the small sprays that I made to give them strength & to save my fingers from being burned.
I used 2 different sized ribbons to wrap the wreath & make the bow. I laid the smaller ribbon on top of the wider ribbon. Wrap the wreath with both ribbons, gluing in place as you go. I like letting some of the grapevine “curly Qs” peek out of the ribbon.
Add a bow to the side of the wreath. I usually put the bow on the side of the door that opens, (not the hinge side) It’s my personal preference. but that’s up to you. It’s your wreath.
Now you can start gluing in the little bouquets that you’ve made. Start with the longer pieces, putting some above the bow & some below it. Then use some of the smaller bouquets in between the loops of the bow. Add the white parts to the bow, scattering them evenly.
And you’re done!
I tied some fishing line to the back of the wreath and hung it from a small nail that is at the top of my door since it was going in the center of glass. By the way, did you notice that there are no flowers on this wreath? The white sections of the sprays add just enough so that you don’t need flowers.
I love to create, paint & wear my own T-Shirt designs. They cost very little to make & are unique. That’s the beauty of hand-painted wearable art. They’re ‘one of a kinds’. They also make wonderful gifts. I’ll show you how to paint a Valentine Heart T-Shirt the easy way.
Here’s what you’ll need:
A washed & dried t-shirt. (do not add fabric softener)
Freezer Paper
Scissors
Red Fabric Paint (I used Tulip Soft in Berry Red Matte because that’s what I had)
Clear Glitter Fabric Paint (I used Scribbles Glittering Crystal Fabric Paint)
Fine Red Glitter
Paint Brush
Styrofoam Plate or Plastic Lid
Iron
Cardboard or Cutting Board covered with plastic wrap
Making your Pattern is easy. Fold a piece of paper in half & cut out a heart shape from the paper, just like you did in grade school. When you get the size that you want to fit the size T-Shirt you’re going to use, trace the heart onto the freezer paper.
Then cut out your heart shape. This will now be used as the stencil.
Place the shiny side of the stencil on the t-shirt where you want it. Play around with the placement. This is your creation. Put it where you want it.
When you have the stencil where you want it, and the shiny side against the t-shirt, press it into place with a dry iron, making sure that the edges of the stencil are securely pressed to the fabric of the T-Shirt. Slide your cardboard or cutting board inside the t-shirt. (you need the cardboard/cutting board in between the front & back of the shirt so that the paint won’t go through to the back of the shirt).
Pour some of the red paint on to the plate/lid. With the paint brush, start from the outside of the stencil, (freezer paper) bringing the paint in towards the center.
Continue around the entire edge.
Fill in the rest of the stencil area.
Apply a second coat, touching up any areas that you might of missed.
When you’ve filled the heart in & there are no sparse areas, peel off the freezer paper.
Let the paint dry. You now have a painted t-shirt.
You can leave it this way, or add some glitter. (and anyone who knows me, knows that I can never have enough glitter.) So, let’s glitter it up! Continue reading
Not enough time to make your own napkin rings? No problem. Even if you have no time at all to cut, measure or sew, you can still use napkin rings to finish off your Tablescapes.
I found these Wilton ‘engagement ring’ Party Favors at Michael’s in the wedding section. (It seemed fitting, since that’s the day that my husband proposed to me.)
Just slip them onto the napkins to add a little bling!
Still no time to go out and purchase the Wilton Party Favors? No problem. Tie some ribbon around your napkins. Or wrap your napkins with some holiday garland. It’s not hard to create a pretty tablescape. Just use your imagination!
Now, that was easy!
I’m crazy about my little princesses. So I couldn’t have a holiday go by with out making something for them.
What you’ll need:
1 red felt square
Polyester fiberfill
Marking pen or tailor’s chalk
scissors
sewing machine & thread
1/8″ red ribbon
Catnip
To make the pattern, I just used a folded sheet of paper and cut out 2 different sized heart shapes. One larger than the other.
Fold the felt square in half. Trace the pattern pieces onto the felt. Use a tailor’s chalk if you don’t want the marks to show. Use a permanent marker if you don’t care if the marks show.
Cut out the 2 heart shapes. (folding the felt in half will give you 2 pieces of each size)
Open the heart shapes & lay your ribbon down the center of both pieces. This will join the two pieces into one single toy. I left a tail of ribbon at the top & bottom to give them something more to play with.
Pin the heart shapes closed, leaving a small opening on the side so you can fill them.
Stitch around the hearts, back-stitching where the ribbons are, to secure them in place, so kitty won’t pull them out.
Stuff each of the hearts with some fiberfill & a teaspoon of catnip. When you’ve stuffed them as much as you like, pin the opening closed.
Sew the opening closed, back stitching to secure the stitching.
Give the new toy to your kitty & watch the fun begin!
I think they like it.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
If you made the Valentine’s Day Candle, but you just don’t have the time to make the centerpiece, I have a couple of easy alternatives for you.
How about some garland? Just wrap the bottom of the candle with some Valentine’s Day garland. Adds some bling, and balances out the candle with some weight to the bottom.
Or how about a boa? Wrap the base of the candle with a red boa.
Not enough ‘bling’? Add some glitter heart shaped stickers to the boa.
Have fun with it! Valentine’s Day is not only a romantic holiday, but it’s a fun & sweet holiday. Make it your own. You’re only limited by your imagination!
Now that you know how to make a decorated candle, let’s make a centerpiece to put the candle in.
What you’ll need:
Something to hold your centerpiece. Mine was 3″ high by 5″ high. You don’t want it too wide.
Floral Foam for dry arrangements
Bread Knife (it make cutting foam easy)
Sheet Moss
3″ x 6″ Pillar Candle
6 roses with leaves (cut stems 3″ to 4″ long)
1 spool of Wire edge Ribbon (2 1/2″ wide x 9′ long)
Paddle Wire (6 – 9 or 10″ lengths)
Wire Cutters
Scissors
Baby Breath (I used Glitter Baby Breath, but then again, I can never have enough glitter)
Wooden Floral Picks with attached wires.
What do you do with a plain white pillar candle? Decorate it, of course! I found some 3″ x 6′ pillar candles on sale, and naturally, I couldn’t resist them. But they are plain. I wanted something for Valentine’s Day.
What you’ll need:
1- 3″ x 6″ pillar candle
measuring tape
Chain (Walmart jewelry making section)
Red heart shaped rhinestones (Michaels)
Straight pins
Double faced tape Continue reading