How much wood could a handy girl chuck if a handy girl could find wood? Ha, luckily I found a fallen tree in the woods behind our house. I brought a handsaw with me and cut it into into a manageable size that I could drag back to the house. I’m really excited about this gift idea! These Log Tea Light Pillar Candles are the perfect accessory for anyone’s table or mantle this holiday season (and beyond the holidays.)
December is here! Ack!!! Anyone else feeling the pressure? Did you buy gifts for everyone? Have you decorated? GAAAAHHHHH!!!!
Well, I’m here to help take some stress off your wallet and your to do list. Over the next two weeks I’m going to share with you gifts you can make in 15 minutes or less. There’s sure to be something for almost everyone on your gift list.
Meet me back here on Monday for the first tutorial. And stick around for all ten days! On Friday, December 14th if you still haven’t found an idea you like, I’ll set up a link party for everyone to share their own quickie DIY gift ideas!
It should be fun, wanna come?
You must think I have plumbing on the brain. After all our leaks, I’ve spent some time in the plumbing aisle. While there I came across these three things:
They are beautiful, don’t you think?! Can’t you see them hanging from your Christmas tree or on your door? What? No?
Okey dokey, come along I’ll break it down for you, this is going to be fun.
Lay out the hooks in a star formation.
Wrap two ends with the hemp string to attach them to each other.
Continue attaching all the hooks together. Be sure to weave down and around the elbows for better hold.
Shape the hooks until they are in a perfect star shape.
Cut a length of utility wire and wrap it around the star shape. Add curly q’s, bends and spirals…
…thread beads and jingle bells periodically.
Cut more wire and continue to decorate the star with beads and curled wire.
Finish off by adding a loop to the top of the star to act as a hanger.
Thread a ribbon through the loop and hang it on your door,
a window or another prominent spot.
Measure the diameter of your hose clamp (at its most open setting while it is still attached.) Set your compass to half the diameter and draw a circle onto the foam board. Cut out the foam board with the x-acto knife.
Widen your compass and draw a wider circle onto a piece of fabric. Cut out a piece of fabric and center it over the foam board circle. Lay the hose clamp over the foam and fabric.
Tighten the hose clamp with the screwdriver until it is snug enough to hold the fabric, but not tight enough to crush the foam board.
Decorate your circle with stickers, buttons, trim, ribbon, or whatever, you’re the creator!
You could also use scrapbook paper instead of fabric. The star and joy ornament decorations were created with the Silhouette CAMEO.
Hot glue the excess fabric to the back (or fray it to look like a mini-embroidery hoop. Glue ribbon or trim around the hose clamp.
Create a loop at the top for hanging the ornament.
My little guy insisted that we need to make an ornament for Santa 😉
These ornaments are so fun and easy. Be creative and let the kids have fun with this project. I can see a little handprint on the center of one for a keepsake ornament. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Lay out the pipe straps in a star shape.
Thread hemp string through the holes on two straps. Knot the end of the string.
Continue until you have completed the star snowflake form.
You will need to finagle the star form until it looks good to you.
Tie a string through one of the star points. Add beads and tie a loop to hang your ornament.
What do you think? Am I plumb crazy or are these truly adorable ornaments I made from plumbing parts?
Disclosure: I have partnered with Lowe’s as a Lowe’s Creative Influencer. I was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project. The tutorial, photos and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not told what to write. #LowesCreator
I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.
You got a peek at my living room fall décor when I showed you how to make the book page oak leaf garland. As promised, I’ll let you see the rest of the room and how I decorated for Fall.
Before I invite you in, I have a confession to make. Read more
It’s true, I JUST took down the rest of the Christmas decorations. Yes — I know it is February — but honestly I’ve been a bit busy lately. I carved out a little time to spray paint a lantern and hot glue a new wreath. And that was all it took to put me in the mood to decorate for the season.
I wanted some cozy warmth and a little brightness on our mantle, so I hung a soft faux fur throw up. To avoid nailing into the brick, I used a wooden dowel rod that spans the width of the throw. I added two screw eyes in either end of the rod and fishing line that feeds through the eye hooks and wraps around nails that are secured into the crown moulding on either side of the fireplace.
I really like the softness of the throw.
A berry wrapped white bird on top of a paper wrapped book helps bring in a little more romantic red.
Michael’s has this crackle vase on clearance now, but be careful about filling it with water because it will leak. Inserting a small yogurt container inside made it possible for me to use it for fresh flowers.
I am really excited about the book page wreath I made, but I think I’m more excited about that old light fixture that I revamped. One of my facebook fans thought it was from Pier 1. That was the ultimate compliment for something I paid $5 for at the Habitat ReStore!
The paint color I used on the lantern is Rustoleum’s Lagoon, and it has sent me on a big aqua kick!
More books and a plant to balance the right side of the mantle.
I’ll have a tutorial for this book page wreath on Wednesday, so get busy finding an old book and a ceiling medallion!
I used the chandelier turned candelabra to bring some Valentine’s whimsy to our kitchen table.
The hearts on a stick were purchased from the Dollar Tree, I just slipped green straws over the stems to beef them up a little.
I did pull the stems off the rest of the hearts and piled them in this other lantern with some faux grass.
A few recycled jars pulled together make a crisp and clean flower arrangement. We have some flowers blooming in our yard already (only about one month early), but I picked up these agapantus and alstroemeria (peruvian lilies) from the grocery store.
I think of my sister everytime I see agapanthus, because they grow right outside her front door! Lucky duck.
My friend, Leen the Graphics Queen will recognize this bottle from our antiquing trip to Southport, NC. I’d never been to Southport before, but I will definitely have to go again. It is a really neat little town by the sea.
I couldn’t neglect the mudroom. This is where my tree branch heart wreath hangs out.
Because this is our family’s main entrance, I chose some sweet smelling daphne and daffodils to create a fragrant and colorful welcome home.
I couldn’t truly welcome spring yet (since technically it is still a month and a half away.) So, I scribbled “Hello Spring?” on the chalkboard.
I hope you have a fabulous February and a sweet Valentine’s Day.
P.s. How many of you watched the SuperBowl (or at least the commercials and/or halftime show) last night? What were your favorite commercials? I have to say I really liked the VW, Doritos and E-Trade commercial. And my son and I were up off the couch and dancing with Madonna! I thought she rocked the halftime show.
