I heart Buttons....bracelet

I attended over the weekend a 3rd annual Mardi Gras party with many of our neighborhood friends.  It's always a great time with lots of joking, catching up, amazing craw fish and let's say, some drinking.

I realized, with the blessed busyness lately, I wasn't able to go out and shop for Mardi Gras accessory items so, I had to improvise.  This holiday has as staple of three basic colors, Purple, Yellow and Green...what could I possible have, that would be quick to whip together...BUTTONS.

I headed to my office and began sifting through my many bags of buttons.  I then decided to sew them, by hand, to a piece of yellow ribbon; another always-have-on-hand, ribbon.

Below are images of the project.  Please use it to inspire you for just about any holiday or gathering. These could make great party favors for a little girls party too.

Supplies needed:

Ribbon, any width will do

Buttons

Thread

Needle

Fray Check

Scissors

I didn't take very many pictures of sewing on each button but here's the finished product.

Here's a backside view of the buttons sewn onto the ribbon.

I'm a big lover of Fray Check, I use it on a lot of things.  I used it to clean up where I cut my ribbon.

Finished product.

The possibilities are endless...I think I'll be making one for Independence Day, once it gets closer. 

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

With Thanksgiving behind us, my inner child is surfacing very quickly as I spread Holiday Cheer throughout our home...


Below are pictures I've taken to capture the spirit of Christmas in our home.  I hope a few of them inspire you, when you decorate your personal space this holiday season.


Our home builder thought it would be creative to make the front door larger than the standard size. This made it hard to find an over-the-door wreath hook that was long enough to display my wreath in just the right spot.  I decided to take matter in my own hands and use ribbon (one of my many addictions) to hang it as low as I'd like. 

As people come and go throughout our home this time of year, I thought it would be neat to display our received Christmas cards on the back of our front door. 

When you enter our home, this wreath hangs above a black, distressed bench. A bench where jackets and shoes are gathered.  I liked the idea, because of it's location, to incorporate a hint of the outdoors with this lantern and then fill it with small, red Christmas ball ornaments.

Our advent calendar are stockings which trail up the staircase starting with number 1 at the bottom.  Each night a little something is left for the boys to enjoy.

I'm a sucker for anything that makes my boys go "Oh, Ah..." so when I noticed a great place in my dining room to creatively display a Snow Village, I jumped on eBay and started shopping. This is a Department 56 "The Original Show Village" collection.

I have a thing for vintage books and snowman.  I like to put them just about anywhere possible.  These pieces are displayed on our living room cabinet. 

Love is....spoken here

Also in our living room, is our Fake Christmas Tree. Sadly, in Colorado, due to it's dry climate, a real tree put up this early would probably not survive. The tree has red, satin bows, small, gold balls, rustic snowman, and many picture frame ornaments. I underestimated the amount of reminiscing that would come when setting up the tree...sigh...

(This is my littlest peanut enjoying the tree)

One of my favorite pieces, a Snowman Cookie Jar I got from Pottery Barn 6 years ago reduced from $65.00 down to $15...score! :)

Lastly, a sign I enjoy seeing everyday...

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

        

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{Jingle Bells} - Door Accent Tutorial

I just love the sound of Bells during Christmas.  I have them on frequently used doors throughout our home.  

I've been holding onto a great find from the $1 ribbon bin at Michael's, until I have just the right project for it.  This "Merry Christmas" ribbon,

 which was right up my alley due to it's price and vintage appearance was a great find.  

I was browsing the isles, at our local Hobby Lobby, when an idea called out at me.  A canister of vintage/rustic bells called my name from a 50% off shelf.    I decided, that moment, I was going to create a Door Bell accent with them and the ribbon.  I excitedly dropped them into my cart, and while hearing their distinct Christmas jingle, my creative wheels started spinning..."What exactly should this craft look like when I'm done?"

I remembered, while driving home, that a week prior I threw in my cart a bag of wooden Stars from the clearance section at Michael's.  That too was a great find because the 

set of 4 stars were only $0.47. 

Below is a tutorial on making this Jingle Bell Door Accent.  

Project Time:
45 minutes - 1 hour (Ideal for naptime)

Supplies Needed

Purchased Items:

Ribbon $1.00

Bells $4.99 (mine were 50% off)

Wooden Star ($0.47 clearance)

Scrap Fabric - Two contrasting colors or One (FREE)

On Hand Supplies:

Craft Glue

Close Pin

Pencil

Rag (for sticky fingers)

Damp Paper towel

Step 1:

Trace on wrong side of fabric for Front fabric choice, if using two different prints.

Step 2:

Free Hand an additional trace line about 1/2 an inch larger, for cutting, around the actual star size.

Step 3:

If using a second fabric, trace on right side of fabric the star.

Otherwise, trace a second star on your first fabric making two star cut-outs. One larger and one exact.

Step 4:

Get Glue and Star ready for gluing.

Place wooden star on wrong side of Fabric and cut slits into into corners of fabric for easy folding over.

  

Step 5:

Apply Glue to wood and begin folding over fabric.

Step 6:

When corners fold over, cut off excess fabric.  To adhere the corners from lifting, 

smooth over extra glue with  your finger.

Step 7:

When finished this is how the right side should look.  Turn over with wooden Star exposed upwards, and apply your second fabric star on top.

Step 8:

Grab your bells and ribbon. Cut Ribbon 30" long, or more, you can always shorten your tails. Be safe, cut longer. :0)

Step 9:

Find the middle point of your ribbon. Apply glue to the center of the star on the fabric.

Wrap your ribbon around the star. Place glue at the top of the star, between the two ribbons, to merry them.  Hold them together with a cloths pin. 

Step 10:

Count out 11 - 12 bells and begin to thread them on the ribbon.

Thread 1 bell on each strand and the third bell onto both strands.  Continue to thread until you've used all bells.

Step 11:

Find a door to hang them from for ultimate drying of glue (while cloths pin still attached).

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and it inspires you to make one to fill your home with sounds of Christmas!

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Is working on a Fun Christmas Tutorial...

for a Christmas themed {Jingle Bells Door Knob} Display.  

It will have Vintage/Rustic bells, a Wooden Star, Fabric and a classic Christmas Ribbon.

It's an Under $10 dollar DIY.

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