Crafts – Page 2

Snow Village Lamp – DIY Christmas Craft Idea!

December 8, 2014 Jennifer Davenport 1 Comment

I have a snow village lamp that I made using a fill-able glass lamp. I am participating in a holiday decorating challenge hosted by Hometalk and Lamps Plus.

I made three little houses, called “Putz Houses”. That term was new to me, but it is basically miniature houses made from cardboard.

Now, before you feel like this is something you could not make, let me say that you most definitely can! If you can cut, glue, paint, and glitter, you’re in! Below are my three patterns I used to make these houses. Simply download them, and print them off!

Free Downloadable Patterns for Your Snow Village Lamp:

Large Snow Village House
Medium Snow Village House
Small Snow Village House

Ready to get started?

You will need an Exacto knife to cut out your pattern. I used cereal boxes for my houses. Perfect and cheap!

Trace your pattern, then mark the fold lines. Score these lines using the back of the Exacto knife blade. By scoring your cardboard it will make them fold perfectly.

If you want to make borders around your windows and doors, simply trace them out on cardboard stock paper. Then cut out the patterns. Next, cut around the square leaving 1/4 of a inch.

This is how they should fit around the openings. Don’t glue them on yet. You will attach them after you paint your house.

If you would like your windows to look frosted, cut out wax paper the size of your windows and glue them on the inside of the house.

Next, fold along your scored edges and glue your house together overlapping the edges.

Once your house is glued together, measure out the size roof you will need, and make a pattern as pictured above. Leave the edge straight or cut the edges with craft scissors.

Add hot glue on the edges and attach your roof.

Cut a slit in the middle of your roof and glue together.

Fold the bottom piece of your house in, and glue in place.

Now for the really fun part!

Below are photos and ideas of how I decorated my Putz houses. Have some fun with this part of the project. Don’t feel things have to be perfect. It will turn out great!

TIP: If you make a cut wrong, or have a gap in your seams, use regular spackling paste from the home improvement store. It dries quick, and is paint-able.

Use acrylic paints to paint your houses. Once you have painted them, you can paint your window and door borders, then apply them with Elmer’s glue.

Break up a pine cone and use for shingles for your roof. Once the glue is dry, add some snow or glitter.

For the medium size Putz house, I used a strip of burlap ribbon for the roof.

Add little Christmas wreaths to your windows.

Cut out shapes to make shutters. Search the Christmas craft section of your local craft store, and you will find a ton of different ideas for your snow village lamp.

Putting it all together.

I glued the large house and medium house together with hot glue first. Then I hot glued them to the base of the lamp. Next, I glued the smallest house to the base. Add any small miniatures you have next. Gently place the glass lamp over your houses. Lastly, I lifted the glass base up just a little and pushed some fake snow around the bottom of the houses.

For the lampshade, I added some burlap trim around the top and bottom with hot glue. I found a bag of little snowflakes at the craft store and used Elmer’s glue to attach to the shade. And last, a simple white bow adorns the middle of the shade.

This is now a treasured keepsake. It has a beautiful view from all sides! I want to thank Hometalk and Lamps Plus for the opportunity to participate in such a fun challenge!

Silk Flower Centerpiece – Silk Floral Design Step by Step Tutorial

December 8, 2014 Jennifer Davenport Leave a Comment

Are you looking for silk flower centerpiece ideas? Would you like to know how to make silk flower arrangements cheap and affordable?

It may seem like making your own silk flower centerpiece is way too intimidating, but following these step-by-step instructions will make it seem easy.

This is one accessorizing idea that really makes a home inviting. Whether you use your floral arrangement for a dining room decorating idea for your table, or on top of one of your favorite furniture pieces!

Are you amazed at what some floral arrangements cost in certain upper class design stores? I know I am always taken back!

This red silk flower arrangement sits on my client’s sofa table. Her room needed a little splash of color, so red orchids in the silk flower centerpiece was just the right touch.

Floral Containers

When I am choosing my floral containers, I really like to find ones with unique character. I found this container at the flea market. It had a crack in it, but that was okay because it was in the back and didn’t show.

Okay, now time to make your own silk flower centerpiece. Remember, don’t be intimidated with making your own arrangement. It just takes a little practice!

This silk floral design is a perfect choice for your first arrangement!

Supply List

container
flowers
greenery
foam block
moss
wire cutters

Step 1

Choose flowers that are well-made, and look very real. Local craft stores carry very nice silk flowers, but you will have to hunt for the really beautiful ones. Call around; there are many home decor stores that sell individual silk flowers to the public. They will cost a little more, but they are worth it.

I like to choose three large flowers, three medium flowers, and some petite flowers to compliment the larger ones.

Step 2

Place your foam block into your container. You may have to cut a little of the block off to fit. I use a dull knife. But, you don’t want a perfect fit. You want to be able to shove the block down into the container so it fits in firmly.

Then, I start with the tall straight flowers that resemble a blooming branch. I trim off two of the branches to use as fillers later. Place the flowering branch in the middle of the foam block just a little toward the back.

This becomes your starting point.

Step 3

For the next step, I use the larger flowers first. You will have to use your wire cutters to trim them down. Cut off most of the big green leaves; too many tend to clutter the arrangement.

Step 4

Next I start to use the medium size flowers. The ones I have chosen have a longer and pliable stem. Bend them in a slight curve.

Step 5

Now, finish placing the rest of the white flowers. Again, use three larger flowers, and three medium flowers.

Step 6

When choosing greenery that I call “fillers”, try to pick ones that resemble the real thing. Stay away from the plastic ones. Again, use three of the fillers putting one in the front, and two on the sides.

Then I use the leftover smaller branches to fill in the open spaces.

Step 7

Now it is time to fill in with the colored spanish moss. You can also use other types of moss. One of my favorites is called “deer foot” moss. It looks like the moss you would find growing in the woods. It’s gorgeous.

Break off pieces of the spanish moss (it gets really messy!) and begin to work around the outside of your container. Push the moss down into your arrangement. Here’s a little trick I like to do to secure the moss: pull out a floral stem and place the moss there, and then push the floral stem back into the same spot.

Use smaller pieces of moss to fill in the center of the arrangement.

Make a Fall Pumpkin Topiary

December 8, 2014 Jennifer Davenport

I just adore the fall! This fall pumpkin topiary is easy to do, and is simply gorgeous on a front porch or any entryway! Plastic, carve-able pumpkins from a craft store make this project so easy!

Nothing is more beautiful for fall decorating ideas, than an entryway full of pumpkins!

Purchase your plastic carve-able pumpkins in three different sizes. You will want small, medium, and large. If you don’t want to paint a monogram on your middle pumpkin, then purchase three orange pumpkins and skip using a white pumpkin in the middle.

You want to remove the stems from your middle and bottom pumpkin. Most carve-able pumpkins already have a hole in the bottom, but if they don’t, cut a hole in the bottom of all three pumpkins.

You will need Styrofoam blocks and a dowel rod to build your topiary. Place your Styrofoam block into your container. Make sure to shove your block down as far as it will go. Your block should fit very snug in your container. For a sturdier and more permanent solution to keeping your dowel rod very firm in place, you can also use expanding foam. You can find expanding foam in a spray can in your local home improvement store.

Depending on the container, you may want to add more than one Styrofoam block. Next, place your dowel rod in the center of your block and push it down until it hits the bottom of your container. Don’t worry about your rod being too long, you will trim it in the next step.

Now you are ready to stack your pumpkins. After you stack the first two pumpkins, it will be easy to see where you need to trim your dowel rod. Make sure not to trim it too short!

You can add fall florals under the bottom pumpkin, or just stuff Spanish moss under the pumpkin. Both will look great!

If you wish to add a monogram to your fall pumpkin topiary, find a font you like and size the letter to fit your pumpkin and print it out. Cut around your letter and hold it up to your pumpkin to make sure it will be just the right size.

Next, attach your letter to the pumpkin with some pins. Take another pin and gently poke holes in your pumpkin following the outline of your letter.

Take a pencil and play “dot-to-dot” following the pin marks to outline the letter. Paint your letter with acrylic paint and then spray with a sealer when finished. You do not want to use a brush on sealer because it will smear the paint!

I added a few extra swirls, and painted some small leaves. If you want your pumpkins to be really shiny, spray them all over with a high-gloss sealer.

To top off your pumpkin topiary you must add a bow!

Wasn’t that easy? I hope you had a great time making your topiary!

Save

Fall Door Decor

December 8, 2014 Jennifer Davenport

Check out this wooden letter decorated with fall decorations!

You are going to love this fall door decor idea. I love anything monogrammed. When I found these large wooden letters at Hobby Lobby, it was time for a craft project! And nothing is more fun to me than coming up with new fall decorating ideas!

Make a gorgeous monogrammed fall door decoration. http://www.jenniferdecorates.com

If you are looking for a door decoration other than a fall wreath this year, this is an easy craft idea for adults! Make one for someone special, or keep it for yourself! Let’s get started crafting!

I purchased one of the larger letters, but you can downsize this craft project with a smaller letter. But, for me, what is that saying? “Go big or go home”.

Give your letter two coats of acrylic paint. I used the color “Hunter Green”.

I love to antique things after I have painted them. There is a trick to getting it right, however. You want to make your project look naturally aged.

I use a small paper plate and place a small amount of the Raw Umber on the side. Next, pour a quarter size amount of water onto the plate. Wet your brush, and then mix the paint and water.

Before you begin, wet a small rag and ring out most of the water. This is what you will use to wipe off excess paint.

Begin brushing on your antiquing color, brushing in the same direction. If you have too much color in one spot, gently remove with your wet rag. Once you are finished doing this over the entire letter, let it dry completely.

Here is the trick to making your faux antiquing finish look authentic and beautiful: ( I am sorry for the blurry photo)

Pour a small amount of the Raw Umber onto a plate. Do not water down the paint. Dip your brush into the paint and brush onto the sides of your letter. Next, take your wet rag and gently go back and forth blending it. Continue all around the edges of your letter.

Your last step is to apply two coats of varnish. I love using Delta craft varnish because it dries so quickly. This part of the painting project is my favorite. Watch how the color comes alive when you add varnish!

I am a nut for a pretty bow! For this fall door decor idea I chose a beautiful satin brown ribbon, and a burnt orange thinner ribbon. Lay your smaller ribbon over the larger ribbon and make a loop.

Again, lay your smaller ribbon over the larger one and make another loop. The trick to a pretty bow is keeping your loops all the same size. Make two more loops and tie in the middle.

When you tie your ribbon in the middle, tie it very tight.

Finish your bow by trimming the tails.

Now the fun part…

Time to put your fall door decor project together. Pick some fun fall florals that you love, and heat up the glue gun!

Burlap and glitter! Seriously, what more could a girl want?

Glue your bow on first. Trim two small stems of the burlap, add hot glue, and place under your bow.

Pine cones on a stem! Now you are talking! Trim a few stems and glue onto your letter.

Now all you need to add is a few smaller pieces that I call the “fillers”.

Be careful not to overdo it on the fillers. Keep it light and airy.

Cut a small piece of jute rope and staple to the back of your letter for hanging.

You are finished! Love it! You know I’m sure you have some left-over florals and ribbon from this fall door decor craft. Why not surprise a friend and make one for them? This one is for my mom and dad. I’m still trying to make up for my childhood shenanigans.

Christmas Bow – Learn to make a bow like a pro!

December 8, 2014 Jennifer Davenport

Do you wish you could make a Christmas bow like you see in all the decorating stores? Well, you can! A beautifully crafted bow really does make all the difference when decorating for the holidays.

Whether you’re making bows for decorating a wreath, packages, mailboxes, or decorating a Christmas tree, just follow the easy steps below and you are on your way to fun holiday decorating!

TIP: Remember to buy your ribbon early in the season. I find that it is all picked over weeks before Christmas! Shop early!

I am a huge fan of wired ribbon. First, it is easy to work with, and second, it stores year after year. If it gets a little smashed, you just re-shape it!

If you would rather watch a video of how I make a Christmas bow, the video is below. Or, you can read through my easy step-by-step tutorial that is right below the video.

Video of How to Make a Bow

Christmas Bow Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1

Cut a piece of the ribbon about 7″ to 8″. Next, fold the ribbon in half. I usually apply a little hot glue to keep the ribbon folded. You will use this scrap piece for tying the middle knot.

Step 2

Make your first loop, leaving excess ribbon for the tail.

The key to making a beautiful bow, is keeping all your loops the same size. Your first loop is your pattern. Decide how large you would like to have your bow, and make your first loop like pictured.

Step 3

Next, make another loop opposite of your first loop and hold tightly in the middle. Again, you want to make sure your loops are all the same size.

Step 4

Make your third loop on the side of the first loop, scrunching up the middle of the bow tightly.

Step 5

Now make your fourth loop on the right side. How do your loops look? Are they all the same size? If not, now is the time to adjust them.

Step 6

Using the scrap ribbon you cut, tie the middle of your bow very tightly. Tying the middle tightly is important to making your bow beautiful. The excess ribbon makes it easy to attach your bow to any Christmas decoration.

Beautiful!

Throw in am extra loop for a fuller bow!

You can always add an extra loop like I did in the photo above.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make a Christmas bow! Have a fabulous holiday!

Free Downloadable Patterns for Your Snow Village Lamp:

Ready to get started?

Now for the really fun part!

Putting it all together.

Floral Containers

Supply List

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Check out this wooden letter decorated with fall decorations!

Now the fun part…

Video of How to Make a Bow

Christmas Bow Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Beautiful!

Throw in am extra loop for a fuller bow!

Christmas Bow Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1