Yarn-Wrapped Halloween Wreath

I wanted a Halloween wreath that celebrated the holiday without being too silly or predictable. I decided to do a solid black with a little white wrapped around, using the same technique I used on my previous wreath. I thought it would give it the look of a web and I was pleasantly surprised.

I choose a bright orange felt and made simple roses using a technique I learned from Pinterest: How to Make Felt Rose Flowers

My final step was to paint wooden letters a bright orange and apply with a glue gun.

I'm really happy with the way the wreath turned out...I think it's simple and celebrates the holiday without Halloween throwing up on it. Haha :)

DIY Custom Coasters

One of the last things I wanted to make (craft) for my new living room was a set of custom coasters. I found this pin on Pinterest which helped me figure out how I would make these custom coasters. For supplies, I used:

1. 3"x3" black ceramic tiles (purchased at Home Depot)

2. scrapbook paper (6 different designs)

3. foam/rubber shelf liner

4. high gloss acrylic spray paint

5. Mod Podge

6. black acrylic paint

7. foam brush

The ceramic tiles I purchased had a glossy black top, which I though would make it easy because I planned on letting some of the black on the top show. The sides of the tiles were white, so I used the black acrylic paint to paint the sides. It took two coats.

I then used the ceramic tiles to trace and measure pieces of scrapbook paper.

I measured and cut the scrapbook paper squares smaller than the tiles so the black on the tiles would show slightly around the edges. I then used Mod Podge to apply the pieces of scrapbook paper to the tiles.

After applying the scrapbook paper, I made sure to turn the tiles over and set something heavy on them so the paper could try and all edges would stay down. When dry, I applied a coat of Mod Podge to the top of the scrapbook paper to seal it in.

After drying, I took the tiles out into the garage to spray the glossy acrylic paint. I applied two coats.

For the last and final step, I cut out squares of foam shelf liner and used Mod Podge to apply them to the back of the tiles, which would help them grip on a coffee table. 

I am so glad I found this idea because it seems much better than buying a standard set of coasters that are impersonal and all matching. This way, you can customize them and have fun at the same time. I think they would make an excellent gift!

Repurposing Your Home Decor

As I've been packing and getting ready to move into my new place, I have been getting rid of a lot of old furniture and decor that doesn't match my new theme. Some of the items, however, I realized I could repurpose. One of my new colors will be chrome, so I decided to buy chrome spray paint at the craft store and change the look of some of the items that do not match my new decor. 

I started with a light green glass vase. I made sure to wipe it of any dust or residue and then gave it two good coats of spray paint. I also did the same to a black porcelain try.

I also had a globe that had a bronze metal base and a tall candle holder that was bronze that I wanted to spray chrome. I used 220 sandpaper first to sand both pieces and use a wet cloth to remove the excess residue before spraying.

This was my first time spray painting to repurpose home decor and I am happy with the results. I cannot wait to incorporate these pieces into my new place!

A Wreath to Emphasize Your Accent Color

As I've mentioned in the past few posts, I am re-doing my living room, so I have been making a lot of items that will really add to the decor. My colors are silver, black, white, grey, and an emerald-turquoise pop of color. 

I decided I would like a new wreath on my front door to match my new decor. Because my living room will mostly be muted tones of silver, grey, black, and white, I decided to make the majority of the wreath in that emerald-turquoise pop of color. For supplies, I used:

1. 8" styrofoam wreath

2. yarn (2 colors…emerald green & a lighter green)

3. felt

4. small decorations: white buttons, small fake flowers

5. glue gun

I started out by wrapping the styrofoam wreath the darker emerald green. 

When that was finished, I used the lighter green and wrapped it around, giving a 3D effect that also matched the emerald-turquoise color I was going for. I didn't realize that wrapping the lighter color would have the effect it did, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Wrapping the styrofoam wreath is the hardest part for me because I am a perfectionist, so it has to look just right. For this wreath, I wanted to make two types of felt flowers. One is a simple rose that you cut from a spiral (you can do straight or wavy…I did both), and one is a folded petal flower. I found out how to do both on Pinterest. Here are the pins I used:

Straight Rose Felt Flower

Wavy Rose Felt Flower

Folded Petal Felt Flower

For one flower, I used the straight rose effect and cut out white and light grey. I wrapped them together to make a two-colored rose. 

After making the felt flowers, I began to glue them onto the wreath, thinking about color placement. I finished off the flowers by adding white buttons and small white fake flowers.

I am absolutely in LOVE with this wreath and cannot wait to hang it on the door of my new place. I really think it is unique and will go with my decor very well! :)

Yarn Wrapped Wine Bottles

I have been looking on Pinterest to find ideas for my new living room and I came across this pin. I loved the idea and wanted to incorporate my new colors using this idea. I saved old wine bottles and did my best to strip them of their labels. Some residue was still left over, but most of the label was gone. I actually had to soak one in water for a bit first before the label would scrape off. Once the wine bottles were ready, all I needed was:

1. Mod Podge glue

2. Yarn

3. Buttons/Accessories

4. Foam Brush

I started with the wine bottle turned upside down and used the foam brush to put a layer of glue on the wine bottle. 

I then worked the yarn tightly and carefully across. Once I reached the curve of the bottle, I skipped the yarn over to the neck and did that first before then finishing down the curve of the bottle. 

Once the bottle was completely wrapped, I cut the yarn and glued the stray piece to what I would have be the back of the bottle. Once all the bottles were done, I let them dry for a while.

I used buttons and yarn to spell out "love" and finished it off with some sweet little white flowers. 

I think it will really add something to my living room! :)

Easy Customized Wall Art

Last week as I was looking on Pinterest for crafts I could make to decorate my new living room, I came across this pin: DIY Scrapbook Paper Wall Art. I thought it would be powerful on the wall above my sofa and the best thing…I could completely customize it to my new living room colors!

I went to Home Depot and purchased a 10 ft by 12 in board for $23. For free, I had the employee at Home Depot cut the board into 12x12 squares for me. Because the wood wasn't exactly 12 in (more like 11.8), I just asked him to make sure they were square. When all the cutting was finished, I ended up with 10 squares which was perfect because I only needed 9 and now I had one extra :)

For the rest of the wall art, the supplies I used:

1. black acrylic paint

2. foam brush

3. Nine pieces of scrapbook paper (in your chosen style/color)

4. Mod Podge glue (bottled matte)

5. Razor Cutter

6. Mod Podge SPRAY glue (glossy)

I started by painting the edges of the squares with the black paint. I used three coats of paint so the wood would be completely covered.

As the edges were drying, I measured and cut the pieces of scrapbook paper for the squares. Once the squares dried, I applied Mod Podge to the wood and attached the scrapbook paper squares. I made sure to add glue to the edges if they were coming up.

I am by no means perfect, so I had to use a razor cutter to trim any extra paper hanging from the wood.

I also touched up the edges with black paint if they needed it.

I laid all 9 squares out to dry (face down). Once they were dry, I finished them off with two coats of glossy spray Mod Podge.

I'm looking forward to hanging this customized art in my new place. I will most likely buy hanging brackets from Home Depot that I will screw into the backs to hang them with. 

Easily Adding an Accent Color

So, as I mentioned in this previous post, I am re-doing my living room in grey, white, black, silver, and my pop of color... which is this emerald-turquoise color. Because I have been having difficulty finding items to decorate my living room in this color, I decided to craft some of my own items. I found this basic wood frame at Michael's and used my 40% coupon  (woo hoo!) to purchase it. 

I already had some acrylic paint at home, so in order to get the perfect color, I mixed green, blue, white, and black until I found the perfect mixture. 

(elephant inspiration)

I then used a foam brush and applied two coats of paint to the basic frame and let it dry.

I love the way it turned out and how easy it was! Slowly but surely, I am acquiring more and more items in my "pop" of color!