2 quick (and cheap) fall crafts

Hi All,
Are you ready for fall? Seriously, I'm not - I want another month of summer, But I have a few decorating ideas to help me get ready for a beautiful MN fall & brace myself for a not-so-beautiful MN Winter.

Candle:

You'll need: Mod Pogde, empty glass pickle jar, colored tissue paper, leaves &

candle (we use an flameless one with the boy running around) Tear up the tissue paper into random size pieces & Mod Podge on to the jar.
I found these cool leaves,I think they were all chewed up by Asian Beetles, But I loved the lacy look of them & thought light flickering thru them would be beautiful.
Mod Podge them on to the jar over the tissue paper - I used a super thick coat.
* word to the wise, store your leaves flat, not is a crumpled ball will make this project easier*
I tied on a little birch branch disc with some raffia, dropped in a candle & Done!

Pumpkin Banner:

I found these felt pumpkins at Dollar Store in WI. I was not sure what I would do with them, but I had to have them. My Mom suggested this project & I turned out super cute!

I punched some holes, ties them together with some raffia (just something about fall makes me want to decorate with raffia... must remind me of hay).

Hang it above the porch french doors with some little Command Hooks
DONE!
Each of these crafts took about 15 minutes & cost virtually nothing.

Plus I was lucky enough to have most of the craft supplies on hand.
Thank you, Karla

Craft room organization

Happy New Year!


I typically do not make resolutions (mainly because I have no will power to keep them). HA HA But this year after a re-do of my craft room I vow to keep it looking nice & organized (and also hope to tackle the last room in the house to be re-done)!


Here are some things I've used to organize my craft room... from THIS POST

These containers are Gerber wagon wheels with scrap book paper Mod Podged on them. I have done a bunch... these hold trinkets but I also have one for crayons, one for markers & one for chalk. I even have some by the phone in the kitchen for pens, scissors & other stray items.

Puffs Containers work great for pipe cleaners & paint brushes.

Can't go wrong with a few extra Command hooks to keep things neat & tidy.
Dollar Store plastic baskets in my rooms color scheme keep thread, Velcro, glue & wanna-be-projects out of sight, but with in easy reach. The Chocolate polka dot container is from baby formula. (I just couldn't bare to keep throwing those things away... I had to do something with them.)

Seriously, I use everything... these turq. containers are from Swiffer Wet cloths. They are fairly sturdy, work with my colors & don't have any holes for little things to slip out (or tiny fingers to poke thru).

I labeled everything with simple black card stock & chalk.Cork board for Miscellaneous keepsakes - works for pinning up pattern directions ( not that I use patterns much anymore... but once in a blue moon).
Blue Ball canning jars hold buttons... and these rope baskets are left overs from my craft/sewing room an my Bloomington House. I keep my yarn stashed in a hanging unit from IKEA.

And last but not least, If you have one of these...
You'll need some of these to keep your area tidy.

Thank you, Karla

PS - unlike the reality show room make-overs, I should check back with you in 6 months & see how I'm doing.

Easy Art Wall

Here is how I did an easy art wall in our new craft space. This way I don't have to have all of Peepers lovely keepsake art hanging on the front of the refrigerator.
I used Command Hooks (seriously, I don't know what I did before this invention came along... they are literally the best thing since sliced bread & we use them in almost every room & closet in the house!!!) That can be a lazy day blog post...Hmmm... Maybe I should be a paid spokes person for these.

I had plans for this to wrap around on to 2 short walls so I figured out I needed 6 hooks ( 3 for each row). Since I planned to have the table nestled into that corner. So I measured how high up from the floor they should be (allowing room for the art to hang down).

I them measured the length of the walls & cut my ribbon a little longer (about 6") to allow for slack & the loops. At first I was going to use clothes line rope, but I liked the though of the thought of the extra pop of color (Plus it was left over from our wedding). I sewed the loops, but you could tie a knot if you want (allow extra ribbon/rope for knots).

Once hanging, I just started placing clothes pins & art along the ribbon.

From this photo you can see I folded my ribbon in half width wise so that it stayed on the hook. Once I had enough art & clothes pins hanging from the ribbon the weight kept in in place better.

I love this art wall... this could be fun way to display Holiday or Birthday cards too.

Thanks, Karla

E A T

We have vaulted ceilings, I feel there are spaces that are harder to decorate. What to hang? How high do you hang it? I have felt there is this one skinny wall in my kitchen that has been begging for something more.

You see vintage signs & letters all over that are $$$. At first I wanted the word "delic" Or "delis" See, I can't even figure out how to spell it! Plus, it would not fit on the wall.

After much deliberating, I decided upon a word. I went to my local JAF & purchased my goods. The 12" letters were on sale for 2.99 each (reg 3.99). I then found 3 sheets of 12x12 scrap book paper that would coordinate with the kitchen, convey the vintage feel & had a "foodie" flair.

Trace the letter on to the paper & cut it out.
Paint the sides of the letters (2 coats). I used a color called "Coffee Bean". I made sure to get the edges real good in case my paper cutting was not spot on.

I used my brown ink pad to antique the cut out letter & Mod Podged them on the letter shapes. After it dried, I used an exacto knife to trim off any excessive overhang of paper. Then I had to do a few spots of touch up paint on the edges where a few nicks occurred.

I used Command picture hanging kit to place letters on wall. This stuff is awesome if you have not tried it. Especially if you are not sure where you want something to go or need to re-position it to be just perfect.

Strategically place the word in kitchen above messy cork board. My husband keeps teasing me we should spell TEA or ATE, depending on the time of day. But he thought they looked nice. (Not that he has any decorating say as part of the pre-nup). HA HA

I did something similar to Peepers room with 6" letters, I just used paint on these, but will someday redecorate (when he gets a big bed... tear) and can repaint or Mog Podge these letter to match his new decor.

FYI the "silly monkey" lettering is from Upper Case Living & the bananas & Monkey are from Michael's

Thanks, Karla