Oh Martha Monday - Felt Balls

{Sorry I'm posting this so late. I got sidetracked trying to take the kid's christmas photo today... Trying is the key word here... Operation Christmas Photo, Part 2 starts tomorrow morning!}

Ever since I saw this lovely wreath last year, I've been wanting to make felt balls so I could create my own.

 felted ball wreath via pickles

And of course, Martha has the tutorial!

how-to here
AND
a washing machine method here

felted ball garland via anthropologie 

felted stone rug via yes, i made that

felted ball rug via crafttastic parties

I've been searching for places that sell wool roving and it really runs the gamut-- from Etsy to Walmart.  I don't think I'll have time for it this year, but definitely something to think about for 2011.  I love that the look is pretty timeless, I could hang this up in the summer and no one would blink an eye!

Oh Christmas Tree - Feathered

Okay, be honest ...

Does this look like the Abominable Snow Tree to you?

I started gluing individual feathers at the bottom of the cone form and layered my way up. I was actually trying for something more feathered and less fluff, something like this...

via anthropologie

Joanns only had fluffy white feathers, but I decided to give it a go...

Kinda cute as an abominable snow tree, but not exactly the look I'm going for ☺

I'm thinking something this fluffy might look better in  pink (perhaps in a girls room)...

pink feather tree

and a feather boa would make this a very quick project!

Back to the drawing board!


[Check the Holiday Projects tab for More DIY Christmas Tree Projects]

Thanksgiving 2010

There was food...

And there still is food!

Do you like Thanksgiving leftovers?   

I love it!

Tonight we had ham soup. 

Perfect meal for a cold night.

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkey is lounging in a salt water bath,

The sweet potatoes are fluffed and ready for their close-up,

The maple pear upside-down cake is upside-down and chillin',

The stuffing is prepped and ready to go,

The beans are... well, they're just being beans,

And me?

I'm keeping calm and cranberrying on!

free printable via craftily ever after

If you're celebrating, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Oh Christmas Tree - Ruffled

I know we haven't had our Thanksgiving meal yet, but is it okay if I move on to Christmas?

Yay!

I've decided that our Christmas decor needs a major rehaul.  I made gold & burgundy decorations about 12 years ago (eek!) and IT IS TIME for a change!!! 

First off I'm changing the color scheme to white and silver.  My goal is a clean and contemporary look... and I'm going to try and keep costs down by making most of the decor.  And if I don't finish this year, there's always next year, and the year after that, and the year after that...  I'm not going to pressure myself into doing everything in one month!

My first project is to create some Christmas Trees for the mantel.  Using technique from this felt wreath tutorial that I saw and hearted last year, I made this in one evening as I watched Oprah's Favorite Things (parts 1 & 2) on the DVR.  BTW, all those excited and happy people made me tear up... who knew watching strangers receive things would be so emotional?

and with a little *bling*

star ornament from joann's

project stats:

see basic tutorial here

the styrofoam cone is @ 12 inches high and @ 5 inches wide at the base

1.25 yards of felt

each circle is 2-inches diameter

i used a jar as a circle template

use sharp scissors to cut 2-3 circles out at a time

it took 280 circles & 280 straight pins to cover the tree

Okay, back to Thanksgiving.  I really need to focus so I can start prepping things tonight!

edited december 2, 2011 to add...

click [HERE} to view the complete vignette


[Check the Sidebar for More DIY Christmas Tree Projects]

linked to:

someday crafts
all things heart & home
somewhat simple
paisley passions
the shabby nest
tatertots & jello
somewhat simple's holiday ideas
between nap on the porch's deck the halls
centsational girl's christmas crafts
someday crafts christmas tree show
domestically speaking's countdown to christmas party

Oh Martha Monday - Leaves

A few more ideas if you enjoy decorating with Leaves~

leaf decoupage picture mats

a modern table

 

 not fall related, but i thought this was pretty

how to frame pressed leaves

 hanging leaves

leaf-covered candles

tabletop collage

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  I have the BIRD, but that's about it...Off to the market I go!  Have a great day.

A Thanksgiving Carrot Cake

What?  Carrot Cake isn't on your Thanksgiving menu?   All right then, it's just me... After a month of pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin cookies, I'm just kinda tired of the ol' gourd. Time for a new kind of orange!  ☺

This is my favorite, tried and true Carrot Cake.  I brought it to a Thanksgiving potluck and got many recipe requests, so I thought I'd share it here too.

My Favorite Carrot Cake

{ingredients}

4 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups coursely grated carrots

8 ounces pineapple - canned or frozen, squeeze out water (optional)

1 cup chopped pecans OR walnuts (optional)

{frosting}

1/2 cup butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

{directions}

preheat oven to 350 F

grease & flour 9x13 inch pan (I use a pyrex)

beat eggs, applesauce, oil, brown and white sugars & vanilla

mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon & nutmeg

stir in carrots, pineapple (opt) & nuts (opt)

pour mixture into prepared pan

bake 40-50 minutes until center is cooked, check with a toothpick.

cool in pan for at least 15 minutes.  you can either flip it out or keep it in the original pan.

make frosting by mixing butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.

beat until smooth.

once cooled, frost the cake and serve.  yummy!



·٠•●♥Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥●•٠·

I'm still a little under-the-weather, but I need to drag myself to the grocery store tonight so I can pick up a BIRD.   I have a feeling the pickings will be slim after this weekend!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Creative Thanksgiving Ideas

mini pumpkin pies via one charming party

i think i'm going to make this for smarty pant's thanksgiving "feast" at preschool

 fruit, veggie & cheese turkey via family fun

cone tepees via family fun



popcorn "turkey" via one charming party
my kids would LOVE this.  we'll see if i have time...

felted wool acorns via fairyfolk

i love felted wool!  they don't seem that hard to make. one of these days...

maple pear upside down cake via new york times :: birthday girl

this looks absolutely yummy!

contemporary tablescape via dustylu

thankful garland via simplesong design

give thanks banner via parents

love this banner!  maybe i can convince smarty pants to make one for our mantel. 

I can't believe Thanksgiving is NEXT week!!! Must starting planning the menu N.O.W.

I also want to do a "I'm thankful for..." project with the boys. 

When Smarty Pant's teacher asked him what he was thankful for, he replied--

"I'm most thankful for the Black Eyed Peas and rock bands". 

Wha?

When she asked him who the Black Eyed Peas are, he said--

"You know, the guys that are green and have black eyes!"

4 year olds are great!

Gilded Leaf Wreath



I've been wanting to make a Leaf Wreath since the beginning of Fall, but our deciduous tree just got the memo that it's Autumn and that it should be changing colors and dropping leaves-- It just started doing the "fall thing" last week...



Since I got such a late start, instead of a traditional fall-colored wreath,  I decided to make a wreath that could easily transition to Winter and Christmas. This Gilded Leaf Wreath is very simple to make.  All you need is some newly fallen leaves (not too dried out), spray paint and a hot glue gun.

come christmas, just add a red ribbon or bow

it would also make a pretty charger or a candle centerpiece.

i started in the center with the smallest leaves and worked my way out

just a bit of hot glue holding this together

i'll probably spray it with a clear coat to protect the paint and make sure that it'll last longer than one season

a nice by-product of this project.  wouldn't this make pretty wrapping paper?

Hope you're having a great week.  I'm fighting a bug... achy all over... and I'm seriously having problems forming sentences!  Hope my immune system kicks it and it doesn't amount to anything.  And crossing my fingers that the boys don't catch on and try to take advantage!  ;)

linked to:

someday crafts
somewhat simple
domestically speaking
paisley passions
shabby nest
the shabby chic cottage