MacKenzie-Childs Inspired Pumpkins

I've always loved MacKenzie-Childs.  They make some absolutely beautiful things.  Their pumpkins are no exception.  However their signature pattern is black and white and although very pretty, it doesn't go that well with my decor.  Not to mention their pumpkins range from $50-$175 each.

Unfortunately, when you shop for faux pumpkins this late in the season, it's impossible to find the ones with the pretty stems.  Those got sold out probably back in August long before I was even thinking about Halloween.

So I settled for this basic pumpkin from Michaels.  Using paint I already had on hand, I went to work.

The first coat of paint I applied was chalk paint I had in pure white.  It covers well and is a good base for any other colors.  

I used a pencil to draw out the grid pattern.  My pumpkin lines weren't even all around which made it a little more challenging.  I used a linen white and a golden brown color on the pumpkins.

Next I highlighted with gold and aqua. I painted the stem a gold as well.   When I was happy with all of my highlighting,  I coated the whole pumpkin using polyurethane to give it the shine the MacKenzie-Childs pumpkins have.  

So my pumpkins cost $5 each for a total of $10.  

Not bad and such a pretty look.

What do you think?  Can't wait to hear.

-Judy

DIY Clay Bowls

This is a project I have been wanting to try for a while now.  I had the supplies already, so it was just a matter of actually sitting down and trying it.

Here's what you will need:

Clay (I got mine from Wholeport) 

Lace

small oven-proof bowl

For the colored clay bowl, I mixed blue and pink together and rolled it out.  I then placed the lace over the clay and pressed it into the clay to make the impression (which shows up much more in person than in photos).  I carefully cut around the lace any excess clay.  Then I laid it over a small pyrex bowl and put it into the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.

I put this cute little bowl in my daughters room for hair clips etc.

The other bowl I made using white clay.

For some reason the lace seemed to show up much better on the white clay.

Again I cut around the lace using a sharp knife.

I again laid it over the pyrex bowl, but this time made a more square shape out of the clay.  I filled this bowl with dried roses and added it to my living room.

Hope you will give these super easy bowls a try.

-Judy

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DIY Fabric Checkbook Cover

This is a project that I put together out of necessity.  I still am a big checkbook user.  I know so many people do all of their business online, but for me I still write checks.  I carry my checkbook in my pocketbook.  My checkbook cover was the cheap-o plastic cover that comes with the checks.  Unfortunately over time these covers crack at the edges.  I went into my pocketbook the other day and noticed that the checkbook cover had completely pulled and frayed the lining of my bag.  Okay...that is really not cool.  It was time for a new checkbook cover.  I looked into buying a leather one but really had trouble finding one that I not only liked but was at a decent price point.  So instead, I turned my sites on making one.

I decided I should make one out of fabric.  This is an easy project that I made using scraps of fabric.  I was sure that I wasn't the first one to come up with the idea of a fabric checkbook cover, so I went onto Pinterest and found a great tutorial.   The tutorial gave step by step instructions that I followed exactly.

First I cut out all of the pieces I needed for the inside and outside of the cover and the inner pockets as well as fusible interfacing to add body.  

I sewed the two different pink fabrics together to form the inner pockets.  Then attached it to the main aqua fabric.  I then sewed the back and front together and left a few inches to turn it back to the right side.  Then I sewed all around to complete the checkbook cover.  

It took me longer to make a decision as to which fabrics I wanted to use from my stash than it took to actually sew it together.  No more sharp edges on my checkbook cover to wreak havoc in my pocketbook.  The possibilities are endless with this project depending on your fabric combinations and the best part is you need very little fabric.  

Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

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DIY Easter Basket

I got the idea for this Easter basket after my kids had some friends over and they went through a new box of donuts in a matter of minutes.  

 Something about the box shape screamed Easter basket to me.  Go figure...

It's really a quick, fun project that you can customize in so many different ways.

The supplies you will need:

rectangular box

mod podge

two sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper

foam brush

crochet or embroidery thread

 I cut off the lid and covered the outside of the box with a piece of scrapbook paper using mod podge.  I was able to cover the entire box and still have paper left to use for the handle.  I also attached the handle using mod podge.

 For the "Easter grass" I folded a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper accordion style.  Then I cut it into narrow strips and added it to the bottom of the basket.

To give it a little more style, I used a hole punch all around the basket edge and then crocheted all around.

 I just crocheted a basic scallop stitch all around.  

To finish it off I stitched using crochet thread on the handle.

I filled it with an assortment of Easter eggs including ones I decoupaged a few years ago.  

In just a few minutes I turned a donut box into a super cute Easter basket with things I already had on hand.  Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

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Floral Trend Spring Mantle - JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store

Did you know that it's National Craft Month?  When Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store contacted me and asked if I wanted to create a spring craft, I jumped at the chance. I found inspiration in the spring trends highlighted at Jo-Ann, specifically the floral trend for spring.  I wanted to create a crafty spring mantle, with an emphasis on florals.  Jo-Ann makes spring crafting easy during National Craft Month with a $5 off $25 or more purchase coupon and a spring crafting inspiration website.  

This project was quick and easy using the supplies I purchased at Jo-Ann.

 With some floral scrapbook paper, paper mache letters, mod-podge and silk flowers, I was ready to tackle my spring mantle.  

To create the decoupaged letters, I traced the letters face down onto the reverse side of floral scrapbook paper.  Then I cut them out using a scissor.

For the fronts of the letters I used mod podge and applied it with a foam brush directly onto the letters.

After applying all of the fronts, I decided to cut out long strips and mod podge the sides as well.  This time I spread the mod podge directly onto the paper making it easier to get around all of the curves.

Instantly my mantle felt more like spring.

 I used an empty spaghetti sauce jar wrapped in more floral craft paper as a vase for my flowers, also from Jo-Ann.  Jo-Ann has a huge assortment of silk florals to choose from.

I also created a floral paper box to hold a small faux birds nest.

Don't florals instantly make you think of spring?  Good thing too since it's still in the 30's here in NY.

-Judy

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Disclosure:  I received compensation for this review; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience.

Going Gold

A while back I bought an unfinished tray and used chalk paint and decoupage to turn it into something a bit more special.  Lately I have found myself being drawn to objects made of brass and gold.  For a while I wouldn't even look at something with a gold tone.  What's old is new again.  

  I was debating between gold leafing the tray and painting it.  I opted to paint it mainly because I already had the paint in the house and to gold leaf it would have required a trip to the store. I mixed two different tones of gold to get the effect I was looking for. 

It painted out easily with two light coats.  The old scrapbook paper worked fine, but if I was going gold, I really wanted to go gold.

So I added this gold and white geometric print scrapbook paper instead.  

Here's what it looked like before...

Here it is after.  It looks way more fancy now.  

I love how a little paint and paper completely transformed my little tray to give it a much more sophisticated look.  

Can't wait to hear what you think.

Don't forget to stop back tonight at 8pm EST for my Winter Blues Wednesday link party.

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

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