Diorama Easter Eggs. . .

 

 

Hello my friends,

Last Tuesday our craft group got together and created the sweetest diorama Easter eggs.

 

Treasures and Trinkets Tuesday. . .Jewelry Hearts

 

 

Hello my friends,

with Christmas over many of us are starting to think Valentines.

 

  Although I am not ready to start pulling out the Valentines décor, I am ready to do a bit of creating.

 

It's been quite a while since I did

 a 'Treasures and Trinkets Tuesday' post.

 

I thought this project fit the bill.

 

 

Vintage Christmas themed Craft Exchange

Hello my friends,

A while ago I joined a craft swap with many of my crafty blogging friends on facebook.

The theme was 'Vintage kitchen'.  We were to make something using some kind of kitchen item as well as a tag and then send a few goodies as well.

I was teamed up with Deb Hogan from
Garage Sale Gal

She sent me the sweetest gifts!

I have had such a deer fetish the last few years and look at this darling scene she created in a flour sifter. 

I love everything about it!  The deer, the bird, the angel, the bottle brush trees, and the vintage bling.

I used my cute red doll chair to display some of my goodies.  The fun tag she made me is hanging beside it.  The noel kitchen towel and hot pad are perfect for the 50's Christmas theme I am going with in my kitchen this year.  The bag is filled with goodies.  They are all gone now, of course.  :)

 I felt like she knew exactly what I loved.  I fill old milk bottles with Christmas candy each year and these old bottle caps are perfect!  She filled the tin with all kinds of vintage cards, tags, and stickers.  I have already put many of them to good use.  (wink)

Here are the pictures that Deb shared on fb of what I sent her.

I created a Christmas scene using a vintage Mr. and Mrs. Claus S&P shaker inside of an old Cottage Cheese container.

I also made her two small tart tin ornaments.

 I tucked a few goodies inside her box.  Christmas cards, A bottle brush wreath, an old bell, and the Santa tag I made.

Of course I had to send her some chocolate.  The apron is the card I sent her.

This was such a fun exchange!  I love vintage kitchen, so it was right up my alley.

Have you ever joined any swaps?  It's a really fun way to get to know other bloggers.

hugs,
Jann

I will be sharing with these fun parties:
Snickerdoodle Party

About 130 ornaments later. . .

Hello my friends,

today I am sharing with you a project that we made in Craft group.

About 130 ornaments later, I now have a fabulous ornament tree!

This photo is of three of the 5 trees created that night.  Mine is the back right one.

 This is how we began.

Last Christmas one of our craft friends, Joanne made the most amazing ornament tree.  We were all in awe of it. Right then and there we decided that we would make one next year.

That gave us a year to gather and collect.  We then chose a base.  I had this vintage hammered tray that I bought at an estate sale years ago.  It fit the look I was going for.  All of our cones are metal and varied in sizes.  We hot glued them to our base and then. . .

 the fun began!

It's a bit like piecing together a puzzle.  You start at the bottom and work your way up.  The key is to put the hot glue where there is contact and hold in place for a while.

This photo shows the variety of bases and cones.  I actually bought the crystal and gold one, but decided it was too fancy for me.  It was perfect for my friend, Jackie!

Karen put hers in an urn, which I loved!  Brenda used

 a wooden one.

I didn't want to spend a million bucks on this tree.  When I put my Christmas away last year I saved a few ornaments that I didn't mind using.  I have a collection of shiny brites, but I couldn't bring myself to use them.  I bought a couple of boxes on sale at Home Goods, and some individual ones at Hobby Lobby.  A large share of them I picked up at thrift shops.

  

Only Brenda finished her tree that night.  Most of us found we needed more ornaments. 

I finished mine a few days later and sat it on my living room coffee table for you to see.

I tried to count the ornaments to give you some idea of how many it takes.  I lost track at 120 something.  And who knows if I counted some more than once.  (wink)  Of course the number you need will depend on your size of cone.

The only thing I might do is add some gold or silver foliage in the tiny holes.

Now let's take a closer look at some of my favorite ornaments.

This little pixie, 1/2 price from Hobby Lobby is one of my favorites.

The little house and train were thrift finds.  The cute striped elf was one I bought after Christmas last year.  I've had the

glass mitten for years.

The candy ornaments were more thrift finds.  I added just a few shiny brites that I picked up on our recent trip to Colorado.

I love the lamppost!  It's one I just bought at Hobby Lobby.  Luckily they were half price.  You need lots of small

 ornies for filler.

Even after buying more ornaments I still couldn't quite make it to the top.  I started decorating my bedroom and found a few that I didn't mind using in one of my boxes.  I've had this snowman ornament for quite a few years.

The light bulbs came from a light set I bought from Avon eons ago.  When they quit working I saved the bulbs and tossed the

light set.

This silly gnome stole my heart!

Lots of memories from many of these ornaments.

How cute is this ruffly tree?

I debated about whether or not to use this long aqua ornament.  I like the whimsy that it brings.

Another friend, Natalie gave me this Santa tree finial for my topper.

I love him!

I am loving my ornament tree and it was very fun to make.  The only question is now, "how am I going to store it?"  :)

Have you created anything fun lately?

Hugs,

Jann

I will be sharing with these fun parties:

Cooking and Crafting with J and J

Snickerdoodle Party

Treasures and Trinkets Halloween Wreath

Hello my friends,

some of you may remember the trinkets that I have been gathering to make a Halloween wreath.

 

 

 

The other day I found myself home alone and feeling pretty good so I decided to see what I could come up with.

 

I started with this metal wreath.  It was a $1.99 thrift store find. 

I turned it over and used the backside. 

 

A few of my ornaments were large and I figured they would sit down in the wreath better on the concaved side.

 



I placed the large ornaments in first.  I already had these in my Halloween boxes, so I spent very little on this wreath.

 



 

Next I added some smaller ornaments.  One package I bought at a thrift for $1.50 and the other I bought at Michaels for $5 with a coupon.  I only used half of the small ornaments I had.

 

They are attached by hot glue.  The trick is to get the glue only where there is contact.  Also to hold it in place a while

 until it sets well.

 

From there the real fun begins. . .

 

I just started gluing trinkets wherever I could wedge them in securely.  I filled the little wooden pumpkin box with a black cat tag, a glittery bat, and a candy box.

 

The owl is a salt shaker.



I knew the mask would be a bit tricky to work in, but I wanted to use it.  It did end up covering some of the party horn, but I felt like it was okay.

 





 

I had a couple sprigs of web leaves so I cut them up and tucked them in here and there.

I had bought the noise maker and party horn off of eBay years ago.  The Happy Halloween, pumpkin bell, and ghost cookie cutter were thrift finds.  The little orange bird is one of my favorite things!

 

I used a couple of the pumpkin cupcake picks.

\

I added a couple of straw flags that I made a few years ago.  At the base is a tiny pumpkin man.  I love him too!!

 

 

I added some crepe paper to the bottom of the bingo card and stapled a ticket and black feather to the side.  I've tucked a few tiny potion bottles in here and there.

 

It's funny how all of these little things make me so happy!  Even something as simple as a rusty gear and spring.

 

My friends, Shirley and Joanne gifted me with some fun paper creations that I added as well.  This little cat is one of them.

 

I hung it on my craft room door and I could see that it needed some tweaking.  That's when I added things to the little pumpkin basket.

 

Here it is hanging on our front door.  Which I might add, needs to be stained very badly.

 

 

It was a fun wreath to create and I love every little trinket and treasure!

 

hugs,

Jann

 

I will be sharing with these fun parties:

Hauntingly-beautiful decor Halloween link party

 

 

 

Halloween Crafting. . .My Ode to Route '66'

Hello my friends,

have you ever traveled route 66?

 

Hubby and I have driven bits and pieces of it, but with his recent retirement it is on my bucket list to drive it all.

 

I have always loved back roads and the fun places that you find along the way.

 

This time of year one is certain to see a farm stand or pumpkin patch along the route.

 

 

Last Tuesday my craft group was creating Halloween scenes on large tart tins.  I was not feeling well, and wasn't able to go.  They sent me photos of their wonderful projects.  Each one was unique and so creative!

 

Friday I was feeling better and decided to give mine a go.

 

It's my ode to 'Route 66".

 

 

 

We started with the tart tin that one of our crafters , Shirley's husband assembled and spray painted them black for us ahead of time.  Such a big help!! We find tins often at thrift shops and a wooden candlestick was added for the base.

 

 

I decided to add a bit of glitter to the fluted edge.  I brushed on a thin layer of modge podge and sprinkled black glitter.

 

 

No pumpkin patch would be complete without hay bales and cornstalks.  I got the little bale at the Dollar Store.  I took a small clump of raffia and folded in in half.  Then I tucked some of the fluffy tops of real corn stalks down inside and tied

around it with jute.

 

It's hard to see, but I added a black key to one of the stalks.  I had pulled it aside to use and thought, "what the heck".  :)

 

This cute pumpkin head mad came from Walmart for $1.24.  I ended up adding black glitter to the crow as well.

 

I've had this little orange Tonka truck for a few years.  Doesn't it look just like something you'd see somewhere along route 66?  I found the little bag of pumpkins at a thrift shop last year.  They were all green, so I painted some of them orange.

 

 

 

The black branch was another Dollar Store find and I got a package of two candy corn bottle brush trees at Michaels for 40 off.  Only used one.

 

I added glitter to the tree and some of the pumpkins as well. 

 

So stop on by, u pick; and we'll load them up on our reliable little Tonka truck and deliver!

 

But don't wait long, because as you can see; there is frost on the pumpkins!  (wink)

 

 

The finishing touch was the addition of the numbers, "66".  They came from Aunt Bunnies estate.  One was a '9', but hubby fixed that with his handy drill.

 

Here's a close up view of my little pumpkin patch along route '66'.

 

It makes me ever so happy!

 

 

Happy Fall,

 

Jann

 

My sweet blog friend Susan Clayton  Eclectic Shorebird shared this darling poem, with me.  I think you will enjoy it too!

 

When the Frost is on the Punkin 

 

I will be sharing with these fun parties:

Vintage Charm