To Top It Off...

Alright, so my tree is up and decorated and I have now created a tree topper. I may not be entirely done, but I have a good enough start and I'm happy enough with it for now. I started out by taking 3 different wire ribbons: 1 cream, 1 green, and one red. I think they were 2-3 inches wide. I layered them and then created your standard 6-loop bow. This was the hardest part because the ribbons didn't want to stay layered (you have to keep the same color on top at all times). When finished I secured it by tying a wire around the middle of the bow.
Next I flattened the top of the tree to make a spot for the bow and attached it with the wire. Then I just started poking things into the bow/tree. I used some berries, twigs, gold stars, and a few red spirally things. I still think I need to add a few things at the bottom of the bow, but haven't found the right thing yet. My materials for this project are from Menards and Walmart.

Christmas Design That's Mine

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, I can be rather...picky. For Christmas, I think colors should remain reds, golds, and greens. I don't know where I developed the hatred for blues and silvers at Christmas time, but I can't stand it. Along with that, purples, pinks, and other flamboyant colors give me anxiety when all I want are the soothing colors of royal reds, shimmering golds, and some neutral greens. To be fair, I understand the use of "unorthodox" hues in certain environments. For example, my classroom will be decorated for the holidays with bright colors and hershey blues and silvers. But I will still come home to my reds and golds :)

Aside from colors, I can get rather cranky with boughten decorations that look like they came from a department store. I want my decor to look unique, not like I share the same snowman with hundreds of other Americans.

Do you know how hard it is to find a Christmas tree topper? I love angels, but when it comes to Angel tree toppers, why do they all look like Barbie or Goodwill dolls? Stars can be okay, but I feel I run the risk of getting something that again is too "commercial." I have seen some bows done in a way that looks unique and homey, but there is a fine line between that and a Herberger's Christmas tree. I don't have a tree topper yet, but I will be creating one, so stay tuned for how that goes.

I think tree ornaments are usually well done, as I don't think anyone uses the same combination of ornaments in the same way. However, as your eye descends to the bottom of the tree...What is THAT?! The Christmas tree skirt, which can be oh so cheesy. I had the same problem finding a tree skirt as I did with a tree topper. I prefer tree skirts to be solid colors with texture, so that it complements the tree rather than fights to be a "decoration" all on it's own.

While on Pinterest, I discovered some blogs that showed "ruffled" tree skirts. Some were solid ruffles of white, others were mixed patterns of reds, whites, and greens. I liked them all, but one in particular caught my eye. It was cream fabric and burlap, which you can see here (make sure you scroll to the bottom to see the one I liked)
http://anwjohnston.blogspot.mx/2011/10/diy-no-sew-ruffle-christmas-tree-skirt.html I like this one because it kind of gives the illusion of a snowy landscape. After reading about her trouble with getting the burlap to stick and recalling my experience with burlap, which resulted in itchy eyes and sneezes, I decided to forgo the burlap and use a similar-colored cotton fabric instead.

At walmart I found a cream colored fabric with a light gold pattern in it, and a tannish gold specked fabric. I got 2 yards of each for about 15.00 total. If you wanted cheaper fabric, you could certainly cut up an old white sheet or something. I picked up a 4 dollar white felt skirt at Menard's and a bag of glue sticks and I was on my way.

The hardest part (I thought) was the cutting of the fabric. Not that it was hard, but it just took a long time. I cut them into 3 in strips and the length of the strips do not matter.

After the strips are cut, the fun part begins. Just make a line of glue towards the outside of the skirt and start gathering the fabric in a ruffle motion. The blog above has great step by step instructions on how to do this. After completing one color, then you just alternate each color about 2 inches below the previous layer.

This is about when I realized that I didn't have enough fabric to finish the skirt. So I ran to Walmart and found the cream, but they no longer had the tan! So, I went as far as I could with the cream color.

At this point the center is still unfinished. I'm debating whether to finish the center with the cream, or to try another walmart to see if they have the tan. However, Since my tree is so slim, it actually works just fine to fold the unfinished part underneath. I made it large so that I could "Ruffle" the skirt if I wanted to, rather than just let it lay flat. Once I decide how I'm going to finish it I will put some bows so I can close it in the back.

But for now, here are some pictures of how it looks---keep in mind my tree isn't finished...still need to get a few more ornaments and of course tackle the "tree topper" project. Stay tuned for pictures of how that turns out!

Overall I was impressed with how easy this project was. It came out exactly how I wanted and I can't wait to make another one! Because of the layers of fabric in the loops, the hot glue wasn't an issue with my fingers like I thought it might be. Hope you enjoy this idea! Happy Decorating!

Oh! Here is a link to a more "colorful" tree skirt if that's your fancy. I don't know if I'd use something like this for your main tree, but it would sure be cute in a another room for for a child's Christmas tree. This blogger sewed rather than used glue sticks, which I'm sure is a lot more work, but I think the end result looks pretty similar! http://prudentbaby.com/2010/12/prudent-home/ruffled-tree-skirt-2/

Framed Jewelry

I love jewelry, but I hate putting it away and organizing it. After looking at several blogs on Pinterest I saw this cool idea to "frame" your jewelry. Not only does it make artwork out of something you already have, but I actually put all my jewelry away now. I also love it because it displays everything at once, rather than having it in a box where you have to dig to find something. I've noticed I have worn a lot more jewelry this year and I think it's because I can actually see it all whereas before I may forget I had a particular necklace until it would resurface 6 months later. I only spent $5 on this project and it's one of my favorites!

While at a garage sale I found this frame for a dollar. It was gold. I bought red acrylic paint to give it a pop of color. Then I turned the picture frame backwards and used little "U-shaped" nails to secure the wire mesh. I found a huge roll of this wire in my Dad's shop, but I've seen it in stores such as Menards. You can get a smaller or larger screen if you like. Nailing the screen was the hardest part because the hammering caused some areas to start to crack. Then I bought some 98 cent cup hooks and screwed them in along the top to hang my larger and heavier necklaces. I used a few ornament hooks to allow some necklaces and bracelets to hang at various lengths. Most of my earrings just hook in themselves. I love it, but as you can see, I think I need another one :)

Here is the original frame:

LOVE IT!

Classroom Projects

Classroom projects took up the majority of my 2012 summer. With one year of teaching under my belt, I now know what works and what doesn't. I firmly believe that the set up of a classroom drastically affects the overall day-to-day "flow" of the classroom. I found by putting hand in trays in areas where there will be limited traffic is most effective, rather than putting them in a corner where students have to weave through desks to get there, for one example. After realizing the astronomical hours I spend in my classroom prepping and grading, I decided to make my classroom more welcoming. This decision, has not only been positively received by my students, but now I really don't mind spending so much time in my classroom when I have curtains, lamps, etc.

Here are a few pictures of my classroom BEFORE (2011-2012)

Pretty Sterile, huh?
Well here is my new and improved classroom! I love it so much more this year and so do the kids!

Ahh! Isn't that so much better? I'm sure I will constantly change it yearly. For now, though, I think I'll enjoy my afternoon at home. :)

Summertime finds

Here are a few other things I worked on last summer to make them like new for my first apartment.
The first is a wicker stand with shelves. Wicker can look prety rough once paint chips and pieces start to unravel. To complete this project, I hot glued the loose ends and the spray painted it a dark purple. It looks great in my bathroom against white walls.

I also had a huge deck to fill (which it's still not) but I found this cast iron set at a garage sale. I got both chairs and cushions to go with them for $40.00. That may seem a little high for garage sale items, but they are heavy duty so they won't blow away and I loved the cushions. I'm sure buying "heavy enough" furniture elsewhere would have been pricier. The chairs and the table were originally white. I almost forgot to take a before picture so that's why there is some black on the before picture.

I didn't mind the chairs in white, but the black looks so much better with the cushions. The cushion for the other chair was in side at the time of the picture. I love the abstract, modern fabric.

There is an old school near my hometown in Nebraska that has been turned into a used furniture and thrift store. I immediately fell in love with this book case even though it needed some TLC. As you can see, whoever had it before didn't finish their staining job.

So I painted the back black, and it's perfect for displaying my pictures and assorted nick nacks. I think i paid 15.00 for the book case.

You never know what you may find...

A year ago as I was furnishing my first apartment out of college, I became a huge garage sale fan. My mom used to drag me along to various garage sales, but I thought they were so boring. That was until I discovered the power of purchasing something used and turning it into something brand new for yourself. After supper one evening with my parents we stopped at a garage sale.

You know the drill....you drive by and there are some junk pieces on the driveway with the owners plopped down in their lawn chairs, staring, daring (pleading?) you to park and come take a look. However, my mom always says you never know what you might find, so we got out and went up the driveway. I immediately saw these two adorable nightstands. Now, they were pretty bummed up with scratches and a few chunks of wood missing on the feet, but overall they were sturdy, smelled fine, and had a cute design to them. they were marked 5.00 a piece, which was a decent price, too. But while staring, the owner approached us and said, "I'll give ya both for 5." Done Deal. Loaded em up and began to plan.

I decided to do a crackle paint finish on them...something I've never done before. And although it was a headache to find the right crackling glaze, the process was pretty easy once we got the hang of it. (I suggest using a practice board first!) Here are some pictures from start to finish of my 5 dollar night stand that are now in my bedroom:)

Primed and ready to go!

Base coat (make sure it's a flat paint) mid day mocha.

Crackle glaze applied with satin top coat. Found some fun drawer pulls at Hobby Lobby.

I love the crackle turned out.