Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Reclaimed Wreckage Work Featured on Examiner.com
Ideas to Decorate a Christmas Tree
In years past, Christmas tree ornaments were collected or made over the years and displayed on trees during the holiday season. Many times ornaments would be handmade and used every year to be passed down from generation to generation. Today the trend is toward theme trees. A certain theme is developed and appears for a year or two on a tree when another theme will be chosen for several more years. There are thousands of themes from which to pick and all make charming Christmas trees.
Color Themes
The easiest Christmas tree theme to create is a color tree. This is where everything on the tree is one color. Red trees are strung with red lights, ribbons and beads. Red ornaments or fake apples can be used and poinsettia blooms and cardinal birds can be perched on the branches. A blue tree will have blue lights and ornaments with blue garland. White trees have clear lights with pearl garland. Ornaments are white or clear glass, white satin covered or clear acrylic snowflakes.
Country Theme
Create a country tree by using rustic looking decorations. Use a red and white checkered tablecloth for the tree skirt. String popcorn and cranberries for garland. Bundle cinnamon sticks and tie with red bows to hang on branches along with gingerbread people and cookie cutters made into ornaments by poking a hole in the top and inserting a tie on which to hang them.
Victorian Theme
Instead of tinsel garland use fabric eyelet or lace to wrap and dip around the branches of the tree. Lights should be clear in order to show off the old fashion glass ornaments with intricate detail. The Victorian era was a time when ephemera, or post cards and other paper ornamentation, was popular. Purchase reproductions of Victorian post cards and cut the figures out decorating them with feathers, beads and other bobbles to hang on the tree.
Vacation Theme
Decorate the tree to reflect a family vacation. Recreate a beach vacation by trimming the tree with sea shells and string blue lights. Use pearls from oysters in the sea as garland. The tree skirt can be made from several grass skirts.
Family Theme
Every person in the family should pick a favorite ornament and place it on a family tree. They should also make several ornaments and these will grow year after year. Place photos of family in tiny frames made with toothpicks or craft sticks to hang on the tree as well.
Unique Themes
Decorate a tree with just candy or place family collections of teddy bears, butterflies, dolls or tiny cars on the branches. Sports items make a good theme or anything else your family loves.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Cheap & Homemade Christmas Gifts
Have a small spending budget for Christmas gifts this year because you lost your job, are a student or just because of the poor economy? Don't worry - here are some classy yet original gift ideas for mom, dad, whomever! Not only will you save a little cash, but your Christmas gifts will be personal and meaningful.
Gift idea 1: Burn CDs.
Give a Christmas gift that's personal and has meaning. If you know someone well enough to choose music they would like, you've got yourself a very good gift. Jazz it up by decorating the CD with Sharpie markers or printing a CD cover with the list of songs.
Gift idea 2: Make cookies or holiday bread.
This is an economic Christmas gift idea if you have lots of people to give to. Mini loaves of bread can be wrapped with ribbon, and food is a gift that everyone appreciates (unless it's fruitcake!).
*You can even turn this delicious gift into a Christmas tree decoration! Leave your decorated Gingerbread men out for a few days, cover in hairspray and hang on the Christmas tree!
Gift idea 3: Coupon books never go out of style.
Christmas coupon books should be reserved for those very close to you. You should be able to know exactly what that person would want - tangible and intangible wants. Some inexpensive gift ideas are: an hour of your devoted attention, a bubble bath, take out dinner after a stressful day of work and a free car wash.
To really brighten up your Christmas coupon book, use colored construction paper, stickers, photo cutouts of you and the gift recipient, etc.
Gift idea 4: Make a gift basket.
This is a great gift idea because not only can you tailor every item you put in the basket to the person you're giving it to, but you can also usually get individual items for less than what you'd pay for a professional gift basket.
If you have a gift basket theme in mind a few months out from Christmas, you can pick up items as you find them on sale. Good theme ideas: spa treatment, a house plant kit, cooking with vegetables and spices from your own garden, the book lover's basket and one for a pet.
If you'll be giving your gift before Christmas, consider making a Christmas-themed basket. Include Christmas cards and ornaments (that you got from the sale shelf, of course), maybe a burned CD of Christmas music. We all know that one person who absolutely LOVES Christmastime, and this gift is perfect for him or her.
Gift idea 5: Frame a poem or photo.
If you're artsy, this is a good gift for you to give. Frame one of your masterpiece photos or take a great one of you and your gift recipient together and frame it. See the link in the Resources Section for how to make a beautiful decoupage picture frame.
If you're a writer, print one of your poems in a classic font and frame it for a personalized home decoration.
Both of these gift ideas can be Christmas-themed as well, if you choose. Print a special Christmas quote on nice paper and frame it for a professional yet sentimental gift. Or, purchase miniature frames at the dollar store, decorate for Christmastime, put in some photos, glue on some ribbon and give to your gift recipient as tree ornaments.
Gift idea 6: Give a Christmas craft for the kitchen: cookie mix.
Write out your favorite recipe for holiday cookies and attach it to a jar including all the in dry ingredients (if you pour them in one at a time with a funnel, it looks beautiful). Wrap a ribbon around and gift as a delicious Christmas gift!
Tips to Refinish Furniture
1. Decide if it is a good piece to refinish. Make sure the piece of furniture you want to work on is structurally sound and doesn't have too many coats of paint on it. If you believe the piece to be an antique, do not refinish it yourself. Take it to a professional that works on antiques because sometimes refinishing these pieces will devalue them. Good older wood that is not in too bad of shape is what you want.
2. Strip off the old finish. Use a gel or thick stripper because it's easier to handle, especially if you are a beginner. Get the kind that says it cleans up with water, or no clean up. Make sure your work area is well ventilated and you cover the floor under and around your project. Apply with a brush and work in the direction of the grain. Do it in sections if it is a large piece.
3. Sand your wood. Sand off any areas that didn't strip completely off with 120 grit sandpaper. Then sand the entire piece with 220 grit sandpaper. Make sure you sand with the grain of the wood. Finish off with a finishing sander, staying with the grain until you get a nice smooth surface. Go over it with tack cloth to remove any leftover dust from the sanding. Make sure you get it all or it can ruin your new finish.
4. Apply sanding sealer. If you are leaving the wood natural, you will want to right to Step 6. If you are going to stain, you should first apply a coat of sanding sealer. Apply a coat, let it soak in for a few minutes and then take one of your rags. Wipe it off. This will keep your stain more even as it soaks into the wood. Sand with your 120 grit paper and clean off the dust.
5. Stain your project. There are a few types of stain, but the easiest to use and to clean up is a water-based stain. Most are applied with a natural end paint brush and wiped off with a soft clean rag. Leaving the stain sit a little longer or doing more coats will make you color darker. Try it on an underside to see the shade you like. Follow the manufacturers time on drying before applying the polyurethane.
6. Coat with Polyurethane. Apply the polyurethane with a brush. Stay with the grain and do longer strokes. Once it is covered, let it dry and sand with the 220 grit paper. Clean off the dust well and apply again. You can do as many coats as you want to get your desired finish. It's much better to do a few thin coats than one thick one. You'll have a much smoother, clearer finish.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Recycled Craft How To's
Here are some of the most creative how to's I've seen yet. Your friends will think you are so creative and your house will look oh so cute!
Magazine Table as seen in Anthrogologie
Junk Mail Wall Art
Magazine Table as seen in Anthrogologie
Junk Mail Wall Art
Friday, November 26, 2010
City Weekly Gift Guide
I was one of the crazy people who dragged myself out of bed at 3 am today to go Christmas shopping to get the $9.00 crock pot and $3.00 toaster. One of our stops was at Urban Outfitters and I'm so happy I did because I got to pick up last week's issue of City Weekly.
I did the usual and stuffed it in my purse to read when I get home and finally tonight, opened the thing up to read their 2010 Holiday Gift Guide and saw my stuff in it! How awesome is that! I was so excited I was running around the house screaming for about an hour while my kid just starred at me funny and joined in at times. The only problem is, they switched out issues today and now I have to track down a bunch of last week's issue. Anyway, here's the link. I'm on pg 2 I'm so excited!
I did the usual and stuffed it in my purse to read when I get home and finally tonight, opened the thing up to read their 2010 Holiday Gift Guide and saw my stuff in it! How awesome is that! I was so excited I was running around the house screaming for about an hour while my kid just starred at me funny and joined in at times. The only problem is, they switched out issues today and now I have to track down a bunch of last week's issue. Anyway, here's the link. I'm on pg 2 I'm so excited!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Reclaimed Wreckage Bags available at Urban Scrap
Amber Debirk, founder of Urban Scrap is no ordinary artist. She's a teacher, environmentalist, mother, and Glass Artist who makes gorgeous belt buckles, jewelry, and mixed media wall art from recycled glass. I met Amber through the wonderful world of Etsy and am privileged enough to have my work showcased in her studio. Besides being a charming and personable woman, she teaches her methods and even has a monthly Eco craft for kids in her new studio in Millcreek. Amongst her bright walls, cheery glass art, and an overall whimsical atmosphere, my work hangs on a bright purple wall directly parallel to the front french doors. So far so good, I sold a Colleen Clutch on opening night and have sold two more pieces since then that need to be restocked.
One of these days, I would love to be where she is an artist. I would love to have a studio outside my home (especially in an adorable community like hers) and a storefront boutique to showcase other talented artists. Opening night was a great party with wine, live music, and 15 artists work available for the viewing. Incredible.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Modern Lighting Fixtures
Hiding white cover light fittings and easily adjusted to create the desired amount of illumination. NLC draw as much inspiration from the head of Medusa as the fine branches of the trees are trellised. Lights can also work with standard energy efficient light bulbs, although only with you will be able to control LED brightness. special appeal lies in the conflict appears between the chaotic and organic. NLC is a hanging lamp, designed by Constantin Wortmann for Next. It features six 2.2W LED bulb and looks like a futuristic version of the horn chandelier.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Porcelain Figurines Pictures
Wall Sticker Review
We all know that a cool wall sticker can change the whole look of a room, and a great example is the beautiful bedroom wall sticker. I’m a big fan of wall stickers, and today I’ve found a really interesting one that would look great in any bedroom, just check out this bedroom wall sticker picture. Of course if you want to be original you can take this wall sticker picture as an example and put your creativity to work, and come with something better.
wall sticker photo
colorful wall sticker gallery
beautiful wall sticker
wall sticker Wallpaper
wall sticker pics
wall sticker image
wall sticker pictures
wall sticker
wall sticker picture
Monday, November 8, 2010
colorful wall sticker pictures
Sunday, November 7, 2010
http://www.brightonpod.com/
Just found this fantastic website
Brighton pod is a shopping portal dedicated to promoting the work of Britain’s most talented independent designers and craftspeople – It is the fast, simple and ethical alternative to shopping in our franchise-choked high streets.
There is some fantastic furniture, homewards, gift ideas, ceramics, lighting. All original designs and everything would make terrific gifts for Christmas!
Check it out here:
Brighton pod is a shopping portal dedicated to promoting the work of Britain’s most talented independent designers and craftspeople – It is the fast, simple and ethical alternative to shopping in our franchise-choked high streets.
There is some fantastic furniture, homewards, gift ideas, ceramics, lighting. All original designs and everything would make terrific gifts for Christmas!
Check it out here:
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Elegant Decorative Wall Clock
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Modern Wooden Bed
Furniture Blogs - In addition to the bed which is equipped with an automatic built-in lights that can create wonderful atmosphere in the bedroom. In white lacquer finish looks ultra-modern, but also available in oak Wenge, Cherry Oak, Teak. If you are looking for high quality contemporary bed then you should check a company’s production Prealpi Italy. This company has a long story and a great experience in the production of bedroom furniture. All beds are made of solid wood and looks very stylish.
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