MiMi-a great name for grandma

A Grandma's spin on crafts, games, recipes & lifestyle

Unique DIY Mother’s Day Planter

March 27, 2024 / / 6 Comments

Do you find yourself looking for something new and different for mom each year when Mother’s Day rolls around?  Me too!  Let’s face it….you know mom will be happy with whatever you gift her, but sometimes you just need that something that’s a little extra.  The good thing is, I think I have hit the jackpot with this one!  Every mother is sure to love this unique DIY Mother’s Day Planter!

Bonus:  while this is indeed a great Mother’s Day gift, it is also a great gift for many other occasions as well.  A beautiful flower or plant potted in a moss covered tea cup and saucer…perfection!  Heck, you may even want to make one and gift it to yourself…it is that pretty!

Supplies Needed ~

  • Dried moss
  • Teacup/coffee mug
  • Saucer/plate
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Empty water bottle
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon of choice
  • Metal tag
  • Chalk marker
  • Chalkboard labels
  • Bumblebee embellishment
  • Flower/plant of choice

Below are links to some of the items that you may not have on hand.  Sometimes I have luck in finding some of these item at places like the Dollar Store, but if their supply runs out, it is always good to have another location to find everything!

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

Directions to Make Moss Covered Planter ~

  1. Covering one section of the cup at a time, layer hot glue and then place sections of dried moss over the glue.  Continue this process until the entire cup and handle are covered in dried moss.
  2. Use the same process to cover the saucer/plate.  I used a plastic plate for this step.
  3. Cut off the top 1/4 to 1/2 of a water bottle.  Turn it upside down in the teacup so that the drinking spout is facing the bottom of the cup.
  4. Fill the water bottle section with pea gravel/small rocks and potting soil.  This will help in the drainage of water to keep plant healthy and happy.   
  5. Plant your flower/plant on top of water bottle.
  6. Affix the chalkboard label to the center of the metal tag.
  7. Write your sentiment of choice with chalk marker.  Be sure to let it dry so you do not smudge it before the next step.   **It took me a couple of labels before I perfected my sentiment due to the fact that if you don’t write slowly, it can easily create unwanted chalk residue around the lettering.  Take your time on this step.
  8. Tie a ribbon around the mug, being sure to run the ribbon in side of the handle of the mug.  *One thing I learned while making my DIY unique Mother’s Day planter is that you want to keep the bow at a moderate size.  I tend to love big, elaborate bows, but this seemed to hide the beauty of the planter.
  9. Before making your bow, run the end of one side of the ribbon through the hole in the metal tag.  Push the tag up the ribbon until it reaches the knot of the bow.
  10. Finish tying the bow.
  11. Add the bumblebee to the label.

Extra Mother’s Day Fun ~

A few years ago, I found myself researching more about the tradition of Mother’s Day.  I must say that I learned some history about it that I had been unaware of.  If you are interested in reading more, please check out my Mother’s Day Controversy post!  It gives some fun facts BUT also lists some other fun ideas for gift giving on this very special day of remembering and honoring  our mothers!  These ideas include both gifts that you can purchase or do as an act of love without spending money!

Is your mom an avid reader?  I also have a very fun post on creating some photograph book marks.  Be sure to check it out….

Zany bookmark fun with photographs!

As stated earlier, this fun moss covered teacup planter can be made for Mother’s Day or anytime you are looking for a unique gift to give to someone special.  Give it a try….I bet you will find yourself making more than a….that is one as a gift and one for you!  😉

Have you ever hosted a Mother’s Day Brunch?  Antique Farm House has some FABULOUS ideas to aid in the hosting as well as unqiue gifts to gift that Mom is sure to love.  Check out their Mother’s Day Sales Event here……Antique Farm House Mother’s Day Ideas

Did you make this beautiful planter (or any of the other ideas listed in this post?)  Come back and let me know how it went!

Happy Crafting My Friends ~

Mimi

 

Easy DIY Easter Crafts

March 12, 2024 / / 6 Comments

Ok….so Easter is nearing….your are hosting….and you haven’t planned everything yet!  There is still time to create these awesome and very easy DIY Easter crafts.  Whether you try all three of them or concentrate on one, they are sure to spruce up your Easter tablescapes or home decor!

Maybe you aren’t hosting….but you want to take a nice hostess gift….I’ve got you covered!  These little carrots and bunnies are sure to delight everyone.  Best of all….you can say,  “I made it myself!”  You go girl (or guy)!

Easy DIY Easter Crafts ~

Notice the plural on craft(s)!  I just loved all of these Easter DIYs so much that I couldn’t share just one.  I have separated them into sections, so if there is one particular craft you want to focus on, just scroll until you get to the correct heading desired.

Floppy Ear Bunny in Carrot ~

I have to admit that this one is my favorite…and the most challenging.  Don’t let that stop you from making it….it honestly is still an easy DIY Easter craft.  Just follow my tips and you will get it….easy peasy!

Items Needed ~

  • 4 X 4 piece of cardstock
  • Orange Jute
  • Tan Jute
  • Crafting Moss
  • Hot glue gun & glue
  • Scotch tape
  • Wooden craft ball with hole

Instructions ~

  1. Paint eyes and “blush” for cheeks on the wooden ball and set aside to dry.
  2. Cut a 4 X 4 piece of cardstock.
  3. Cut that piece of cardstock in half diagonally.
  4. With point of diagonal piece facing up, fold a long edge over to the other side, tucking it under at the edge.  Start rolling the paper until a cone is formed.  Hot glue down the edge to seal.
  5. Starting at the top of the cone, put a thin strip of hot glue all around the top.  Quickly lay the orange jute all around the top to form the top of your carrot.
  6. After gluing the strip around the top, you don’t need to glue every single strip around.  I did a small patch of glue going down a bit of the cone at a time.  When you wind the jute tightly around the cone, that one section of glue is enough to hold each time around.  Follow this method all the way down until the cone is covered….but don’t stop there!
  7. I then put spots of glue on the outside of what was already wrapped and continued wrapping back up to the top for double coverage.  This helps to not have any gaps between the rows of jute.
  8. Stuff the cone with crafting moss, leaving some overhang at the top.
  9. Wrap scotch tape tightly around the end of the tan jute (this will help the ends from fraying as you pull jute up and down through the wooden bead).  Run it up through the hole.  You will want a long piece in order to make both ears.  Make a loop then run it back down through the wooden bead.  Make a slight knot at the bottom to help hold it in place.  Run the jute back up and down the same way to make second ear.  Tie off with a larger knot at the bottom of bead.               
  10. After tying off at bottom of bead, I added a glob of hot glue to help keep the twine secured under the head. 
  11. Cut a piece of jute about 3 to 4″.  Knot it in the middle…this will be the nose.  Fray both ends of the string to create whiskers.  Hot glue on to bead.
  12. Glue wooden bunny head on top of crafting moss.

Beaded Carrots ~

Items Needed ~

  • Wooden craft beads (with holes) of various sizes
  • Jute
  • Green raffia
  • Orange RIT dye
  • Embellishment ribbon of choice
A Cherry On Top
A Cherry On Top

A Huge array of art supplies for all of your DIY needs!

View the Craft Products Now!
This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Instructions ~

  1. Heat about 1 to 2 cups of water.  Add 1 Tbsp (or as much as you desire) of orange dye to warm water.  Layer wooden beads into the colored water.
  2. Let these soak for as long as you desire.  The longer you soak them the darker the color will get.  I let mine soak for about an hour.  This gave the beads a deep rich orange color with some areas soaking a little more in and getting a deeper hue.  I like this as it gives it an imperfect look much like a carrot.
  3. Let the dyed beads dry.
  4. Cut a piece of jute about 12″ long and set aside.
  5. Cut several pieces of green raffia (I made mine about 8″ and then cut down as desired in the end.  Fold the raffia in half and tie a knot at the middle with the jute.  You will have equal amounts of jute on each side of the knot.
  6. Holding both ends of the dangling jute, line your orange beads onto the string, starting with your biggest bead first.  How you choose to layer your beads is completely up to you.  I sometimes did 1 big bead and sometimes 2 and then just layered them on as I liked.
  7. Once you get your final bead on, tie a knot at the bottom to secure.
  8. Tie your embellishment ribbon of choice between the raffia and the beads.

Light Bulb Carrots ~

Items Needed ~

  • C9 and/or C7 Orange light bulbs
  • Hot glue gun & glue
  • Crafting moss
  • Jute

Instructions ~

  1. Start with a thin strip of hot glue around the the silver part of light bulb.  Start layering the jute around.  Glue sections at a time and then continue wrapping jute around to the top.
  2. Put hot glue on top of silver portion of light bulb.
  3. Place a chunk of crafting moss on top of that hot glue.

Links for Items Used ~

Below are some of the items that you may not have hanging around at home.  The paper cutter….game changer!  Do you have one of these already?  If not, it makes a difference in so many diferent craft projects!

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

Orange Jute Twine - 54 Yards - 2mm Diameter
Orange Jute Twine - 54 Yards - 2mm Diameter
$5.20
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03/12/2024 03:05 pm GMT
FISKARS - High Quality, Precision Paper Trimmer.
FISKARS - High Quality, Precision Paper Trimmer.
$26.08
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03/12/2024 03:06 pm GMT
950pcs Wooden Beads for Crafts 7 Sizes ~ 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 20mm
950pcs Wooden Beads for Crafts 7 Sizes ~ 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 20mm
$8.35
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03/12/2024 03:08 pm GMT
SuperMoss Raffia, Grass Green, 2oz
SuperMoss Raffia, Grass Green, 2oz
$9.41
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03/12/2024 03:09 pm GMT
12 Pack C9 Orange Light Bulb
12 Pack C9 Orange Light Bulb
$7.99 ($0.67 / Count)
Buy Now
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03/12/2024 03:11 pm GMT

If you love these and still want more Easter bunny ideas, be sure to check out my DIY Sock Bunnies here!  Another fun craft that is super easy to make!

There you go friends….three easy Easter DIY crafts that can be made very quickly!  Let me know your thoughts!

Happy Crafting My Friends ~

Mimi

Upcycled Tin Can Planters

March 5, 2024 / / 14 Comments

Spring is around the corner and that means it is time to start thinking about outdoor decor and flowers!  Every year I always feel like I need to buy new things to spruce up the yard.  This year, I am working on doing some DIY and upcycling things that we already have around the house.  As luck would have it,  it is time for our monthly Sustainable Craft Challenge Blog Hop so I decided to try my hand at making upcycled tin can planters.

Each month Julie from Sum of Their Stories gives us a theme and challenges us to create a sustainable craft to share.  This month our theme is rainbows.  I thought on this one for quite awhile and then decided to get crafty with tin cans…..so here we go!

What you will need ~

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

There are a lot of items in this list that are optional.  They are noted as optional.  This project has so many fun variations available so I included all the items I used on at least one if not all of the cans.

  • Tin cans of any size
  • ModPodge 
  • Paint (color of your choice) *Typically white or brown.  For this project I used both colors.
  • Printed images, napkins, old cards, etc.
  • Foam paint brushes 
  • Bristle paint brushes
  • Plyers
  • Embellishments (*optional)
  • Hot glue gun (*optional ~ if adding embellishments)
  • Spice or dirt (*optional)
  • Wire or string/jute (*optional)

Instructions for Upcycled Tin Can Planters ~

  1. Peel and label and glue off of the tin cans.  Clean the can.
  2. Using plyers, squeeze all the way around the top of the can to push the sharp edges down.
  3. Pierce both sides of the can at the top for a wire/ribbon hanger. *This is optional
  4. Paint the entire surface of the can.  You may need to use extra coats depending on the color you choose.
  5. Let dry completely.
  6. Get your images ready.  For this project, I created my images and wording on canva.  By tearing the image out carefully, it gives a more rugged/rustic look, however, you can cut them out if you prefer.  Keep in mind, this is totally your project so make it “your style.”  You can add phrases or not.  There are some cute phrases added at the bottom of this post. 
  7. Using a foam brush, add a thin layer of ModPodge to the area where you will be applying the image.
  8. Carefully adhere the image to the wet ModPodge and smooth as you go.
  9. Next you will put 2 to 4 more layers of ModPodge over the entire can, waiting for each layer to dry before applying the next.  If you look closely here, you can see I have more coats to help adhere the edges toward the bottom. 
  10. Add wire/ribbon through the holes to create a hanger.  You can embellish this with beads or baubles if you choose to.  *This step is optional.
  11. Using brown pain, lightly brush the paint along the top, bottom and sporadically on the can.  While it is still wet, sprinkle paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper or a spice of the “rust” color.  This will give the can a rusted look.  You can also sprinkle dirt in the paint.  This picture shows the cayenne partially sprinkled on the wet paint to give a better look at how to do it. 
  12. Cut the top half of a plastic watter bottle and place in tin can with the drinking spigot facing the bottom of the can.  *This is an optional step, however, it gives some drainage for the plant which will help it to grow and thrive.
  13. Layer some pea gravel and dirt in the water bottle.
  14. Put your plant of choice in and voila….you have a beautiful new planter!

Optional Embellishments ~

There are SO many fun embellishments you can add to jazz up your planter.  I am listing some ideas below:

  • Add an additional layer of ModPodge to your finished project and then roll in beads, dirt (Yes, dirt….gives it a rustic look), glitter, colorful spices, etc.
  • Use wooden balls to the bottom of the can to make a footed planter.
  • Tie jute or ribbon around the top with a little bow.
  • Adhere Mason jar rings to the top, bottom or both.  If you are going for a more rustic look, you can use rusty rings.
  • Flatten the bottom of the can and fold up slightly to get a flatter planter vs. the round can.

Sustainable Craft Challenge Group ~

If you have been following me very long, you know I am part of a group of artsy crafters.  As stated earlier, Terri gives us a theme each month to create a fun DIY project using at least one sustainable item.  You have already read about mine and now here are my friends’ beautiful rainbow crafts.  A link is provided in green for you to view what they have created this month.

Julie from Sum of Their Stories created a  Paper Rainbow Ring Binder

Christine from Christine’s crafts shows how to make Easy Rainbow Brooches

Gail from Purple Hues & Me is displaying Upcycled Plastic Bottle Rainbow Flowers

T’onna from Sew Crafty Crochet has made a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Scarf

Terri from Our Good Life is sharing her Easy Rainbow Hearts Tote

Allyson from Southern Sunflowers has made DIY Rainbow Wall Art Using Inspirational Quotes

Planter Quotes/Sayings ~

  • Grow With Grace
  • I Wet My Plants
  • Feed Me & Tell Me I’m Pretty
  • You Grow Girl
  • Plants Are My Soil Mates
  • I’m Rooting For You
  • Let Love Grow
  • Crazy Plant Lady
  • Give Me The Dirt
  • You Make Me Wanna Sprout
  • Bloom Where You Are Planted
  • To Plant a Garden Is To Believe In Tomorrow
  • Botany Plants Lately?
  • Be Nice Or Leaf

This was such a fun DIY project to do.  I know I will be making many more of these with all kinds of themes and looks.  They are perfect to keep or to gift!  I can’t wait to hear how yours turn out….send pics in the comments below!  Believe me….you will have tons of fun with these!

Happy Crafting ~

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Women by Kristin Hannah ~ A Book Review

February 29, 2024 / / 10 Comments

I never excelled in history….I just wasn’t that person that enjoyed the subject much.  Maybe this is why I enjoy historical fiction so much now…to catch up on everything I missed in a “story-like” fashion vs. just memorizing the facts.  Kristin Hannah stated in her interview that she wanted to wait until she was a more established writer to write about The Vietnam War.  The country was divided about the war so she wanted to be ready to present it well.  The Women is the end result and came together fantastically.

The Women: A Novel
The Women: A Novel
$14.99
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02/29/2024 07:09 pm GMT

The Characters ~

There are a number of characters introduced throughout the entire story of The Women.  I have listed the ones that seem to have the most impact on Frankie’s life.

  • Frances (Frankie) McGrath – nursing student from wealthy family
  • Finley McGrath – Frankie’s brother
  • Bette McGrath – Frankie’s mother
  • Connor McGrath – Frankie’s father
  • Rye Walsh – Finley’s best friend
  • Patty Perkins – Surgical nurse
  • Major Goldstein – Chief nurse
  • Ethel Flint – ER nurse, Frankie’s hooch mate
  • Barb Johnson ~ Surgical nurse, Frankie’s hooch mate
  • Jamie Callahas – Surgical doctor
  • Captain Ted Smith – Doctor
  • Slim & Coyote – Seawolves
  • Rob Aldean – Doctor
  • Harry “Hap” Dickerson – Doctor
  • “Gasman” – Nurse anesthesist
  • Sharlene – Nurse
  • Margie Sloan – Frankie’s hooch mate
  • Captain Mark Morse – Doctor
  • Stan – Rye’s dad
  • Becky – Frankie’s high school friend

“Women Can Be Heroes!” ~

Frankie comes from a wealthy family that believes women have their place in the home while men go off to war.  She never considered anything else until the words, “women can be heroes too” were stated to her in a conversation.  These very words are what drove her to enlist as an Army nurse.  Craving to be near her brother, who had already left for war, her naivete led her to believe she could serve near him and make her family proud as well.

Was Frankie’s Training Sufficient ~

Undeterred by the fact that other branches of the military did not find her skilled enough, Frankie continued on her mission to serve until the Army finally said yes.  In hindsight, maybe the other branches were right….or were they?  She was quickly thrown into a world of life and death for more soldiers than she ever expected, not to mention the gore she witnessed.  She rapidly becomes a seasoned trauma nurse, learning quickly and efficiently from more seasoned nurses and doctors.  Sometimes lives were saved….other times she held hands and chattered to the soliders until their hands went lifeless in hers.

With people enlisting at different times, doctors and nurses were constantly replacing those that had already served their time.  This only added to the continued confusion in the hospital as there was always time needed for the new staff to adjust to the horrific scenes they witnessed on a daily basis.

Living In The Chaos ~

In the midst of all the chaos and depression, the Army staff found some time to unwind.   It is not unusual that relationships, both friend and intimate related, consumed these very small snippets of time that they had to be “normal.”   Frankie had read the handbook and tried to remain professional as the rules stated, but she turned the heads of several different men.  Knowing that any of them may not live to see another day only escalated the strong feelings they had for each other.

The friendships forged through the chaos are deeper than any relationships she had made through her socialite life back home.  Romantically speaking, Frankie’s heart is constantly challenged as she develops deep feelings for different staff members, not ever knowing for sure if they are married or not.

Was Enlisting Worth It? ~

Just when you think Frankie has experienced more tragedies than any one person should face, you learn about the hate that is spewed at her because so many people are rioting against the war.  Her life was at risk every….single….day and then to have to ask herself, “Was it worth it?”

Reconnecting with those who survived is the only way Frankie can continue on.  Sometimes is it enough though?  PTSD is a very real thing and each person finds a different way to combat it as best they can.  Yet even through the reacquainting into “normal” life, Kristin Hannah keeps the plot twists coming.

The Women by Kristin Hannah, A Book Review ~

Hannah does an extraordinary job of putting you in the scene.  Her descriptive manner both of the people and the surroundings make you feel as if you are right next to Frankie.  Whether in the makeshift hospital rooms that many times are without light to the helicopter rides while being shot at, to the rare occasions they are enjoying music and downtime by the water, you will feel that you are right there too!  It’s a hard call because I have loved every book I have read by Hannah, but I believe The Women has risen to my favorite!

Discussion Questions ~

  1. Have your thoughts on war changed or stayed the same after reading The Women by Kristin Hannah?
  2. Do you think Frankie’s thoughts of meeting up with her brother in Vietnam were unrealistic?
  3. Did you learn anything new about the Vietnam war from reading this book?
  4. Did Frankie’s nurse duties surprise you?
  5. Do you feel there should be a difference in nursing during a war vs. nursing during dad to day life?
  6. Were the views of Frankie’s parents reasonable regarding her going to war?
  7. Compare and contrast Frankie’s love interests?
  8. Is the friendship with Barb and Ethel stronger than friendships made during “normal” life?
  9. Did the system fail Frankie as a war veteran?
  10. Do you think Frankie would have been happier if she had reenlisted?
  11. Which plot twist surprised you the most?
  12. Do you think Frankie’s miscarriage was the result of being in the service?
  13. Having questions themselves about the war (Frankie, Barb and Ethel), do you think they regretted the time spent in service?
  14. Do you believe the American government was lying about the war?
  15. Do you think Frankie was a hero?

Wrapping Up ~

My favorite sentence in the book is, “She’d joined the Army to find her brother and found herself instead.”  How Krisin Hannah can create such a plot through so much tragedy and confusion is beyond amazing to me.  Not only did I find myself wanting to understand more about the Vietnam War, but I was engrossed in the lives of each of her richly developed characters!  I rate this book a 5 out of 5!

Have you read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah? ⬅️ Read my review of this historical fiction that explores the intricate relationship between mothers and daughters.

Winter Garden
Winter Garden
$11.99
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02/29/2024 06:59 pm GMT

Have you read The Women by Kristin Hannah?  I would love to hear your thoughts!  Comment below!!!

Happy Reading ~

Mimi

Vigo Wood Book/Kindle Stand with Storage
Vigo Wood Book/Kindle Stand with Storage
$34.99
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02/29/2024 07:18 pm GMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Valentine Rag Wreath Heart

February 6, 2024 / / 26 Comments

Whether you are looking for an easy DIY Valentine craft or an everyday heart decor item, this DIY Valentine Rag Wreath Heart is perfect!  Changing the color scheme from colorful to neutral can easily make this a beautiful decorative piece for holiday or everyday.  What’s even better is that it is so easy to make and you most likely have everything you need already.

This was perfect timing for the craft blog hop group that I take part in.  Julie from Sum of their Stories challenges us each month to a Sustainable Craft Challenge.  Each blogger takes the theme and creates a fun craft that is at least partially, if not all, from sustainable elements.  This month’s theme is HEARTS!  I have included links to their creative posts down below! 

Items Needed ~

You won’t need to search far for the items needed to make this little beauty.  The list below includes everything I used, however, you don’t necessarily need all of it.  For example, I used 3 different types of cutting tools but you can create your own DIY Valentine Rag Wreath Heart with only one cutting tool if you prefer.

  • Metal Hanger
  • Pliers
  • Various Colors Scrap Fabric
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Pinking Shears *
  • Rotary Cutter *
  • Cutting Mat *
  • Decorative Ribbon
  • Hot Glue Gun/Glue *
  • Wooden Heart *
Rotary Cutter Set
Rotary Cutter Set
$29.99

Rotary cutter, cutting mat and straight edge to help you cut several strips of fabric at a time!

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02/18/2024 10:20 pm GMT
Fiskars SoftGrip Pinking Shears
Fiskars SoftGrip Pinking Shears
$28.23

Create scalloped edges on your fabric for all of your craft projects!

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02/18/2024 10:36 pm GMT
The items listed above with an * following them are not “necessary” to make your wreath.  They were used in the one I made, but a beautiful heart can still be made without these items.

Steps to Create Your DIY Heart Wreath ~

  1. Shape your metal hanger into a heart.  Pliers are very helpful with this process.  There are different styles of shaping your heart, however, I chose to straighten out the curve of the hanger and then pull inward to the middle of the heart.  The deeper you bring the wire down helps to create a bolder heart shape.  This is helpful because once you start tying the fabric on it is easy to start losing the shape of the heart.                                                     
  2. Cut your strips of fabric.   You can cut them all the exact same width and length or you can vary them for some depth.  I like to cut mine different sizes.  Typically, you will want them to be 1″ wide and 5″ to 7″ long.  Using the shorter ones in the V of the heart also helps to define the shape of the heart more.  Fabric can be cut by using the fabric scissors for all of them or you can vary with the different cutting tools mentioned above.   These are the strips from my granddaughters wreath.  We had so much fun talking about how you can mix so many different designs that seem like they would clash, yet when you put them together in your project, it looks so pretty!                                                             
  3. Begin tying the fabric strips around the metal hanger.  This can be done methodically or sporadically….I LOVE this about this craft.  If you are like me, you need to not follow one particular method continually.  I started out by tying one color in random spots around the wreath.                                                                                                                   
  4. Continue tying the different colored fabric strips around the heart frame.  The closer you push them together, the more full your end product will look  Once again, you have choices here.   My granddaughter wanted to make one for her room (which made me so happy to help her with her own creation!)  Hers was a little less full, yet still so beautiful.   
  5. Cut a piece of lace ribbon to hang your wreath.  The length will vary according to how low you want it to hang.  I originally cut mine about 12″ and then decided to cut it down to about 9″.  Tie each end to the top of each side of your heart.
  6. I chose to embellish the very tip of the wire hanger that hangs in the middle of the heart.  You will see that I hot glued a small wooden heart on mine.  Creativity is key here….you can use some pretty beads, wooden ball, small tassel, a heart shaped jewel or choose to not embellish it at all.

 

ROMECH Full Size Hot Glue Gun
ROMECH Full Size Hot Glue Gun
10,99 €

Craft away with this fun and highly rated glue gun...pink, yellow, blue or grey! How fun is that?

Buy Now
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02/18/2024 11:03 pm GMT
45 Pack Unfinished Wood Heart Shaped Cutouts for DIY Crafts
45 Pack Unfinished Wood Heart Shaped Cutouts for DIY Crafts
$14.99

9 different styles of wooden hearts for all your crafting needs!

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02/19/2024 12:51 am GMT

Voila!  You have a beautiful work of art that is so much fun to make!

Sustainable Craft Challenge ~

It’s time to meet all of my creative carft friends.  As stated earlier, we take part in a monthly challenge to create a craft that has at least some portion of it that is sustainable…upcycled, recycled, reduces waste or uses leftovers.  Julie gives us a theme to work with each month….February’s challenge is HEARTS!

Julie from Sum of their Stories has created  HANGING HEARTS MADE FROM TINY FABRIC SCRAPS

Mel from Decor Craft Design made a beautiful VALENTINE HEART SIGN FROM UPCYCLED PISTACHIO SHELLS

Terri from Our Good Life crafted a HEART CANDY MACHINE

Gail from Purple Hues & Me created a SODA BOTTLE HEART SHAPED BOX

Niki from Life As a Leo Wife constructed a DIY FAUX CONCRETE BUNNY

Christine from Christine’s Crafts crocheted SMALL CROCHET HEARTS

T’onna from Sew Crafty Crochet made a beautiful CROCHET PATCHWORK HEART

Marci from Old Rock Farmhouse constructed a DOODLE HEARTS COLLAGE

Be sure to check each of these posts out to get some new wonderful craft ideas!  I know I enjoy their creativity and have certainlly learned some amazing new crafting techniques!

You can also check out my Valentine Branch Tree from last year’s challenge.  This project was awesome because I was able to use the “tree” that I had used in my Gratitude DIY Branch Tree Post!

In Conclusion ~

I have included several links above to items that I used in this project.  I am also including the link below for A Cherry On Top.  I use this site for a lot of my craft projects as well!   In fact, I love them so much that I became an affiliate for them.  This means that if you purchase anything from them, I may earn a small commission.  I appreciate you supporting my small business!  I know you will enjoy all that they have to offer….just as I do!

They have some promotions going on right now, so be sure to check the top of their home page to get the codes needed for checkout!

A Cherry On Top
A Cherry On Top

A Huge array of art supplies for all of your DIY needs!

View the Craft Products Now!
This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Happy Crafting My Friends ~

Mimi

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah ~ A Book Review

December 12, 2023 / / 6 Comments

Everyone finds themselves in a tumultous relationship at some point in their life…whether with friend, family or spouse.  However, not feeling love from a parent has to top the list of most painful.  A child is constantly trying to gain affection from a parent…sometimes even when they themselves are now an adult.  Dive into this book review of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah to see how this evolves.

The Characters ~

  • Meredith Whitson – mother; daughter to Anya & Evan; sister to Nina, wife to Jeff
  • Nina Whitson – photojournalist; daughter to Anya & Evan; sister to Meredith
  • Evan Whitson – husband & father
  • Anya Whitson – Russian mother and wife
  • Dora – Evan’s only living relative
  • Jeff – husband of Meredith
  • Jillian & Maddy – daughters of Meredith & Jeff
  • Mrs. Sylvie Porter – Nina’s editor
  • Danny Flynn – war correspondent
  • Vera – poor peasant girl in fairy tale
  • Olga – younger sister of Vera
  • Sasha – Vera’s love
  • Anastasia – daughter to Vera & Sasha
  • Leo – son to Vera & Sasha
  • Phillip Kiselev – researcher/writer about survivors of Leningrad
  • Gerald Koontz – Phillip’s cousin, continues Leningrad research
  • Stacey – waitress at Russian restaurant

The Plot ~

Meredith and Nina grow up constantly trying to understand what they have done to make their mother not love them.  The only closeness they feel is the rare times that their mother shares a fairy tale with them.  Their father, Evan, provides the love they miss while also trying to nurture the relationship between a mother and her daughters.  Ony Evan understands the full story and begs his daughters to get their mother to tell the whole fairy tale.  He feels this is the only thing that will help mend the brokeness between Meredith, Nina and Anya.

Winter Garden begins in Belye Nochi Orchard, an apple orchard owned by the family.  Meredith grows up and continues on in the family business while Nina heads out into the world as a well known photo journalist.  Over time they discover that the lack of a loving relationship with their mother has a profound effect on other relationships in their lives.

This historical fiction takes you deep into family relationships as you find yourself in different eras, from the apple orchard in Washington, to the seige of Leningrad to present day Alaska.  We learn that history can have a grave impact on those we love and why this can cause them to act the way they do.  It’s a story that has you angry at times and weeping at others.

Discussion Questions for The Winter Garden ~

  1. How did you feel when Anya reacted the way she did to Meredith’s play?
  2. We quickly see the love Anya has for the husband.  In the beginning of the book why did you think Anya couldn’t share that same love with her children?
  3. In the beginning of the book, what were your thoughts on why Anya spent so much time in the garden during the winter?
  4. Do you think the risks Nina took as a photojournalist had anything to do with her relationship with her mother?
  5. In the fairy tale, Vera had to make a lot of decisions with her children.  What would you have done when given the option to flee or stay with your ill child?
  6. Jeff told Meredith that she is a lot like her mother…how do you feel this felt to Meredith when he first said this?  How do you feel this felt to her after she learned her mother’s entire story?
  7. The girls saw the love between their mother and father….knowing this, why do you think Nina couldn’t accept Danny’s proposal?
  8. Both girls were successful in a way with their chosen paths.  How do you think they felt about each other?
  9. What significance did Fontanka Bridge have to the story?
  10. The black vans were characterized as who from the war?
  11. Nina stated, “I wanted your story.  I never once worried about how much it could hurt you.”  How do you think Anya felt about this statement.
  12. Meredith was asked, “If you had it do do over again, would you still choose Jeff, event with all that has happened?  What would be your answer if you were in her shoes?
  13. Why do you feel Stacey took a quick liking to Nina, Meredith and Anya at the restaurant?
  14. Did you predict the ending of the story?
  15. “Sometimes when you open the door to your mother’s past, you find your own future.”  What are your thoughts?

A List of Kritin Hannah Books ~

Kristin Hannah started as a romance novelist but now writes both romance and historical novels.  Below is a list of her novels.  How many have you read?  What is your favorite to date?  Did you know she has a new book coming out in February 2024….eek!  I can’t wait….preorder yours here…

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

The Women: A Novel
The Women: A Novel
$19.19
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02/18/2024 12:46 pm GMT
  1. A Handful of Heaven (1991)
  2. The Enchantment (1992)
  3. Once In Every Life (1992)
  4. If You Believe (1993)
  5. When Lightning Strikes (1994)
  6. Waiting For The Moon (1995)
  7. Home Again (1996)
  8. On Mystic Lake (1999)
  9. Angel Falls (2000)
  10. Summer Island (2001)
  11. Distant Shores (2002)
  12. Between Sisters (2003)
  13. The Things We Do For Love (2004)
  14. Comfort & Joy (2005)
  15. Magic Hour (2006)
  16. Firefly Lane (2008)
  17. True Colors (2009)
  18. Winter Garden (2010)
  19. Night Road (2011)
  20. Home Front (2012)
  21. Fly Away (2013)
  22. The Nightingale (2015)
  23. The Great Alone (2017)
  24. The Four Winds (2021)

Other Great Books I’ve Read Recently ~

Here are some other titles that I have enjoyed quite a bit:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Have you read any of these?  I would love to discuss them with you…..drop a comment and let’s chat!

Happy Reading~

Mimi

The Measure by Nikki Erlick – Book Review

November 14, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Ahhhh….the age old question that sparks conversation all around the world…What would you do?  Author Nikki Erlick presents a very thought provoking scenario for this very question.  On an otherwise normal day, all around the world, every person aged 22 and above receives a little box at their house/dwelling/etc.  Each one looks the same and has the same inscription, “The measure of your life lies within.”  Would you open it?

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is a fascinating story that carefully weaves you into the lives of several different people.  Some are “short stringers”, some are “long stringers”, and some choose to not find out!  From the beginning she brings you in with her descriptive writing style that truly puts you in the middle of each scene.  Follow along in my review as we discuss whether family relationships, politics, religion, government, etc. would change if we knew our lifeline ahead of time.  *There are some great disscusion questions at the end of this post!

The Characters ~

  • Nina – Editor, Maura’s girlfriend, Amie’s sister
  • Maura – Nina’s girlfriend, member of support group
  • Ben – Architect, member of support group
  • Claire – Ben’s ex-girlfriend
  • Deborah Caine – Managing Editor
  • Amie – Nina’s younger sister
  • Sean – Head of the support group
  • Lea – Member of the support group
  • Doc Hank – Member of the support group
  • Chelsea – Member of the support group
  • Carl – Member of the support group
  • Nihal – Member of the support group
  • Terrell – Member of the support group
  • Sarah – Nina’s college roommate
  • Jonathan Clarke – mass shooter
  • Jack Hunter – From a family that has a strong military background
  • Anothony Rollins – congressman/Presidential candidate and Jack’s uncle
  • Katherine Rollins – Anthony’s wife and Jack’s aunt
  • Grandpa Cal – Jack’s grandfather
  • Javier – Jack’s roommate at the academy
  • Dr. Anika Singh – fellow doctor with Hank
  • Dr. Amelia Parkins – Presidential candidate
  • Governor Russ – Presidential candidate
  • Alice Harper – Presidential candidate
  • Senator Wes Johnson Sr. – Presidential candidate

The Plot ~

The Tree of Life – we all have a spot that begins and ends in our family tree.  This has been true since the beginning of time.  If you are able to know when your time on earth will end, would you want to know?  If so, why?  Would you live your life differently if you knew it was shorter….or longer?  Should people with short strings be treated differently than those with long strings?  Should we force everyone to look…and if we did how does that affect our government as we now know it?  Does your answer to any of these questions change if you were never given the chance to see your string (life as we currently know it?)

Nina & Maura ~

You instantly fall in love with these two women.  The love they share is raw and deep.  One wants to look at their strings and one does not.  Once Maura decides she is doing it, Nina decides to follow along for the sake of continutity in their relationship.  Do they both have the same length of strings?

Ben ~

Ben is an architecht that has recently separated from his girlfriend, Claire.  He opens his box alone and finds himself deep in thought about his life.  Unsure if he should share his string length with his parents, he decides to attend a support group.

Amie ~

One of the “third” group that chooses not to open her box.  She is a teacher that gets to watch history play its course right in front of her young students.  Some of her loved ones have opened theirs and she quickly starts seeing the effect it has on relationships….but is there still more for her to learn on a more personal level?

The Support Group ~

People from all walks of life find this support group to help them through the acceptance of the size of their strings and the effect it has on their lives.  As they continue to meet week by week, they also discover things they may or may not have known about themselves by getting to care about the other members more intensely.

Anthony & Katherine ~

Katherine comes from a very respectable family that is honored for it’s long years of service in the military.  Anthony has his sites set on becoming the next president.  A perfect match?

The Other Presidential Candidates ~

Is it wise to use the length of your string as part of your campaign?  Whether it is short or long there are ways to display that you can get the most done in your allotted time…or will that go against you in the end?

Jack Hunter ~

Jack is a guy that struggles because he doesn’t have the same desire as all of the men in his family have had before him.  How can he use the length of his string to his advantage?

Javier ~

Javier was raised by parents that believe strongly in family values and supporting your country.  He doesn’t have all of the financial  benefits that his best friend, Jack, does.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick raises so many more questions than just how long do I have to live.  She goes deeper in how people treat each other once they figure out their string lengths are different.  But wait, doesn’t society do this already?  We don’t have these strings and yet we still treat each other differently and many times unfairly.  So does it really make a difference if we know how long we are going to live?   Shouldn’t we just always focus on living a good life?   Isn’t the better question, “How well do you live your life?”

Discussion Questions for The Measure by Nikki Erlick ~

  • If you could know the length of your life, would you want to?
  • The long stringers many times became more of a “daredevil” of such.  What daredevil thing would you do?
  • Short stringers went to support groups.  Do you think you would do this or crawl in a hole ignoring everyone?
  • If you were a short stringer, would you share secrets you had never shared before?
  • Do you think doctors treat elderly and the very sick different than otherwise healthy patients?  Do you think this would happen with short stringers vs. long stringers?
  • Would it be important to you that the president you vote for was a long string?
  • Should people with short strings get pregnant?
  • Do you think Doc Hank would have jumped in front of the shooter even if he didn’t know the length of his string?
  • Do you believe short stringers received their length because of something they have done wrong in life?
  • Would you contemplate an “easier death” according to what you believe if you found your string to be short?
  • Were you shocked by the car accident at the end of the book?
  • With the death of 2 parents, it is common for an aunt/uncle to step in to parent the children.  Is this any different if you knew the length of your life or not?

Have you read The Measure?  If so, I would love to have a discussion with you as there is SO MUCH to talk about!  Put your comments in the section below and let’s chat!  If you haven’t read it….go get it now!  You won’t be disappointed.  I rate this book a 5 out of 5 because it was so well written and gave me so much to think about!

 

Here’s a link if you need it…

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

The Measure: A Novel
The Measure: A Novel
$24.79
Buy Now
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02/18/2024 11:14 am GMT

Happy Reading ~

Mimi

DIY Christmas Tree String Art

November 7, 2023 / / 18 Comments

It’s that time of the month again…the wonderful time that I share a sustainable craft that I have made AND also share with you several other ladies’ crafts as well!  It’s a bonus post that is filled with wonderful ideas…and the theme for November is Christmas!  I have been very intrigued by string art lately so you guessed it….DIY Christmas Tree String Art is the choice for me!

Sustainable:  Using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.  Many crafters (myself included) find it so hard to throw stuff away because they are just SURE there is something it can be used for.  Well, my daughter just had new flooring installed.  Did you know they just throw away the discarded pieces that they have cut?  Shameful!

Christmas Tree String Art ~

The beautiful thing about string art is that you can be very precise and measure everything OR you can create with no set rules.  I tend to prefer a little quirkiness, which is what I will be sharing with you.  However, if you prefer a more precise look, there are tons of patterns out there to use.

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

Items Needed ~

  • Wood flooring remnants or wood block
  • Scissors
  • Small nails
  • Hammer
  • Wood glue
  • Stain or Paint
  • Craft Paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Spray adhesive
  • “Snow glitter
  • Twine or yarn in various colors.  Twine was used in the examples I have provided.

Helpful Links ~

Below are links to some of the items listed above.  I am sure many of you may already have most of these items, but if not….here you go!

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

Elmer's E7000 Carpenter's Wood Glue, 4 Fl oz
Elmer's E7000 Carpenter's Wood Glue, 4 Fl oz
$6.76 ($1.69 / Fl Oz)
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02/18/2024 03:32 pm GMT

GLUE 11OZ SPRAY ELMERS
GLUE 11OZ SPRAY ELMERS
$13.37 ($1.22 / Ounce)
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02/18/2024 03:44 pm GMT
Sulyn 4 oz. Glitter Jar - Crystal
Sulyn 4 oz. Glitter Jar - Crystal
$5.48 ($1.37 / Fl Oz)
Buy Now
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02/18/2024 04:46 pm GMT
joycraft 110Yards Decorative Metallic Bakers String - Gold Wrapping Twine String - Inelastic - Glitter String for DIY Crafting, Christmas Decor, Presents, Gift Tags(1.5mm)
joycraft 110Yards Decorative Metallic Bakers String - Gold Wrapping Twine String - Inelastic - Glitter String for DIY Crafting, Christmas Decor, Presents, Gift Tags(1.5mm)
$5.99 ($0.02 / Foot)
Buy Now
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02/19/2024 02:26 am GMT

Let’s Create ~

    1. Choose the type of layout you wish to create.  You can freehand the tree or use a pattern.  (I used the freehand style)
    2. Fit your tongue in groove flooring together to create the size you wish.  I played around with various layouts, mixing and matching the sizes and lengths of the flooring I had until I was content with the outcome.
    3. Glue the pieces together using wood glue.
    4. Paint or stain your project.
    5. Hammer in five nails for the star making sure about half of the nail is driven into the board.
    6. Starting right under the star, hammer one nail in for the top of the tree.  Then randomly place nails to the right and left, scattering the length apart in between them.  Remeber that with this style, there is no right or wrong.  You will want to be sure that they start out closer together at the top and then spread further apart at the bottom.  A board can also be used if you do not have extra flooring.  It can be any size of course!
    7. If making a tree trunk, hammer in 3 to 6 nails spaced about the same distance apart.  Three for a shorter trunk and six for a longer trunk.
    8. Tie off the twine or string at the top nail.  Moving from right to left, string around each nail head.  Once I reached the bottom, I went back up to the top following the same pattern I had used going down.  You can go up and down the tree as often as you wish depending on the thickness you want for your final product.  When done, tie off again at the last nail.                                                                                                                                                                         
    9. Follow the same steps above to complete the star and trunk.
    10. Spray the glue adhesive all over and sprinkle the “snow” glitter.

I am truly obsessed with this fun DIY Christmas craft.  My head is swimming with so many ideas and different color variations.  I have even seen where the whole backdrop is covered in string art leaving the main image with no string.  It is such a stunning look.  This will probably be my next one to do.

Sustainable Craft Challenge ~

May be an image of tree and text

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

As mentioned earlier, I take part in a monthly craft challenge.  Jullie of Sum of Their Stories gives us a theme.  We are challenged to use at least one item that is sustainable/eco friendly.   This month’s theme is Christmas!  Let’s see what the other ladies have shared:

Julie from Sum of Their Stories ~ Felt Star & Bead Garland

Terri from Our Good Life ~ End of the Season DIY Rosemary Wreath

Gail from Purple Hues and Me ~ Nature Inspired DIY Christmas Wreath

Marci from Stone Cottage Adventures ~ Framing a Quilted Pig

Maria from Simple Nature Decor ~ Jeweled Oyster Shell Ornament

Stephanie from Crazy LIttle Love Birds ~ Create a Beautiful Tree Scenery Using Cardboard

T’onna from Sew Crafty Crochet ~ Upcycled Christmas Baubles

Christine from Christine’s Crafts ~ Christmas Tree Diamond Decorations

Mel from Decor Craft Design ~ DIY Christmas Snowman From Old Socks

Allyson from Southern Sunflowers ~ Christmas Tree Shaped Fabric Pillow No Sew Tutorial

Be sure to check out each one…and give them a follow!  You won’t be disappointed!

Drop me a note in the comments if you have worked with string art before.  Do you prefer to use a stencil or free hand?  I would love to hear your ideas!

P.S.  Are you looking for some more Christmas fun…be sure to Check out You’ve Been Socked!

Happy Crafting & Happy DIY Christmas Tree String Arting ~

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Bubbling Cauldron

October 3, 2023 / / 16 Comments

Chances are you already have several items laying around that can be used for a DIY Bubbling Cauldron.  Whether it is a plastic Halloween cauldron you have purchased or you have a fun bucket of some sort that can be converted to one.  With a few supplies, you can easily convert it to a spooky cauldron filled with a realistic looking witche’s concoction that is sure to be enjoyed by all.

Items Needed for DIY Bubbling Cauldron ~

  • clear ornaments – different sizes
  • craft paint – green, orange, yellow, rust/bronze, black (depending on your color scheme)
  • paint brushes/sponge of various sizes
  • half or full styrofoam ball (depending on size of “cauldron”)
  • hot glue gun
  • hot glue
  • cauldron or bucket
  • cut paper sacks if your bucket is larger to help fill space
  • string lights or fairy lights

Additional Items to Complete the Look ~

Before I move on with the easy to follow steps, I want to take a minute to tell you about this great group of crafters I am involved with.  Every month, Julie from Sum of Their Stories blog, presents a theme for us to create a substainable craft.  This month’s theme is Tradition.  For those of you who know me, you are already aware of how much I love traditions.

A long standing tradition that was handed down from my mom is decorating for the holidays.  We always have the tried and true decorations that were brought out every year…some purchased and some crafted.   However,  we would also make new decorations to add to the ongoing collection.  Halloween was very big at our house and I have such wonderful memories of everything about the month of October.  This fun DIY Bubbling Cauldron is a super fun craft that I will now be adding to my annual display of everything spooky!

How to Create Your Own Bubbling Cauldron ~

We had an antique bucket that has been moved from space to space to space in our garage over the years.  I had to laugh because when I brought it in and set it next to my other supplies, my hubby asked, “Well, you aren’t going to ruin that cool bucket are you?”  First of all…RUIN?  😉 Second of all, I quickly replied, “What plans did you have for this bucket…did you even know we had it?”  He laughed and agreed!

  1. Run lots of hot glue over the rim of the bucket, letting it ooze down the sides as it wishes.  (If you are using a plastic cauldron, you can paint it first if you wish to give it a “rusty” look.
  2. Once the glue has dried, you can paint it with your desired paint colors to look like the concoction inside is boiling over.  I used different brushes and quickly realized I preferred the sponge brush as it gave it more of a “soupy” look.
  3. Once the paint has dried, fill the bottom of your bucket with paper sack strips (if needed) and then place the stryofoam ball or half ball on top of papers.
  4. Place your string of lights all around the stryofoam ball.  *I tried several different types and colors of lights.  The colored light strand that blinks became our favorite.  It seems to have a more realistic hot brewing look to it.
  5. Remove the clear ornaments from their boxes and take the tops off of each one.  (side note…I couldn’t throw those away because I am POSITIVE I will find a use for them later!  Can you say CRAFT HOARDER! 🤣)
  6. Start placing the bulbs around inside the cauldron, putting a bit of hot glue on each one to secure them.  Once your have the inside top filled with “bubbles”, start dripping them down the sides.  After you have them all glued together you should be able to lift the whole thing up as one unit.  This makes it easy if you need to change out your lighting.
  7. Complete the look with spider webbing, a big spider, a witch and of course that Potion book I mentioned earlier.

Find the Items Here ~

If you are a craft hoarder like me, you may already have all of the items needed to make this DIY Bubbling Cauldron.  Many of the items can be found at the Dollar Store if needed.  I love this because I try to share crafts that aren’t expensive to make.  Let’s talk about the vessel for your cauldron first.  The plastic bucket can work perfectly, but get creative and look around for something you may already have.  Flower pots could be a great idea to be converted!

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

Here are some handy links if you need to purchase any of the items online:

LOKIPA 2PCS 6 Inch White Foam Balls, White Polystyrene Balls Craft Foam Balls for Art Crafts, DIY, Household, School Projects and Party Decorations
LOKIPA 2PCS 6 Inch White Foam Balls, White Polystyrene Balls Craft Foam Balls for Art Crafts, DIY, Household, School Projects and Party Decorations
Buy Now
This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thank you for supporting my small business!
*Be sure to measure your cauldron size before choosing the size of ball.

Apple Barrel Gloss Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors (2-Ounce), 20361 Bright Green
Apple Barrel Gloss Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors (2-Ounce), 20361 Bright Green
$0.97 ($0.48 / Fl Oz)
Buy Now
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02/18/2024 04:36 pm GMT
Clear Plastic Ornaments, Clear Christmas Ornaments, Clear Ornaments for Crafts Fillable - 12PCS(3.15 inch)
Clear Plastic Ornaments, Clear Christmas Ornaments, Clear Ornaments for Crafts Fillable - 12PCS(3.15 inch)
$21.99
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02/18/2024 02:26 am GMT
Gorilla Dual Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit with 30 Hot Glue Sticks
Gorilla Dual Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit with 30 Hot Glue Sticks
$17.99
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02/18/2024 06:21 pm GMT

October Sustainable Craft Challenge ~

Back to the monthly challenge.  Listed below are the awesome ideas that my fellow bloggers created for the Tradition theme this month.

Julie from Sum of Their Stories ~ Vintage Doily Afternoon Tea Embroidery Upcycle

Terri from Our Good Life ~ Halloween Scenes on Thrift Store Paintings

Gail from Purple Hues and Me ~ DIY Paper Mache Pumpkin Centerpiece

Mel from Decor Draft Design ~ DIY Halloween Haunted House Sign

Jo from A Rose Tinted World ~ DIY Halloween Bowling Game

Be sure to check out each of their posts for some amazing ideas…you are sure to find something new to create!

Come back and let me know how your crafts turn out….looking forward to hearing from you!

Happy Crafting ~

Mimi 

30th Birthday Party

July 11, 2023 / / 9 Comments

As we start edging toward a new decade in our life, many people find themselves feeling anxious over their past ten years.  Where does society say I should be at this point in my life?  I say to heck with all of that jibberish….just enjoy where you are.  Every year has highs and lows….let’s celebrate the “death” of one decade and happily move on to the next.  That’s exactly what we did when planning the 30th birthday party for our daughter, Karleigh.

Death to My 20s ~

Yes, this was the theme for celebrating our beautiful girl.   We are not saying death to the 20s because they were bad years…quite the contrary.  The past decade has been a great one for her.  However, now it is time to celebrate the new decade ahead.   She’s engaged to the man of her dreams, is living in her dream home, and is the happy mommy of an adorable corgi…Theodore Ruffsavelt or better known as “Teddy.”  I can only imagine what beautiful things the 30s have in store for her.

30th Birthday Party Decorations ~

Those of you who know us, know we love Halloween.  We were SO excited to get the Halloween decorations out in July!!!!  Side note:  I think my neighbors got a bit nervous when they saw me pulling the skeleton heads out in the yard to paint them…🤣)  I looked online first for gold skeleton heads and quickly realized that it would be easy and much less expensive to DIY them.

If you are a Halloween junkie like me, you will already have a bunch of skeleton heads hanging around.  If not, you can easily get some online or if in season, hit up your local Dollar Store.  Buy the cheapest ones you can find.  Even though I did not need to buy any, I took the liberty to check online for you.  PLEASE BE AWARE of size of the skulls you purchase.  They all look the same size in the pictures but vary A LOT when you look at the details.

DISCLOSURE: This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.  Thank you for supporting my small business!

SEWACC 2pcs Mini Skeleton Skull Human Skull Model Plastic Human Head Skeleton Figurines Sculpture Realistic Human Head Bone for Halloween Decor
SEWACC 2pcs Mini Skeleton Skull Human Skull Model Plastic Human Head Skeleton Figurines Sculpture Realistic Human Head Bone for Halloween Decor
£18.72
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02/19/2024 03:04 am GMT

The ones pictured above seem to be about the best price I could find for the size.  These are 4.3″ tall, which is a great size.  You can obviously buy smaller ones as well to paint and place around various locations of your party area.  I had this tall stack of skulls that I haven’t used for years (I’m so glad my craft hoarding self held on to it 😉).  It will serve as a new Halloween decoration to use this year after the party…and I love it!

I used the spray paint below.  This is a bit more of an expensive paint than I would normally use for a project like this, but I am including it so you can see the color I used (Metallic Champagne Bronze).  I will say that now that the project is complete, I’m glad I used the nicer paint because I will be using these fun skulls in my Halloween decor for years to come.

Rust-Oleum 313142 Stops Rust Metallic Spray Paint, 11 oz, Champagne Bronze
Rust-Oleum 313142 Stops Rust Metallic Spray Paint, 11 oz, Champagne Bronze
$9.98 ($0.91 / Ounce)
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02/18/2024 05:51 pm GMT

We normally like to DIY most of our party decor, but we were in a time crunch so several were purchased.

Aodocuto Happy 30th Birthday Door Banner Decorations for Women Men, Black White Death to My Twenties 30 Birthday Porch Sign Party Supplies, Rip To My 20s Birthday Theme Funny Party for Outdoor Indoor
Aodocuto Happy 30th Birthday Door Banner Decorations for Women Men, Black White Death to My Twenties 30 Birthday Porch Sign Party Supplies, Rip To My 20s Birthday Theme Funny Party for Outdoor Indoor
$11.99
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02/19/2024 09:46 pm GMT

Skelly the Skeleton ~

Skelly is very loved in our family.  He visits the kids the whole month of October bringing them various surprises.  Check out one of my earlier posts about Skelly here!  For the party, Skelly got to make an early visit this year, intact with a gold boa.  He made for a great backdrop for the pictures.

The Coozies ~

Lauren got to work on her Cricut and made these awesome can coolers.  Karleigh’s 30th is adorned on one side while a skelton head is on the other.  Of course, these are done in black and gold to match the color theme.  These turned out amazing and were a big hit!  A perfect party favor for the guests to take home at the end of the party.

If you are a crafter and don’t own a Cricut, you are missing out!  A true game changer!!!  They aren’t cheap…but I promise you in time they save money for all of the items you purchase that you could be making yourself.

Cricut Explore 3 Smart Cutting Machine
Cricut Explore 3 Smart Cutting Machine
$279.00
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02/18/2024 10:24 pm GMT

The Shades ~

Another fun party favor offered were the shades.  Sunglasses are always a welcome take home gift.  Of course, for this soiree, we had shades in gold and black!  I created the cards in Canva, punched a hole in the corner and affixed them to each set with a black ribbon.

Fsmiling Black Sunglasses Bulk, Multipack Sunglasses Party Favors For Adults,Wholesale 80s Retro Dark Sunglasses Pack Of 10
Fsmiling Black Sunglasses Bulk, Multipack Sunglasses Party Favors For Adults,Wholesale 80s Retro Dark Sunglasses Pack Of 10
$17.99
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02/19/2024 02:55 am GMT
Pibupibu 8 Pack Metallic Neon Color Party Favor Supplies Unisex Sunglasses, UV400 Protection
Pibupibu 8 Pack Metallic Neon Color Party Favor Supplies Unisex Sunglasses, UV400 Protection
$29.98(-3%)
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02/18/2024 01:22 am GMT

The Tablescape ~

A tiered tray was the centerpiece holding all of Karleigh’s favorite cookies, fudge and candies.  Addi even jumped in on the party prep by making various flavor candy skeleton heads and tombstones.  We then scattered the party favors, gold feathers, and random gold skulls atop black sheer material and black lighted garland.   I had purchased this garland for my home decor last fall and had a very hard time finding what I wanted.  The link is included below to save you the time I spent…whew!  I was obsessed!

Aneco 2 Pack Fall Garland 5.8 Feet Black Fall Maple Garland with LED Lights Artificial Fall Garland Leaves Fake Maple Leaf Garland Fall LED Garland Thanksgiving Decorations for Home, Door, Frame
Aneco 2 Pack Fall Garland 5.8 Feet Black Fall Maple Garland with LED Lights Artificial Fall Garland Leaves Fake Maple Leaf Garland Fall LED Garland Thanksgiving Decorations for Home, Door, Frame
Buy Now
This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Food & Drink ~

We were trying to decide between theme-oriented food or going with some of the birthday girl’s favorites.  The favorites won out so there was a nice spread of brisket, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, meatballs, summer salad, watermelon and apps.  Mint juleps were the drink of choice.  Had we had more time, I definitely would have made something like this…Charcuterie board fun by outintherealworld.com.  I love all of the creative ways people are finding to serve charcuterie boards.

WENPACK 12" Fillable Cardboard Number Shaped Gift Grazing Charcuterie Board Paper Tray Box (3)
WENPACK 12" Fillable Cardboard Number Shaped Gift Grazing Charcuterie Board Paper Tray Box (3)
$18.99
Buy Now
This site contains product affiliate links for Amazon and other companies. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thank you for supporting my small business!
02/19/2024 02:36 am GMT

I have included many more links than I normally do.  If you are anything like me, you see some crafty ways to entertain that you love and then spend the next 24 hours trying to locate all the goods.  I have mentioned before that I do make a small commission if you purchase from these links so I do TRULY appreciate your support of my small business.  However, whether you purchase from them or not, I hope they serve helpful in locating items and then at least you know what they are called so you can do more searching on your own!  Sometimes just knowing what an item is called is the biggest battle!

In Closing ~

This was a super fun party theme that we enjoyed putting together as much as the guests enjoyed being a part of.  The painting of skeleton heads is super easy while the coozies definitely took more time…so plan wisely.  I believe that a party should be as much fun to plan as it is to attend.  A memorable party always consists of good food and drink, fun decorations, nice party favors and a good picture backdrop.

Enjoy!

Love ~

Mimi

 

 

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