Spring Wreath DIY

I always love this time of year.  Things start warming up, the days start getting longer, you see little buds and blooms pop up, the grass turns greener, the air is fresh - its just wonderful.  Then the pollen comes and the humidity is quick to follow...but we won't talk about that.  Today is all about feeling springy and cheery.  I have a little wreath/embroidery to share with you today.  It meets my three criteria for projects- easy, simple and cheap.  For projects like this, just use what you have already and be creative.  No need to spend a bunch of money on seasonal decor.  I used pretty much leftover supplies from other projects to make this one.

For this project I used:

- Embroidery Hoops  (4"&12")

- Scrap Fabric

- Scrap lace ribbon & felt

- Embroidery Thread

You will also need a hot glue gun and needle

First step is getting your fabric framed inside your small hoop and then you just cut your felt and ribbon to the size you want and lightly hot glue it down to your fabric.  Cut a longer strip of fabric for the bigger hoop and wrap it around the entire hoop.  I used a little hot glue and the beginning and end to secure it.  I kind of love the frayed ends and shabby chic feeling of this so no need to fret over frays or fringe.  This fabric is actually a leftover kitchen towel from my luggage rack redo and the shower curtain I used when we built our fabric ottoman.  Both are from Target in case you are wondering.

Ok, don't let the next part scare you.  I simply stitched a little "happy" into my embroidery.  I was going for a vintage/shabby chic feel so its just a quick free-handed embroidery.  Really, really easy.  I don't sew at all and I can do this - so can you!

I also made a few rosettes out of my scrap fabric/kitchen towel for the larger hoop.  I used the same technique as I did with these felt no sew flowers.  They are super easy to make.  

Finish it off with a little lace ribbon and you are done!  Now my little faux mantel is starting to look all springy and bright.  

This milk glass vase and turquoise ball jar are two of my favorite things.  Now I just need some of our flowers to spring up so I have something to put in them.

Aren't you guys ready for pretty spring days?  What kind of springy projects are you working on?  Share with me!

Have a great Wednesday!

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Easy Ribbon & Burlap Banner

I don't know about you guys but we are dead tired after this weekend.  Every year our church puts on a moving play called Journey to Bethlehem.  Different guides takes groups through scenes as they search for the star and the newborn Jesus.  Each scene progresses through the Christmas story as they visit King Herod, the Wise men, the Shepherds, the Inn and the Nativity (with a few more thrown in there). It's really a neat experience and always a great ministry and outreach for us.  Our students run a concession stand for the waiting groups and we raise money for our summer mission trip.  Its a great, great week but boy we are pooped.  Now on to some crafts...

Today I have a quick and easy project to share with you that I made with fabric scraps.  But first let me show you my shutter that I painted to use for our "mantel".  After painting our house exterior over the summer we decided not to put back up all of our exterior shutters -So, I raided our extra stash and spray painted one with a little black paint to pretty it up a bit.  This was the perfect backdrop for my ribbon banner.

Next I grabbed several scrap fabrics and cut them in strips, about 5-6" in length.  I used scrap fabric, bandanas, felt, t-shirts and ribbon.

Then it was as simple as tying them onto my twine to make a pretty garland.  I made a really long one for my tree and a smaller one for this banner.

Next I cut out three burlap squares with a scallop and used leftover chalkboard labels from this project and attached them to my twine with mini clothespins.

And then it was all ready for a little chalk writing and to be hung up on my newly painted shutter.

I love it and I love how all of my Christmas decorations this year are homemade and coordinating.  

So I have a little faux mantel going on in our kitchen on top of our cabinet that I will show you tomorrow.  It's all Christmasy.  We don't have a real mantel because we have no fireplace but I like to use my little cabinet to decorate like a mantel so it works.

So how was everyone else's weekend?  Any crafty things going on?  Share with me!

Have a great week!