crafty pretties

some of my favorite 

crafty pretties 

i've spotted recently:

i would love to make a paper garland like this.

the colors in this are so festive!

if i knew how to knit or crochet, 
i would make these jam jar cosies 
via dottie angel in a heartbeat!

i am so loving the fun stitched details in red.

wouldn't this be easy to pull off?
a whole garland of these would be fabulous!
(via west elm)

i also love these yarn wrapped trees and pom poms

 via one pearl button.

simple meets chic.

(and how CHEAP would these be to make?!)

(via west elm)

at over $400, there is no way this incredible "nest" 

from anthropologie will ever grace the 

top of my tree, but i think it would be a fun

and relatively  simple diy project.

i may just attempt it...

next year.

(i know, i know, i always say that!)

using fruit in holiday displays

one easy way to incorporate some color

into you holiday decor is by using fruit.

fruit is readily available and comes in

so many shapes, sizes and colors, and makes for

some pretty stunning arrangements and displays

when mixed with flowers and greenery.

i love the look of these fruit pyramids.

the addition of the pine fills in the gaps between the fruit, and would smell wonderful.

oh...love this one!

i love the lemon and lime stripes.

it has such a clean and festive look.

i thought this one was so elegant and unique.

and so fitting, since the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality.

the colors in this fruit pyramid are 

so earthy and rich looking.

wouldn't these colors translate nicely into a stunning room?

i have no clue what that fruit is

but i love the color and texture.

any body out there know what it is?

bueller?
bueller?

this tabletop display is so simple and welcoming. 
the addition of the candles in the middle 

of the ring of pears is so nice.

here are some simple pictures to show how 
this display was constructed...

the oranges + the evergreen + 
the smooth lemon leaves is divine, 
and the milk glass container is such a great contrast 
to the colorful fruit and greenery.

and how easy would it be to throw this together? 

another super simple display to whip up at the last minute.

get some pears, apples, ornaments and ribbon and toss them into a

pretty footed glass bowl and you are done!

wouldn't this look great with green pears, 

green apples and some limes?

this one is so quirky and colorful!

im not sure what the "ingredients" are to this arrangement, 
but i know it's pretty to look at!

(kumquats? some type of variegated greenery...

and is that some type of tulip?)

here is the "big brother" to the previous arrangement.

(all from charlottes moss's home---

i posted the matching mantle display last week.)

love the pine cones + kumquats + ranuculus + roses.

it's such a departure from what we normally see

at the holidays, and i think that's what makes it 

so special and fun.

***

i actually just finished transforming 

my plain costco wreath with

some nuts,  

 pine cones,

chandelier crystals, 

and LIMES.

as soon as i take some pictures, 

i will show you how it turned out!

where i was last night...

... at the bloggers social at 

alice lane.

i had such a great time!

above are kirsten from 

6th street design school,

and jessica, the owner of alice lane.

i've "known" kirsten for almost a year,

but this was the first time we have officially met.

she is just as sweet and kind and stylish in person as

i thought she would be...and she is so darn cute i want

to stick her in my purse and carry her around with me.

***

among others, i also got to meet:

holly and kristen from alice lane

amanda from recycled consign and design

jenna from design sparrow

caitlin from caitlin creer interiors

april from sweet life in the valley

shelly from house of smiths

jen from tatertots and jello

char from crap i've made

it was so great to be able to meet some of these talented and

amazing ladies. i had a fabulous time chatting and comparing notes

and snacking on the yummy food.

thank you kirsten and jess and the staff 

at alice lane for a wonderful evening!

more easy felt gift adornments-tutorial

some more, 

easy felt gift adornments...

(the first post is here, i case you missed it.)

two-tone roses...

and a cute and easy flower.

for the felt roses:

you will need:

felt 

(i used two shades of brown for the 

roses and some green for the leaves and strip)

scissors

marker

something round to trace

adhesive 

(i used hot glue)

twine

stack you two shades of felt, 

and take a marker and trace a round object onto the

top layer of felt. cut through both layers so that 

you have two circles.

starting at the edge, cut a spiral in each circle.

using your adhesive, secure the center of the rose and 

start wrapping, glueing as you you.

i started my darker felt first, then trimmed about 

1/2 inch of the lighter felt, and added it to the

darker felt after a few turns.

once you are all done. attach your leaves.

i glued all three of my roses onto a piece of felt,

and attached a hair clip and pin to the back

so that i could re-use it.

this is a great way to give another gift within a gift...

not only does it make your package look pretty, 

but it can be reused after the package is opened!

i think it looks adorable on this jacket, 

and my 9 year old daughter is super excited to 

wear it in her hair.

 for this package, i also cut a strip from the green felt, 

and secured it to the box with green twine.

easy, and so cheap!

and the whole thing only took about 20 minutes to make.

****

and now, onto the felt flowers...

you will need:
8 small felt circles
1 larger circle

(i just used the top and bottom of a glass)

a rectangular strip of fabric for the bottom.

(there are a ton of wayt to do the bottom...

on the first package, i

knew i wanted to use a wide ribbon, 

so i made two parallel cuts as shown above)

fold your small circles in fourths,

and glue them to the larger circle.

i found it helpful to do this symmetrically...

kinda of like pie slices. or a clock.

i placed the first circle at 12 o'clock, 

the next at 3, the next at 6 and then 9.

then i tucked the remaining circles in between 

the ones that were already placed.

then i glued the strip on the back,

making sure not to glue down the middle.

then, i threaded my ribbon through and 

attached it to the gift box.

for this one, 

i also covered the top of the box with felt.

i like the simple look of this one as well. 

the twine and the cream felt are timeless.

and, when you are done making a gift look fabulous, 

you can take off the flower and add it to a headband!

these felt gift adornments really are

 the perfect two-for-one gift.

 happy wrapping friends!

holiday house

ever buy a magazine because of one spread?

i remember standing in the checkout line at the

grocery store around christmastime

2 years ago, and picking up one of those 

overpriced "ideas for christmas" magazines.

i had no intentions on buying it...really, i didn't.

until i saw this house:

and into my cart it went.

 LOVE, love, how they cut their trees into "topiaries".

must. copy. someday.

and wouldn't you love to find that rug under the

christmas tree? and those chairs? and that mirror?

there are so many festive ideas 

crammed into this house!

this is a great idea to add some holiday color to your house:

just add a strip of fabric on top of your sofa or chair!

 

great colors on that suzani pillow!

and i so love the mix of furniture and accessories in this home.

 this is another great idea...

the modern white chairs, painted antique table and

touches of blue in this room are fabulous.

i really love the gold mixed with the deep blue.

 these hurricanes were etched with some 

contact paper and glass etching solution.

an easy diy project.

a detail from the back of the chair.

***

this particular "overpriced christmas idea magazine"

was worth every penny.