Christmas Decor

As promised, here are some photos of my Christmas decor and baking projects. These are all inexpensive, and with the exception of the tree topper which I'd say is medium-skill level, they are all fairly easy as well.

I love this chalkboard contact paper - it's inexpensive and doesn't leave residue! I put it on the inset of a closet door, then wrote "Joy to the World" in chalk and accented it with bells, stars, and a calligraphic scroll design. Easy and festive!

Cinnamon and applesauce holly cut-outs. I punched holes on each end with a straw, then outlined them with white paint after they'd dried so they would look like gingerbread. Then I strung them on candy cane-colored twine for a simple, fun banner.

I cut out the letters in "Let It Snow" from silver paper, then strung them on bright blue yarn, interspersed with cheap glittered snowflakes.

The banner above them is two different sizes of cotton balls strung on white thread. They're supposed to look like snowballs. What do you think?

I cut these stars out of an old olive oil can (note: wear gloves) using a barn star pattern in two different sizes, one large and one medium. I bent them along the right lines (up on the lines going down the point on each ray, down on the lines between each ray), glued them together using very strong glue meant for metal, rolled a triangle of metal for the part that goes over the branch, then painted the whole thing gold.

I make a Yule log every year using a chocolate chiffon cake recipe. This one's filled with vanilla and peppermint extract-infused CoolWhip. I took a large piece of birch bark (locally sourced from a dead tree), put ClingWrap over it, then put the Yule log on top. I dusted the whole thing with powdered sugar to make it look snowed-on and then perched a small carved wooden bird on top.

Yule log slice, candied orange peel, Swiss cookie, sugared cranberries (my new obsession), and Pavlova with sugared cranberries on top.

Melted good-quality dark chocolate poured into a greased/lined pan with chopped up candied orange peel sprinkled on top. This took less than 20 minutes but was so addictive and an instant fave!

So that's my Christmas decor and baking? What did you make and/or eat during the holidays?

DIY Glittered Birds from the Dollar Store

Here's another quick and easy DIY project for the holidays: festive birds using inexpensive birds from the dollar store and colored glitter!

I bought a couple doves and cardinals from the local dollar store. They looked okay, but the feathers were a bit thin in places and they looked, well, cheap up-close. So I decided to fancy them up!

I brushed on Mod Podge with a small brush, doing small areas at a time. I put a piece of paper underneath the birds to catch glue drips and spills, and then carefully shook glitter over the glue-painted parts.

For the dove, I decided to do the wings first. Then I did the tail. Finally, I did the beak and feet. I used silver glitter (also from the dollar store, although more expensive German glass glitter would look even better!). I liked the way it contrasted with the white - it seems very Winter Wonderland-y to me!

I used red for the cardinal and covered everything except the black face mask and eyes. However, I only painted one area at a time so that the glue would not dry in places before I'd applied the glitter.

Voila! Here's what they look like from above. Try not to touch them too much after you sprinkle on the glitter. Give them an initial tap or two to get off the excess (and pour it back into the container so as not to waste it), but then let them dry thoroughly. After they've dried, if some areas need more glitter, carefully dab on more glue and shake on glitter again. Repeat until you get the desired effect.

At this point, you have two options. You can leave them as is and when you go to use them, you might get glitter on nearby surroundings as tiny pieces come loose. Or, you can seal the glitter. I recommend the latter! (Side note: also great for DIY glittered heels, gift tags, ribbons, fascinators, etc.)

You have quite a few choices: pastel or charcoal fixatives, acrylic spray sealants, Mod Podge (might take off glitter when you brush it on, though), or other glue-type sprays. I'm going to try an Elmer's version. I'll report back and let you know how it works once I've applied it. Whatever you use, make sure you follow the directions on the can/container!

These have wired feet, so you can turn them into ornaments for the tree after they've dried. They'd also look great tucked into Advent wreaths, Christmas wreaths, garlands, or on top of presents (for very lucky recipients!).

I still have a few of these birds leftover. I might make the dove light pink or yellow for Easter, and do the cardinal in blue (so it looks like a Blue Jay) or another bright color for the summer. Just change your glitter color to match the season!

What would you use these for? Any other ideas?

Faux Mercury Glass Candleholders

I've shown these "mercury glass"-look candles in a few posts, so here's the tutorial! They come together really quickly, are versatile, and look pretty impressive (in my humble opinion, of course).

First, find some corrugated cardboard. I had this piece sitting around the house, but you can also purchase it online. It comes in quite a few colors. I think in the near future I'll be playing around with different shades to see if the colors come through the paint at all. Red and silver or blue and silver would be quite pretty! (I'll report back if I give it a whirl.)

I used a square foot or two. I figured if I was going to take the time to paint, I might as well do a larger area so I have more cardboard to play around with and use for projects. Use as much or as little as you like!

Next, grab some spray paint. "Looking glass" or mirror shades are great for mimicking mercury glass, but I've read about people having success with silver or even brass-toned shades. Basically, pick whatever you like at the store!

Follow the directions on the can. Especially about shaking the can long enough. And making sure the area is well-ventilated. I definitely did the latter from the get-go. The former? Not so much. It worked much better when I shook it as directed. I also used newspaper underneath so I didn't paint the dirt outside silver. (On second thought, it would have looked better if it was silver!)

My cardboard took about two to three coats. Just eyeball yours. If you like it thinner (say if you're using colored cardboard and want it to peek through), do thinner coats. If you want it thicker, do more. Make sure you do let it dry between coats so it doesn't just run everywhere, though.

After you've applied the last coat, let it dry thoroughly for a couple hours (or until completely dry to the touch).

I used these flameless LED candles because I love not having to worry about smoke discoloring the ceiling, wax running everywhere, something catching on fire, etc. You can find them in home stores or online. Many even flicker realistically! I chose three pillar candles of different heights for interest.

This part is very whatever-works-for-you. I grabbed a candle and started rolling the cardboard around it to measure. That's the great thing about corrugated cardboard - it's very flexible. I allowed for a tiny bit of overhang - only about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Not very scientific, but it worked for me! If you want to grab a tape measure, that would work just as well. Probably better, actually...

I decided to use double-sided tape to attach the "mercury glass" cardboard. That way, if I want to cover the candles with something else, I can just remove it! If you have an easier time making up your mind and committing to a permanent craft look than I do, go ahead and use a glue gun or strong glue.

I put a piece of tape down the length of the candle, and lined up one side of the sprayed cardboard so that it covered half of the tape. Then I wrapped the cardboard around the rest of the candle, and joined up the far edge so it covered the other half of the tape.

Here's my seam. I just turn the candle so the seam is at the back when I use it in a display. Cover the rest of your candles in the same way, and your faux mercury glass candles are done!

I made these candles quite some time ago, and the tape is still sticky and holding on the cardboard despite temperature and season changes (in case you were wondering how tape holds up).

The candles are really versatile. I used them for a late fall/early Christmas display (first picture of this post), and here they are in a Halloween one. In the spring, I'll combine them with vases of daffodils or flowering branches. I think the silvery, mercury glass sheen will look lovely against the soft yellows, pinks, and whites. These candles would make great handmade gifts as well!

Just a note: if you don't want the cardboard color to peek through at the top of the candle (the top cut edge), use a silver Sharpie to cover it up.  I left mine as-is because I liked the contrast, but go ahead and marker it if you want it to be all "mercury glass"! You could also glue on tiny rhinestones, pearls, or other beads to hide it.

That's it! Simple, inexpensive, and easy. Aren't those the best kinds of projects?

I'll be posting lots of quick, DIY decor ideas and gifts in the next few days, perfect for last-minute hostess or unexpected guest gifts! I'll post pics of my holiday decor soon as well. I might have gone a tad bit overboard on the DIYs...

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season so far!

The Past Couple Weeks

The past couple weeks have been composed of:

*putting up the tree (despite me being allergic to them...I still insist on a real one)

*disastrous holiday baking attempts (I think my new measuring cups aren't standardized - oh no!)

*romps with the pup through the 17" of snow we got from a Boxing Day blizzard

*a trip to the New England Aquarium (which is where the above photo of Leidys Comb jellyfish was taken)

*classic - and amazing - cocktails at Eastern Standard, my favorite restaurant in Boston

*taking down the tree

*making New Year's Resolutions, both for myself and for my shop/business

What have you been up to?