diy: tinkle bell garland

Last year I fell in like with a sweet bell garland at World Market. It was made from twisted wire and had beads and bells intertwined that tinkled so sweetly my heart really really wanted it. It was however not a necessity nor was it cheap enough for me to justify the spending so I walked away from it many times (it's now on sale), thinking of it ever since. On one of the many days I attempted to assemble order to the scary room, I came across a pack of small bells which made me think of the garland which had me tearing up the newly(ish) assorted piles in search of my spool of wire. Once I found the wire and recovered from the messier mess I just made, I put the materials aside to make a garland for the holidays.

Flash forward a week or two after my mad dash I find I have a $10 coupon for World Market and head out in search of holiday gifts. As I wander the store I discover the garland hanging out with the ornaments and swoop in to pick it up.

After bringing it home and winding it around the dining room light I decide I really need to make one so I pull out my materials thinking I'll find the time to make if before Christmas. I even manage to rifle through the metal drawers in search of beads to add.

Christmas came and went and I found myself with some time just before New Year's. I grabbed the wire, beads, scissors, and bells and plopped them down on the table to get to it. The bells are your average jingle bell, only smaller, and while cute in size they lack the happy tinkle of my store bought garland. Nonetheless I cut two lengths of wire bout two yards in length and twist a loop into one end and get to stringing.

Aim smaller if you can, the twisting of the wire causes your ends to tangle up which is a big old pain in the arse to untangle. Loop your end then thread five or so beads onto each strand. Add a bell to one of the strands and give the whole party a little twist or two before adding another round of beads.

I took a break to look at the store garland and wished I had some prettier beads but decided to try just twisting wire then adding a bell before twisting the wire again. I did this three times before I got frustrated with my ends getting all twisty so I added more beads, ten on each strand this time and turned the whole motley crew into  pattern f sorts.

By the time I pooped out of twisting and beading, I had enough of a garland to go over the bed and so I cut the leftover length leaving enough to twist into a loop and called it a day.

 

I really like the way it looks all by itself across the bed. I think I will make some more using come other beads floating about my bead drawer. I may even ge one or two up in my shop. Happy stringing!

day of the dead door decor

I went a wee bit old school for this project using newspaper and party streamers to create all the bits. All you ned is a large piece of foam core or cardboard, painted paper and/or party streamers, white glue, and a pencil.

Mister rescued a bunch of plastic-ish corrugated signs from the dumpster and so I drew my sugar skull on the blank side with a black sharpie, details and all. 

Mister used a blade to carefully cut out the shape while I painted a couple of sheets of newspaper with white acrylic. 

Once the paint dried, I cut the paper up into strips and then cut the strips into small squares about an inch and a half wide. I added a pile of cut crepe paper streamers as well and went to work on the details first.

Pick up a square and wrap it around the eraser end of a pencil. Dip that into a bit of white glue and press down onto your cardboard. Repeat with as many squares as needed in your chosen colors until all the details are all flashy flashy on your cardboard.

My surface was a bit slippery so I could only work in small bits to keep my squares from slipping every-which-way. I did the details first and then filled in with the newspaper. Once everything was dry, I added a wire to the back using a hefty dose of packing tape and stuck it on my door! How delightful!

make a little rainbow

 Last month I whipped up a happy garland for one of the classrooms I work in. I utilized a large arty piece we had the kiddos paint up with oodles of glue, paint and glitter. It was such a happy garland it inspired me to create a bit of rainbow happy and now you can as well. Your kiddos can even get in on the fun.

Materials

*1 large sheet of paper (8"X17")

*ruler & pen

*acrylic paint

*white glue or mod podge

*glitter

*paintbrush

*scissors

 

 

 Garb a large sheet of paper, I used white paper but newspaper would be pretty happy as well, and mark out six portions at two inches each. Fold paper using the marks as guides. The folds will act as guidelines for each color and if yer doing this project with kiddos, they can use their happy motor skills to fold and crease.

 

Set up paint. I love a rainbow. Instead of your classic rainbow, I went with its punchy-poppy cousin and used brighter lighters versions. Magenta, dark orange, yellow orange, lime and pale blue. Paint each fold one color and set aside to dry.

 

Once dry, pop out the mod podge and paint on a layer of sticky along the bottom of each color. Sprinkle with glitter and set aside to dry.

 

Once dry, use your scissors to cut out each row of color and then use your hands to tear each row into smaller pieces.

Now it is time to assemble the garland. I stitched mine up on the sewing machine but you can fold and staple or tape each piece to your yarn or string.

 Hang in a happy place!

latey late late

i know, but i have a handful of halloween goodness in my pseudo-shop. anyone care for some spooktacular decor?

**okay, i suppose yo ucould make your own as well. float over to the 'do to see how.