Fall Grapevine Wreath

Looking for an easy fall craft? This wreath is quick and affordable, and will look great on your front door!

All you need is:
Grapevine wreath
3 Berry garlands, 5' long each (use more or less depending on your taste)
Accessories - I used two pinecone/leaf accents, but you could also use a bow or whatever else you like
Glue gun

Carefully unwrap your garland, and begin weaving it around the grapevine wreath. After you have used all of the garland, make sure it is evenly spaced and secure it in a few places with a glue gun.

Arrange your accent pieces on your wreath and secure with glue...

That's it! Your all done! Hang on your door and enjoy!

The Wood Connection and Valentine's Day Crafts

Have you heard about The Wood Connection? The Wood Connection has TONS of different wooden crafts to choose from. They have crafts for every season, holiday, and life event. There is a ton of cute home decor. Best of all, the crafts are all reasonably priced and pretty easy to complete! They encourage you to take pictures in their shop so that you can remember what to do when you get home, and they also have pictures and instructions on their website.

A few weeks ago, I got together with some friends for a craft night. I was able to make both of these projects that evening:

Small "Love" letters

Hearts on pedestals

We had such a fun time, and it was nice to be able to complete everything in one sitting. I can't wait to go back and get more stuff for Spring!

Also - in addition to crafts, they also sell wooden furniture. You should definitely check them out!

Easy Table Runner

You will need:

1. 3 - 4 different fabrics - I used 1 yard for the middle section, 1 1/3 yard for the smaller stripe and back, and 2/3 yard for the end piece.
2. Thread
3. 1 yard fusible interfacing
4. Sewing machine, sewing notions

Time: about 60 - 90 minutes
Cost: variable, depending on your fabric
**All seam allowances are 1/4"**

Instructions:

1. Cut your fabric to the following lengths:
a. middle piece: 36" x 18"
b. smaller stripes: 6" x 18" (2)
c. end stripes: 12" x 18" (2)
d: back: 36" x 18" (2)

2. Lay your fabric out to create the design of the table runner.

3. Pin right sides together and sew the top of the runner.

4. Pin your back piece (right sides together) and sew together.

5. Cut your interfacing to fit the table runner (2 pieces of 36" x 18"). Following the interfacing instructions, iron the interfacing to the wrong side of your back piece.

6. Pin the front and back pieces of your table runner (right sides together) and sew it together, leaving a 6" opening.

7. Turn the table runner right side out and iron smooth. Pin the opening edge of the runner and sew closed.

Paint Deals

Behr Paint and the Home Depot are currently promoting a rebate offer: buy 1 gallon of Behr paint and get $5 back, or buy a 5 gallon paint pail and get $20 back by mail-in rebate. Definitely check this out if you are thinking of doing some painting in the near future. I am not sure how much longer this promotion will last...so hurry quick!

Baby/Child Hooded Towel

You will need:

1 bath towel

1 washcloth (same color as towel)

Coordinating ribbon, fabric, etc to accent the towel

Instructions:

1. Add any desired ribbon or enhancement to your towel and washcloth. I chose to sew ribbon on my towel. You could also sew on a pattern, add fabric, embroider the child's name...feel free to be creative and make it your own.
2. Fold the washcloth in half, with right sides together. Pin the top of the washcloth and sew a narrow hem (about 1/4").

3. Turn the washcloth (now the hood for your towel) right side out. It will probably look something like this:

4. Center the hood on the top of the towel, right sides together. Pin in place and sew, using a 1/4" hem.

Baby Bibs

These baby bibs are way cute and are super easy to sew!

This instructions and pattern for this bib came from Chickpea Sewing Studio.

You will need:

• Fabric: 1/3 yard fun fabric for the front, 1/3 yard coordinating flannel, terry cloth, corduroy, etc for the back.
• Thread
• Snap
• Pattern

Directions:

• Prewash fabric.
• Fold one piece of fabric (wrong sides together) and pin the pattern along the fold. Cut the pattern out. Repeat for the other side of fabric.

• Pin the front and back, wrong sides together. Sew the front and back together using a double stitch and 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave a small opening (about 1") for turning.
• Turn the bib inside out and press with a warm iron.
• Edgestich around the bib, making sure that the open hem has been tucked in. The edgestich should sew the open end closed.

• Attach snaps.

Refurbished Desk

I had been looking for a desk that I could use for crafts for a while, and I saw this beauty at the Centerville D.I. a few weeks ago. I realize it isn't much to look at in this picture, but it is made of solid wood, has built-in shelving, and was only $30. So, I decided that I would refurbish it and give it a whole new look.

To get started, you will need:

1. Furniture to refurbish
2. Electric sander
3. Paint
4. Paintbrush - I used a foam brush to help avoid brush strokes
5. Drawer hardware (pulls or handles)

Instructions:

1. Wipe down the furniture with a clean, damp cloth.
2. Using the electric sander, sand the furniture. If you sand it to the wood (thus removing the old pain), painting will probably be easier.
3. Begin painting. Make sure that you apply an even coat. You may need to paint more than one coat in order to have adequate coverage.
4. When the paint is dry, apply the new drawer hardware

Here is the finished product: (sorry...these pictures didn't turn out the greatest)

I love how this desk has built-in shelving on the side. It gives me even more storage room.

If you are able to find a decent piece of furniture, refurbishing can be an affordable way to give it a new look. Including the price of the desk, this project cost me less than $50.

Accent Pillows

Accent pillows can be an easy, affordable way to add a little personality to your room. These pillows are very easy to sew and making them yourself may be less expensive than purchasing them from the store.

Skill level: Beginner

You will need:

1. Sewing machine
2. Fabric with matching thread*
3. A pillow form

*Some fabric stores sell remnant pieces of fabric at great prices. I purchased my fabric from Material Girls Quilts and was able to buy remnant pieces for about $5/pillow.

Directions:

1. Cut the fabric that will be used for the front of your pillow into a square that is approximately 1" larger than the size of your pillow form. I cut my fabric into a 16" square because I used a 15" pillow - for the sake of these directions, I will include the measurements that I used for a 15" pillow.
2. Cut the fabric that will be used for the back of your pillow into a 16" x 21" rectangle (16" tall, 21" wide).
3. Cut the back fabric piece in half, so that you have two 16" x 10.5" pieces.
4. Next, hem one side (the 16" side) of each back piece. I made a 1/2" hem.
5. Once you have hemmed one side of both back pieces, pin both back pieces to the front pillow piece, right sides together. The hems on the back pieces should be in the middle of the pillow and the fabric should be overlapping.
6. Sew the back pieces to the four side of the front pillow piece. I used a 1/2" hem.
7. Turn your sewn pillow right-side-out and insert your pillow form. Congratulations - you have an accent pillow!