✥ Extreme Wreath Makeover ✥

 U.G L.Y. You ain't got no alibi, you ugly! That's right I said you ugly!

That pretty much sums up my feelings for my before pic. Can't you believe {dare I even say it?} that I had this up on my door, just like this last year! Aah! The shame! The horror! I have no excuse for explanation for this insanity.
The wreath was just...there, and well, I don't know-?! I just put it on my door! Ahh!

We bought a new wreath this year and the hubs was about to send this one to the dumpster graveyard, but then I figured some spray paint could NOT hurt.

{Is it even possible to have a worse after? Me thinks not.}

Anywho, I had this dollar store fruit makeover pinned, and I thought I'd give it the old college try.

I basically spray painted everything. {of course}

Gold poinsettias✒ Now Silver ✔

Weird Round Ball thingys✒ Now Silver ✔

Pine Cones✒Now either Silver or Natural ✔

Dollar Store Pears✒ Now Painted Chrome ✔

Fake Berries✒ Now White ✔

So then, I was all, "this fake greenery looks a little less fake, I think I'll out it back on my door."

AND I did just that.

But after a day or two- I started feeling rather blue.

Well, like I needed a little more blue up in here, so I pulled out my Martha Stewart Glitter and added some shine and some sparkle to the old gal. That glitter has been y best holiday purchase to date, and can I tell you I hemmed and hawed over it!? Tot-A-Lly worth it!   This is with my front door wide open, that's why it's lining up with the gallery wall.    So now, you can just stick a fork in it, cause it's done. Well- at least I think it is. You never can tell round here.

Happy Holidays!

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Christmas Tree Ornament ✥

How about we paint a "happy little tree?" {Bob Ross, anyone? Don't know him, you're missing out!} This ornament was a piece a cake to make, but I couldn't resist a glittery little Christmas tree. 

Simple and beautiful!

Oh yeah, I first tried super glue to hold the glitter on the glass ornament. Super glue is not the greatest at holding onto glitter. Which, when you think about it, is really ironic since I have glued my fingers together more than once or twice with that very same glue. You'd think, "glitter? No problem." Right? You'd be wrong. It's not even that the glue dries too quickly, cause I have the kind that dries in 5 minutes.

No matter, it was at this point I realized regular old Elmer's worked just fine and is so, so much easier to work with.If you're wondering, nail polish remover takes super glue off of glass ornaments and hands when fingers and thumb are stuck together! ☺

Are you guys making your own ornaments this year? What about any other holiday crafts!?

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ DIY Pottery Barn Globe Ornament ✥

If I'm being honest, I have to say- I debated about whether or not to share this ornament.

Try as I might, I could not get the lines perfectly straight! The joys of painting a globe on a sphere.

Well anyway, for 60-ish cents, I figured it wasn't that bad. {I hope...}

The inspiration for the ornament comes from Pottery Barn, well- from Pottery Barn via Pinterest. 

I love me some globes, although this in is ridiculously inaccurate. My apologies to Canada, I think you guys and the island countries took the biggest hits for on size and shape.

Wanna make your own? You'll need:

*Extra Fine Craft Glitter- mine's from Martha Stewart

*Silver Paint Marker {for glass surfaces}
*Glue, Elmer's is fine

*Painter's tape

I started with the vertical lines and used tape to get {at least} those straight. The painters tape will pull up the paint marker, so no overlapping- bummer.
Since I couldn't use tape to horizontal lines, I decided to skip ahead to the countries. That way there would be less open space to cover.
I painted on Elmer's glue, then used silver and a light turquiose glitter. The plain silver may have worked for PB, but for mine it seemed a bit washed out.

Lastly, I used the edge of a piece of cardstock to wrap around the globe to use as a reference for the horizontal lines. Basically, used it like a pliable ruler- now that I think about it, I guess I have one of those. Hmmf.

Anyhow, not a perfect system, but good enough. Like I said, for 60 cents I'm pleased with it.
Do you ever feel that way once you're finished with a project? Sometimes the results really exceed my expectations and then others, not so much. :)

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Magnetic Advent Calendar {Printable} ✥

It's December 4th, just about 4 days late for an advent calendar. Oh well, that's just how things go sometimes!  Advent calendars seem to come and go in my house. Like last year my Mom gave me the one we had when I was a kid. Then, she decided it was too sentimental to her and asked for it back. Haha! Of course I gave it back, no biggie. But it's totally rad with teeny, tiny little ornaments from the 70's, or earlier, all hung on a tree made of felt hand prints. A total classic.

This one is nothing like that! I made it with the same modern patterns I used in the Christmas banner I shared with the The Simply Klassic readers today. Pop over and grab my printable Christmas banner and grab my printable banner,  if you haven't already!

Now, on to this advent calendar!! You can see my little tins on my fridge. I had the idea for a spice/tin advent calendar that I'd position in a shadow box using magnets and magnetic paint. I planned to use a frame from Ikea and some cream burlap I purchased for my Christmas decor.  That is so not happening right now. I figured it's better to get this post out now, rather than wait weeks until I have time to get around to this calendar. That way you guys can grab the numbers if you want them and I'll get around to working on the display next year soon! 
So, for now, it's on the fridge- which is still cute, I think. Let's get down to business.

To make your own advent calendar, you'll need:

• metal spice or favor tins- you can buy them almost anywhere, like at the dollar store, Ikea, Amazon, Bed, Bath & Beyond
• my printable or your own numbers 
• glue or mod podge
• magnetic strips

I made up the patterns for the numbers by using the A-Mazing designs you can find on Sprik Space. If you've never been over you are missing out. There are a ton of patterns available and they come in 12-20 different colors each. Super rad!

I made the numbers to print off at 2 inch circles, but you can easily modify it to fit your needs. Oh yeah, and I made them square with a circle overlay in case you have the square spice tins. You could just as easily use scrapbook paper and numbers to make your own numbers with your own designs. This is a super versatile idea.

I purchased my tins from Amazon. It was less than 20 bucks for 25 tins. I have heard you can buy them cheaper at the Dollar Store and Ikea sells a larger version. I liked Amazon cause they sent it right to my house, 1 less errand to run if you know what I mean!!

My lil' sis helped me out by cutting out the circles. If you have a hole punch, then that would be easiest. I just glued my cutouts to the inside of the lid, using Mod Podge. Easy, peasy. 

Since I didn't have time to make the shadow box before I shared the end result with you all, I just cut some self adhesive magnets and attached them to the back of the tins. Wouldn't this be so fun for kids to place with on the fridge?

Then for the inside:

Add whatever little treat you'd like. I also love the idea of putting an activity inside each tin, things to help bring in the true spirit of Christmas: like do a service activity, go caroling, make your neighbors cookies, adopt a needy family, watch Christmas movies, read about Christ's birth, watch the Christmas devotional. SO many great ways to foster the spirit of Christmas in your life and in your home!
  Maybe I'll have this finished before the end of the year. Then again, maybe I won't hold my breathe. You know the drill, busy, busy, busy! How are you all keeping on top of this super busy month? What does your advent calendar look like?Do you remember the one from your childhood?  xoxo

✥ Snow Globe Ornament ✥

I've got another ornament for ya!

I pinned this awhile back, it's a snow globe ornament! So, so cute!

 

I have to use my rhino as a model, as alas, I cannot take my own picure while holding the ornaments.

 And believe me, I've tried!! {shaky, shaky}

Wanna make one?

I used clear glass ornaments from Michael's. This is a large ball, I got a box of four for 3$ {they were 50% off.} 

For the tree I used a little round bush you would buy for a Christmas village set, like for train set or whatev. I trimmed the shrub into a tree shape and trimmed the plastic base to fit into the globe, using regular scissors.

Then I used Epson Salt's for snow in the bottom of the globe and added some Martha Stewart glitter.
I added some white paint to the tips of the tree to make it look snow covered. {Although catching the detail on film may be beyond my photography skills!}

What about you all, are you pinning like crazy, or what? Have you made anything from Pinterest, latey? How about holiday crafts?  Thanks for stopping by. 

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ French Christmas Carol Ornament ✥

Team Gardenberger has been working on some new ornaments this year like crazy!

It's so fun, although there may or may not have been a glitter explosion!

This one was super easy. I printed off some French sheet music, courtesy of the Graphic Fairy. Then rubbed a glue stick all over it and added some silver super fine glitter.   Once it was dry I ripped it into rows. Rolled them up, and shoved placed them gently inside.

It's my version of this infamous ornament from Pinterest. 

Stay tuned, I've there's more where that came from!! I have no idea how many I will end up with, but there's quite a few done already!! What ornaments are you working on? How about new Christmas decorations?  {I love the holidays!}

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

▪Anthro Hack▪ Easy Faux Zinc Letters

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good DIY! Tis the season to be merry. And boy am I ever! Shortly after Turkey Day, my husband and I rushed to Joann's. While he played with bells, lights, and Christmas trains, I scoured shelf after shelf in search of more cardboard letters. Tragically, the letters for "Merry Christmas" had already been taken.