Monogrammed Fall Wreath

As much as I love spending time outdoors in the summer with all of the sunshine and swimming, I LOVE, love, love fall. It has been my favorite season as long as I can remember. I love how the light changes in the sky, how the air just starts to crisp, how my recipe repertoire makes a perceptible shift toward the more hearty. I just love fall. Cheesy, but true!

I love decorating for fall, too. I don't really "decorate" for the summer or spring. I throw up a few St. Patty's decos in March, but not much more. Fall is another story. I love to have pumpkins, leaves, candles, and more to ring in the fall. I also think it's fun that fall decorations can stay up until the Christmas decorations come out! That does make for a sad time in January when ALL the decorations go back in their boxes....but January's a long way away.

I saw this idea for a Monogrammed Fall Wreath on Purple Lemon Design's blog, which is another that I really like. She has such cute ideas, including this one, which I changed up a tiny bit. I am including some more detail on execution for you based on what I learned (ie Hot Glue is SUPER hot!)! This project was very easy, fairly fast (less than 2 hours) and very affordable.

I completed the project for less than $7 total, and I think it would cost much more if ordered somewhere like Pottery Barn! Here's the cost breakdown:
$3.50 for the Styrofoam with Joanne's Coupon
$2 for 2 bags of leaves at the dollar store ( I go to Dollar Tree--90 leaves for $1!)
$1 for the fabric on the back
$0 for the hot glue and ribbon I already had!

Here are the items you'll need.

Styrofoam Rectangle, lots of leaves, fabric approximately the same size as your letter, hot glue, ribbon, tacks, also a marker, scissors, letter template, hot glue gun, sharp serrated knife (I used a bread knife).

To start off, you'll need to determine what shape to make. I wanted a monogram, but I think a rectangle or square shaped wreath would be fun and unusual, too.

I printed off a few letters and free hand drew the shape onto the styrofoam using a sharpie. I did an "F" and tried to fill up as much of the styrofoam as I could while still looking nice. On the tutorial, she enlarged her letter to fit an 11"x14" sized paper, but I didn't have that and just decided to "wing it."

After tracing your shape, you'll have to cut it out. I used a serrated bread knife after remembering that I'd seen "The Pros" on HGTV use an electric serrated knife to cut foam and thought it would do the trick well. I was right!

I found it was easier to cut the vertical lines if I cut in horizontally first---peek at the picture and it will make more sense.

With the horizontal "notches" in place, the shape cut out fairly quickly. However, I got overzealous and in a hurry and accidentally hacked off a piece. Luckily, it still "fit" within the "F" shape and looked okay. I tried to add text to the photo, but it's not quite large enough. Look for the little arrows to see how I did the horizontal cut lines.

Once the cutting was done, I deviated again from the original tutorial. Instead of using ribbon to cover the back ( which you'll want to do if you'll see the back side at all), I bought a remnant of brown fabric for fifty scents. I traced the "F" onto the fabric using the shape as a template, then hot glued it into place. Very easy!

Now, the fun begins! Start gluing on your leaves. Carefully. I have a cute new blister on my middle finger that will likely further hinder my hand modeling career. Shucks.

After a bit of trial and error, I found it was easier to put the hot glue on the leaves rather than the styrofoam. Take care when pressing down as (I know, repetitive, but true) the glue is super hot. Also, too much glue will melt the styrofoam and make your wreath look ugly.

*Be careful when you wrap the glue around the sides! I can't say it enough: "Hot Glue is HOT glue."

The gluing process is the most time consuming. It took me about an hour or so. I did put leaves over most of the back so it would look cool from the back if it was in front of a mirror, but I didn't try to cover the entire back.

After the gluing was done, I found some 1 1/2" satin ribbon that I'd gotten at Michael's for $1 to use for making the wreath hanger and some thumbtacks to help adhere it.

First, I cut the ribbon to length and then burned the edges a teensy bit to help prevent fraying. Please excuse the crappy & blurry photo!

Next, I made a large blobby pile (that's a technical term) of hot glue and pressed the ribbons down.

After that, I made a small dot of hot glue and stuck the tacks in there, through the glue and the ribbon. Hopefully the hot glue helps anchor the tack. These tacks aren't the most lovely, but I don't have plans to display the wreath on a glass door.

Finally, I tied a loose knot at the top and it was done! Ready for display!

Or how about in front of a mirror (that really needs to be cleaned!) on a fireplace?

 

I love how it turned out! Thanks to Purple Lemon for the great idea! I hope you try it!

A Sneak Peak

I'm going to post a tutorial that I've been working on for a cute fall decoration. Here's a sneak peak.

The project was based on a project I saw online. I tried it and love how it turned out. The hot glue gun burns? Not so much. I always forget how freaking HOT hot glue is....seems obvious, but it's hotter than Hades, I tell you!

Check back tomorrow & I'll have the tutorial!

Fun with Applique

I discovered how FUN applique was earlier this year when working on a pair of cupcake birthday tees for Little Miss Pink and her dear friend for their first birthdays. Since then, I think it's my new favorite birthday gift for a younger child! My best friend's little boy turned one last week and, in our gift, we included this super fun "ONE" shirt for the little guy! The shirt was so easy to make! And fun, too. I cut out my number, ironed and fused it on using this product, sewed around it and, voila! birthday fun!

On the Creative Process

Does it ever happen that you don't know when enough is "enough"?

I have used that phrase with the kidlets.

But I sometimes don't heed my own advice. I seem to have this insatiable need, when working on many projects (particularly those involving paint), to do just one more thing.

And so many times, that one more thing is the one thing that ruins (in my opinion) the project, where it fails to meet the vision I had in my head for the final product.

That failure to put the brush down occurred again today. I hate it when that happens. I had to
sand down my project and start again.

My advice to the crafter, painter, candlestickmaker is this: Know when enough is enough! Trust your judgement! Step away from the _____ (fill-in-the blank: canvas, glue gun, etc)! Sometimes one step less can be one step better.

As for me, I'm off to finish the project that could have been done hours ago, save the s-t-u-p-i-d (that's a naughty word around here!) urge to do just one more thing!

What Happens at Michael's...

...Stays at Michael's!

Does this ever happen to you? Sometimes, I go into Michael's and have a simple plan to purchase a spool of ribbon and a few containers of acrylic craft paint. It is a good plan and perfectly reasonable.

I'm working on a craft project that happens to be a present (which I'll share later). I ran out of white craft paint and needed some pronto. I know it's on sale this week and I'm telling myself as I walk in, "Don't look at anything else."

I ignored my conscience. My Littler Man and Little Miss Pink were witness to my straying. It wasn't terrible, but I did end up with a bit more than 2 items.

Instead of spending $1, I ended up with more like $21. Much of it super-clearance ribbon and fabulous Martha Stewart papers, kits and labels.

When I got to the car and the kids were buckled up, I said, "When I go into Michael's, I just can't help myself."

Wise four year old Littler Man says in a totally deadpan voice, "Mom, you CAN help yourself. You're an adult." 

Ouch. So true. I'm still keeping all that stuff, but I will take the lesson to heart.

Playhouse Pennant Tutorial

I love the pennants and flags that are popping up all over the blogosphere of late. I got the idea to make this for the kids' playhouse after making one for Little Miss Pink's 1st birthday party.

I kind of combined the pennant from Little Miss Pink's birthday with this one I'd seen in blog land (linked from a FAVORITE crafty site, One Pretty Thing):
on Maya*made.

One caveat. I am a horrible sewer. No. Wait. That's sewer, as in "place to where the toilet flush travels." Right? I mean seamstress. Whatever. I'm a terrible, awful user of a needle and thread and sewing machine. Don't look closely at the sewing. But the idea is cute, fun, and (if you're even only mildly bad at sewing!) could be even more cute if handled by a talented seamstress!

The idea behind the project was to let the kids make a little sign/flag for their playhouse. Here's how I did it.

First, I made a pattern. It only works if you have a cool personalized ruler. Or not. But you can make it any size (or shape, I suppose!) you want.

I traced & ironed the pattern out. I wanted mine fairly small.

Next, I cut out my triangles (7 of them in white), along with the backing material. I didn't show pics of this, but I used yellow and blue. All of this was just fabric I had around.

As far as what to use to color on fabric, the sample from the Maya*made blog used fabric crayons & markers. I did go check out Michael's for fabric crayons. I didn't feel like paying $6 for them, or more for fabric markers. I decided Sharpies would work fine. And they did.They also did a great job of coloring on our hands, but what's art without a bit of mess!?!

So next, I had my super cute Little Men color on their flags. And even Little Miss Pink scribbled on one.

I particularly like the "Kids Only" one! Notice the tiny "sailboat" drawn on it as well. I have a pair of Picassos on my hands.

Next, I pinned the triangles together, wrong sides together.

Then, sewed each of the triangles. Terribly. You don't have to do it terribly, but I can't help myself.

Once the triangles/pennant pieces were sewn, I turned them right side out. Notice the beautiful Sharpie on my hands. Classic. Please, don't bombard me with requests to be a hand model. I'm already very busy.

At this point, if I were a perfectionist, I could have ironed all of the pennant pieces flat. I'm not. At least not in the sewing arena. So next, using single fold bias tape, I pinned all the pennant pieces in place along the bias tape,creating the line of pennants.

This step is a bit time consuming, particularly if you aren't of the "sewing" bend.
It does help if your "boss" monitors your progress while hurling animal crackers off of her tray and demanding that you do a good job. Whilst wearing her pajamas well after morning has come and gone.

Next, sew the pennants in place all along the binding, creating the pennant. I didn't photograph this step either, but you don't need to see me getting frustrated with the machine and cursing under my breath, wishing I would have paid more attention in the sewing portion of Home Ec.

Once the pennant was complete, I cut little strips of the scrap backing fabric (in yellow & blue) and tied the strips in between each pennant for a more rustic, cute look. Ta Da!!

Next, our Playhouse Pennant was ready to be hung! It was the last night of summer, the night before school started. We hung it up and ate Last Popsicles of the Summer. The boys love their "flag" as they call it. I love their drippy, sticky, smiley faces. Also, couldn't you just eat up the brotherly love & affection that was captured here? Click on the photo to capture the full effect.

They are quite proud of their new playhouse!
I'm proud of the fair-to-middling attempt at sewing.
Luckily, anything that has the kid-stamp on it with their artwork is
precious in my book.

I hope you agree!