Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...
a layer of frost.

Clockwise, starting top left:
Snowy Owl
Wool Socks
Felted Slippers
Felted Sea Otter 
Fabric Ornaments 

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

pastels.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Macaroon Trinket Box

Wooden Brooch

Initial Necklace

Mini Planters

Wooden Bird Brooch

Have a magical Christmas!

Bowl -- Faux Bois Style

Yesterday I showed you an inexpensive way to bring a little woodsy appeal to your home via a technique with glass, silicone sealant, and spray paint...

Today I'm going to show another application in the form of a bowl. Same procedure -- just a different shape. I bought an inexpensive "Anchor Serving Bowl" bowl (again at Walmart) for about $3.

Then, I use the same technique that I demonstrated yesterday and made this Faux Bois bowl...

Some rustic vase filler from Target was added and it was done. These close-up shots don't really do these items justice. They look really cute from across the room.

I used the same spray paint and silicone that I'd used earlier, so the only expense this time was the $3 bowl.

Linked to:
Made by you Monday @ Skip to my Lou

Faux Bois {False Wood} Vase...

Nature inspired accessories are so popular right now. Of those, one of my favorites are faux bois pieces. French for "false wood," faux bois items bring a rustic wood grain into your home and can add texture to a variety of accent pieces. You've seen faux bois in stores on vases, candles and candle holders, outside planters, picture frames, refurbished furniture -- even chocolate has been made to take on a bark-like, woodsy appeal! I've been wanting to try my hand at making my own false wood vase for a couple of months now, and I finally got around to it the other day.

I worked off a fabulous tutorial at Centsational Girl. I followed her tutorial to the letter! Check it out to get a list of supplies.

I will give you a helpful hint though. Glass cylinder vases can be found at Hobby Lobby or any other craft store, however, when I went there they only had two sizes -- both of which were slender and tall. I wanted a shorter -- more squat -- one, so I headed over to Walmart to see if they had any. I bought the vase I used in their kitchen aisle {not their craft area} for $1.97, which was less expensive than Hobby Lobby -- even with their 50% discount. I've also been told that you can purchase glass cylinder vases at dollar stores. The silicone sealant, frosted glass spray paint, and flat white spray paint or primer can all be found in the same aisle at Home Depot. These supplies can be used for multiple vases.

To form your fake wood design, simply apply the silicone sealant to form a knotty wood pattern -- rotating the vase until complete. There is no right or wrong way to achieve the desired effect. In my opinion the less "perfect" it is, the more real it looks. Knots in the wood can be formed by building up the silicone in a circular motion. Here's my vase right after the application of the silicone sealant. The silicone goes on white and turns a clear color as it dries. I went a little crazy with my design -- might have gone overboard a bit -- but it really didn't matter in the long run...

Here's the vase about 18 hours later. You'll note the silicone sealant is a more clear now that it's dry...

When the silicone is dry, spray the vase with the "Frosted Glass Spray Paint." This serves as a great primer for the glass. It etches the glass so the paint adheres better.

Here's the finished product after the flat white spray paint has been applied...

And...at home in the bookcase in our newly stenciled study.

{Also, note the faux bois base on the owl snow globe found at West Elm on the shelf above.}

As much as I love fresh flowers, here's the version I'll keep up year round with some artificial succulent plants...

Generally, faux bois vases run at least $30 in stores. 

I'd venture to say this one cost under $4. 

;o)   Happy Dance   (o;

Update:
Checkout the Faux Bois Bowl I made too!

Linked to:
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not Just a Housewife
 Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings
The Inspiration Board @ Homework

Reindeer Noses...

I've been thinking a lot about children the last couple of days. I'm so grateful for the children in my life. I love them so much. The events in Connecticut have made me so sad. I've sent up a lot of prayers in the last 36 hours for those who lost loved ones. We're all grieving and feel their loss.

Because my mind has been on little ones {and their care givers}, I wanted to do a little something for the children in my class at church. The other day I pinned a cute downloadable freebie from Kate Hadfield Designs. She made this adorable Christmas bag topper and offers it on her website free of charge. Go here for the pdf version of her "Reindeer Nose Bag Topper." It was so generous of her to offer it free.

I copied the bag toppers onto cardstock paper, grabbed some treat bags, and put these together in no time. Just use Whoopers and Sour Cherry Balls for the candies...

At times like this it feels good to do something special
for the children in our lives.

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

 I spy with my Etsy eye...
a little Christmas.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Christmas Garland

Felt Christmas Stockings

Victorian Earrings

Reindeer Photography

Snowflake Cookie Cutter

Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend!

Faux Bois

This week I've been working on an easy and  very inexpensive project! 

Here's a sneak peek...

On Monday I'll elaborate!

O Come, Emmanuel...

Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by watching "O Come, Emmanuel" featuring The Piano Guys. It is hauntingly beautiful...

Merry Christmas

Tandoori Chicken Burgers...

Occasionally, I will post a recipe or two on this blog. Usually, this time of year I add a sweet concoction of one type or another. This year, however, throughout the holidays I've been on a diet, so I haven't done one stitch of baking or candy making the last couple of months. Sad, but true. However (happily), these diet restrictions have helped me to lose weight, and I'm finding that my palate is changing from a "I want sweets and carbs continually" to a palate that craves veggies and protein. That's why I pinned this photo the other day. It's the perfect --  low in calorie / high in protein -- addition to my recipe box...

Source: "Baked Bree" - Tandoori Chicken Burger Recipe

I've always loved anything cooked in a tandoor oven, but never made anything at home that had flavors that were close to what you can taste when you dine out at a traditional Indian restaurant till now. This "Tandoori Chicken Burger Recipe" is divine. I made it last night, and we loved it. Follow the recipe carefully. It's a little on the spicy side -- just the way we like it! The spices add so much flavor to the usually bland ground chicken (or turkey). Instead of using naan bread, we enclosed our burgers in a warmed 100 calorie Sandwich Thin bun to make it more like a traditional burger. I would have loved some naan surrounding it, but didn't have time to make any and our grocery store doesn't carry naan. Don't skimp on the creamy yogurt sauce served on top of this burger. The sauce is a must -- as it brings all the flavors together. Bon Appetit!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye

raindrops on roses...

Clockwise, starting top left:

Warm Woolen Mittens

Cream Colored Pony

Sleigh Bells 

Whiskers on Kittens

Raindrops on Roses

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String

Enjoy all your "favorite things" this weekend!

"Give a Hoot" Owl Pillow...

I mentioned yesterday I am trying to pare down Christmas this year, then we are going to celebrate Christmas more fully in June when we meet together for a family reunion at the beach. Getting a "little something" for everyone is still a bit of an undertaking, however, because we currently have 12 kids/kids-in-law and 12 grandchildren. {That number is always in flux!} Trying to come up with 24 "little" presents is proving to be a challenge! ;o)

The other day I fell back on a pattern I created some time ago. Little Taitum {our youngest grandchild -- just a month and a half old} needed a little something to open, so I made her a "Give a Hoot" Owl Pillow...

As you know, I often name the "Give a Hoot" Pillows I make. The name "Mattie" came to mind when I created this feminine version.

Taitum is a little young to have a pillow in her crib, but when she gets older I hope Mattie will comfort her and remind her that her grandparents love her!

Go here to find out how you can make one of these "Give a Hoot" pillows.

{Now I'm going back to my less-than-glamorous life -- time to mop the kitchen floor.}

Lil' Kid Crayon Caddy...

A couple of years ago we decided rather than spend money on a myriad of Christmas presents for our growing family, we would rent a home on the Outer Banks in North Carolina in June and spend a week with family. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made...

This year we decided to do the same. The challenge we've found, however, is that we still want to give a little something to everyone. Not as much as we might otherwise, but something for each of them to open on Christmas day.

A couple of years ago I made Crayon Caddies for our older grandchildren, but the little ones -- ages 1 1/2 to 2 years -- never got one, so I decided this would be a great gift for those kiddos for Christmas.

The Crayon Caddy is the perfect item to take to church, a friend's home, or a doctor's office to keep a little one happy and occupied.

It has slots for crayons...

...and pockets for paper and stickers.

 I love the Velcro closure on this carrier.

It makes it so easy for even the littlest artist to take care of his "tools"!

Best of all, these caddies are so simple to make. They require minimal sewing skills!

 

Feel free to visit my Lil' Kid Crayon Caddy free tutorial, to make one for the buddy artist in your life! 

Bird Nest Necklace

The other day a sweet friend of mine presented me with this beautiful Bird Nest Necklace...

This gift holds special meaning to me. First she made it herself, which means everything to me. Next it's gorgeous. Finally this beautiful little nest has seven eggs, which symbolize my seven children. {Sigh}

I love meaningful gifts. 

My friend told me she had learned to make Bird Nest Necklaces by reading a tutorial she found on Pinterest. Go to Pinterest and type in "Bird Nest Necklace" and a myriad of tutorials will pop. I particularly liked this one at "Sarah Ortega's" blog. She uses a variety of stones and gems in her tutorial.One could even make a nest with the birthstones {or birthstone colors} of a mother's children. I might even try my hand at it -- although my attempts at making jewelry in the past has met with less-than-positive results. {geesh}

I think this would be a beautiful gift for a mother or grandmother on any occasion.
I also think it would be a perfect gift for a teen -- with her birthstone as the egg.
I can't wait to wear mine!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye a...

gift.

Clockwise, starting top left:

Toy Bear

Little House-Shaped Pillow

Owl Tote

Felted Slippers

Bee Stationery

Ceramic Buttons

Wishing you a sunny weekend!

"Stenciling" Walls...

I've been working this week on a detailed project in our computer room. Here's the scoop...

It's taken me about 8 hours to get 2/3 of the wall done, but I love it. This wall in our study has been totally transformed by this stencil. Because we have texture on our wall, called "orange peel", I can't stencil this wall like you might normally -- with a roller. Because the texture lifts the stencil in spots, the paint gets underneath the stencil and creates a disaster with a detailed stencil such as this. Instead, I've put the stencil on the wall, traces around it lightly with a pencil, and then taken a little 3/8" paintbrush and painted the design on the wall. It's been labor intensive, but not difficult, and the result has been worth the time spent. I figure I've got a couple more days worth of work ahead of me and then it will be done! Yay!

This 'n that...

For those in the USA, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We only had one child at home, but we had some wonderful one-on-one time with him so it was great. My husband and I were thrust into the 21st century this weekend when we {finally} purchased a big screen TV. We'd held off on that purchase for years, but we finally succumbed to the pressure and we're loving watching our favorites on a BIG screen. We purchased this sideboard from IKEA to use as the new TV stand. I absolutely love it. It's pale gray and you can hide all the "junk" behind closed doors. Fabulous and economical!

In the last two weeks I've repainted our living room and study. This week I'll be "stenciling" one of the walls in our study. I'm actually going to be using the stencil as a pattern, but I'll be painting the outline with a brush. Should be interesting -- and time consuming -- and tiring, but I hope we'll love the finished product. Here's the stencil I plan on using...

I'll do a subtle tone-on-tone, much like I did in our bedroom (below)...

I also plan on making a few of these for the grandkids this week...

These crayon caddies are a fun gift for little ones. You can find my tutorial here. All in all I have a busy week planned!