Shipping Paper Tree

When I receive a package stuffed with packing paper I put the paper aside for later projects.  

I had a huge stack of it ready to make my tree.  

It took about 25 feet of paper rolled into a coil for my 13 inch tree.

The base for the tree is a cardboard cone made by Darice.

I also used pearls, faux snow, chalk paint and vintage lace.

I tore my packing paper roughly 6 inches wide.

Then I  twisted the paper into a rope as I glued it to the form.

Using hot glue I began at the bottom edge and spiraled to the top covering the entire cone.

When I came to an end of the coil I inserted the new coil into the old coil and tacked inside with hot glue.  And continued to coil and glue the paper rope to the cone.

Here is the entire cone covered with the paper rope.  You could leave it like this for a rustic tree with a paper rope star at the top.  But I wanted to decorate my tree further.

I inserted a pearl encrusted stick pin I made into the top of the tree for the tree topper.

Using an almost dry paint brush I stroked chalk paint down the sides of the tree just hitting the high points.

When this paint was dry I continued decorated the tree.

I glued 4 pieces of the vintage lace to the top of the tree.

And secured the lace to the bottom inside of the cone with hot glue pulling it snuggly down the sides.

Next I randomly added the faux snow in places around the tree.

And lastly I glued two sizes of light pink pearls, to match the tree topper, as ornaments.

Oh no, there is my assistant checking out my progress to the left.  I didn't even know she was watching me.  I was having a hard time getting a good background for a picture. So I took several pictures with different backgrounds trying to get a good shot.

Happy Crafting!

Matching Flowerpot

We are truly into Fall now.  I woke up to an array of beautiful colors outside my window.

The other day while crossing the parking lot at Costco I saw this cute raggedy bird nest.  That little bird really decorated her nest with all kinds of things.

For today's makeover I had this flowerpot in my bathroom window. It was looking pretty scruffy now that I have the new little set of drawers I refinished early in the week sitting along side.

It was a worn sage green color and just didn't look nice anymore.

I decided to paint it to match the drawers.  It only took one coat of chalk paint.  Thank goodness because I was almost out of that color of paint.  The new color looks fresh and bright on the pot.

I used the same trims I used on the set of drawers.  Silver bling and pearls.

I followed the indentations on the flowerpot and used hot glue to adhere the silver bling  and pearls to the pot.

And lastly I added 3 of the largest pearls at the top on front.

Now they look good side by side in the bathroom window.

Happy Crafting!

Cute Little Chest of Drawers Redo

This is the little set of drawers I picked up at the Thrift Store last week.

I didn't care for the flowers but new I could paint over them.

As it turned out I had paint to match the color exactly.  So one coat did the trick.

Here it is all painted and no more flowers. The inside didn't need any painting the color match was so perfect.  Who knew?

Next I assembled a few embellishments.

I began by hot gluing the silver bling to the roof edge.

Next I added a row of pearls to the roof.

Next I added the silver bling to the drawers.  And a string of pearls to the bottom of each drawer.

At the peak of the roof a glued on a little bird and a few individual pearls of varying sizes.  Under the eaves I added a flower a crystal and a few more pearls.

To the roof I glue a few very large pearls randomly over the roof and a string of pearls down the ridge of the roof.

before

And the finished piece.  I think I will use this in the bathroom to hold small hair clips and combs.

Happy Crafting!

Southern Belle Rabbit

I'm afraid it has been so HOT the last couple of days I haven't been too creative.
But today was only 100 degrees.  Feels like a breath of fresh air.

I got up at 6 this morning, turned on the AC and cooled the house down to 71 degrees.  It really helps to start the day with a cool house.  Especially with a two story house.

I used to like the summers around Sacramento until we started losing all the farmland and paving and building on every square inch of land.  Now we have humidity unlike in the past when our climate was very dry.  This area began as grasslands and scrub oaks.  Not a lot of  water, but always lots of heat.

Well, today I decided to complete another rabbit I rescued.  It appears to have been made from an old piece of barn wood and stands a little over 3 feet tall.

When I started this project I really didn't have any idea how I was going to finish this rabbit.  I also didn't know if it was going to be a boy or girl rabbit.  But once I painted the face and added the whiskers I decided on a girl rabbit.

Here is how I found her.

I began by dry brushing the entire piece with white paint then added pink ears, nose and cheeks.

Next I gave her features a little definition with a darker shade of pink paint. Painted her eyes, mouth and whiskers with black paint.  Then added raffia whiskers in the holes in her cheeks.

Next she needed hands.  I had a couple of old rusty garden tools I attached with hose clamps that I aged with a little black paint and nailed to the wood before attaching the tools.

Well now she needed an apron.  I had a vintage doily that had a few stains that was just about the right size.  I folded about 1/3 over, hot glued it to the board then added floral fabric pockets, glued in place and a waist band made from a  bright pink hairband.

Then added a few twigs to her pocket.

OK, she is starting to have a real personality now.  I think she needs to be a Southern Belle gardener.  Fancy bow for her head and pretty jewelry.  Because don't we all garden in our best duds?  Of course as a Southern Belle she can't be seen without her strand of pearls.

Well, what else is missing?  I know, she needs a ring.  A big pearl ring.

I don't know she is still missing something.  How about a gathering basket?  Yeah, the sounds right.

And here she is on my stair landing with her little friend I finished earlier this month.

Happy Crafting!