11.08.2021
honeycomb paper mushrooms!
11.05.2021
fall wreath with scrap paper leaves
continue reading for a quick tutorial on turning scrap paper into fall leaves - and more!
11.01.2021
NEW! Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms!
no, i am not done with fall yet!
there are so many beautiful things in nature in fall that inspire me...
and when i saw mushrooms of all types and materials going crazy online,
Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms!
these are a fast, fun, easy craft / diy decor project perfect for fall and Thanksgiving
that i had a lot of fun making - i hope you will, too!
continue reading for my newest no-sew sweater decor tutorial...
10.29.2021
last-minute 'pumpkin party' decor
here's an example of the crazy ways things connect in my brain:
while in the process of cleaning up my studio
(an Herculean task, let me tell you....)
i found a plastic bag filled with some yellow paper party supplies
that i had picked up while out thrifting - and promptly forgot about!
the paper goods were immediately removed from the bag,
so i wouldn't forget about them again - i'm in that drawer at least once a day.
just hours later, i scrolled through social media and saw a photo of a big fat bow,
thought 'that's cute', and kept scrolling. then i stopped.
in my mind, the big fat cute bow merged with the paper party supplies,
and became 'a pumpkin party' in my imagination...
pumpkins bedecked with ribbons and bows in a 'party' setting.
the combination of the two - plus some stickers and more party decor -
turned out cheerful, happy, and so easy to create
and it took me just minutes to assemble the vignette shown above...
which makes it a PERFECT last minute decor idea,
and a great 'no carve' pumpkin decorating project for kids.
continue reading for the details...
10.26.2021
give 'em pumpkin to talk about!
they're a bit different that what that word might cause you to expect...
because they are all for pumpkins!
i dressed up my white pumpkins in hats, glasses, bow ties, lacy ruffs, masks, crowns,
and one spectacular wig.
they're ready for the costume parade - and they serve as great inspiration
if you're still looking for last-minute decor ideas!
continue reading to see how i raided the costume box and dressed up my punkies!
10.19.2021
decorate pumpkins with stickers!
9.03.2021
time for Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!
so it's time for me to share my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!
the most famous - infamous??? - thing i've ever created,
home decor magazines, on home decor websites, in a 'designer gift crate' selection,
7.27.2021
yarn + twine pineapples
(shared in my last post - link below)
i came up with a few more ideas for easy-peasy pineapple crafts...
continue reading for the two-step tutorial -
PLUS another way to make a 'sweater' pineapple!
7.23.2021
new! Sweet Sweater Pineapples!
7.20.2021
a different kind of sand castle...
a sand castle? not so much.
unless, of course, you find a new way to make a sand castle ;)
and i did.
continue reading to see the everyday material that inspired me and how i used it...
7.06.2021
Sweet Sweater Scoops!
6.28.2021
sunny paint palette wall art
i know, we're barely into summer vacay. but i know kids!
if you're looking for simple, cheap, 'trash to treasure' craft projects to keep 'em busy,
4.26.2021
send a message with stamped dishes!
4.22.2021
diy placemat bookmarks
( i returned to a once-weekly posting schedule in April )
in true 'trash to treasure' fashion,
i completed the tray project shared in my last post
and then looked at the scraps of vinyl placemat on the table and thought
the answer was YES!
indestructible vinyl bookmarks! it's so easy, i just had to share it with you.
if you're in the habit of giving books as gifts,
adding a bookmark is a nice touch -
continue reading for the EASY how-to...
3.19.2021
pop art paper posies!
a recent creative challenge i am part of called for participants to share
how we've invoked the spirit of spring in our art.
then i thought of another idea, and wanted to play with it...
since i love making somethin' outta' nuthin', i chose to use plain cardstock paper!
the result of my afternoon 'playtime with paper, paste and scissors' is something
that reminds me for all the world of pop art, like Andy Warhol's famous pixilated works.
it also makes me think of the art of Sina Trixx, an inventive design firm
(view their astounding pop art architectural creations on Instagram)
can black + white evoke springtime? yes!
continue reading to see how...
3.12.2021
miniature wire nest charm
that's been in hiding for years...
when i saw it, i was inspired to make a larger nest using wire,
and i love how that turned out.
these miniature wire nest charms were an item i previously made and sold at vintage shows,
and this one is the original!
you can make one of your own, or as the perfect springtime gift!
continue reading for an easy tutorial...
3.08.2021
spring forward with a wire nest
recently, i played with a new material to see if it would work as well as i thought it would
to create a new kind of bird nest for spring decorating.
(the fact that it literally LOOKS like a spring evaded me until i was typing this post!)
i have to say, i LOVE the result!
can't you just see this nest as a decor accent in rustic, farmhouse, and boho style rooms?!
it's an easy project that i think you'll want to try...
3.05.2021
yes, you can make a bird nest!
over the years, i've been lucky enough to have found a few real ones,
incorporating them into my home decor in spring. and fall. and on my Christmas trees!
i've also made quite a few -
from elaborate to simple, from small seasonal versions sold via an enchanting online boutique
to an enormous one made for a client to hold a precious gold-embellished ostrich egg,
making them always connects me to nature.
this year i've made one with the slightest hits of gray and yellow elements
unearthed in my bins and boxes of saved materials,
and i thought i'd share the easy process of making them with you.
if you're sitting there thinking 'whaaaaa? MAKE a bird nest?!', continue reading!
2.19.2021
painting the globe...
Ultimate Gray.
(since most of my recent projects have been all contained Illuminating Yellow,
i thought it was time to give the second color some attention!)
i finally came up with a way to restyle an item that i've had tucked away for years...
it was a banged-up, scratched, faded (but not in a good way) paper world globe,
and using gray and white paint to transform it was the perfect solution to update the look.
note: this is a globe from the 1990's. not vintage or antique. not valuable.
now it fits into my decor, and is a sweet reminder of special people each time i look at it.
isn't that better than keeping something stashed in a closet
because although it means something to you, you don't know where to PUT it?