Card holder

Since this year we don't have a fireplace or a mantle I had no where to display our Christmas cards that we received. So I found this idea on Pinterest from another crafter and really liked it but I had to give it my own touch.

I used an oval wood plague and 1.25" wood letters from Walmart.  The sign I saw on Pinterest used the "Merry Mail" that shows in the top left corner.  I hated this part but for lack of something better I went with it.

I took a couple scraps of tissue paper and using Mod Podge I decoupaged it to the oval. And then trimmed around the edge. The pain of the butt was getting the polka dots lined up.






Completed trim job and a little bit of patch work.









Using my hubby's staple gun I attached the ribbon to hang it from. and then attached 4 ribbons at the bottom to hang the cards from. In the top of the picture you see some little mini clothes pins to use in attaching the cards to the ribbon. SN: these little clothes pins are horrible, I recommend finding something else.

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So as I said before I hated that "Merry Mail". The more I thought about spending this Christmas away from family & friends I was feeling really homesick. The line of "Making Spirits Bright" came to mind and I realized that was exactly what these cards did was make my spirits bright. So some metallic gold paint and Mod Podge I had my sign.

I choose four of my cards just to show the finished project.  And now that I see how easy this was I think I am going to make one for each of us to hang our birthday cards on every year.

May your spirits never dull,

Amy

Christmas Wreath

My husband has recently accused me of being addicted to making yarn wrapped crafts. What can I say? Its easy and fast, and with my attention span plus 2 kids under age 4, those are the crafts I need to do..  With being in a new place this year, and so far from home, I wanted to do a really nice wreath for the front door.  My idea took on several incarnations as I went along.

I started with a 12 inch extruded (smooth) styrofoam wreath and a really nice dark green yarn. I wanted to go slightly vintage on it. I made at least 2 layers of the yarn over the wreath form then added a really nice sheer gold ribbon.

I found these glass ornaments and gold swirl ribbon at Walmart. The ornaments have a very Nativity scene on them in the same colors as the ribbon. I thought it would look good to have the balls hanging at various heights. I used a simple slip knot to secure the balls to the ribbon.

I secured the sheer gold ribbon and the ribbon holding the balls using the hubby's staple gun and half inch staples.  I got a little staple happy on the back side with probably 10 staples to hold everything in place.

So I got in a hurry wrapping my letters and forgot to take pictures of my "j" and "o". But I bought some bright red yarn to match my ornaments and these little wood letters at Walmart. the small strips of yarn are to cover the tops & bottoms of the "y" and "j". I just couldn't figure out how to wrap the yarn and get it to stay.

I took several of the short strips draped them over and used masking tape to hold it in place. Then I was able to wrap the yarn to cover the tape.

Completed letters to attach to the wreath.









Completed wreath!!! Final step was some hot glue to attach the letters. And because there is only a small portion of the letters actually touch the wreath I was not shy about the amount of glue I used.

May you not come unraveled this holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Amy