Fall Mantel {DIY Projects}

So this is a tad late, considering I am taking down my fall decorations this week and replacing them with Christmas decor!!  But better late then never, right?  Since we are only in this apartment for six months (less than two left!!) I haven't been big on decorating.  To me there's no point in pulling out all of my decorations (that I packed up reallllly well) to have to pack them up again.  But since we actually have a mantel (that doesn't have a TV on it) I can't leave that bare!  Here's what I did with the decor I have year round (that the movers packed up and unpacked).  I also added two DIY projects-the yarn wreath and fabric pumpkins.

To make the pumpkins I loosely followed this tutorial. But they are very simple to make.  Take a roll of toilet paper, wrap a piece of newspaper around that, stuffing the edges in the roll opening.  Take a fat quarter sized (18"x21") piece of fabric and wrap that around the roll the same way you did the newspaper.  There's no right way to do this, I just made sure to keep the fabric folds tighter so it kept a round-ish shape.  I did have to trim some of the corners of fabric off to get it all into the roll.  Now for the stem.  You could use a real stick, but I didn't feel like wandering around our apartment complex looking for sticks so i improvised!  I took 3 q-tips, hot glued them together and wrapped brown felt around that.  Then I finished them off with a green felt leaf!

Cost: $.88 (or FREE if you have everything!)  I had the fabric and felt on hand and picked up a 4 pack of cheap toilet paper at Kroger for $.88 (we use more expensive toilet paper so I wasn't about to use that for a craft project! haha!). 

To make the wreath I wrapped a wreath form with yarn, securing it with hot glue every few wraps around.  To cover up the wreath form I did some overlapping too.  Then I made some fall flowers out of felt and hot glued those on.   To hang it I wrapped some brown satin ribbon around the wreath.

Cost: yarn - $2.50 at Joann's + wreath form - $1.80 (normally $2.99 and used a 40% coupon at Joann's) = about $4.30  (I had the felt and ribbon on hand, and have yarn left over).

Up next, Christmas decorations!!

Coffee Filter Wreath

If you have read some of my posts, you know I love wreaths.  Our bedroom was lacking a wreath so I decided to make a coffee filter wreath like many others, like The Nester, have done.  I decided not to do a tutorial for this wreath because it is pretty simple.  If you would like one though, you can use the book page wreath I made and use coffee filters instead.  It's not an original wreath, but I love the look, kind of like a bunch of flowers.  Here are the supplies you will need:

• Wreath form (I used a foam dollar store wreath I had already)
• Coffee filters (I picked mine up at CVS a while back but you can get them practically anywhere, even the dollar store I believe)
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Ribbon and pins (if you like)
• A comfy seat and a good movie! 

 A few tips after creating mine:

1. Use the same method as the book page wreath: start with an outer ring that essentially lays flat when the wreath is laid on a flat surface and work your way in with subsequent layers.  I started in a random spot and it was not even and took longer than the "layer" method.  Keep working in til you are satisfied (and if you are like me this will take you a while and eventually you just need to accept it's imperfections and stop!)
2. Fold the filters in half, fold in half again and fold in half one more time.  This is the quickest way to get a full flower look every time.
3. I decided to add the ribbon hanger last so I could change the ribbon out when I got tired of the original one.  So I made a small loop that I could tie a larger piece of ribbon to that could be changed,  Currently it is just hanging from the small ribbon loop because I haven't decided on a color for a thicker ribbon hanger.  A trip to Michael's is in order!

Here is my finished wreath!

And now the wreath over our bed. 

Yes, I know it is a plain and boring bedroom.  We are renting an apartment so paint isn't an option.  I want to get a new duvet cover and make some throw pillows. The wall needs something more, but I'm not sure what.  I may not get around to doing much since we will be moving again in a few months, but pillows have been on my sewing to do list for a while, so I will probably start there (unless I can find a good deal on a duvet cover).

I am linking up with the Nester for her "You Made A Wreath Out of What?" party.  If you want some wreath inspiration, there are hundreds so go check it out!

 

Valentine's Day Wreath

Today I'm linking up with Christina for her "Twenty Below Thursdays" where she displays projects all made under $20!  My kind of crafts! 

I have never really decorated for Valentine's Day, but I'm on the "wreath for every holiday" kick so I thought I'd make a heart shaped wreath.  

 Here's the finished product!

And here is what I started out with:

First I wrapped the straighter parts of the heart in the ribbon, putting a line of hot glue on the back of the wreath.  I just did the back so that the front wasn't lumpy.  The ribbon is plastic on one side and velvet on the other, so its a really rich red that the photo doesn't do it justice! 

Here's where I stopped.

I stared at it for a couple minutes deciding how to cover the awkward spots without it looking too patchy.  When I couldn't figure anything out, I just started cutting, piecing together and gluing.  Luckily it turned out great. 

Then I made some rosettes, complete with a pearl in the center and hot glued them on.  I also pinned a small piece of white grosgrain on the back as a holder.  And when I hung it, the rosettes were so heavy, it leans!  Oh well, the lean is growing on me!

 

I love the romantic elegant look it gives.  And it was quick to make, and cheap!

Project cost:

$3!!!

I had the ribbon and grey fabric on hand already.  The ribbon is probably older than me, it was my mom's and lived in her Christmas decoration bins until I took it.  Then it lived in mine for a few years.  And I still have four more rolls!  I bought the heart foam wreath at Hobby Lobby (with a coupon) for about $3, which was my only expense.

Hope everyone (single and not single) has a Happy Valentine's Day (in about 10 days) with the ones they love!

Christmas Card Wreath Tutorial

I'm back!!  Apparently after the 12 Days of Christmas I needed a break!  Plus this week has been filled with Christmas shopping and being sick.  I caught the winter cold that's going around, most likely from Hubby.  But  I'm slowly getting better and don't collapse on the couch after I get home from work now.

So through blogging I've discovered I'm obsessed with wreaths!  While browsing Martha's site I found this one.

I really like this way of displaying Christmas cards so I picked up an embroidery loop and ribbon at JoAnn's.

Her site said to use wood glue, but I was too impatient with it so I used my trusty hot glue gun.

I glued the clothespins on alternating which way the clip part of the pin pointed.  I wish I had mini clothespins like Martha used, but I already had the normal sized ones.  I am terrible with making bows so I made a loop, hot glued that together and then worked for way too long to make a bow I liked.  Then I glued that on.

Here it is hanging on our wall:

And with Christmas cards!

Speaking of Christmas cards, here are ours now that the recipients should have gotten them!

Front:

Inside top & bottom: