Pant Purse/Bag

What do you do with those pants that have holes in them? You could make a purse out of the old pants. That's what Seven Thirty Three did! This would also be darling for my daughter's pants too! She has A LOT of worn out pants. See the tutorial HERE.

Mannequin Tutorial

I would have never thought that a mannequin would make such a cute decor item in a girl's room, but my mind has now changed. Learn how to make this darling mannequin at Tea Rose Home by going HERE. I can think of a few different reasons to have a mannequin besides decorating - a dress form, letting clothes in dry, a coat rack, etc. What could you do with a mannequin at your house?

Hat and Scarf From Sweater

Learn how to make a matching hat and scarf from an old sweater by going HERE. My Family Frugal has the tutorial.

Blog Swap - Its So Very Cheri

I made my own candy garland

What a thrill!
What an honor it is to be here today.

Michelle will be at my blog

Its So Very Cheri

today so be sure to head over there after you see some of the things I have done for you.

Let me tell you a little about myself before we craft. I am a stay at home Mom to 4 kiddos. I home school the 2 oldest boys and try to keep up with the 2 little ones.

I don't sit much--constantly moving.

I am a TYPE A person.

I love crafts, decorating, DIY projects and I love to do it in a thrifty way but I don't want it to look home made or cheap.

I have my own personal, eclectic style which is a combination of cottage, country, shabby chic and classic--it IS my own style and that is why I called my blog Its So Very Cheri. Still want to know more? about Cheri
Prince Charming is thrilled that I have my own set of tools (because I won't get into his--or maybe I still will).
All of my girlfriends call me "the nice version of Martha".

I love getting to know new people and learn about their lives.
I have a Monday blog party,
"Its So Very Creative"

and a Wednesday blog party,
"Celebrate the Holidays"

on Fridays we do a home tour of someones home, "Its So Very Cottagey". Starting Friday, Nov. 17 through the end of the year that tour will be a "party", that people can post their Holiday decor to, rather than just touring one home. We are calling it "It's So Very Christmas
I hope you will come by my blog, and follow along on this new, fun and exciting adventure. I hope you will get out your craft tools, post to the parties, have a lot of fun, be inspired and try some things you've never done before and leave lots of comments because that is how I get to know you better. I try to respond to as many people as I can each day.

I was born on Christmas Day and just love this time of year. I can not wait to start decorating and that begins this weekend. I will be doing 6 trees this year so I need to get going on it.

I'd like to give you a peak at a few projects I've done recently, that I think you might enjoy.

Lots of gals loved the my Tassel Tutorial.

I have a tassel MckLinky party going on this week, that started on Tuesday (Nov 17). It will be open all week, so come post some tassels, if you have made any, want to go get stuff to make one, or need ideas on how to make one.

Today I will go over 2 tutorials.

The 1st one is for
Christmas.

The concept of this popped in my head the other day and I had everything on hand to throw it together without even having to go pick up 1 item to make it.

I made a Frosty the Snowman Hat Centerpiece or Mantle Display.

I started with a Large can of pears, emptied the pears and cleaned it. Then I covered it in black felt

I picked these mittons up at a children's consignment store for a dollar. I covered the flowers up by adding Frosty's hat to the front of them.





I made my carrot out of felt and a plastic grocery sack. I hot glued the sack inside the orange felt, then tied string around it, leaving the knot and a little string so it looked like the little fibers coming off a real carrot. I highlighted the carrot with a little paint.


I made the snowball in the same way as I did the carrot--yeppers-with a few plastic sacks, then distressed it with my distress ink pad.

I then made the chenille candy canes and Frosty's pipe.

I tied the candy canes together with some burlap strips and added some berries to the center.





The pipe is out of a stick in my yard and a cork. I hot glued it together then went over it with my distress ink pad


I found a font I liked and printed off FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, then distressed it and added fairy dust glitter.


I had an old book, I was using the pages for another couple of projects (Librarians--I promise it was not a literary keepsake.)I took the hardback cover and made a NEW cover for it.



I even distressed the inside.


I would love to find a free down loadable site that has Christmas music (preferably-not just the lyrics)and have Frosty the Snowman and other favorites in it.
Frosty's arms are made from burlap strings.



I had this plaid wool piece and fringed the ends so it looked like a scarf.





I took a piece of black craft foam, using one of the kiddos little plates I drew and cut out a circle, then covered it in black felt. This would be the rim of my hat. I then glued my "can of pears" to the center of the rim.

I had the pretty stems of red berries, cut them apart and starting adding them to the can.
I began putting everything together
and adding fairy dust glitter.


I used the scarf as a "table runner" and placed everything on it. I think it looks like something you would purchase from a craft decorating shop.

I hope you enjoyed my 1st Tutorial and now I will show you a Thanksgiving Tutorial.


~~~~~~~

The 2nd Tutorial is

--The Lettered Pumpkin--
P is for:

PUMPKIN or


the PRINCESS' PUMPKIN (you know the one that turned into a carriage

and they lived happily ever after) OR in my case

PEOPLES, our last name. Thus... The Lettered Pumpkin. I love the way that sounds and I love

the way it came out. I wanted some classic pieces that were more muted tones for Thanksgiving.



So here's what I did--easy peasy

1. Buy a funkin punkin

2. Get an old book--librarians cover your ears and hum VERY LOUD--and start ripping the pages out. Then tear them in strips and then tear them into smaller pieces--we're working on a small funkin after all. I got an old book from Goodwill for a buck and I promise I double checked to make sure this was not a great piece of literature that I was destroying. (Wait till you see what I do with the cover -- in another post.)

3. I used Modge podge but you could mix up some flour and water to make a paste--does this bring back memories of 1st grade?

4. Dip your pages in the paste or if you use the Modge Podge spread it on the pages and start laying it on the funkin. I used a cheap sponge applicator. I didn't care if it got on the top part. Once it was covered, I let it dry and then added another layer, let it dry.

5. I thin watered down some brown umber and did a wash over the funkin punkin. I wanted to add a hint of green in some place so I did the same thing, then I did a lil bit of a copper wash in some places.



6. I found a font I liked and printed it off. I then cut it out with an exacto knife. I left a little extra around the edges--didn't want that delicate of lines to rip apart. I carefully applied Modge Podge to the back and laid it on the funkin punkin.

7. Once it was dry I then used a tiny paint brush and painted over it in a dark umber brown color

8. Then I applied one more coat of Modge Podge and for just pennies on the dollar I have

THE LETTERED PUMPKIN. (I would not add the flour paste over the letter unless you want it to look more washed out.)

I thought these would make excellent place markers for the Thanksgiving table
each person would get
their own
Lettered Pumpkin
with their initial.
I love these as much as the
my chocolate pumpkins,
Click on

Chocolate Pumpkins
to see them.

I made my own cloche and vase. Too see the finished product click on cloche and pedastal vase.

PLAID is all the rage this year and so is burlap so I decided to combine the 2 and make some stocking ornaments.


Here are a few pictures of things I am working on for a project that I will be posting VERY soon.





Here are a few other things I am working on--

What do you think I am up to?

These are not going to be wood ornaments, if that is what you were thinking.


What could I possibly make from toilet paper, paper towel and gift wrap tubes for a frugile, fun and very festive project?
CHECK IT OUT HERE


Thank you so much Michelle for being a great blog friend. It is always fun chatting with you and thank you to Michelle's loyal followers for allowing me to come into your homes today. I hope you had fun today. Now be sure to go over to my blog Its So Very Cheri to visit Michelle and see what she has for us.

30 Ornaments in 30 Days

Kelleigh Ratzlaff is hosting a "make 30 ornaments in 30 days" at her blog. It is day 18 already, but you can go back and see the first 18 ornaments. It seems they are paper crafts and are so fun and cute. They would even be fun to make besides being ornaments. If you love paper crafting, you must visit. Go to THIS BLOG to see more.

Gorgeous Ornament Tree

You've seen the ornament wreaths, now you can see an ornament tree! That's right!!! This beauty can adorn a table at your house by going HERE. Thanks to Red Heads Craft More Fun.

Scrap Fabric Tree

Create a cute and easy scrap fabric tree for Christmas by visiting All Things Heart and Home. Click HERE.

Acorn Wreath Tutorial

This is my first tutorial on this blog! Yikes! Before now, I have been intimidated to post because my crafting doesn't compare to all the "professionals" out there! I don't have a great camera or lighting. I don' t use photoshop and my kids and their "stuff" are everywhere, but maybe you will be able to relate to real life and still enjoy my crafting!!! Welcome, Acorn Wreath!!!Acorns are so cute. I love the tops of them. However, I think acorns are neglected too often. While I was at my Mom's home last week, I picked up a bag of acorns from a big oak tree. I decided to make a wreath on the spur of the moment. Had I thought about it more, I would have made it differently. Here's what I did. I will highlight in red what I would do differently if I ever made one again.

Using what I had on hand (a posterboard), I cut out the shape of wreath by tracing two large kitchen bowls. Then I sprayed it brown using American Accents. Next time, I would buy a 3-d foam wreath from the store to make it 3-D and for sturdiness!!!

Next, my 3-yr-old daughter and a 6-yr-old neighbor sorted through the bag of acorns finding the tops. They had become separated from the bottoms. I hot glued the tops to the bottoms by putting a line of glue around the edge of tops and pushing it onto the bottom. They don't stay together unless you glue them!!! (Yeah, I'm sitting on the floor because my hot glue gun cord is short and won't reach the table.)
After that, I tried to figure out what I wanted it to look like and the following is the pattern I decided on. Since there were a lot more acorns than tops, I glued 4 acorns across at the innermost part of the circle and then hot glued them going outward to the other edge. The outside had about 8 acorns. My daughter is taking my picture with the neighbors still searching for tops. Notice the dishwasher box from 3 months ago in the background. That is a major play attraction at our house!!! Many games of "find me" and "tent" are enjoyed there! After glueing the acorns without tops, I glued two rows of acorns with the tops. I continued this pattern all the way around and it turned out very close to even. (I didn't measure the pattern out and I should have. At the last part of the pattern, I had to add an extra row of acorn and tops.)
This is what it looked like when I was done with glueing. You can see where I started/stopped because I had to try to make acorns fit when they really didn't!!!My 16-month-old son wanted to assist me in glueing. What a big helper all the kids were! (That's why I don't get much done or dare craft without 10 hands being into everything!) I don't know why blogger won't let me turn the these two pictures. I don't usually have a problem with it. The wreath is heavy and the posterboard needed reinforcement to go on a wall. I like the cheap dollar store bow at the top or the bottom of the wreath. The cost of this project - $.33. I had everything except the bow which came in a package of three! There are a few different variations I could forsee. I could do all bottoms or all tops. I could spray paint the finished wreath a different color like white. I could hang it differently - not using a bow, but a ribbon attached to nail. What could you do?

Now it is time for you to make one! Go buy a foam wreath and bow (at the $1 store), spray paint it and glue acorns on it! It is that easy!!!

Acorns All Around

I enjoy seeing people decorating with acorns. I think the acorn is underused especially during fall. My mom has an oak tree and there were a ton of acorns on the ground when I visited last week. I actually decided to do a craft with the acorns and PUBLISH it!!!! Daring!!! I also listed a few other acorn crafts. Link up any acorn crafts or decorating below with Mr. MckLinky!

This acorn wreath was created by ME!!! Yeah, I am finally posting something I did! I'm not in love with it, but it is tolerable. If I did it again, I would definitely do some things different. HERE is the tutorial on it!

I would love to have a bunch of felt acorns like these from And Other Silly Things. Learn how to felt acorns with THIS video tutorial from Wildly Woolly.

As I was writing up my tutorial, I came across this wreath from MADE guest posting at Bloom. An acorn wreath that is different than mine. Go HERE.

These are acorns are actually little treats! Acorns made from doughnut holes at Family Fun! I think they are so cute!!! Go HERE to read how to make these.
I know Halloween is over, but you can keep these acorn pumpkins/jack-o-laterns in mind for next year. Click HERE if you want to read how Family Fun created these. I wonder if you could make these into a necklace. Another acorn good enough to eat! Head over to Bright Ideas to learn how to decorate this autumn cake HERE.
This is a unique idea of acorns. Make a bird feeder in the shape of an acorn using a wood bowl, a soda bottle and birdseed. Head over to Design Sponge to see more HERE.
Use acorns to decorate your table in different ways including using them as napkin ties. Visit Martha to see how to make these HERE.
These colorful acorns are made using tissue paper. Tuffet has the details HERE.

I love these jumbo burlap acorns by REal Ideas. Go HERE to see how she made them.

Have you done some decorating with acorns? Have you created acorns in some way? If so, link it up and share with us your talents!!!

Thankful Jar

It's not too late to make a "Thankful" craft. How about this thankful jar from Little Birdie Secrets? I love their idea for when Thanksgivivng is over. Make a thankful garland/chain for the Christmas tree from the papers. YOu must go HERE to see more!