Thursday, October 31, 2019

Buffalo Plaid Dollar Store Ornament DIY


The following is a re-post of an earlier tutorial which was quite popular because Buffalo plaid crafts continue to be quite trendy and faddish. The post was linked to Dollar Store crafts and Buffalo crafts should be highlighted, too!

It's amazing what can be created with items from the dollar store and especially Christmas crafts!  I'm transforming a plain dollar store ornament into a beautiful buffalo plaid trendy showpiece! You've seen those ornaments at the dollar store that have no character - a plain ornament that's quite large and painted in a dull gray color! One that blemishes quite easily! Yuck! 

 And, you won't believe that I'm using left over buffalo plaid fabric from an older dollar store Christmas craft challenge, too! I know, that's sounds a little weird! I didn't realize it at first! But believe me, it's a great way to use up leftover scraps and other dollar store items to make this beauty! 
Materials:
Large Ornament - $
Rubber Bands/Paper Towel/Pencil
Buffalo Plaid Fleece Fabric Scraps - $
Fabri-Tac Glue
Metallic Foil-edge Ribbon - $
Mod Podge
Epsom Salt - $
Glitter/Seed Beads
Hot Glue
Tiny straight pins
7/8" Ribbon - $
Embellishments

Let me start off by saying that it's a bit tricky to cover ornaments evenly and smooth using plaid fabric. I'm not talking about gathering the fabric and tying it together at the top or cutting strips and haphazardly gluing them on. I'm talking about trying to match the lines and pattern - so you'll have a more cohesive finished look.  I've tried it before with no success. Until now, I think! 

And the secret is .  .  . the type of fabric to use. Something that gives so you can stretch it a bit and make it lay flat around curves. 

So let's get started! First, use rubber bands to segment the ornament in order to make a pattern out of the fabric. You can adjust the bands to make the sections even all around.
Next, take a paper towel (it's flexible) and use a pencil lead tip to rub out the outline of one of the sections.
 I tweaked the drawing, making the ends into points and cut it out for a template.
Cut out one section of the fabric and match up the lines or pattern of each additional section with the first section pattern of the fabric. (sorry, I forgot to take a picture of that)
Next, position the first fabric section on the ornament and add fabric glue underneath, along the fabric edges - from one end to the other and smooth out the fabric on the ornament.
For the second section, run a bead of fabric glue along the edge of the first section and partially on the ornament. Take the second fabric piece and match up the pattern (stretching a bit to match) while gluing them together onto the ornament. 
Continue adding sections by running a bead of glue on the edge, 
matching patterns as before .  .  .
until the ornament is completely covered.
I know this isn't a perfect matching of the fabric but it does look cohesive and neat.  
To start embellishing the ornament, 
cut off the metallic flat side edges of dollar store ribbon -
 two to three inches (you judge how long you want them) .  .  .
and form a V shape with the ends, gluing the tip with a dab of hot glue.
Make seven of them!
Next, use tiny straight pins to hold the V shapes in place  .  .  .
while evenly spacing them around the top of the ornament.
This design looks so cool, don't you think!
Next, add a snowy look to the top by mixing Epsom salt, glitter, seed beads and mod podge together.  
Paint on a bit of mod podge to the fabric first before adding the snow
mixture to the top so it will adhere better.
This can get quite messy!
And let dry for a few hours.
Next, tie on a hanging wire loop to the center and glue down the tips of the "Vs" 

Glue on additional embellishments (added smaller V shapes) -  stems, berries, and bow ribbon 
 to complete the look!



Here's a pic of my 2017 Dollar Store Christmas Craft Challenge
 (Plaid Decoupage Candle Holder) on the left with this years'!

Monday, October 28, 2019

How to Decorate a Dollar Store Wire Pumpkin Wreath

Are you wondering how to decorate a wire pumpkin wreath like the type found at the dollar store?
It's really quite easy to let your creativity flow in making a beautiful pumpkin wreath with colorful autumn florals and bow ribbon from LaRibbon and Crafts

Join me over on Bowdabrablog and I'll show you how really easy it is!



Thursday, October 24, 2019

Decoupage Tin Container


Don't you just love finding bargains at the thrift store?  

It's that time again for The Thrift Store Upcycle Challenge on the fourth   Thursday of each month! Here, a group of creative bloggers come together to   share their lovely transformations of a thrift store item. Who doesn't love thrift   store upcycle projects - whether it's actually creating one or admiring how an   item from a thrift store was transformed!  
 It's that time again for The Thrift Store Upcycle Challenge on the fourth   Thursday of each month! Here, a group of creative bloggers come together to share their lovely transformations of a thrift store item. Who doesn't love thrift store upcycle projects - whether it's actually creating one or admiring how an item from a thrift store was transformed!  

The Rules:

  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There's no monthly theme.
  • There's no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts


Meredith | Thriftwood Home - Chas | Chas' Crazy Creations  
 Beverly | Across the Blvd

I found this metal container at Goodwill for two dollars. It had a couple of small dents on the side, but they weren't that noticeable and I thought scrapbook   paper would cover them. I'm not quite sure where I got the checkered paper but I think it was at Hobby Lobby - they carry a design that looks just like these! I had three sheets in my stash and it said 69 cents on the back of each one. But I'm sure I got those on sale for 25 cents each! I try never to pay full price!


I've decoupaged a lot of items using napkins, but I've never used scrapbook paper until now. I thought it would be ok to cover this can using it and knew how to do it. But I was wrong, and I'll tell you what happened later.

To get started, the first thing I did was wash the can and top with Dawn liquid dish soap and wiped them dry with a paper towel. Next, I measured the paper around the container to see where I needed to cut. And the paper design lined up perfectly with the can to cut following lines on the paper. Yay! Although I needed to cut out a small portion of a second sheet to cover the can. Allow enough paper around the can to have a small overlap before cutting.


Next, apply Mod Podge on a small portion of the metal can using a paintbrush. Place the paper on top of the Mod Podge and smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles using your hand and fingers.*

Continue applying Mod Podge on the can in small sections and smoothing down the paper, moving around the can .  .  .

until the can is completely covered. Let dry.

Once the Mod Podge and paper are dry, paint on a layer of Mod Podge to seal.

 *FYI - I would not recommend using plastic wrap to smooth out wet mod podge on the paper to seal. If you applied the paper in small sections around the can - smoothing out as you go, there should be very few wrinkles or bubbles. Unfortunately, I used plastic the first time I tried this thinking it would help seal the paper down, but when I went to remove the plastic, some of the paper lifted up and there was no way I could fix it. I had to wash and scrap it all off and start again. Lesson learned!

To add a paper decorative effect to the top, use a pencil to draw a circle around the top on the paper .  .  .
and cut out slightly inside the circle, evenly all the way around.
Next, using a ruler, measure the distance from the inside outer edge to the middle rim and mark the measurement all the way around on the paper and cut out. 
Then Mod podge on one half of the metal circle near the rim on the top, smoothing out and then the other side - and let dry. Seal the paper circle with more Mod Podge when dry.
Love this look!




Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!


Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Happy Fall Link Party Features

A big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us in our Happy Fall - All Things Fall Link Party! There were so many wonderful crafts, diy projects, decor, recipes, ideas, activities and inspirations shared for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving! What an awesome Fall collection!

Today the co-hosts are featuring some of their favorite posts from the party!  We hope you'll visit each one to check out all of their wonderful features, too!



Let's begin with one of my favorites from Decor Craft Design! Affectionately known as "Me," created the perfect DIY Hello Sign for Fall! And if you haven't already stopped by to see how quick and easy it is to make, you really should! What a fun way to welcome fall!



Next, is Kristie from Love My Little Cottage! I think she was originally inspired to make her Zany Witch Painted Pumpkin from watching too many episodes of Halloween Cake Wars, lol - just kidding! Her pumpkin started out as a mummy and ended up as a zany witch! Oh my! In any event, check out how she transformed her pumpkin into this fun piece - and you might learn a few painting skills along the way, too!
Then, there's Lisa @Fresh Vintage by Lisa who transformed dollar store pumpkins into these amazing designer pieces. Stop by and check out her "secret" for this no-sew project! You will definitely want to make a few, too!


And my last but not least favorite feature is from Linda @ Crafts a la Mode who created the cutest owl out of pumpkins and scrapbook paper! Isn't he just the sweetest!! Please stop by to see how Linda put this cutie together!


Thanks again to everyone who joined us in our Happy Fall - 
All Things Fall Link Party! 

And be sure to join us on November 21st for our Holiday Link Party!

Thanks for stopping by
and take a little time to enjoy,
Happy Crafting!