Wednesday, July 28, 2021

How to Make a String Ball with Bow Ornament

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This post first appeared on Bowdabrablog.com where I'm on the Bowdabra Design Team.

Make this adorable string ball ornament to put on your tree this Christmas! It's easily customized with your favorite decorations like this Bowdabra bow! And it's a fun craft to make right now during Christmas in July! 

You can easily make this adorable string ball with bow using  a few items:

First, blow up a balloon to your desired size. Next, I'm going to describe the easiest way I've found to wet the thread and at the same time remove excess glue while wrapping the balloon. Virtually no mess, and it also keeps the string from tangling. Do this by taking a thin upholstery needle and thread it with the end of a ball of crochet thread (don't cut the thread). Next, take a small bottle of Aileen's Tacky glue (Dollar Tree) and punch the lower portion of the bottle with the threaded needle - 

pulling the needle and thread through the bottle. Remove the thread from the needle and tie the end around the knot on the balloon. 
Begin wrapping the balloon with the thread while holding glue bottle - first vertically and .  .  .
then horizontally until you're satisfied with the look. You can add additional tacky glue over the thread by dabbing on with a sponge. Secure the string around the balloon knot, and cut leaving a length to hang. Dry for several hours or overnight. 
Once the string ball is thoroughly dry, pop the balloon with sharp end of scissors.
The balloon will separate from the string ball .  .  .
then pull the deflated balloon out .  .   .


How to make the Bowdabra bow to decorate the top of the string ball:

Fold a 24" piece of Bowdabra bow wire in half and lay in the Bowdabra, tucking ends under. Next, insert sparkling floral stems randomly into the Mini Bowdabra. Then pinch the end of a 1" wide ribbon and insert down into the Bowdabra. Fold over a 2.5" inch loop and press into the Bowdabra. Then fold the ribbon on the opposite side making another 2.5" loop.
Continue making  more 2.5" loops for a total of six on each side. Then scrunch down the ribbon using the Bowdabra wand.
 While the bow is still in the Bowdabra, tie off by threading the two loose ends of the bow wire through the loop at the other end. Pull the bow wire tightly and tie into a knot before removing the bow from the Bowdabra. 
Secure the bow wire with another knot in front while creating a hanging loop - cutting off excess and tying ends in a knot. Fluff out bow and trim. 
Attach to top of string ball with hot glue for the cutest holiday look ever!

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Decorative Cord Wrapped Holiday Tree

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It's that time again for our 'Do It Over' Designer's Blog Hop that happens the 4th Saturday of every other month! 'Do It Over' Designers is a group of talented bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/DIY, hosted by Anne @The Apple Street Cottage. 

It's all about taking something old and/or unused and 'doing it over' into something new. Anything from fabric, old dishes, and decor to dressers and hutches. Items found in closets, cabinets, barns, garages, yard sales, thrift stores, you name it! 

This month it's about Christmas in July! For my 'do over' project, I had to look high and low around my home for something to make! I found an old solar light panel that broke off from an outdoor light, some long sticks used for roasting marshmallows, dowel rods from the dollar store and from my stash, macrame cord that's several years old!

Can you guess what I'm going to make?  It's a decorative cord wrapped holiday tree! I saw similar trees on Youtube and wanted to create my own version using items from around my home. I love this type of holiday tree! It's a lovely idea to use even when it's not Christmas! It compliments so many different decorative styles - jncluding boho, vintage, shabby chic and even the farmhouse look! 

Let's begin by laying out the dowel rods in a triangular shape on top of parchment paper (to prevent sticking) that's on top of a cutting mat with measuring grid,  Then take the pointed end of a roasting stick and place in the middle of the dowels rods. Use the measuring grid to keep the rods evenly spaced.

Then measure out the bottom rod to meet the ends of the slanted rods and cut to fit on top. Secure rods with hot glue and let dry.         

To make fringe along the bottom rod, create a larks head knot around the wood rod by folding 10 inch pieces of cord in half, creating a loop on one end. Then drape the loop over the rod pulling the ends of the cord through the loop around the rod tight. 

Continue making lark's head knots along the entire length of rod to create a lovely fringed look.
Next, cut approximately 45ft of cording to wrap the tree. Fold in half to find the middle and glue the middle of the cord onto the back of the bottom center rod - stretching the cord out over the end slanted rods.
Then glue the cord to the bottom of the slanted rods.
Turn the tree over and begin wrapping the left cord over and around the center rod and back to the left side.
Then take the right cord over to the center rod and around, back to the right rod.
Continue alternating left, right cords, adding a bit of hot glue to help keep cords from slacking



Continue alternating cords and adding a bit of glue to the side rods to maintain the shape .  .  .
until you can no longer wrap the cord over and around.
Finish tip by wrapping cords around rods, cutting off excess and gluing in place.

Next, drill hole in solar panel to fit rod for a stand.


Add glue around base of tree rod and insert in solar panel.



For a decorative effect, wrap cord around base of tree rod and stand .  .  .



covering the actual solar panel and ending the cord by cutting cord at a slant and gluing in place.


And finally, unwrap the fringe cords, brushing the fibers out .  .  .
and trimming the ends.

What fun and whimsical is this!
Even when it's not Christmas!

Be sure to check out all the 'Do It Over Designers' listed below to see their lovely "do overs" too! 


Wednesday, July 21, 2021

DIY Glittery Holiday Floral Stem

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For me right now it's all about Christmas in July! I love working on holiday creations this time of year! Less stress and mess, lol! One of my favorite items to use in decor is floral stems. You see them everywhere, especially for the holidays! And usually quite pricey, too! You know there's nothing better than making your own! And you won't believe how simple they are to make!  So for this month's Creative Craft Hop, I'm sharing what I think is an impressive, easy way to create a beautiful floral stem using glittery sheer ribbon and chenille stems. 

Materials:
2.5" Wired Ribbon (rose gold)
Chenille stems -12" (rose gold)
Fabri-Tac fabric glue
Floral wire (24 gauge)
Wire nylon jaw pliers (wire straightener)
Skewer stick/scissors
Beads
Floral tape

Let's start by taking a chenille stem and folding it in half - pinching together in the middle. Then open the stem, curving each side into a petal shape. Next, dip the pointed end of a skewer stick into the fabric glue bottle to get a line of glue along the stick. Remove any excess glue and spread glue onto one side of the chenille stem.

Next, press the point of the chenille stem onto the center of the ribbon, shaping the stem into a petal .  .  . 

smoothing the wire down onto the ribbon. Then glue the other side just like the first, smoothing that side down with the ends of the chenille stem wire touching to form a 6"petal.

Once the glue is dry (a few minutes) cut petal out - cutting under the chenille stem.
Unroll about 8-10" of floral wire to cut off for the petal stem. Use nylon jaw pliers to straighten the wire. Then dip in fabric glue, removing excess glue. 
Press wire midway onto center of the back of the petal, smoothing out until secure on ribbon. Now make four more petals, as before, for a total of five large petals.
The smaller petals are made by folding and cutting the chenille stems in half (6") and placing them across the width of the ribbon for less ribbon waste. Create the smaller petals the same way as before.
You will need four petals of the 6" size.
The middle size petals (9") are made by cutting 3" off of the 12" chenille stems and created the same way as before.
You will need five petals of this middle size.
Crystal-like beads are used to make the stamen (center) by cutting five 14" strips of floral wire and folding in half to find the center.  Thread the beads on each of the floral wires to the center, twisting the wire in place.
Then group the beaded wires together along with one small petal, wrapping securely together using floral tape.
Add additional petals - one at a time, wrapping each one to the other using floral tape.
Continue adding petals and wrapping with floral tape .  .  .
until all four small petals are wrapped in floral tape and evenly spaced like a flower.
Next, begin adding the middle sized petals - one at a time - wrapping together with floral tape until .  .  .
all five of the middle sized petals are attached.
Then add the larger petals, one at a time and evenly spaced, until all five are wrapped. 
Continue wrapping all of the wires together until .  .  .
the stems are covered together in floral tape into one large stem.


Simple yet elegant!

Welcome to our monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop - Summer Edition!   I've teamed up with a talented group of creative bloggers to bring you lots of wonderful ideas and inspirations!  Our regular hosts are on hiatus for the summer and Sara @Birdz of a Feather volunteered to take over! Thanks so much, Sara! 

Be sure to have fun and get inspired by all of the wonderful creations offered this month by clicking on the links below!