Saturday, September 27, 2025

Stiffened Organza Fabric Vase

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Hello and Welcome to the 'Do It Over' Designers Blog Hop!!  In case you haven't heard, the "Do It Over Designers" is a group of creative bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/ DIY, hosted by Anne @The Apple Street Cottage. It happens the 4th Saturday of every other month and it's all about taking something old and/or unused and 'doing it over' into something new.


One of my favorite past times is looking online at high-end stores for DIY craft  inspirations! High-end stores often showcase craftable ideas that can be duplicated or imitated at a much, much lower cost.  Many expensive items and or ideas can often use thrifted, recyclable, or lower cost items transformed with affordable materials. I especially love vases made from unexpected recyclable items. I've made a few throughout my crafting years!

I fell in love with the vase pictured below found at Neiman Marcus! Especially the colors and flowers! It's crystal and made by the Jean Daum dynasty, selling for over thirty one thousand dollars! It's pretty spectacular in height, too, standing at an amazing 30" tall with a 29" diameter! It is one of many on the site created by the Daum dynasty. I love this one because, you know, it has purple hues in it!!!!!
When I look at this vase as a crafter, I imagine a smaller version and re-creation or "Do Over" of one using inexpensive stiffened organza fabric in the shape of a vase with flowers surrounding the top and body. Why use organza, you ask?  A dear, dear friend of mine was once a costume designer and seamstress many years ago for a local playhouse. She knew I loved purple so when she came across a small piece of purple organza fabric leftover from a costume, she gave it to me. It was really beautiful and I had no idea what I would do with it at the time but I kept it in my stash - and still cherish it very much to this day since she is no longer with us! 

So this is what I came up with using the organza fabric. To create a DIY stiffened organza fabric vase. For this, you'll need fabric stiffener and an old vase (plastic container) or other recyclable objects (paper mache cone tree) to use as a stand. The process involves saturating the organza with a stiffening solution, draping it over the stand, while shaping it and then letting it dry completely to hold its shape. Resulting in a soft, flowing look of fabric in a translucent dimensional vase that holds its shape. 

Materials:
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! Plus Google Adsense provides a platform for me to monetize my content by hosting ads from Google's network of advertisers. The money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!


How To:
First, cover work surface table with an open plastic trash bag. Then place the plastic container over the paper mache cone tree to make the stand a bit taller and for the fabric to hang in folds and off the table. 























 











Next, wrap the stand completely in plastic wrap. This will prevent the fabric from sticking to the stand and make it easy to remove once it's dry.

Before I go any further, I must say that I tried a couple of different ways to stiffen the organza. First, I used Aleene's Fabric Stiffener & Draping Liquid. The product got good reviews and I love other Aleene products! I followed the directions but the fabric didn't dry clear. I could see product stains. I washed what I could out and then tried painting the stiffener on with a brush and that didn't work either. The fabric did not dry clear. I also tried Mod Podge and that wasn't stiff enough and also left stains.

  
Luckily, I found a half used bottle of Beacon Stiffen Stuff Fabric Stiffening Spray in my stash and tried that. And thank goodness, it worked after spraying on several coats and letting it dry between coats.

So I draped the stand with the organza fabric and saturated the fabric using the Beacon spray-on stiffening solution until it was completely saturated. 


Then I arranged the fabric into soft drapes, and folds and let dry. 

I had to spray it several times and let dry each time to get the fabric stiff enough to hold a vase shape.


While the fabric was drying from being sprayed with fabric stiffener, I found a flower image in two different sizes that I've used before to cut out for embellishing the vase. I folded the organza several times and then pinned the images on the fabric and .  .  .


cut out each one.

Next, I separated the organza flower designs and placed them on sheets of parchment paper to spray on fabric stiffener and let dry overnight.


I like that this flower design is similar to the small ones on the fabric.

Once the flower embellishments were dry I tried arranging one group together into a flower to see how it would work glued on the vase.

So far, so good!

Now to arrange more flower embellishments together!
Here's a sample of them:


   After gluing on the organza flowers around the fabric vase I ended up with this:  

I might have gotten carried away with adding flowers.

Personally, I should have stopped with the fabric vase pictured below:

There are flowers already on the fabric and I like the lines of this one better. 
What do you think? 


Before you leave, don't forget this is a blog hop and the team has some amazing upcycle/recycle/do-it-over projects to share with you.

Be sure to visit all of this month's creative projects by the 
 "Do It Over Designers"  listed below:







Friday, September 19, 2025

How to Make a Rope Pumpkin with Bows

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Have I got a cool way of making an adorable rope pumpkin using the Bowdabra - a bow making tool! This delightful, decorative rope pumpkin is made using sisal rope wrapped around the Bowdabra tower into circles tied together and glued to a stem. And accented with large poofy bows! What a fun and easy way to decorate for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving!

I originally published this project on the Bowdabra.com site, where I am on the Design Team!

Materials:

How To:

Insert an 18″ piece of bow wire folded in half into the Bowdabra, tucking ends under. Unroll one end of the rope and begin coiling it around the Bowdabra tower.


Continue coiling the rope on top of each other five times.

Cut the end of the rope with craft scissors and remove from the Bowdabra tower.
Secure the rope circle by tightly tying a piece of bow wire around the rope. Repeat the steps to create four more rope coils.

Place a blob of hot glue against the back of the tied coils and secure to the stem.  

Repeat for all the rope coils to .  .  .
create a pumpkin shape around the stem.
Uncoil about 36" of sisal rope and  .  .  .
wrap one section around the glued rope coils and stem. Secure with hot glue.

To Make the Bow
Insert an 18″ piece of bow wire folded in half into the Bowdabra, tucking ends under.  Take a 10″ strip of ribbon and pinch the ribbon strip in the middle and insert down into the Mini Bowdabra for the bow tails.  Dovetail the ends by folding the ends together and cutting at an angle from the fold down to the opposite end. 
Leaving the ribbon on the roll, pinch one end and place it down into the Bowdabra. Make a 4" loop by folding and twisting the ribbon down into the Bowdabra.
Repeat folding and twisting the ribbon down into the Bowdabra to make a 4" loop on the opposite side.
Continue making two more loops on either side for a total of four, 4" loops.  Make a button loop to cover the bow wire, cutting off the excess ribbon.  

 Scrunch the ribbon down with the Bowdabra wand.
While the bow is still in the Bowdabra, thread the loose ends of the bow wire through the loop and pull tight while gently pulling the bow out. Make a second bow following the same steps for the first bow.
Fluff and attach the bows on opposite sides of the stem using hot glue. 
A classy looking centerpiece to add to your fall decor!


Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!







Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Nylon Wrapped Lighted Pumpkin Garland

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It's September and Fall is just about here - although it's still hot in some areas! But it's never too early to begin decorating around your home with fall items such as mums, gourds, wreaths plus other autumn goodies! Let the change of the seasons inspire you with fall inspired crafts! And who doesn't love making all sorts of DIY pumpkins for your beautiful Fall home decor! I'd like to share with you a fun and charming way to make a garland of nylon wrapped lighted pumpkins! One that's easy to make and oh, so adorable!

Hello and Welcome to this month's Creative Craft Hop!  I'm so glad you're here! We have two wonderful hosts - Donna @Modern on  Monticello and Sara @Birdz of a Feather  who take turns every other month! The talented and creative Sara is our host this month!  

If you're coming over from Decorate and More with Tip, wasn't Terrie's Paper Mache Pears irresistibly charming and adorable!!

So let's get started with making this super cute Nylon Wrapped Lighted Pumpkin Garland!

You Will Need:

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! Plus Google Adsense provides a platform for me to monetize my content by hosting ads from Google's network of advertisers. The money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

How To:

To begin making the pumpkins, I must start by saying all 18 gauge wires are not the same. An 18 gauge aluminum wire will be very soft and easy to bend, while 18 gauge stainless steel will be much stronger and harder to work with. You need to make sure you are working with a strong wire - one that's not easily bendable. A soft wire will not keep the shape of a pumpkin - especially once the nylon is covering the wire. For this craft I'm working with an Ook brand 18 gauge wire. 

That being said, begin by leaving the 18 gauge wire on its' roll and wrapping the wire around the center of a small round glass bottle creating . . .

eight full loops. Cut off excess wire using wire cutters, leaving enough of the wire ends (beginning and ending) across from one another.
Then slide the wrapped wire from the glass .  .  .
holding the wire ends and loops together.
Next, cut off a small piece of wire and wrap around the end wires and loops .  .  .
in the center of the wire loops .  .  .
twisting the wire together. It's easier to twist the wires together using nylon jaw pliers. 

Once that's done, separate the loops and cut off the excess twisted wire using wire cutters and .  .  .


BAM! You have a wire pumpkin shape! 
I made nine more wire pumpkins since I was using a 10 count LED light set. 
Next, attached the first LED light on the set to the center of the wire pumpkin by wrapping orange thread around both to secure .  .  .
and then cutting off excess thread.
Carefully cover the wire pumpkin and light with the end of an orange nylon stocking, 
starting at one side, stretching and covering the nylon over the wire pumpkin down under the wires to the center until .  .  .
the wire pumpkin is completely covered and the nylon is gathered underneath in the center.
Then tightly wrap the nylon with orange thread many times, while also tying it into a few knots while wrapping. To get a clean finish around the wrapped thread, use your fingers to stretch the excess nylon that's protruding out below the thread while cutting the excess nylon off.  
If necessary, adjust the nylon over the wire loops for a lovely nylon wrapped pumpkin!
To mimic a pumpkin stem, wrap a bit of the joining center light wire with floral tape .  .  . 
 to complete the pumpkin look!
I mentioned earlier that I made ten wire pumpkins since I had ten LED lights on the set, but the lights were too close together ( 4" spacing) to place the pumpkins side by side, so I had to skip a light to attach the pumpkins for the garland to look neat and not crowded! Perhaps I will find another light set in my stash or elsewhere  to include all ten pumpkins. But for now, this one will have to do. 
Don't you just love the look of these nylon pumpkins attached to the lights! 
I know I do!
And finally, added small ready made fall leaves to add texture and natural beauty to the pumpkins and to create a more elegant and cohesive look for this adorable lighted garland!     

How cool is this garland lit!
Cuteness Overload!!!!


I hope you enjoyed reading about how I made my Nylon Wrapped Light Pumpkin Garland! And don't forget to PIN! Thanks!!!!

Up next is Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction, sharing her delightfully precious Simple Sunflower Pumpkins!