Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Old Book Page Heart - How to Make Paper Roses

Sometimes when I have an idea or a vision for a project I want to create, it actually turns out better than I expected. This was one of those times!
You probably know what I'm going to say next...I got my idea from Pinterest!  First I saw THIS and then I saw THIS and I combined the two ideas....sort of. LOL!  I always try and make the projects I see and recreate, "my own".  Let me share with you what I did.

You will need the following items to recreate my framed heart:

Old book pages
8 x 8 piece of scrap wood
Hot glue gun and glue
Scissors
Acrylic Paint (red)
Crackle Paint (cream)
Small paint brush
Old fence pickets
Sandpaper
First, you'll need to make lots of book page roses. LOTS...about 40 or so varying in all different sizes.  Cut your pages into 1 1/2" to 2" wide strips.  Crumple the paper long ways to make it look like the above.
Add a drop of glue to one end and then start rolling, twisting and gluing as you go.  The longer your strip of paper the bigger the rose will be.  To make larger roses, I glue two strips end to end after I crumpled them.
Keep rolling and twisting and gluing until you get to the end of your strip of paper then glue the end flat.  This is very time consuming.  NOTE: My hands were tired and my fingers were sore after making all these roses. So worth it though!  I'd certainly do it again!
Make several roses in each of the sizes.  I think I ended up with about 3 or 4 different sizes.  You'll need smaller ones to fill in blank spaces.
This was my test run.  I drew a heart on the board with pencil and tried to fill it in with my roses.  I didn't like it.  So I cut out a heart from one of the book pages and laid it down for my guide.  To hide the paper cut out, I made sure to glue the roses over the edge of the paper.  You can see it peeking out in the picture below.
Before I glued down all the roses, I painted the board.  First coat was with the crackle paint.  My crackle paint is several years old and didn't really work the way it should have, but its ok.  Next I painted the red coat of paint and let it dry really good. Next, lay down your heart shape, arrange your roses until you like how it looks, then start hot gluing your roses in place one at a time.
The crackle paint worked a tiny bit, but it wasn't enough of a distressed look so I took the sand paper to it to really scuff it up.  I can't leave anything alone! LOL!
Here it is what it looked like when I thought I was done.  Then I changed my mind and wanted to add more to it!  My honey helped me with the next step.
That's better!  He made a frame for me using some more of our old fence pickets.  I always love when we can use the pickets in one of our projects.  They are so rustic, which I love!
After my honey put together the frame, he used his nail gun to attach the heart board to the frame.  You could probably use hot glue as well, but since he was at it, he just went ahead and nailed it together.  Lastly, I added a hanger to the back and hung it in the dining room.....I changed my mind AGAIN and now its perched on the mantel with a few other little Valentine items. So cute!

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn

The Self Sufficient Home Acre 
The Chicken Chick,  Sew Can Do
Monday
Craft-O-Maniac, 

Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Home Sweet Home
Keeping it  Simple 
The Dedicated House
Skip to my Lou
Home Coming
Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Sugar Bee Crafts 
New Nostalgia 
It's your Life
BeBetsy
Fluster Buster   
Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesday
Clean and Scentsible

Lady Behind the Curtain
Family Home and Life
Ducks n a Row
VMG206
Herrban Momma 
Family Home & Life
Oh My! Creative
Thursday  
Bloom
The Taylor House
52 Mantels
Domesblissity
4 You With Love
Sweet Haute
Artsy Fartsy Mama
From My Front Porch To Yours
Friday 
Lil’ Luna
Tatertots and Jello
Five Simple Things
Craftionary
Diana Rambles
I Heart Nap Time
Crafts a la mode
Saturday 
Angels Homestead
Positively Splendid,
Or So She Says
Your Homebased Mom
What's Cooking with Ruthie
Made From Pinterest

read more

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Yarn and Felt Valentine Wreath with Loopy Felt Flower How-tos

I've been wanting to make one of these yarn wreaths ever since I first saw them on Pinterest.  I finally decided to make one for Valentine's Day.
These kind of wreaths are very time consuming (wrapping the yarn), but I think it was worth it because I love how it turned out!
These are my supplies.  I ended up not using the larger heart, white yarn or the red felt. I change my mind.....a lot!  I'll find another project for those!

To recreate my wreath, you will need.

16 inch foam wreath
6 inch foam heart
1 skein of red yarn (it doesn't take the whole skein)
2 squares of white craft felt (the softer the better)
3 Loopy Felt Flowers (directions below)
3 crocheted hearts (or any other embellishment you want)
1 small piece of tape
Hot glue gun
Use a small piece of tape to hold the end of your yarn while you wrap.  I tried holding it and it just kept unwrapping and getting tangled, so make it easy on yourself and grab a piece of tape.
Wrap the yarn until your arms fall off!  Just kidding!  It does take some time for this step though.  I grabbed a cup of coffee and turned on the DIY channel while I wrapped my foam wreaths.  I'm weird and had to wrap mine neatly, some people just wrap until you no longer see the wreath base.  It's up to you!
This is how they will look when you're done.  The hearts are a bit more tricky than the circle.  The pointy parts are very hard to cover....just sayin!
Now I'll show you how to make your Loopy Felt Flowers.  I've made a few other projects with these flowers HERE.   They are fun and you'll want to keep making them!

To make the Loopy Felt Flower, you will need:

Felt of your choice (I used white this time)
Sewing machine
Sharp scissors
Hot glue gun (use the low setting)
Cut your felt into strips that measure: 2" x 8", 1 1/2" x 4" and 1" x 3" and then a circle of about 1 1/2".
Fold your strips long ways in half and stitch very close to the open edge like this. Repeat for all three strips.
Using your sharp scissors, snip to the stitching being sure NOT to snip the stitching.  If you cut small sections, you will get a fuller flower, larger sections, not so full.  I prefer the smaller sections.
Starting with the longest strip, take your felt circle and lay down some hot glue on the very outter edge.  Glue the strip to the circle like shown above.
Keep adding your strips using the medium lengthed one next and then the shortest one until you've reach the center.
This is what it will look like when you have all three strips glued to the circle.
Now add your crocheted heart (or other embellishment) to the center to cover the empty space.  I got my hearts on Etsy HERE.
Here's what they look like all together.  I love those hearts and I've just about used all mine up! They are the perfect touch!
Next, I glued my Loopy Felt Flowers to my wreath with hot glue.  The wreath looked too plain at this point so I also cut out some leaves and stems (freehand) from the white felt and added that to each end of my flowers.
Again, it still needed something, so I cut (10) strips of white felt about 1/4 inch wide and made the criss-crosses around the empty space on the right.  I just hot glued the ends to the back to hold them in place.

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn

The Self Sufficient Home Acre 
The Chicken Chick,  Sew Can Do
Monday
Craft-O-Maniac, 

Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Home Sweet Home
Keeping it  Simple 
The Dedicated House
Skip to my Lou
Home Coming
Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Sugar Bee Crafts 
New Nostalgia 
It's your Life
BeBetsy
Fluster Buster   
Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesday
Clean and Scentsible

Lady Behind the Curtain
Family Home and Life
Ducks n a Row
VMG206
Herrban Momma 
Family Home & Life
Oh My! Creative
Thursday  
Bloom
The Taylor House
52 Mantels
Domesblissity
4 You With Love
Sweet Haute
Artsy Fartsy Mama
From My Front Porch To Yours
Friday 
Lil’ Luna
Tatertots and Jello
Five Simple Things
Craftionary
Diana Rambles
I Heart Nap Time
Crafts a la mode
Saturday 
Angels Homestead
Positively Splendid,
Or So She Says
Your Homebased Mom
What's Cooking with Ruthie
Made From Pinterest

read more

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Clover House's Top 15 Posts of 2013 - A Year in Review

WOW! What a year 2013 has been! We've done so much but still have so much to do! It took a bit of gathering of information, but here's our top 15 project posts of 2013.  Just click on the link below each picture to be taken to the original post and all the good information!  Enjoy! :)

I hope you've enjoyed browsing our past year of the top 15 posts!  Did you get some good ideas?  I hope you pinned them! Thanks to all of our readers for making it such an awesome year!  Keep watching in 2014 for more great ideas, recipes, tips and tricks!  :)

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn

The Self Sufficient Home Acre 
The Chicken Chick,  Sew Can Do
Monday
Craft-O-Maniac, 

Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Home Sweet Home
Keeping it  Simple 
The Dedicated House
Skip to my Lou
Home Coming
Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Sugar Bee Crafts 
New Nostalgia 
It's your Life
BeBetsy
Fluster Buster   
Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesday
Clean and Scentsible

Lady Behind the Curtain
Family Home and Life
Ducks n a Row
VMG206
Herrban Momma 
Family Home & Life
Oh My! Creative
Thursday  
Bloom
The Taylor House
52 Mantels
Domesblissity
4 You With Love
Sweet Haute
Artsy Fartsy Mama
From My Front Porch To Yours
Friday 
Lil’ Luna
Tatertots and Jello
Five Simple Things
Craftionary
Diana Rambles
I Heart Nap Time
Crafts a la mode
Saturday 
Angels Homestead
Positively Splendid,
Or So She Says
Your Homebased Mom
What's Cooking with Ruthie
Made From Pinterest

read more

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas Shutter Decor

I wanted a new decoration for the front door this year, so I came up with this little lovely.  Very easy to put together and also easy to take apart in case you want to use your shutter again for something else.
I found and pinned THIS idea on Pinterest (Thanks Linda!) and went from there with my idea.  I decided not to paint my shutter.  Mainly because I made this during our recent Texas ice storm and I really didn't think painting was an option!
To recreate my shutter decor, you will need:

1 old shutter
A few Christmas tree trimmings or greenery of some type
Nippers to trim your greenery
Light weight wire
Pliers or wire cutters
Pine cones
Twine
Ribbon for a bow
Miscellaneous decorations (I used some glittery twigs)
Hot Glue Gun
Arrange your greenery and secure with wire.  Add as much or as little as you like until it looks good to you.
Next, glue the twine lengths to your pine cones, make your bow and then tie everything together and hot glue it to your greenery.
Lastly, make a hook with your wire and attach it on the backside of the shutter for hanging.  Not too shabby for a craft made in 20 degree weather!

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn

The Self Sufficient Home Acre 
The Chicken Chick,  Sew Can Do
Monday
Craft-O-Maniac, 

Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Home Sweet Home
Keeping it  Simple 
The Dedicated House
Skip to my Lou
Home Coming
Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Sugar Bee Crafts 
New Nostalgia 
It's your Life
BeBetsy
Fluster Buster   
Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesday
Clean and Scentsible

Lady Behind the Curtain
Family Home and Life
Ducks n a Row
VMG206
Herrban Momma 
Family Home & Life
Oh My! Creative
Thursday  
Bloom
The Taylor House
52 Mantels
Domesblissity
4 You With Love
Sweet Haute
Artsy Fartsy Mama
From My Front Porch To Yours
Friday 
Lil’ Luna
Tatertots and Jello
Five Simple Things
Craftionary
Diana Rambles
I Heart Nap Time
Crafts a la mode
Saturday 
Angels Homestead
Positively Splendid,
Or So She Says
Your Homebased Mom
What's Cooking with Ruthie
Made From Pinterest

read more

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Clothespin Christmas Tree

Do you decorate your laundry room for Christmas? Well, I don't' either...normally!  But this year I did because I came across THIS cute tree (thanks Brandi!) and I had to make one for ME too!
It really brightens up the little space!  It keeps me company while I fold and hang our laundry!  So adorable!

To re-create my tree, you will need the following items:
One empty paper towel roll
Clothespins (I used 64)
Hot glue gun
Spanish moss
Red Burlap ribbon (about 36")
First, disassemble your clothespins.  Next, using your hot glue gun on the low setting, start gluing your pins to the paper towel roll like so.  Place the glue on the little flat slanted area of the pin and then hold it against the roll until its stuck.
There is no exact gluing directions, just glue them on until you like the way it looks.  If I ever make another one, I will do this bottom part differently.  I think its spaced too far apart along about the third row of pins, but that just me and my weirdness!
After I got all the pins glued on, I added some Spanish moss in the bare spots for filler.  Next I used a few of the springs for ornaments on my tree!
It's so sweet in all its clothespin cuteness!  It matches our Clothespin Chandelier too!  I'm thinking about making some clothespin snowflakes that I thought may look cute on the walls too.  Oh Pinterest, I'm so addicted to YOU!
I wonder how I can decorate it for each holiday so I can leave it out all the time?  Is that too much? Yeah, maybe!  Hmmm?
Oh dear! I'm already thinking of what other decor I can design with clothespins!  Leave me a comment if you decorate your laundry room for the holidays too.  I'd love to pop over and see it!

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

I'm Linking to:
Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn

The Self Sufficient Home Acre 
The Chicken Chick,  Sew Can Do
Monday
Craft-O-Maniac, 

Between Naps on the Porch
DIY Home Sweet Home
Keeping it  Simple 
The Dedicated House
Skip to my Lou
Home Coming
Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Sugar Bee Crafts 
New Nostalgia 
It's your Life
BeBetsy
Fluster Buster   
Confessions of a Plate Addict
A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesday
Clean and Scentsible

Lady Behind the Curtain
Family Home and Life
Ducks n a Row
VMG206
Herrban Momma 
Family Home & Life
Oh My! Creative
Thursday  
Bloom
The Taylor House
52 Mantels
Domesblissity
4 You With Love
Sweet Haute
Artsy Fartsy Mama
From My Front Porch To Yours
Friday 
Lil’ Luna
Tatertots and Jello
Five Simple Things
Craftionary
Diana Rambles
I Heart Nap Time
Crafts a la mode
Saturday 
Angels Homestead
Positively Splendid,
Or So She Says
Your Homebased Mom
What's Cooking with Ruthie
Made From Pinterest

read more