Loopy Ribbon Wreath

I recently decided I needed something new and bright for our front door.  I found this wreath here and knew I had to make one ASAP. It was a bit time consuming and tedious, but then again I like time consuming and tedious so it was perfect!  It was also a rather inexpensive project when you compare it to a store-bought front door decoration.

Supplies:

9-12 rolls of coordinating ribbon

Sewing Machine (optional)

1 wreath form of any type

Hot glue gun and glue sticks (low temp)

First, choose 9-12 different types (I used 9) of coordinating ribbon varying in sizes from 1/4 inch to 1.5 inches. Note, the bigger the ribbon size you choose, the faster the wreath will be to put together.  Cut the ribbon into 4.5 inch strips (I did 20 strips of each for a 10 inch wreath).  You will also need one more roll of ribbon to wrap your wreath later.

Next, fold each ribbon piece in half and sew it shut with about a 1/8 inch seam.  If you do not have a sewing machine, you can glue each piece closed with a little hot glue, just make sure to leave a seam at the bottom as well.

When you are done sewing, you will have a very long chain of ribbon loops.  Cut them apart and place them in a bag/bucket/container.

Wrap your wreath form with the last roll of coordinating ribbon. This will help create a smooth surface to attach the loops and will make sure the wreath form can't be seen.

Now comes the fun part!  Pick a loop of ribbon and open the seam at the bottom.  Run a line of hot glue down the seam and press it onto the wreath form.  Continue this until the wreath is covered.  I chose to place mine very close to one another so that the wreath would be very full (but this also takes up more ribbon).  Note that you only have to cover the front half of the wreath. You can leave the backside plain so that it will lay on the door nicely.

When you finish placing the loops, turn the wreath over and create a hanger out of a spare loop by sticking it to the back.  You could also use a large loop of ribbon around the whole wreath to hang it like the example did.

Time to enjoy your new work of art!

I seriously can not wait to make another one and already have all different season/color combos in my head!  Just imagine a fall colored wreath with reds/oranges/browns! 

Another tip when buying supplies for this wreath.  Never buy ribbon when it isn't on sale!  Hobby Lobby and other craft stores usually put ribbon by the roll on sale at LEAST every other week (half off!) so make sure you buy then!  The ribbon I purchased was about $13.00 and the wreath was a dollar the the dollar store. I also ended up with enough ribbon (un-cut and still on the roll) to almost make another wreath!

Please let me know if you plan to make your own wreath soon and what colors/patterns you want to use!  Join in on the fun!



Indoor Herb Garden, Part 2

Does everyone have their pots painted? Great!  The next step is to make fun little labels for your pots so that you will know what everything is when they sprout (and it just looks cute too)!

I used my Cricut machine to cut out the words Chives, Basil, and Cilantro.  If you do not have a die-cut machine, you could use stickers or even write with permanent ink on a piece of paper.

After you cut out the words, attach them to each pot with Modge Podge glue.  If you are not familiar with Modge Podge, it is basically a type of glue that dries clear and isn't tacky to the touch. It is a great sealant for many projects.  First, paint a small layer of Modge Podge on each pot.  Attach the wording they way you like and paint another layer of modge podge over top.  If this doesn't completely seal it, feel free to brush on one more layer after it dries.

The last step in making the pots took me out the garage.  I used a spray sealer on each piece to make sure the paint wouldn't chip or wear later.  I did about 2-3 coats with a gloss sealer so they would be nice and shiny!  Don't worry about sealing the inside of the pots, because they will just be filled up with dirt later!

Lastly, follow the directions on the seed packets to plant!  I believe mine said to plant 1/4 inch under the soil. As you can see below, I had a few sprouts within a couple days!

The sprouts have now turned into little plants and I couldn't be more excited. I will post a photo soon of the progress!  Let me know if you made an herb garden or what you plan to plant! I would love to hear from you!



Indoor Herb Garden, Part 1

After spending WAY too much money on herbs at the grocery store, I decided it was time to start my own little garden!  I by no means have a green thumb, so don't be scared.  I also can not say this was a success yet, but I do have wonderful little seedlings that are growing each day!

Supplies:

Terra Cotta Containers (One for each plant type)

Terra Cotta Saucer (1 large to hold all pots)

Acrylic Paint (the simple cheap paint at the craft store)

Paint Brush

Scrapbook Paper (coordinating with paint color)

Cricut Machine (optional)

Modge Podge Glue

Clear Coat Sealing Spray (cheap at Hobby Lobby with 40% off coupon)

Seeds (I used Cilantro, Basil, and Chives)

Potting Soil

Today, we will be painting the pots!  This is a simple and fun step (I guess every step is simple and fun though). I used white and yellow paint that matched some scrapbooking paper I had leftover from my recipe book.  Feel free to go crazy choosing your colors! 

Start by painting the outside of your pots white.  This took about 2-3 good coats because the terra cotta is very absorbent.  I also painted the bottom side of my sauce white at this time.

When the paint is dry (and it should dry pretty fast), paint the top rim of each pot yellow along with the inside lip.  No need to paint the entire inside of the pot because it will later be filled with soil.

Below is the finished product.  As you can see, I painted the top of my saucer yellow to match the pots. Let these dry thoroughly. (I also put down some newspaper while painting to avoid any mishaps!)



Easy enough so far? Tomorrow I will post the next step: Labeling each pot with decorative lettering and sealing. Happy Planting!

Neck Tie Bib Necklace

Last week, I taught the first ever 'Crafty Class' at Petals in downtown Decatur.  We learned how to recycle old neckties and turn them into a fun, bold accessory.  The original idea was found HERE. This is a great way to clean out your significant other's closet or you could also check out a local thrift store for some great finds!

Supplies:

-Tie

-Scissors

-Pins

-Needle

-Coordinating Thread

-Sparkly brooch, pin, or brad

Start at the bottom/widest part of the tie and make folds/pleats.  Pin each fold in place and continue about 1/2 way up the tie. (I made about 8 pleats).

Pleated and Pinned

 Close up view of pins

Next, using needle and thread, tack each pleat down.  This is just a simple stitch made on the back side of the tie so you can't see it later.  If you have a matching thread, you could even sew all the way through the pleats and you would never notice!

Starting the stitching

Continue tacking until all pleats are finished.  Place tie around your neck to decide the length and make one last tack at each end to hold it together (the widest part tacked in front of the skinniest part).

Choose a brooch or brad to clip to the bottom of the tie, or find a sparkly button and sew it on.  Wear your new piece proudly!

    

 Another Completed Tie



Be sure to let me know if any of you make your own Tie Necklace!  Craft On!