2014 Christmas Ornament

One of my favorite holiday traditions is adding a new ornament to the tree that represents something from that year. This year, I have been searching all over for a Italian Christmas ornament. But surprisingly I haven't found any ornament that were made in Italy. I was also looking for ornaments at different touristy places we've visited, but wasn't really happy with what I found. My ornaments usually have to match my red and gold theme. So I decided to try to make an ornament from a wine cork. The wine was from Italy, and I'm making it while living in Italy. So that seems pretty Italian to me! Here's what I came up with.

I am not completely happy with it, so I also went back to and purchased an ornament representing Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting, which is located just one block from our apartment. I guess I'll have two ornaments for this year.

Here are the ornaments from the past few years.
2013 - The birth of Hope Lynn Sanders
2012 - M&M from Las Vegas's M&M World
2011 - The birth of Gabriel John Sanders
2010 - Royal crown from London
2009 - Aloha Hawaiian honeymoon

Upcycled Bedside Tables

Our master bedroom is still unfinished after living in this house for almost two years. It has paint on the walls, but that's about it. Even our bedside tables need help. One side has an ikea table, and the other has a plastic storage unit. It's been practical, but not very pretty. We also have a mismatched dresser, as you can see in this picture. But that's a project for another post.

We have searched for some matching bedside tables, but the ones we want were pretty pricey and wouldn't fit too well in this room. So when I recently got handed down some free bedside tables, I was eager to make them work! Here they are the day I got them. Sort of ho-hum. Nothing special. They don't even have the same stain color.

I had an idea of painting them an off-white color, but needed some encouragement first. Fortunately, I have a friend, Joy, who is an awesome designer. You can see her projects on her blog Beautiful Protest. Her style is more mid-century modern, and mine is not. But she's been to my house and knows my taste. So I asked her to help me out. She recommended I try Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It goes on without needing any prepping or priming. Just slap it on, and finish with rubbing in some wax. Chalk paint also does well if you want a distressed look. So I decided to go for it! Joy also gave me some hardware she grabbed that she thought I would like. I love them!

So after painting, distressing and adding the new hardware, here is my finished product! I didn't realize before starting that the holes for the door handles were at different heights. Fortunately no one will notice, when the tables are on opposite sides of the bed.

I also got some lamps at Target. Richard is really excited he no longer has to climb out of bed to flip the light switch.

I think it all turned out beautifully, and I really could not be happier! Now I am thinking, "What can I paint next?" I have my eye on that mismatched dresser.

2013 Ornament

Each year we add a new ornament to our tree which represents something from that year. This year, I made an ornament for Hope's birth. I even made an evening out of it. I invited some of my neighborhood friends over and we each made ornaments for our kids. It was a fun, easy night and we all walked away with some nice keep sakes.

Making A Tea Wreath

I saw this idea on Pinterest and had to make one for a couple friends. Now that they have both received their gifts, I get to blog about it! A tea wreath can be hung anywhere you like. It's decorative and functional. If you really like tea, you can keep it stocked throughout the year. Each time someone comes over for tea, they can easily see what kinds are available. Let them pick a tea bag from the wreath and simply replace it later on. I love this idea!

To make a tea wreath you will need:
1 cardboard square (I cut it out of a box)
clothes pins
decorative paper
mod podge (glue)
hot glue gun
ribbon (or something to hang it with)
tea bags

Just cut the cardboard into a doughnut. I did mine 11 inches in diameter.

Cover the board with paper and mod podge. Using a 12x12 scrapbook paper is perfect. Cut small strips of paper to cover the pins.

Attach the clothes pins with hot glue, and tie the ribbon on. Then just add the tea and you're done!

Yearly Christmas Ornaments

Richard and I have started a tradition where we add a new ornament to our tree each year which represents something that happened within that year. It's so much fun to see the collection begin to grow. Each ornament has stories attached to it.

Our first year, we got the Hawaiian ornament from our honeymoon in Hawaii. We went to Kauaii and the big island.

 The second year, we traveled to Europe. We visited Paris and London. In London, we collected this crown ornament which represents the royal family.

This year, I made an ornament to represent Gabriel's birth. It's a block with his picture and his birth information. I plan to do this ornament for each of our children in the year they are born.

Easy Peasy DIY Christmas Wreaths

Here are two DIY wreaths for Christmas time.

(1) Front door wreath.

Buy a mostly decorated wreath on sale at the craft store, along with some shiny stuff to add to it.

Add those shiny pieces in, twisting them to make sure they're secure.

Hang on your front door. Tada!

 

(2) Christmas card wreath

You'll need a coat hanger, red pony beads, clothes pins, spray paint and ribbon.

Bend the coat hanger into a circle.

Spray paint clothes pins.

Put beads and clothes pins on the hanger.

 When you come to the end, use a hot glue gun to hold it together.

Tie a ribbon around it and hang on the wall.

 When you get all those pretty Christmas cards, display then on your wreath for everyone to see!

DIY Jewelry Frame

Supplies needed:
1 frame
1 roll "floral wrap" (mesh of some sort)
spray paint
floral wire
staple gun

Richard was throwing away some old work shirts, and I originally thought I would use one as a backdrop for the frame. I may still do this later on, but for now I'm liking it without any backdrop.

Step 1. Bend floral wire into "hooks"
Step 2. Spray paint mesh and floral wire and leave to dry
Step 3. Remove backing from frame
Step 4. Staple mesh to back of frame (not the very back, but the inside where the picture goes)
Step 5. Bend floral wire to fit snug against the frame and staple in the back of the frame. Cut any excess wire before stapling.
Step 6. Hang frame and put jewelry on frame.

Step 7. Put more jewelry on frame.
So pretty!

Homemade HDTV Antenna

I've had an HDTV for over 4 yrs, but never bothered spending the monthly fee with the cable company to have HDTV stations.  And now with Gabriel, we don't watch much TV.  But with the NFL season starting, I thought I'd try out this homemade HDTV antenna. Cardboard, duct tape, aluminum foil, staples, a 75 to 300 ohm matching transformer, and glue... I could do this.  After all, I do have a degree in Electrical Engineering.  I wasn't going for pretty (as you can see in the picture), just wanted to see if the antenna would work.  It works fantastic!!  I get all the local stations in HD (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) along with a number of others.  Now, do I make another one that is pretty?  Sarah probably doesn't want this cardboard box sitting next to the TV.