Moss Gift Tags

Happy first day of spring! Wanna know how to transform an ordinary shipping tag into something extraordinary?  Stick with me…

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Shipping tags – I found a great selection at Staples
• A roll of peel-&-stick moss – Michaels
  
• Twine
• Scissors
• Hole punch

Here’s how ya do it:

1. Cut a piece of the peel-&-stick moss slightly larger than a shipping tag.
2. Remove the paper on the back of the moss to reveal its tacky side then place firmly on the tag.
3. Punch a hole in the top of the tag and insert twine.
4. Your done!

Okay, how easy is that AND you have a really cool and creative gift tag to adorn your Easter gifts!  Happy crafting!

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Mason Jar Vases Wrapped in Book Pages

If you’re in need of a quick gift idea for Mother’s Day, a birthday, or just need a cool hostess gift. Then you’ve come to the right blog. Wrap some old book pages around a mason jar, secure it with twine, add grocery store flowers and you’re done! Mind you, I don’t go around destroying books, however, the pages I used were from an out-of-date encyclopedia that I annihilated when I was a child. Naughty, naughty.

Happy Mother’s Day, happy Sunday, AND happy day-after-your birthday Andrew!

Faux Flowers in Faux Water

Faux flowers in faux water…okay, not something I normally tolerate. However, I was looking through a high-end catalog and there they were…silk flowers in, get this ‘water illusion’. Let me tell you, they were outrageously expensive but admittedly looked stunning.

Being a crafty and thrifty person, I was determined to create my own ‘illusions’ but for a fraction of the cost. Here’s how you can do the same.

You’ll need:

• Floral resin. You can buy it on-line (here) or at your local craft sore.
• Popsicle or chop sticks.
• Wire cutters.
• Clear vase of choice.
• Faux flowers from the craft store or you can rescue some from a thrift store.

Here’s the how-to:

1. Clean your vase well.
2. Using a wire cutters, cut the faux flower stems to the appropriate stem length to fit into your vase.
3. In a well ventilated area and following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix the floral resin in a disposable bowl using a popsicle or chop stick.
4. Pour the resin into your vase – for mine I poured approximately an inch of resin into the vase.
5. Insert the flower into the vase and allow the resin to dry and harden for 36 hours.
6. Done!

Yes it’s a fake (sorry) faux flower.

Burlap Beauties

Recently I was asked to create a collection of flower arrangements for an event hosted by an amazing non-profit called Healing Through The Arts. The organization provides art, information and resources to encourage and support healing to individuals, caregivers and their families. Please do check out their website here!

I wanted my creations to be extra special so I picked up a bunch of potted hydrangea and cineraria but of course they are sold in those nasty plastic pots and foil wrappers.

With a little burlap, twine and moss these girls are all dressed up and ready for the ball!

Happy Friday and happy crafting!

Repurposed Vase Terrariums

Who doesn’t have a generous supply of florist vases tucked away? Some of my collection have been given to me, others I’ve rescued from the trash. My collection was the inspiration for these perfect woodland folly centerpieces.

Armed with only the bounty of my back yard (which by the way is the size of a postage stamp) I created these centerpieces. They also make a unique and creative way to number tables at a wedding or special event.

They are super easy to make. Simply place a one inch layer of stones in the bottom or your container then add about another inch of soil. Now the fun part! Using your imagination, start placing your special back yard finds into the vases like pines, moss, twigs, ferns, tiny clumps of grass. Don’t be afraid to add extra little surprises like eggs or this little deer like I did. If you don’t have access to these items, visit your local nursery of craft store.

Water with a moderate amount of water and don’t place it in direct sunlight. Enjoy, have fun and happy crafting!

Sun Print Decoupage Trays

Hi y’all! Come on by the Philadelphia International Flower Show on Sunday, March 4th, 3:30PM, Room #201B and learn how you can make these beautiful sun print glass trays and plates. My workshop is titled ‘Crafts From The Garden’. For all of you garden crafters (and gardeners), I’ll be sharing five easy projects for you to give a whirl.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Sun Print Coasters

Okay fellow crafters and gardeners.  Don’t forget to stop by to see me on Sunday, March 4th at 3:30pm, demonstration room #201B at the Philadelphia International Flower Show.

Here’s a sneak peek at one of the projects I’ll be sharing in my ‘Crafts From The Garden’ workshop...sun print coasters.  Fun, super easy and would make the perfect gift for your gardening friends and family.

Sun Print Coasters

Philadelphia International Flower Show Here I Come

Happy Friday everyone! Organic Gardening Magazine asked me to conduct a workshop at this year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show.  Check out this link for all of the show details. My workshop is titled “Crafts from the Garden” and will be held on opening day, Sunday, March 4th at 3:30 PM.

If you’re in that neck of the woods on March 4th, join me for a hands-on demonstration of simple and beautiful garden crafts. Learn to create beautiful projects from materials found in and around your garden to enhance your home and make beautiful gifts any time of year.

As a teaser, here are a couple of photos of one of the projects I’ll be presenting.  It’s easy and I call it my box full of explosive garden beauties. Seriously, the wooden crate has ‘DANGER EXPLOSIVES’ printed on the side. Please do come by to say hello and learn how to make some special garden crafts you can keep and display at your home or give as gifts. Oh, and we’ll have a dynamite time. Okay, that was lame but that reminds me of something my dad said to me ages ago, “If brains were dynamite, you wouldn’t have enough to blow your nose.” I’m sure I deserved that one.

See you on March 4th!

 

Daffodil Gift Baskets

This past weekend we packed up the car and off we went to visit my family. Since I hadn’t seen them over the holidays, I wanted to take them a little creation that was easy to make and something they would enjoy for a long time. I found potted Daffodils at a local nursery and knew that was just the ticket but they needed some editing.  Did you know that the Daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings?

Here’s what you’ll need for this easy project and how ya do it:

• Daffodils or other early spring bulbs.
• Baskets. Come on folks admit it, we all have a secret stash of baskets lying around somewhere.
• Plastic basket liners.  Okay, you probably don’t have those but any florist can help you out. Or you could use plain old trash bin liners.
• Moss – florist or craft supply store.
• One bag of potting soil which you can find at any florist or nursery.

Now for the how-to:

1. Place a basket liner inside the basket.  If you’re using plastic trash bin liners, cut the bin liners to size and place inside the basket.
2. Carefully remove the Daffodils (or bulbs of choice) and the soil from their nursery pots by turning the pot upside down.  Be careful that you keep as much soil with the bulbs as possible.
3. Insert the bulbs into a basket. Use potting soil to fill in the space around the bulbs and the basket.
4. Insert some moss over the bulbs to cover the exposed soil.

Your done! Seriously, the whole project for three baskets took me about 30 minutes.  I attached some homemade gift tags to some twigs and out the door we went.

The care instructions are easy too.  Water when you feel the soil is dry, but don’t over water. Keep them out of direct sunlight and they’ll burst open before you know it. After the flowers have wilted and the greens have browned, simply place the bulbs in the soil outside and next Spring they’ll start their little cycle all over again.

Enjoy!

Flannel Shirt Wine Bottle Bags

I’m getting awfully good at hacking up ties and have now moved on to shirts!  Making decorative tree bags from a collection of my hole-ridden, paint-stained, and horrid flannel shirts seemed obvious.  See photo below, and for the ‘how-to’ see the Holiday Hostess Video on my YouTube Channel.

Being a person who doesn’t like to waste, I also repurposed the shirt sleeves into wine bottle bags to give as holiday gifts (with wine in them of course).

This project is super easy.  You’ll need:

Flannel shirts and a sewing machine although you could stitch them by hand.

1. Cut the sleeve at about 13″ from the cuff so you have a tube.
2. Turn the cut sleeve inside out.
3. Sew up the bottom of the sleeve (not the cuff end).
4. Turn right-side out.
5. Insert wine and tie with a gift tag.

Enjoy and happy crafting!