String of Lights

I thought I'd show you an easy craft with strings of Christmas lights. These are pretty popular with the primitive decor crowd, but I love the look of them. And you can use them for pretty much any season of the year. Use them on red lights with combination of white, pink, and red fabric. During Halloween use orange or purple lights with fall colors. Or use cute children's fabric for a fun night light. The possibilities are endless!

SO...let's get to it!

First, you'll need a few supplies:

*1/2 yard of each color/pattern fabric (cotton works best, I use homespun)
*strand of lights (any length, just depends on what you want. I used a 20 count)

That's it!

The fabric will need to be cut (or ripped) into strips. I usually rip a whole line about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch wide. Then I cut them into 5 to 6 inch lengths. If you make them too long they won't sit like they're suppose to, but if you do them too short, you won't be able to tie...and that makes very sore fingers...believe me!

I make piles of each color and then put them into an order that I like. That way, I can just grab from the next pile and don't have to think about which color/pattern comes next.

Start tieing! It's important to start as close to the light as possible. You want to use the light as a stop so the fabric will be tight and your string of lights will look full. I don't even tie a knot. There's no need. If you just loop it like you're tieing shoes, and pull really tight it will stay. I haven't had any come loose yet. It's the ripped fabric that holds it I think. So...just start with the color/pattern fabric you want. Make sure it's pretty evenly tied, although the variation in lengths adds to the fun look of the strand. Just keep tieing and push the fabric as close as you can to the one before.



As you keep going your strand will get fuller and fuller. Don't worry if it starts to twist, it will make the fabric move and you won't end up with a straight line of lights...cuz that looks boring...but if you have a serious case of OCD, it might be the look your'e going for...sorry...but it won't work...;)

While you're making the strand, you should give it a little shake every so often to allow the strand to twist and your fabric to fall naturally and fill out. Believe me, you'll see the difference and it will look good. Don't worry if you can't see the lights, that's the idea...;)

This is definitely something you can do during nap time, or while watching TV at night. Although, I do recommend that you do it in one spot, the little fabric strips will shed...and leave little "stringlets" all over.

Once you've reached the last light, it's up to you if you want to go all the way to the plug. I don't usually because I like to be able to hide the cord behind stuff...and if you've got fabric, you won't want to hide it...:)  Also I'm usually tired of tieing,...lol...so I stop, it's the lazy in me. But it's TOTALLY up to you.

After you're all done, just be sure to give the entire thing a big shake. You might want to take it outside...to avoid the "stringlets" as I've mentioned before. Then...put it where ever you'd like! On a mantle, in a jar, around a clock, mirror...or anywhere! If you use battery operated lights, you can wrap around a wreath and use it for a door decoration! Like I said, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

 

So have some fun, tie some knots and hang some lights! It's almost time for Christmas! Be sure to visit my linkie party too!

  

   
 
  

Pots...or Not...

I have seen all the cool stuff people have been making apothocary jars and candle holders and what not out of, so I figurd I'd give it a whirl myself! I mean, come on...I am KINDA crafty...*grin*

So I dug around in my craft crap supply stash and found a few items that I played around with until I got something that resembled a stand. Looked pretty good to me, so I glued it together. Basically, it's a terra cotta pot and two terra cotta pot trays. These things are so cool because you can do so many neat things with them. I'll have to dig out some of the patterns I have for them to show you sometime.

Once I had it glued together...(it took a TON of glue sticks)...and I have come to the conclusion I need to invest in a nice BIG glue gun. This little glue gun stuff...nope...not gonna cut it. 


Any-whoo...after I glued it all together, I started painting it. After that, a couple of coats of varnish (modge podge actually...L O V E...LOVE the stuff) and it was almost done!


Uh-huh...I know...I'm seeing what you see...That little glue line around the base right? Well...I got a solution for THAT too!

Voila!...seeeee...nothing like a little bit of trim to hide your glue lines...*grin*

I got this HUGE hurricane jar at the Dollar Tree...gotta love spending just a buck! WEEeeeeee!! Does anyone besides me spend more than $20 when you go into the Dollar Tree? Hmmm...come on now, be honest!





Here's the finished product. I don't think I'm going to keep what I have in it. It was late and I just put something in for looks so I could get a photo. I'm working on some fun fabric and glass glittered Christmas balls right now. So when they are done, I will probably put those in there, along with some lights or something. Not sure. But this would work for every season! And if I get tired of THIS jar...I can put a candle or another of the zillion jars I have stashed hiding in my craft stuff...:) 





Close up...whatcha think? I'm LOVEing it!





Grab yourself some terra cotta pots and see what you can create! I think I spent a total of $0 on this project! I had everything already on hand...:) Gotta love spending no money to get something to decorate your space!

Be sure to visit my linkie parties...:) Got them listed below.



Drab to..Drapes!

I moved into our new house at the end of July. During this time, my master bedroom has been in shambles...and when I say shambles I mean..."how can anyone even begin to sleep in this room" type stuff. *sigh*...well, what can I say, I have just put the entire room on the back burner. Well, last night I decided that I was going to at LEAST get my curtains looking a little less...drab and trashy...:)
So I armed myself with some various styles of ribbon, heat bond tape, and prepared my dining room table to be used as an ironing board (wha??? You mean to tell me you've never used your dining room table as a place to iron..well...let me tell you, it's awesome! The space I tell ya..the space!).

Now, to give you an idea about these drapes, I purchased them in my other house to just "keep the neighbors from seeing in", because the entire back of my other house where my bedroom was located, was as dark as a cave. I had two little windows, and the sun never shined because of the location of my neighbor's trees. They cost me exactly $5 a panel...yes..I said $5! But wait, they were the ugliest brown panels ever known to man. I purchased them to match with the quilt I bought which was BE-A-UT-I- FUL, but also very busy so I wanted something plainer to keep the room from getting too MUCH pattern in it. Of course now since I've been blogging, I've learned so much about matching patterns. Anyways, so these curtains are brown...plain brown...some sort of polyester loose weaved type. But they did the job and that's all I wanted.
After moving into my new house, I realized they were VERY boring and I just couldn't take it anymore. So...after finding some lovely ribbon of various colors, patterns and textures, they are finally something to be proud of. OH...did I mention that I FINALLY put them up on a curtain rod??? YUPPERS! They are no longer TACKED up to my wall! I still have some things to do to the windows (I'm currently trying to come up with some fabric to create some wonderful fabric blinds that I found a pattern online for...very easy, but I'm still trying to get the fabric together for them). But at least my curtains are done for now...I may add to them later (I get inspired when I see some curtains on blogs around blogland).

SO...without further ado...here's my NEW (to me)...master bedroom curtains...and yes, the dog kennel is now gone as well...UGH...told you it was yucky...

You can see the corner of my bed here and the fabric on my quilt. I just

L O V E it, but it's very hard to decorate around. I have a few ideas though...keep visiting and you'll see some big changes. OH...those two box things are actually storage boxes that I found on clearance at Walmart...$5 bucks baby! WOOOHOO! Wish I had got more. They will be recovered as well. And they are usually found at the end of my bed. 

If you'd like to do this project yourself, here's instructions on how I did it.

Linking to these parties:

 

 

Red Couch...Hcoucder...

I have come to the conclusion that I really like the colors red and turquoise together. I don't have any idea why, but when I see them together it makes me happy...:) Today I'm going to share with you my lovely and comfy red couches. Yes...I did say red. Not a lovely light and bright shade of red, but a creepy, blood spewing stab wound color red. I know, I know...you ask "why would you want dark red couches". WELLLLLL...initially I was going for the beige ones, but alas, these looked so good in my minds eye of an Italian themed room. I have since decided I really like turqoise and red together and since I'm bound and determined to redo all my furniture anyways, why not start with the couches! Here's what I've got to work with. Please excuse the clutter...again, I have no where to put the overflow of crafting stuff so it ends up under, behind and on top of things...:) (if you click on the photos you can see them and my snarky remarks I've so cleverly added to them).

Here are a few fabrics I've been toying with:

SO...now you see what I have to deal with. And YES, that lamp does have a mate...currently it's sitting on my desk. Once I get the new side table painted it will join it's brother in harmony next to the couch. I'm hoping once the side tables are painted...the lamp brothers are painted, the new pillows are covered, and I've changed the drapes, the room will be a little more happier. Grand plans I know, but keeping my expectations high so I don't chicken out...;P

Giveaway Alert!

Okay, found this really cool blog called Thanks Mail Carrier and today there's a giveaway sign up for a $25 gift certificate to TJ Maxx or Marshall's. Not sure about you, but I love BOTH of these stores. Nothing like a good bargain to keep you smiling...:) Go take a look and see if you find anything else that might tickle your fancy over there. And be sure to go visit your local TJ Maxx or Marshall's for fantastic bargains!