Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I know it is still August but in this house, it IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  This is the bed in my guest room.

I made a few things since my last post. I had this pallet type unpainted tree.  I screwed on a hanger to the back, painted and glued on some clothespins for a great photo/card holder.  What 'cha think?

Then there are a couple of ornie wreaths....always a good seller!

 Remember this little caddy from Michaels?

 Ornie filled lantern.  Lincoln logs and barbie car not included...lol

And I even had time to make salsa, relish, and sweet pickles!  

Back at it!  My first show is next month so I want to be prepared!

Christmas in July

Its not that unusual to see snow hanging around into May and June up where I live in the Rocky Mountains.  And it is certainly not unusual to see snowmen here at my house year round.  I am still busily working on inventory for my shows this fall....and you know what that means.....Christmas!

My friend, Dawn, gifted me some floral that I have used in a centerpiece.  This is a bit more glittery than I normally do, but I love the colors:

 All of the containers I have repurposed from garage sale or thrift store finds.

 I finally finished the deer trio.  I think they will make the perfect centerpiece for a sideboard or hall table.

 This is my first attempt at a diorama in a glass case.  I liked this case because it says "Polar Optics"

I bought this lantern a long time ago.  I simply filled it with a lighted tree and added a snowman and bow.

I stained this unfinished wooden reindeer and filled it with shades of silver and red.

 This sleigh is metal and is trimmed in gold tones.  I like the way it looks with the red and gold trimming.

 I've done and sold so many of these graters.  I rusted this grater, glued on the gingerbread, added a bow and a battery operated candle.

I'm working on some angel feather ornies today and waiting for my next round of company to come.  I will post the tutorial on making the ornies later this week.  Have a good day and stay cool!

Snowmen and Ornies and Strainers, oh, my!

Hello, my peeps.  I have been a busy little crafter this last week.  After finishing my suitcases, I dug through some of my thrift store finds......

 Got this bag of little round metal boxes for $2.95.  I don't know what these little boxes were for initially, but when I see round, I think snowmen.  I had a bunch of round magnets so I glued them on to the back.

 Then I just painted on some cute little snowmen faces......  I love doing snowmen.  They are so easy and they don't have to be perfect!  I usually sell out of magnets every year.  These should be really popular.  Oh, yeah.  If you are displaying magnets at a craft show, cookie sheets or old metal bowls make great displays!

So this thrift store that I go to, packages like items in plastic bags and sells them really cheap.  The good thing is that it is really, really cheap.  The bad thing is you can't see what all you have or if anything is broken.  I never pay more than four or five dollars for a 'bag o stuff'' and it is always worth it just to see what goodies I get.  One of the bags I bought had these giant bells in it.

 I simply added a hanger and some ribbon and made ornaments out of them.  So easy and so cute!

This little box was an item I picked up at one of the craft stores after the holidays.  I painted it red and then crackled it with a light buttermilk paint.  For the cut-out, I quilted some green plaid fabric.  I glued on rusty bells and a star.

I bought this strainer last year while on the 127 sale.  I had to drill a hole in the handle for hanging.  I simply glued in some moss and greenery, added a snowman and a homespun bow and it becomes the perfect holiday decoration.  Wouldn't this look adorable in the kitchen??

 This is another box that I bought a while back from the thrift store.  I think this centerpiece looks so cool!

Time for me to get a few things finished up.  I am working on a new pattern and hope to have it ready this week.  As soon as I get it done, you will be the first to know!  I can't wait to show you!

Hope your week is great!

What 'Cha Working on Wednesday???

It was a busy week last week, but I was able to get a few things finished up.  I bought this old horn at the thrift store last week.  It was in a bag of assorted "stuff" that I got for $2.  It was in good shape, except for the finish.  I took it outside and sprayed it gold.....

 Added a bow and some foliage......

 I got this box at the thrift store for $3.  It turned out so cute!

 This is one of many graters that I bought last year while at the 127 sale.  I put a candle inside of it and it makes a perfect little kitchen nite lite.

 This wooden box was given to me by a friend.  I filled it with greenery, rusty bells and pine cones.  I think it has the cabin feel, don't you?

 Another thrift store box.

 I'm not sure where this container came from but I put a little bear, some shiny ornies and some greenery, and Voila!

I found these little bracelets at the grocery store of all places....25 cents each.  I packaged them in cute little glittery packages.  Perfect for any little princess!

 I am really proud of this item.  This is the third tree skirt that I have made.  One was a gift and the other one sold.  I bought a partial bolt of these about six or seven years ago when a local Walmart was closing out their fabric department.  I paid less than a dollar a panel.  I put batting in it and backed it with a neutral fabric and machine/hand quilted it.  I sewed buttons, trims, pompoms, etc. to give it some texture and dimension.

Well, I had better get back to it.  I still have yet to download my first pattern on PatternMart.  I am going to try to get to it tomorrow as well as do some work on my Etsy shop.  But you know what they say.....the best laid plans.....

Pumpkins, already????

With all the fall shows that I do, I start early on my fall and winter items.  These little pumpkins are a variation on the ones I did a couple of years ago, these being more prim.

These little guys are great to sit in the dinner plate for each guest at your Thanksgiving meal.  And they are very simple to make.  There is a tutorial on this blog;  just type pumpkin in the search bar.

And I redid the lettering on my angel:

Better huh?  I stamped and then painted over the stamp to make it darker.  Both the pumpkins and the angel are listed in my Etsy shop.  I sold all my corn on the cobs this week and the carrots that I had listed.  I also sold my long-legged bunny at my friend Dawn's show as well as some of my bunny sachets on Etsy.  I always feel so grateful when someone enjoys my work.  And I do appreciate all of the comments as well. 

Have a great week, my bloggie friends.  More to come.