tutorial

Paper Ball Ornament DIY

December 17, 2018 by Jessica Leave a Comment

Last Christmas I made a whole bunch of these paper ball ornaments to add some cheerful color to the trees in our church foyer. We didn’t have much to decorate the trees with, so I wanted to make something and this is what I came up with. It cost hardly anything since I had most of the cardstock already and they really make such a fun impact. I also saved time by using my Cricut cutting machine, but it’s totally doable without one.

The paper ball ornaments also hold up well for being made of cardstock. I saved a handful of these to take pictures of and they have been in a moving box inside a storage unit that was not air conditioned for six months. They were still fantastic! So if you store them loosely in a box I bet they can last a few years. Also, a tip for anyone looking for some large scale decor… I noticed all of these present boxes and those large snowflakes at a local clothing store (Gap). I asked the store managers if they saved these or threw them away and that if they just got rid of them I would happily take them and reuse them. They called me at the end of the season and said I could come get it all. How awesome is that? They were so excited it would be used again and we used them for quite a few years.

To make your own paper ball ornament you will need:

Cardstock (I used an 8.5″ x 11″ piece per ball and made extra smaller circles with the extra for garland)
Ornament Hangers or String
Scissors or Cutting Machine (you can find the 8.5″ x 11″ template I made for my Cricut here)
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Start by cutting out four circles that are 4″ in size. You can increase or decrease the size depending on your preference. If you don’t have a cutting machine, you can use a round cup for a template to trace on the paper.

Then you will need to fold each one in half.

Run a bead of hot glue done the center of one of the folded pieces.

Place another folded circle on the glue and hold in place until it is cooled down.

Then put glue on one of the other folded circles and place on the seam of the two already glued together. Hold in place until cooled.

Turn the three glued ones over and add glue to the last folded circle to go on the other side (See picture above on how it should look all glued together).

You can then add your choice of hanging option and then fluff out the circles so it looks full. Above is a picture of using an ornament hanger. You can straighten out one end of an ornament hook and glue it down one of the seams.

Or you can use string, fishing line, or yarn to hang it. For those options I suggest glueing one end on one seam and then the other end in the opposite seam so it hangs evenly.

If you happen to have 12″ x 12″ pieces of cardstock, you can get quite a lot of circles out of it. I used the extra space on the paper to make smaller circles which I sewed together to make a garland.

It was a great addition to this backdrop I made and allowed it to fit in perfectly with the trees.

Make sure to share if you create any. I would love to see 🙂

Jess

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY

March 21, 2018 by Jessica 4 Comments

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
This month’s issue of Food Network Magazine is showcasing fifty different eggs from fifty different bloggers (you can now see them all online here: Easter Eggs Across America). Each state is represented! I am honored to represent Louisiana as this is the state I have lived in for the past six years. I have grown to love it here as it is a state full of it’s own unique culture and such wonderful people. I had to share a few ideas on what type of egg I could create that would showcase a bit of the state. I secretly really wanted to make a crawfish egg, but Mardi Gras beat it out hahaha. That is one thing this state is known for and we have enjoyed all the family events that come along during that time of the year. I now get to share the Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY for anyone who might want to make one or create their own spin of this type of egg. Or, as i like to call it, a Masquer-Egg…..get it? 😉

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY | happy together
Materials needed:

Boiled Egg or Fake Egg (I used an Eggnot)
Mardi Gras colors of acrylic paint (purple and green)
2 Paint Brushes
Gold Leaf Flakes
Gold Leaf Adhesive (my local craft stores were all out, so I used Mod Podge and it worked great)
Optional: One Step Crackle Finish (I used this to try to create more texture, but it didn’t make enough of a noticeable difference in my opinion)
Mask: black card stock, toothpick, small feathers, small rhinestones, glue, and small scissors or exacto knife)
Optional: Egg Carton

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
Begin by painting the top of the egg purple. Allow to fully dry. I found that using an old egg carton upside down was a great way to set the egg in place during drying times (see picture further down of this).

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
Once the purple is dry, paint the rest green. Allow it to fully dry. If you like, this is when you can add the one step crackle finish to one side at a time. Allow to dry.

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
Now for the fun part. I had never used gold leaf flakes before and was excited to try it out. It was fun! It made me want to gold leaf all the things. I painted on a layer of Mod Podge to one end of the egg. Then I took a dry brush and placed it in the gold leaf flakes and applied them. I just added the flakes until I was happy with it. Then I took the brush I had applied the Mod Podge with and added a top coating of Mod Podge to the flakes to seal them in place.

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
Once that half is dry, flip the egg over and repeat on the other end.

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
For the mask, I found a simple outline on the internet. I printed it to the size I wanted and used that as a template to cut out the black card stock. I had no small scissors, so I used an exacto knife to make the small intricate cuts.

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY
You can decorate your mask how you like, but I glued on small feathers and two small rhinestones for a simple look. Then I painted a toothpick black to be the holder. Glue the mask in a place you like and let it dry. Now you have a fancy Mardi Gras Easter Egg. Don’t forget to check out the Food Network Magazine to see all the other state Easter Eggs. -jess

Mardi Gras Easter Egg DIY

Corbel Wall Lamp DIY

September 6, 2017 by Jessica 3 Comments

Corbel Wall Lamp DIY | happy together
I love when a project turns out even better than what I was hoping for! That is what happened with this corbel wall lamp diy. Miss E’s room has been mostly done for a while, but she’s needed some type of lighting for reading at night. I was on instagram and saw these wall lamps in someone’s foyer, and I instantly remembered these bookends I had bought at Magnolia last year. I just bought them because I thought they were pretty but then didn’t know where to put them. Lo and behold, they were the perfect thing to make these with! And good news! No electrical knowledge needed 😉

Corbel Wall Light DIY | happy together
To make your own you will need:

Corbel (I used these corbel bookends)
Lampshade that is size appropriate for corbel (I used these lampshades)
Mason Jar Lamp Adapter (small mouth/wide mouth…. use the size that would look best on the corbel you use. I used the small mouth ones)
Strong Adhesive (I used E6000)
Optional: Spray paint and cord cover (you can easily make a diy cord cover like I did too)
Hanging hardware of your choice
Tools: staple gun and tools necessary to attach hanging hardware you chose

Corbel Wall Light DIY | happy together
First do any preparation to the corbel that is needed. If you are using antique ones, you might need to clean it up, repaint, etc. Since these were technically bookends, I had to scrape off the black things, sand it down, and change where the hanging hardware went.

Corbel Wall Light DIY | happy together
This next step is optional, but I wanted to spray paint the top of the lamp adapter a bronze color (I used this). To make sure the cord didn’t get any paint on it, I covered it with a plastic bag and taped it in place. I also taped over the on/off switch and put a paper towel in the top to protect the light bulb socket.

Corbel Wall Light DIY | happy together
Once the paint dries, glue on the lamp adapter. Make sure to try it in place with the lampshade first though. You want to make sure that the lampshade won’t hit the wall when it’s in on. When the glue has dried, you can use a staple gun and secure the cord down in a few places. If you would like to add a cord cover you can find them already made or you can make your own. I just used burlap ribbon with metal in the edges. I hand sewed it together over the cord and then scrunched it up. The metal edging keeps it in place so it keeps that scrunched up look.

Corbel Wall Light DIY | happy together
I am so impressed with the finished product and it didn’t take long at all. Let me know if you make one. I would love to see one of these made with different types of corbels. Share on social media using #happytogetherbyjess Happy creating! -jess

Corbel Wall Lamp DIY | happy together
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Wood Vase Holder DIY

April 27, 2016 by Jessica Leave a Comment

I love sewing, crocheting, and all, but you all know how I like to create with all kinds of things so today I’m sharing this wood vase holder diy. A few weeks ago I saw something kind of like this but it was made from metal. I really liked how it looked but also figured I could make something with that same concept but for a lot less money. I was right! I made this out of wood and since I had almost all the supplies already it didn’t cost anywhere near the amount of the metal one. I liked how simple this was to make using minimal tools.

You can see two different types of vases I had on hand that fit in it. It’s a generous size but you could always change the sizes of the wood pieces to suit a specific vase you want whether it be smaller, larger, wider, or not so wide. Here is your supply list to create your own wood vase holder diy:

2 pieces of 3/4 x 36 poplar square for the legs and top joining pieces
Wood for the base (I used a 1×8 scrap piece I had. just make sure it is at least 3/4″ thick and 5.5″ wide)
Four 3/4″ x 1/2″ corner braces with screws
Sandpaper
Wood glue
Clamps
Pre-stain wood conditioner
Paint brush
Wood stain
Polycrylic finish
Lint free cloth
Ruler
Saw (I used a chop saw but also used a hand saw to cut off the ends of two smaller pieces I cut too long)
Drill and bit that the screws you use will need

First make your wood cuts. From the two pieces of poplar cut the following lengths: four that are 12″ long, two that are 5.5″ long, and two that are 4″ long. From your wood for your base cut a 5.5″ x 5.5″ piece. Sand all of the pieces, especially focusing on any rough spots.

Next, grab your corner braces and prepare to put them on.

Take your 12″ pieces of poplar and screw on each brace so that the top is 4″ from the bottom. Repeat for all four pieces.

Now take a leg with the brace and place on the corner of the base. Screw in place. Repeat for all four sides making sure that the legs are in the correct place on each end.

It was a little difficult to get the last leg on, so if you leave the leg screws a little loose on the base you can turn them to make more room for your drill if necessary. Then go back and tighten them once they are all in place. You might also find it best not to screw the screws in too tightly as it can make the legs warp a little bit at the top.

Now take the smaller pieces and place them on the appropriate sides. I put a little bit of wood glue on the ends of the piece and then clamped them in place one at a time. I would put one in place and go about my day and the next time I got in the car I would switch and do another piece. The wood glue holds these in place super good so no need for screws or nails on these unless you want to do that.

Some people skip doing this but I like to use a pre-stain wood conditioner. It helps the wood soak up the stain more evenly. I applied it with a paint brush and then wiped off the extra with an old t-shirt. (Make sure to wash your brush after.)

After the conditioner has set for the amount allotted on the can, apply your stain of choice. I used this Early American color stain. I applied one coat using a paint brush, let it sit for fifteen minutes, and then wiped off any excess. (Make sure to wash your brush after.)

Once the stain is completely dry you can apply a polycrylic finish. I applied one coat with a paint brush. (Make sure to wash your brush after.) This will protect the wood from any water that might spill onto it.

Let it dry and then it’s ready to hold a vase full of flowers. A great mother’s day gift idea since that is very soon ;). Make sure to share your happy together projects on social media using #happytogetherbyjess and tag me too 🙂 Have fun creating! -jess

Vintage Tin Recipe Box DIY

February 21, 2016 by Jessica 2 Comments

Any vintage tin collectors out there? I admit I love to snag them up when I see them at thrift or antique stores with the hope to make them into a candle, a planter for succulents, or something like that. But the other day I decided this one should turn into a recipe box! So here is a vintage tin recipe box diy in case you might be interested in making one as well.

{Having a hard time finding a cool old tin? Search around online at Etsy for some great choices of vintage tins.} I would suggest using a size tin that is similar to that of a regular recipe box. That way it’s easy to find ready made recipe cards and such to fit into it. If not, you can always make your own like I did. Start by gathering your tin, a strong glue (I used e600 which is a super strong kind), and a metal label holder with bards. I found these label holders in the scrapbook section but also saw some in the wood section at a local craft store.

Put glue on the label holder just on the bottom and side edges.

Place it on the tin where you would like it to be. I ended up using a clamp and clothespin for extra help holding it in place while it dried.

Cut the prongs off of the bards and glue them in the holes of the label maker.

To create the front label I simply cut a small piece of cardstock that would fit and used small letter rubber stamps to create the word “recipes”.

You can find these stamp sets at craft stores and even in the dollar section at Target. I love having them on hand as they add a little extra character to different projects.

Now my tin was a little too small for the pre-made recipe cards I found at a store. I could have tried to find a customizable type online and printed them, but I simply used 3×5 note cards as they fit perfectly. I found these stickers in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby. They fold over to create a tab on top of the cards.

I used my stamps again to create the words on the tabs. You can make as many different sections as you like.

This vintage tin recipe box diy is a simple project and takes very little time to create. I think it came out really cute and think it would be a cute little house warming gift too. Share if you make one 🙂 #happytogetherbyjess

-jess