DIY CHRISTMAS FELT STOCKING: Mailman Santa 2015

So...I had this wonderful idea to make a stocking like my childhood one for Tony.  Since he started working for the United States Postal Service, I found one that would be perfect...

Unbeknowst to me the amount of work that is involved. 

The struggle is real!!

I tried to take the easy way out and glue on the sequins, upon realing you had to sew each sequin on with a bead. So I wasted even more time than necessary. Yet, it slowly came together...

I didn't have any stuffing at home, so I simply used the scrap felt pieces.  This worked out just fine.

And thanks to a horrible cold and being stuck at home sick, I was able to knock it out in a week.

I don't know how my mom was able to make 4 of these....however, I do notice mine has way less sequins involved.  Note to self:  monitor sequins usage for future stockings.

DIY: Fabric Topiary Trees

The obsession of making fabric trees followed me home from Nebraska. This time in the form of a topiary tree. 

SPRAY PAINT PROJECT: Dinosaur Planters

Simple project, Simple supplies, Simple steps:

-plastic animal of your choice (I found some at Michaels and Wal-Mart)

I selected ones that were soft rubber/plastic so I could use a box cutter to cut the opening.  Many have said you can use a drill to get through tougher animals.

-SPRAY PAINT (I used all primary colors from my collection.)

-since the spray paint was a bit tacky when dried, I coated the dinos with ModPodge

-succulent plants (found some at Lowes) The dirt included with the plant was enough to fill the hole in the animal.  Otherwise, there is always the ground you walk on to dig.

 

STEPS:

1) cut a hole out of the animal

2) spray paint entire animal, dry, reapply if needed

3) coat with ModPodge & dry

4) put succulent inside animal

5) water plants

6) display & enjoy

The longest part was the waiting to dry.  Rainy weather outside didn't help.

Holiday Stockings

This past week, I had a quick change in plans...and was welcoming an unexpected guest early.  So I wanted them to feel a part of my holiday celebration (and to have a stocking among my 3 individual ones I hang...yes, a bit much, but hey, they were gifted to me and all lovely ones at that.)

So thankfully, the timing fit in with all the clearance sales going on at the art stores.  I found a stocking for $2 at Michaels....and let the wheels churn with ideas.  I searched the internet for templates of Reindeer.  I recently saw someone create a glitter canvas collage of various silhouettes & loved it.  So I went with this one:

I cut out the image and traced it onto the back of various sticky back felt.  I cut the deer up in pieces to use different colored felt. (that stuff is so easy to cut and not messy like regular felt...a new artsy love was made that day :)

I wanted to do a fun bright color + that was all the pack of felt contained...so I went with it.

After I cut out the images, I peeled off the adhesive cover and pieced the picture back together onto the stocking front.

And then added a pink bow-tie. :)

I cut out letters in red felt and placed the person's name on the top....and wanted to do some more art with felt....so I turned the stocking over...and created this Baltimore Ravens logo with felt and puffy paint. <3

This makes it a bit more manly, then the bright green deer with pink bow...

plus that way, he had options for the holidays. (and can leave up the month of January to root on the Ravens in the playoffs...It worked this past Sunday.) 

This activity is very kid friendly activity with minimal clean-up.

 I think I will be adding a variation to our Summer Camp "Arts & Crafts Hour".

SPRAY PAINT PROJECT: Toy Frame

This past year or so, I have come across a serious love for spray paint. A bit harmful when used inside, but I love it nonetheless.  Enough, I should probably invest in some masks (I'm sure my brother could get a good bargain in Japan on them.)...I digress...Hence, to go along with "Pinterest Project",

I am starting "Spray Paint Project" category to my blog.

Project One: Toy Frame.

Supplies needed:

1) random minature toys/trinkets/charms

(I used some old necklace charms, $1 store items, magnet letters, plastic animals)

2) frame of any size

 (I used some old picture frames around the house.  Best if you sand down painted ones, or simply used an unfinished one)

3) glue gun & glue sticks

(this was the best way I found to hold the object in place)

4) .....and SPRAY PAINT designed for plastic.

(Since all my items were some form of plastic, I selected a yellow Krylon Fusion spray paint)

....and now you are ready to begin.

I lightly coated the frame first before adhering the toys onto the frame. It was easier for me this way, then to get around all the nooks and crannies of the toys with the paint afterwards.

And now, time for the fun...spray painting!

  I let the coats dry for about 30 minutes in between.  And yes, I sprayed & let it dry outside...

it IS advised on the can.

NOT TO MENTION...I TRY TO SPRAY PAINT ITEMS ON WEDNESDAY AS THE GRASS GETS MOWED ON THURSDAY.  Don't want to tick off the HOA with my craftiness...and brightly colored yard.

Now you can add whatever you desire to the center.  I selected a fabric from IKEA and glued it around the cardboard piece that comes with the frame.

And placed it under my mirror in the guest bathroom.

You can also get some chicken wire and make an inspiration board, or even just leave the frame bare and place on the wall around another free floating object.  Endless possibilities for a frame. 

Enjoy the last weekend of 2012.