Tutorial Tuesday: Ric Rac Rosettes!!

A few weeks ago, my favorite little sister introduced me to the most fantastic website for craftinistas...this awesome gem of an online craft supply store that, similar to Groupon, offers a deal a day...but only with all sorts of goodies for your DIYing pleasure.  You can join for yourself right here: Pick Your Plum.  I mean, how can you not with fall colors this fabulous?

So, today I checked my e-mail as I always do from them, one of the few 'advertising' messages that I actually open, and saw a GREAT deal on Ric Rac; you know, the zig zag thread that your mom had sewn on all of your handmade dresses if you were lucky enough to be born in the seventies?

Ric Rac is retro-fab these days, and can be used for all sorts of things like headbands, pillows, lamp shades, you name it!  So I thought today would be the perfect day to send a little tutorial your way from The Crafting Chicks that will take you back in time.  After all, who can pass up a deal as good as that one?

DIY RIC RAC ROSETTES

Supplies You Will Need:

~ Ric Rac

~ Needle & Thread (preferably done with a sewing maching...or by hand if you prefer!)

~ Hot glue or craft glue (We prefer hot)

~ Clip (to hold while twisting)

~ Felt or fleece circle

Directions:

1.) First, cut 2 strips of ric rac about 10-12″long, depending on how big of a flower you want to end up with.

2.) Then twist the two pieces of ric rac together.

3.) And then run a stitch down one side to hold it all together.

4.) And to make the flower, you just start from one end and roll it up, adding small dots of hot glue along the way, just to keep it all together.

5.) Keep rolling . . .

6.) Until you have this–and then tuck the little tail under and hot glue it down. Next, glue a small circle of felt or fleece on the back, just to finish it off. To make your flower wearable, glue it on a ring blank, a necklace, or on clips for a little girl’s hair.  Or go all home chic and add it to your lamp shades, pillows, aprons....the possibilities are endless!

7.) You’ll notice all of the petals are closed, so to open them up you just peel them back one by one, until it looks like a flower. As you wear it, the petals tend to close up, so re-opening it will be necessary. Unless you prefer it closed of course:)

And as usual, a little inspiration . . .

(photo courtesy of Beau Fleurs)

(via Ruby Supply)

(courtesy of Indulgy)

Aren't those just the sweetest little things?  Now hurry....go take advantage of that wonderful deal so you can fill your home with flowers before those cold winter months set in!!

Easy Elegance: The Sweetest Spring Mason Jars . . .

Looking for a quick DIY project to make a simply stunning centerpiece for your Easter Brunch?  Well, look no further, because these easy-peasy bunny jars from The CSI Project are just the things to create a whimsical & fun focal point for your holiday tablescape!

Bunny Mason Jars

Supplies You Will Need:

~ mason jars of all shapes & sizes...as many as you like!  

~ Krylon Spray Paint in your favorite Spring colors

~ small bag of potting soil

~ pretty flowers (that grow well in small groups).  Those in the photos are alyssum:)

~ A roll of white vinyl

~ an exacto knife or scissors

~ cookie cutters in Spring shapes

Directions:

1.) With your jars flipped with the mouth down, spray paint each jar the color you want. The first coat should be a very light coating, not covering all the way. After the first coat sets for just 10 minutes, you can follow up with a second coat. Repeat until you have the coverage you want.

2.) After they have dried 24 hours, transfer over your Spring plants. Make a paper funnel and place it in the mouth of your jar. Slowly scoop in potting soil.  Fill just over two thirds full, leaving plenty of room for your plant.

3.) Remove your flowers, roots and all, from the pots you bought them in.  Separate your flowers into smaller, natural groups.  

4.) Transplant your flowers into the jar. Add in any extra soil around the plant that is needed to fill the jar.

5.) Repeat with all of the jars.

6.) Unroll as much of the white vinyl as you need and using your Spring cookie cutters, trace shapes onto it.  With an exacto knife (or a pair of scissors if you don't have one!) cut out the shapes and apply them to the side of your mason jars.

Repeat with all the jars, some of the jars, and whatever shapes you like!!

Aren't those darling?  And you don't have to stick with just Easter & bunnies, you know!  These would look great with any colors or shapes that go with your next big event . . . you can fill them with plants, wrapped candy,  straws, heck, whatever you like!

And in case you feel like fancying things up a bit for Easter, now that you have been all inspired, don't forget to check out our Easter Brunch invitations in the Juneberry Lane Etsy Shop!

And don't forget about our sweet little 'Bunny Tail' cake pops from last year . . .

  Why, they would go quite nicely with these lovely mason jars too, don't you think?  Have a wonderful weekend!!

A Coffee Filter/Cupcake Liner Christmas . . . Behold, A Paper Tree!

Now just in case you don't have any extra yarn laying around for the tree tutorial I sent your way the other day, I thought I would give you another option, an easy little how-to from Centsational Girl to use up some supplies you might have in your cupboards already.  And I just know you have cupcake liners or coffee filters in there!

And wouldn't these trees be just beautiful on either side of your holiday buffet or dessert table?  Now whether you use the coffee filters or the cupcake liners is up to you, it all just depends on what size you are looking for!  Let's get to it!

COFFEE FILTER/CUPCAKE LINER CHRISTMAS TREE

Supplies You Will Need:

~ White paper cupcake liners (or coffee filters!)
~ White 12" x 12” cardstock or poster board (if you are using the coffee filters)
~ Clear packaging tape (not shown)
~ Hot glue gun
~ Mini ornaments

Directions:

1.)  Roll your cardstock or poster board into a cone shape and secure with packaging tape (if you’d like to insert an ornament on the top leave a big enough hole).  2) Fold the cupcake liners into quarters, then snip the edges to separate the layers into frills.  3)  Begin at the base to hot glue to your cone.  4) Once you’re finished gluing the layers, embellish with mini ornaments secured with hot glue.

A few more to get those wheels turning . . .

(photo courtesy of http://mirrorsmetaphorsandkaleidoscopes.blogspot.com) 

(photo via http://christmas.tipjunkie.com) 

(image via http://www.thenester.com) 

Love these darling little ornaments . . .

(photo courtesy of http://christmas.tipjunkie.com) 

Or you could hand-dye those filters or liners and end up with something along the lines of this tissue-paper beauty . . .

(image via http://spunkyjunky.blogspot.com)

Aren't they just gorgeous?!  This is the perfect little craft to keep your hands busy while you watch your favorite holiday movie too . . . that way you can keep out of the cookie jar and save some of those treats for Santa!!

Fancy Up Your Holidays with Sparkly Pom Pom Swizzle Sticks . . .

Since we are all about shine & sparkle these days, I am totally smitten with these festive Cocktail toppers . . . the perfect way to make a holiday drink feel special and such a simple & affordable little project!

Supplies You Will Need

~ Silver tinsel garland or a bag of craft glitter pom poms (available at Jo Anne's & Michaels; whatever size you like!)
~ Bamboo skewers
~ Hot glue gun
~ Scissors

Tinsel Swizzle Stick How-To:

1. Cut a short piece of tinsel from a garland, (or use a sparkly pom pom) and use hot glue to attach it to the end of a bamboo skewer.

2. Cut skewer to fit glass if necessary, then drop it in a glass of bubbly or flavored seltzer.

And check out these gorgeous glasses of bubbly with the glitter mini-pom pom version . . .

You could do a tissue pom too . . .

Or dress it up with shiny fringe table cloth trimmings . . .

Whichever way you to decide to sweeten your swizzle, these will take you a matter of minutes and are sure to brighten up any holiday get together!  Have a lovely day and stay tuned tomorrow for our final segment of 'Desserts for Fall'!