Foam Plumber's Tubing = Wreath Form <$1

My friend Mia made a wreath like this from Better Homes and Gardens' website. I can't find the link, but this shows you how to wrap yarn around a foam wreath form in a Christmas version. Just scroll down to the white wreath with a twig of berries shooting out of it.

I had seen online that you can buy 6' of plumber's tubing at Home Depot for less than a dollar and make your own wreath form. So I did it. Super easy. I trimmed it a bit and taped it with packing tape.

So tape up your plumber's tubing and get started!

I wrapped the first round with "clean" lines.

I did "messy" lines the second round.

I had some random black Halloween ribbon (given to me years ago by a neighbor who was cleaning her basement) that I cut with pinking shears and wrapped around for a little contrast.

RE helped me sew a spiderweb of felt and we hot glued it to the back of the wreath.

Then we used epoxy to affix the spider to the wreath. He is not coming off. Ever.

I was super happy about this project because I was able to use up the rest of my orange yarn that is too ugly to use for anything other than a Halloween project. The felt was leftover from RE's S&P shaker Halloween costume, and the spider was in our Halloween box but never appropriately used indoors. I like cheap door decorations because if they get worn out and weathered it's not a sad day when they have to be thrown away.

Now go use up all the spare yarn in your house. Go!

Birthday Card from Wooden Spools $0

I don't know why I have things like this in my stash. Actually, yes I do. I have them because I love anything that resembles a sewing notion. I always make a motion for notions. These are available at any craft store. Unfinished wooden spools. Get some.

Stain them. I used spray-on ink. Easy. Just squirt, let sit, and rub off the residue with a paper towel. If you don't have spray ink you could use paint, an ink pad, or probably even a cup of tea. Or you could always just use it as-is.

Type the birthday message. You will have to make sure that the message is just under the width of the spool and about 1/4" less than the circumference around the spool. My messages were 1.75" wide and 4.25" long.

Glue to spool with a glue stick. Glue the bottom of the message first, where you signed your name, so that when you wrap the note around the spool the header will lay on top and look nice and neat.

Punch circles from neat paper to paste to the end of the spools for fake spool labels. I used a map of Paris. Glue circles to ends of spool with a glue stick.

Find some neat ribbon. Ooh, I have a stash of antiqued bias tape that would make your head spin. And if you're wondering about my adorable square pincushion...Jaime made it for me. You'll have to talk to Jaime.

Cleverly conceal your words of love by wrapping the ribbon around the spool.

Pin it with a pretty pin. Like one with a pearl head. This is your friend, after all. They deserve better than a silver straight pin. Drop the finished spool in a sack and maybe add some salted chocolate. Again, don't you love your friend? Give them the square you've been hoarding in your stash!

Stuffed Alligator from Old Clothes $3

  

You will need:

Alligator Pattern by penguin & fish (given to me as a gift)

Fabric (I used a linen skirt and cotton shorts for the body and an old pillowcase for the teeth)

Embroidery Thread or Buttons for the eyes

One Entire Bag of Premium Fiberfill ($3)

*If I make another one of these I will use one layer of quality felt for the teeth and spikes instead two layers of fabric turned inside out. It will be way less clipping, trimming, pain and suffering.

Mirror Enhanced by Pages of French Text $0

I got this mirror from Santa in 1998. Santa was Greg's mom. I realized, after staring at it for a week on bedrest in April, that the purple mat was killing my chi and fenging my shui and causing me to hate my bedroom. So I glued pages from this little French book on it and now I love it again. Don't worry, I saved the old key and metal French hotel tag and tied them on a candlestick in another room. I don't waste minutia, especially French minutia!

All I did: trim pages, glue on with gluestick, let dry, paint a thin layer of matte Mod Podge over the top, glue on gold bird a.k.a. "the cherry on top". Voila! It doesn't get any easier than this!

*the French book was a gift but the giver told me they got it on Etsy; gold bird gifted by Emily Southerland, my friend in Missouri who I'm certain has glitter in her soul

Lace Cake Cards $0

 

 

My sister sent me a surprise package in December that she ordered off of Etsy. It came from Malaysia, which means I got bonus foreign stamps to craft with.

Materials Used:

• Scraps of Lace (the longest cut being 2.5")
• Elmer's Glue (for attaching the lace to the card as well as the glitter)
• Pearls & Sequins (to embellish the wedding cake)
• Waxy Flax/Waxed Linen Thread (for the stem of the birthday flag)
• Washi Tape (for the birthday flag)
• Glitter (for the frosting of the cake layers)
• Martha Stewart Scalloped Lace Punch (for the bottom of the wedding card)
• Paper Doilies (for the "platter" below the birthday cake)

*The pearls are actually leftover from my wedding veil being made!