Easy Burlap Flower Wall Decor

Like most of us, I was seriously having spring fever last week.  Changing up decor, packing away the winter items.  That's when I came up with the idea of making a large burlap flower to hang on my mirror in the family room.

This is like crazy-easy and you may have the supplies on hand.  Here's what you'll need:

11 feet of burlap ribbon in the petal color of your choice (mine's white)
3 feet of burlap ribbon in the center color of your choice (mine's yellow)
   (can be found here in various colors on Amazon) Jute Ribbon 4"X 10 Yards-Red
glue gun
glue sticks
9 inch cardboard circle or 9 inch disposable plate for the backing
paperclip for a hanger
scissors

For the petals, cut the ribbon into 6 inch strips.  You should have a total of 22 strips.  Next, fold a strip in half so that the finished edges of the ribbon are together.  Beginning at the bottom, cut a curved shape to form a petal (much like cutting a heart from a folded piece of paper).

Once you have the petal shape cut out, use the glue gun to make a gather at the bottom of each.  Pinch the bottom (straight edge) of the petal and put a dot of glue into the fold to make it hold.

Once you have all 22 petals finished, you can begin gluing them to the paper plate or cardboard.  Make 2 rows of petals, 13 petals on the outer row and 9 on the inner row.  

For the center of the flower, begin by gluing down one end of the 3-ft. ribbon.  Then, every 4-6 inches glue down the ribbon again.  Seriously, you're just sort of wadding it up and gluing it down where it touches the plate.  It's easy and pretty forgiving so don't worry about mistakes.  

Here's the finished flower before I hung it on the mirror.

I used a small Command Strip hanger on the mirror and glued a paperclip to the back of the plate to hang the flower with.  (Sorry the photo is grainy.  It was late when I finished!)

The burlap flower is very easy and very quick to make.  I think these would be great for a party, shower, or even a rustic themed wedding.  Imagine the color combinations...yellow petals with brown center for a sunflower, bright colors with yellow center for a zinnia.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!
Angie

*Amazon link is an affiliate link to help bring The Altered Past to you :) Thanks!

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RAIN ON A TIN ROOF    THE STYLE SISTERS    JENNIFER RIZZO    HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS    COMMON GROUND    HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY    FRIDAYS UNFOLDED   FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS    TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW    SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE    STONEGABLE

UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING    A DELIGHTSOME LIFE      DIY SHOWOFF      ART IS BEAUTY
CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP   IT'S OVERFLOWING   THREE MANGO SEEDS    ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS    PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY    THOUGHTS FROM ALICE   HYMNS AND VERSES

MISS MUSTARD SEED   CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Make Your Own Rubberstamps with 3 Things You (probably) Already Have

I've been making my own rubberstamps for years now.  I didn't realize how easy it was until, one day while homeschooling, we came across a hobby called letterboxing.  (Think geocaching without the techy-ness!)

I'm going to show you how you can make your own rubberstamps with 3 common items you probably already have around the house...pink (or white) eraser, a pencil, and a craft knife.

Ready?  Let's go!

Here are few of the erasers I happen to have right now.  The big blue one and the owl are from the Dollar Tree and you can make several stamps from each.  The pink and white erasers are your common school erasers.  I pick these up at the back-to-school sales for very little money.

For this project, I'm going to use what's left of the big blue eraser.

So begin by deciding on your stamp design.  I'm making a feather design today.  Draw out (or trace) your design onto a piece of paper so that you can get the right size to fit your eraser.

Next, copy your design by tracing it onto your eraser.  Then, so that you don't make some of the mistakes I have in the past, write "cut" on the areas that will be cut away.

Now, before you begin cutting away the outside, take the craft knife and cut around the outside of your design.  This will help give you a cleaner edge to your finished stamp.

Begin cutting away the outside area.  Since mine is so large, I've cut it into smaller areas.  This will help keep you from removing more than you intend to.  It's easiest to insert the craft knife into the side and slice out little pieces at a time.  

Messy, isn't it?  It's okay.  That part doesn't matter.  Just make sure that the area you cut away is lower than your design area or it will pick up the ink and it will show once you stamp it.

Grab the 3rd item on our list...the pencil.  Pull out the eraser (the eraser of newer pencils are easier to remove).  This is going to be our carving tool.

Pinch one side to a point to use for carving.

Use your pencil tool to gently carve out the lines of your design's details.  It takes very little to make an impression so hold the pencil almost parallel to the stamp...don't try to dig deep into it.

Got all the details carved!  Gently wipe away any crumbs and we're ready to test this baby.

Not bad!  But...

I decided it needed a few more detail lines to look more feather-like.  Now!  I like it ;)

Here are some of the other rubberstamps I've made from erasers over the years.  

Wanna see some ways to use your stamps?

I used the Ball mason jar stamp to embellish my business card holders for a convention.  The little envelope contained a small treat.

Label for camping snacks! (My family camps every fall...maiden name is Rule, so named it 

Camp Rule!)  One tip, if you do text on your stamp...it must be mirror image.  I've learned that by making way too many mistakes. 

Stamp your design onto webbing and wrap a candle for a cute look!

Or, use your stamp to embellish a coffee cup!  Use an alcohol based ink like those by Tim Holtz or others that are made for stamping on metal, glass, or glazed surfaces.  These will, of course, be handwash only...but they sure are cute!

I hope I've inspired you to make your own rubberstamps.  I'd love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Book Page Wreath and Vintage Jar Snow Globes

I'm a little late to the party with the bookpage wreath.  I saw some beautiful wreaths last year and I'm just now getting around to making my own.  It was really an easy project and I thought the last mirror in the foyer was the perfect place for it.

I made the waterless snow globes a couple of year ago and I'm still in love with them.  These are displayed on top of an antique pie safe that belonged to my grandparents.

I picked up this little truck last year on clearance after Christmas.  I was really looking for a red, vintage style truck but this was what I found and I was cute AND cheap!

Here's a little sample of what I'm working on currently.  It's the French bottle drying rack.  Last year it was decorated with cookie cutters and gingerbread people.  You can see it here.  This year, the bottle rack will be a tree again but sporting green branches and mini mason jar lights.  

Aren't the mason jars adorable?!  They are real glass and I wish I had a whole set.  Unfortunately, I was only able to find 4 at a local antique/gift store.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

 

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/themed-linkups

http://heleneslegacy.blogspot.com/2013/11/everyday-vintage-link-party_22.html

http://www.bystephanielynn.com

http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2013/11/share-it-one-more-time-party-and.html

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
http://www.commonground-do.com/
http://www.impartinggrace.com
http://www.commonground-do.com/

Hanukkah and a Little Christmas Decor

We celebrate Hanukkah each year.  My girls enjoy lighting the menorah each night and playing a little dreidel.  When we began celebrating several years ago, I googled latkes and how to serve them.  We fried up hashbrowns then topped them with a little sour cream and applesauce.  It sounded weird but, boy, was it good :)

With a couple of nights left in Hanukkah, I've also begun pulling out the Christmas decorations.  I'm still wading through storage totes but here is a glimpse of what I've done so far.

The bar table sits between the breakfast area and the den.  I've used the vintage style tinsel trees in gold and silver.

By the way, the burlap runner that's on the bar table now...it's the one that faded onto my linen pillow requiring a quick fix to salvage it.  You can see that post here.  I removed the burlap sleeve and it's now living life as a table runner :)

This silver tinsel wreath is from Target (purchased at Goodwill still with tags).  I love the aged patina of the silver.

The bar has an outdoorsy, masculine theme with the pine cones and duck themed glasses.  There is a bottle of homemade wine in the tray.  I tried my hand at wine making last year with the blackberries we have here on our land.  Let's just say the bottle is purely decorative now and I will stick with things I know from now on.  (It tasted like fingernail polish remover!)

Well, back to the decorating.  I promise there are colors involved elsewhere.  The front porch is going plaid!  I love plaid.  I have a Pinterest Board just for plaid if you'd like to follow it.  It's I Heart Tartan.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'll be linking here:

COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

 

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/themed-linkups

http://heleneslegacy.blogspot.com/2013/11/everyday-vintage-link-party_22.html