DIY Embroidery Hoop & Ribbon Christmas Wreath

December 3, 2018

Happy Monday friends! I’m so excited to share the latest ribbon project I created for the The Ribbon Roll. For those of you that may have missed it, I’m on the design team for The Ribbon Roll, an online retail store that sells over 15,000 different styles of ribbon. As a member of the design team, I create projects using their ribbon and share them on their blog. If you like crafting with ribbon, check out the blog for fun seasonal and everyday project ideas.

My latest project, an Embroidery Hoop & Ribbon Christmas Wreath is one of my favorite holiday projects ever. I am in love with the way it turned out and can’t wait to hang it in my home.

My wreath features beautiful metallic and lame ribbons but you could use just about any of the Ribbon Roll ribbons to customize the look for your home or any season.

For all you crafters out there, here’s a step-by-step tutorial and the supply list so you can make your own wreath.

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EMBROIDERY HOOP & RIBBON CHRISTMAS WREATH

Supply List:

Large Embroidery Hoop–before buying new, check your local Goodwill where you can usually find these large hoops for less than a $2.00
Golden Grenada Wired Edge Ribbon–you’ll need about 2 yds for wider ribbon and about 3 yards for narrower ribbon
Metallic Lame Tweed Wired Edge Ribbon (see ribbon yardage above)
Glitter Leaves–there are 50 pieces in the pack so you’ll have lots left over to use on other projects
4 to 6 Faux Evergreen Pics—you can buy these from Micheal’s, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn right now for 50-60% off. I always stock up when they go on sale/clearance.
Merry Christmas Wood Die-Cut –I bought my piece at Michael’s but I’ve also seen similar at Target in the dollar bins
Acrylic Craft Paint—available from any craft store
Foam Paint Brush
Floral Wire
Hot Glue Gun and Glue
Small Ornaments (optional)

HOW-TO:

Cut the ribbon into lengths 2” longer than the widest point of the embroidery hoop. The number of ribbon pieces you’ll need will depend on the size of your embroidery hoop and the width of your ribbon. You’ll want to cut enough ribbon strips to fill the embroidery hoop.
Open your embroidery hoop and separate the two pieces.
Lay the one pattern of ribbon spaced out over the inside (smaller) hoop. Then criss-cross the second ribbon to create a woven look.
Once all the ribbon is in place, slide the larger hoop over the smaller hoop and tighten the hoop down. If you need to adjust the ribbon position, loosen the hoop a little, move the ribbon around and re-tighten the hoop. Once the ribbon is secure, trim away any excess ribbon around the backside of the hoop.

Using your floral wire, attach the greenery pics to the hoop. You can place the pics at the top, bottom or slightly off-center like I did.

Paint your Merry Christmas die-cut using your craft paint. I painted mine in a metallic gold.
Using your hot glue gun, glue the die-cut piece on top of the ribbon, in the center of the hoop.
Stick a few glitter leaves into the greenery pics in any layout you like. I placed mine where the greenery pics meet in the middle.
(optional) Embellish the wreath with mini ornaments (attach them using your hot glue gun).

Tip: If you place your greenery pics off-center like I did, the wreath will be heavier on one side. So that the wreath hangs straight, use two nails spaced about 3 inches apart.

That’s all there is to it. Happy crafting!

For more ribbon fun, check out these ribbon projects:

Christmas Bow Made From Ribbon

Tassel Ribbon Gift Tie

Fringe Napkin Rings

The Art Of The Hostess Gift | Countdown To Christmas

December 1, 2018

A few years ago, during the holiday season, I started a series called 30 Days Of Holidays on the blog. Each year, starting late November up to Christmas Eve I share holiday decorating, entertaining, gifting and craft ideas. This year I’m bringing the series back with a new name, Countdown To Christmas! And I’m kicking the season off with The Art Of The Hostess Gifts.

Holiday party season is in full swing and selecting a unique hostess gift can be challenging. If you’re heading to a party this season, here are some dos and don’ts on buying and giving the perfect hostess gift.

Rule number one for being the party or house guest possible: Never show up empty-handed! A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be expensive or over-the-top; nor does it have to be something typical like flowers or a bottle of wine. A hostess gift should be a personal reflection of the person you are giving it to.

Creativity Over Cost

Depending on the occasion and your relationship to the hosts, a good gift budget is between $15 and $25 dollars. To come up with a creative gift, think about the hosts hobbies and the things they like to do in their down time. Buy a gift that makes a personal connection to the things they love.

Some of my favorite hostess gifts this year are these votive candle holders, this monogrammed mug and this silver plated picture frame.

Hostess Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love and Use:

Monogrammed Matchbooks–this has become my go-to hostess gift because it’s unique and is great for every occasion.
Scented Candles–pick a traditional holiday scent or a mild everyday scent and then pair the candle with a DIY decorative jar filled with matches.
Confetti Decanter--wine drinkers will love this and non-wine drinkers can use it to serve punch or juices from.
Marble Salt Cellar + Pink Himalayan Salt–for the hosts that love to cook
Cookie Mix In A Jar–a fun gift for a family to make together and then enjoy.
Monogram Letter Wall Hanging–a unique gift for the front door, gallery wall grouping or over the mantel.
Personalized Playing Cards–this gift is outside the box and has fun written all over it.
Gourmet coffee and a bag of biscotti–for coffee drinkers, this is a treat the hosts can enjoy long after the party. Substitute tea and a set of Christmas tea-spoon for tea drinker.

DIY decorative mason jar matches

diy gift tag jar

Let the Gift Match the Occasion

Not every party or hostess gift occasion is created equal. Your hostess gift should reflect the occasion or party theme. Choose a specialty bottle of liquor over a housewares item for a cocktail party. Consider a beautiful tray instead of a plant for a formal dinner party. Keep the tone and nature of the party in mind, and gift accordingly.

DIY gift wrap tray liner

Christmas cone turned holiday door arrangement

No Gift Should Go Unwrapped

While I know wrapping gifts isn’t for everyone, it is important to wrap your gift so you can present it in style. A store bought gift bag with tissue paper is totally acceptable but if you have more time, wrap your gift to make it extra special. My gift bag tutorial shows you how to make your own bags from wrapping paper. Or you use this gift wrap inspiration to inspire a special gift wrap for the hosts.

Faux flower gift wrap embellishment

Party hosts don’t always have time to unwrap your gift during the party so make sure and finish off the wrapping with a gift like these ease DIY fabric tags.

Gifts To Avoid

An important rule to remember when gifting is never bring anything that makes more work for your hosts. If you’re buying flowers, include the cost of a vase so the flowers are ready to be set out when you arrive at the party.
Avoid overly personal gifts, such as perfume, bath products, or articles of clothing. And resist taking a pre-made food gift unless the host ask for it specifically.
Shy away from Christmas ornaments unless it’s a classic crystal or glass ornaments, or if you’re familiar with the hosts decorating style.
Books usually don’t make a great hostess gift unless it’s a little too personal and everyone has their own taste in what they read.
Although practical, gift cards can come off a bit impersonal when giving them as a hostess gift. Buy a gift and include a gift receipt so that the hosts can exchange it if it’s something they won’t use.

diy monogram stir sticks // diy mug wraps

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Hostess gifts are meant to express your appreciation to the hosts for including you in the festivities. There are a variety of easy and affordable ways to show your gratitude for all the time and effort they put into the occasion. Select a meaningful gift, wrap it with style and show up ready to enjoy the event
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Backyard Bash | Summer Soiree Blog Hop

July 19, 2018

Summer is here and that can only mean one thing…it’s time to do some outdoor entertaining! Today I’m joining 5 of my blogging buddies for a Summer Soiree Backyard Bask and you’re invited to the party. We had a blast with the Spring Soiree virtual progressive dinner, we decided a summer blog hop was in order.

Entertaining during the summer can be so much fun and a progressive dinner makes it even better because the meal prep is spread across all the party hosts. As you party hop, not only do you get to enjoy everyone’s decor but you also enjoy a different menu at each house. Nothing like delicious food + stylish decor to create the perfect party atmosphere.

The menu below shows the courses and the hosts for our Summer Soiree Backyard Bash so sit back as we get this party started.

Summer Soiree Virtual Progressive Dinner Party

The first stop for our progressive dinner kicks off with cocktails at my house. When it comes to summer cocktails, I enjoy a drink that is light, refreshing and a little fruity. Today I’m serving up a Strawberry Lemon Mojito which checks all the boxes.

So that everyone can mix and mingle in the comfort of air conditioning, I set up my cocktail bar indoors. I created a little “make and shake station” on my sideboard and used my tiered bar table to hold my blue & white ice bucket, other beverage options and glassware.

To play off the color and pattern used in the invitation, I dressed my sideboard with a blue plaid runner and yellow decor and flowers as an accent color. I used mostly white serving pieces for a crisp pop of color and a few wicker elements to create that summer vibe.

Learn how I made the ice bucket here.

Now that I have my bar set, I want to share a few tips to help you with your party next party…

Cocktail Party Tips:

Use the colors and theme of the party invitation as inspiration for your decor.
Break traditional cocktail rules and Mix and match your glassware to give your party an eclectic feel.
Include a few nibbles on the bar and around the room so guests have something to snack on and to ensure no one is drinking on an empty stomach.
Use decorative bowls to hold drink garnish and add style to your bar.
Frame the drink recipe so guests know what ingredients are in the signature cocktail.
Have non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests that don’t drink alcohol.

I’m sending you off to Tamrya’s house for appetizers but before you go, download the Strawberry Lemon Mojito Cocktail Recipe so you can enjoy it at your next summer bash.

And be sure to follow the party and stop by each participating blogger for more entertaining and menu ideas…

Cocktails with ConfettiStyle (that’s me)

Appetizers with Positively Southern

Tablescape Decor with Atta Girl Says

Main Course with M. Jones Style

Dessert with Viva La Vintage For Your Home

Hostess Gift & Party Favors with Home On Poplar Creek

An Easy DIY Fix For An Ikea Eyesore

May 8, 2018

Have you ever bought a cabinet or bookcase from Ikea only to be disappointed by the gap between the cabinet doors? Me too! I hate that you can see bits and pieces of what’s inside the cabinet through the gap.

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Brimnes cabinet to go in our basement landing area. I needed some storage in that area but didn’t want to spend a lot of money so Ikea was a great solution.

Ever since the hubby put the cabinet together I’ve been staring at that darn gap between the doors. I’ve been thinking about how I could make it disappear and finally figured out a super easy and inexpensive fix.

The FIX…

I dug through my craft supplies and found a piece of basswood that I purchased years ago from Hobby Lobby. If you’re not familiar with basswood, it’s a very thin piece of bendable hardwood that can be cut with scissors, painted or stained. Crafters use it to create arched or circular shapes for craft projects.

With my basswood in hand, I put my DIY skills to work. Here’s how I fixed the gap...

Step 1: I cut my basswood to the length of my door. (note: you’ll only be attaching wood to one door). If your door length is longer than 24″, you’ll need to use two pieces of wood and glue them together. The doors on my cabinet are 36″ so I glued two 24″ lengths together and then cut it down to size.

Step 2: Next I painted the wood black to match my cabinet. Because the wood is so thin, it doesn’t take long for the paint to dry.

Step 3: The final step was attaching the wood piece to the open edge of one cabinet door. I used glue dots to attach the wood to my door leaving about 1 1/2″ of wood extended beyond the door edge. The thin basswood sheet will sit between the doors and the interior shelves and fills the dreaded gap.

Gap be gone! Now you can’t see between the doors and the cabinet looks finished.

One other change I made to the cabinet was switching out the ugly wood handles for brass knobs that I bought at Scott Antique Market. Instead of a single pull, I decided on four knobs and just love the look.

Sometimes it the little things that make the biggest difference.

Happy decorating friends.

Spring Thyme | Recipes & Style Blog Hop

March 21, 2017

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. The weather is getting warmer, flowers are blooming and it’s almost time for picnics in the park and long evening walks. The coming of spring is such a mood booster for me and I’m just giddy that it is staying light outside until almost 9:00 o’clock.

Now that spring is here, I’m starting to see lots of spring blog tours popping up on the web. I don’t do much in the way of decorating for spring but I do love creating pretty seasonal tablescapes. And it just so happens that my friend Tamyra with Positively Southern is hosting a fun ‘Spring Thyme Recipe & Style’ blog hop and invited me join the fun.

There are a total of 9 bloggers on this tour and today is just part one of the blog hop. We’ll all be back next Tuesday (3/28) to share more spring style and recipe inspiration so mark your calendars.

If you’re coming over from Clutter Cafe, welcome. Lisa is one talented (and sweet) lady and a hard act to follow.

Whenever I plan a seasonal tablescape, I look for something to inspire the theme. Can you guess what my inspiration was for my spring Easter table? Rabbits of course! I spotted the rabbit beverage pitcher at HomeGoods and immediately knew I wanted to use it as a flower vase. #unexpecteddecor

Rabbit Pitcher (similar here )

Once I had the pitcher home, my color palette of green, pink and white fell into place and I went on the hunt for a green and white table runner. #fail.

After searching a few stores without any luck, I decided to make my own using inexpensive cotton fabric. The fabric is a soft green color with an all-over white lattice pattern. It’s exactly the design I wanted for my tablescape. Once I cut the fabric to size I used iron-on hem tape to finish the edges and had my runner done in about 10 minutes. And it cost me less than $10 to make the runner and 6 napkins. #score

Green and white fabric from Hobby Lobby

Flowers are always part of any tablescape I create so I surrounded the bunny pitcher with a mix of floral styles and colors. I combined hot pink orchids, white anemone, green hydrangea and pink peonies. The flowers are cascaded down the center of the table and add so much dimension to the centerpiece. Once I had the flowers in place, I tucked a few ceramic bunnies amongst the flowers to bring my Easter theme to life.

Noritake Ranier China // Bamboo Flatware // Green Ribbon

I opted not to use traditional placards on my table and instead did some hand-lettering on ombre tags I picked up at Michaels.

Ceramic Bunny–Target Dollar Spot

Did you notice the floral placemats under each place setting? Well it’s actually scrapbook paper I had in my craft stash. Scrapbook paper is the perfect size for a placemat and the floral pattern and colors worked great with my table decor.

Ribbon // Floral Paper //Noritake Ranier China

Whenever you build a tablescape you should create layers with your decor. I used the mini cake stands to add height and placed a small dip bowl on top filled with chocolate eggs for added color.

The white dinner plates are my mom and dad’s wedding china and I love the pretty etched floral design around the edge. It coordinates perfectly with my paper placemats. The black and white place plates are from C. Wonder which is no longer in business. #imissthatstore

And if you hadn’t already guessed it, all the flowers except the tulips are silk.

Now that I’ve created my Easter table, I’m pretty sure the Easter bunny will be dropping off an Easter basket at my front door.

I hope my Spring Thyme tablescape has inspired you to add a little spring happy around your house. For more spring cheer, hop (no pun intended) over to Totally Tailgates and check out Heather’s spring inspiration.

And there’s a list of all the participating bloggers on the Spring Thyme Recipe & Style blog hop listed below so make sure to stop by and check them out.

A big shout out to Tamyra for hosting such a fun and fabulous blog hop.

Spring is definitely in the air and I’m ready to enjoy the season!

Viva La Vintage For Your Home
Swirls of Flavor
M. Jones Style
Clutter Cafe
ConfettiStyle {yours truly}
Totally Tailgates
Life at Lydia’s House
Positively Southern
LindaG Loving Home

Gift Wrap Inspiration: DIY Paper Gift Bags Using Wrapping Paper

February 20, 2017

If you know me, you know that I’d rather make my own gift bags versus buy them at the store. Handcrafted gift bags are easier to make than you might think and you probably already have the supplies on hand.

For my latest gift wrap project, I made some spring inspired gift bags using wrapping paper, ribbon and craft bags from Paper Mart. I created a variety of sizes and decorated each one differently to show you how easy it is to customize handmade gift bags. And I created a how-to guide that you can download (link at end of the post).

Once you’ve made your first handcrafted gift bag you’ll see how quick and easy it is to make a bag to fit any size gift or any gift occasion.

DIY GIFT BAGS

Blue/Blue Striped Wrapping Paper // ‘Periwinkle’ Floral Wrapping Paper // Mini Chevron Bags

You can see that I made different styles of ribbon handles for each bag. My favorite is the braided handle on the large striped bag.

To create the braid, I cut three equal lengths of ribbon and braided them together. Once the ends were inserted through the holes at the top of the bag, I tied them in a knot to secure the ends.

On the large floral bag below, I punched holes on the corners and in the center and tied ribbons through the holes. I used white hole reinforcements to protect the holes from tearing.

tip: Everyday office supplies can make great gift wrap embellishments.

Kiwi Satin Ribbon // Navy Satin Ribbon // Mini Chevron Bags

The mini chevron bags I taped to the front of my gift bags holds a kraft gift tag. The bags would also be great to hold sweet treats with an Easter gift.

Paper Mart sells the chevron bags in three sizes and 8 colors and I love using them in gift wrap projects.

Periwinkle Floral Wrapping Paper // Mini Chevron Bags // Similar Craft Flowers // Silver Glitter Gift Tags

I you want to embellish your bags even more, you can glue on fabric or paper flowers like I did.

Blue/Blue Striped Wrapping Paper // Kiwi Satin Ribbon // Navy Satin Ribbon

Periwinkle Floral Wrapping Paper // Mini Chevron Bags // White Gift Tags // Paper Hole Reinforcement

Paper Mart has one of the largest selections of satin ribbon on the market with over 50 colors and 10 widths to choose from. #oneofeachplease

Spring is gift giving season. Stock up on your favorite wrapping paper and ribbon so you can personalize your gifts with a handmade gift bag.

Download DIY Gift Bag Tutorial

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To see other projects I made using Paper Mart products, check out these posts…

Valentine’s Day Centerpiece

Creative Ways to Decorate With Wrapping Paper

Holiday Gift Wrap

This post is in partnership with Paper Mart. My love for wrapping paper and ribbon as well as all opinions of Paper Mart products are 100% my own.

Favorites Of The Week: DIY Transformations

February 18, 2017

I am sooooooo happy that it’s the weekend. It’s been an extra busy week running from one appointment to another, working on design projects and battling a sore throat.

I am prone to coming down with a cold whenever there are fluctuations in the weather like we’ve been having. #ugh! I doing some shopping with a client tomorrow and then I’m spending the rest of the weekend at home gearing up for another busy week.

Here’s my roundup for favorite posts from the week, all great DIY inspiration.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

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DESIGN & DIY TRANSFORMATIONS

#1–Great DIY tutorial on adding trim to plain doors. What a transformation!

#2–It’s refreshing to see a bathroom design that doesn’t include black cabinets. Kate is a genius at design and DIY transformations.

#3–Simply elegant living room makeover.

#4–A pretty dining area makeover. The DIY window seat is the perfect touch.

#5–Stunning DIY transformation–garage turned office space.

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other favorites this week:

This closet makeover. Wow!

This sneak peek of the The House of Hope. The lighting!

DIY Inspiration: Project Footstools {the Inspiration}

February 9, 2017

A several weeks ago I came across this pair of round footstools at one of my favorite flea markets and snapped them up. Despite the fabric being hideous the bones of the ottomans were in good shape and I knew they would make for a great DIY transformation. Plus I couldn’t pass up the $11 price tag. #thriftscore

My initial vision is to recover the pair in velvet, maybe a pretty emerald green or deep navy. I want a fabric and look that is going to be long-lasting and classic and either of these colors would give me that. I’m also planning to keep the top button tuft detail which I think gives the stools added character.