Americana door decor

Just in time for the fourth I managed to complete a project I started months ago - new art to hang on my door.

With an overabundance of embroidery hoops and unbleached muslin this seemed like a logical place to start. Then I used a small amount of my wool felt stash to create the stars and stripes. My field of blue measuring 2 x 3 inches and the stripes measuring 1 inch wide and varying a tad in length. I secured them in place using felt glue - something that should be used sparingly so hand stitching doesn't become difficult later. Then I stitched around the square and stripes which took....forever. I recommend this as a project for that late time of night when you're vegging out in front of the TV.

Then I needed stars. I didn't manage room for all 50 (just 42), but this was I think the most time consuming part.

Since it was so small I couldn't make a traditional star shape and opted for this instead.

And to try and help me keep the rows straight (I failed, but we'll just call it "rustic" okay?) I followed this pattern.

Finally! I can take down my Christmas cones which should have been taken down months ago except that without it my door look so boring and sad.

A length of jute string looped around the top holds it in place.

This will be perfect to stay up until Autumn. Maybe I should get started on my Autumn art now so it might be ready in time. ;)

Linking to:

The FaveCrafts Blog Hop

Independence Day picnic utensil bundles

This is a re-post of a project I did last year but I've added photos and instructions on how to make the paper flowers. I hope this helps. You're welcome. :)

For all of us Americans our 4th of July Independence Day celebration usually means a barbecue, a picnic, or some kind of gathering in the sunny outdoors. I don't know about you, but my plastic utensils are all completely mismatched now that I only needed forks one time or only needed a spoon and a knife another, but I refuse to buy new when these will do. I would, however, like it to look less like I ran around to camp or picnic sites stealing a knife here and a fork there. To add a little unification and to take some of the hassle out of the food line I bundled the utensil sets inside a paper napkin and bound it together with a festive paper flower in flag colors.

Materials needed:
thin weight paper
scissors
glue
green covered floral wire

Optional but recommended materials:
sewing pin
circle punch

You can start with colored paper but make sure it is a thin weight paper as you'll be folding it several times and the thicker it is, the more difficult it will be to fold. If you don't have colored paper available computer printer paper works just great.

If using printer paper:
Do not use a circle punch, the paper is too thin and it will likely tear instead. Use a biscuit or cookie cutter, jar lid, compass, etc. to trace your circles and cut them by hand.
When you've gone through the steps listed below you can then color your plain paper by making a wash (paint and water mixture) to color your flowers.

Cut floral wire in half and dab some glue on each end to keep the covering from fraying loose when you try to work with it. When that is dry curl one end in on itself to create the flower center. While the glue is drying...

Cut or punch your circles.


Fold your circle in half, then in half again, then in half again - it should form a tiny cone shape (see below).
Trim the wide end to a rounded edge - this will form the "petals" when you unfold it.


Cut down one of the fold lines - it doesn't matter which - then trim the top and side off the "petal" to give yourself a little flap.

Dab glue on your newly made flap and bring your sides together, putting the flap behind the whole petal. This adds dimension to your flower. Let glue dry.


When your glue has dried, use a sewing pin to make a hole in the center of the flower - this will make it easier to push your floral wire through.

Et voilà!

Now gather your utensils inside a paper napkin and use the floral wire to bind them together creating a napkin ring/bundle all in one!





Enjoy your Independence Day!

Linking to:

Creations by Kara

Everything Etsy

Come for the award, stay for the idea!

Thanks to everyone who blog-hopped to my Mad Tea Party! And a HUGE thank you to Vanessa for hosting - it was SO much fun!

I hope you will forgive me being so late in posting the giveaway winner but I spent a long weekend at my friend's house with her and her 6 week old baby. That's a pretty good excuse, hmm?

And the winner is....


Brittany!

Sneaky job Brittany! It was that second "already a follower" entry that got you the prize. So congratulations! Just send your address to mollythepirate@yahoo.com and I'll get your goodies in the mail!

I just love giveaways; so much fun. :)

On to the idea!

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For all of us Americans our 4th of July Independence Day celebration usually means a barbecue, a picnic, some kind of gathering in the sunny outdoors. I don't know about you, but my plastic utensils are all completely mismatched now. I refuse to buy new when these will do but I'd like it to look less like I ran around to camp or picnic sites stealing a knife here and a fork there. To add a little unification and to take some of the hassle out of the food line I bundled the utensil sets inside a napkin and bound it together with a festive paper flower in flag colors.




The flower I made using the same instructions from this post. Instead of leaving them white as I did there, I watered down some acrylic craft paint and applied it like I did in this post. Do you like how I'm making you run all over my old posts to get to the finish line? I promise I'm not just being mean. :)

When your flowers are ready this is how I wrapped them:

How cute is that?

If you'd like a little something to give to friends and neighbors you could try what I did, and just leave it as a bouquet. Just a little something to say "Happy 4th!"

And all it's going to cost is computer printer paper, paint, some floral wire and a little time.