craft – Arkansas Women Bloggers

DIY Holiday Canvas {Handmade Holiday}
By Amanda Brown of My Hearts Desire

Thanks, Arkansas Women Bloggers, for the opportunity to guest post today! If you are new to the Arkansas Women Bloggers site, be sure to register and get to know other bloggers around Arkansas! It has been such a privilege to meet some really fantastic ladies through ARWB!

Today, I am going to show you how I used this Pinterest image as inspiration to make this simple, inexpensive, Christmas tree project that will take you about 30 minutes to create, but gives fabulous results!

Supplies needed:

Canvas-I used an 11×14, but any size will work (use coupons at craft stores for great prices)
Scrapbook papers for trees, tree trunks,or stars–I made matching trees, but you can use 3 different papers for interest. It doesn’t have to be “Christmas” paper!
Scrapbook embellishments (optional,for stars)
Mod Podge
Mod Podge applicator–spongebrush pictured
Ric Rac
Stars for treetops–use coordinating paper or other scrapbooking embellishments
Elmer’s Glue
Scissors

Using a ruler, lightly draw a triangle on the scrapbook paper. Trees shown are 9 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches. Use this first tree as a template to cut out the next two.

Cut three mini triangles for tree trunks. Only the bottom of the triangle will show.

Measure and lightly mark the middle of the canvas so you can place your first tree, but do not glue the tree yet!

Using a spongebrush, cover the entire surface of canvas with Mod Podge. Then coat the back of your first tree with Mod Podge and place it in the marked spot. Glue the tree trunk under the bottom of the treebefore brushing the entire surface, including tree, with Mod Podge again. Be sure to seal edges of tree.

Repeat this process (ModPodging entire surface) after each tree and trunk.

Lightly press with your finger to seal the edges to the canvas.

If your paper bubbles, no worries! Magically, these disappear once the Mod Podge dries!

Next, cut the Ric Rac the exact length of the canvas. Glue it to the canvas using Elmer’sglue.

Glue paper or other”star” embellishment to tops of the trees, using Mod Podge for paperstars or Elmer’s for 3-dimensional ones.

Hang directly onto the wall,

or use a plate stand to display it on a table!

This versatile craft can easily transfer to any Holiday using different paper, shapes, or colors!

Happy Crafting!

Amanda is a mom to three kids and has been married to David for 13 years. She has a passionfor cooking, journaling, blogging, authentic relationships, and making her homea “haven.” You will find creative ideas for your home, recipes, and anauthentic place to be yourself at www.myheartsdesireblog.com.

Written by Gina of Desperately Seeking {Gina}.

Thank you to the ladies of AWB for inviting me to share one of my favorite Pinterest Projects thus far!

I’m not sure what it is about this site that is so interesting and addictive. Maybe it’s the pretty picture overload? Or the insane amount of talented, creative people sharing ideas, tips, and tutorials? Whatever it is, I’m enjoying looking and doing!

At first glance, it may be difficult to understand what Pinterest is all about. It can be overwhelming for first-time pinners-pretty picture overload for sure. But, at the heart of this newest social networking craze, Pinterest provides a unique outlet for crafters, photographers, aspiring cooks, and artists of all kinds. Pinterest is a visual pinboard. It’s a place to bring out all those sites we have saved in the deep depths of our browser bookmarks and store them in picture form instead of words. It is a place to inspire {artists, crafters, cooks sharing their creations} and to be inspired {spinning those pins and making them our own}.

Finding inspiring Pinners is as easy as following your favorite bloggers-who-pin. Many of the bloggers here on Arkansas Women Bloggers pin and you can often find links on their websites. Additionally, one Pinner leads to other like-minded Pinners creating a communtity of fun, interesting, and inspiring projects. It is a place to gather ideas for everything from deciding what to have for dinner to painting techniques for that old dresser you hope to refurbish. Pinterest is a place to grow our blog-reader lists and circle of blog friends around the world. And, most importantly, Pinterest is a place to connect with those friends and artists.

Gather, grow, connect- exactly what the creators of Arkansas Women Bloggers hope to accomplish here in this forum! Pinterest just provides another chance for you to get to know the great ladies here on Arkansas Women Bloggers.

The project I’m sharing today comes from my Craft Inspiration (http://pinterest.com/gknupp/craft-inspiration/) pinboard and is from Jen over at the ever-inspiring Tatertots & Jello blog (http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-burlap-wreath-and-giveaway.html)

Lets get started:

The key to this project, for me, was gathering and prepping the supplies over a three or four day period. Having the supplies at-the-ready
was a hurdle well cleared when it came time for this challenge.

For this project you’ll need to gather:

-3 yards of burlap (Note: You can buy burlap cheaper at hardware stores like Lowes and HomeDepot than at fabric stores!)
-scrap fabrics
-scrap booking brads or buttons
-hot glue gun and glue sticks
-14 inch wreath form
-twine
-paper
-stamp pad
-assorted scraps and yarn to hang wreath
-circle cookie cutters {to trace onto fabrics}
-fabric marker
-a good pair of fabric shears

Begin by cutting a four inch section down the length of the burlap and set aside. This will be used to wrap the wreath form a little later.

Using your cookie cutter {or a cup} draw one 3-inch circle, and one 2-inch circle on the burlap and cut out. Use this template to cut remaining circles.

You’ll need:

Burlap : 50 – 3 inch circles
25 – 2 inch circles

Fabric 25 – 3 inch circles
25- 2 inch circles

Combine layers of circles that are pleasing to you, forming flowers of burlap and fabric. Secure in the center by pushing a brad through and fastening on the backside. Lay out flowers as you go.

Tip: layer more burlap-on-burlap flowers than you think you need. Layer 2 to 3 circles each.

You’ll need a total of 120 – 150 finished flowers.

Lets put it all together:

Take the 4 inch section of burlap you cut earlier and secure one end of the burlap to the wreath form with a beaded line of hot glue and gently {and CAREFULLY} press the fabric into the glue until secure. Begin wrapping the form tightly, overlapping as you go.

Time now, to begin hot glueing your fabric circles to the wreath form. A small bead of hot glue on the back of each circle will be enough to attach your flowers.

Start by laying out 3 fabric flowers symmetrically around the form.

Fill in with remaining circles adding pops of color with your fabric flowers.

Next, flip the wreath over and attach twine with a small dot of hot glue on each side of the wreath.

Flip back over and attach your message to the twine with tiny paperclips or tiny clothespins. I originally typed and printed a message onto paper, cut out, and inked the edges. However, during my search for clothespins I came across a little letter “g” and covered it with leftover fabric scrap from this project. I attached it with a paperclip from my scrap booking stash.

Finish by looping scraps of fabric, yarn, or leather {such as shoelaces!} to the top of the wreath from which to hang your finished wreath. Hang and Enjoy!

Gina has graciously agreed to giveaway one of these beautiful wreaths! You have several chances to win and we will be using Rafflecopter to help us keep track of your entries. Entries will be open through December 16th. Good Luck!

(For info on how to win – please click the “continue” button below!)

Tag: craft

DIY Holiday Canvas {Handmade Holiday}

Pinterest Wreath Challenge and GIVEAWAY!