Coffee Filter Gift Bag

I seriously LOVE coffee.
Not just any coffee; french press coffee made by my husband. For some reason I have stacks of coffee filters, and we my sweet husband does not use coffee filters when making french press coffee. I decided to recycle/upcycle those filters on gift bags.

For this DIY project, I started with plain Jane brown gift bags.

I  used oven safe paper bakeware for the base of the flower, (pic. below). One side of the paper is shiny, the other is matte.  

I crumpled up each paper tin, and flattened it out again.  I positioned the paper shiny side up, matte side down. 

For the next flower layer, I used a coffee filter. I decided to dye them green. I put a stack of filters (abt.25) into a glass bowl, added a few drops of food coloring, and a couple of tablespoons of water.  I waited a a minute or two, drained the water, and squeezed the remaining moisture out of the filters with my hands. Then, I dabbed the stack with a paper towel, to remove any remaining moisture.

I didn't wait for them to dry because the bottom layer (white paper tin), is coated with the shiny wax finish, so it won't absorb the wetness of the coffee filter. Then, I pinched the center of the fiter, turned it into a point, and used tacky glue to secure it to the paper tin. 

Ideas for center embellishments are endless such as: fabric yo yos, rhinestones, flower petals, and jewelry pieces. 

 

Need gift bags for all of your Black Friday purchases? Add a Christmas themed center, (from your local craft store), to the flower. 

linking to:
The Empowered Momma (t)
Learning the Frugal Life (t)
Sensational Creations (t)
Todays Creative Blog (t)
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia (t)
Sugar Bee Crafts (t)
Not Just a Housewife (t)

It is now time for my coffee,
Ele

Mirrored Vanity Table

I have this  "thing" for mirrored furniture. Shiney, and pretty, and happy, and ooooh so very shiney. The reflective surface says, "buy me, I want to come home with you." What's a girl to do?

The vanity table is in my bedroom, (going to sew a chair cover, and possibly get a different mirror). The mirrored chest is in my dining room.

I am in the ever so slow process of a bedroom redo. Last year I showed you my Olio board inspiration, and top left....what do we have here? A mirrored side table.  

 Mirrored furniture piece for the bedroom (check). 

Crystal knobs, ooh la la.

I pulled in an exisiting chair from my sunroom. It's a good fit, and is really comfortable, so am thinking I might need to make a velvet slipcover in softer colors. Any thoughts? As I mentioned before, I'm going to swap out the mirror, so stay tuned for a before and after.....I'm going shopping.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Ele

Grandma's Doily Bracelet DIY

A bracelet made from Grandma's doilies?

Is it wrong to have a soft spot in your heart for grandma's doilies?

 

Is it fashionable to wear grandma's doilies?

 When designed correctly, I believe so. Why? Because lace/crochet with a vintage feel is not only timeless and elegant, but modern at the same time. I recently saw this beautiful wedding dress in person, and it is absolutely breathtaking. Justin Alexander rocks.

 

 (credits: Justin Alexander Bridal).

 

So, I present to you, my latest DIY project: The Doily Bracelet.

 

 

1. BUY THIS LACE BRACELET BASE AT HOBBY LOBBY, (it comes with chain link ends already attached!).

• Did you hear me? Did I shout loud enough? It's that easy! 
• You do not need to use a jewelry tool unless the bracelet is too big and you need to make the bracelet smaller. Then, you can remove a link or two with a round nose jewelry pliers. 
• If you want to use a special piece of your own lace, (such as grandma's), you can purchase the silver flat ends, chain link, and hook separately. If you choose to do this, you will need to purchase a round nose jewelry pliers. I would also suggest some fabric glue to secure crocheted lace inside flat silver ends.
   



2. Buy  three  pieces of decorative jewelry that have holes or loops on each end. Search the pendant and charm area of the jewelry section.

 

3. Sew the jewelry pieces onto the lace, (through the holes), with a needle and thread. See picture above.

• instead of adding 3 jewelry pieces, you could add 1 large piece, or 5 small, but don't get carried away as it will look tacky. 

  

 

 

TaDa! Grandma's doily is not for just grandma, anymore!

 

 

Hope you are having a blessed week,

Ele

Be fabulous and classy. (Coco Chanel)

 

Check out these great linky parties:

http://www.thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com (th)

http://www.domesblissity.blogspot.com (th)

http://www.primpjunction.com (th)

http://www.katherinescorner.com (th)

http://www.aruraljournal.com (th)

http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com (th)

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com (th)

http://www.thenymelrosefamily.com (w)

http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com (w)

http://www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com (w)

http://www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com (w)

 

Birdies in the Treetops Mixed Media Canvas

A $30 canvas, a little paint, a bit of scrapbook paper, quite a few hours of time, and I turned a plain apartment wall into...

a happy place:)

I used the words of a song I used to sing to my babies, "the birdies in the treetops sing their song," as inspiration. My girl picked out the colors she wanted in this mixed media collage, and I love the blue/turquoise sky with the barn red couch.

"The birdies in the treetop sing their song. The angels chant their chorus all day long. The flowers in the garden blend their hue, so why can't I and why can't you sing praises too."

I hope you all have a blessed week.

Ele



Sorry the pictures are a little blurry and have bad lighting :(



I seriously love Debi: Debi's Design Diary.
Now, I'm a fan of HGTV, but besides Genevieve and Candace, HGTV is in serious need of a woman with great personality, and  HUGE amounts of talent. We don't need another host. We need a star. We need Debi. Craftanistas LOVE Debi.  EVERYONE loves Debi Beard. 

See for yourself!






Now, visit her website.

I don't get it. HGTV what are you thinking? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Good Luck Debi on trying out for design star (again). You are FABULOUS!

Ele