snowflake frame tutorial

When do you take your Christmas decorations down? Right away? Or do you let them linger?

We usually take ours down right around New Year's. Many a New Year's Eve has been spent putting away Christmas decorations while watching television to ring in the new year. 

January is too early for Valentine's decorations, so a little snowflake decor is in order. Let's make a little something.

You will need:

• snowflake ornament
• 5" x 7" frame (or one that fits your snowflake)
• scrapbook paper
• ivory, black, and white paint
• brown antiquing gel or some sort of stain
• paint brushes
• sandpaper
• glitter (I used Martha Stewart ~ white)
• spray adhesive
• strong glue 

I got the frames on clearance a while ago at Target. I got the snowflake ornaments on clearance also just before Christmas this year.

Take the glass and other cardboard/paper out of the frame. Find another use for the glass ~ we will not be using it today. Paint the frame ivory. Good coverage is not crucial because we are just establishing a base coat and something to peek through when the frame is scruffed up later.

Next, paint the black. This is where you will want good coverage.

When the black is dry, use the sandpaper or sanding block to scruff up the frame where natural wear might occur. Do as much or as little as you like. If you are fancy, use a tack cloth to wipe away the grit. I'm not so fancy, I just use a damp paper towel.

Apply the brown antiquing gel or stain with a brush, then wipe off with a cloth. Use as much or as little as you like. The gel doesn't show up as much on the black as it might on a lighter project, but it does leave a nice sheen.

These are the ornaments I found on clearance. One is plastic and the other is some sort of ceramic. I found them at Joann's and Hobby Lobby.

I spray painted them white. I like how the coverage was minimal on the one on the right.

Um, what the what?

I bought this spray adhesive some time ago in anticipation of needing it for some craft or another. I've never used it until now and what do I find when I pull off the cap? No nozzle!!

When Greg got home I showed this craft travesty to him and he replaced it with a nozzle from a can of WD40. I'll keep that guy!

Now back to crafting. Spray the snowflakes with the glue then apply the glitter liberally over a paper plate. Pour the excess glitter back into the container to use another time. I let this dry overnight.

Next comes choosing a paper for the background. When I was shopping, I bought several because I wasn't too sure which would work best once the snowflake was painted and glammed up with glitter.

Love, love, love this paper. But it's too busy for the snowflake and overall too much the same color as the snowflake. It just gets lost.

This one is better. It has a smaller, less crowded pattern and the overall color is darker. This one might have been fine.

But I also bought this one. Perfect. Even less busy and darker. This one will allow the snowflake to pop. That diva is really the star of the show, you gotta let her shine.

Cut the paper to fit the cardboard backing that came with the frame (5" x 7").

I attached the paper to the cardboard with double-sided tape. Then pop in the frame. I planned on using E6000 to glue the snowflake to the paper ~ but alas it was dried up. I'm really having glue issues with this project.

I ended up using hot glue. It worked just fine.

Just so lovely and simple! Can you see the glitter? I'm kinda wondering what else around the house I can glitter.

This is a perfect decoration for January. Seasonal & sparkly but unassuming.

What a beautiful pair!

   

I'm linking up with Mique at 30 Handmade Days.
 

instafriday - last week of the year

It's time to link up with life.rearranged for Friday phone photos.

Although I started wrapping early, I was still up late wrapping on Christmas Eve. My laid back attitude this holiday season meant I wasn't moving too fast so it took a while. Even though we stayed up late, I didn't feel frantic about it. That is a distinct difference from year's past.

The day after Christmas we took Greg to a museum with period housing from our area. Various houses were moved to the museum site and restored in a cute little cul-de-sac. The kids and I have been before and I knew Greg would love it. He did. I get a kick out of looking at the old houses and reading about what life was like when these houses were built.

After the museum and a visit to Hobby Lobby (yay for 66% off wrapping paper), we went out to eat. I colored with Heather. It's easy to color with her since she's a lefty. I just have to stay on my half.

Yesterday the girls waited patiently for Papa to pick them up for a playdate with their cousin, Gianna.

Well, I'm off to finish a fun craft to share with you soon. I just came upstairs to get some glue and got distracted here on the net.

This is why things take so long at our house.

Happy Friday!

   

did you know?

You can now find Daffodils and Daisies on Facebook!

Go ahead, say you like us!

You're going to want to like Daffodils and Daisies for a fun giveaway later this week.

   

happy new year sale

As we are ending this year, putting Christmas decorations away, and getting ready for a New Year I decided it is time for a little bit of a sale.  From now through New Year's Day you can get 10% off everything in my shop. Use the code HAPPYNEWYEAR10 when checking out to get the discount.

Let's take a look at a couple of new items in the shop.

I added a couple of new drawstring backpacks ~ this time something the little guys will like.

I'm also working on something else for the little guys in your life. More on that soon.

For now, use the code and save a little money!

     

books i read in 2011

For several years now, I've made a book reading goal for myself.  The first two years I was able to make my goal. Last year, I almost made my goal.

This year?

Ha!

Not even close!

My goal was 35 books for 2011. I read 13.

1. Second Thyme Around by Katie Fforde

2. The Smart One by Ellen Meister

3. Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

4. Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

5. Save as Draft by Cavenagh Lee

6. Angel Lane by Sheila Roberts

7. Matters of the Heart by Emily Giffin

8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

9. Work Hard. Be Nice. by Jay Mathews
10. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

11. The End of Molasses Classes by Ron Clark

12. Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson

13. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Shameful?

No. I still found the time to read those 13 books. I do know that one pitfall to reading was taking papers to grade at dance class this fall instead of doing the reading that I normally do while the kids are dancing. I'm thinking that needs to stop.

However, this does lead me to a question. Should I make a goal for 2012 or just see how it goes? Each year I increased my goal. The first year I started with 24 and it has progressed to 35. Should I start with a lower number this time?

After a lot of only a little pondering, I have decided to set a conservative goal of 24 books for 2012.

Here's to reading in 2012!

Linking up with The Nester.  What books have you read?

 

this week on my phone

It's time for Insta-Friday at life.rearranged.

Monday the kids and I headed out to a museum nearby to take our Christmas card pictures. I planned to use this location last year, but the weather mocked me with windy and rainy days. There ended up being no card at all last year. We rarely get our Christmas card out before Christmas ~ that's what the week after Christmas is for at our house!

Oh, and Heather is not showing any skin or unnies on her backside. Her layered cami turned up white in this black and white filter.

The kids had their dental check/cleaning. No cavities here ~ although this one will be having a small procedure done in the summer. She's wigged out about it and keeps asking me if it will bleed. I keep telling her not to worry then change the subject.

Even with all the crap this child has had to endure in her tiny little mouth, she still likes the cleanings too. This time she got a couple of spacers to help some molars position themselves properly.

I finished the kids' Christmas shopping, but not before I got a little White Chocolate Mocha treat for Mommy. A couple of Greg's customers have given him gift cards in the past. He doesn't drink coffee so I get a treat once in a while when it's chilly out.

This year I have been lugging school work to dance class with me. I have spent most of the time grading papers and such, pulling out my book for only a little while if at all. Consequently, it has taken me forever to read this book. I left my school bag at home this week and focused on my book. And watching my pretties dance, of course.

I finished the book this morning. Now I can rent the movie next week.

I've been making pumpkin bread for neighbors and Greg's coworkers this week. Making pumpkin bread during the holidays is a tradition for me that started even before I met Greg. I've only used one recipe this whole time. It's oh so good. Why mess with what's right? There is also a pumpkin cookie recipe that I love.

Hmmm, maybe I'll make some of those too.

I've enjoyed this week off. I have spent time with the kids, gone shopping, baked, wrapped some, and worked on last minute projects. For the first time in a lot of years I am not stressed about the holidays. I am enjoying the moments leading up to it. I still have stuff to get done, and it will get done, but I'm not pulling my hair out over it. I like it better this way.

Today the kids and I are making ornaments.

What did you do this week?

     

on a sunday afternoon

I was summoned to take a few action shots today.

I know lots of folk are dealing with snow and parkas right now. But in our neck of the woods the leaves don't fall until right before Christmas and the kids can wear shorts to play on a nice, sunny afternoon.

The girls and their buddy, Austin, raked and threw the leaves over and over today.

They couldn't get enough of making it rain down leaves.

Apparently they were all tuckered out and decided to nap in the leaves.

That is, until they couldn't hold a straight face anymore.

Oh, and believe me when I tell you I didn't win any popularity awards when I told them to bag up the leaves so Daddy doesn't have to.

 

it was so fun we did it again

One of the perks of hosting Thanksgiving is having leftovers. But even though we practically cooked an ostrich, we didn't have as many leftovers as we wanted. One of the stores was having a sale on fresh turkeys. One thing led to another and before you know it we were sticking another turkey on the grill yesterday.

Greg asked if I got a picture of the ostrich turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Sadly, I did not. So here's a picture of our more scrawny bird the second time around. Even still tied up, she is a pretty bird.

I even made another batch of dressing to see if I could alter the recipe a little bit. It was drier and I liked it just fine. Greg said it was too dry. I also made more of the yummy homemade rolls that disappeared all too quickly. We warmed up a bunch of other leftovers and had Thanksgiving dinner all over again ~ except this time in our jammies.

We watched Elf and our traditional Thanksgiving weekend movie, The Christmas Story. We start our holiday season with that movie every year. We laugh over and over at that movie like it was the first time we'd seen it. Such classic lines.

Today we are staying in our jammies again and working on decking the halls. Greg is nursing a sore back so we are just taking it easy around here.

And you can be certain we won't be cooking another turkey any time soon.

 

new shop item

I made these new camera strap covers for the craft boutique last weekend and have a few left.

They are double-sided and padded. What a fun way to jazz up your boring camera strap.

Plus, having a unique camera strap cover eliminates camera confusion at family/friend get-togethers. You won't accidentally walk away with someone else's almost identical camera.

These are in the shop now!

 

turkey

We cooked it.

We marveled in its beauty.

We ate it.

We filled our house with people. There were twenty-three of us to be exact.

Moms, dads, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles ~ all the likes.

These two are adding to our family.  Kayla & Andrew's baby girl is due in the spring.  I can't wait.

Everyone had a nice time ~ relaxing, laughing, catching up with each other.

We have so much to be thankful for, it's hard to even know where to begin. I am so thankful for this guy. He gets me. He keeps me grounded while letting me soar and be myself. He works hard to provide for our home and keep everyone in it safe and loved. He is my soul mate.

Greg usually sweet-talks his dad into carving the turkey. Clearly, Jim really enjoys this job. We cooked the turkey on the rotisserie again. Oh. my. word. Such a tender, juicy bird.

Some little people refused to eat. Like this one...

and this one. That's ok. Stay away from the Aunt Nell's salad. More for me.

We were able to get almost everybody seated in the same room. I'm hoping Wendy didn't mind me sitting on her lap!

Jared hunkered down with his plate for some serious eating. The only thing that makes a cook happier than a plate piled high is the empty plate at the end of the meal. His was empty.

I tried a couple of new recipes this year. The praline yams are a absolutely a keeper. At the last minute I tried the recipe on the can since I had all the ingredients handy. It was so good. The dressing recipe needs to be tweaked. I like mine dryish, but most everyone else likes theirs more moist. I tried a new one that was more moist and cooked in the crock pot. Perfect, right? It ended up being a little too moist. Greg said the flavor was great but we need to work on the moist factor. I wouldn't know. I didn't go anywhere near it with a fork cuz it was too mushy.

After dinner, the kids put on a fashion show for us. They came down several times in various outfits.

Someone asked where they got so much stuff. Let's see, Halloween costumes...dance costumes...dress up clothes...they keep everything for play.

Gavin couldn't get enough of the witch's hat.

As another Thanksgiving dinner at the Robinson's comes to a close, we are reminded of our blessings both big and small. Take a minute to count your blessings too.