FREE Holiday Bokeh Textures

From me to you.....
Free Holiday Bokeh Textures/Overlays!  
These are copyright free, so you may use them as backgrounds for your blogs or textures and overlays for your photos.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Easy (and cheap) Christmas Swag

The most wonderful time of the year is here!!
I know, I know, it's been a while.  I'm swamped, what can I say.  I'm sure you can relate.


The other day I was pricing out Christmas decorations, and I have to say, maybe in past years I wasn't paying attention to how pricey some of this stuff actually was.  I wanted some pine swags over the doors in the house.  Indoors I go for artificial. I don't want to risk getting sap on the woodwork. Outdoors, is real all the way!  (Next week, I'm going to tell you how to make a wreath for you door, and about a hundred feet of garland, all for around $30.)


Anyway, I was at Joann's looking at the swags, and even with 50% off, the dollar signs were adding up because I wanted 4 of them.  Then I found these....I don't know what they really are, I would assume they are "stems" of pine for making flower arrangements.  They only cost $2.50 each!   

I only used two for each swag and a little jewelery wire I already had.

I overlapped the stems in the back.  (front view)

(back view)

Secure the stems in the back with the wire.  I used 3 pieces of wire, one in the center, and then on each end.

Luckily, I didn't have to put up any fasteners, there was already a small nail that I was able to use.  If you don't already have a hidden nail on your doorway, command hooks are the greatest invention of all time.

I will be sharing this project with these awesome link parties!

Mad in Crafts

Sew Much Ado 

Somewhat Simple

Tatertots & Jello

I heart...I HEART FACES!

I am very proud to be one of I Heart Faces Featured Members this week!!

You can see my feature here.

Thank you I Heart Faces! 

 

Tutorial: Anthro Inspired Regal Bearing Headband

This is an easy no-sew project inspired by the Anthropologie Regal Bearing Hat.  This hat retails for $228.00.  Not really in my budget and I don't think I could pull off the little felt cap perched on the side of my head...at least not in this town.  But I love velvet and feathers, and I thought this would make a great holiday headband.

Materials:

Velvet Ribbon (at least 1/2 inch wide)
Grosgrain or Silk Ribbon (at least 2 inches wide)
Feathers
Bead
Headband
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

Tutorial:

Glue the feather(s) onto the headband so they shift slightly off to one side.

 Fold the ribbon into 3 loops stacked on top of each other.  Glue each layer together.

I glued my layers just slightly off center of each fold.

Fold the bottom center into itself, and glue it to hold.

 Glue it in place, on top of the bottom half of your feathers.

Tie your velvet ribbon into a bow, and trim the ends to taste.

 Glue your bow to the bottom of the ribbon. Glue your bead at the top of the bow.

Go spend the $200.00 you saved making this headband on a new dress to go with it!


I will be sharing this tutorial with these link ups:

Mad in Crafts

Sew Much Ado 

Blue Cricket Design 

Somewhat Simple

The Train to Crazy

Tatertots & Jello