Red is my friend, right? {4 & 5/12 Christmas Crafts}

Last Christmas, I avoided red. Like the plague.
I had golds and bronzes and burnt oranges... but no reds.

Then I got bit by the red bug {which may or may not be related to the bed bug} - and now I am in lurve.

 

See for yourself.

Eeks. I don't know what happened. And I guess it would be red and white and black, really. Let me share with you what I do know.

1) My zebra lampshade that normally sits in my very green office. Repurpose (Free!)
2) Framed Art. Yeah right. Try dollar store frames with dollar store gift bags. I just cut out the cuteness and added it to the frame. Easy peasy. $4 total (for the trees and the penguin)
3) Candle stick was a Goodwill find, bought it for Halloween. Repurpose (Free!)
4) More Styrofoam and pipe cleaner trees. All on hand. (Free!)
5) Berry branches - $1 each at Hobby Lobby $3
6) A red pot from years and years ago, turned upside down lengthen the lamp. Repurposed (Free!)
7) Glass jar from the dollar store filled with red Styrofoam berries from the dollar store. The twigs I got from Hobby Lobby. $4 total.
8) Walgreens trees $1 in a candle I already had.

  With so much going on, I am going to count this as Craft #'s 4 and 5. I am the Queen, after all.

Well, what do you think?! I know I am going to have a lot going on in the house, but I can't help it. I am having so much fun!!

Off to see where else I can add some red.

Linking to:
House of Hepworths

Home Stories A2Z

Super Simple Snowmen {3/12 Christmas Crafts}

I am starting to realize that I am slightly OCD.
I start working on one space - and can't leave it alone.

Take for example my mini*mantel that I shared with you a few days ago... Well, I've added a few good men to it. Snowmen, that is! =)

These guys were super simple and *CHEAP* {please don't tell them I called them that!}

I got the Styrofoam balls from dollar store - they came in different sizes 6 to a pack.
I bought the pipe cleaners from Hobby Lobby $0.87 each package. And I had the straight pins, thumb tacks and Sharpie.

I am so glad Isabel wanted to help out! We don't get to do crafts together that often. I ♥ her.

Besides the snowmen, I also made several more trees. I loved using the pipe cleaners {the more I type that, the more I wonder if that's their official craft name. lol}  Here are my bald snowmen next to some cool trees.

And... here is my mini*mantel space and the radio cabinet beneath it.
I've added the poinsettias, a vase filled with cranberry foam balls, the trees and snowmen, a lovely green candy dish (Goodwill $1 several months ago!) and a frame with a bow.

I realize it may be a bit much - all of it. So I have since moved the frame. But now that I look at the picture below, I am kinda digging it there.

So there we have our third craft (and a small repeat of craft #2)...

I am truly digging this holiday season!

Linking to:
House of Hepworths
Today's Creative Blog

Thrifty Decor Chick

Beads + Pipes = Trees {2/12 Christmas Crafts}

Since I am behind, I thought I might as well make an effort to catch up.
So, two posts in one day, you get. Yipee.

Here is the second of twelve crafts I am sharing with you this month... Christmas Trees for my other non-mantel.

How did I make them, you say?!

Well, they were pretty darn easy.

I used two different sized cones, some hot glue, Mardi Gras beads in the colors of my Christmas decor, and then also white pipe cleaners.

Then, I must apologize for the picture quality. I *still* cannot find my camera's battery charger. So I am using an old camera. SMH

I wrapped and hot glued the beaded tree, but for the pipe cleaner tree, I simply stuck the wire in, wrapped, and stuck the other end in. It was super easy. I did add some straight pins to bring some color to the tree; however, I am not sure how much I love them. I don't have a lot of red in the house, so I'd hate to add it there. We will see. ;)  But for now, I at least have gotten a head start on my non-mantel.

P.S. The third {middle} tree is from Walgreen's... $1.00.  Everything else I had on hand, so rank this under cheap! =)

Linking to:

Craft O Maniac
Mom It Monday

Mini*Mantel {1/12 Christmas Crafts}

Four days in and I am already behind... but what do you expect during the holiday season, really?
I need to get my Christmas cards out... I want to get some holiday baking done... and I want to complete my goal of twelve crafts for Christmas.

This morning, we packed up all of Nic's birthday decorations and cracked open the Christmas totes. I've put up garland and hung our stockings {with care}...

And I got one crafty thing done... My mini mantel.
As a reminder, here is what it looked like for Thanksgiving...

And here it is as of right.... NOW! ;)

This shelf hangs above my smaller radio cabinet, in the formal dining room. I had different plans for the "O" in JOY, but a certain now 5 year old decided that he wanted to crack those plans open. Literally. So, I used what I had on hand (which is not much since I haven't been to Hobby Lobby in over 5 days).  I used the bottom ring of a $1.00 light shade from Target. I had already taken the actual shade off of the rings, because I needed to use the top piece for a lamp (long story, but it involves an older style lamp shade and zip ties. Kinky. Okay, maybe not).

I wrapped the ring with ribbon. And I am in the middle of looking for two bronze-ish bells I found at the dollar store to tie at the top, where the "bow" is.

The owl I had from Thanksgiving, the star was bought for Nic's birthday, the cinnamon sticks in the mason jar, I had, the candle I had, the tinsel I had, and the little tree was $1 from Walgreens.  The J and the Y were $.99 from Hobby Lobby, and finally, the green spray paint I had from a different project.  So, less than $3 for this mini*mantel makeover.


Could I get anything else on that shelf? Really?!

Maybe not, but the bottom would be a great place to hang Christmas cards from {hint, hint!}...

So, we are still decking the halls over in my hood, but I will be sure to post pictures from Nic's party super soon and then of course, the other 11 crafts (that I have yet to do!)...

Happy Sunday!

Linking to: COM 
Everything Under the Moon 
Thrifty Decor Chick  
Home Stories - A2Z 
Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

Let the Winter Holidays begin!

With Thanksgiving over... it's time to start getting ready for CHRISTMAS!

Next weekend is Nic's birthday party, so we will be super busy with that... but shortly after, I am starting my Twelve Crafts for Christmas and also my Favorite Things posts.

In fact... here's the schedule for Favorite Things...

I hope you come back on December 4th to see a few of my favorite sites & people!
And remember, if you are interested in sharing, please email me at QOTC@Cox.net or simply click on the email icon on the right sidebar.

Happy Holidays!

Merry & Cheery & More {Announcement}

I am trying really hard to give Thanksgiving its time in the spotlight... but I have to admit, I am getting very excited for Christmas.

I've decided to do something new this holiday season...
As with Halloween and Thanksgiving, I am going to focus on hand-making our festive holiday decor. Some brainstorming today led me to this:

I am challenging myself to make at least 12 homemade decorations for around the house. I will be sharing them with you, every other day during the month of December.

Exciting right?!

It doesn't end there, though.

During the other days of the month, leading up to Christmas day, I will be doing what I do best...
visiting every blog I can to find amazing Christmas projects, decor and more.

I will be sharing {and linking back to} a few blogs during each post. I applaud all of the crafty and creative people - it takes time, patience and talent to come up with beautiful things!

So... there you have it! I hope you'll visit QOTC often during the month of December to take a gander at all projects; mine and theirs. I may even try my hand at a linky party... Oooo! Something to check back for, for sure!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming Thanksgiving.