Pottery Barn NOEL Knock-off

Pottery Barn...sigh!!  I love almost everything in the store.  It is my style in home decor.  But you know what I don't love...the prices.  As a result, I simply window shop and use it as my muse for some homemade knock-offs.

For the holiday season, I ran across this Pottery Barn wall hanging.

 

 Super cute, with a super price tag of $149.  No, your eyes do not deceive you.  Those four letters cost $149.  So I decided to make my own.

Supplies:
N O E L--mdf letters
Crimson and raw Umber Paint
Paint brushes
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

I painted all the letters in the Raw Umber first.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  In fact, if some white shows through or if the brush strokes are visible, that's okay.  It will add to the rustic look of the piece.

 

When the paint is almost dry, add a layer of crimson.  Once again, don't paint it solid.  Some of the umber needs to show through.  Keep layering the paints in this manner until you like it.

 Can you tell where I have been painting?


Once the letters have completely dried, arrange them to say NOEL.  You can be creative with the arrangement. 

 

Use hot glue to attach letters together.  I also used a staple gun to secure the letters more.

I spent a total of $13 to get the same look as the $149 original!!  Have a Merry Christmas and happy crafting!!

O' Christmas Tree

When I was a child, the start of the Christmas season was marked with a family trek to the woods to find the perfect tree.  All five of us would load up in the old farm truck and drive to various corners of the woods until we spotted the tree.  Dad would then cut it down and place it in the bed of the truck.  Mom and Dad would bring it inside, find the best looking side, and the tree decorating would begin.  Such fond memories revolve around my childhood Christmas tree, not because the tree was important but because spending time with family was important.

When Josh and I were married, we started our family tradition with an artificial tree.  I enjoy putting it up early and not having to water the tree.  However, our tree is very large and since we are living in a condo, we didn't have room to store the tree.  As a result, our tree is in Kentucky and we needed to purchase a real tree this year.  Since we live in the Christmas tree capital of the world--or so it seems-- we had our own family trek to the woods  a Christmas tree farm to find that perfect tree.  Not only is it the kids first real tree, it's Josh's too!!  Hopefully this will become a family tradition each year and our children will reflect on these as happy memories, just like me.

 On a hayride to the trees...this is pretty much how every picture I try to take turns out.  There must be some trick to get ALL three looking at the camera AND smiling at the same time...I just haven't learned it yet!!

 Abby like this tree....

 ...and Micah liked this one.  They were excited to find a tree that was "my size."

 Micah is ready to saw.  Of course, all parenting advice would tell you to NOT let your children play with sharp objects!!

 Another example of the kids NOT looking at the camera in unison!!

 Daddy cutting down the tree.  It takes talent to cut down a tree while NOT getting your church clothes dirty!!!

 Hauling the tree back to the truck

 Every tree needs a star!!

Fun Finds: Fall DIY Projects

Fall is officially here...even the calendar says so!!!  Fall ignites a DIY spirit in all of us.  Here are some GREAT fall DIY projects.  Hopefully, I will tackle one or two.  Be inspired and complete one today!!!

 

1) Fall Burlap Wreath
2) Fall Burlap Bunting
 3) Ruffle Burlap Wreath 

4) Playful Pumpkin   
  5) Fall Wooden Pumpkins  
6) Jute Wrapped Pumpkins

 

 7) Candy Corn Wreath

8) Fall Initial Leaf Wreath

9) Corn Husk Bow Wreath

 

 10) Fall Bunting     
  11) Pine Cone Embellished Mason Jars

 12) Interchangeable Fall Frame

F-A-L-L Door Decoration

 

F-A-L-L--some cute little letters hanging from a door.  Simple, right?  Whatever!  No craft is simple for me.  I found the inspiration over at www.sandandsisal.com and decided that I wanted to tackle this idea.  I quickly looked the tutorial over and dashed off to Michael's and bought the necessary supplies. I must confess, I am similar to a man in the respect that I just looked at a picture and didn't really read the tutorial!!  Then once I actually read the directions, I realized I was supposed to use scrapbook paper, tissue paper, and something called Mod-Podge...it was like reading a foreign language.  I almost gave up in defeat, but decided against it.  So, I decided to abandon the directions and try it my own way.

Well.....apparently I am not even talented enough to mix primary colors.  My "lime" green I was attempting to create was more of a "split-pea soup" green and the orange was a pastel peach.  What a mess!!  But I had committed to the project and decided to finish it as planned.  It didn't turn out quite as horrible as I first thought, but it could definitely be improved.  (A side note for anyone who would like to try this...don't paint with a six-month old on your hip.  It can be hazardous to the health of all involved, including the kitchen counter:)


Necessary supplies:
Michael's was sold out of the large letters, so I had to settle for the smaller mdf letters.  Also, I should have just bought the exact colors I wanted, instead of trying to mix my own.  Remember, you could use fabric or paper to cover the letters.  Also, burlap could be a cute alternative to the ribbon for hanging purposes.

I painted the letters using both solid colors and patterns.  It is totally up to you.  Let the creative juices flow!!

We live in the basement unit of our condo building, so we have an extra exterior door.  (The upstairs units have a window in this location.)  Although I could have hung the letters on the front door, I would have only seen them as I entered the house PLUS they would have been banging on the door every time it was opened.  So my letters are actually on the interior of the door.  I simply tied the ribbon around the letters and attached the other end to the top of the door using a heavy-duty staple gun. (You could also use the Command hooks, but attach them upside down.)  This door is right next to our main entrance door (yes, I know that sounds weird), so it is a nice welcome into our home.  There is a bookshelf located right next to the door, so I decorated the top of it as well. :)  I like how this project made our "temporary" condo home feel more like our "real" home, even if it was exactly what I had imagined!!

      

   

   

Rachel

Baskets and Eggs

The whole crew...this is my siblings and their families on Easter Sunday.  It is a packed house when we all get together:)

The Wilson Family

Easter Egg Fun

Easter was fun this year because we dyed eggs with the kids....the first time ever!!!!  The kids really enjoyed the family time and decorating their very own eggs.  Always fun trying something new.