A New Challenge and Personal Goals

I'm so glad Karah from The Space Between sent me the link to the new Imagine the Impossibilities challenge she's co-hosting this month!!  Here's the description from Karah's post:

What would you try if you had no boundries? What ideas do you have floating around that you (or others) think are just nuts? What do you really just want to try even though a big part of you thinks it’s just not going to work? (Uhhh, can you say gallery wall with one screw hole in the wall?)

It could be anything people! Skydiving, mountain climbing, creative writing, closet organizing, gourmet cooking (or homemade bread making as Karianne will be trying). Is it lamp painting, table decorating, long distance running, kayaking? Your impossible is just that, YOURS! There’s no too big or small, right or wrong. What limitations have you set for yourself that you might, just maybe, be able to talk yourself out of?

Oh, just Imagine the Impossibilities!

At first, I was hesitant to take on a task so daunting that I consider it "impossible".  However, my husband and I are really concerned about our health; I'm disabled and he's a cancer survivor.  When we watched Fork Over Knife, a documentary on the health benefits of a "whole food, plant-based diet", we knew our diet needed a major overhaul and quick!!  I knew that night exactly what my "impossible"challenge was.

Here is my pubic commitment to this challenge...

I will start converting our family's diet to a whole food, plant-based one.  I'll find yummy whole food, plant based recipes and share them with you in an update on my progress each Wednesday.  This update will include links to sites that have to do with whole food, plant-based diets.

I'm going to need your encouragement throughout this challenge!!  I really encourage you to visit the Fork Over Knife website and read about the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet!!

A separate, personal challenge I'm taking on is to use Day Zero's website to try and accomplish 101 things in 1001 days.  I think I can handle that!!  I've started compiling my list and will try to begin my 1001 days on February 1st.  Once I finish my list, I'll share it with you here on my blog.  For now, you can see my list and follow my progress HERE.

If you've used Day Zero and are either working on or have accomplished your 101 things in 1001 days, I'd love to hear about it!!  If not, I'd love to hear about what goals you've set for 2012!!

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...

Tutorial: Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornament

Before I get started with today's tutorial, I want to make a quick announcement!!
Nov. 20 - Dec. 15

Starting on Sunday November 20th, I'll be hosting the "26-Day Christmas Craft Marathon" here on my blog!!  It's going to be a really busy 26 days for me and you!!  Read more about it HERE!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This is the step-by-step tutorial for the Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornament.  This project only costs $0.15-$0.75 depending on what you have in your supply stash!!  I'll break down the costs in Step 1 of the tutorial.

Inspiration

I combined the following two projects in order to come up with this design:

I really liked how Sandy at the Quill Cottage used vintage ephemera to make the little cones in her Vintage Paper Snowflake Ornament.  However, I thought that it would be really cool to incorporate (more) lace into this project.
By the way, I'm going to have to dig out some of my beads and charms to make some with the little dangle part added!!

When I found the tutorial for these Lace Flower Ornaments on funEZcrafts, I knew that I could combine these flowers with the snowflake for an awesome ornament!  I'm just happy I was right!!

Keep in mind that since I wanted a very white snowflake, the materials I chose were white or a bright off-white.  Because of this, you'll notice that my camera didn't handle these photos very well!!

Step 1: GATHER SUPPLIES

- Plastic snowflake (15 cents - 6/$1 at Dollar Tree)

- Silver jingle bell (8 cents - 48/$4 at Joann's)

- 6" Piece of 1/8" ribbon (2 cents - 5yds/$0.25 on sale at Michael's)

- Glue (on hand - I used Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue...again!)

- Cardstock (on hand - use junk mail if needed)

- Sheet music (about 10 cents - huge lots of ephemera for $10 here)

- Glitter glue (5 cents - $1 for a bottle at Michael's)

- 12"-15" Lace about 1" wide (about 10 cents - $1-$2 for 5yds here)

- 4" 24g Wire (5 cents - spool/$4 at Michael's)

- Fake flower with the stem removed (5 cents - $1 per bunch at Dollar Tree)

- Plastic gem (5 cents - 1lb/$9 at Hobby Lobby with coupon)

Step 2: PREP SNOWFLAKE

Add Bell
Thread ribbon through the hole at the top of the snowflake.
Add the bell to the front section of ribbon.
Pull the ribbon back through the hole.
Tie a knot.

Add "Base 1"

Cut or punch out a 1" circle of cardstock.

Glue to center of snowflake.

Mark the center of the snowflake on the circle.

Step 3: ADD CONES

Make Cones

Cut or punch out six 1" to 1.5" squares of sheet music.

Roll squares into cones by overlapping one edge over an adjacent edge.

Glue into place.

Spread a thin layer of glitter glue on the pointy section of the inside of the cone.

Add a light crease to each side of each cone so that the both ends are pointing away from one another.

Add Cones to "Base 1"

Glue cones to "Base 1".  Leave a small circle in the center and make sure each cone is "pointing" away from your center mark.

Add "Base 2"

Cut or punch out a 1" circle of cardstock.
Glue to center of snowflake.

Step 4: ADD LACE

Thread Lace onto Wire

Fold over one end of the wire a few times to make a "knot".

Use the other end of the wire as a needle.

Sew a slip stitch (just go up and down) through the very bottom of the lace.

Make Lace Circle

Push all of the lace to the center of the wire.

Wrap the lace-covered section of the wire around your finger.

Twist the ends of the wire about 4 times.

Clip the ends and pinch them together.

Tuck the twisted section of wire towards the center of the circle.

Form the wire into a nice circle.

Spread the lace around the wire evenly. 

Attach Lace Circle

Add a generous layer of glue to "Base 2".

Center lace circle over your snowflake and over "Base 2".

Press the lace circle into the glue.

Flatten the lace so that it will accept the next layer, but not too flat that it looks bad.

Step 5: ADD FLOWER

Make Flower

Cut or punch out a 1" circle of cardstock.

Using scallop-edge scissors, cut around the very edge of the circle.

Add a layer of glue to the entire circle.

Attach the bottom of the flower to the circle.

Add glue to the bottom of the plastic gem.

Attach gem to the center of the flower. 

Add Flower

Cover the bottom of the completed flower with a generous amount of glue.

Add the flower to the center of your snowflake.

FINISHED!!

Tomorrow, I'll explain how to do just a few things differently in order to make the one shown below.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

UPDATE

TOTAL SPENT = $3.00

Items made: 2 paper flower ornaments, 1 Ribbon Tree Ornament, 2 Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornaments

Note: Although I'm already at $3.00 for this challenge, with the supplies I have left over right now, I will be able to make another 2 Ribbon Tree Ornaments and 4 Paper & Lace Snowflakes.

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...

Tutorial: Ribbon Tree Ornament

This was the first ornament I made for MegaCrafty's Crafty Christmas Tree Challenge.  It's kinda weird having to figure out (down to the penny) how much something cost to make and in all honesty, it's a good eye opener!!

I based this ornament off of the Tabletop Ribbon Tree tutorial over at Uncommon.  If you want to make ribbon trees that are any bigger than my little ornament, you'll definitely want to check out Tricia's tutorial!!

Okay, I'm not going to make you wait any longer!! Let's get started!!

Step 1: GATHER SUPPLIES

- Cardstock

- Printed template (From DomestiFluff's Halloween tutorial "How to Make Mini Book Page Trees"

- 3/8" Ribbon (wired is preferred, but as long as it will crease if folded then it it'll work)

- Hot glue gun & glue sticks (I used tacky glue and I don't recommend it for this project.)

- 1/2 Sheet of tissue paper

- Acrylic paints & small paint brush

- Wooden skewer

- Tiny wooden "terracotta pot"

- 2 Small wooden stars

- 6"-8" Piece of thin hemp or jute cord

- Large-eye needle

- 2 Clothespins

Step 2: MAKE & PAINT CONE

I just want to say "Thank you" to Kristen at DomestiFluff for posting the template for these little trees!! With a tiny adjustment, it worked great for this project!!

Make the Cone

Fold your cardstock in half and crease the fold. (Note: I fold the cardstock for a stronger tree.)

Place one of the straight edges of your template along the fold.

Trace & cut out the pattern. (Note: I added about 1/2"-3/4" to my semicircle.)

Roll the cone so that the edges overlap and glue in place.

Paint the Cone

Choose a color that either matches your ribbon or is the same color.

Paint a the entire cone, including inside.

Step 3: CUT & ADD RIBBON STRIPS

Cut Ribbon Strips

Cut 1" to 1.5" strips of ribbon. (Note: I only needed about 55-60 strips total.)

First Row

Start adding the strips around the bottom of the cone as shown above.  Allow about 1/4" or more to hang over the edge and overlap the top corner over the previous strip. (Note: Make sure they are going straight up and down and are not angled at all.  If one isn't straight, they'll all be crooked!)

Other Rows

Move up to the next row and add strips around the cone.  Allow 3/8" or more to hang over the previous row.

Continue adding rows until you reach the very top.

Add Cord & Cover Top

Tie a knot into one end of the cord.

Thread cord onto large-eye needle.

Push needle up and through the tiny hole in the top of the cone and then up and through the very center of one strip of ribbon.

Place glue around the top of the cone.

Fold ribbon and pinch over the top of the cone as in the picture above.

Fold Tips

Fold up 1/4" of every strip of ribbon as shown above.

STEP 4: ADD STAR  

If you don't have wood stars, I'm sure a couple stars cut out of cardboard or even grey-board (cereal box cardboard) would work too!!

Paint

Paint the front and edges of both wooden stars in gold or yellow.

Glue

Fold the cord so the end is touching the tip of the cone.

Glue the stars back-to-back over the tip of the cone, folded section of ribbon, and cord.

Use clothespins if your glue doesn't dry almost instantly. (Note: Since I used tacky glue, I had to leave the clothespins on for about an hour!)

 STEP 5: PREP TRUNK & BASE

Again, if you don't have the wooden pot, just cut a similar shape from cardboard or grey-board.

Prep & Paint Pieces

Temporarily put the skewer inside the cone to see how much you need to cut off.

Cut (or break) your skewer so it's the right length.

Temporarily put the skewer inside the hole in the bottom of the pot and trim off any that sticks out.

Paint the skewer dark brown.

Paint the outside and inside of the pot.

Glue Together

Add a generous amount of glue around the tip of the skewer and inside the pot.

Push the skewer into the hole in the bottom of the pot, making sure the skewer is straight.

Hold in place until dry.

 STEP 6: ADD TRUNK TO CONE

If you don't have any tissue or just want to use something cheaper, I'm sure a paper towel would work just as well!

Prep the "Trunk"

Point the tip of the skewer towards the middle of the tissue paper.

Wad the paper around the skewer in the rough shape of a cone.

Temporarily pull the skewer out of the wad of tissue.

Add a lot of glue to the top 2" of the skewer.

Reinsert the glue-covered skewer into the cone.

Tightly squeeze the tissue around the skewer to make sure it holds.

Add the "Trunk"

Add a thick layer of glue all over the upper 2" of the inside of the cone.

Using a significant amount of pressure, push the tissue wad into the tip of the cone.

 FINISHED!!

The total cost of the supplies for this project is well under $1 and that included the wooden star and pot!!  If you were to use cardboard cut-outs rather than wooden pieces, it could  be as low as 25-30 cents per ornament!!

TOTAL SPENT = $1.00

Items made: 2 paper flower ornaments and 1 Ribbon Tree Ornament

COMING TOMORROW...

Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornament Tutorial

Despite the pricey appearance of this ornament, it's actually pretty inexpensive to make!!

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...

I'm Already Making Christmas Ornaments

Meg over at MegaCrafty has started "The Crafty Christmas Tree Challenge" and I'm participating!!  

Basically, the challenge is to fully decorate a 4-foot tree (or bigger) for $20 or less (not counting the tree or the lights).  For more details about her challenge click the button below.

I'm not too sure I'll be able to do it for under $20, but it sure will be fun trying!!  Of course I'm going to post everything I make here on my blog!!  There will be tutorials available for all the decorations I show, whether I write them myself or link you to them!!  

My final tree reveal will be on December 17th and Meg is revealing her tree on the 15th.  I can't wait to see how they both turn out, along with the other trees people decorate for this challenge!!

I've already started making super inexpensive ornaments and have ideas for sooo many others!!  Here are the ornaments I've made in the past 24 hours...

The two paper flowers were made from Stephanie's tutorial at Under the Table and Dreaming.  Her tutorial, Book Page Flower Ornament, is super easy and there are so many ways to use this technique!!  I'll probably make other ornaments and use these flowers in part of the design.  Here are close-ups of the two I made:

The red Christmas tree was roughly-based on Tricia's Tabletop Ribbon Trees tutorial over at Uncommon.  Tomorrow I'll post a tutorial on how to make a Ribbon Tree Ornament like mine for about 75 cents or less!!

I combined Quill Cottage's Vintage Paper Snowflake Ornament and funEZcrafts' Lace Flower Ornament to come with the snowflake ornament shown below.  There will be a tutorial for my Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornament on Wednesday.  With the white on a dark background my camera didn't take a very good picture, but here's a close-up:

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...