Setting the Mood for the Holidays!

If you have been keeping up with all of the Crafty Creations, you know that I love to repurpose stuff! And not just fabric either! You can repurpose just about anything! Thrift stores and antique shops are filled with items that can go from old and dusty to chic and modern with the help of a little paint!

This post isn't much of a how-to, but more of a "Look at the possibilities!" type of post : )

A few days ago, I was wondering the isles of my local Goodwill and saw something that I had to get!

I am not sure what this thing is actually called, but my Granny always put her perfume and nail polishes on top of one similar to this. I thought this one would make a beautiful Christmas candle plate! All it needed was a new paint job...

First, I took it apart. Luckily the bottom and mirror slid off easily!

Whenever you paint something always clean it first. Dust will make your paint job look less than perfect : ) Also, make sure you are in a well ventilated area and put newspapers down to protect the surface you are painting on.

I prefer spray paint for most of the projects I do. One great plus side of using spray paint is that the clean up is super easy! The down side is that there aren't that many color options. When spray painting something, it's better to spray a few thin coats, letting the paint dry between coats, than to do a heavy coat. This way you avoid drips!

I chose a beautiful red color in keeping with the Christmas theme!

What's the point of a candle plate without candles!?! One popular trend this year is glittered candles. I was going to just buy some at Target until I realized 3 were going to cost me $17!!! Yeah Right! So, I headed over to the Dollar Tree and got these three candles for a buck a piece.

To make glitter candles you also need spray adhesive and glitter, both of which I already had at home. I prefer super fine glitter over the chunky glitter, but to each their own : )

Yeah, Yeah, I know...spray adhesive IS flammable! Well, at least the fumes are. Before spraying your candles down with adhesive first cover the tops. That way the flame isn't near the adhesive. I had these circle stickers that covered the tops of my candles perfectly.

I checked around and made sure that this was safe to do, and it is. Martha Stewart herself said it was!

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/glittered-home-decor#slide_4

Spray your candles with a light coat of spray adhesive and then sprinkle your glitter all over.

Remove the protective tops and let your candles dry overnight.

I love how candle light bounces and reflects off of mirrors! Really sets the mood ;)

Goes perfect with the snow--yeah? : D

Now that's what I call an UPGRADE!

Make sure to check in tomorrow for the 3rd Christmas Crafty Creation!

Have Fun, Be Thrifty, and Use Your Imagination!!!!

*Jes*

Wheat Candle Holder

Psalm 147:14 "He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat."

Isn't wheat just beautiful? There is something so breathtaking about a field full of sparkling, golden stalks of wheat!! Definitely gets me in the mood for fall! : D

Here, I'll show you a cute, cheap, and easy way to bring some into your home...

Here's what you'll need :

* Glass candle holder

* Candle or flameless candle

* Scissors

* Hot Glue gun

* Wheat - I was lucky enough to find a bunch of dried wheat stems at my local Dollar Tree for $1!!! You can also find wheat bunches at craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby in the dried naturals section.

First, Start off by cutting off the tops of the wheat stems.

Place a line of hot glue all the way down the back side of a piece of wheat and place onto your glass holder.

Keep gluing wheat pieces onto the glass holder, placing them closely together, until you cover the entire outside.

If you are using a flameless candle, you can keep the ends of the wheat long, BUT if you plan on using a real candle, you must cut the ends off since dried wheat is *extremely flammable*!

Cut the ends of the wheat even with the top of the candle holder and you're done!

If using a real candle, always keep a close eye on your candle holder. And, if it eases your mind, just stick with a flameless candle. It is just as beautiful!

I just love how the light shines through the golden wheat!

Enjoy!

*Jes*

"Gourd-geous" Candle Holders

Whenever I see these adorable baby gourds and pumpkins in the grocery store, I can't resist buying a few of them! I mean - they're wayy too cute to pass up!! They're small, colorful, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, once you get them home, they generally just sit on a shelf (and collect dust) as part of your Autumn decor.

What if I told you that I have an amazing craft that allows you to re-purpose these cuties and actually make them useful??

~This craft is fast, easy, and adorable - perfect for Autumn!..... it took me all of 5 minutes from start to finish (that's my kind of craft!).!

What you will need: 3 gourds (preferably with flat bottoms), tea lights, sharp serrated knife, and a spoon for cleaning out the inside of gourds.


Cut the tops off each gourd, and gently cut a hole in the top, cutting out the majority of the flesh. Take your spoon and scoop out the inside until clean. If your gourd doesn't "sit" level, feel free to cut off whatever you need on the bottom to allow it to sit nicely.

Votive candles also work in this craft, but tea lights are recommended. Fit your tea lights into each gourd, making sure that they fit snugly and securely. You now are the proud owner of some incredibly festive and unique candle holders!!


These would make a lovely addition to any table setting! Use them as part of your centerpiece for Thanksgiving!! Make a romantic and festive candlelight dinner for your love. Or simply use them to add a bit of ambiance to your seasonal decor. There's nothing quite like relaxing by "Gourd-geous" candlelight.

~Lauren