Category: Crafts

December 21, 2016

DIY Christmas Garland: Wood Chip Pompom Garland

DIY Wood Chip Pompom Garland | redleafstyle.com

This year, I took a cue from Scandinavian decorating to make a DIY Christmas garland to outfit my Christmas tree. (And it wasn’t just because I purchased the tree at IKEA.) Instead of a full tree dripping with ornaments, the IKEA Christmas tree encourages Scandinavian minimalism with its sparse branches. I’m not sure what it is about this look that works so well. But it does. Maybe fewer branches mean making more thoughtful ornament choices, since you only have so many branches to hang them on. Or, maybe it’s the deliciously rustic quality of it. As if it was a real tree—imperfections and all—chopped down just outside my door. Or, maybe the simplicity is what makes the tree. It’s not decked out in twinkling lights or shrouded in sparkly twine. Whatever it is, I needed an equally rustic and uncomplicated garland to drape on the tree. When looking at my craft supplies, I saw a bowl full of wood chips and a bag of pompoms and I knew I had to make a DIY Christmas garland using the two. Here’s how to create your own wood chip pompom garland. Gather your supplies together to make your DIY Christmas garland....

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December 6, 2016

DIY Coffee Filter Wreath

Can you believe this fluffy, snow-like wreath is made from coffee filters? Bring a wintery wonderland vibe to your front door or above your mantle by making your own coffee filter wreath. This DIY coffee filter wreath has big style, but is low budget. Grab a stack of coffee filters, make a pot of coffee (you’ll need some caffeine to power through this DIY) and get crafting. A while back I bought a pack of 700 coffee filters from Costco. At $2.59 total, I thought it was a deal that was real, and I figured they would get used up over time. Well, even with my coffee-guzzling habit, at least 500 of those coffee filters were still around after about a year. Whether you’re like me and need to use up an ill-advised bulk purchase of coffee filters or you want to make a wreath for cheap, this DIY coffee filter wreath is the way to go. You’ll need just three more supplies (besides the coffee filters) to complete the project. What you’ll need: – Wreath form (I used a straw wreath form) – Coffee filters (200-300) – Hot glue gun – Hot glue sticks Before you get started,...

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October 4, 2016

How to Make Cute Candy Corn Wreaths for Fall

Mini Candy Corn Wreaths | redleafstyle.com

Inside: Hit the sweet spot when it comes to fall decorating with these easy-to-make candy corn wreaths. (Yes, they’re made with real candy corn!) Don’t devour that whole bag of candy corn yet. Save some to make these cute candy corn wreaths. This simple home décor project transforms the iconic Halloween treat into fall décor for your home. Add a touch of festivity (and fun!) to your Halloween or fall displays with these super simple wreaths. And, because they’re not too Halloween-themed, you can even keep them up through Thanksgiving. Dress up your house with these festive mini candy corn wreaths. Here’s how to make them. You’ll need just a few supplies to get started. The main supplies are just candy corn and mason jar lids. (You’ll also need your trusty hot glue gun.) What you’ll need: – Candy corn – Mason jar lids (I used Wide Mouth lids.) – Hot glue gun – Twine Making a mini candy corn wreath is pretty straightforward. Simply, start hot gluing your candy corn kernels around the top of the rim. (I used Wide Mouth mason jar rims.) Arrange the kernels so that they all face in the same direction. Doing so will...

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January 21, 2016

How to Make a Luxurious Rosehip Sugar Body Scrub

Rosehip Sugar Body Scrub | redleafstyle.com

Smooth out tired winter skin with this easy-to-make sugar body scrub featuring rosehip essential oil. Sugar body scrubs exfoliate skin and slough away dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling rejuvenated. They’re a little luxury that’s great for using on heels, elbows, and anywhere else your skin is feeling a bit rough. If you love do-it-yourself home projects, then you’re going to love this make-it-yourself rosehip sugar body scrub. You can stir up this fancy-sounding beauty treatment in minutes. And, it’s super budget-friendly. Sugar body scrubs in stores tend to lean toward the pricy side. When you see the super simple (and inexpensive!) ingredients in this recipe, you’ll wonder why you ever paid for store-bought ones. This wasn’t the first time I made a sugar body scrub. (I wrote about a coconut and vanilla one here.) But it had been a while. I remembered them while I was trying to think about how I could use up this huge bag of sugar I had bought for holiday baking and had barely touched. The recipe for this sugar body scrub requires just two main ingredients. Anything else you want to add is just for fun. What you’ll need: 1 cup sugar...

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December 1, 2015

Cookie Cutter Ornaments With Old Photos

Cookie Cutter Ornaments With Old Photos | redleafstyle.com

Trim your tree this year with ornaments that have a personal touch. Made from aluminum cookie cutters and old photos, these do-it-yourself ornaments showcase family members present and past. These ornaments are super easy to make. Just whip out your grade school skills of tracing, cutting and gluing, and you’re good to go. Whether you need an inexpensive method to fill your Christmas tree or a creative way to personalize your tree, these cookie cutter ornaments are eye-catching and easy-to-make. I came up with this project when tasked with producing a Christmas-themed craft using old photos for the December issue of VintageKC magazine. I didn’t have any old photos on hand, so I headed to my favorite antique mall. As I sifted through bins of black and white photos, I couldn’t help but feel sad for the people pictured. How had the photo memories of their marriages, babies and special events ended up in a nameless bin? At least the few I took home with me would find new life, if only on a stranger’s Christmas tree. I also found a few aluminum cookie cutters for $1 each at the antique mall. Besides your cookie cutters and old photos,...

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