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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November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you’re enjoying time with loved ones and getting uncomfortably full on turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the other fixings. If I sound a bit like I’m drooling, it’s because I haven’t had Thanksgiving dinner yet. I’m visiting my boyfriend in Colorado and we decided the day of (today!) to cook a Thanksgiving meal. The grocery store was out of fresh turkeys, so we have a chicken in the oven. A store-bought pumpkin pie, rolls and a bottle of merlot are waiting patiently. I haven’t even gobbled up my Thanksgiving food yet and my thoughts are already turning to Christmas decorating. Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? If I’m being honest, thinking about Christmas decorating is distracting me from some harder thoughts that need to be sorted out. But today’s a day for being thankful for what’s here and now. And hopeful that there will be much to be thankful for in the future. Here’s to a beautiful Thanksgiving! Related articles: DIY Painted Feathers Easy Yarn Twig Décor Pinecone Door Hanger...

November 6, 2015

Published in VintageKC Magazine: Fall 2015

The tribal trend is everywhere this season and I showcased my take on this trend in the latest issue of VintageKC magazine. Every issue, a handful of creative bloggers and artists are tasked with creating a craft around a theme. The theme for this issue was tribal. Tribal may be on trend, but I’m much more of a neutral person. I tend to choose patterns for my home with great care—and sparingly. So, I wanted a small-scale project, where I could make something that I’d actually want to use in my home. I choose to paint plain feathers in simple tribal patterns. This project turned out to be just enough tribal for me. The painted feathers display bold patterns, but on a small scale. I can easily stick them in vases or add them to vignettes without the look going over-the-top tribal. If you want more details on how to make your own painted feathers, like the ones featured in the magazine, check out my painted feathers tutorial. There are a bunch of other creative tribal projects featured in the magazine, so be sure to check those out. You can see them all online or check out the digital edition of the...

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November 5, 2015

DIY Painted Feathers

Stripes. Animal prints. Aztec. Tribal-inspired patterns are all over home decorating and fashion right now. Take advantage of the tribal trend this season and create your own painted feathers. This is an easy craft project that’s perfect for this time of year. Put on your slippers, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to paint. Whether you want a quick-and-easy craft project or a simple decoration to spruce up your space, these DIY painted feathers are dramatic-looking without a lot of work. I came up with this project when tasked with producing a tribal-themed craft for the Fall 2015 issue of VintageKC magazine. The tribal trend is everywhere this season, but I’m much more of a neutral person. I tend to choose patterns for my home with great care—and sparingly. So, I wanted a small-scale project, where I could make something that I’d actually want to use in my home. These DIY painted feathers were just right. They display bold patterns, but on a small scale. I can easily stick them in vases or add them to vignettes without the look going over-the-top tribal. You’ll just need a few supplies from the craft store to create your own...

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October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!

Today’s Halloween! I hope you’re enjoying some spooktacular festivities. I’m just hanging around the house rearranging pumpkins. But really. I’m into things like that. This year, I bought a plain white pumpkin, a brownish-orange Cinderella pumpkin and a few mini pumpkins from my local farmer’s market. My favorite farmer even gifted me the cutest, tiniest orange pumpkin today for Halloween. I’m not much of a Halloween decorator, but my mom sent me this cute BOO banner in a card and it’s just the right touch for me. I like the bit of Halloween flair it adds to this fall display. I’m already starting to get excited to decorate for the holidays, but I’m trying to slow down and enjoy my pumpkins (and fall!) a while longer. I hope you have a frightfully fun Halloween! Related articles: DIY Concrete Jack-O-Lanterns How to Make a Halloween Scarecrow Last-Minute Halloween Decorations...

October 7, 2015

Pinecone Door Hanger

Want an easy way to dress up your door for fall? No project could be simpler than this pinecone door hanger. A pinecone door hanger offers a twist from the usual classic door décor: a wreath. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of wreaths—and not just for the holidays. Autumn wreaths made from faux or real branches, berries and leaves just put you in a cheery fall mood. And of course who doesn’t love winter wreaths made from evergreens? Even a simple burlap-wrapped wreath could hang on my door all year. But why not change it up? This easy-to-make pinecone door hanger requires just a few supplies, and it’s a pretty “just because” decoration. Here’s how to make your own pinecone door hanger. Break out your glue gun and some ribbon and you’re almost ready to get crafting. What you’ll need: – Pinecones (5-6) – Ribbon – Hot glue gun I found my pinecones by just taking a stroll through my neighborhood and gathering some pinecones that had fallen near the road. You too probably don’t have to walk far to find some pinecones. But if pinecones aren’t available in your area, you can easily purchase a...

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