DIY Jar Of Fairy Wishes...❥

A 'Jar Of Fairy Wishes'...

Isn't this the most special idea.

And what a wonderful gift for a fairy lover!

You can make the jar of fairy wishes any size you like...

but I opted for a cute mini hexagonal style jar.

These wee jars come in a range of sizes and you'll find them at Briscoes.

I chose it because of the blue gingham print lid, 

knowing that this jar of fairy wishes would be on a shelf with my blue and white pieces.

To make your own 'Jar Of Fairy Wishes' you'll need:

*Dried dandelion seed heads

(whole and in pieces - I just picked them whenever I saw them and popped them into a large glass in my china cabinet and left them for about three weeks to dry out.)

*A jar with a lid or cork top.

(Remember the bigger the jar, the more dried dandelion you will need)

*Cord, ribbon or string to tie a bow at the neck of the jar.

*Scrapbook embellishments to decorate the lid or cork of the jar.

To Make:

Carefully fill your jar with whole and pieces of dandelion seed-heads.

Embellish the lid to pretty it up and to hide the writing on it.

I used a pre-cut flower shape

I glued this in place.

Then I topped that shape with another sequined flower shape that was a little smaller.

Using a blue and white twisted cord, I tied a bow at the neck of the jar, and knotted the cut ends.

Then I added a couple of pretty paper flowers to each side of the bow.

I love fairies, and I'm loving this 'Jar Of Fairy Wishes'...

I expect to make more of these to gift.

Other fairy lovers would adore it! 

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You might like to also visit:

My store at Fine Art America

#dandelion #crafts #fairy 

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DIY Stamped Lampshade...❥

This post is about my DIY Stamped Lightshade, 

 

So read on...

I found this little light shade in the bargain bin at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Only $18!

I've always wanted a lamp for my built in shelving in the Red Lounge,

but have never found one that fitted the width of the shelf.

But this little lamp was the perfect fit!

Plain white base with a cream linen type shade, I decided to add some stamped images to it.

This is how I did it...

For the first row of stamps I taped one inch spaces using a 2 inch wide sellotape.

The stamp I used was a simple poppy design by Stampin' Up.

The first ink colour was a red by Dewdrop Inks.

Press the ink over the stamp...

test on a similar type fabric as the shade first if you like as you want just the right amount of ink to avoid bleed.  

Carefully press stamps onto the fabric spaces between the sellotape.

Leave to dry 10 minutes.

Remove the tape and the stamp the design again in a different colour ink. This time I used a dark grey.  The pattern was red - upside down - Grey - right way up.

Leave 10 minutes to dry.

Then I used a cream white ink to colour in the internal parts of the poppy stamp.

Place the light shade onto the base, connect a light bulb, and put in place on the shelf.

So this is how it turned out...  

In traditional Japanese aesthetics, 

Wabi sabi is a view that is centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is imperfect, flawed, impermanent or incomplete.

I'm telling you about Wabi sabi because the lampshade stamping is far from perfect. I was a little heavy-handed with the red dye. There are some imperfections with bleeding into the fabric on a couple of the stamp impressions.  

Regardless -  I think it is still beautiful.

And when I decide to change the shade...

I already have a vision of another DIY project!

Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

You might like to also visit:

My store at Fine Art America 

#homedecor #diy #lightshades #stamping

A Sweet Autumn Crocus Bowl...❥

Undeniably Springlike Crocus are an Autumn flowering sweetie here in New Zealand.

But no matter where in the world you live, when crocuses begin their flowering season, you too can create an indoor crocus bowl.

This decor arrangement is for a short term display.

You can enjoy the bulbs flowering in the bowl for two or three weeks before you will need to replant them into another pot for outside or into the garden.

Longer stems are encouraged by under-planting the bulbs beneath a shrub.

Mine were under an azalea before digging for use in this bowl.

If in full sun the flowers will appear just above the much shorter strap-like leaves.

I use a spray water bottle to keep the moss and soil damp in the bowl, but after initial planting the soaked soil is enough to keep moist so don't water it again in that first week.

Over watering will mean the bulbs will rot, and the leaves will yellow,

as a vintage leaf bowl like the one I have used has no drainage holes.

Here's how to create your Crocus Bowl:

Carefully Dig up your crocus bulbs from the garden.

Make wet mix of potting mix or garden soil.

Place in your bowl.

 Make a hollow and place your bulbs in the middle.

Hold with one hand while pushing soil around the bulbs and straighting them.

Use real moss or lichen as a cover layer on the soil.

Press the lichen or moss around and in between the planted bulbs.

This will also give them extra support to stand upright.

Then gently use a wet tissue to clean up the excess soil on the stems and the bowl.

In the wild the crocus grow in moist meadow situations.

So with bright light and afternoon sun on my lounge coffee table is a perfect position for the Crocus bowl.

And after moving here and there in my home, 

this is where it will stay.

Find out more about crocuses HERE.

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You might like to also visit:
My store at Fine Art America 


#crocus #bulbs #indoorplanter #autumnbulbs

DIY Farmhouse Vase Topper...❥

Do you have vases that you place the flowers in to and they instantly fall to the side.

Flower or foliage placement is a disaster as the stems just don't stay put?

Then your flower arrangement looks hickley pickley,

 and is not the fabulously arranged vision of beauty you had in your mind.

Do you enjoy Farmhouse styling?

Well here is an easy DIY solution to that flower arranging frustration!

Make a Farmhouse wire net vase topper.

Here's how...

You'll need a vase...

 This large decorative bowl leaks so I placed an internal vase inside it.

 You will need some chicken wire netting, and some wire cutters.

Also some gloves to protect your hands.

 Place the netting on top of the vase.

Cut the netting into a circle with a 3 centimetre excess.

 With gloved hands turn under the wire netting to make a finished edge.

 You can twist and blend all those loose wire ends or trim off.

 If you are using an internal vase in a larger vessel, fill with water.

Place your Farmhouse vase topper in place.

And prepare your chosen flowers.

Poke your trimmed flower and foliage stems into place through the holes in the wire netting.

The netting holds each stem in perfect position! 

Such a simple solution to holding the flowers and foliage stems in place.

The Farmhouse Vase topper makes for easy arrangements.

I truly wish I had made one DIY style before now.

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by joining for free HERE.

You might like to also visit:
My store at Fine Art America

#farmhouse #DIY #Flowerarranging #vasetopper

Microwave Russian Pecan Fudge ❥

Russian Fudge is my favourite kind of fudge.

But I have always found it to be the most tedious to make.

And the caramel will always catch on the bottom of the pot no matter how low the heat.

That is why I am sharing the easiest Russian Fudge recipe with y'all today.

It's so simple.

AND there is no burning on the bottom of the pot, 

because it's completely microwave made!

I have added toasted pecans to my recipe - but if nuts are not for you leave them out.

To make the fudge...

you will need a can of condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, pecans and white chocolate.

You can find the printable recipe HERE.

Melt the butter -

Add the sugar and condensed milk and cook for five 2 minute increments stirring each time.

This is what it look like after 6 minutes...

Golden beautiful - and NO burny bits!

After the last 2 minutes - remove from microwave and add the pecans and white chocolate.

Quickly mix with a wooden spoon and spread into a baking paper lined slice pan.

It's so delicious.

I always 'snapchat' the family, and they all appear for a share.

Once you have made Russian fudge in the microwave, 

I doubt you'll return to the pot-cooked version...

it is that GOOD!

You might like to also visit:
My store at Fine Art America 

Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

#sweets #fudge #Russianfudge #microwavecooking #homemade #pecans