DIY Willow Wreath...

The countdown to Christmas is truly underway, have you been doing any planning?
I thought I had better get a move on with that,
 so I sat down with pen and notepad, and planned away!
Every year I have a colour theme,
and this year it will be the traditional red, dark green and white.
I'm going to make book page butterflies, Scotty dog decorations in white felt, and a decorated wreath.
Those bits will go nicely with the felt reindeer made last year,
and all the other Christmasy things, I have made or collected over the years.
Don't you just LOVE Christmas?
When do you decorate your house?
Are you like me and decorate in the first week of December?
The large willow wreath was today's creation.
 It should be dry enough to decorate in a few weeks.
Here is how you make a willow wreath...
There is a little willow tree in the house paddock at Mia Bella Gardens, so I gathered some of it.
You will need to pick the more flexible new growth.
How to make a willow wreath
As well as some thin wire and secateurs.
How to make a willow wreath
The next task was to strip the leaves and tips from the willow...
How to make a willow wreath
 Then cut some small pieces of wire...
How to make a willow wreath
 Choosing some of the longer lengths of willow bend into a circle.
How to make a willow wreath
 Using the wire, bind it together in three of four places.
How to make a willow wreath
 Don't worry if it's not perfectly round, 
for you will shape it as you weave more willow into it.
How to make a willow wreath
 Keep weaving and twisting, poking the willow into the circle.
Give it a squish and help it shape into a circle.
How to make a willow wreath
If you have access to willow, have a go at making a wreath...
It is lovely to work with as it is so supple.
It took me about 3/4 of an hour to make this....
Quite therapeutic actually, all that weaving.
How to make a willow wreath
 And here it is...ready to hang and dry...
Don't the poppies look pretty framed by my DIY willow wreath?
NZ Lifestyle Bloggers
For updates about the latest blog posts,
you can join for free HERE.

#howtomakeawillowwreath  #wreathmakingtips #wreaths

Mod Podge Creation Reveal...

Yesterday a French look DIY pot was created...
Find the 'how do do it' info here:
How to mod Podge Transfer on pots
24 hours of drying time later, with my bowl of water and cloth in hand...
I start to wet the label...
AND THEN...
SHOCK, 
HORROR...
 realised I had modpodged over it yesterday 
when that is NOT what you do!
NOTE TO SELF (for future craft sessions)
PRINT the instructions.
Don't just read online and then think you will remember how to do it.
So here is what I should have done...
How to do a transfer on a pot
Brushed the modpodge onto the label....
How to mod Podge Transfer on pots
Smoothed it onto the pot... 
How to do a transfer on a pot
Then left it to dry for 24 hours.
Thank you 'Heavens Walk' for those instructions.
How to mod Podge Transfer on pots
So because of my mistake,
The removal of the label was a painstaking event!
It took quite a while to soak the top paper layer off.
But get it off, I did!
One coat of clear sealer later...
How to mod Podge Transfer on pots
It was complete.
In the end, it worked,
even though I thought I was heading for a DIY craft disaster!
Yay!  The final result is one super cool French look pot. 
That will look fabulous in my laundry revamp (= ongoing project!)
Now that I actually know how to do this correctly,
I will definitely be creating some more!
DIY Tin Can Vase Crafts
The vase was a great success...
DIY Tin Can Vase Crafts
 and looks fab on the mantel. 
French Country Decor
 It sits next to the fleurs basket...
Mia Bella Passions Blog
Filled with 
snowball tree flowers, roses...
and pretty purple blue Japanese irises.
DIY Tin Can Vase
 I am loving this wee bit of BLING
as the colours complement the violet fabric perfectly.
NZ Lifestyle Blogs
Get updates about the latest blog posts,

by joining for free HERE.

#craftideas #howtodoamodpodgetransfer 

Mod Podge Craft Session...

Mod Podge is such fun stuff...
and I had so much creating a few new décor pieces...
The other day I painted in the garden! 
A terracotta pot and saucer...
with a little bit of white.
Then today gathered together 
all the bit and pieces I thought I would need...
mod podge, string, printed images, a painted pot, a jar, and some beads...
 a bit of bling and some pretty fabric too...
 But what to create?
 I had seen a tutorial on how to make a DIY French Country style pot at 
'Heaven's Walk' blog...
so thought I'd give it a go.
For the full tutorial visit:
 And I had also seen fabric mod podged onto a tin to make a vase on 'Pinterest'...
and that's what I created first. 
And at the same time pasted a 'Graphic's Fairy' French typography graphic on the front of the flip lid jar... 
 Fabric on old hot chocolate tin, and graphic on jar...
Don't you adore the fabulous graphics available?
Have you seen the wonderful graphics at 'The Graphic's fairy'?
Visit Karen and have a look:
 On the bottom of the tin another strip of pretty violet fabric
with the top edge cut with pinking shears for a pretty effect was mod podged .
 'Mouse' said "Craft party...where?"
"Oh here...can I play too?"
 "I LOVE CRAFT!"
 "Beads and wire are soooo much FUN!"
 'Mouse' you really are a pain! 
 How can I create beaded pretties with you trying to eat everything?
 Wire is bad for kitty cats, you know!
 Eventually the game of cat and mouse was won...
and the 'Mouse' did not win!  
A beaded and jewelled bit of bling
 was created to accessorise the mod podged fabric tin...
 Next another  'Graphic's Fairy' French typography graphic 
was cut out to mod podge onto the painted pot...
 This one is a mirror or reverse graphic...
What you do is put lots of mod podge onto the printed side of the graphic,
 press into position on the pot...
(NOTE: DON'T PASTE OVER THE GRAPHIC once placed on the pot as shown in this photo, 
....visit tomorrows post to find out why!)
Then WAIT!
Yes - WAIT - a whole 24 hours...
With no poking or peeking...
which is next to impossible if you are the most impatient person in the world!
But wait I am going to...
because I really want this to work.
Meantime - the graphic on the jar had dried...
so into the cute little jar went the wooden pegs.
(This is for my Laundry revamp currently in progress!)
Why don't you pop back and visit the blog tomorrow to see the end results
at the 'Mod Podge Creation Reveal'?