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One store I will never pass up a trip to is Pottery Barn, even if their prices are a little out of my comfort zone. Actually, there are quite a few on that list, but Pottery Barn is the one that I can leave feeling inspired and not silently crying on the inside {I'm looking at you Restoration Hardware!}.
A few weeks ago, we took an after Christmas shopping excursion to Austin and my mom swung by Pottery Barn. Browsing through the store I found this pillow on a bed display.
We re-did our bedroom this last year in black and white and I have been adding some red for a pop of color. This pillow would be perfect, but at almost $40 for just the pillow cover, I put it back. I knew I would immediately feel buyer's remorse spending that much on a pillow and...I'm guilty of not making the bed unless we're expecting company. I know, I know. I really should, I always admire the bed when it's made, makes me feel like I'm a grown up or something. Plus, I would freak out every time I saw someone using the $40 pillow.
So this pillow has been sitting in the back of my mind for the last few weeks.
And then it hit me. We have this gigantic wall in our bedroom that I have been wondering what to do with.
I also have a husband that wishes that I would make more cool signs that actually stay in our home instead of being taken to the shop. So why not take the concept of the pillow and make it in to a sign?! Duh!!
I think my husband was a little stunned that he went to bed last night to me watching tv and woke up to his wife with red paint splattered on the side of her arm and a brand new sign waiting for it's final sanding. I think he was even more shocked when I told him the paint was from a sign I had made for our bedroom.
I love the pop of red. The font makes me smile.
The distressing reminds me of how true love stands up to the test of time.
But best of all...it has given me that vision of what I want to do with the wall. My plan is to take all these quotes and song lyrics about love that have been locked in my head and get them down on wood and up on the wall.
I know, we haven't even celebrated Halloween yet and here I am with a Christmas tutorial! If you need to get in the Christmas mood, try Coffee-Mate Peppermint Mocha in your coffee. I've been struggling to get myself going on getting Christmas products made and a little of this in my coffee and I was annoying my husband with Christmas carols.
Now on to what you're here for...
Last year I was playing around and made this. It's a water-less snow globe that is so simple yet beautiful. Plus you don't have to worry about the water leaking or turning that weird cloudy mess that they sometimes do.
I wanted to make more, but my holiday orders started way quicker than I expected. Plus I'm super afraid to make these to ship since they are glass. The good news? They are super easy and inexpensive to make!
Here is a photo of the must have supplies:
A variety of Christmas trees (or whatever you want to use), artificial snow flakes (if you are close to a Hobby Lobby these are 40% off!), some type of glue and glass jars. I use the E6000 since mine are for sale and I would like whatever I put in there to stick. And for the glass jars, you can use whatever you have on hand, just make sure that they are cleaned out very well. All you moms with little ones still eating baby food, instant Christmas gifts from the little one!
Here are the fun things to add, this is where you can go crazy with ideas.
I had baker's twine, bells, mini tree ornaments and a small wreath on hand to use. I also had some glitter that's not in the picture.
Take the lids off the jars you are using and do a dry run to see how everything fits.
You can group trees together or even try using the jar standing upright. As you can see below, I decided that the tall jar was too big for the trees and swapped it out for the medium size one.
Take your glue and dab a bit to the bottom of your tree. If you are using the E6000 or something that has a bit of time until it sets up, let it sit for a minute or so to let the glue get a little more tacky. You'll see why in the next photo.
See the poor tree on the left leaning? I liked the quirkiness of it so I let him be, but if you prefer yours to stand at attention, let the glue set up a bit and then hold it in place for about 30 seconds.
This is the messy part, adding the snow. One thing I found is that when you are using the jar upside down, it's easier to add a little snow in the lid first and then add more to the jar if you would like more. Fill it up as far as you would like!
At this time is when I added some glitter to this set. I use a product called Glamour Dust, it's a very fine glitter and it will stick to you. I used some to give some of my Halloween decorations a bit of sparkle and I looked like a walking disco ball when the light hit me for a few days!
I give it a little shake so that it will cling to the jar and give it a little sparkle.
I used some of the mini Christmas ornaments in this one for a little color.
Next is to add the lids! Since there is no water involved there is no need to use glue to permanently seal them. Now you can dress them up on the outside if you feel like it. If they are gifts for the grandparents the kids can sign the lid or even use the round labels they make for the canning jars.
I just wrapped some baker's twine around the top of one jar and added a few bells for some jingle.
I used the mini wreath to display the other one if you are looking for a more simple look.
Like I said before, you can use so much more than trees for your snow globes. I found these guys at Hobby Lobby.
They stand about 3 inches tall and are so fun in jars!
I also added some vinyl lettering to dress him up.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to making these and they are so simple that they are great for little ones to help with! If you have any questions or I missed something, leave me a comment. I would love to see some of your creations also! Feel free to share a picture on my Facebook page!
Happy Independence Day early!! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th. We are heading out in a bit for some late night catfish fishing with friends. Don't know how long it will last, the girls think they've got what it takes for camping but once the sun goes down they'll probably be ready to come home the first time the bushes rustle.
Anyways, before I go I wanted to give you a link to a wonderful site that I have gotten some great supplies and items from. Pick Your Plum sends you a deal everyday (M-F) and if it's something you like, you better get it then because their items are priced to sell quick. PLUS, them adding a little sweet treat to the bottom of your shipping package is pretty awesome too! They are offering a free 4th of July printable that would add a whole lot of fun to your 4th of July BBQ!! Just click on the link below (this will open in a new window).
Pick Your Plum 4th of July Free Printable!
Therapy...the word can scare some people but truth is we all need some type of therapy from time to time. This journey that I'm on with my business can get the best of me some days. Add the stress of kids home for summer break, a messy house, deadlines and an upcoming holiday, I'm pretty sure it would break some people. Don't get me wrong, I love this. I love the deadlines, I love my customers and I love the sometimes chaos that is my life and wouldn't trade any of it for the world. So the other day I found myself staring at this.
My half empty cup of coffee from that morning, used rags, empty paint bottles, a bunch of stuff. A little voice told me that if I sat down here I would go crazy and for once I listened. Cue the therapy...
But it gets better...
Me, my camo chair, the $40 dresser, paint and a bike using the back of the dresser as a parking spot hanging out in the hot garage with Pandora blasting from my iPod. Yes, I do live in Texas and yes it was HOT, but at that time it reminded me that I love what I do. Yes I was surrounded by junk still, but it was new junk. Finally getting that dresser painted in the middle of the chaos of orders was all the therapy I needed. That and knowing that my singing at the top of my lungs was probably causing people walking past to walk a little faster just so they didn't have to witness what was going on behind that door if it opened!
So my question to you is, what's your therapy??
