Holiday

How to Make Fake Snowballs for Decor

January 2, 2021 by Bre 8 Comments

Learn to make your own fake snowballs for adorable winter decor!

With Christmas decorations packed away, the house can feel stark! Because of that, it’s fun to add some winter-themed decor to the mix.

One great way to do that is to make fake snowballs for decor. They’re easy to make, inexpensive, and look great in vases, jars, bowls – anywhere really! They’re a beautiful winter vase filler.

This is so cute for winter decor! Learn to make fake snowballs - they look great as winter vase fillers, popped in a bowl, or displayed with some greenery for a seasonal touch.

Supplies Needed to Make Fake Snowballs

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.

To make DIY fake snowballs, you really only need three main supplies! Many of the items can be purchased at the dollar store, or you can get them through the links I’m sharing here.

White foam balls in multiple sizes
Epsom salt
Mod Podge (any finish will work)
Mixing container and stir stick
Recommended: disposable gloves

How to Make Fake Snowballs for Decor

Before you get started crafting up some beautiful snowballs, I highly recommend that you put on a pair of disposable gloves! This project is really messy, and I think you will not be happy if you’re not wearing gloves.

I keep a large package of disposable gloves on hand all the time (get it – ha!), because they’re invaluable when it comes to crafts & DIY!

Now that my warning is complete, let me show you how to do this!

Create the snow mixture

Begin by mixing Epsom salt and Mod Podge in some type of mixing container. You can eyeball the amount – I probably did a little less Epsom salt than Mod Podge.

Once those ingredients are mixed together, you need to work quickly because the Epsom salt will start to absorb the Mod Podge!

Coat the foam balls with the mixture

Start rolling a foam ball into the Epsom salt and Mod Podge mixture, coating the ball with the mixture.

As the mixture thickens, you will start pressing it onto the foam ball more than rolling the ball in the mixture. This will create lumps and texture, and that’s perfect!

A snowball is not perfectly round, so you want this variation in texture and coverage.

Set it aside and repeat

When you have a good amount of mixture distributed around the foam ball, set it aside to dry, and repeat with the other foam balls.

These should be dry and ready to display in a few hours, depending on the amount of Mod Podge you used and the humidity in the room.

Need some winter decor inspiration? Check out my Simple Winter Decor Ideas post!

Something important to note is that it is unlikely your entire foam ball will be covered with the Epsom salt / Mod Podge mixture. There will be parts of the foam ball still visible. That is OK!

Because the floral foam is white, it still gives the appearance of snow – especially when combined with the other parts that have the Epsom salt / Mod Podge mixture.

So what do you think? Will you try making some fake snowballs for your winter decor this year?

DIY Toilet Paper Roll Ornament

November 17, 2020 by Bre 4 Comments

Never did I ever think that a DIY Toilet Paper Roll Ornament is something I would make . . . let alone blog about! But alas, here we are in 2020 where everything is weird! A toilet paper roll ornament is just what we need to decorate our trees this year, and to remember everything we’ve been through in 2020 – including the great toilet paper shortage!

Seriously though, this ornament brings a smile to my face. I remember being elated to find a package of toilet paper at Target sometime in April, and I also remember telling my kids to only use two sheets at a time! I even wrote a Facebook post lamenting how I used to take the TP for granted.

SO BIZARRE!

I have a feeling many of you can relate: this was an experience that brought us all together! So grab some simple supplies and whip up a bunch of these toilet paper roll ornaments for your friends and family. You won’t believe how easy they are to make!

Supplies Needed to Make DIY Toilet Paper Roll Ornaments

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Paper straw (preferably in brown, or in a light color so you can color it with a marker)
White felt (I used a standard 9″ x 12″ size sheet)
Sharp scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Brown marker (unless you found brown paper straws with brown insides)
Fine tip paint marker (I used these metallic paint markers. They worked the best of the ones I tested, which included Sharpies and acrylic paint markers)
Hot glue and hot glue gun
Thin ribbon or colored twine

How to Make a DIY Toilet Paper Roll Ornament

Start by cutting off a piece of the paper straw to be about 3″ long.

Next, color the outer edges and inner edges of the paper straw with the brown marker.

Once the marker has dried on the straw, lay the straw piece at the bottom of a piece of white felt, and mark the edge with pencil. Do this again at the top of the felt. Then, use the ruler to connect those two markings, and draw a faint line with the pencil onto the felt.

Cut out that strip of felt, and then repeat this process to cut a second piece of felt the exact same width.

Next, hot glue one strip of felt to the paper straw. Just put a thin line of hot glue onto the straw, and press the felt on top of that.

Now, carefully roll that strip of felt around the straw. Every once in a while, dab some hot glue onto the felt to hold it in place as you’re rolling.

When you finish rolling the first strip of felt, glue it down. Then, put a thin line of hot glue right where that piece of felt ends, and place the second strip of felt onto the hot glue. The felt strips should be flush with one another. (No, that’s not a bathroom joke. HA!)

Continue rolling and gluing until you’ve almost rolled that entire second strip of felt around the straw. Leave a slight tail hanging, and hot glue the felt slightly above that tail.

Next, use a paint marker (I used these metallic paint markers as they wrote the cleanest and boldest of others that I tested), to write the year 2020 on the tail, and also to add dashes around the “toilet paper” to show the perforation marks. I accidentally wrote the year a little off center, so I popped a tiny heart next to the year, too.

Finally, thread a skinny piece of ribbon or colored twine through the paper straw to create the ornament hanger.

With that, you’ve created a special ornament to help cement this awful year in your mind, to be remembered every Christmas from here on out. Hahahaha!

Tell me in the comments below – do you have a funny toilet paper-related memory from 2020?

-Bre

CHECK OUT OTHER CHRISTMAS CRAFTS & DECOR IN MY CHRISTMAS GALLERY!

Floral Candy Corn Topiary: A Unique DIY Fall Decoration

September 18, 2020 by Bre Leave a Comment

Fall is my favorite season for everything! Decorating, food, clothing – you name it! Oh and I can’t forget crafting, too. I LOVE coming up with fun fall crafts like this Floral Candy Corn Topiary!

Love it or hate in, candy corn is synonymous with fall, so this darling topiary is the perfect touch for any fall space.

Supplies Needed to Make a Candy Corn Topiary

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Floral foam cone
Floral foam block
Faux flowers in yellow, orange, and white
Dowel
Container (pot or vase)
Floral moss
Black paint and paint brush
Decorative ribbon
Optional: hot glue and hot glue gun

Note: you can get all of these supplies at Dollar Tree except the floral foam cone. That you need to buy at a craft store or via the provided link.

How to Make a Candy Corn Topiary

I made this candy corn topiary as a video tutorial for my TikTok page, so I don’t have complete step-by-step photos for you, but I do have all the information you need in video form, and also written form for added help! (PS I LOVE TikTok and am praying that it isn’t banished from the U.S.!)

Candy Corn Topiary Video

Watch me make this topiary and then read the instructions below!

Candy Corn Topiary Written Instructions

Step one: cut yellow flowers short so that only a small part of the stem remains. Press yellow flowers into the base of the floral cone, about 1/3 of the way up the cone.

Step two: repeat this process with the orange flowers, and then with the white flowers. (Note: if any of the flowers don’t have stems that easily push into the floral foam, simply hot glue them to the cone like I did for the white flowers.)

Step three: push a dowel into the bottom of the floral foam cone. Then, press the other end of the dowel into another piece of floral foam, which will rest inside the pot or container.

Step four: tie a bow on the dowel, just underneath the floral foam cone.

Step five: hot glue floral moss on top of the floral foam in the pot or container.

Let me know what you think of this cute DIY fall decoration craft! And . . . do you love candy corn or hate it? 🙂

-Bre

P.S. Check out my fall DIYs and crafts project gallery!

DIY Spring Door Hanger: Adorable Carrot Door Decor

March 5, 2020 by Bre Leave a Comment

Want to make the cutest DIY spring door hanger for your front door? This adorable carrot door decor is it!

Have you gotten the spring decorating bug yet? It hasn’t hit for me, but I am feeling excited that spring will officially be here soon!

My crafty thoughts have turned to spring, and that’s why I just loved making this cute Carrot Door Hanger!

Before we go any further, I have a confession. “Carrot” is a word that I ALWAYS struggle to spell! “Are there two ‘r’s’, two ‘t’s’. . . two of both?” The struggle is real, my friends!

Alright now that you know I might not be the winner of the school spelling bee, let’s get down to business! I will show you how to transform a plain wood carrot cutout into this cute piece of spring decor!

(And if you just happen to LOVE carrots, check out this adorable DIY Easter Carrot Decor project you can make when you finish this one!)

Supplies Needed to Make a Carrot DIY Spring Door Hanger

I will show you what I used to make this project. I purchased everything in-store at Michaels, but I’ve linked to similar products on Amazon if you prefer to shop online. Some of these links are affiliate links, and you can learn more about those in my disclosure statement.

Unfinished wood carrot cutout
“Welcome” or “hello” word unfinished wood cutout (or wood craft letters)
Scrapbook paper (orange pattern and green pattern)
Mod Podge decoupage medium in matte finish
White craft paint
Small artist brush
Foam brush
Craft ribbon in a variety of patterns and colors
Scissors
Craft knife
Hot glue gun
Optional: brayer, fine grit sandpaper, hanging twine

Instructions for Making a Spring Door Hanger

This little carrot door decor project comes together really quickly, and the best part of it is that you can apply the techniques used here to lots of different projects going forward!

Start by spreading a thin layer of Mod Podge on the bottom part (the orange part) of the unfinished wood carrot.

Then, press the orange scrapbook paper onto the Mod Podge. If you have a brayer, use it to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles in the scrapbook paper.

If you don’t have a brayer, you can gently smooth out the paper with your hands.

Let the Mod Podge dry for about 20 minutes. When the paper feels like it is attached to the wooden carrot, flip it over and use the craft knife to cut the excess scrapbook paper from the outer edge of the carrot.

Flip it over and repeat this process with the green scrapbook paper on the top of the unfinished wood carrot. This will look like the carrot stem.

After the base layer of Mod Podge has dried, spread a thin layer of Mod Podge all over the top of the carrot.

Let it dry for at least twenty minutes. Once the Mod Podge is dry, lightly sand along the edges of the carrot to remove any pieces of scrapbook paper that didn’t get cut off with the craft knife.

Then, to add a little depth to the project, dry brush a little white craft paint along the edges of the carrot.

While you have the white paint out, dry brush a little on the “Welcome” word, and then hot glue that to the carrot.

Next, cut pieces of varying ribbon and tie them into a knot. Then, hot glue them onto the carrot where the orange part meets the green.

And with that, your adorable DIY spring door hanger / carrot door hanger is finished!

(NOTE: If you purchase a different wood carrot cutout than I purchased, you may need to add a hanger to the back. Simply staple or hot glue a looped piece of twine to the back!)

Hang it on your door alone, or add it to another wreath (like a plain greenery wreath) for a darling spring touch!

I gave this carrot wreath to my mother-in-law, but I think I might need to make another one for myself!

Please pin this post to help others find this great springtime craft.

How to Make a Jingle Bell Wood Bead Garland for Christmas

October 31, 2019 by Bre 2 Comments

Learn to make a wood bead garland with jingle bells – it’s the perfect, simple Christmas decor!

In my humble opinion, Christmas decor feels even more special when it’s handmade. The time and care that goes into making the decor elevate it to a new level.

One of the simplest and most festive pieces of handmade Christmas decor you can make is a garland, and this Jingle Bell Wood Bead Garland is a versatile piece that can be used anywhere!

Wood bead garlands are a decor staple these days, but the addition of jingle bells and festive holiday ribbon to a regular garland makes this wood bead garland extra special for Christmas!

Plus, it is oh-so-easy to put together, and it’s a great project to get your children to help with. It’s really that simple!

Materials Needed for a Wood Bead Jingle Bell Garland

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Wooden beads in varying sizes
Jingle bells in varying sizes
Baker’s twine
Needle with large eye
Christmas ribbon
Scissors

How to Make a Wood Bead Jingle Bell Garland

Begin by folding a long piece of baker’s twine in half and threading it through a needle with a large eye. (You want to fold the baker’s twine in half to give it more strength once you start stringing the wood beads and jingle bells.)

I chose red and white baker’s twine because it is so Christmasy! It reminds me of a candy cane.

Once the needle is threaded, tie a knot at the opposite end of the twine to hold the pieces together.

Next, begin stringing wooden beads onto the twine. I used a mix of sizes of wood beads, and I alternated them.

Using a needle was essential for getting the twine through the beads. I don’t honestly think you could make a wood bead garland without a needle!

Then, I also added in different sizes of jingle bells to the garland. For my garland I strung four wood beads, then a bell, and alternated that pattern all the way down the length of the twine.

When I got to the end of the twine, I tied off that end. Then I got to work making ribbon tassels to add to the ends of the wood bead garland.

Love a Handmade Christmas? I Think You’ll Like This Idea, Too!

DIY Holiday Simmer Pot Gift

Making the ribbon tassels was so easy! Just cut four pieces of Christmas ribbon, stack them on top of one another, fold in half, and tie a piece of baker’s twine around them near the top to secure and form a tassel.

Once the tassels are made, loop the ends of the baker’s twine through the loops in the tassels and tie to secure.

After that, the garland is complete!

Depending on how long you make it, it would look beautiful on a Christmas tree or Christmas mantel!

If you opt for a shorter version, you could put it around a vase, on a tiered tray decorated for Christmas, or simply laid on a table as part of a Christmas vignette.

The wood bead garland I made has 40 wood beads, 10 bells, and measures 34″ long, excluding the tassels. Those figures might help you calculate how many of each supply you need to make a shorter or longer wood bead garland.

So what are you waiting for? Grab the supplies you need and get to stringing! And make sure you pin this image on Pinterest so you can easily find this tutorial again when you need it.

DIY Decor Tags {A Versatile Christmas Decor Craft}

October 24, 2019 by Bre Leave a Comment

Before you get mad and tell me it’s not even Halloween yet, let me explain why I’m sharing a Christmas craft in October. I am moving (you can read more about that here), and as a result, a lot of my craft supplies are boxed up AND I can’t decorate my house for fall or Halloween because of showings, etc.

Because of that, I’m limited in what creative muscles I can flex right now, and this easy Christmas craft was just right! It’s a transformation of Dollar Tree printed chipboard tag ornaments into darling buffalo check decor tags that add a special touch to Christmas decorations!

Large scale decor tags have been popping up all over the stores, and this project gave me a chance to put my own twist on the trend. Everything I used can be purchased at Dollar Tree, so you know it’s also extremely budget-friendly!

Where To Use Large Decor Tags

Before I give you all the details on how to make your own decor tags, you might be wondering WHY you’d make these tags. What do you use decor tags for? The answer is – just about anything! They’re actually really versatile and add a pop of interest anywhere you put them. Some favorite uses for decor tags are:

added to wreaths for a seasonal touch
in a tiered tray (these are all the rage over on Instagram and Pinterest. I might be the only person who doesn’t have a tiered tray to decorate.)
hanging on a doorknob
hanging from a vase or planter
tied together as standalone door decor
grouped in a basket as part of a larger vignette

Hopefully those ideas spark an idea for you of where you could use similar decor tags in your own home!

Supplies Used to Make Large Decor Tags

Now, let’s get down to business! Here’s what you need to make these cute Christmas decor tags.

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Decorative chipboard tag ornaments (not currently available online, but the large size chipboard tags are available online)
Buffalo check wrapping paper (not currently available online)
Matte Mod Podge
Scissors
Paint brush
Poster sticker letters
Red truck mini ornaments (4 pack) (not currently available online)
Jingle bells
Twine
Black and silver acrylic paint
Fine grain sandpaper

How to Make Christmas Tags for Decor

To help you find in store the exact tags I used for this project, here they are!

Flip them over to the flat backside (the fronts have some raised glitter on them), and cut wrapping paper to be slightly larger than the tags. Then, trace the tags onto the back of the wrapping paper.

Cut out the tag shapes from the wrapping paper. Then, place a thin coat of Mod Podge over the entire chipboard tag.

Carefully place the wrapping paper that you cut to the shape of a tag on top of the Mod Podge chipboard tag.

Carefully smooth out any wrinkles and make sure that the wrapping paper is flattened all over. Set the tag aside to dry. This will take about 20 minutes.

Once the tag seems dry, gently rub the edges of the wrapping paper with sandpaper. This will remove any wrapping paper that’s sticking over the edge of the chipboard tag.

Next, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top of the wrapping paper. This will help seal the wrapping paper onto the tag, and it will remove the shiny finish of the wrapping paper.

Set it aside to dry. As it dries, you will notice that the hazy finish disappears. Yay!

Once it’s dry, gently brush a bit of black paint around the edges of the tag to give it an aged look.

Then, apply the poster stickers to write out words that fit on the tags. I think four letters are the max that will fit with these poster stickers on these tags.

Use a pencil to poke a hole through the wrapping paper at the top, and then, for an added touch of authenticity, paint a silver circle around the hole.

String twine through the hole, and add decorative elements to the twine. I used the cutest little red truck ornaments from Dollar Tree and silver jingle bells. But, you could get creative and add whatever embellishments you like!

See how easy it is to upgrade the look of these Dollar Tree tags with just a few simple tweaks? You get a totally adorable look for hardly any money at all. I just love when decor works out that way!

-Bre

Here’s Another Great Dollar Tree Christmas Craft! Check Out This Dollar Tree Christmas Cloche!