December 1, 2011

Coffee Filter Wreath

I know these have been in blog land for a while but I finally made my own coffee filter wreath. I actually made a natural one for me, a white one for my mom, and another natural colored one for the craft show. The pictures are of the one I made for the craft show.

Here is what you will need: a wreath, coffee filters, a glue gun, and glue sticks.




I used a straw wreath for the natural colored ones I made and a white Styrofoam one for the white one I made for my mom


natural colored coffee filters - this package had 200 I use more than this with the first one I made but this was enough for the second one I made.


I used some natural colored wrapping paper to wrap the straw wreath. I thought this would give it a nicer look from the back. I know who is going to see the back?


See it is looking better already.


I used a 14" wreath


I found the center of the coffee filter and placed a good amount of hot glue and placed it on the wreath. I started from the outside of the wreath and worked my way to the inside. (this picture was taken of the first one I made see I didn't wrap it to start with, but I did go back and wrap the back side.



This is the beginning of the first row.



I started the second row leaving a space of about 1/2 inch between the first row.  I didn't do this on the first one I made and that is the reason it took more than 200 of the coffee filters. Keep doing this until you get to the center, I did three rows with this wreath and five rows with the first one I made. I think they both turned out fine, if you want a fuller wreath then glue the filters closer together.



Here she is the finished product. I will try to take a picture of the first one I made and add it in later but my battery for my camera is charging.


I added a piece of natural jute to hang the wreath. I just ran it in between the filters and tied it in a knot then spaced it about four inches and did the same thing.
I hope you like my coffee filter wreath, it wasn't hard to make but did take a couple of hours for me to make. I did get up and walk away a couple of times so it might not even take that long. Oh and the best part. . . it didn't cost a lot to make. I hope you will try one for yourself.

Have a blessed day.
Penny

Reindeer and Snowmen

I have been working on some things for a craft show that my dad is going to and I wanted to send a few things with him. Yesterday I spent most of my day making "Magic Reindeer Food and Snowman Poop"!

This should have been a quick and easy project for me but of course it wasn't. I had read on another blog where someone had used the paper you wrap items to be mailed in (sorry I can't think of the name but you get the picture) they had used this to print on. Well I am obviously challenged in this area because this didn't go so well for me. I measured it and cut long strips off the roll.....


I then cut the paper into 8 1/2"  x 11" sheets to print the topper for my magic reindeer food. I should point out I have an older printer that has seen better days but it jammed almost every time I tried to print. The paper I bought came from the Dollar Tree so the more expensive kind might be thicker. Oh well on with the show....

This is what I used to make my magic reindeer food: cheap oats, colored sugar I bought mine at Wal-Mart but I have seen this at the Dollar Tree. I did find some clear bags at the Dollar Tree and it had 40 bags in the package. I also used a reindeer stamp that I purchased at Michael's but I forgot to put it in the picture.



I filled each bag with 1/4 cup of the oats


1/4 teaspoon each colored sugar, some of the recipes I looked at call for glitter and some of the ones I read suggested the sugar instead because it was better for the environment. I chose to use the sugar because it will dissolve when it snows or rains.


I folded the bags over and added a piece of tape to keep them closed then I added the top that I printed out.


As you can see I printed a couple on red paper but I really liked the rustic look the brown paper added. I plan on making some more and taking it to my students I don't really think they will mind which kind of paper I decide to use.

The saying that goes along with the reindeer food is:
Sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home

Now onto the snowman poop.
Here is what you will need: One bag of miniature marshmallows, more of the small bags like I used for the reindeer food (be sure to check at the Dollar Tree in the party supply area for ones like I used), snowman stamp and stamp pad and a stapler.


Because I am OCD I put 12 marshmallows in each bag. I know you are laughing but I ended up being able to fill 40 bags and I only had 2 marshmallows left so just think what could have happened if I hadn't counted. I used blue paper for the topper and printed the saying out onto it and then added the stamp.


I didn't tape these because I wasn't worried the marshmallows might  fall out. I also need to add that I cut the toppers for both projects 4" x4" folded them in half and stapled.
I think they both turned out cute, who wouldn't want to receive either of these?

I almost forgot here is what the snowman poop said:

Hear you have been naughty
So here is the scoop....
All you get this year is
SNOWMAN POOP

I hope you like these two projects and will make some reindeer food for your children, grandchildren or children who are special to you and well the snowman poop for someone who needs a laugh.

I have some more projects I am finishing up and will post about soon. Here is a peak at one I am working on. . . . . .




While you decide what I am working on I hope you have a blessed day.
Penny