Creative Closets

So much has happened! A New Year, a new job and a new apartment! I have been so blessed these last few months, but I have been busy leaving not much time for extras like blogging. Moving to a new place has flexed our DIY muscles. Spencer and I have had to get creative. For starters, there are no closets in our new apartment.

This post is about the direction we decided to take when it came to our closets. Below is a list of items we used to create our closets. I hope this inspires you!

• (2) Book selves
• (1) Wooden rod
• (2) Metal shelf brackets
• (4) Drywall screws
• (2) 1/2 inch screws

Additional items

• Shelf extenders- Ikea

The bookcases are from Craigslist. The small bookcase is from a garage sale.
The baskets are from Target. 

I used shelf extenders to get more shoes on the shelf.

Yes, it's not the most beautiful organization but there is
only so much a husband will stand. 

I plan to install a curtain. That post will come later. Stay tuned!

The Countdown Begins

It is officially December and only 23 days until Christmas. What about that shopping list? It is so easy to be swept up in the commercialism of the season. Gift giving should be fun! Making some of your gifts is a simple way to keep the season festive.

Last week was music ornaments. This week....ornaments! and up cycled mittens.


The ornaments are so simple.

Jute Ornaments

What you'll need:

• Scissors
• Twine or Jute
• Hot Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Ornaments

Wrap the jute around the ornament starting at
the top securing with hot glue as you go.
(Told you it was simple!)

Up Cycled Mittens

This project is more on the intermediate level. On a side note, I used the sweater sleeves for stylish knitted "socks" with my boots.

*I had a difficult time keeping my two layers together even with pins. Next time, I might use paper to stiffen my layers up.

**If you plan on making multiples, create a pattern to make the process quicker.

What you'll need:

• Sewing machine
• Old sweater
• Scissors
• Color coordinating thread
• Pins
• Chalk, pencil or marker (to draw your mitten)

I simply traced my hands with a permanent marker.

My mittens are not even...O.K. for a first try.

Secure with pins.

Slowly sew around the edges removing pins.

The finished product!

All photos are property of Cassondra Eller. All rights reserved.

Music Ornaments

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! I feel no shame putting decorations up before Thanksgiving. It's a free for all after Halloween. I love the feelings created by white lights and holiday songs recorded by Dean Martin. Here is another idea to spruce up your tree or give as a gift to the music lover in your life.

What you'll need:

• Clear ornaments ($4 at Big Lots)
• Sheet music (I had old choral arrangements. You could print some from online.)
• Scissors  
• Pencil

A few pieces of sheet music will go a long way.

Simply cut into 1/4 inch strips.

This step can be a little tedious. Wrap strips around your finger
or a pencil. I made mine tight because they unwound.

Simple clear bulbs.

All I did was unwrap the strips and they curled up. Sometimes
they need a little help and that is were a pencil helps them along.

Hang on your tree and enjoy!

All rights reserved. Photos property of Cassondra Eller.

Winter Wreath Making

This spring I found a sale of Christmas items. I really wanted to start my holiday decoration collection. For my first project, I am decorating a wreath. I gravitate towards natural colors- greens, browns and metallics.

Things you will need:

• Spooled wire (28 gauge)
• Wire Cutters
• Evergreen wreath (found at most craft stores)
• Anything you want to decorate your wreath

 The diameter of my wreath is 20 inches.

 This wreath has wire backing to attach your decorations.

 Wire and wire cutters.

 All of these items follow a metallic theme.

Layout everything before attaching to the back wire.

The final project! I'm looking for thin ribbon to weave

through the wreath.

All images are copyright of Cassondra Eller

BabyQ...a non-traditional baby shower!

Most of my high school and college friends are parents. I have had the pleasure of celebrating this milestone with them. In fact, today is my best friend Danielle's first day back to work from maternity leave. I am going to back track a couple of months to show you her baby shower.


Danielle and her husband live in Wisconsin. So, when they are home get-togethers are a big deal. The same rule applied for the baby shower. The idea for a couple's baby shower came up. Now, some may argue that men really do not add to the party. However, it was important to Danielle and her large family to see each other.


The BabyQ...The BBQ

Venue: Danbury Township Hall- It is a public space and free. (No rental fee)

Date: Early June

Invitations: Purchased from Zazzle.com

Food: Grilled hotdogs and hamburgers along with chips, cake, pasta, potato and fruit salad.

Beverage: Pink lemonade and water

Favors: Red and White popcorn from the Great Lakes Popcorn Factory.
http://www.greatlakespopcorn.com

Weather: It was very windy. We used a lot of tape to hold items down.

Tips: Always bring trash bags, scissors and Duct tape.

Invitations

Center pieces were terra cotta jars with washcloth lollipops and Gerber Daisy flower pens.

Jessica Hirt made a fun cake!

Gifts for Baby Giese.

The food table

The father-to-be doubled as the Grill Master!

Traditional and non-traditional shower games were played.

The mom-to-be, Danielle!

Fun favors!

Finally getting to meet the nugget!!

From left to right: Jessie, Lane, Baby Naly, Morgan and Casie

Additional posts on the center pieces, favors and my gift will be created on a different date.

The photo quality is not the best. These images are from my iPhone but I still own them.

Wine Bags

With birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other gatherings my fall and early winter are filled with parties. And gift giving! I love making gifts. It always seems more personal. This season, I'm making gift baskets with lots of homemade goodies. Below is the first installment of homemade gifts. This is one time peeking is allowed.

Things you will need:

• Sponge brushes
• Stencils  (I found these paper stencils discounted at JoAnn Fabrics)
• Paint (Acrylic or fabric paint- doesn't matter you won't be washing the fabric)
• Canvas or burlap wine bags
• Pencil

Create a guideline for your stencil. Don't forget to place some paper

inside the bag to prevent bleed through.

Using a sponge brush, lightly blot on the paint onto the stencil. 

It will look like this picture.

Let the paint dry a little to reduce smearing.

Add some text and let dry completely.

Here are the three bags. The bonus- wine will be included.

The gift that keeps on giving!

All photos are copyright of Cassondra Eller.

Home on the (Hobby) Farm

Time does not always allow me to travel home to see my family. When it does, I treasure those moments. Last weekend I went home to Marblehead, my parents and all the animals on the farm.

On Saturday night, after returning home from dinner, we pulled in to find the neighbor boy in the driveway. "Are your pigs supposed to be out?" he genuinely asked. Immediately, my sister, Hannah, and I jumped out of the car and ran towards the barn. We discovered that all but one of the six pigs had made a great escape! Pigs are very intelligent animals and can be trained much like dogs.

I called out in a higher tone, "Here, pig, pig, pig!" The same way they are called when we have yummy table scraps. In a few agonizing moments, they all were trapped in the barn. We were able to fix the escape hole and put them back in the pen. Pigs are notorious for finding weak spots in fencing and exploiting it. They immediately tried to escape through the same hole. Luckily, they were not so successful.

These animals all ranging between 210-250 lbs and only caused slight damage. Thankfully, no one was hurt driving past on the road. This is one instance where attention from the neighbors was a good thing.

Here are some of the troublemakers.

The other members of Buckeye Bend Farm.

 Zeus and Apollo...a Magnum P.I. reference from my parent's time.

 Robbie and Sammie full Quarter horses and lovers of apple treats!

This is a photo of my father. I created a political ad for his campaign this fall. 

It read, 'Honesty & Integrity... and that's no bull.'

Genius! (and his idea)

All photos are the copyright of Cassondra Eller