Stair Rail Swag

Hi Everyone!

How`s the Christmas decorating coming along?

I have been picking away at a bit of decorating and some gift wrapping too!

I decorated my stair rail this week, here`s how it turned out.

A few years back my Christmas tree was gold and burgundy, I have reused some of those decorations here.

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah

Make the Scene Monday #2

Hi Everyone!

Another week has flown by. It's time for Make the Scene Monday again!

Here is the most viewed link from last week.

Snowflake Banner from Space 46

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I would love for you to follow me but it's not a rule :) But if you decide to follow me, leave a comment and I'll follow you right back!

I just have a couple of incey weencey rules and they are that you keep it family-friendly, and that you not link directly to your shop. I would love to host a giveaway if you want to promote your business!

Happy Monday everyone!

Matchbox Advent Calendar

December is right around the corner, that mean's it's time to break out the advent calendars!

I thought I'd make a homemade one this year. There are so many great ideas for homemade advent calendars, they are christmas decorations all by themself!

I saw this idea a couple of years ago and it's been on my list to try since then.

Here is my version of the Matchbox Advent Calendar.

Here are the supplies you need to make this project.

• 24 mini matchboxes
• scrapbook paper
• glue gun & glue sticks
• buttons
• small candy to fill the boxes

 

Cut lengths of scrapbook paper to the width of your matchboxes, not all mini matchboxes are the same size so it's best to measure first.  I cut 12" lengths and cut a couple of those in half to 6" to cover the matchboxes glued in 2's.

 

 

So this is how your matchboxes will need to be glued together.

4 - 2's

2 - 3's

2 - 4's

and 2 singles

 

Glue the paper strips to your matchboxes.

 

Don't worry that the paper doesn't fit all the way around, you won't see the underside anyways once the tree is put together.

 

Start gluing the matchboxes into the tree shape.

 

Measure the front of your matchboxes, cut tiny paper strips and glue to the boxes.

 

The picture below shows how I attached the star, the star is just one that I traced and cut from scrapbook paper. I took a strip of paper, folded in half and then folded the ends out. I glued it together to make it more sturdy and then glued the ends to the top of the tree and glued the star to it.

 

I added buttons for drawer knobs.

I don't have any numbers on this one yet, but when I put them on I think I have them out of order for fun!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah

 

Glitter Button Ornament

I shared this 

Glitter Button Ornament 

tutorial last week at Sunny Vanilla for Jen's Homemade for the Holidays 

series.

Here's the finished ornament and below I'll tell you how easy it is to create.

I started with a styrofoam ball, pick any size you like.

I got out my button stash and picked out mostly green buttons and a few yellow. Again choose colors to your preference, I bet a multi colored ornament would be fantastic as well.

All you do is start hot gluing the buttons to the styrofoam ball, overlap where necessary for a layered effect. I added the yellow buttons last, I thought a little contrasting color looked nice.

Once I had the ball covered I added a really wide ribbon for the hanger and also glitterfied (made up word) it! I painted a light coat of Mod Podge over the buttons and then sprinkled the glitter on. Glitter makes everything better!

Now you're done! Easy, right?

Imagine, Improvise & Invent,

Sarah

Make the Scene Monday #1

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the 1st ever
Make the Scene Monday.
I am so excited to start a link party, hopefully this will grow over the coming months.

I would love for you to follow me but it's not a rule :) But if you decide to follow me, leave a comment and I'll follow you right back!

I just have a couple of incey weencey rules and they are that you keep it family-friendly, and that you not link directly to your shop.  I would love to host a giveaway if you want to promote your business!

Happy Monday everyone!

So let's get started!

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Birch Bark Christmas Trees

Good morning everyone! 
I was delighted yesterday to participate in the Handmade Holidays series at Stephanie Lynn's fantastic blog, Under the Table and Dreaming.

Here is my project!

Birch Bark Christmas Trees.

The materials you will need for this project are:

• Two 12" x 4" STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam cones
• Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
• Birch Bark
• Scissors
• Small Vase (optional)

Begin by cutting small strips of birch bark about 1"-2" wide by 2"-3" in length. Some of the birch bark may already be the perfect size, the ragged and curled pieces are perfect for that Country Christmas charm.

Start at the bottom of your cone and hot glue each piece working you way around the cone, overlap in places to make sure the styrofoam is not showing.

Start a new layer, overlapping the last and so on and so fourth until you reach the top. If it strikes your fancy, glue one or both to a small vase for added height. A pretty simple process, a little time consuming but the finished product is stunning!

Super thanks to you Stephanie Lynn and STYROFOAM^TM Brand Foam for including me in this festive crafting series!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah

Ice Skate Wreath

How many of you cannot wait to start decorating for Christmas?

It is my favorite holiday by far. I know the next couple of weeks will fly by and I can begin to pull a few things out everyday until the house is shimmering with the festive season.

I thought I'd share one of my most favorite wreaths, I made this one last year.

My daughter had a pair of ice skates that did not fit her anymore. I was thinking of ways to incorporate the skates into our holiday decor. Hanging it from a wreath was the perfect way to display the skate.

I coated the skate with Mod Podge and then sprinkled with glitter so it sparkled! I put some artificial greenery and berries in the opening if the skate and tied it to the wreath. I topped it with a big bow in traditional Christmas colors. And a little bow around the neck of the skate.

It was hanging on my door in less than an hour!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah

Make the Scene Monday!

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited, I am starting a link party! It will go live on Monday morning, November 21st, and every Monday there after.

Be sure to link up to

Make the Scene Monday 

here at Alderberry Hill on 

Monday Nov 21st!!!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent


Sarah

Birch Bark Ornament

We have a wood stove in our house. I absolutely love wood heat. There's nothing like curling up close to the fire with a good book.

We have so much birch bark from the wood, usually we use it to start the fire. I thought that there has to be a way to use it for crafting.

I've often seen ornaments in the stores with birch bark on them so I thought I'd make a simple birch bark heart to hang from my country Christmas tree.

The pictures are self explanatory.

I simply hot glued the two hearts together, adding the ribbon in between the two hearts for the hanger.

You could make these in all sorts of Christmas shapes. How about stars, a christmas sleigh or a tree!

I have a couple more uses for birch bark that I'll share with you later in the month!

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah

A "Just Because" Christmas Gift using Glimpses by Signify Pink

Hi Everyone! What a beautiful day it is here in Torbay this morning! I started to take down my fall/halloween lights outside this morning, soon it will be time to put the Christmas lights up!

Speaking of Christmas, I have been thinking about what I can make for the teachers, neighbors & friends on my list just because I like to give out cute homemade gifts.

I received the most colorful Christmas scrapbooking paper from Signify Pink, it's called Merry & Bright from their Glimpses collections.

*Glimpses by Signify Pink is a scrapbooking and crafting line that supports women's passions and creative spirit by providing them ever-evolving crafting products and ideas to showcase their memories and celebrate their lives.

(*from Signify Promotions)

Here is what I've made so far using the fantastic paper & embellishments.

Here are the details on how I put this together, real simple!

I started with a bottle of hand soap from the dollar store, removed the label and cut the scrapbooking paper to fit nicely around the bottle and adhered using double sided tape.

For the tag/ornament. I used a cardboard star that I had left over from last year, I purchased several in a package at Michaels for $1.50 I, these are great for making ornaments.

I traced the star onto the paper and cut it out and then glued the paper star to the cardboard star using Mod Podge.

I distressed the edges of the star using red ink and a sponge. I used my square scalloped punch to punch out 4 squares and then adhered them to the center of the star, making a larger square, using double sided tape.

I stamped the word WISHES on white card stock and adhered to the green polka-dot square.

I added a ribbon bow and hanger and a little embellishment also from the Glimpses line. So cute, I love it.

Now on to the card.

I cut a piece of red cardstock to 

8 1/2 x 5.

Scored it along the 8 1/2 length at 4 1/4. Fold it to a card shape. I then cut the beautiful patterned paper slightly smaller, 4 x 4 3/4 and adhered it to the front of the card. I then used more paper , stickers & embellishments to decorate the front. I used a hole punch to punch out those awesome peppermint swirls!

So easy & super colorful. This is definitely a Merry & Bright gift!

Be sure to visit Signify Pink, they have more than just scrapbooking products. They have an entire line of clothing & accessories in their Fight Like a Girl line and the best part about it is a portion of their Fight Like a Girl proceeds goes to help support breast cancer research.

Imagine, Improvise & Invent

Sarah