Wedding Invitation Keepsake Ornament

With all of the weddings I have attended, I have a surplus of wedding invitations lying around that I can't bring myself to throw away. On the other hand, my house is cluttered enough, and I certainly don't know where I'll store them with the limited storage space we've got. Finally, it dawned on me (about 25 weddings too late)...I could give the invitations back to the bride and groom in the form of a keepsake ornament that they could hang up around Christmastime year after year. With my friends Sarah and Steve getting married this Saturday, I thought they'd be fantastic guinea pigs to receive the first edition of this gift! Here's how it's done...

Materials:

-wedding invitation

-scissors

-round pencil or pen

-clear, glass ornament

-ribbon

-lighter

-charms

-split ring

Instructions:

1. Cut invitation into thin strips so that there is one line of script per piece cut (refer to picture below). Since this particular invitation had cardstock 

    behind it, I decided to separate the cardstock from each of the strips and use them for added color inside of the ornament.

2. Using a rounded pencil or pen, curl each strip of paper tightly around it and slide off the pen or pencil to avoid unraveling

3. Place each of the "curls" inside of the glass ornament.

4. Cut about 8" of ribbon in a corresponding color and tie to the loop at the top of the ornament, creating a way to hang the ornament from a Christmas 

    tree. Fray the edges of the ribbon using a lighter.

5. Cut about 14" of ribbon and tie around the top of the ribbon, creating a bow in the center of the ornament. Trim off excess ribbon. Fray the edges of 

    the ribbon using a lighter.

6. Place the charms on a split ring and close the split ring around the center of the bow so that the charms dangle in the middle of the ornament for 

    added embellishment.

Here's to a lifetime of happiness and wedded bliss!!!

Poinsettia Napkin Holders from Shower Curtain Rings

Its the most expensive wonderful time of the year!!!

As much as I love how well my holiday decorations are coming along, I can't get over how quickly their expenses add up! Between the purchase of a pre-lit tree (which I love and don't regrey buying at all), outdoor lighting, wreaths, and lots of odds and ends, I think its safe to say my wallet took a massive beating this Christmas...and that's without adding in the cost of presents! Yikes! Needless to say, I am extremely grateful for projects like this one that add to the seasonal decorum without breaking the bank! Here is how I transformed curtain rings, craft wire, and poinsettias into beautiful napkin rings using washi tape:

Materials:

-curtain rings (I found 12 for $1 at my local dollar store)

-washi tape (PS-Costco is currently selling a washi tape holder and 20 rolls of tape for $19.99! Merry Christmas to me!!!)

-artificial poinsettias

-floral embellishment (I purchased 2 small bundles of frosted berries at Michael's)

-craft wire

-wire cutters

Directions:

1. Wrap washi tape around four curtain rings, covering them entirely

2. Place two small sprigs of frosted berries on each side of a poinsettia and connect using craft wire, making sure to leave a 4-5" tail of wire to wrap around curtain ring

3. Wrap remaining wire around curtain ring, securing the flower to it tightly

4. Cover any exposed wire with additional washi tape

5. Place napkins inside of rings and display proudly!

Wishing you a table filled with family, food, friendship and (as always) fun!!! Happy Holidays!

Jenga Block Christmas Tree

Jenga!!! I used to love playing that game (although I never faired well playing it, as I was the girl who always knocked down the tower AND, as a result, had to be the one to set it back up)! On a recent trip to my local thrift store, I came across a bag of Jenga blocks for $.50 and had to have them. For what? I wasn't sure, but knew I would one day put them to good use! That day is now, my friends! After some time spent arranging and re-arranging, I transformed the blocks into a Christmas tree that I then painted and made into a wall hanging. Love it!!! Here's how you can make one of your own...

Materials:

-Jenga blocks (I used 53 of them!)

-glue gun/sticks

-sandpaper

-acrylic paint (I used a dark green, brown, light green, white, and burgundy, but the options are truly limitless!)

-sponge paintbrush

-circular, sponge brush

-sealant

-ribbon

Directions:

1. Using a glue gun, adhere Jenga blocks using the model below (each horizontal row gains two more blocks than the one above it).

2. Once the glue has dried, sand the surface of the tree to make the paint adhere more successfully

3. Paint the surface of the tree with two coats of dark green, acrylic paint and the "trunk" in brown

4. Once the paint has dried, use the circular, sponge brush to create dots all over the tree with white, acrylic paint.

5. Repeat the process of making dots using the light green, acrylic paint

6. And again with the burgundy paint

7. Finally, add dots of the original green color to the tree to cover up any spots that may have smudged.

8. Spray the tree with a sealant and let dry.

9. Fold a 5 inch piece of ribbon in half and adhere loose ends to the top of the tree, leaving a loop to hang up

Voila!!! Its yours to display proudly!

Clothespin Wreath and Christmas Card Holder

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is receiving Christmas cards, particularly picture cards that allow me to see friends and family who are far away and admire how much their children have grown and changed from last year to this year. Unfortunately, after I'm done admiring these cards, they get shoved into a basket with a gazillion others, never to be seen or heard from again! Until now...Using washi tape (my new fave), clothespins and a wire, coat hanger, ribbon, and a lil' bling, I created a wreath that doubles as a Christmas card holder. 'Tis the season to be crafty!!!

Here's how you, too, can make one:

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Materials:

• Wire, clothes hanger
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Clothespins (I used a little over 60 of them)
• Washi tape 
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Sticky-backed gems

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Directions:

1. Place a piece of washi tape top across the flat side of a clothespin. Trim any excess at the ends of the clothespins.

2. Fold excess tape over the sides of the clothespins

3. Shape wire. Clothes hanger into circular shape. Use pliers if needed.

4. After all clothespins are covered, place them onto the open end of the wire hanger through the wire loop in the middle with the side of the clothespin that opens facing upward. I used two patterns of washi tape and alternated them amongst clothespins

5. Using pliers, bend the open end of the wire hanger inward and wrap around the other side. Add sticky-backed gems to the ends of every other clothespin.

6. Wrap ribbon around the ends of the wire hanger and hook. Tie a bow in the front.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HOYBY CRAFTS!!!!!

Quick and Easy Gift Idea-Initial Frame

As a working mommy, I am quickly finding that two of my favorite words these day are "quick" and "easy." I am ALL about homemade Christmas gifts for friends and family, but this year has been trying, as far as finding the time and energy to make the elaborate gifts I once created. Fortuntately for me, I have accepted the fact that I can find balance in crafting and loving on my sweet little girl by utilizing her bedtime to create simple gift ideas like the one below.

Initial Frame

Materials:

-8x11 frame

-scrapbook paper (8x11 or larger)

-wooden letter of your choice (I used "B" for my brother's family, The Beavers)

-acrylic paint

-Scrapbook tape runner

Directions:

1. Paint the wooden letter using the acrylic paint color of your choice.

2. Adhere the scrapbook paper to the cardboard that typically comes inside of a frame using a tape runner (or glue dots or any other fancy schmancy glues or tapes used for scrapbooking). Trim off any access so that it will fit inside of the frame.

3. Adhere tape to the back of the wooden letter and glue it to the center of the covered cardboard (unless you're all about asymmetry, in which case, glue it anywhere!)

4. Place the cardboard back inside the frame. My wooden letter was very thin, so I was able to keep the glass in the frame, but it could be removed for a better fit, if necessary.

TA-DAH!!! I think the entire project took me about 20 minutes (not including paint drying time)! Here's to a low-maintenance yet fabulously crafty holiday!