12 Crafts of Christmas: Clay Pot Christmas Tree

I became obsessed with this project and decided I needed to do it when I saw it on Pinterest.  The inspiration comes from The O'Donnell Nest.  We approached the project in different ways, but I love both end results.

 

Clay Pot Christmas Tree

 

What You'll Need

 

 

Clay pots in varying sizes. The second smallest size will be used for the third tier of the tree and the base. I played with all the sizes in the store until I foun a combination I liked. That's right, I sat criss-cross-applesauce in the middle of that aisle stacking pots and it's okay if you do the same. 

 

Clay Dish. To find the right size, I turned all the dishes upside down and set the largest pot on them until I got to the one where the pot resing just outside the ring on the bottom.

 

Light green paint. Obviously I chose spray paint, but if you want a different color you can use acrylic.

 

Maroonish red paint

1-2 round sponge brushes. I used two so I could have size variation.

Brown Felt

 Wooden star. Mine is from the wooden craft section of Michael's.

Felt

Hot Glue

Yellow paint

Sponge brush

Dowel rod. It needs to be thin enough to fit into the hole in the bottom of the pot.

Pencil 

Knife or small saw

 

What You'll Do

1.  Paint your pots.  You're going to paint all the pots but the base and the dish.  I sprayed a coat of white paint first to lighten up the clay and cut down on green coats. I sprayed them upside down first and then right side up.

 

2.  Once all your pots are dry and looking snazzy, it's time to paint your "ornaments." Dip your round sponges in paint and polka dot the pots until you're happy.

 

3.  Once everything is dry, attach felt to the inside of the pot using hot glue.  I just did a strip around the top.  This will keep the pots from sticking to each other when you dismantle the tree for storage. It will also keep them from rubbing against each other when they next inside each other. the color doesn't matter because you can't see it once the tree is assembled.

 

 

 4.  Once the glue has dried, stack your tree.

 

5.  Put your dowel rod through the hole at the top of the tree and slide it through all the holes until it hits the plate that the larget pot rests on.  Use a pencil to mark the rod an inch above where it emerges from the pot.

 

6.  Using a saw or a knife that you don't plan on using again, saw off the end of the dowel rod. 

 

7.  Using a sponge brush, paint the star and the area of the dowel rod that will be visible.

 

8.  Once dry, hot glue the dowel to the star.

 

9.  Finally, assemble your tree.  Place the bare pot upside down, place the dish upside down on the bare pot, and then stack the rest of the pots on top.  Finally, slide your dowel with the star attached down the center of the pots. 

 

 

I may go back and add glitter to the bases of all the pots, but I haven't decided for sure yet. I was going to put it on the floor by the fireplace, but when I trie it out it was too small, so instead I put it on my hodge podge of a mantle. This cute little guy would also look great in a kid's room or an office that's in need of Christmas cheer.

 





12 Crafts of Christmas: Santa Planters

I was really on a roll this weekend with finishing up projects and actually writing about them.  That is probably due, in no small part, to the final paper deadline that is looming in my very near future.

 

I like to think that today's project could make a great gift for neighbors, teachers, coworkers...anyone! Also, like all my favorite projects, it's SUPER cheap to make.  I already had some of the items on hand (and you probably do too!) so I only spent about $5.

 

Santa Planters

 

 

What You'll Need

Clay Pot. Do you realize how cheap these suckers are?  Like, less than $2.  Crazy!

Red Paint.  If you've read any of my posts involving paint before, you know I spray paint everything and this was no exception. I use Krylon Fusion. You can get it at Walmart and it's the best I've found.

White paint or primer (optional)

Painter's tape

Black acrylic paint

2 Sponge brushes. You could just use one and wash between uses, but a lot of times you can find them for 20/$1 at Michael's, so I just stock up then and throw them away as I use them.

Metal Washer. I went to Lowes and got a pack of 4 for something like $1.50. 

Mod Podge

Gold or silver glitter

Hot glue gun

 

What You'll Do

1.  If you're using primer, apply a layer of it to the pot.  I just used .99 white paint to dull up the base color so I wouldn't need as many coats of red. Let dry.

 

2.  Paint the whole thing red.  I painted the inside too.  I applied 3 coats. I sat the pot upside down for the first coat and flipped it right side up for the rest.  Let dry completely between coats.

 

 

3.  Bring your pot inside.  Put painter's tape around the bottom of the lip of the pot. Mine wasn't perfect, but you can't really tell.



 

4.  Using a sponge brush and black paint, paint the area above the tape black, including the rim.  Let dry.

 

5.  Using a sponge brush, apply a layer of Mod Podge to one side of the washer. Immediately sprinkle glitter over the washer and shake off the extra glitter.  Set aside to dry.

 

 

6.  Once the first layer with glitter is dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the glitter and let dry. The top coat will help the glitter stick to the washer. 

 

7.  Apply hot glue to the back of the washer and attach to the pot's "belt."

 

 

I'm going to fill mine with homemade candy or cookies for a Dirty Santa party, but you could also put a plant in it (I'd get a plastic liner if this is the case), put some foam in it and make a cookie or cake pop bouquet, fill it with fresh oranges, or really anything that you can think of.

12 Crafts of Christmas: Photo Coasters

Alright guys, I'm a slacker.  I promised you 12 crafts and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to deliver.  But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try.  Today's project is SUPER easy and anyone can do it.  And if you already have the basics on hand it will cost you less than $5!!

 

Photo Coasters

 

 

What You'll Need

Coasters.  Mine are tile and I got a set of four for $1 at Big Lots. You can also use cork. You could also make coasters out of tiles and cork.  Whatever floats your boat.

Mod Podge

Sponge Brush

Photos.

 

What You'll Do

1.  Trace the coaster on the back of the picture, making sure the part of the image you want on the coaster is where you want it.

 

2.  Cut out the picture. You may have to do some trimming. Just eye ball things.

 

3.  Using your sponge brush, apply a layer of Mod Podge on the coaster.

 

4. Place your photo on the Mod Podge, smooth out any air bubbles, and let it dry. 

 

5.  Once dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the top of the picture, brushing all in the same direction.

 

6.  Once dry, apply another thin layer of Mod Podge, brushing in the opposite direction from step 5.  I brushed horizontal first and vertical second.

 

7. Let dry completely.

 

 

I experimented with an already pretty blurry picture of my god son and I love the way it turned out.  I made a full set as a gift, but since the person I made them for may be reading, I'm not sharing those yet.  Although I did use the leftover coasters to make two more for Paul and myself.

 

I think the possibilities for these coasters are endless.  Along with photos you could use favorite passages from books, children's book illustrations, sheet music...you name it! They would make great stocking stuffers or gifts for teachers. 



12 Crafts of Christmas: Inside Out Glitter Ornaments



So it looks like I've really dropped the ball on this 12 Crafts of Christmas thing. I had the best of intentions, but then school and work and life in general got in the way and I realized that I hadn't blogged or even crafted or baked as much as I should have.  Here we are a month away from Christmas and we're only on craft number 2.  But for craft number 2, I have an exciting one in mind for you. I love glitter, but I hate that it gets EVERYWHERE.  The other day I bought a new glittered treetopper.  By the time I got home, every other thing I bought, and my shirt, were also covered in glitter.  Now I said I love glitter, but I don't love it so much that I want it in my hair.  So that's why last year I made these Inside Out Glitter Ornaments from Greenbean's Crafterole that I found on Pinterest.  The glitter is on the inside so there's no mess.  This year I had the brilliant idea to make them with sprinkles instead, because how cute would that be?  But intea I ended up with this

 

 

 

They got all melty and gross and the entire ball took on a grey-pink appearance. So I scrapped that idea, broke out the glitter, and returned to the original plan. So, without further ado...

 

 

Inside Out Glitter Ornaments

 



 

What You'll Need

 



Clear ball ornaments. Never pay full price.  Download the Michael's or Jo-Ann Fabrics app or sign up for email coupons.  There's no reason to ever pay full price for anything crafty.

Glitter.  I prefer Martha Stewart. It's super-fine and I think that makes for a more finished look.

Floor Wax

Funnel

Shot glass

Coffee Filter.  You're going to use this to dispose of excess glitter.  When you're done you can crumple it up and throw it away.  Much more convenient than using a plate or a bowl.

 

What You'll Do

 

1.  Remove the caps from one ball. 

 

2.  Squirt a small amount of wax into the ball and then roll it around so that the wax covers every bit of the ball. Roll, don't shake. If you shake you'll get air bubbles that are hard to get rid of.

 

3.  Turn the ball upside down onto the shotglass to drain away the excess wax.  

 

 

4.  Let the wax drain for about 3 minutes.  Then turn it upside down and place the funnel in the top.

 

5.  Add glitter  to the top of the funnel, remove the funnel, cover the hole with your thumb, and then shake, shake, shake until every inch is covered in glitter.

 

6.  Pour the rest of the glitter into the coffee filter. 

 

6.  Replace the cap of the ball immediately and set aside. 

 

7.  Repeat for all your remaining ornaments.

 

 



These are gorgeous on the tree and would be great to make for yourself or to give as gifts...or both!  Ornaments are one of my go-to Christmas gifts.  Since the ornaments come in a package it's easy to give a set, or you can put some tissue paper in a chinese  carryout gift box and add one to make them go further if you have to give gifts to a group.  I think this would be ideal for students or coworkers.  Plus, this is a really fast project so you can make a whole lot in a short amount of time.

12 Crafts of Christmas: No-Sew Burlap Bunting

I have a plan, guys.  I have a plan to make 12 things this Christmas season.  And blog about them.  That's 12 tutorials in just over a month and a half.  Can I do it?  We'll see!  I'm calling it my 12 Crafts of Christmas and I'm pretty excited about it.  We're going to have some ornaments, some wall decorations, and a lot of fun with clay pots.  I'm kicking things off with a project that I've been pretty excited about since I stumbled across it on a blog I follow pretty religiously, E, Myself, and I.  Last Christmas she blogged about her Christmas decorations and I saw this awesome bunting banner made of burlap.  I immediately pinned it to my Holidays and Entertaining a Crowd board.

Source

There was no tutorial for this bunting (I'm pretty sure it's not homemade, but who knows?), but I decided that I could make it anyway.  So I went to a couple different crafting stores (it's all about the coupons, baby!) and came up with a plan. 

No-Sew Burlap Bunting

What You'll Need

Burlap. Mine came from a roll.  If you want your triangles to be bigger than mine, you might want to use a sheet of burlap instead.

Twine.  Go thin, but not too thin. 

Good scissors

Paint. I used white, but you don't have to.

Sponge paint brush

Round sponge

Stencils. Technically you don't have to have them, but I , trust myself to free-hand when it came to paint. I used one with a sticky backing.

Hot glue gun

What You'll Do

1.  Cut your burlap into triangles. I free handed a triangle on a piece of cardstock and used that as a guide.  They aren't perfect, but we're talking about burlap and twine, so they don't really need to be.  I do think it's important to make sure you have at least one finishe edge.  The top of each of my triangles had a finished edge.

2.  Cut out your stencils and place them on your triangles. Place the triangle on something on which you don't mind getting paint.  Using your brush, dab the paint over the stencil.  Don't use brush strokes because you might get paint under the stencil.

3.  Remove the stencil. I did this while it was still wet but I don't imagine you would have to.

4.  Useing the round sponge and paint, polka dot two of your triangles and then let dry. 

5.  Measure and cut a piece of twine.  I just unfurled mine form the spool and held it up to the doorway where my bunting will hang.

5.  After everything is dry, line your triangles up along the twine.  There are several ways you could attach your twine.  I decided that hot glue would be best.

6.  Using a hot glue gun, I applied a thin strip of glue along the top of the center triangle and then laid the twin on top.  I starte with my middle triangle and then worke my way out. 

7.  Hang up your country chic creation! 

My triangles aren't perfect, and neither is the spacing, but I really love this sucker.  The best part is that storage is going to be a breeze.  All the triangles fold over on themselves, so this is how much room it will take up:

How awesome is that?  I hate when Christmas decorations take up a lot of storage space so this one makes me really happy. I'm really excited for December now so I can hang this baby up.