Pottery Barn Not Quite Knock Off

Turns out I never posted my wreath from last year. Postpartum depression is a ------. One day I actually hope to knock off the original. But this wasn't the year.

So here is the post I never posted.

I was sick of my holiday wreath last December. I decided to make something more rustic to go with my drought-ridden dry winter climate. 

My inspiration was this picture from a Pottery Barn catalog. I absolutely love those wreaths. But didn't want to buy new holiday bobbles, I only had one size so I had to improvise.

St. Patrick's Day Foam Wreath

I didn't like my March wreath last year. So I started from scratch this year. After a couple of attempts I ended up with this.

After looking at my pinterest board for inspiration, I realized I really like striped, black white and green accent. 

1. I tried to pick up some black and white ribbon but all Walmart had was one spool of black and white chevron. Turns out, 9 yards of ribbon only covers a third of foam wreath.
2. I was born at the perfect time to be obsessed with beanie babies, and as an adult I've seen gotten rid of them all, except for my Irish Bear from McDonalds, its named Erin and so I have an affinity for it since that's my middle name. (And my Canadian on from McDonalds.) So I know having a teddy bear in a wreath is only fit for crazy cat ladies, but I still went for it. I have only two other St. Patrick's Day decorations ups and one says LUCKY in three inch letters so I decided I didn't need every room to say Lucky, and what else is Pinterest good for other than mincing others ideas.

New Thanksgiving Wreath

Remember, I wanted a new wreath, so I went down to Michael's used a 40% coupon and bought myself a new grapevine wreath for $3.
Overall I was quite disappointed in the trip, because of veterans day I had ALL my children with me. I also had a 25% of my entire purchase, so I bought a few things I didn't need today, but I would in the future. The cashier rang it up wrong. It seemed wrong when I paid for it but I was trying to make sure I didn't lose any children especially my two year old. I looked at it in the car. She rang it up wrong, she took 25% off one item. Since I was in the back of the parking lot and nap time was looming, it didn't seem worth it to go get my $2.50. You hear that @Michael's your cashiers struggle with the 25% off the entire purchase, this is not the first time it has happened to me.
Anyway, back to my wreath.

 The white paint on the wreath will look a lot better in a month when its been weathered outside.
The felt leaves have stitching on them, but you can't really see.

Since I used left over felt and ribbon, the total cost was $3. Wahoo.
I'm going to take off the leaves in a few weeks and Christmasized it. Its time for a new christmas wreath, my other one is four years old, which is eternity in craft years. Actually I'm not sure, I'm considering changing my old one. Only time will tell.

Spooky

I never spend money on my Halloween wreath because I'm spending money on costumes, and I always hate my Halloween wine rack wreath. So this year I decided to do what it takes to like it. I didn't spend any money, I had the crow from last year. But I used fabric I actually liked, it was hard to use fabric I liked without buying a new piece at the store, but I decided there is no reason to hoard my fabric. I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

I decided to tie the raven on like it was tied up from a witch for something.

My Birthday

September doesn't really have a holiday to decorate for, so I always decorate for my birthday. I decided I wanted a different birthday wreath this year, the last one's kitschy vibe was rubbing me the wrong way after all the birthday's we've celebrated. (Part of me loves the old one, but I just wanted a modern one this year.) I printed the bunting from this site. Ignore the fact that I connected the R incorrectly. I guess I could fix it...

 Ok, I love the candle! I used a coffee stirrer, and covered it with baker's twine. Plus the flame, it makes me smile. Happy Birthday me.

Easter Bunting

I didn't like my old easter bunting very much, I wanted something more vintage-y feeling. (It was the common peep bunting.)  So I made new stuff, how I found the time is beyond me, because I mostly keep up on laundry and cleaning my kitchen. 

 Best part it was free, I was determined not to spend money on it, so I used what I had.  Plus its miserable going to the store with two babies. I wish the eggs were all different color polka dot, but I used what I had, plus the close quilt shop went out of business. I'm always sad about that.

I feel like it matches better with my easter bunny down there. 

I love my easter bunny, at the time it was a really hard decision, but I saw the price the other day-- $32.  $30 is now like a drop in the hat! (By the way I know my chair is too far to the right its pushed as far over as possible so my toddler can watch out the window.)

(That picture in the corner is my toddler's favorite picture, I think he knows its him, because we talk about the picture all the time.  He goes up and blows it kisses.)
Overall, all I really want to do is make more pillows for my couch.  I have the fabric I just need to get the pillow forms, I'm pushing it off to save my money for longer... Because you know $32 is a drop in the hat so I have to wait on some stuff, so its not ALL gone.  I have dreams in life, that require saving money.

Pink Princess Tea Party

My daughter turned 5 which I just can't believe.  She is my baby! My oldest should be five not her.  This year we did a friend party, for the party we had a pink princess tea party.  With mini tea cups.

The day before I realized other than the table setting for the tea party we really didn't have any decorations so I made a bunting at the last minute.  To wish the princess Happy birthday.

 We also played pin the crown on the royalty. Turns out fan art is the best play to find free printables.

 The bunting with the table set.

 We had mini cupcakes so they fit on the mini plates.

 I made mini felt crowns for the girls.

 And we invited two boys, so we dressed them up as knights/kings.  I made these covers for them.  I didn't sew, I just cut the apron to the right size, and then cut out a fleur de lis out of felt and glue gunned it on.  It was quite easy, and my favorite craft of the party.  The boys love them.  I also made a foam duct tape sword for each boy.  (My son the model didn't come to the party.)

I will also add the boys LOVED the tea party as much as the girls, what is not to love about mini cups of water and mini cupcakes? We also played Don't Eat Pete Princess style.

Another burlap wreath

The morning after Halloween I was ready to purge/ clean. I wanted all the costumes packed, all the leaves tracked in from trick or treating gone. Apparently I got a little ambitious. By lunch all the Halloween specific decorations were gone and leaving only fall decor in which the pilgrims and Indians were added to. Turns out I was down a wreath. I hung my fall wreath from last year outside and made a new one for my wine rack.

I used burlap ribbon with ivory tulle ribbon to soften the burlap a tad. Then  I wanted it easy so I used my old school sizzix to cut out mini felt leaves. I wish I had dies with larger leaves but I do like the mini aspect. I also decides I wanted a mum garden on my wreath since in effort to save money this year I didn't buy fall flowers for my planter pots outside. 

Of course I found thanksgiving subway art to match. 

Lastly I made mini felt leave garland for my back door valance. 

I was finished with my new decorations by Friday evening it was great.  

My birthday

I changed the way I hung my birthday bunting for my birthday. I like it a lot better.

I know a cell phone pic in the dark is awesome. 

Back to school

I should have posted this about a month ago. Of course I needed August decorations so I made a back to school wreath and bunting.

 I kind of hate the color I used for my letters, other than that I was pleased. 

For some reason green and yellow are back to school colors. Now a close up

And lastly my subway art with my wreath. 

Patriotic Bunting

I realized this post is a little late! 

Here is my bunting for the Fourth of July. 

Here is the whole shot. 

The key with this project was, free and easy. I used fabric I already had, I found red baby ric rac in the closet, so I used that as my string. Baby ric rac was not my first choice, but I had nothing else that remotely matched. I cut out my circles, folded them into half circles, and sewed on the ric rac. Yes you heard that, I did not sew my half circles shut, it didn't seem worth my effort.

Here's a during shot, to break up the metonymy of posts. I mean really I sewed one red line and was done. No ironing or nothing. 

 

The ric rac turned out alright and it's wasn't as hard to sew as I thought it would be. 

Birthday Bunting

I decided I didn't like my birthday banner so I made a new one from the left over paint chips my kids had collected while we were painting the interior of our house.

I made many small ones to go around the majority of my living room and kitchen.  You can tell what colors we favored.  Pink/Red, Yellows, and neutrals for me.

Patriotic Pinwheel Foam Wreath

My Patriotic Foam Wreath for the wine rack, with paper pinwheels and bunting.

I also used this wreath at Memorial Day. 

With Memorial Day Subway Art

Grandpa Cards

I had to make Father's Day cards for my kids' three grandpas so this is what I came up with. I used a printable (from pinterest that I can't find again for the life of me) and printed them wallet sized sheets instead of 8 x 11.5. Then I sewed them on the card. I had to use big envelopes, because the card is an 8 x 11.5 fold just in half instead of quarters.

This is what I did for the wrapping on my husband's presents. 

The left one was candy the kids wanted to eat instead of give. The right was box cutter blades for his utility knife. 

Father's Day Foam Wreath

Of course I made a new wreath for June. A Father's Day wreath! At first I didn't want ties because the are cliche but then I decided they were universal. Plus my tie bunting turned out so cute. 

It of course matched with my Father's Day subway art that I got here. 

My Present

Sometimes you gotta make yourself a present. I made this wreath, price once again free. Thankfully I have a million packs of old hem tape. Used the wreath form from last month. Same style as last wreath different execution. I used lots of pictures of me with my kids, and printed them out in thumbnail size. I used three fabric rosettes, because I have three kids. My wreath matches with my printable.

Some may wonder why in the world do I make so many wreaths?  Well I really like having a wreath over my wine rack, since I don't drink its just dead space.  But I see that wreath every time I eat dinner and half the times I eat breakfast.  So I'm ready for a new one every month.  I stare at it everyday.

Grammy's Wreath

I saw this wreath on pinterest, and decided I was in love with it, so I made my own version for my mom.  It a foam wreath covered in batting and then in ivory tulle. I love how it turned out it has that trendy vintage feel to me.  I cut out the pictures to look like old time pictures.  Or at least tried. I used this printable for the bunting letters.

Different Bunting

My husband agreed, my bunting was all wrong on my wreath. So I whipped up some more. The bunting was very easy to make, so it was worth my 30 minutes. I hand embroidered the numbers.

Obsessed

Today I decided I was finally bored of my easter decor. But just for the record, Easter the second Sunday in April, is my ideal. I took down the peeps banner, and then my window looked so boring. I thought about making some sort of valance but instead I made more bunting. So yes, I am a little obsessed with bunting. I can't help it, I love it so. I made it match with the wall to keep it understated, but still giving my wall a little somethin' somethin'. I tell everyone in my family individually they are my favorite. And in the moment I mean it, they really are my favorite.

By the way, I love crafts that are free and can be done within one or two tv episodes. I used card stock and handme down lace hem tape.

Wreath Redo

I've gotten a lot of mileage with this wreath. I'm on my third redo of it. I removed the monogram because the paper had faded. Turns out a bird had built a nest behind it. This redo I added the bunting, because I'm obsessed. Although now I'm think its not very spring looking. I'm also thinking I don't like my font I used for the bunting. Any thoughts?

Here is the original wreath

And here is the first redo