Holiday Archives - Stacy Risenmay

DIY Wood Houses (Christmas Village)

Stacy — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 23:57:32 +0000

I made these DIY wood houses back in 2018 and have used them in my decor every year since. Most years they are prominently displayed on my mantel. I do paint a couple a different color each year to go with the each new theme. They have held up beautifully.

Every year starting in November, my inboxes and DMs fill up with people asking where I bought these houses. Once I tell them I made them, they then ask if I have a tutorial. I never created a tutorial back when I first made them because it was a last minute idea and I made them late at night.

Every year I think "I am going to make another one so I can take pictures this time." And every December it gets nuts and I put it off. But this year I finally decided to make the time.

DIY Wood House Tutorial

Supplies:

⅛ inch Plywood

Miter Saw

Wood Glue

Hot Glue Gun (Optional)

Dollhouse Windows

Wood Putty

Sandpaper

Stain or Paint

I debated about having a printable for each of the cuts for all 7 houses I made, but who is to say you would want your houses the exact same sizes I chose? So I decided to do a general tutorial and teach you how to get the measurements, so you could customize them to your needs and space.

Cuts Needed For DIY Wood Houses:

Measure and mark the front piece first. Make is as wide and tall as you want. The front piece will determine the size of all other pieces.

The 2 sides will be the same size. Make them as tall as the side on the front piece.

The roof pieces will be slightly different sizes.They will be the same depth, but different lengths. One will be shorter because of how the roof pieces line up. My plywood was ⅛ inch so one piece was ⅛ inch shorter. If you use ¼ inch plywood, the difference would be ¼ of an inch.

*If you do choose to use thicker plywood, you could miter the roof pieces and then they would be the same exact size.

I chose to not put a back on mine since they can easily nest inside each other and take up less space for storage. It makes it easy to put candles or led lights behind them too.

Step 1: Measure & Cut

Measure and draw on the cut lines on the plywood. I used scrap plywood leftover from other projects. I'm always happy when I can use up scraps!

I was able to use my miter saw to make all the cuts. If your houses are larger, you may need to use a table saw.

Step 2: Cut Out The Windows

Once all the cuts are made, trace the window onto the front piece. Then make another line about ¼ inch inside the line you traced. You need the hole to be slightly smaller so the window has an edge to be glued to.

Drill a hole large enough for a jigsaw blade to fit through. Cut out the hole for the window. It doesn't have to be perfect since you won't really see it once the window is in place.

Step 3: Glue The Wood Houses

It is time to glue the pieces up! It is kind of like assembling a gingerbread house.

I use wood glue to assemble them. Wood glue takes a while to fully dry, and I am not patient. So I used hot glue on the inside to hold it together while the wood glue is drying.

Where the roof lines up with the side there will be a slight gap. I fill it up with stainable, paintable wood putty. If you build these with thicker plywood, you could miter these joints as well.

Step 4: Staining & Painting

If you are staining these houses there are couple of key things you need to pay close attention to. The color of the putty is important. If you are staining them dark like mine, get a dark putty. Even though light colored stainable putty is stainable, it only stains so much. It will be a lighter color than the wood. Lighter stains are fine to use a lighter putty.

Make sure to be careful with the wood glue. It won't stain well so it if gets on the wood, you will need to sand it off before staining.

I hope this tutorial was helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Heat Embossed Gift Tags & Cards

Stacy — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 17:54:52 +0000

My mom was really into making her own cards when I was little and she would emboss them. I LOVED helping her and watching the embossing powder turn shiny as the heat melted it. She recently cleaned out her office and found all her old supplies and it made me want to start doing it myself, so I made some heat embossed gift tags & cards! They are easy to make and add a fun bit of embellishment to your holiday decor.

This post is sponsored by Wagner. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own :)

I love the raised, metallic look of the embossing.

What To Use For Heat Embossing:

(contains affiliate links)

Heat Gun

Embossing Powder

Embossing Ink Pad

Gift Tags and/or Cards

Rubber Stamps

I kept it simple and ordered a "to" and "from" stamp as well as a stamp set of snowflakes. I ordered some gold and silver embossing powder. The shimmery white embossing powder is pretty and wish I would have gotten some of that too.

How to Heat Embossed Gift Tags & Cards

Step 1:

It really is so simple! Press the stamp onto the ink pad. The embossing ink is clear so on white paper it is hard to tell where it stamped until the powder sticks to it. You may want to practice on a piece of paper before starting on the gift tags or greeting card.

Step 2:

Pour a little of the powder onto the card or gift tag where the ink is and make sure the whole thing gets covered well. Dump the excess back into the powder container to use again later. I also like to blow on it to get any extra powder off.

Before being heated, the stamped image with powder will be rough. But once the heat tool works its magic, the embossing powder melts and will puff up a bit and get shiny! It is so fun to watch it transform!

Step 3:

You will need a heating tool to emboss. I used my HT400 Wagner heat gun because it is small and meant for crafts just like this. I used it on the lower setting which was perfect. It does not blow a ton of air (so it doesn't blow the powder away) and gets to the right temperature. I used the heat gun a few weeks ago to make icicle ornaments!

If you have leather or silicone gloves, you can hold the gift tags and cards, but if not, you can use the silicone mat that comes with the heat gun kit. It is so handy to have!

The metallic lettering really is a focal point of the gifts. This embossing technique is a great way to up your gift giving game!

I added some gold snowflakes to my Christmas cards this year. I also added an embossed touch to the envelope! It reminds me of a wax stamp with a signet ring. Maybe I should invest in a letter "R" stamp.

I'm excited to order some other color combinations and maybe make some homemade Valentines, name cards for a tablescape (it would be great for weddings!), or maybe Christmas ornaments.

Here is a video tutorial of the process:

Pin For Later:

Commonly Asked Questions About Heat Embossing:

Can I use hairdryer as heat gun for embossing?

No. I don't recommend it. There is too much air and not enough heat to get the job done.

Can you heat emboss with glue?

I have heard of people using pure glycerin or mod podge as a substitute, but I have not tried any other technique. Embossing ink is cheap so I think for best results, it is best to stick to using that.

What is the best ink to use for heat embossing? Versamark ink is a popular brand but I think any embossing ink will work just fine.

What is the difference between a heat gun and a embossing heat gun?

In comparing the heat gun that I used with an embossing heat tool, not much. The reason I love the HT400 is it has two settings and a precision tip. It looks very similar to a tool used just for heat embossing but I use it for so many other things as well. When shopping for a heat tool for embossing, make sure that they don't blow too much air, they have a smaller tip, and that it has a high and low temperature feature.

Can you heat emboss on wood? Yes you can! It works just like it does on card stock paper! I think I know what my next embossing project is....

How do you heat emboss without a stamp? I have used a craft paint brush and pressed it onto the ink pad to draw a design on the paper to emboss. It is a little trickier than using a stamp, but it very doable. They actually make an embossing pen which would be perfect. I may need to add it to my Amazon shopping cart! They also sell embossing ink refills that you could dip your paint brush into.

How do you stop paper warping when heat embossing? I usually just flatten it back out after if it curls a bit, but I have heard that adding aluminum foil to your work surface can help stop it from curling in the first place. The theory is that it helps the paper heat from both sides.

DIY Icicle Ornaments

Stacy — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:19:00 +0000

When I was growing up my mom had gorgeous antique ornaments. She also had hand blown glass icicles that she hung on the tree with them. They were my absolute favorite! Having four boys and a dog, I don't dare hang fragile glass ornaments on my tree. I figured out a way to make these DIY icicle ornaments. And the best part? They won't break!

This post is sponsored by HomeRight but all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.

DIY Icicle Ornaments

Back when I was working on another plexiglass project for my book, the thought came to me that I could make some icicles out of acrylic sheets. Turns out, it is easier than you might think!

Supplies:

8x10 Plexiglass (Acrylic Sheet)

Acrylic Knife

Leather Gloves

Heat Gun

Drill & Drill Bit

Sandpaper

Ruler (For Straight Edge)

Step 1:

I bought a thin (⅛ inch) 8 x 10 plexiglass sheet and a plexiglass knife that was hanging just above where the sheets of plexiglass were at Home Depot.

You will need something to act as the straight edge to cut against.

I placed the ruler along the edge creating a long triangle shape. I scored it about 5 times. I left the thin protective film on for the cutting process.

Step 2:

After that I used needle nosed pliers to snap it off. Start at the top and gently snap and keep moving down to the tip. Then you should be able to snap the whole thing off. Sometimes the tip will break off, but that is okay. Sand it if it is sharp.

Step 3:

You can drill a hole for the string after you are done making them, but I found it to be easier to do it while they are still flat. Make sure to lay down some scrap wood to protect your work surface.

Step 4:

It is time to grab some thick leather gloves and a heat gun.

Always work in a ventilated area. Open a window or crack the door open. You may want to wear a mask for this as well. There are no strong fumes. In fact, I could not smell anything, but it is better to be on the safe side.

Hold the plexiglass with a gloved hand and the heat gun with the other. Heat only the top little bit. It will be ready when it gets soft and bends a bit.

Step 5:

Twist the plexiglass and allow it to cool for a few seconds. It will harden again as it cools.

The neat thing about this HT400 Wagner heat gun is that it has a built in stand. You will be putting it down and picking it up a lot during this project so it is nice that it is easy to do without fear of it burning your work surface.

Heat the next little section the same way as before. And then twist it again and allow it to cool. Repeat this process until you reach the end.

*Optional:

I love seeded glass (glass with bubbles) and I think that icicles look more realistic when they have them, so I held the heat gun in place longer for some until bubbles formed.

I used fishing line to hang them but you can use string or metal hooks.

I chose to add snowflake ornaments and some blue bulbs to add to the overall winter wonderland feel.

What do you think? Would you ever make some icicle ornaments?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Stamped Clay Ornaments

Stacy — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 03:05:06 +0000

I love using polymer clay to create ornaments. These stamped clay ornaments are so fun & easy. You can customize them to say anything you would like. Children's names, all your previous addresses, or your favorite Christmas songs.

Clay Stamped Ornaments

I made mine circles but you could use any shape of cookie that you want. Play around with it and have fun. Include your kids for a fun craft activity.

Supplies:

Circle Cookie Cutters

Metal Stamp Letter Set or Rubber Stamps

Polymer Clay

Craft Paint

Craft Paint Brush

Rolling Pin

Step 1:

Roll the polymer clay out to about ¼" thick. Use the cookie cutter to cut the circles out.

Step 2:

Use a toothpick to create a hole. This is what the metal hook or string will go through.

Step 3:

I ordered this metal stamping kit for some leather projects, but I have used them for metal and clay as well. They are kind of fun to have around. If you don't have a metal letter stamp kit, you can use rubber stamps or even write with a toothpick. Before pressing into the clay, test it out on some scrap clay to get a feel for how hard to press.

Step 4:

Place the ornaments onto an oven safe plate and bake at 275 degrees fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.

Once they cool down you can add the hook. You can leave it as is, (the all white is very pretty) or you can paint the letters!

Brush on the craft paint color of your choice.

Wipe off excess paint with a paper towel.

The paint helps the letters stand out more.

Have you ever used polymer clay to make ornaments?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Wood Slice Ornaments

Stacy — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 14:46:00 +0000

Wood slice ornaments are so each to make and add a touch of rustic charm to your Christmas tree. They are customizable too. Add the names of your children, a favorite verse, or a picture. You can cut your own wood slices or buy them ready made. Either way, wood slice ornaments are an inexpensive Christmas craft.

Wood Slice Ornaments

I was tasked with making 75 ornaments for the kids at so these seemed like the most cost effective choice.

Supplies:

Vinyl or Stickers

Drill

Step 1:

I got some branches from our yard and cut them with the miter saw so they were around ½ inch thick. You can also buy wood slices at craft stores or on Amazon. Sand the front if they are rough at all. Use a fine grit sandpaper like 220 grit.

Step 2:

Using a flat brush, paint the center of the wood slice, leaving a border around the edge.

Step 3:

Once the paint is dry, drill a hole towards to top.

Step 4:

Place the sticker or vinyl in the center of the wood slice. If you have a steady hand and good handwriting, you could also use a marker or paint pen to write the words. I used metallic gold vinyl and I love how it shimmers.

Step 5:

I used faux leather to string the ornaments but string or jute would work as well. I liked how the leather matched the rustic feel of the wood slices.

Here a video of the process.

Have you ever made anything with wood slices?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Stacy — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 04:01:09 +0000

I love incorporating nature into my home decor and that goes for my Christmas decor as well. These clay leaf print ornaments are the perfect way to do that. They are easy to make and are something that kids could help with. It is so satisfying to peel the leaf off the clay and see the imprint!

Some links are affiliate links

Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

I chose to paint mine, but they would be pretty left all white as well. You could even paint the whole thing instead of just the imprint or even use green clay instead of white. But however you chose to make yours, they will make a darling addition to your tree.

Supplies:

Polymer Clay

Leaves

Toothpick

String or Wire Hook

Craft Paint Brushes

Acrylic Paint

Round Cookie Cutter

Step 1:

Roll out the polymer clay to about ¼ of an inch thick. Place a leaf on the clay and roll it again with the rolling pin. Pressing with your fingers won't give an even impression. Just make sure not to roll too hard.

Step 2:

Peel the leaf off. This is my favorite part! It is so fun to see the texture and veins printed in the clay.

Step 3:

Use the cookie cutter to cut a circle. If you don't have a cookie cutter that is round, you could place something that is round over it and trace it with an X-Acto knife.

Step 4:

Use the toothpick to create a hole towards the top. This is what the string or hook with go through.

Step 5:

Bake the clay ornaments in the oven at 275 degree fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Allow them to cool before moving on to the next step.

Step 6:

Now it is time to paint! I watered down the craft paint quite a bit so it would fill in the depressions easier.

Since the paint was watered down, it doesn't cover up the details. If you get too much paint in the depression, dip the corner of a paper towel into the paint and it will absorb the excess.

Have you ever made leaf prints in clay?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Pin For Later:

Gingerbread Ornaments

Stacy — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:40:00 +0000

I have been making real gingerbread ornaments for a long time. I have even saved some and reused the next year. But they are easy to make, so it's not a problem to make them fresh each year. They are adorable and make your whole house smell like Christmas!

Gingerbread Ornaments

The first year I made them I did traditional gingerbread men.

I have also made snowflakes out of gingerbread. Not only do they make adorable ornaments, I also added them to the presents as little tags!

How To Make Gingerbread Ornaments

This is the recipe I like to use. Feel free to use whatever recipe you prefer. I usually make enough for the tree and some for us to eat. The ones for the tree get baked a bit longer so they are hard. If we are eating them I like them a bit softer. Make sure to use a toothpick to make a hole that the top. I do this right after they come out of the oven while they are hot and soft. If you forget, use a tiny drill bit and drill a small hole for the wire or string.

Gingerbread Recipe

TIP:

I don't usually have any issues with them spreading, but I have a tip in case yours do. Simply use the cookie cutter again on them as soon as they come out of the oven while they are still soft. Then you can snack on scraps :)

I frosted them with melted white chocolate. I just spooned the chocolate into a sandwich baggie and cut one of the corners with scissors. You could also use white puff paint if you were not worried about children snitching them and eating them.

Other Uses for Gingerbread Ornaments

I have also made a garland out of them and added some to a wreath! You could say I kind of have a gingerbread obsession.

Gingerbread men can also make cute name place "cards" at your Christmas dinner table.

Gingerbread is one of my favorite smells at Christmas time. Making gingerbread ornaments and houses with my kids has become one of our favorite traditions each year.

Do you make gingerbread? Would you ever turn them into ornaments?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Glass Etched Ornaments

Stacy — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 04:45:53 +0000

I've been hooked on glass etching since the first time I tried it. From casserole dishes, to mirrors, to vases, I have had fun using etching cream on all sorts of things. This year I wanted to add some new homemade ornaments to the tree and made these glass etched ornaments with snowflakes.

Glass Etched Ornaments

You could add names, monograms, polka dots, or anything else you want to customize them. A cute house with the date you moved into your house would be darling too. The possibilities are endless! Let me show you how easy it is to glass etch and ornament.

Supplies for Etching

Glass Etching Cream

Craft Paint Brush

Stickers or Vinyl

Glass Ornaments

Step 1:

Apply the stickers or vinyl to the glass ornament.

You can also add the negative space from around the sticker to create a different look. Make sure to press the edges well so the cream doesn't bleed underneath.

Step 2:

Dip the brush into the etching cream and then apply it to the ornament. You don't want to get it on your hands so if you are worried about that, you can use latex gloves.

I dab it on creating a thick layer. Make sure it is as evenly applies as possible. I let it rest on a paper plate while I wait for it to etch.

Step 3:

When it has sat there for about 10 minutes, it is time to rinse! I run it under the tap and use the paint brush to help get the etching cream off.

That is it! It is simple and straightforward. Once you start etching things you will never want to stop.

I love that there are some that are etched all over and the snowflakes are clear and then some where only the snowflake is etched.

Have you tried glass etching before?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Clay Mushroom Ornaments (Woodland Christmas)

Stacy — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 01:52:16 +0000

One of my kids' favorite trees we have done was the woodland Christmas tree with forest animals, pinecones, and little clay mushroom ornaments. The mushroom were super easy to make! So for day 4 of our homemade ornament series, are these adorable mushrooms.

This post contains affiliate links.

Clay Mushroom Ornaments

Polymer clay is one of my favorite things ever! It is the best choice of clay for ornaments because it never dries out. It only hardens when you bake it. It is not messy and it is easy to work with. There is no reason to seal it. Bake it and you are good to go! You can get it at any craft store, Walmart, or on Amazon. It comes in pretty much any color. You can even paint it!

Supplies

Polymer Clay

Brown Acrylic Paint

Toothbrush

Toothpick

Wire or Eye Pin

X-acto Knife

Craft Paint Brush

Step 1:

Roll out pieces for the stipe (stem) of the mushroom. I pushed it into the table to create a bottom that was wider. Then I pinched the tip into a point.

Create the cap of the mushroom.

Step 2:

I used a special glue that is specifically for polymer clay and is bakeable. But you could also use a toothpick to connect the two pieces. I poked a hole in the top of the mushroom and then squeezed a bit of glue inside. Then the pointed end of the stem went inside.

Step 3:

Use an X-Acto knife to create small slits on the underside of the mushroom cap.

Once that is done, push some wire or an eye pin into the top of the mushroom cap. This will allow you to hang them later.

Step 4:

Place the mushrooms on an oven safe plate and bake them according to the directions on the package. Mine were baked at 270 degrees fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.

Step 5:

Water down the craft paint a bit. This will allow the paint to seep into the lines you created under the top.

Then I painted the top of the cap. A soon as the top was all painted, I wiped the paint off with a paper towel. This way, the top was a lighter brown and the underside is darker. Just like a real mushroom!

Step 6:

Use a toothbrush (I buy cheap ones to use for crafts) to create the speckled look. Dip the toothbrush in the paint and run your finger over the bristles. It will spray paint over the mushroom.

Here's a video of the process:

These would also be cute painted with red caps with white speckles. Have you ever had a woodland themed tree?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

DIY Leather Ornaments

Stacy — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 23:29:58 +0000

Whether you use leather or faux leather, the ornaments are fun and easy to make. It is a project you could get the kids involved with as well. I made these as a kid with paper, but I feel like the leather gives my Christmas tree an extra layer of texture and will last forever. Here is how you make these DIY leather Ornaments! This post contains affiliate links.

Supplies for Leather Ornaments

Leather or Faux Leather Sheets

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

String

Something Round to Trace

Making Leather Ornaments

Step 1

Find something to trace that is the size you want your ornaments. I chose a small jar lid. Trace as many as you can fit on the sheet.

Step 2

Cut them out using sharp fabric scissors. You will need 5 per ornament.

Step 3

You will fold them in half and glue the back sides together one at a time until it looks like the photo. After you glue the last layer, release it carefully and it will open and the two remaining back side will come together. This was my kids' favorite part of the process!

Here is a video of the process:

Step 4

Add a little glue to the center hole at the top and then add a 4" piece of string into the hole forming a loop. When the glue dries you are ready to hang them on your tree!

You could use this same idea ad use fabric or stiff paper. I personally love the look of leather though. The creases that formed over time gives it a nice texture.

You could also add some wood beads to the string to give a bit of a different look.

So what do you think? Are you ready to make some leather ornaments now? I only made 8 but will be making a bunch more when the kids are out of school next week since they were so fun to do. What are your favorite DIY ornaments to make?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

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Easy Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Stacy — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:31:00 +0000

I decorate our tree a different way every year but I try to not Spend very much money. I usually only buy a few new things and either reuse things from past years or make them. Today's homemade ornaments are these easy clay snowflake ornaments made out of polymer clay!

This post contains affiliate links.

I love these ornaments because they are so simple, don't create a mess, and the kids can help make them.

You only need a few things to make these clay ornaments!

Supplies:

*Rolling Pin

*Toothpicks

*Polymer Clay

*Cookie Cutters

I have some snowflake cookie cutters I bought last year that were the perfect size for ornaments.

Step 1:

You need to soften up the clay by working it in your hands. It seems really hard at first but it will become very soft and pliable in no time. No not try and microwave it to speed up the process. Once it is soft, you can roll it out. How thick should polymer clay ornaments be? I usually roll mine out to be about ¼ of and inch but you could probably get away with a bit thinner.

Step 2:

Once it is rolled out you can use the cookie cutters to cut out the shapes. This set of mini cookie cutters were the perfect size for ornaments!

Step 3:

We used toothpicks to draw designs on them. We also experimented with pressing different fabrics on them to create texture too. Make sure to make a hole at the top that the wire or string will fit through so you can hang them later.

Step 4:

Once they were done, we put them on oven safe plates and baked them at 275 degrees fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

I think they turned out beautiful and just like real snowflakes, no two are alike!

Do you make your own ornaments? What is your favorite kind to make?

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

Mini Letter Board Ornaments

Stacy — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:01:00 +0000

Before you know it, it will be time to pull the Christmas tree down from the attic and start adding holiday cheer to anything that doesn't move. Over the next 12 days, I am going to be sharing some ornament ideas that are easy and inexpensive to make. Today I am sharing these darling mini letter board ornaments!

These DIY letterboard ornaments are adorable and totally customizable! Make them say whatever you want. Kids will love helping place the letters too!

DIY Mini Letter Board Ornaments

*some links are affiliate

Supplies:

Black Felt

Glue Gun

2x3 Frames or ¾" trim to build frames

¼" Vinyl Letter Stickers

Ruler

Scissors

Step 1

I had some 2x3 frames in my Amazon cart but then decided to make some. There is an insane amount of scrap wood in my garage and I am on a mission to use it up. I grabbed some ¾" trim and cut it to make my own 2x3 frames. I used glue to hold them together.

Step 2

You can buy felt sheets for really cheap (sometimes even per sheet) at craft stores and Walmart. I only used one and a little bit of the second to make 5 of these ornaments.

Measure the inside width of the frame and then cut a strip of felt that size. Luckily, the length of the felt sheet which is 12", was the right amount needed to create the letterboard.

Step 3

You will fold and glue the felt onto the backing of the frame. Since I made mine, I cut out some cardboard that would fit inside the frame. I tried a variety of ways to glue the folded felt (folded accordion style) to the cardboard. The easiest way I found was the fold three times and then glue them on. Any more than that and it would pop up and come unfolded.

Here is my first one compared to my third one. The first one, I had leftover felt I had to cut off because I did the folds too big and they were too loose.

Step 4

Once they were all glued down to the cardboard backing, I inserted them into the frames that I had stained. I glued some string to the back so I could hand them up.

Step 5

Add the tiny ¼" letters to create whatever saying you want. I went with song titles that had a SNOW theme. There were plenty of letters left over in case I want to change that from year to year.

These mini letter board ornaments are perfect for a kids tree! My teens think they are great :)

Tips:

You can use a spot of super glue to help make the letter permanent or skip it to change them out from year to year.

Paint the frames to match your holiday color scheme!

Day 1: Mini Letterboard Ornaments

Day 2: Clay Snowflake Ornaments

Day 3: Leather Ornaments

Day 4: Mushroom Ornaments

Day 5: Glass Etched Ornaments

Day 6: Gingerbread Ornaments

Day 7: Clay Leaf Print Ornaments

Day 8: Wood Slice Ornaments

Day 9: Snow Globe Ornaments

Day 10: Stamped Clay Ornaments

Day 11: String Ball Ornaments

Day 12: DIY Icicle Ornaments

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DIY Outdoor Fall Decor

Stacy — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 06:03:04 +0000

I got a late start on decorating for Fall, but to be fair, Fall showed up late this year. We were enjoying weather in the mid to high 70's clear up until this past week. And the leaves were still green on my trees. It felt like summer so it seemed odd to decorate my front porch for the Fall season. It started to get cold finally and it was time to harvest the pumpkins from the garden. I grabbed some mums and ornamental cabbage/kale from the cute nursery I help out at, bought some wood crates, and gathered a few other items I had on hand. With the help of my paint sprayer, I created some DIY outdoor Fall decor that hopefully helps our guests feel a warm welcome!

This post is sponsored by HomeRight but all ideas and opinions are 100% my own. This post contains affiliate links.

DIY Outdoor Fall Decor

I really need to refresh the paint on my porch, but it is so cold and I would rather wait until spring. So I ordered a rug that would cover the stains from my summer planters and placed my doormat on top. Since it was gray, I took that as a jumping off point for how the porch would look. I decided to paint the crates a light gray.

Super Finish Max Sprayer

I grabbed my Super Finish Max and my spray shelter (it was a bit rainy even though it was sunny). Once I filled the sprayer with the paint I was ready to create some DIY Fall decor!

I bought my crates at Walmart, but you can find them at a thrift store and craft stores too. I liked how the crates were different sizes and styles. I didn't want it to be too matchy-matchy. The darker one soaked up paint more and took an extra coat of paint.

Once it was dry, I stenciled on "Farm Fresh Pumpkins" with a darker gray acrylic paint. I created my own stencil with my cricut machine. but you can also buy ready made stencils at craft stores and on Amazon. It is such an easy DIY project but adds a little something extra to my Fall decorating.

I had some gray baskets out on my back patio that the mums and cabbage fit into perfectly. The mums were in the traditional bushel baskets, which were also cute, but I wanted to keep to the gray color scheme. Plus the woven basket adds a different texture. The crates were a great way to add height and help layer all the home decor.

I got my pumpkins planted late this year and didn't get as many as I normally do before the first frost killed the plants. But I am happy with the cute little ones I did get! They look cute scattered around the porch. You certainly can use faux pumpkins (plastic pumpkins), but I enjoying the process of growing them. Every year I get excited for harvest season when I get to pick them all.

I think the gray, green and hints of purple look pretty good against the brick and dark front door. I have to say, it can be a challenge decorating my outdoor space with the orangey-red bricks. I used to use traditional orange pumpkin, but I felt like it accentuated the terracotta colored bricks and I am always trying to downplay the color. White pumpkins it is!

In the past I have used hay bales (straw bales) and corn stalks but they are kind of messy so I opted for flowers and pumpkins this time. Other Fall elements that you could add are wreaths, a Fall themed welcome sign, outdoor lantern, Fall garlands, Indian corn, or a pumpkin topiary. You can check out some of my past fall porches HERE. What kind of outdoor Fall decorations do you like to use to up your Fall curb appeal?

Black and White Halloween Decor

Stacy — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 02:18:22 +0000

It is spooky season! I will admit that I am not a huge fan of Halloween, but I will decorate a bit for my kids. I have decorated using the traditional black and orange color scheme before but have found I prefer to keep it to black and white Halloween decor. Over the years I have collected some fun decor items that I can reuse in new ways each year. I like to keep things simple.

I started growing white pumpkins several years ago so I always had plenty for my fireplace mantel and front porch. They can even get reused for Thanksgiving decor later. Whether they care cascading down your porch steps, sitting on your Thanksgiving table as a centerpiece, or on a spooky Halloween mantel in your living room, they are a great versatile item to have.

Affiliate Links

Black Crows * Paper Bats * Skull * Cauldron * Cloche * Creepy Cloth * Spiders *Candlesticks * Books * Potion Bottles

I cut out some black bats out of cardstock paper and glued them to some wire. I attached the wire to a black metal house so it looked like the paper bats were flying out of the chimney. It was as a cheap and simple way to visually take up a lot of wall space.

I love this black gauzy fabric. It reminds me of a mummy or maybe old spider webs. It easily drapes over the mantle, TV, or even a dining room table as a Halloween table runner.

I order these crows from Amazon a few years ago and love adding them to my mantel. What is more creepy than a black crow?

Since my candle sticks are black, I opted to add white candles. But if you had brass candlesticks, black candles would be a nice choice. I light mine until they get all drippy. I like the look of the wax spilling down the sides.

Last year I made this Halloween sign to cover the TV. Halloween signs are a fun way to add some wall art and fill in big areas. It was a fun DIY project to do and you can see the tutorial HERE.

This year instead of bats, I decided to have black spiders crawling up the wall. It made me think of the classic movie Arachnophobia! I don't like most scary movies, but that is one I will watch.

You can buy inexpensive small skulls, a skeleton hand, or full white skeletons at any big box store. They creep me out so I just use one and call it good. Sometimes I put it on a pedestal and under a cloche.

This year I added a black cauldron. For the photoshoot I added water and dry ice. If you are having a Halloween party, this would be a nice touch. The little spell book I ordered this year goes well next to it. I spray painted some vases and glass bottles I already had on hand to look like the spooky ingredients for the spells.

I think next year I will ad a cute Halloween banner that hangs on the mantel. Maybe it will be little ghosts!

Burgundy & Gingerbread {Christmas Home Tour}

Stacy — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:21:25 +0000

I'll be honest. I did not feel like decorating for Christmas this year. The last couple of months have been hard and stressful and I really didn't want one more thing on my to-do list. But I am so glad that I did! I'm currently sitting in my living room looking at the newly placed decor, smelling gingerbread, and feeling cozy. The totes full of decor that didn't make the cut this year are still in my hallway. I'll get to them later. Now it's time to show you my burgundy & gingerbread Christmas home tour and browse through the other blogger's homes.

This year I wanted something rich and moody. I chose to go with burgundy, black, and gold.

I was finishing up a room makeover for a friend so Shane baked the gingerbread for me. Days later, my house still smell divine! I have done gingerbread ornaments in the past, so I knew the smell lingers a long time and was looking forward to having it in the air this year. You can find the recipe I use HERE.

These wood tags were a fun DIY project from a few years ago. I love that we can reuse them every year!

I am kind of on a tassel kick right now and since they are super easy to make, I turned some embroidery thread into a tassel garland! And those gingerbread men look good enough to eat!

I'm a sucker for little houses and villages. I honestly could keep these up all year! For the last few years, I have had these larger houses that I made on the mantle.

I always have my Nativity scene on this cabinet. I like that it sits under the painting called "The Shepherd". It was a gift from Shane back when we were newly married and so very poor. It was a big splurge at the time.

And what's a gingerbread theme without a gingerbread house?

Here are a few items you can get to recreate this look. While I love real gingerbread, if you don't want to bake some, here are some non-edible ones. I made my beaded garland but these are really similar. I stained mine in Dark Walnut stain. I just dipped them right in the can and let them dry on a tarp.

Gingerbread Ornaments * Pom Pom Throw Blanket * Burgundy Ribbon * Wreath * Wood Beads * Burgundy Pillow Covers * Ceramic Village

Thanks for taking the time to look through my burgundy & gingerbread Christmas home tour. Make sure to head over to see Sheila's home at Maison de Cinq all decked out for the Holidays!

This week is Christmas Home Tour Week! Each day this week, some talented bloggers are sharing their tours with you - be sure to hop around and see what they've got in store! You can visit their posts by clicking on the links below the images. Sharing with me today...

Wednesday

Maison de Pax / Stacy Risenmay / Maison de Cinq

Place of My Taste / A Pop of Pretty / The Happy Housie

And sharing the rest of the week...

Friday

This is Simplicite / Deeply Southern Home / Lemon Thistle

Love Create Celebrate / Sincerely, Marie Designs / The Happy Housie

Woodland Christmas Home Tour

Stacy — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:19:22 +0000

I am so excited to share my home with you today. It has been a hard week and I am looking forward to browsing through the other home tours that are being shared today. I even have my cup of cocoa ready :) This year I decided to do the theme "Woodland Creatures" because I knew my boys would love it. I was inspired by the new wallpaper in my bathroom. It goes well with our existing home color scheme which made it pretty easy.

Woodland Christmas Decor

I used some of my wooden houses from years past and paired them with tons of trees to create our own little forest.

We strung acorns and little pines cones to make these garlands and some for the tree.

I had so much fun shopping for little forest creature ornaments! And the boys loved hanging them on tree.

Everyone's favorite spot in the house is this gray chair. The kids think we should leave it in this spot all year long.

I reused the wooden gift tags I made last year. I always love to add fresh greenery too!

Since the chair in in the window, the bench gets used as a coffee table during the winter months and I have to say I am not mad about it.

I love the neutrals and how well they work with the woodland Christmas decor theme.

I found some wool fabric in navy, gray, and green and snagged some so I could make a pillow. The perfect colors!

The artwork got changed out too. I added winter landscapes.

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Overall I kept it pretty simple. It has been extra busy with preparing to send my son off on his mission so it felt nice to keep things low key this year.

Some of my best blogging friends are joining me today to share their spaces as well. Please hop on over and check them out!

Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick

Chris at Just A Girl

Kristi & Kelli at Lolly Jane

Rebecca at The Crafted Sparrow

Jennifer at The Craft Patch

Fall Patio Decor

Stacy — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:01:25 +0000

Over the years I have decorated my front porch for Fall but I have never decked out my back patio. I decided that even though it was already pretty cozy, that I would add some Fall touches to it in anticipation to some upcoming get togethers we have planned. Pumpkin carving anyone? I'm pretty happy with the Fall patio decor. So join me, and some of my best blogging friends, as we share our porches, patios, decks and other outdoor spaces all decorated for the season!

Fall Patio Decor

I added in some new pillows and a cute plaid throw.

I grew some white pumpkins in the garden this year but bought the other ones. You can never have too many pumpkins, right?

What screams "Autumn" more than mums? They were the perfect color too! These large yellow flowers are part of the Black Eyed Susan family and brightened up the space. I love how they look in the crates!

String lights make any space magical. The cooler temps have made hanging out on the patio in the evenings so enjoyable. This is my favorite time of year!

Thanks for letting me share my Fall patio decor with you. Please visit the other blogs to see their stunning spaces.

Shades of Blue Interiors | Our Fifth House | Mint Candy Designs

Rooms For Rent Blog | Almafied | Live Pretty on a Penny

Craftberry Bush | Little Glass Jar | Maison de Cinq

City Farmhouse | Stacy Risenmay | The Nester

Halloween Mantel Sign {Sprayer Giveaway!}

Stacy — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 23:33:38 +0000

My kids love Halloween. Me? Not so much. Since Halloween plans look a bit different this year and they will be spending the night at home, I thought I would go all out and decorate the living room for Halloween instead of Fall like I usually do. With the help of my HomeRight Quick Finish sprayer, I created a Halloween mantel sign to complete the look!

This post is sponsored by HomeRight but all opinions and project ideas are 100% my own. It also contains affiliate links.

I grew white pumpkins in the garden this year and my kids were excited to harvest them and use them in the decor.

Who doesn't love the movie Hocus Pocus? A little nod to a Halloween classic :) I've only ever done one other Halloween mantel, which was also black and white, and I used a few of the same elements.

I added my sign in my TV frame but you could prop it up on the mantel as well. I cut some hard board to the size of the inside of the frame.

I used my HomeRight Quick Finish to paint it all white.

Quick Finish sprayer

I used vinyl lettering that I cut out with a machine as a kind of reverse stencil but you could also use store bought stencils for this next step.

Wait for the basecoat of paint to completely dry before adding tape to vinyl so you don't risk peeling it off when you remove the stencil. Apply it to the sign the way you want it. If you stencil is not big enough to cover all the area you want, use painters tape to finish covering what you don't want painted.

I sprayed a layer of black over the stencil. They key is to do a thin coat. If you get the paint too thick, it will be harder to get the stencil off without pulling paint off with it.

As soon as the top coat of paint isn't tacky anymore, remove the stencil. If there are areas that the top coat is too thick and you are having a hard time peeling off, use a box cutter or X-acto knife to score along the edge.

The kids are happy with it and are ready for our Halloween night at home :)

GIVEAWAY!

HomeRight is giving away one of their new Quick Finish sprayers! I love sharing these sprayers with you and get excited each time one of you get to try one of these out for yourselves.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Email me if you have any issues.

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from September 30, 2020 until October 8, 2020. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case HomeRight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Reusable Wood Gift Tags

Stacy — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 17:38:21 +0000

Shane is better at wrapping gifts than I am. He can get those real crisp lines. But I love to add the finishing touches! Gift tags, bows, bells, greenery, or anything else to make it festive! I decided to make some wood gift tags this year. Not only are they adorable, but they are reusable! These wood gift tags are a simple DIY that your kids could help with. You can easily knock this project out in an afternoon and it will take your presents up a notch!

I also hand painted the wrapping paper.

Supplies For Wood Gift Tags

(links are affiliate)

Needle nose pliers

Metal wood burning letters

Wood burner

Wood Tags (or ⅛" plywood if you want to DIY them)

Metal work surface or small piece of sheet metal

The wood gift tags you can buy usually come in packs of 50 or 100. They are very inexpensive. I decided since I needed less than that amount, and I wanted them to be a bit larger, that I would make my own. I cut them out of ⅛" plywood and simply drilled a hole. Mine are approximately 2 inches by 3 inches.

TIP: Whenever using a wood burner, have some needle nose pliers handy. The wood burner and tips get VERY hot and you will need to use something to screw them in and out with.

Step 1:

After you add a new letter or tip, wait a full minute before pressing it down on the wood to allow it time to heat up. Gently rock it side to side and back and forth to ensure it gets evenly burned.

Step 2:

Sometimes, especially on light wood, you will have orange around the letters. If this bothers you, simply sand it lightly and it will remove the orange haze around the letters.

Step 3:

To make sure you get an even color when staining, add a wood conditioner first.

A medium wood stain works best to stain the wood gift tags. Brush it on, wait about 10 minutes, and then wipe off any excess.

Wait for them to completely dry before adding them to your gifts.

Did you miss my home tour? See my house all decorated for Christmas HERE!

Do you enjoy wrapping gifts? What are some fun things you have added to dress up your packages?

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Cottage Christmas Home Tour

Stacy — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:01:47 +0000

I look forward to sharing my Christmas decor with you every year and love being a part of home tours with other bloggers. I spend the morning each day peeking into other people's homes seeing all the different styles and ideas. If you have been following along and are here from Jenna's blog, Rain on a Tin Roof, Kevin and I welcome you :)

I do add a few holiday touches to other parts of my home, but my living room is definitely the space that gets the royal treatment. Last year I went with the non-traditional color, plum, and loved it. This year I went with sage and olive. I have really loved adding these colors to my home throughout the year and wanted to see what it would feel like to have a more earthy, natural vibe this Christmas.

While it doesn't translate as well on camera as I would have liked, I ADORE how it looks in person. I added white, black, and antique brass to the tree as well.

I don't have a set theme but I wanted a "home and family" kind of feeling so I added little frames with photos of our grandparents and parents when they were little on Christmas. I used keys from my childhood home and original keys from this 1938 home we live in now as ornaments. I also made houses to go with the other villages around my house.

I bought the little frame ornaments on Amazon. Mine are vertical. I noticed that they also have horizontal.

I hand painted some wrapping paper and made some wood tags.

I used the same wood village on my mantel as last year. They were a paint to make, but I am so glad I did! I painted the purple houses green to go with the new color scheme.

The snowflake art that is covering the TV I made a few years ago.

Since the tree is where the chair normally is, and the chair got moved to the window where the bench goes, the bench got moved to the the other side of the door in our "entry".

The white cabinet next to the bench is my favorite spot to put our nativity.

Thanks for sticking around! Here are the other bloggers opening up their homes to you this week. This is our Bliss is next :)

Sharing today with me are....

Tuesday

House by Hoff ** The Tattered Pew ** Clean & Scentsible
The Turquoise Home ** Rain on a Tin Roof

Stacy Risenmay ** This is Our Bliss ** Southern State of Mind
Styled with Lace ** Life is Better At Home

And sharing the rest of this week...

Monday

The Happy Housie ** Shabbyfufu ** Jenna Kate at Home
Inspiration for Moms ** We're the Joneses

Rambling Renovators ** Home Made Lovely ** My 100 Year Old Home
Maison de Cinq ** Nick + Alicia

Wednesday

Taryn Whiteaker Designs ** Just a Girl and Her Blog ** Cherished Bliss
So Much Better With Age ** Cassie Bustamante

Lemon Thistle ** The DIY Mommy ** Love Create Celebrate
The Handmade Home ** Craftberry Bush

Thursday

Grace In My Space ** Rooms For Rent ** Modern Glam
Happy Happy Nester ** Town and Country Living

Two Twenty One** Place of My Taste ** Life is a Party
Sincerely, Marie Designs ** Willow Street Interiors

Friday

Tatertots and Jello ** A Pretty Life in the Suburbs ** Maison de Pax
She Gave it a Go ** Summer Adams

Amber Tysl ** All Things With Purpose ** Cuter Tudor
Chrissy Marie Blog ** The Happy Housie