Techy Things

Can I list this post under DIY? Sure.

If anyone is like me and looking for a few key tutorials, I wanted to share these snippets of information. Here are this week's "techy" accomplishments (aka, things I'm patting myself on the back for):

1. You'll notice I added Instagram to my sidebar. I did a little research and easily found the badges, but through http://snapwidget.com/#getstarted, you can add an actual grid or slide show to your page. 

2. I've been working on a lot of website analytics for work and have learned how to create a source/tracking code in Google Analytics. Here's my favorite new bookmark: http://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1033867?hl=en

Bonus: it automatically adds to your analytics page. (Find the stats for these tracking code under "campaigns" in your analytics page. Note: it takes about an hour for the new campaigns to show up... my refresh button and I tested this.) 

3. I feel like I should have three accomplishments this week. It's only Tuesday, so updates may be forthcoming. However, I did make a major computer upgrade. John had a huge surprise for me Friday after work. We were driving to West Elm to pick up a new dresser for our bedroom and suddenly turned into the Apple parking garage. I've been hinting for a while, but was completely shocked. Happy anniversary/birthday/Christmas/lots of other holidays to me:) #besthubbyever

My Obsession with Mason Jars

I'm really loving mason jars these days. They are inexpensive, classic and incredibly versatile.

On a recent rainy weekend I did a little chalkboard art project. I cannot wait to use these chalkboard jars for porch party get-togethers in when the weather gets warmer. In the meantime, they can double as cute packaging for a valentine! 

To make the jars, I masked a rectangular space with painters' tape, added a few coats of chalkboard paint with a sponge brush (you will need at least two - it streaks), and let it dry. I removed the paint not too far into the drying process so that I could fix anything that went out of my tape lines before it was permanent. Step-by-step photos are below. 

It's hard having chalkboard paint in the house. So many options and possibilities! While my mason jars were drying I wandered around our condo, paintbrush in hand, hoping to find old items I could paint. My goal was to find an old, but still fun picture frame that needed a new life as a classy chalkboard. I had no luck, but an old night stand that I'd already painted white and added a mercury glass handle to got a new coat of chalk board paint on its front panel. (Got to love old IKEA pieces --- no shame in experimenting! and at least I didn't try to tackle a wall.)

DIY: No Sew Tree Skirt

In sticking to a holiday decorating budget and my neutral/rustic holiday color scheme, it was difficult for me to find a tree skirt that wasn’t (a.) bright red and green or (b.) $100+.

As a novice sewer and non-sewing machine owner, I had to get a little creative for a no-sew tree skirt. I initially wanted a burlap tree skirt, but thought I better go with an easier to work with material for my first try. I ended up ordering this chocolate brown basket-weave fabric from Amazon.  

End result:

Supplies:

2 yards of fabric
Sharp scissors
Ribbon (preferably with wiring)

Steps:

1. Fold the fabric into quarters. Have the two sides with the ends of all four single layers farthest from you and to your right. The side with one big fold should be on your left and the side with two folds should be closest to you.

This video is super helpful in doing the cutting. I suggest watching it before going at it with your scissors – just to prevent accidentally cutting the fabric in half… ruining both holiday cheer and strategy.

2. Pin a flexible measuring tape (or string) to the lower left-hand corner. Measure about 27" out. Keeping one end of the string or measuring tape at the pinned corner, move the other end around the fabric and mark dashes to outline the radius. It should look like an even quarter of a circle. (Don't mind my lovely diagram.)

 3. Cut along the dashes.

4. Keeping your string pinned at the corner, measure three inches out. Mark your dashes and cut. (This will be the inner circle of the skirts that goes around the trunk.

5. Unfold the fabric. You should have an even outer circle and an inner circle.

6. Cut a straight incision from the outside of the circle all the way to the winner circle. This will be the opening of your skirt.

7. I decided to tie my skirt onto the tree with ribbon. To do this, make sure your ribbon has some wire in it so that the bow isn't limp.  Cut a one inch (adjust based on the width of your ribbon) incision about an inch from the top of the center circle and about an inch in from your skirt opening. Thread the ribbon through. Then cut another one inch incision about three inches from the first incision. Repeat all the way around the top of the skirt, weaving the ribbon in and out. Note the the ribbon should be on the inside of the skirt for one inch, then on the outside for three inches -- this way you maximize the amount of ribbon that is shown. Wrap the skirt around your tree, tie a bow and viola! a homemade tree skirt.



DIY: Wine Garland

 I love holiday decorating. However, I enjoy being able to incorporate touches of the season while keeping with my current style and color themes. My home has a very neutral palette, but I like to incorporate lots of patterns and textures to give it a richer, more interesting – yet comfortable feel.

I also love accents that mean something. Let me preface by saying my husband and I have been collecting wine corks for about six years. We keep all of our corks from parties, dinners, vacations, etc. – hence, the crazy large collection.

When we were in Ecuador a few years ago, we stayed in a hut/tree house at the Hakuna Matata in Tena (which on a side note – I highly recommend. We felt safe and the staff was fantastic.) They had cords of wine corks hanging down from the door frames (I’m assuming to keep out wildlife). We loved this idea, and ever since have been trying to figure out the best use of our saved wine corks.

Rustic Christmas style + tons of wine corks = wine cork garland.

Supplies

·         Bag of bead (I used neutral-colored wooden beads, but this would also be pretty with reds, golds of silvers)

·         Wine corks

·         String (I used thin hemp found at Joanne’s Fabrics)

·         Hot glue (optional)

Steps

1.       Cut a long piece of string about 2.5 times as long as you would like your final garland to be.

2.       Take one of your larger beads and string it so that it is in the center of the string. Double up the string. String a few more beads (depending on how many beads you want between your corks) on the double-stranded string. You will be working with the  doubled up string for the remainder of the project.

3.       When you are ready to tie on your first cork, place the cork inbetween the two strings and tie the string around the cork very tightly.

4.       Put the string back together as one strand and string on a few more beads.

5.       Separate the string into two strands and tie on another wine cork.

6.       Repeat until your garland is your preferred length.

7.       Tie the end tightly.

8.       If you would like to add extra security to the corks, put a small dab of hot glue on each cork to glue the cork and string together.

 

 

Holiday Decorating DIY: Oranges and Cloves

Sunday night, we hosted a dinner for family and a few friends. To kick off the season and add a festive touch, I made a few quick (and inexpensive) updates to my centerpiece.

This is an incredibly easy project (honestly, I think it's a great holiday craft project for kids - I could have used some assistants!) All you need is an odd number of oranges (I used five), whole cloves, and tough fingers - those cloves can be a bit prickly!

Stick the cloves into the oranges, long side first. You can make patterns, or just do random dots like mine. It's an easy way to add a bit of fragrance to the room and a pop of color to your table.

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