Guest Blogger: Erin from Like Grandma's

Today, we are so happy to introduce you to Erin from Like Grandma's, who is here to show us all her original homemade ornament! Welcome, Erin! :)

I am so excited to be Guest Posting here at {Beautiful Nest}!! When I was asked to do this, I felt very honored as Jenni and Christine have some seriously talented genes and these girls rock at everything they do! So, today I am going to show you how to make an ornament out of Chicken Wire!!! Here's what you'll need:

-Chicken wire(and wire cutters)
-Mod Podge(and applicator)
-Small shirt box
-Graphics of your choosing
-Clear glitter
-Ribbon of choice
-Spray paint(I prefer Rust-Oleum's Autumn Brown textured paint)
-Sharpie

Select your desired size of chicken wire. I like the five count, makes it nice and symmetrical, plus it it gives you adequate room to add topping graphics. You will need to leave the little pieces of the adjoining block so that you have something to hold your insert in.

Next, what I did to keep it simple is put a piece of construction paper under the chicken wire, mark my three outer points so that I know the inner piece will fit my cut chicken wire once I bend the outer pieces to secure the insert.

I then took my shirt box(who needs a ruler?? Any straight edge will do!) and connected my lines. Cut that out and try it under your chicken wire frame to assure that it will fit(you may find turning it to be helpful!)

Once you are satisfied that it will fit to your specifications, take the shirt box and trace your template on it.

I don't like to waste, so I did two on one box. Don't throw the scraps out!!! You'll need it. This was the point that I took the chicken wire out to the garage and spray painted it(Rust-Oleum's Autumn Brown textured spray paint). Went in cut out the triangles and then went back out, turned the chicken wire and gave it a go again.

Next, take your Mod Podge and your selected graphics(yes this is a recipe, a menu is under my finished project), Mod Podge the side of your triangle you want facing up(it helps to cut your graphic according to the side as well) and adhere your graphic. Fix that on and then Mod Podge the face of the graphic as well. I like the look of recipes and menus as my background, but you can use whatever you like.

Next, you'll want to choose the shape and size of your outer graphic. I chose a round piece(the top of the Mod Podge lid) to adhere to a picture of Santa taken from some wrapping paper from a couple of years ago.

Do the same treatment to it as your insert.

But while you are at it, sprinkle some clear glitter on it. Don't panic, it'll dry with a clear picture that's glittery!

Once your insert is done, put it in your chicken wire frame and bend the "arms" back. I did this with my fingers, but you can use pliers, if you do, cover your pliers with tape so not to take any of your paint off.

After your outer graphic is dry, take your outer piece and see where you want it. Then put some hot glue on the chicken wire where your outer graphic will go. Press your graphic in place and hold for a few seconds.(Sorry, no pic of that, but I only have two hands, where's a third when you need it??)

Since this is an ornament, it needs something to hang it by, so pull out some ribbon or string, or whatever your heart desires. You can tie it on the frame on the top loops or do like I did, make knots in either end of selected size and then just slide the arms that are folded down into the knots. You could hot glue that too.

Hang it on your tree and impress your family with how crafty you are!

Thank you ladies for the opportunity to share my love of chicken wire, hope the joy spreads!-ERin

Thank you so much, Erin! This is such a beautiful ornament! And she is on to something here with the chicken wire, folks!

Have you seen Erin's other amazing projects with chicken wire?

Chicken Wire Basket

(Photo courtesy of Like Grandma's)

Would you believe this was originally a lampshade? She covered it with chicken wire and spray painted it, creating a gorgeous basket! How genius is that?

Or this:

Chicken Wire Soap Dispenser


(Photo courtesy of Like Grandma's)

This is also her own inspired creation! {The cutest soap dispenser ever!}

SO...if you haven't met Erin before, make sure to head on over to Like Grandma's and say hello! She is not only very talented, she is also one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet! :)

We hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

The second candle of Advent

Just a quick, little sidenote:

{Do you ever have a "bright" idea that becomes a disaster? Uh, yeah...that was my idea to make an Advent wreath out of moss this year, versus just using the one I'd already made. It was so bad, in fact, that I couldn't bear to show you it! Then there was no more time on Sunday to put the original arrangement together for this post! But now, the wreath is done, in more of its original form...And the third candle will be on Sunday this next week, even if it kills me! That said, let's light the second candle...}

The candle we light this week is the Bethlehem candle...

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of

David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary,

who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the

time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him

cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

~Luke 2: 4-7

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

{Here are the Prophecy candle and the Bethlehem candle, both lit this week.}

I hope you are all having a great week! :) Thank you for stopping by!

Blessings,

Jenni

Clothespin Nativity

Like Sparrow, {Jenni} I thought I would share my homemade Christmas Tree ornaments that, Stephanie Lynn, at Under the Table and Dreaming featured.

One reason I chose to use clothespins in this craft is because I had at least a hundred of them. At first I thought it would be neat to make a bunch of angels, but then during a conversation with my sister, she mentioned making shepherds and from that point I decided to make the whole nativity-minus the cow and donkey. My artsy skills failed me in drawing out those two animals.

So here's what I used to make the Nativity.

Clothespins

Scissors

Cardboard {thin like used on cereal boxes}

Mod Podge

Glue Stick

Twist-ties for halos. {like you would see on a bag of bread}

Glitter

Scrapbook Paper

Ribbon

Black Marker

{Take a clothespin}

{Take cardboard and trace your design}

{Take Mod Podge}

{Add scrapbook paper and ribbon}

{The glue stick came in handy when applying the glitter}

{Scrapbook paper on star}

{Finished star after applying glitter}

{The Nativity}

{Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus}

{Wise man}

{The three wise men}

{The sheep}

{The shepherd and his flock}

{The angels}

So, if you're looking for a simple, fun and inexpensive way to make your own Christmas Tree ornaments, this might be a project you'll enjoy.

belle

simply . living . life

Bookazine Giveaway Winners...

Hi you all! I hope you are doing great, and that you have had a wonderful week!

{So who's ready for the weekend?}

Well now...the giveaway ended last night, and it is time to announce the winners of the two Gooseberry Patch Christmas bookazines!

{Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!}


The first winning number is:



And the 36th comment was left by Mrs.B...

Mrs.B said..

I'm a follower.

November 19, 2010 4:28 PM

Now the second winning number is:

The very last one to leave a comment was Holley V...

Holley V said...

I'm a follower of your lovely blog! :)

November 30, 2010 9:52 AM

Congratulations, both Mrs. B and Holley V!

Please email me with your addresses, and I will get your prizes off to you right away! :)

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! My little family is off to the tree farm to find the *perfect* Christmas tree on Saturday! It takes a while for us all to agree on the right one...it's a very serious decision, you know! ;)

Thank you so much for stopping by,

Jenni {Sparrow}

Giveaway by:

For the Birds {Paper, Book and Doily Ornament}

Last week, both Belle and I had the tremendously exciting opportunity to be guest bloggers at Under the Table and Dreaming, along with 23 other bloggers during the week of Thanksgiving. Each of us showed a handmade ornament, and let me tell you, I was more than a little awed to be included with such talented and amazing people! The ornaments were so amazing, and my want-to-do list grew as the week went on! :)

Stephanie Lynn coordinated all of this, and did such a wonderful job putting it all together~ even adding the most beautiful collages that highlighted her favorites of each blogger's projects when she closed at the end of their tutorials...I was so touched by her thoughtfulness!

I thought I would show you my ornament now on this blog, too, because you may not have seen it...do you mind? Actually, it's essentially the same post...

I have been noticing all of the gorgeous and creative book wreaths in Blogland for some time now, and thought it would be fun to somehow incorporate that idea into an ornament.

I also love paper birds and so decided to make a paper bird, but add a twist to this idea by using the pages of a book for the body of the bird.

This Paper, Book and Doily Bird Ornament is an inexpensive and fun way to add a simple yet festive touch to your Christmas tree. And it is not at all difficult to make either!

What you'll need:

Bird and wing templates (see below)

Card stock, solid colored

Decorative card stock

A book {Dollar stores often sell paperbacks that are just perfect for this}

Miniature doilies

Buttons and decorative jewels

Felt

Twine

Glue gun, glue sticks

School glue stick, such as Elmer's

{Along with these, you will also need fabric and paper scissors as well as a hole punch.}

Begin by printing out the bird and wing patterns. They are not pictured to scale here, but if you save them to a file and then print, they will print to the correct size. (About five inches wide.) These pictures of them are not pictured to scale, but if you save them to a file and then print, they will be the right size. You can trace these onto cardboard or card stock~ these will be your templates.

Trace the bird template onto card stock, and then do the same thing onto your book pages. I had to glue two pages together to make it big enough for the bird, and most book pages will probably be this way.

Glue the book page cut out onto the card stock one.

If you used a hole punch for the twine, make sure to do this part before going any further. It will be too difficult to do it later.

(You can find these miniature doilies at JoAnn Fabrics, for 99 cents a piece.)

To give the doily "wing" extra firmness, I used stitch witchery. If you haven't used this before, don't worry! It is easy-peasy!

Cut a piece of stitch witchery about half the size of your doily, making sure when you fold it, the stitch witchery doesn't extend past the edges of the doily.

Now cover your folded doily with a damp cloth and place hot iron onto it, holding it there for 10 seconds. (Although I did notice cream doilies were a bit thicker than the white ones, and they needed about 15 seconds to fuse.)

Using a glue gun, dot the folded doily with glue and press onto the bird. You can glue the wing on however it looks best! See how the wing covers the hole punch, so no one will know it's there?

Now if you want layered wings for extra texture, trace the wing templates you like, and cut them out. You can use book pages or felt for the extra wings...or anything you want! :) Glue these onto the doily wing, and add your other embellishments~ buttons, sparkly gems, sequins...you name it!

I also thought it would be fun to make birds out of decorative card stock as well, with book page on the back of the bird, and combine this with book page wings...Once you get going, the possibilities are endless! You can mix it up however you like!

Then the best part of all~ decorating your tree!

Here is my little "kitchen tree" with the birds!







And here I added a miniature version of the bird to the front of a book page tag...I like the twig underneath, but am not happy with the shape/size of the felt under the bird...I have a few ideas of how to make it look better, but I wanted to show you what I had so far! :)

Well, I hope this L-O-N-G and drawn out post didn't bore you to tears! If you haven't seen all of the wonderful ornament ideas posted at Under the Table and Dreaming last week, be sure to head on over and check it here!

Hopefully you are all doing well, and having a great week! :)


Thanks so much for stopping by~

Jenni

I am linking this to Freckled Laundry's Air Your Laundry party.