Change of plans

Last week I was telling you all how excited I was for Thanksgiving, I teased about my beautiful tablescape and the meal I was cooking. CHANGE OF PLANS!

The original plan was dinner at my house for 12, no big deal. As the week went on, the neighbors and I started talking and several people didn't have anywhere to go. Others had family coming in that they didn't want to be trapped with and with this in mind we decided to all have Thanksgiving together. One problem, 30 people.

Only one house in the neighborhood was large enough for all of us, so we moved the entire Thanksgiving celebration across the street.

We divided up the tasks for the meal and I was responsible for a vegetable and dessert. My life just got much easier!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and really enjoyed our time together, but I must admit I was disappointed as I enjoy cooking the meal and doing the tablescape, but alas neither was necessary.

I did want to share with you what I had planned for the tablescape and apologize that there are no photos, but like I said, it never happened.

• Plain white linen cloth
• Antique crocheted overlay
• Wrought Iron Candelabra that runs the length of my table
• Petite votives
• Assorted photos in frames of various sizes of family and friends who I am thankful for. The photos would be interspersed along the table and at varying heights.
• Cobalt blue linen place mats
• Solid white china
• Silver flatware
• Cobalt blue water glasses
• Long stem crystal wine glasses
• Blue and white plaid linen napkins with silver napkin rings
• Place cards were to be my special message to each guest. On a white card and written in silver ink the card would say "Leigh, I am thankful for your kindness." "Clint, I am thankful for your generosity." etc. etc.
• Each person was to also have "to go" bags. Using craft paper lunch bags and tied with festive ribbons, each person would have taken away their left-overs for the next day.

Oh well, it didn't happen this year. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your celebration was Home Made Easy.

Things to Come

I am incredibly excited about Thanksgiving. I have planned a traditional menu, but I am most excited about my table scape, I will be setting it up this weekend, so make sure you stop in later for all the details and photos.

To make the table scape even more interesting, I am not buying ANYTHING, it is being created by things I have around the house.

Now that, my friends is the epitome home made easy!

Re purposing an Old Table

I have a confession, I am a pack rat. I find sentiment in most everything and hate to get rid of anything that provides me with pleasant memories.

I have a couple of small end tables that I NEED to get rid of, they are old and beaten up, but they still fill a purpose. I hate to get rid of them, so I decided to re purpose them. (Ok, I only re purposed one, but I may get around to the other one sooner or later.)

A few weeks ago I was taking a few days off work for a stay-cation and was cleaning out closets. I found a box filled with old postcards, letters, notes, photos and greeting cards. When I found the box and started going through the contents I couldn't bare to get rid of the contents.

It hit me, a way to use the cards and re purpose the table.

I started off by selecting a few of the cards that visually made the biggest impact.



After choosing the cards, I cut out the impact images and created a simple layout on the table top.


After deciding on the layout, I used my Modge-Podge to apply the images. For those of you who have never used it, modge podge it SIMPLE. All you need is a sponge brush to apply it.



Using long fluid strokes, apply the modge podge to the back of your application and then over the front. This creates a nice smooth surface for your tabletop.



After the modge podge has dried, coat with a polyurethane spray and you have a re purpose for an old table featuring memories of a lifetime.



Re purposing a table and keeping your memories in tact, Home Made Easy.

Unique Wrap

Last week at the conclusion of my post on candling I mentioned that the small tin candles make great gifts, especially when presented in a unique gift wrap.

Today, we discuss the gift wrap.

One of the things I look for when visiting yard sales or rummage sales is fabric. I find that you can do a million things with fabric, one of them being using it as gift wrap.

Recently. I hit the jackpot at my Church rummage sale when a parishioner who owns an upholstery business brought in countless rolls of yardage. I bought 16 rolls of fabric, each with at least 5 yards on the roll for an unbelievable $16.

I have used fabric as wrapping paper for years, it molds to the container well and the presentation looks more exquisite than even the most beautiful paper.

When wrapping with fabric choose the cloth you will use.

Cut the fabric into swatches that will give you sufficient play when covering the gift. The cut doesn't have to be perfect, any imperfections will be hidden in the presentation.

You will need ribbon, scissors and an "ornament" for attachment. Like fabric, I buy rolls of ribbon whenever I see it. Most fabric stores or craft shops have bins of reduced ribbon on sale at all times, it is not unheard of to find rolls of ribbon for as low as ten cents to $1....I NEVER pay more than $1 for ribbon.

When you have your gift selected and the fabric cut, place your gift in the center of the fabric swatch.
When wrapping the tins, I just pulled up all the corners, tied it off with a ribbon and attached beads and buttons to provide ornamentation for my presentation.

Inexpensive, quick, easy and beautiful. Unique gift wrap, Home Made Easy.

Candling Made Easy...

I apologize for not posting recently. First I had computer problems and then camera problems and then life got in the way of posting. Hopefully now I am back up and running.

I have been making candles for quite sometime. I find it to be a rewarding and easy craft with a big payoff.

I have made candles in a variety of containers and in a variety of colors, it is super easy and fun.

Recently I found a number of miniature tins at my local craft store for fifty cents each. I bought $20 worth, knowing that they would make super cute candles that I could use for a variety of purposes.

Candling requires a number of steps, all of them easy to follow.

Required for this project is....

A block of wax

Melting pot

Thermometer

Knife

Wicks

Clothes pins

Tins

While you are preparing the process, I place the tins in the over at 170 degrees to warm. This allows the tins to be ready for the melted wax when it is poured in. The tins need to be warm so that the wax doesn't crack when it hardens.

In a large pot of hot water (just before boiling) place the melting pot with a large chunk of wax. Place your thermometer in the wax as it melts. Candle thermometers are marked with temperatures for different containers, always use this it helps with the process as different types of containers require different temps. For a tin you want the wax to melt to approximately 225 degrees.

For me the most difficult step in making candles is getting the wick to stand in the center. Some people use straws, others use the cover of a Bic pen, but most everyone uses clothes pins in the process. I have done all of the above and still use the different techniques depending on the style of candle I am making. For this particular candle I used just the clothes pins and a bead weight to hold it down.

Once the wax is melted you may add color or scents. All of these may be purchased at a craft store. For these particular candles I decided on no color since the containers were so colorful and added apple as my scent.

Pour the wax into your containers leaving a small amount of space at the top.

Don't use all of your wax at this point.... you will need more later!

Once the wax is in the container I then center my wicks and use the clothes pins to hold them in place while the wax hardens.

After the wax has hardened you will find that it may fall a bit in the center, this is when you will reuse the additional melt. Pour in the additional wax and bring it near the top of your container.

After the wax has hardened cut your wicks.

What an adorable and fragrant candle and easy to make!

These candles make great hostess gifts and can be wrapped in delightful creative ways, I will present the fun wraps in a future post.

Candling for yourself or others.... Home Made Easy!

Button Up Your Picture Frame

When I am crafting, one of the things I like to do most is "update" a project.

Recently I have found that using old buttons is a great way to make something old, new again, giving a great unique look to a traditional item.

Using buttons I recently made a plain wooden picture frame into something worthy of a cherished family photo.

Check it out, this is Home Made Easy....

What's Needed....

A plain picture frame

Variety of buttons

Hot glue gun

Clippers


Using large buttons as a backdrop and for interest, these usually need to have the loops clipped off the back. Clipping the first button allows you to create a solid base that you can then build on. Using the glue gun, I start in the corner of my frame and then add to the creation.


As you add buttons the dimension of the design will become evident. Be creative with the buttons, I try to keep an overall color scheme but use a variety of styles to create interest.

As you finish up with one side, accent the design with smaller beads, interesting colors and theme buttons.

After completing one side of the frame, move on. If you are doing all sides just continue the process around.

For this frame I chose to only do two sides, I thought it made the frame more interesting and highlighted the beauty of the original wood. I don't try to match the sides; however, I do try to balance them, but never match.

I think these frames are fun and makes the photo chosen for display even more special. Placed next to an oversize decor piece the frame provides a one of a kind point of interest.


A beautiful picture frame, buttoned up.... Home Made Easy.