Make It Merry

I'm blog hopping for 14 days with Diane and the Make it Merry Gang...14 days of DIY Christmas decor!

My assignment:  Christmas Trees.

I've been wanting to make a tree out of scrap wood for a few years now, so this just gave me the nudge I needed. 

Should you like to make one...I'll show you how I made mine.  First you need to create a center post stand.  I used a 2x4 and four 1x6 pieces for the base.  The measurements are whatever you want or have on hand. :)

This is what the base looks like.  I suppose there is a name for such a configuration. A stand like this could be used for so many things besides a tree.  A coat rack and sign post come to mind now.

After screwing in the first two boards, you just rotate the stand and add the third, then fourth.  I pre drilled all the holes.

Next, I laid out the scrap pieces of wood I picked out for the tree.  A couple of them I did cut just a little, but mostly I just played around with what I had.  Some are drawer front pieces, one is part of a coat rack, one a cupboard piece, some from tables and so on.  Just keep rearranging until you like what you have. I then scrubbed them all clean with hot soapy water.

  When dry, I screwed each of the pieces in place from the back on the post. (pre drill)  After a few of them, it got awkward and I had to have my husband help me hold them and drill them in.  If my work table would have been cleared off I think I could have managed on my own but it wasn't. :)  It was fun to have him help me anyway.

All done!  I experimented with adding some vintage ornaments and my sparkle light bulbs, but decided I like it just as is with a couple of birds.  It won't be staying in this spot, but I needed to take pictures where I had some natural light.

That teal wainscoting is my favorite scrap wood.  I've used some of it here before.

I left the hardware just "as is" on the pieces. I enjoy the randomness.

Of course, every tree needs a topper.

Mine is baling wire around an old metal embroidery hoop.  Those embroidery hoops come in handy!
I nailed it into a block of wood on the post.

If you would like to see another scrappy DIY tree, click here to see my posts for last year's Junkle Bells tree.

Here's the big list again for the Make it Merry blog hop.  You can click on each one and follow along.

Spoonflower Sale!

Last year at this time, Spoonflower had a buy one, get one free of their fat quarters and I jumped on it.  This year they are doing the same thing this week and I wanted to let you in on it!

I bought some tea towel calendars for gifts and my favorites from last year have been updated for 2012!

This birdie one is so cute!

After I took the picture I cut off the excess dowel rod and fixed the ribbon. :) I was in a hurry for some reason to take the picture.  

The 2012 calender can be purchased here.

The design comes on a fat quarter and then you have to hem it yourself.  It wasn't hard. On one of them, I did have to cut off the extra from the bottom and add it to the top to have enough fabric to make a pocket to place the dowel rod.  I added upholstery tacks to the end of the dowel and tied the ribbon to them.  You could just hem it all the way around and use pins to hang it on your wall or frame one if you're really ambitious. Hmm, I guess you could use one as a towel too. :)

I didn't take a picture of the one I gave my oldest daughter, but you can view it here on flickr.  After hemming it and adding the rod pocket I embroidered a circle around her and her husband's wedding date.  Get it?!  It's a bicycle built for two!!

Do you know anyone getting married this year?  It's a great gift!

The designer (beck&lundy) has updated the calendar and you can purchase it here (choice of two different colors).

For you tea drinkers:  this one!

Spoonflower recommends the linen cotton canvas for the tea towels and that is what I bought.   At BOGO, that's only $7 a piece.

With a fat quarter of this fabric, you can make 3 doll rattles.  Cute!  (I bought it last year and now this year I'm going to have a grand baby.....)

Another favorite of mine...what about a tote bag out of it?

I've blogged about Spoonflower before...wouldn't it be great to design your own fabric?!...on my to do list!

Link for all tea towels.

Remember the sale is for all fat quarters, not just tea towels.

I'd love to know if you decide to order any and how you used it!

A Little Sparkly

Another great idea from craftzine blog via pinterest.  Have you sparkled any of your old light bulbs yet?  We haven't made the transition to LED Christmas lights yet so I have quite a few old bulbs. My daughter and I glitzed these up in short order.  I'll show you our garlands after they dry. So pretty aren't they?

Make it Merry began yesterday!

I'm still working on my project ;)
Each of the blogs listed above is a live link so you can easily check out the Merry Projects and blogs!

Homemade Kettle Corn

You may love me or hate me after this post. :)

I was looking for snack recipes and saw one here for kettle corn.  What?!  Why have I not ever thought to look for these directions before?!  

Here are the ingredients.  When I make popcorn on the stove I never measure.  But, for this I did and really think it was a good idea.

1/4 C. oil (highly recommend the buttery flavor popcorn oil)

1/4 C sugar

1/2 C popcorn

Scant 1/4 tsp. popcorn salt

So, my popcorn pan has seen some use. :)  I think it's a 2 quart size, but a bigger one would be a good idea.

Add the oil to the pan and when hot (when three test kernels have popped) add the sugar and popcorn.  Stir it quickly and replace the lid.

The original recipe said let the pan sit 3 seconds, shake 3 seconds.  I did this and it didn't burn.  However, if you make a second batch, wash out or at least wipe out the pan in between so you don't have any stray pieces or sugar burn while the new oil is heating.

I added the salt after I put the popcorn in the bowl and tossed it to break up the sticky pieces, but I think you could add the salt to the oil too.

yum....mmmmm....yummmmmmmyyyyyyyy.....mmmm....

Just in case you don't get enough to eat tomorrow you can whip up a batch of this!

May you have blessed Thanksgiving!