The Wrapping Paper

Instead of balling all that used wrapping paper up and throwing it in the trash, run it through the paper shredder.  Set it aside and you are now well stocked with filler to use for gift bags, gift baskets or shipping packages at any time of the year. It can get re-used over and over again this way.

The Lights

White lights are extremely versatile for other occasions throughout the year.  Something as simple as coiling them up and setting them about in glass jars is an easy solution for accent lighting anytime, anywhere.   (Beautiful accent lighting as you bring in the new year tonight!)

Shorter strands can be used as under cabinet or bookshelf lighting.  Add it to a thin product called cordmate (typically used to disguise cords along walls).  Cut to size, drill holes that are spaced and sized according to your light strand, insert lights, snap shut and install using the adhesive strip included on the back.

Cheers to re-inventing in the new year!

michele.

The Ornaments

Yesterday, we shared some of the wonderful, resourceful ways you can turn this year’s dried out Xmas Tree into Next Year’s gifts.  

Today, I give you a few more creative ways to utilize those holiday ornaments throughout the year.  

Gather up all like colored, solid ornaments and use them to fill clear glass jars.  Arrange so the hangers are all positioned towards the center and hidden.  They add a modern pop of color to any room of the house and they’re also great as festive party centerpieces throughout the year.  You can also use your beaded garland in the same fashion.

Your heavier style glass ornaments can be turned into beautiful gazing balls for your fountain or pond.  Use monofilament and tie a fishing weight or washer to the ornament hanger so it stays submerged.

Your more neutral looking ornaments can also be used as gift toppers for any occasion or worn as beautiful jewelry pendants.  Tassel ornaments are perfect for these alternative uses. 

If a few ornaments break as the tree is coming down, gather ‘em up and use them! I like to save the broken pieces in a clear glass ornament. They add a bit of color to the clear glass balls and keep you from having to toss the pieces in the trash.

• You can also use those bits in other jewelry pieces inspired by a mosaic look.
• Use the liners from your makeup containers as your ‘bezel’.
• Remove and clean thoroughly.
• Seal with a brushing of shellac. (This will keep your metal liner from tarnishing/rusting with the addition of a water-based medium) 
• Add your broken ornament bits.
• To fill:
• Use a one-step, non-toxic product like an acrylic pouring medium. It will go on milky but dry clear. Will self-level.
• Your other option is of course a small amount of two part epoxy resin. A bit messier and less ‘friendly’, but end result will be a more polished, harder finish.   

Cheers to working with what you have and finding other uses!

tomorrow….the lights and wrapping paper

michele.

“Waste not, want not.” That’s what my grandfather used to say and I now find myself proudly saying it, believing in it, and acting on it.  As you begin the task of tearing down and packing away the holiday trimmings you have scattered about, I share with you a few resourceful, creative ways to utilize some of those trimmings throughout the coming year:

The Tree

With just a small amount of time and effort, the dried up Christmas tree can provide you with gifts and accessories to use throughout the year.  An average 8-foot tree will generate approximately (36) coasters, (24) ornaments, (12+) disc-style pendants and numerous other creative opportunities like hair sticks and miscellaneous jewelry designs and art materials.

Let your fresh tree completely dry out after the holidays and then remove all the branches at the trunk using a pair of pruners.

Cut the center trunk down into manageable 2-3 foot sections using a handsaw.

Cut all your trunk sections into 1/4 inch slices using a power mitre box or by hand.

The larger (3-4 inch) slices from the base will make beautiful organic coasters.  Sand and wax.  Add cork feet and bundle up in sets of four using a smaller log slice as your tag.  You can also embellish using paints, stains, stamps or the wood burner.

The slices that are less than 3 inches in diameter make the perfect decorative ornaments.  Add a small screw eye and ribbon or chain to hang.  Leave natural, then sand and wax, or embellish as desired.

The smaller 1-inch slices make beautiful disc-style beads.  Drill a half-inch hole through the center and sand the edges so they slope, and then finish with wax.  Lace 3-5 on a small necklace chain and connect at the top with a jump ring.  Add to the center of desired necklace chain.

tomorrow…..The Ornaments.

Cheers to making 2010 the year to be more resourceful, less wasteful and smarter about what we consume, and how we use it.

michele

to all the natural goodness of the holidays!  Enjoy every moment, my friends!

“I wish we could put up some of the christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month”…harlan miller

michele.

Came across this photo I took over the summer and thought it would be fun to share this week.   There is a deer farm behind our cabin and we were able to sneak a peek at them basking in the sun one day.  Their antlers were covered in ‘velvet’ and they were beautiful to watch.  Have been curious about the who, what, why behind this particular deer farm but haven’t had the time to learn more. Might have to do that while I’m back home over the holidays!  (sure would love a little bit of that warm sunshine today!)

Cheers to a day filled with getting gifts put together, Christmas tunes and a warm, toasty fire!

michele.

Yes, it can! And it’s loads of innovative fun!  We joined up with Good Morning America this past Tuesday to see if we could help the Bleeker family fulfill their kids’ wish lists without spending a dime.  Jade, Mylie and Scarlett are three of the sweetest girls with the perfect interests for these types of gift ideas.  I must say, it was kind of refreshing to see a child’s wish list that wasn’t filled with video games and the like, but rather, things that encouraged them to be active and playful and to use their imagination.   In the end, we whipped up some very special gifts for a very special family and had a ball every step of the way.   The only downside to it all is that none of us get to see their little faces when they open things up.  We had to part ways with big packages under wraps.  Kory and Tiffany promised to give us a shout and share some pics, so that’s the next best thing.   You can catch the taped segment tomorrow morning (12.19) on Good Morning America Weekend. For more information check out our latest newsletter.

Gift giving should be all about the thought that goes into the gift, whether it’s handmade or not.  So many times we all find ourselves at the last minute just grabbing things to be grabbing them and to be able to check them off the list.  It really depletes the joy of gift giving when it pans out that way. Handmade things take time, of course and they usually go over best with those who really appreciate that type of gift but with the right idea and the right effort, they can be some of the most memorable and meaningful gifts we give or receive.   Our team threw together a few of our favorite projects that creatively utilize common, everyday items from around the house. Take a peek here, and see if there’s anything that will help you out with any last minute gift ideas. (It’s a hidden link at the moment, be sure to bookmark the address because it won’t appear on any of the sites toolbars, so if you navigate away, there won’t be a button to take you back)

Cheers to the Bleekers and a handmade holiday!

Love it, Love it, Love it!

michele.

Ok, I have a thing for books, I admit.  ALL books.  I love reading about pretty much anything and everything how-to oriented. Old books are always the ultimate score for me.  Junk stores, flea markets, and thrift stores are the best places to find.  Oh, and of course the library, but I have to say, I like owning most of my books because I read them over and over again and revisit them frequently.  There’s nothing better than knowing I have a new set of books sitting somewhere just waiting to be perused. They’re also an awesome decorating tool.  Compile different themes and set them about the house throughout the year.  

At Christmas time, I gather up  some of the Christmas type books and set them about.  For the New Year, I prop out some of my meditation, inspiring journal type books.  In the spring, it’s gardening/nature type books., etc… Their color pallettes are great accents, and it always nice for guests who like to take a gander.  A fun way to keep things interesting throughout the year. They get a lot more action than when they’re hidden on a bookshelf somewhere.

Cheers to fellow book lovers everywhere!

michele.

The amount of commercial style decorations a lot of us consume for this time of year can be a bit overwhelming.  Packing it, unpacking it, storing it.  Have you ever given thought to doing it up naturally….allowing your holiday decorating efforts to get a fresh start every year?    It’s a fun tradition that my family ensemble has become more and more committed to each year.  We of course still have our few sentimental favorites that we hang onto year after year, but when you basically start from scratch and work with what you have, or pull from nature’s bounty, you’d be amazed at how freeing it feels.  We start with a fresh tree that then gets manipulated into other creative ways after the holidays.  (FUN, FUN projects on that topic next week!)  Our decorations come from fresh baked batches of cookie ornaments or ‘playdough’ that we do up differently each year, cranberry garland, a host of dried goodies, natural twines, etc.  The decorating becomes more of a monthlong flurry of ‘festivities’ and fun family activities, and less of a work task…in both the setup or the teardown.  Who says everything has to get set up in one weekend.  Make additions up until the big day.  A lot of these efforts can then get rolled over and served up back to nature after the holidays.  A number of ornaments get turned into bird feeders or firestarters. Creating the bird feeders is another fun family activity for after the holidays and the birds are most appreciative.   Some decor finds its’ way to the compost bin.  Other things get manipulated into different decorative elements that can remain useful throughout the entire year.  We only have a few of the special things that get reused each year to pack up which makes for a lot less clutter for me and my family and ultimately it makes the whole holiday season less daunting, less ‘heavy’, less ‘work’ and a LOT more enjoyable.  Every step of the way makes us feel naturally good, it’s a new kind of fun and a creative opportunity to look forward to each year.  Absolutely nothing goes to waste.    Try it out for size on your family!

Cheers to fresh starts and ‘full circle’ holiday decorating!

michele.

Whew….the days fly.  Each one fueled by unexpected requests, new ventures and a tad bit of what was “originally planned”.  How did it get to be the middle of December already?  I’m just comin’ down off another quick trip to New York and very grateful to have had another opportunity to share ideas on the Rachael Ray Show and am now in the midst of pulling things together for a fun holiday shoot with Good Morning America next week here in Iowa.  Some great projects are coming out of both and I will share them as soon as I can.  When the days are fuller than usual with projects, commitments and deadlines, my blog entries are a little more sparse, but I do try to not let too many days pass without some sort of contribution.   I now need to figure out where I left off, so I can also jump back into what I was originally trying to get done this week.   I returned home to a much whiter, brighter landscape than what was here a few days ago….(apparently, I missed out on a pretty exciting snow day mid-week) It’s absolutely gorgeous. The air is crisp and clear.  The scenery is naturally artful with all its’ sculptural drifts and snow covered branches.  I can’t wait to go out and build a ‘fort’ with madeline out of some of the large drifts in our yard.  I remember creating bowls and cupboards out of the packed snow when I was little and am looking forward to also squeezing in a little ‘snowy playtime’ with her.  If you too live in an area that experiences cold, snowy days, take this as a friendly reminder to get out and enjoy it while it lasts.   It’s always disappointing for me to hear people say it’s a good time to stay INdoors.  It’s also a GREAT time to get OUTSIDE!   Media outlets portray all the weather happenings with such drama and negativity.  I keep hoping to hear or read….”it’s a chilly, snowy day….get out there and enjoy it, people!”…..instead it’s just the dangers of frostbite and other reports that make winter sound like a scary, horrible thing.

Yes, there’s a lot of snow, but you know what, it’s winter….we get snow every year. This isn’t anything new.  Yes, it’s cold, but if you dress properly, time spent outdoors can still be invigorating and enjoyable!  Let’s embrace the change, and make the best of it.  Layer up and take a walk, breathe in the fresh, cool air, enjoy the sights..they’re absolutely magnificent. 

Ton of fun project stuff to share, so given a bit of time to pull it all together…next week promises to be a plentiful week of blog posts!  

CHEERS to Winter, all!

michele.

Mix things up this holiday season and have some fun decorating naturally. Challenge yourself and your family to come up with creative, festive ways to use what nature provides for us as your holiday trimmings or great gift ideas and party favors.  Kids love helping out and have the best imaginations of how to configure. You can look forward to creating a fresh stash year after year without it costing you a dime!

• Branches, log slices, pine cones, rocks, leaves….all the organic classics that can be configured and combined to create beautiful, one of a kind ornaments.

• Log slices are the perfect backdrop for a number of designs. Surround one with branches glued to the center and you have rustic stars.

• The tops off dried gourds can be turn into natural bells using a small jingle bell and some wire.

• Give your pinecones a little personality and you have yourself an assortment of angels.

• Leave things natural, paint them up, or add some shine or glitz if you like.
• Repurpose old necklaces or grab the tackle box for some out of the ordinary hanging supplies.

Search the yard and garden, parks or even dried potpourri mixes from the house.  A wonderful holiday tradition and naturally good memories await! (down and dirty video demo of this project will be available this week — I’ll add the link on Monday or you can just go to our down dirty videos and select ‘natural ornaments’!)

Cheers!

michele.