How to make a wire photo or card holder

              With just a piece of bailing wire

 

                              you can turn old salt and pepper shakers into a place you can display

                               your photos. What a beautiful center piece for a wedding or party.

             
                                                                  Here's what you need :

                                           Any miscellaneous shaker, with or without a mate



                                      Bailing wire- 16 or 18 gauge- approx. 12 '' per holder

                                                    Home Depot approx. $3.00 a roll


                                                        One roll will last a lifetime!

 

Needle nose Pliers

 

A pencil to wrap around

 

 

Cut a piece of wire about 12''

 

Use pliers to curl in at one end. This will protect you from the sharp ends.

 

                   Make a loop, about the size of a quarter-twice, this is where the photo will be held.

 

 

Wrap the straight end 2 or 3 times around a pencil. Slide the pencil out and your holder is done.

 

                   Use your hands to straighten and adjust where needed. Now decide how tall you

 

                                                 want your holder to be and trim with pliers.

                                                         Here are some variations. Have fun !

                                            I use mine to display some vintage Valentines.

 

In the link below I shared some vintage valentines that you can print.

 

  https://freshvintagebylisas.blogspot.com/2018/02/happy-valentines-day-gift-to-you-from-me.html

 

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you enjoyed making these !

 

 

 

Thank you,

 

xox LisaS

 

 

Almost Homemade Peppermint Bark for Valentines' Day

 

Here is how I make Peppermint Bark with a little help from the Dollar Tree.

First you are going to need these Peppermint Bark Bars. The bars are white chocolate ONLY with the peppermint candy mixed inside, but that just won't do!  We will bump it up a notch and add more goodness. I was able to buy these after Christmas for .25 each. Their best by date is July.....the candy will be long gone by then. I bought 6 knowing they will fit nicely on a cookie sheet.

 

You will also need Parchment paper.

Chocolate for melting. You can use chocolate chips. Dollar Tree has both these items.

The chips at Dollar Tree are 6 oz. I would use 2 bags.

I was able to find dark chocolate in a 10 oz. bag. and that's my husbands' favorite. I  used 1 bag of the dark chocolate.

 

or

  

 

 

The parchment paper from the Dollar Tree is a great deal.

 

Cover cookie sheet with Parchment paper, open up the peppermint bark place on cookie sheet with the scored side up.

Set aside

 

Open the chocolate and put inside a microwave safe container. I used a pyrex measuring cup.

 

 

Microwave for 30 sec. and check, stir and add another 30 sec. Watch carefully so the chocolate
doesn't burn. Stir until smooth. Cover the bars evenly, and let it set.

 

          After a few minuets it will set up. You will be able to tell because it loses it's sheen.
                                                                          

 

        Now for the fun part. Break into small pieces. Place in bags to give as gifts. The bags also came from Dollar Tree. I was able to make enough for 12 Valentine's gifts.

 

                                                       Happy Valentines' Day ! xoxLisaS

 

                         

 

 

 

 

 

How to make a Paper Doily Wreath

This wreath is a quick and easy project using only 2 items from the Dollar Tree !

It reminds me of white eyelet cloth

You will need :

1 metal wreath form

1 pkg. of 30 Heart Shaped paper doilies

a hot glue gun

a stapler

Separate all 30 doilies. Pinch at the point of heart and staple.

 

After you have all the doilies ready, flip the wreath over so you are working from the under side.

You will be tucking under 2 doilies per section on the inner ring of wreath.

Fold under at staple and glue in place,

 

and 2 doilies per section on the outer ring.

Flip over and fluff!

 

you did it!

Only $2.00 and about 30 min.

A pretty wreath for your Valentine.

xoxLisaS

How to paint BUFFALO CHECK PLAID- on Mason Jars

Am I the only one who feels sad to see all the Christmas  Decorations put away? The house looks so empty. I decided to leave out some items like the Buffalo Check Plaid Jars on  the mantel and the plaid throws on the sofa. I am thinking it looks like winter décor.

 

 

 

I added an early Valentine's sign too.
This is an easy project. No need to worry about straight lines.....here's what you need.

 

 

 

Any glass jar, I used a pint jar

White Chalk paint, you can use Acrylic but the chalk will stick to the glass
Black Acrylic paint, Grey Acrylic paint. I used Pewter Grey.
A foam or bristle  1 '' brush and a smaller brush for detail work.

Paint the outside of your jar with the chalk paint and let dry.

Next you will be painting the vertical stripes. I painted 5 stripes about 1'' thick with about 1'' space between each stripe. The stripes don't need to be perfect, messy is fine.

Then add the horizontal stripes. I started under the rim near the lip of the jar. Stripes are 1'' with 1'' of space between.

 

 

It starts to look like plaid but the real magic begins with the next step.

 

 

 

Now you use the black paint and a small brush to come back over all the places where the stripes cross over each other. Isn't that amazing!

After your jar is dry, you can fill with fresh flowers like I did and add some ribbon if you prefer.

I just tied some jute around the top. If you have it you can seal with clear wax or matte spray sealer but it is not necessary.

 

 

I hope you like this project!

xoxLisaS

 

 

 

 

Here is a link to my BUFFALO CHECK PLAID- in PASTEL colors

https://freshvintagebylisas.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-to-paint-buffalo-check-plaid-pastel.html

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Pottery Barn Knock-Off Wall Art from free printable

Happy New Year !

Time passes so quickly.... as this clock reminds me.

I saw something very similar in a Pottery Barn Catalog and decided to make my own.

You will need : a page from a book about 8 1/2 ''x 11''. I used a page from a Dictionary 8''x 10''

                           Any size frame to match your décor.

 

 

 

I have a free download for you to make this project.

 Save to your computer in pictures and when you go to print you will add an old book page to your paper tray and print with black ink. You can change size and placement before you print.

 

                After the ink is dry,  you can go over the artwork with water colors or colored pencils.

 

 

I used 5'' x 7'' frames from the Dollar Tree

 

 

 

 

 

Here is another free printable

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used a 8''x 10'' frame from the Dollar Tree. On this project I used a vintage page of sheet music.

 If  you try this project let me know what you decided to print on your book pages.

What a nice gift this would be. It can be personalized with a

                      picture of their favorite hobby or something special.



                                 Your only expense is the frame, maybe you already

                                                     have a collection of frames like I do !

                                                                                                           xoLisaS

Merry Christmas

 

A sweet little vintage postcard from me to you! 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

xo Lisa S

DIY Birch Tree Top Star

Hi Friends,

To make a Birch- Tree Top Star-

You need 5 small diameter, Birch cuttings or twigs about 12 '' long.

All 5 pieces need to be about the same size.

Lay 2 pieces on a flat surface with ends together in a '' V '' shape.

We used small nails, but you can use your glue gun.

Place another twig from the bottom edge to cross over to the middle.

If you have trouble with the shape, draw your star on paper and make a pattern.


Cross branches over the top of pattern.

I went a little crazy and hung the stars all over the house....and even outside.

Tell me what you think.

 

On top of the Hutch

On the Mantle

On the Patio

In an old box full of Shiny- Brite Ornaments!

I had a lot of these twigs and made quite a few.

Each one unique.

xo Lisa S

How to make a Cotton Boll Wreath

 

I know everyone has seen stems of Cotton Bolls in every farmhouse décor picture.

 

 I thought I would change it up a bit and make a wreath.

 

      You really don't need a DIY step by step instruction for this project. It is amazingly simple.

 

 

You need about 5 stems for a 12'' wreath.

 

The stems I used were fake and attached to wire

 

that was covered in brown floral tape. I had these at my Boutique.

 

 I have more available for $3.00 a stem.

 

You can also get them from Hobby Lobby, but they cost more.

 

Use pliers to cut the stems into separate pieces 3'' to 5'' long.

 

 

12'' wreath

 

 

 

I used just a thin base of grape vines from the yard, and dried.

 

The brown floral tape will match the color of the wreath.

 

Start by using the wired cotton to wrap around the thickness of the wreath

 

Continue around the circle until it is filled to your liking.

 

The wire will hold everything in place or you can use a hot glue gun if you wish.

 

See... super easy.

 

The hard part was deciding were to hang it!

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting today!

 

xo Lisa S