DIY Christmas Tree in Action

Remember that cute little DIY Christmas Tree project I learned from Martha Stewart's show? I've been passing them out to friends as part of my holiday gift and they've been such a hit! Check this one out, it looks so good incorporated into Morgan's holiday decor.

DIY Christmas Tree

I can honestly say I've never watched the Martha Stewart Show, I mean, that is until today when I was channel surfing and writing my previous blog post. Like I said... gushing over Martha today!

I don't think you know but one of my favorite DIY projects is using pages of magazines to make CD covers for the CD's I burn and give away around the holidays. They're also great as hip wrapping paper, and now I have a new way to use my old magazines - as Christmas Tree decor.

Here's the low down I learned from Martha and her guest.

Step 1: fold each, yes each, page from the upper outer point in like below.


Step 2: now fold each page in again, the page you're folding should look like a tie. Do this to EVERY page, no one said it wasn't a time consuming project!

You're hard work is starting to payoff, once this is done you'll see the tree starting to form.


Step 3: fold each bottom up so that it's flat and then tuck it in.



Now for the easy part.

Step 4: get out your paint, I used white because it's what I have on hand but they used gold on Martha's show and it was sooo pretty. Glitter is nice too. NOW spray away!


And voila, you have a pretty little Christmas Tree for your holiday decor.


Do this while you watch TV, play online, whatever. It took me about an hour, done and done. An hour and a half if you include this blog post.

Holiday Decor & fun DIY

Admittingly it takes me a while to get into the holiday spirit, admittingly I am still NOT and so it's pretty surprising, to me anyway, that I have hosted a holiday party every year for the past three years. I love doing it but this year it just ain't happening. I'm sad about that but planning a post New Year's party instead!

So, I was putzin around my blog roll yesterday trying to get my groove back in this here blog-o-sphere when I came across this post, titled "Return of the Martha Balls" by i suwanee. This spiraled me out of control into the world wide web where I found a couple of fun DIY projects for the holiday season.


I have a vision of my living room covered in "Martha Balls" sometime after the new year. DIY instructions for these Tissue Paper Flower Pom Poms, I like the sound of Martha Balls better, can be found here on Martha Stewart's crafty little website.

Along the way I came across instructions for how to make these Japanese inspired surprise balls. What a fun gift idea for the person who has everything! As you unwind the ball little fun gifts fall out through the layers. Imagine it, you're left with a pile of confetti at your feet - FUN!

I snagged the below photo from fellow blogger Sandra Juto who received one of these as a gift, check out her site for pictures of this lovely ball as it unwinds.


In the instance that you are just too busy to sit down and make one of these or not feeling crafty you can purchase them at Kisok for $45 or at TOPS Malibu, prices vary but are significantly cheaper.

But wait, I'm not done - I told you I got lost in the World Wide Web!


I hate to say it, I really do, but I'm totally crushing on Martha Stewart today. Check out these classic "fabric balls" aka Christmas Ornaments that you can make sans sewing machine. I see in my future Mulled Wine and glue!

Anyone care to join me?!

DIY: Paint Side Table

Supplies: Thin Grit Sand Paper, Rust-o-leum White Primer, Rust-o-leum White Gloss Spray Paint, and the ever-so-useful Rust-o-leum "Comfort Grip", Painter's Tape

BEFORE:


These pictures were taken after I sanded the table down, this took about an hour and my wrist was killing. I'm totally investing in a power sander.

You can kind of see the awful color someone had painted this pretty little table in the past, it was the most hideous beige. They failed to even take off the hardware which worked out okay against the white paint I used.


It was so easy! The whole process took about two days but that's only because I got a late start on day one. You could easily have this done within 24 hours.

AFTER:


First sand the entire unit. Prime and paint. Oh, and don't forget to use painters tape to cover the areas you don't want to change, like the mirrors on this piece. And please remove the hardware, it takes about five seconds.


One thing I'll do different on the second unit - tape up the mirror BEFORE sanding the table. I can't wait until they're both done, but I am going to wait long enough to get that electric sander!

DIY: Camera Strap from Design Sponge

Anybody who knows Design*Sponge loves it, maybe that has something to do with posts like this DIY for a camera strap cover - tops.

Mission: hunt down camera straps at thrift stores. Make a run at this DIY. Let you know how it turns out.

Determining Worth

Suddenly I've come to the realization that I don't have enough furniture - it's Bric-Brac galore with no place to display these treasures. And so what's a girl to do but shop! I need bookshelves, a wall-unit, display case, how about credenza or hutch, cabinet? A clothing rack and shoe rack. I look in LA and OC, and all that I find is over-priced everything. Yes, it is worth it, I would ask for those prices too but people, come on, I need something fabulous and I'm a girl who can't wait.

I weed through the abyss of Craigslist like a hunter - a wish list of the all to obvious keywords that result in the perfect and the far too expensive piece. Moving on to the general brings in some negotiable results but it's late and so I wait for tomorrow, wondering what they're all worth. There's the matter of transportation needing to be added to the cost - I'll rent a truck, then how do I physically move it, hire a mover? Great that's $50 bucks and couldn't they just take off with my stuff? Now things are adding up.

Take the chairs for example, two gorgeous wicker chairs purchased in fair condition from a thrift store. I love their lines, and I envision them cleaned up and painted black, they are my dream of an outdoor chair, and with summer on the horizon this could really sell - but for what? I spent more money on paint than I did on the actual chairs, and I'm thrilled with the result but is there anyone out there who will want them as badly as I do? Anyone willing to pay $100 for the pair? That's a reasonable number, in fact they're so unique I think I could go higher, maybe $150 - that could be worth it. But now I'm thinking $175 and wondering if it will ever end, the determination of worth.

A quick SwagBucks search results in: a collection of any kind is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it - brilliant! *SIGH*