Etsy Love H & J Star Creations

Do you hear the clock ticking faster, I sure do and time is running out to finish my Christmas shopping!  This year I've purchased a good deal of my gifts for my family here and away from Etsy, yes I am seriously addicted to this wonderful shopping site.  And why is that, well I prefer hand craftsmen ship, massed produced items are so impersonal and to me so boring.

As you know I'm a frugal crafter, design and sell jewelry on Etsy.  But I have a secret passion for fabric, love the stuff and guess what I can't sew, so I am always fascinated by those who can.  Take H & J Star Creations for example, she crafts purses, totes reusable lunch bags and so... much more!  It's amazing to me.

I adore her shop on Etsy, the unique designs and the BIG, BOLD colors and wonderful prices!  I asked Judy to tell us a little about herself:

"Thanks! I have always loved to sew, and about 5 years ago when my son was in a play they asked me to sew the costumes.. I was hooked again, just loved all the fabric choices out there. I had originally discovered etsy as a buyer, and my daughter made a lot of jewelry, so we first started with a shop for her.. h (holly) and j (judy). She soon tired of it, but I was hooked! Can't remember what I did before all this... "

Ok everyone, remember to clock is ticking, according to the USPS December 20th is the last day to ship for Christmas deliveries with first class shipping.  So get your clicking fingers ready and over to Etsy to check out H&J Star Creations!

Creating Christmas with Diana from The Girl Creative

Hi friends! I’m Diana from The Girl Creative and I’m very excited to be here with you today to share a really easy Christmas project that will relatively cost you pennies. And it’s Pottery Barn inspired! Woo hoo!

Pinecones. Shimmery, sparkly, snow-covered pinecones. You can find them in your yard or even in your neighbor’s yard {or in my case Home Depot!} and with a little bit of paint, glue and glitter, you can transform those dreary brown pinecones into these frosted pretties.

Here’s what you need to complete this project:

•  Pinecones in various sizes
• Spray Paint
• Mod Podge
• Glitter

 The first thing I did was spray paint my pinecones with spray paint in an aqua blue color. I used Krylon brand and the finish was gloss. I gave them a good 2 –3 coats making sure I got in between all of the layers. It’s okay if they are not 100% covered and a little of the original brown color shows through.

  

After they dried (I left them in my garage to dry for a few days. This was very helpful in letting them air out so that they did not smell like spray paint) I took a foam paint brush and went over each pinecone with Mod Podge and then generously covered each one in white glitter. The brand of glitter that I used was Sulyn and I picked it up in Hobby Lobby. It’s super fine in texture (different than regular glitter) and it could easily pass for snow. It was perfect for this project. I shook off the excess glitter and let them dry.

  

 That’s it. Piece of cake, right? I really love how they came out. You can do so many things with them. I used mine to fill a sleigh that I’ve had for years. You can use them as centerpieces for your Christmas table. Add some ribbon and a loop and you have some cool Christmas ornaments. Such an easy {and affordable} project that even your kids can help you with.  What child would not want to jump right in and use glue and glitter? I’m sure they’d love to “help”.

{Just a little side note: everything in the above photo was super cheap and you can totally pull off this look on your mantle or any flat surface in your house. The votives are from the Dollar Tree and came in a pack of 2 for $1. The sparkly silver Christmas trees are from The Christmas Tree Shops – only a few dollars each. The tray under the votives is from Hobby Lobby and was only a few dollars (50% off Christmas decorations).}

Creating Christmas with Jen at I Can't Stop Crafting

Hello AlyssaBeths readers!  My name is Jen, and I am the gal behind I Can't Stop Crafting.   I am pleased as can be to be sharing here today, it's always such a treat to be invited for a visit at another blog.  Feel free to swing by my home turf to see what I've been up to lately, to link up to my weekly Head to Head Showdown link party, or just to say "hi". 

I've been watching in amazement as it seems all of blog world has gone mad for burlap and jute crafting.  The creative ideas people come up with, to jazz up humble burlap absolutely floors me.  Who'd have thought there would be so many possibilities?  Well, now it's my turn.  I bought a roll of burlap the other day, and I put together this simple little wreath in a matter of minutes.

I started with the aluminum screw band from an old jar.  I cut a long strip of burlap, 3-4 inches wide and using hot glue, adhered the strip of burlap to the screw band.  

I then wound the burlap around the band, feeding it through the middle and wrapping it around until I'd worked by way around the entire band.

 
I secured the burlap in place with another dot of hot glue and trimmed any wayward strands from the burlap.

To spruce my little burlap wreath up, I added a few sprigs from a wired berry garland I bought years ago.  I just wrapped the little sprigs around and hot glued the ends in place.

As for where you need such a tiny wreath?  Well, perhaps you have a small shelf that needs adorning, like this:

Or wouldn't a handful of these wreaths tucked among the boughs of your Christmas tree be charming?

  I think a set of these mini wreaths would make charming napkin rings as well. 

Thank you so much for having me here today, AlyssaBeths!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and enjoy each moment of the season!

Be blessed,

FREE Shipping on Jewelry

My Black Friday and Cyber Monday FREE Shipping on jewelry has been such a success that I have decided to extend it!  Just use coupon code JEWELSHIP for your purchase at Alyssabeths.

And to wet your appetite here's a few of my new holiday jewelry pieces:

Holiday sparkle ruby red earrings featuring repurposed vintage red enamel connectors decorated with red Lucite flowers with clear rhinestone centers, a dangle of vintage red milk glass beads, silver set rhinestone spacers and garnet red Czech glass faceted beads.

Christmas Cheer Sparkle Locket. Elegant, bright and cheery Christmas Sparkle Locket featuring a lovely oval brass locket adorned with a repurposed vintage ruby red round glass cabochon framed by bright clear rhinestones. Locket is adorned with charms created with a vintage emerald green glass leaf, tiny ivory pearl & ruby red faceted Czech glass bead.

Vintage Chic Christmas Holly Berry Earrings.  Festive and elegant, vintage styled Christmas Holly Berry earrings crafted withrepurposed vintage emerald green glass leaf beads, dangles of cherry and burgundy red glass pearls and tiny faceted Czech glass beads, all suspended from claret red faceted Czech glass oval beads.

Vintage Chic Christmas Bell Cameo Rhinestone Charm Necklace A very chic, vintage style Navy & Cream Christmas Bell Cameo Pendant Necklace. This lovely and elegant necklace features a large Christmas Bell cameo accented with a crystal rhinestone set in antique brass lace edge setting accented with a little vintage antique brass bell charm and a taupe ivory pearl drop.

Creating Christmas Craft Blog Event !

Hi everyone, so are you holiday crafting your little hearts out yet?  Stuck for ideas or inspirations??  Well... have no fear the crafters are here! 

Mark your calenders for the week of December 4 - 10 Alyssabeths will be participating in the Girl Creative's Creating Christmas blog event!  I'm so excited, we will have 4 guest crafty bloggers with some wonderful, creative, easy and frugal Christmas Crafts that week and I have a few Dollar Tree crafts up my sleeve for that week!

Here's a hint at the wonderful crafts to come!

Gorgeous Wreath Ornament for Jen @ I Can't Stop Crafting

As always, Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting

Beth

Frosty the Snowman DIY Tutorial - Dollar Tree Crafting

I love snow, I think that is because having spent my entire 52 years in North Texas snow has always been a rare occurrence, so when it does snow it seems like a little miracle creating a landscape covered in cold fairy dust.  I can probably count on two hands the times we've had enough snow to make a true snowman, top hat, scarf and all!

My holiday decorations include an entire room of snowmen and snow decor,  my own little snow fairy land. And during another covert trip to the Dollar Tree I found the supplies to create this cute little Frosty the Snowman!
                                                                                                                  

  

2 packages Styrofoam Balls, red floral wire, plastic snowflake ornaments, ribbon, plastic candy cane ornaments, silver glitter small snowflakes

Items I already had on hand: cotton balls, buttons, small Styrofoam coffee cup, black glitter card stock, snow glitter, felt, glue, glue gun and clear spray

Take three of the Styrofoam balls, cut the bottom on the largest flat on one side, the middle ball cute flat on 2 sides, attach the 3 balls with a glue gun.  Once the stack is dry un roll your cotton balls (the cheap cotton balls are best for this) and glue over the Styrofoam stack with a glue gun.  Make a mixture of 2 parts white glue & 1 part water paint this mixture over the cotton ball covered stack, now snow glitter away!

I let this dry an entire day and then sprayed with a clear coat to make sure that most of the glitter stayed on the snowman.

While that was drying I started working on the top hat.  I cheated a little on this and used a small Styrofoam coffee cup as my base for the top hat.  Remove the bottom of the cup and then cut the height of the cup down.

   

Using the black glitter paper cover the cup, see above, then cut out the rim and top of the hat.  Simply assemble this with glue.  I found that for this the glue gun did not work well, I would suggest another strong fast drying glue.  Once the hat was dry, trim with ribbon, and little holly leaves from felt and red beads for berries and snow glitter.

Once the snowman body is dry attach to the plastic white snowflake ornament,add the ribbon scarf, buttons and the wire arms.  The face was created with 2 Victorian shoe buttons, hole punches from the black glitter paper and a cone of orange felt.

I think he turned out pretty darn cute!

Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting!

Linking-up With:

Nifty-Thirfty Sunday, Sundae Scoop Party, Sunday's Best Party, Everything Under the Moon

Homemaker on a Dime, The Girl Creative, Craft of Maniac, Sumos Sweet Stuff

Skip to My Lou, Dittle Dattle, Making the World Cuter, Making Mondays Marvelous

Mad in Crafts, Embellishing Life, The Southern Institute, Not Just a Housewife, Sugar Bee Crafts, Todays Homework Be Inspired, Mommy by Day Crafter by Night, Giggles Glitz & Glam, Project Queen, My World Made by Hand, Home for the Holidays, The Shady Porch, Gingersnap Crafts, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Someday Crafts, Free Pretty Things, The Stuff of Success, Wow Us Wednesdays, CherishedBliss, Somewhat Simple, A Glimpse Inside, House of Hepworths, Thrifty Thursday, Thrifty 101, 36th Ave., Blissful & Domestic, Project Queen, Artsy Girl Connection, Whipper Berry, Simply Designing, Finding Fabulous, Fingerprints on the Fridge, My Simple Home Life. French Country, Creation Corner, Lolly Jane, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Differnt Act Normal

Prim Raven & Poe Box - Dollar Store Crafting

This is my last Dollar Store DIY for Halloween and it almost didn't happen because I had to drag the oatmeal box out of my hubby's hands who was instant that the empty box should go in the trash. You should have seen the look on his face as I'm trying to explain my plans for the little oatmeal container, lol.

Supplies:

• Empty oatmeal box
• Dollar store raven
• Card stock
• Book pages
• Scrapbook paper
• Black Paint
• Black glitter

Cut the box to the height that you want, it's easy with just a pair of scissors.

To create a lip for the lid cut a strip of card stock and cover with scrapbook paper of your choice and attach to plastic lid.  I covered with Mod Podge of extra durability and sprinkled with black glitter while still wet, BTW unlike me make sure that the lid is firmly on the glitter bottle before.... sprinkling the lid, I ended-up with a kitchen floor and a dog covered in black glitter!

Cover the bottom of the box with book pages, mine are from a $1.00 book from the Dollar Tree, cover with mod podge and antique with black paint.

Once the box lid is dry you can attach your Dollar Store Raven!  I created a Poe necklace for mine to mimic my Raven & Poe Gift Tags.

Nevermore Raven & Poe Gift Tags

Happy crafting!

   

Dollar Store Crafting - Book Page Halloween Treat Bags

Okay so now I am apparently addicted to the Dollar Tree and Dollar Store.  It's amazing the things that you can find to craft with or to repurpose, and on the cheap (which is the best part).

I adore crafts created using vintage book pages, but for me I can't bring myself to rip a page out of a vintage book.  My solution is the $1.00 book section at Dollar Tree. So I have several books sitting on my craft table, aka the previously known formal dinning room table, and came-up with the idea to create chic little Halloween party favor or treat bags using book pages!

Supplies - 3 book pages, black glitter card stock, paper, just twine and glue, and two hole punches. 

The adorable retro Halloween images I found, of course on the The Graphics Fairy blog, I copied the images and set them on different backgrounds using my basic word program, and punched those out with my 1 1/2" punch, and set on scalloped edged black glittered card stock punches.  Creating the little bags was super simple by tearing out the pages, creating a clean edge and then folding over and gluing!  After they were dry I used a fancy scissors to cut a large scalloped edge on the top of each bag. I then punched a hole at the top of each bag and affixed each little tag with jute twine.  My bags came out measuring 4 1/4" x 3".