Homemade & Upcycled Gifts { Part 2 }

 

I made a set of four napkins for my sister Liz, she never used paper napkins so this was a great gift for her. 

I can't wait to show off the mugs and saucers and little ornaments she made for our family.

I up-cycled these bookends, and I dont have a before photo because I completely forgot to take one. They were pink and navy blue and had some characters painted on them. I wanted them to fit into a little boys room ( my nephews ) but also be able to stay in there until hers much older. So I kept the colors simple, light green,light blue and gray. I also hand-painted the a and b.

My last gift to share with you is this quilt I made, my first quilt. I made this for the nephew. Hes little over one year old and I made it big enough for his big boy bed.

I started making this in October.

Its made out of  cuddly soft flannel fabrics. All stripes on one side. 

I'm thrilled with how it turned out.....now I can start my quilt for our room .

That's it, those were all the gifts I made or up-cycled, to see my part one click here.

If I get some sun I will take photos of some pieces I finished, I can't wait to share the dresser I finished a few weeks ago, my sister found the knobs for it. 

Now I'm off to relax and watch a movie. Love vacation weeks and not having to wake up so early. 

Christmas Dining Room and After X-Mas

I really did have a great Christmas, although it came up fast and it didn't quite seem like it was Christmas the family and I had a joyful time.

Christmas Eve I made a Cheesecake in the morning and cleaned the house...of course with my guys help. Then I made Christmas bark.

We went to the in laws for Christmas Eve dinner, did a yankee swap which we bring in something from the house we dont use or want anymore.

I received a set of tall glass candles. My guy got a mini food chopper. 

Then we went home and the kids went to bed while I stayed up into the wee hours to complete my gifts and clean the kitchen.

Christmas morning the 3 our of 4 children work up and 4:30 am and were told to go back to bed for a little bit longer. 

At 7:30 they were able to open there stockings and Santa presents.

Then we cooked and baked and cleaned some more and opened more presents and my family came over.

We partied all day, went to another family's house for Christmas dinner and more presents and then the guy and I played the kids Mario Kart....who knew it was so much fun.

The dining room was seriously put together in about an hour on Christmas Eve. Totally Last minute.

Because I used my table for a craft and sewing space it was a disaster but I had last minuet gifts to finish so I didn't want to put anything away until I was done.

We have our family over at 11am for breakfast, Its casual so I set out the plates and the chargers and silverware but unfortunately I couldn't find all my nice napkins so I didn't stress and just used paper ones.

My centerpiece was put together with a nice glass Mikasa cake stand then the smallest plate stand ( I didn't share before ) that I made on top. Then I added the blue tree and filled the stands with silver and blue ornaments. 

I love blue and silver for Christmas, but I keep it in the dining room because it goes well with the wall color ( 

Benjamin Moore's Woodlawn Blue ) and its just so pretty.

I placed my two other cakestands on each end of the table and added silver ornaments on top.

I used my silver glittery deer and my favorite bird lanterns, I've been wanting to use them on this table for a while now. I picked them up after the summer for $3.95 each at Michael's Arts and Crafts.

My runner was made from a cheap like linen material from Joann Fabrics. I made it last year, I had to make it extra long since I used all 3 leafs to fit 10 people at the table. I added silver ribbon along the edge and white pom poms at each end. 

For my window I added garland with hanging ornaments. I actually used this last year as well and I put it away together so all I had to do is hang it up.

I only added some Victorian style ornaments.

I placed the wreath over my chandelier, actually I stretched it out to make it oval and placed it on by going under the chandelier.

Last year it was on my centerpiece. 

I hung ornaments and my silver birds from white satin ribbon and kept the length shorts. I added some silver artfiacal greenery and more ornaments on top of those. 

 I love how it looks and the decor will stay up a bit longer so I can enjoy my last minute decorating.

After X-Mas

not to messy

I put the kids stuff all in there own trash bag so there items weren't spread all over the house

at last the mudroom kept somewhat cleaned.

Today I'm going to finish cleaning up after the Christmas mess and I have tons of dishes to do. Tomorrow I'm going to be cleaning and organizing my workshop to get ready for some custom painting jobs.

Do you clean up the mess first thing or relax more and take some time off?

Homemade & Upcycled Gifts

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. 

I had a great time with my family and I'm going post some more this week and try to get some cleaning and organizing done.

I wanted to share some of the gifts I made for Christmas for my family first.

first up

An Upcyled Lazy Susan.

I painted this in almost the same colors as my striped coffee table.
 I used my stencils and topped it off with wax. 
I gave this to my mother. She actually saw it unfinished by my workshop and said she always wanted one but I couldn't give it to her the original way it was.
I took this photo about 10 seconds before my family came over

I wish I took more photos but I forgot
This is a flour sack towel that I gave a cute ruffle strip of fabric and then I stamped fabric paint onto another strip of fabric and sewed it on.
I made this for my guys grandmother. I love these towels the best because they dry and soak of water better then any of my other towels.
I also make these for my Etsy shop.
I recently made a bird one for someone on Etsy who had bought one I previously made and she wanted another one for her sister for Christmas.

I made these coasters awhile ago and set them aside. They never made it on Etsy and when I found them in my stash of creations I new my sister Liz ( who writes a blog called Once Upon A Tomato would like them. She also needed them.
They were made from rough tiles and stamps, ink and stamp markers and sealer.

 

Holiday 100% cotton napkins. 

I made these for a gift for my other half's aunt.

I originally had plans to buy these and make napkins for my Etsy shop but that didn't happen.

Tomorrow I will share some gifts I made and talk about my Christmas. I'm relaxing tonight as for yesterday was a long day.

Click here to view the link parties I attend

Merry Christmas & Sneak Peak At My Dining Room

I wish I had more time to share more photos and details but I still have more to do. 

I haven't even set the table yet, but I will take photos of it tomorrow and share soon

I used the same runner I made last year.

My plate stands I made are being used on the table.

I used a basic glass cake stand and the small plate stand I made and filled them with blue and silver ornaments. I topped it off with a blue tree.

I had fun with my chandelier. I hung ornaments and two silver birds.

A larger ornament hangs from the middle

IA few ornaments hang from the garland over the window.

More on my dining room after the holidays.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays and a very merry Christmas!!!

Our Tree

I did not go with any theme for the tree, I went with let the kids go crazy and I decorated the top witch I'm making a tree topper I'm just behind a little. 

I still can't believe that Christmas Eve is tomorrow. I finished up my handmade gifts which I will share soon and I took out the cream cheese to soften to make the cheesecake tonight. I have a feeling I wont be going to bed until 2am. 

I only need to make the Christmas bark tomorrow, clean the whole house tomorrow with the help of my hunny and the boys get to clean there rooms. 

I cant wait to set the table and share my dining room, its going to be simple this year.

I do have to return one gift that I got for my dad because my sister got the same thing, its not big deal but I was pretty proud of myself to have all the shopping including the grocery shopping done so I didnt have to go out tomorrow. 

On with the tree

Lots of handmade ornaments, including new clay ones I made this year. Fake sugar coated fruit garland, its vintage and my mother gave me them years ago.

We have this opening on the right side so we decorate that also

I used mostly the postal paper and this red snowflake paper

I couldn't find our tree skirt so I made a quick one out of burlap and sewed string to tie it around the tree stand. 

A few items I put in tins, Its nice to give a gift in something reusable.

It was hard to get good photos, this is the bicycle tag I made from clay.

 

 I used my tags and kept the presents simple.

Some I added an ornament to, these are plastic so no worry about them shattering. 

Normally our big chair that I made a slipcover for sits here but we had to move it for the tree and now its

here. It doesn't fit in here at all but its only temporarily.

I actually need to move a few more things around before Christmas morning, like the big ottoman and the side table by the couch. I need to fit in more small chairs especially next to the fireplace. 

It will get done......eventually.

I should have my post on my dining room tomorrow night.

Happy Holidays!