Make A Simple and Rustic Snowflake Garland

It was a tough day today.  A day of profound mourning for the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday.  Twenty of them 6 and 7 year old little angels.  I was born and raised in Shelton only about twenty minutes from the sight of this horrific event.  With a lump in my throat today I made this simple winter garland for my stairway banister.

I started the process by hanging the holographic snowflakes I purchased at Michael's Craft Store on my clothes line.  They came in a package of 4 for a $1.00.  I then spray painted them with diamond dust Krylon Glitter Blast glitter spray to give them more of a snowy texture.

I tied one end of the burlap garland I purchased in a 10 yd. roll at Michael's to the top post.

I weaved the burlap in and out of each rail.

I then cut the burlap to the length needed and tied the second end to the bottom post.

I first began gluing the snowflakes to the burlap using my glue gun, but I found that they weren't sticking as well as I would have liked.  To insure that the  snowflakes stayed put, I chose instead to tie them to the burlap using white garbage bag ties.  With the small holes in the burlap material, it was easy to thread the ties in and then through the small hole in the top of each snowflake to secure them.

I think the final product in its simplicity and sparkle is fitting.  It will always bring to mind for me those little angels and their teachers who left this world far too soon. 

Embellishing for the Holidays

Getting ready for the holidays and thought I would add some more glitz and glam to the occasion.  I looked around to see what I might have that I could improve upon.

I took a yard sale wreath I found over the summer and clamped on a big glittery floral bow, two red birds and stuck in a couple of foliage and gold ornament picks.

Here it is adorning my front door to welcome guests.

I recently came across a bag of a dozen green wooden napkins rings for $.99 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.  To dress them up I applied a 2 inch glitter snowflake ornament to each with my glue gun.  I also added clear self-adhesive gems I found at the craft store.

 

These will be the perfect addition to my holiday table.

If you have done any home decor shopping recently, you know mercury glass is big.    A colleague of mine told me about a product called Looking Glass from Krylon.  I found it in the craft store in the art glass section.  I took a basic glass hurricane vase I purchased at Walmart and glued a pedestal candle holder to the bottom to give it more height.  I spray painted the inside of the vase with several light coats of the mirror finish as directed.

After it dried thoroughly I placed a pillar candle inside.  The flame dances and glows beautifully from within and it too will be a great addition to my holiday table.