Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Last Minute Inspirations


Do you find that at Christmas  . . .
it's hard to do a post because you're busy
making gifts that you don't want certain people
seeing before Christmas?
 So I decided to go into my archives 
and show you projects from 
Christmas' past.
Last Christmas my skates were 
hanging on the gate.

This wreath started by 
rolling and stapling song sheets,
that I printed from the computer. 
  
And gluing them to a cardboard
circle. 


I hung it over our fireplace.


This one was done in a similar fashion.


And this one was decoupaged
over a thrift store frame. 
This one I made as a surprise gift
for a secondhand book store
owner in our town. 
Then there was the cardboard 
top hat I made one year. 
I thought it looked very Dickens
Christmas Carolish :)
That same year I took a Styrofoam
store display that I found at a yard sale,
covered it in sheet music,
stuck it in a lamp base (another thrift store find).  
Then dressed it in ballet
fashion from a thrift store prom dress:)
It was my version of the 
Nutcracker Ballet.
My friend Shirley and I made these
from old windows removed from our 
home when we put the new ones in. 
This is mine . . .
This is hers.
I've put mine on the mantel 
for the last three Christmases, we love it:) 

 These were cut from plywood
and covered with fabric and buttons.


This was inspired from a 
small thrift store lamp shade
and dollar store ornaments.


 These little blocks were cut from
scrap wood and painted.
The snowmen I found at a yard sale.


These I made for my kitchen window.
2X4 blocks painted and decoupaged
from pictures printed on the computer.
If you have an ink jet printer be sure and
spray them with acrylic spray.
If you don't, the ink will run when you 
apply the decoupage glue.


Here they are in the kitchen window.


Here's a sign I painted 
last year for a gift.  

And this little fellow I made
last year from a pattern I found
on the internet.

Steve and I don't usually do gifts.
Instead we each plan a date night,
but he certainly deserves a special handmade card :)


I'll end this post with this photo 
from last year . . .
we just might not have a white Christmas 
this year . . . it's still too soon
to know:)

I hope that I inspired any of you
that are looking for ideas.

Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

53 comments:

  1. I enjoyed seeing all the lovely projects you've made in recent years. You are so capable and certainly full of ideas of things to make!!

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    1. I just love trying new things, especially things that I can make with what I already have on hand or find when I'm out thrifting:)

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  2. Connie...you made me smile as soon as I spotted those polka-dotted ice skates!!

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  3. Replies
    1. It looks like a lot of projects and ideas, but they were spread out through many different Christmas'. I just love seeing what I can do with things that I have laying around. My husband's scrap wood pile has been the root of many of my projects:)

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  4. You are always inspiring with all your wonderful projects. I love all these ideas. I've made a wreath with the book pages. I usually put it up at Christmas but haven't gotten it out yet.
    We've got plenty of snow here. Maybe I should send you some :)

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    1. LOL, that's quite alright, we had enough snow last year to do us for a while. If our Christmas is brown this year we will live with it and smile :) You never know around here, Some years are white from late October until March and some years we just get a few powderings and it melts a way in a few days.

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  5. You've made some of the most beautiful handmade gifts...the top hat is gorgeous! Love the little pictures and pretty things in your window too. You've earned your name at the holidays...crafty! Holiday hugs!

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    1. All of these decorations were made through many different years . . . some were gifts, some I still have and some have been yard saled a way. That ballerina was bought at the yard sale we had when we sold our old house. It was bought for a display in a store down town :)

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  6. Connie, your Christmas makings are so friendly and do-able!I love the paper wreaths.These would be such a great project to do with children. I always come for a visit and feel inspired to make my place lovely and homely, inviting and warm too. I remember how snowy it was for you last year. You were very glad when the weather changed and you could get out and about again.Have a very happy Christmas season! With snow or without!

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    1. Hi Judy, thanks so much for stopping by and for all the kind words. I am happy that the paper wreaths were an inspiration for you :)

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  7. Hi, Connie, what a lot of nice crafts you've made over the years! I especially liked the Dickensian top hat and the decoupaged Christmas images! Thanks for sharing all of this! Have a great day!

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    1. Those little images on 2X4 are so easy to make and they fit perfectly in an windowsill:)

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  8. You are so wonderfully creative!! That assortment of items is astounding. I love, love the black top hat :) But it's all so fun. Can't wait to see what you make this year!

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    1. This year is a year for not really making anything new. We have our home open to relatives from all over the country. My sister is in hospice care and folks are driving and flying in to see her. I'm busy cleaning, cooking and making beds . . . I just hope that I can get a Christmas quilt done that I need to get in the mail before Christmas. I am enjoying seeing everyone else's projects and will be sure and save a few ideas to try next year:) Thanks so much for stopping by to say, hello:) Now, I better get out to the barn and start quilting:)

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  9. Hi Connie :) I LOVE all of your decorations and crafts, but especially those old-fashioned looking blocks! How lovely! I hope you have a white Christmas, I can ship you some of our snow if you pay C.O.D. lol... ;)

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    1. We had sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much snow last year, that if we don't have a white Christmas this year, it is alright with us. Thanks for the offer, LOL

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  10. You've made many beautiful things.
    I like the song sheet wreath, very creative.

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    1. Thank you, I think it makes a great gift for any one on your list that is musical. Can you see it hanging on the wall over a piano?

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  11. Oh, my. You are blessed with such creativity!

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  12. Handmade gifts are the best! And your creativity knows no bounds...I think you can make just about anything! :-)

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    1. Hi Melanie, I do enjoy trying new things and let's face it with blog-land and Pinterest there are more ideas out there than time to do them, LOL

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  13. Such great projects, it is always nice to look back at things you have created! Love your wreath, love all your added goodies to it!

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    1. It was fun for me to look back, too . . . it's easy to forget some of the fun projects we've done . . . or maybe that's just me with my senior moments, LOL.

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  14. I so enjoyed seeing all your lovely projects.

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  15. Hi Connie, Wow! What a lot of ideas! What do you do with all the wreaths you made? Do you have a place to store them? We went to see the Nutcracker tonight. I have seen it before but love seeing it again! Enjoy Christmas!d Nancy

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    1. You know Nancy, those paper wreaths are very hard to store, they are so easy to tear. I do have one stored, but I wouldn't be surprised if it hasn't gotten damaged by just moving it around when looking for other things. You know what else, I have never seen the Nutcracker ballet, only bits and pieces from TV.

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  16. Lots of great ideas. I remember that pixie guy. You sent me the pattern. You're so nice! I still haven't made it. By the time I get into Christmas mode it's too close to the holiday. I need to start way sooner. I have made some gifts but can't show them yet. I think after today.
    Cindy

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    1. I know, it's hard to show your projects before Christmas . . . you never know who might look at your blog and have their Christmas surprise revealed.

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  17. Connie, I love all your beautiful crafts. The window is awesome. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, it's hard to find things small enough to put on a windowsill, but this little blocks of 2x4 lumber fit so nicely and they are so easy to make. I'm glad you like them and thanks so much for stopping by to visit:)

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  18. How nice to see all your Christmas projects from the past, Connie. My favorites on here are the skates, the wreath made from song sheets, the Nativity window, the 'peace' sign, and that little fellow. He is just darling. So many clever things made with your hands.

    Stay merry, Connie.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Thanks so much . . . I've got a house filled with company and no time for making a post, so I just thought that inspiration from past Christmas' would do just find. It's fun having time out . . . i'm making family memories instead of projects:)

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  19. Thank you for sharing all this fun inspiration! Neat stuff!
    D~~~~

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    1. Hi Donna, thank you for stopping in to say Hi :)

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  20. Oh my....love everything! The sheet music wreath is my fav. Merry Christmas!

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    1. That wreath was so easy to make and I think that it looks a bit on the elegant side. Mine was made with a Christmas carol, but I can see it made with a couple's favorite love song, maybe one played at their wedding and given as a gift or hung in the bedroom for a romantic touch :)

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  21. Wow! So much wonderful inspiration! All I can say is 'thank you so much!! xxx

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    1. Oh. that makes my heart smile . . . I love it when someone is inspired by my projects :)

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  22. I know what you mean about Christmas gift sharing, and not wanting to spoil a surprise! I loved all your crafty ideas! I just loved the rolled paper made into a wreath, and the gorgeous top hat that you made too! It is so fun to repurpose things! I just mentioned your kind heart in a blog post that I finally got up about winning your giveaway :) I hope you are having a blessed day my friend! Many hugs to you :)

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    1. Hi Marilyn, thanks so much for mentioning my blog on your post . . . I'll be over to take a look:) It was been so busy around here. My sister is on hospice care and everyone is flying in to see her and staying at our house. I love the company and seeing everyone, but it does keep me busy.

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  23. Love all your crafty work...especially love the little elf (?) you made.

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    1. Thank you! I downloaded the pattern off the internet and the directions were in Danish, so it was a little bit hard to figure out the order of putting all those pieces together, LOL

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  24. You clever girl, you. I especially like the ideas using sheet music. My daughter is a musician and something like that would be a perfect gift for her!

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    1. Oh, I am so happy that I could inspire a gift for her. It is very easy to put together and I think anyone that plays music would love something like that:)

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  25. I'm so remiss in responding! gee I wonder why? Just can't keep up with everything, and it must be even harder to get things accomplished with company.. but that's what the holidays are all about.. family, friends, caring for those who need our extra care, I just wish the season was longer, but then.... it should be that way all year right? I do so love your music paper wreaths..... I need to put it on my crafty "to do" list. Everything you've made in the past is just darling. I've wanted to make wood blocks like that for several years.. just like yours, with vintage pictures on them.. but do you think I've done it? nope. Good intentions seem to get buried with all the necessary things to be done. I've been busy making cards and almost done.. now just to get them sent! sigh.... not making as many gifts this year, just a few. We are so dry here, no snow or rain or anything, but was chilling cold for a couple of weeks. I'm OK with no snow! So much easier to get around.... although a couple of inches I could live with. Have a good week and Merry Christmas. Marilyn

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  26. Hello Connie
    So nice to see the lovely projects you've made in recent years, you really are very creative.
    Sending my good wishes for the Christmas Season.

    All the best Jan

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