Last Day for Tablescape Contest

PYL Facebook Group Members:  This is the last day to cast your vote for the Spring Tablescape Contest.  Click on my new PYL "Current Contest" button in the right hand column to check out the entries.  The voting link is in the FB group Doc Tab!  Good luck Cheryl, Rhonda and Shannon!!!

Thank you for stopping by!  And thank you to all those that have subscribed!

Guest Designer: Rachel Stone & Her Burlap Wreath How-To

Please welcome PYL Guest Designer, Rachel Stone!  I asked her to create a step-by-step picture tutorial for a wreath style that is gaining popularity--the burlap wreath.  Rachel did a fantastic job!  Here is her completed wreath (love the green):

Now for her process:

Supplies

12 inch straw wreath
2 1/2 yards burlap
200 straight pins--WITH pin head
sharp scissors

Step 1:  Begin by cutting four inch strips of burlap. Keep 4 or so strips of fabric to cover your wreath base. Then cut each strip into 4" squares. I did not measure any of this. It helped change up some of the sizes of the "puffs."

Using a strip of fabric, pin one end of the fabric on to the wreath. Wrap the wreath and pin the end. Continue with as many strips as you need to completely wrap the wreath. This is strictly optional, but does give a finished look if you are going to see the back of your wreath. Mine goes on a glass door, so I want it to look better.

Step 2:  Using a pin with a head, stick the pin in one corner of the square and back out finishing on the same side you began. It is imperative to use a pin with a large head so that it will not go through the loose holes in the burlap. 

TIP: Sticking the pin through the fabric twice during this first step will also help prevent the pin from coming through the holes. This is a lesson I learned after my first couple of puffs. Even using a pin with a pin-head, sometimes, the pin would still go through the holes in the fabric.

Step 3:  Bring that corner to the opposite corner making a tube.

Step 4:  Then flip it over allowing the pin to be exposed.

Step 5:  With one of the remaining corners of your tube, begin to twist it.

Step 6:  Bring the twisted corner toward the pin (see it between my fingers at the top of the photo)

Step 7:  Now slide the pin through this corner.

At this point, you have one corner remaining.

Step 8:  As before, twist the corner, and secure corner onto pin.

Step 9:  At this point your "puff" is complete. Keep pin in your hand and slide it in to the wreath.

Step 10:  As you continue making your "puffs," position them closely together, hiding the pin as you attach it to your wreath.

I used almost 200 squares of fabric. It was tedious, but I love the look. It's very organic. Wanted to make a St. Patrick's Day Wreath, but may end up with some sort of Easter Wreath instead.

A very special thanks to Rachel Stone!  It looks awesome Rachel!  I can't wait to make one myself.  Thank you so much for explaining the process to the PYL community!!!

Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!

Episode 84: A Trial Run (Great Kids Craft)

So, I am in full swing planning my daughter's American Girl Doll Sleepover Birthday party.  (I can't wait to share with my PYL readers the fabulous invitations a crafter is making for me.)  So, my daughters and I did a trial run yesterday on a craft I want to have at the party--polymer clay donuts for the American Doll guests!  That's right, the girls are going to make donuts for their American girls to "eat" the morning after the sleepover.  I think it's going to be a blast!  Here is a pic of our creative process yesterday:

Notice my daughter's American Girl doll has a wrapped ankle?  The result of an unfortunate cheerleading stunt gone wrong, or so I've been told.  The doll fell after her spotters dropped her while doing an extension.  LOL...

Here is a video.  More instructions and pics are below.

SUPPLIES:

Sculpey clay--used for the "dough" of the donuts

Fimo clay--used for the "icing, filling, and sprinkles"

Play Dough rollers and tools

A clay flower shape cutter (just used on one donut as we chose a different process than was planned)

Straws to cut the donut holes

I did use an extruder for some of the sprinkles, but that was NOT easy.  (Give me a shout with tips to use that contraption.  Don't know if I didn't work the clay enough or what?)

I didn't take a pic of the Sculpey clay before using it all and throwing away the wrappers, but it pretty much looks like this as well.  The packages are about $2.25 a piece. I used half of the package for one donut (dough part) and 1/8th of the package of clay for the icing.  The Sculpey clay is scored into four sections, and the Fimo clay is scored into eight sections.  The clay breaks off easily at these scored points.

I found a You Tube video that explained the polymer clay donut making process.  For the link, click here.  There are several helpful clay videos on You Tube.  I used a straw to make the donut holes.  After the donuts were created, I put them in a glass casserole dish (which I have been told I should now ONLY use for clay) and baked the donuts at 230 degrees in my regular oven for 30 minutes.  They turned out perfect!  I've also seen on You Tube where you can use a toaster oven as well.  Take a look at our doll donuts.  Aren't they cute???

Lastly, we did use an American Doll for scale while creating our donuts.

I hope you give this a try with your kiddos.  I know we will be doing this again.  My older daughter especially enjoyed this project.  It's great bonding time.

Special thanks to Valerie, Rachel, Rhonda, and anyone else I may have forgotten from the PYL FB Group that gave me advice on working with polymer clay.  This is a perfect example of why you should join the PYL Facebook Group, plenty of crafters that can give you advice and steer you in the right direction when tackling a craft that is new to you.

Please remember to vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!

Episode 83: More New Wreath Products

Want to see some fabulous new wreath decor products?  Check out my video below.  All products were purchased at www.trendytree.com.

Also, please vote for Prettify Your Life in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms of 2012 Blog contest.  Click the Circle of Moms button in the top right-hand column of this blog, then find Prettify Your Life in the list of blogs and click on the orange thumb on the right to cast your vote.  I really appreciate your support!

Birthday Gift Inspired by Pinterest!

My daughter was invited to a birthday party, so I decided to create a birthday gift inspired by an "Everything in a Jar" project I saw on Pinterest.  The original idea comes from a blog called The Gunny Sack.  To see the original post click here.

I love to see and encourage people to craft, so I decided to create a "Crafting in a Jar" present for the birthday girl!  Here is my How To:

Step 1: Buy your Supplies!

The jar is from Hobby Lobby, and all the crafting supplies are from Wal-Mart.  It gave me great pleasure to buy a gift that a child could use to create art with rather than buy some toy she may play with for only a few days.

I took the markers out of the packaging, placed a rubber band around them, and finished them off with a cute ribbon.

Step 2:  Stuff the Jar!

Step 3: Add some ribbon!

I adhered the grosgrain ribbon to the jar using glue dots.

Step 4: Add a jar label, pretty ribbon and a birthday tag!

 I had a leftover birthday tag from the Teacher Valentine gifts.  I thought it worked perfectly.  I really need to get in the habit of occasionally making some cards to keep on hand.

Special Note:  I used an Avery shipping label.  Not completely happy with the results.  I think it would look better on stiff cardstock with pop dots or the extra thick glue dots so that the label doesn't have to curve around the jar and over the ribbon.  But, it was late last night, and it had to suffice.  You ever have one of those crafting nights?  However, I was quite pleased with the overall result.

Please remeber to vote for PYL in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Blog Contest!!!   Click on the button on the top of the right hand column.  Find PYL, and click on the little orange thumb "Vote" icon.   And as always, I truly appreciate you stopping by and checking out my blog!

Super cool!

I got an e-mail yesterday that said PYL was nominated for Circle of Moms Top 25 Blogs!!!  I am beyond THRILLED!!!!  So, PYLers can you please vote every day for Prettify Your Life by simply clicking on the Circle of Moms Top 25 button on the top right hand column?  A click equals a vote.  I am so humbled and excited that y'all enjoy my blog that much!

As always, thanks SO much for visiting and subscribing!

Spring Tablescape Contest Entries!

It's time for the Spring Tablescape Contest!  

Only members of the PYL Facebook Group are eligible to vote.  The poll link is in the Facebook Group!!  

Let's take a look at all the fabulous entries!!!

Participant #1:  Rhonda Emanuel

Participant #2: Cheryl Martin

Participant #3: Shannon Winters

Voting will be from today through February 29th on the PYL Facebook Group.  One vote per member.  Good Luck Ladies!!!

Thanks so much for subscribing!!!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Throw Me Something Mister!

Even though I lived in Cajun Country (Lafayette) for seven years, I didn't personally decorate for Mardi Gras this year.  But one of the great crafters on the PYL FB Page, Cheryl Martin, did.  Check out her FABULOUS work!  Thanks for sharing you talent with me and the rest of PYL.

Thanks for subscribing!!

PYL Design Team!

Calling all Wreath Designers!

I am putting a call out for the first PYL Design Team (for March and April).  I definitely need five designers (possibly ten).  If chosen as a designer, your responsibility would be to submit pictures of at least one paper deco mesh wreath and at least one Easter deco mesh wreath of your own design by a date specified by me.  You are responsible for the purchase of all your supplies.  Your wreaths will be posted on the PYL blog with your name and a link to your Etsy shop, if you have one.  To be eligible, please submit pictures of your previous deco mesh wreath work (at least 3 pics) to prettifyyourlife@hotmail.com.  The PYL Design Team will be announced March 1st.  Good Luck!

***I understand the crafting world is VERY competitive.  HOWEVER, please note that by agreeing to post your designs on the PYL blog as a Design Team Member, you understand that people may interpret or copy your designs, unless you copyright them.  I suggest you put a watermark on your pictures at the very least, but it is not required.  PYL creator, Angela Davis, is NOT responsible if someone chooses to copy any designs you give me permission to post here.***

Contest Deadline Extended to tomorrow!

I've decided to extend the Spring Tablescape contest deadline until tomorrow.  Submit your photo entry to prettifyyourlife@hotmail.com.  Only PYL FB members are eligible to vote.

CONTEST!!!!!!!

Now it's time for PYL's second contest!  Per viewer request, the contest is going to be for Best Spring Tablescape.  I'm not getting specific...whatever Spring means to you.  Decorate your breakfast, dining room, or outdoor table in your most fabulous Spring decor.  One entry per person.  Items on the table can be store bought, handmade, or a combination of both.  However, only members of the PYL Facebook Group will be eligible to vote.  Entries are due in by February 19th.  I want to give you plenty of time to plan and have a couple of weeks to hit those craft store sales!  Voting will be from February 22-29th.  The winner will be announced March 1st.  So what do you win?  Here's the Low Down:

2 work wreaths

2 work garlands

4 rolls of deco mesh

1 package of deco flex tubing

1 package of glamour rope

and a surprise

So, put your thinking caps on and show me your Sassy Spring Style!!!  


Send a pic of your completed tablescape to prettifyyourlife@hotmail.com and your entry will be added to the contest!

:-) Angela

Episode 81: New Wreath Products

Happy Friday PYLers!

I want to share some new products I found at the store today.  Be sure to watch the video that follows for my initial thoughts about them.  Also, if you have already tried any of the products below, please give me a shout.  I would love to hear what you think about them, and I know everyone else would too!  All of these were bought at my local source, The Market.

Round Twig Work Wreath- $7...OUCH, this thing hurts!

Square Twig Work Wreath--$7

Close-up of twigs (where you attach the deco mesh)

 Paper Mesh--$10 for 5 Yards!!!  Was it worth it?  Not so sure...

I can tell this stuff is going to fray easily.  :-/

Cute burlap ribbon!  I <3 ribbon!!!

Some interesting wire ribbon.  Love the green!  Very Spring-y!

Now check out the video:

Please make sure you vote for the PYL blog in both Top Mommy Blogs and Picket Fence Blogs.  Both voting buttons are on the top right column.  Thx SO much!!!