Week Three Winner!

Congratulations Cheryl Freeman!  You are the winner of the PYL Week Three Giveaway...one roll of red, white, and blue deco mesh!  Stay tuned for the Week Four Giveaway!

Doorscape Props: OK Land Run (Part 2)

Happy Friday PYLers!!!

In this post I am going to show you how I made the flags for my OK Land Run Doorscape...super easy!  For a look at the entire OK Land Run Doorscape, click here.

Supplies Needed:
Pre-made flags (Hobby Lobby next to the Tim Holtz scrapbooking supplies)
Sharpie
Fabric Stiffener
Foam Brush
Floral Wire
Sticks

1.  I just happened upon these AWESOME pre-made flags at Hobby Lobby in the scrapbooking section.  They already had grommets in them and were eve sewn on the edges, yet still maintained a rustic look.  You could always cut flags out of fabric or canvas if you can't find these.

2. I wrote last names on the flags with a black Sharpie. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture.)

3.  Then, I poured a little bit of fabric stiffener on the flags and brushed it over the entire front side of the flag with a foam brush.  Fabric stiffener can be found at craft stores next to the Mod Podge.  Do NOT over apply the fabric stiffener because it can take a while to dry.  A PYLer on the FB group told me about spray-on fabric stiffener.  I recently purchased some but haven't tried it yet. She said it dries quicker.  (Thank you Valerie!)  Let the front side dry completely.

4.  Next, flip over the flags to the backsides, and repeat Step 3.

5.  Lastly, secure the flags to sticks by looping small pieces of floral wire through the grommets and twisting them tight.  Then, Ta Da...finished!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

Doorscape Props: OK Land Run (Part 1)

Occasionally I think it might help if I show you how I make some of my doorscape props.  So, I would like to share my process for making the Land Run flyers which you saw in my latest front door decor.  So here goes:

Supplies Needed:
Heavy Chipboard (I bought mine here. (Oh look it's on sale!)
ATG 714 Gun...by far the best tape dispenser in my opinion...I bought mine here.  Or you can find the pink ones at Michael's.
Heavy duty scissors (I used my Kitchen-Aid scissors)
Heavy duty stem wire (Michael's)
Hot glue gun and glue
Computer with internet
Printer
Paper (Hobby Lobby)

The Steps:
1.  I found a replica Land Run flyer by googling "Oklahoma Land Run flyer" on the computer.  I bought some distressed looking scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby and printed several flyers off the internet onto this paper.

2.  Apply tape to the back of the flyer using your ATG 714 Gun.

3.  Adhere the flyer to the heavy duty chipboard.  I like to line up two sides to the edges of the chipboard so that I only have to cut the other two sides.

4.  Cut the remaining sides out with heavy duty scissors.  This is THICK chipboard.

6.  Flip over the chipboard backed flyer.  Lay a stem wire across the board and generously apply hot glue to the middle of the wire, making sure to adequately coat and cover both sides of the wire.

7.  And, finally wire it into your garland or wreath.  Ta Da!  Easy!

I should note that my door has a protective overhang, so the only things I have to worry about are fading from the sun and sometimes wind.  If you want to weatherize your decorations, I would suggest doing what I learned off of the PYL FB group from wonderful crafter, Cheryl Martin.  She typically paints her decorations on foam board and then seals them.  So, applying her technique, you could mount the flyers on foam board and seal them.  I may try this technique with my next doorscape.

Hope this inspires you to try something new!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

Week Three Giveaway!

(THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!)


Good Morning and Happy Monday Everyone!

Sorry I didn't get the Week Three Giveaway up yesterday.  It was a very busy Sunday.  But you have all week to enter to win for this next giveaway.

Since many of you out there are getting ready to decorate for Memorial Day, I thought I would make a brand new roll of 21 inch x 10 yards of patriotic red, white and blue deco mesh the prize this week.  So, comment below this post (first and last name OR first name and an e-mail address) or on the PYL FB, under the Doc "Week Three Giveaway"!  Good Luck!!!!

I will draw the winner Saturday night at 9 pm (CST).

Thanks for stopping by.  Take time to "Prettify Your Life".

Week 2 Giveaway Winner!!!

Congrats to Patrica who commented "Angela your great for doing these giveaways. Woohoo fifteen weeks worth of chances to win something. Thank you again Angela!!!" is the WINNER.  Congrats!!!"  E-mail your address to prettifyyourlife@hotmail.com, and I will get the Cricut Cartridge sent out to you!

Thanks to everyone that participated!  The Week Three Giveaway will be posted tomorrow!

Oklahoma Land Run Doorscape!

When I was in school I certainly learned about the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, but, being from Texas, studying other local events (like the Alamo) were emphasized more.  So, now that I live in Oklahoma and have children, I am getting to learn more about the history of Oklahoma (an awesome state), including the Oklahoma Land Run which settled the area I live in---all in one day!  My daughter's grade will be reenacting this event today at school, and I am so excited to go see it!  Why did I decorate my door this theme?  Well, my mother, unknowingly, challenged me to do it.  She asked me one day on the phone if I was going to make a Land Run doorscape for my oldest daughter's reenactment, since I had already made a bee doorscape for my youngest daughter's play.  Well, naturally after that, I had to create this doorscape.  For more info about the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, click here.  Also, you might have seen Hollywood reenact this event in the movie "Far and Away".  Here is the clip:

There were "Boomers", those that started the Run when they were supposed to (when the cannon went off), and there were "Sooners" (basically cheaters) that had staked out land the night before.  So, now you might understand the University of Oklahoma's chant "Boomer Sooner"...or sort of like me.  Are they call themselves cheaters or people that play by the rules?  JUST KIDDING with my Oklahoma viewers out there!  (Gig 'Em Aggies)

While this design scheme is very specific, there are definitely elements in this that could be used for a Western-themed party.  Here are pics of my Oklahoma Land Run Doorscape:

Yes, I made this garden flag, my first attempt at this.  It was tedious, and I was up until 2am finishing the stupid flag (did I say that out loud?).  It's a no sew project.  It's a little rough around the edges, but it fits the theme.  And I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I will have another separate post explaining how I did it later.  

And here is my video:

As always, thanks SO much for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

15 Weeks of Giveaways!

Since my 15th wedding anniversary is coming up, I thought I would spread the joy.  So, I am doing 15 weeks of giveaways!!!  That's right--15 weeks!!!  Now, they won't all be huge, maybe a stamp set here or some glamour rope there, but, hey, it's free!  I am going to count last week's giveaway of the roll of burlap ribbon as Week One.  Congrats to Becky Hans for winning the ribbon!

So, now let's get to the Week Two Giveaway.  I bought a pink Cricut Expression in the Valentine Bundle from www.cricutmachine.com in February.  It came with the Accent Essentials Cartridge that I already own.  So, I'm giving away the new one I received in the bundle.  It did not come in a package, nor did it have any Cricut Rewards, but it's brand new and never been used.  So, comment below this post or on the PYL FB, under the Doc "Week Two Giveaway"!  Good Luck!!!!

I will draw the winner Saturday night at 9 pm (CST).

Thanks for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

Episode 92: A Bee Inspired Doorscape

Hi Everyone,

My daughter is a bee in a musical at school.  Along with that and a fabulous bee ribbon find, I was inspired to come up with a new spring doorscape.  Check out the video:

And here are some pics:

Thanks for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

You aren't going to believe it!

Take a look at this super quick video to see what I discovered at Hobby Lobby today!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!

Happy Easter!

I hope you and your family have a very blessed Easter Sunday!

Here is what I did with all those felt flowers I made.  (More flower tutorials to come).  I bought the white pre-made cross at Hobby Lobby.  

 Then, I just hot glued all the purple felt flowers to the form.  

I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take time to "Prettify Your Life"!