   ~ Count Your Blessings ~
Welcoming the New Year 2021 We all know what an unusual year 2020 was, so rather than relive the past year I prefer to look forward to a New Year full of big blessings and pleasant possibilities. When I was trying to figure out what I would make for the new year’s column I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to create, but I knew I wanted it to be something that would help us focus on the good things that the new year has to offer. The surprises that we meet along the way, the blessings we receive and the memories we share. Together with my family we all came up with our own little piece of this creation. A Blessing Box. I hope you will enjoy creating one of your own, that you will use it and that it will help you to realize that no matter how things look there are always blessings to be found in the smallest of gifts, be it a smile, a beautiful bird, a kind word, or an extra hour of sleep. May you have a Happy, Healthy New Year filled with love. Supplies: A coffee can, a shoe box, a cookie tin, any container with a lid Paper, fabric, paint Stencils, stickers, markers A cabinet knob, a large washer, a bolt Instructions: Have Fun- Clean your container and dry thoroughly Cut out paper, fabric or vinyl to cover the labels, or paint the container Cut out the number 2021, stars, rainbows? Make it festive… Attach them to the container Carefully push the screw of the cabinet knob through the top of the lid Bring it through a large washer (to prevent it from pulling back up through the lid) And bolt it on - Anytime something good happens in 2021, jot it down on a piece of paper and put it in the box. But don’t wait until the end of the year to look at them! Any time you’re feeling low or you just need a smile, pick a blessing or two and read them! May your Blessing Overflow this Year ♥
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Mini Pumpkin Pail Makeover
A Nancyfangles Whimsical Creation Who wouldn’t like a fall décor project that’s easy to make, inexpensive to buy and cute as can be? Believe it or not, these little pumpkin centerpieces started out as orange, plastic, mini jack-o-lantern treat buckets! A little paper ribbon and lace, some dollar tree foliage and pinecones and a little imagination transformed them into these mini fall centerpieces that you can use right through Thanksgiving. Let me tell you how... Supplies: Mini treat bucket (you can get them at Walmart for 76cents) Pinecones Small piece of floral foam Paper ribbon Lace Silk foliage Glue dots E6000 glue Cut 3 pieces of paper ribbon long enough to wrap around the pail from top to top, leaving a few inches to tuck inside at the top on either side. Untwist the paper ribbon but leave a small gather on each side. Put two glue dots on one end of the paper ribbon, tuck inside and attach to the inside of the pail. Tightly pull the ribbon down the side, underneath and back up to the top of the pail, tuck in and attach with glue dots. Repeat two more times over-lapping the sides of each piece of paper ribbon, onto the previous one. Repeat the same steps with the lace, using one glue dot on each end, and running the lace down the center of each piece of paper ribbon. Using E6000, glue the floral foam into the bottom of the pumpkin and let dry Poke foliage into the foam and glue the pine cone to the inside, front of the pail. That’s it -easy as pie! *Family Fun Flameless Fireworks* Present your Patriotic Pride with a “POP” The whole family can get in on the action with these flame-less DIY fireworks. A fun recycled project for star spangled crafters of all ages. Supplies: Empty toilet tissue or paper towel roll An 11 inch balloon Scissors Scrap paper, junk mail, gift wrap Heavy duty tape Double sided tape for decorating Paper punch (I used a star punch) or Confetti (if you prefer not to make your own) Instructions: Building your “Popper” Tie a knot towards the neck of your balloon. Cut about 1/3 of the rounded end of the balloon off and discard. Stretch the knotted end of the balloon over one end of the cardboard roll and tape to secure. Confetti: Punch shapes out of scrap paper, junk mail or gift wrap...any paper product will work. I used junk mail envelopes and pieces of left over paper from other craft projects including a gift bag. Feel free to skip this step and buy confetti if you wish. Decorate: We used pieces of scrap paper including some of the strips we punched the confetti out of. Double sided tape was the easiest adhesive to use as you do not have to wait for dry time. Decorate as desired, we used stamps and confetti pieces to decorate ours with a patriotic theme. Hold roll up-right with balloon end down. Drop confetti loosely into the roll. Do not over-pack. Firmly grasp roll and hold at about a 45 degree angle, aiming away from faces. Draw back the knot and let it go! Refill and Repeat! Decorate differently for other occasions and make your party “POP” Warning: Balloon pieces can be a choking hazard for small children and animals. Discard any cut or broken pieces at once. Do not let children put balloons in their mouths or leave children unattended with uninflated balloons..,    Summer will soon be here and I think everyone is looking forward to getting out into their yards and gardens, including our fine feathered friends. I wanted to make some unique bird feeders and since I haven’t had the pleasure of “thrift”therapy in quite sometime, I decided to see what kind of treasures I had stashed away in my collection. When I came across these metal fixtures a "light bulb" went off in my head, and I knew what I would create.
I will walk you through the process of how I created mine, but how you make yours will depend on what supplies you have. Look around your house and see what treasures you may have to work with... Happy Creating! Wall Sconce Bird Feeder Supplies: A wall sconce (Any wall sconce will do, it can be one that had an electric light or a candle) A mini pie pan A vintage Jell-O mold or baking tin E6000 Instructions: Clean all of your components to remove soils and oils. Mine had a light so I cut off the wires and snipped off the bulb holder I glued the Jell-O mold to the center of the pie pan and allowed it to dry I then glued the pie pan to the sconce, and allowed it to dry Hang from your favorite garden gate or tree, fill with bird food and enjoy! Vintage Light Fixture Bird Feeder Supplies: Vintage light fixture Saucer Desert Dish Buttons and beads Hanging hardware E6000 Instructions: Clean all of your components to remove soils and oils Remove all electrical wiring I removed the hardware and turned the top of the fixture upside down to use as a roof I glued the desert cup to the center of the saucer and set aside to dry I attached the hanging hardware, and covered up my mechanics by screwing and gluing on beads I also covered the top hardware with buttons I glued the saucer to the light fixture and allowed to dry thoroughly Now it is ready to fill and enjoy! I hope these will inspire you to create your own whimsical bird feeder...       Quick and Easy -DIY-Bunny Finger Puppets
These little bunny friends are made of scrap fabrics and embellishments you may have on hand. Grab the supplies and the kids and have a little Creative Easter Fun... Supplies: Any scrap fabrics available... I used felt, denim and cotton prints Hot glue gun/ glue(for parental use only please!) Embellishment mix such as buttons, sequins, pipe cleaners, sharpie markers Technique: Measure around your child’s finger leaving a large seam allowance on both sides and on top Use the pattern to cut out two identical pieces of fabric, a front and a back piece Cut out ears from fabric, or use pipe cleaners bent into ears Using the glue gun, glue the bottom of the ears onto the inside top, of the back fabric piece Run a line of glue over the front bottom of ears and down one side of the back piece of fabric Line up the front piece of fabric and stick to the back piece where you just ran the glue Repeat on the other side to finish bunny body This is where the kids come in: Create Funny Bunny faces using buttons, embellishments and fabric scraps, Let Mom or Dad do the gluing!Have a Hoppy Easter Stuffed Fabric Easter Eggs After making the Bunny Finger Puppets, I had left over fabric scraps and decided to play. I came up with these cute little Stuffed Fabric Easter Eggs, and wanted to share them too! Supplies: Fabric Needle and thread (optional) Stuffing/fabric scraps Embellishments/fabric scraps Hot glue gun/ glue(for parental use only please!) Technique: Draw an egg pattern onto fabric and cut out 2 identical pieces Design a pattern with fabric pieces and/or embellishments and glue(or sew)them onto the front piece of the fabric Sew around the edges and top leaving the bottom open for stuffing. Stuff, and then sew the bottom closed Instead of sewing, you can glue your egg together the same way you did the Bunny Puppets, but I like the stitching effect around the edges. This is a Great opportunity to Create with your family! Stay Safe, Stay Home and Have a Happy Easter🐇  Terracotta Bell ~or~ Spring Ding-a-ling
A Nancyfangles Whimsical Creation I know that I have mentioned the versatility of Terracotta pots on several occasions. This design is sure to get you seeing things from another perspective...Upside-down that is! This terracotta bell will add a touch of whimsy to an outdoor garden space, a porch, a patio or even indoors. You can decorate it with a garden motif, something fabulous for fall, or a charming Christmas design... Supplies: Terracotta pot (I used a mid-sized pot, but wouldn’t a tiny-terracotta bell be so cute?!) Decoupage supplies* Along piece of strong cording, twine, yarn... (Better to be too long, than too short) A vintage Jell-O-mold or similar 2 beads, one large for top, one medium for inside Some kind of flat piece to use as the clapper (I used a decorative shell flower-a button would work) A flat washer or large flat button (that will fit inside the top of the bell) (a small lid with a hole in the middle would work) Monofilament(fish-line) Technique: Clean, paint and decorate your pot. (Make sure to invert it before decorating) I decoupaged my pot but you can paint yours, cover it in fabric or mosaic? Use your imagination! Make a hole in the bottom of the Jell-O mold (make sure your cord will fit through it) Fold cord in half to form a loop and tie a knot a few inches down to form the hanger. Thread un-looped ends of cord through a large bead, and down through the hole in the terracotta pot. Thread cord ends through washer (or button) and then through the second bead. Tie a knot as close to the bead as possible to tighten everything up. Thread cord ends through the hole in the Jell-O mold and adjust mold to hang down enough so that you can see it, and so it can easily swing to hit the inside of the pot Tie another tight knot to hold it in place. Leave enough cord to form a small loop and tie one last double knot in the cord. Cut off any excess cord Thread a piece of monofilament through the hole in the clapper, and through the loop in the cord. Adjust the clapper so It will hang below the Jell-O mold allowing it to catch the breeze and tie the monofilament in a tight knot to secure. Trim excess. Hang and Enjoy! *(Find my decoupage technique in my July 31st column or contact me at: https://www.facebook.com/HandmadeinEllijay/) ~ Rustic Valentine Wreath ~
A One of a Kind Nancyfangles Design Circles have long been recognized as a symbol of infinity - having no beginning or end. A great example is the wedding band, a sign of never-ending love. It was that symbolism that inspired me to create these rustic valentine wreathes. Pulling my components together I started with traditional valentine trimmings such as hearts and lace. The scrabble pieces reminded me of the nostalgic conversation hearts that came in a box and donned simple messages like “Love you”, “Hugs” and “Kisses” and the vintage buttons and reclaimed jewelry pieces served as the icing on the proverbial valentine cupcake. Although jewelry, flowers, chocolate filled hearts and candy kisses may be customary valentine gifts, these rustic little wreathes will be an endless reminder of your love and will still be around long after the chocolate is gone. Supplies and Instructions: 6” grapevine wreath (or similar) Burlap Twine Lace Vintage buttons Reclaimed jewelry pieces Scrabble pieces E6000 or similar glue (always use glue in well ventilated area) Begin by cutting a piece of twine (approx. 10 inches). Fold it in half and pull the two loose ends around the wreath and back through the folded end pulling tightly to secure. Wrap a piece of twine around the wreath several times to add a decorative accent. Use glue to hold in place. Lay burlap over wreath and cut to size being sure to leave enough overlap to glue into place. Run a line of glue around the back of the wreath and glue the Burlap into place. Let dry. Run a gathering stitch on the bottom of a piece of lace, gather into a flower and knot to secure. Arrange your components onto the wreath until you get a design you like. Glue your pieces on one at a time and set aside to dry. Give to a Loved one or keep for yourself!
A “Scrap”Happy Valentine ❤ Create your own Keepsake Valentines ❤ A Nancyfangles Whimsical Creation Roses, Candy and Jewelry may be the go to gifts for Valentine’s Day, but these “Scrap”Happy Hearts can say I Love You in a whole new way! Re-purposed from discarded pieces of wood, scraps of papers and decorative napkins, and embellished with buttons, scrabble tiles, jewelry finding and ephemera, these keepsake valentines can be personalized for the one you love. A great gift for your better half, the kids, your siblings or a special friend. I had so much fun creating these, and I hope you will too! Supplies: A Piece of scrap wood(Or find a heart already cut out) A jig saw Sand paper Modpodge Scraps of paper/decorative napkins Embellishments such as; buttons, beads, scrabble tiles, jewelry findings, ephemera, charms E6000 glue (please use in a well ventilated area) Distress stamp pad Technique: I was so excited to receive a jigsaw from my son this Christmas, (thanks Brian) and couldn’t wait to use it! In fact this was my first time ever using one. Luckily my husband had a nice scrap piece of wood that he was willing to share and a few pointers on jigsaw use and safety to pass on (thanks Eric). If you are using a saw, please do so safely, and always wear eye protection. I started by making a heart template. I drew out one half of a heart on a piece of cardboard, folded it in half and cut it out. When I opened it, I had a whole even heart. Then I used the cardboard heart as a stencil to trace around onto the wood. Be sure to draw a dark enough line so you can see it good when cutting. I clamped the wood firmly in place and slowly cut out my design. I sanded the edges to remove any splinters and wiped it down to remove any sawdust. Next I covered my work surface, layed out my papers and embellishments, grabbed the Modpodge and jumped in! I used a thin layer of Modpodge to glue down my main background covering the front and the sides and allowed it to dry completely. Then I decorated each heart using E6000 and a selection of embellishments. I cut one heart in half, (a broken heart) and mended it with a metal buckle. I thought it came out cute. I distressed the broken heart with ink to add a little vintage flair. When everything was completely dry, I came back in and added the hanging hardware (I used jewelry findings to add to the aesthetic of the design). I hope you will give it a try and make a special “Scrap”Happy Heart for your loved ones!  “Nested” A One of a Kind Nancyfangles Design Birds’ nests are a symbol of “Home,” life, family and growth. There is a legend with roots that trace back from Germany, Iceland and Sweden, that to find a birds nest nestled in the branches of your Christmas tree was a sign of good luck and prosperity. These little birds’ nests will add a spark of whimsy to your tree, on a shelf, or as part of a table centerpiece. They are easy to make, and can be made with a variety of materials that you may already have. *Supplies needed for both nests: Baking Tin (small pie pan) Small bird approx. 3 inches (I used vintage salt and pepper shakers) 3 small beads or beans *For the “Nature” inspired nest: Paper shred (natural) or moss Small pieces of string, lace, bric brac… 1 small pine cone 1 acorn *For the “Whimsical” Christmas nest: Mylar shred stems of rhinestone floral spray (use your imagination, you could spray glue a small branch and add glitter) *For the small Acorn nests: 3 Small acorn caps Paper shred tiny beads or beans Technique: (for nature inspired nest) Roll shred up into a ball in your hands (add in lace, string…) Hot glue shred to bottom of baking tin (be careful, tin may get hot) Glue pine cone to side of tin Glue acorn to side of tin, and to pine cone Make a small opening in the middle of the shred and glue bird in Glue beads/beans together using very little glue Glue beads/beans onto shred Follow the same instructions for all the nests as shown in photo. Handmade in Ellijay Column, as published in the Times Courier newspaper (all rights reserved) 
Jell-O Mold Pumpkins:
A Nancyfangles Whimsical Creation Supplies: For Two 4 vintage Jell-O molds A handful of marbles 2 metal leaves (or fabric, paper…) 2 Furniture knobs for stems Rubbing alcohol Glue (E6000 or Super glue) Spray paint (black and orange – or 1 color as you desire) Spray finish (clear drying/satin finish) Rubber stamp ink (paints or paint pens) Instructions: Drill or punch hole into top of 2 Jell-O molds for stem (making sure that the screw on the knobs will fit tightly) Clean Jell-O molds and metal leaves with soap and water and wipe down with alcohol Spray paint Jell-O molds and allow to dry for 24 hours Paint metal leaves as desired. (I used stamp pads) allow to dry Spray on finish and allow to dry Glue on knobs and let dry Put marbles into 2 molds to weight down Glue 2 Jell-O molds together to create top and bottom of pumpkin (be sure to be in a well ventilated area, allow to dry as per glue directions) Wrap leaves around stem, curl as desired to resemble vine Enjoy! This was my first Handmade in Ellijay Column, as published in the Times Courier newspaper Oct. 2017 (all rights reserved) |
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