I *Heart* empty frames. The transformation power is limitless.

Here is what I did with a pitiful oak 8X10…

Staple a sturdy ribbon to the back of the frame. (this will become the hanger)

Hang and enJOY!

Love,

Jess

I made a new wreath for my front door using an old picture frame, old ice skates and old garland. Using items from around the house, attic and garage to create new decor has been a necessity for me because I have a tight non-existent budget for projects.  I use my blow money (Dave Ramsey envelope) on craft junk…which I usually spend at the thrift store. I am a bit obsessed with collecting “trash” to play with for homemaking. Someday, I may actually spend my blow money on coffee, c.d.s or makeup but for now I just love, love, love shopping a thrift stores.

I digress, you want to see the wreath now, I’m sure.

Now, just picture this “wreath” on a red door. Delicious. (I have to stick with white due to my association)

Tutorial

Find an ugly, tired frame and tell it to come home with you. Sooth its worries by explaining you will make it into something beautiful.

Do a little surgery to remove all the old hardware.

Give it a facelift with some spray paint. I had Krylon Ivory on hand. I didn't really bother doing primer because most of the frame will be covered with garland (and I didn't have any on hand).

Staple a garland onto the frame with a staple gun. Tug on the garland occasionally to make sure it is on securely. If not stable, add more staples.

Add wintery accents to at least two edges/corners of the frame. You can go "all out" on trimming, faux greens, feathers, berries, pinecones, etc. I kept this wreath's accents pretty basic and simple.

Tie the ice skate's laces to one another. Hang them from the top of the frame. I popped in a red Christmas floral pick ($1) for a little color.

So there you have it…go on…I know you are already thinking about raiding your Mom’s garage or the nearest thrift store for an ugly, tired old frame.

Love,

Jess

I did what every good perfectionist procrastinator does – crafts! I have so much do to it seems a bit daunting and the results so incredibly faraway. So, I gave myself permission to get a little thing done. It is only a teaspoon of completion in a lake full of life goals but the reward of completing a project that was over one year old is priceless.

I made the blue photo frame on the left at a Mother of Preschoolers (MOPS) meeting four years ago for my son Ryan. When Molly came along, I purchased a second blank frame from the MOPS leftover craft cupboard with intentions of making a similar frame for my darling daughter. Now she is already 15 months old!

Ryan as a newborn. Molly at 12 months.

Both frames are just paper mache-type cardboard and are cheaper than cheap, but I think they look pretty cute with the personalization.

3 Teaspoon Project Nuggets

1. Limits If it can be done in 1/2 hour – do it, but only once in a while. It is too easy for me to start digging out crafts and seasonal decorations and never stop! The goal is to simplify my life, not layer it so badly I can’t see where I am going.

2. Satisfaction This should be fun. Hey if organizing, planning, and simplifying get me tied up in knots of regret and dissatisfaction they are not working. It felt really good to get a little thing done. Insert pat on back here.

3. The Lily Effect There is a story of a crabby, messy hermit that one day receives a lily in a vase from a neighbor. The messy decides to clear off his table to set the lily on. He washes the table then stops to clean off the chairs so he can sit by the flower. Pretty soon he cleans the whole house and starts doing maintenance work. Somewhere along the way he changes his heart and opens his home to his neighborhood. Doing one small thing can change your outlook on the entirety of a project or idea.