This week I was inspired by a blog called Craft-Werk (Sonja from Dublin, Ireland).  She posted a tutorial about using recycled earrings (the lonely single earrings from all the lost pairs) to create pendants. I so happened to have some lonely broken bead type “junk” laying around.

Feeling justified here for keeping every single piece of old or broken jewelry item dating back to 1997.

Here is my version of Craft-Werk’s jump ring necklace.

Lovely, isn’t it? I like the part where it’s free. Free, of course, when you already bought a few bead making supplies, earrings (in the first place) and/or a silver chain. Those things were on-hand for me this go round.

Anyway, loop stray sparkling beauties hiding in the bottom of your jewelry box onto your favorite chain! They will thank you for showing them off!

Love,

JEss

How To:

• Arrange citrus slices, cranberries, evergreen sprigs in a brownie pan or muffin tin
• Add warm water (enough to cover the items in the pan)
• Plop some twine in the warm water (creates hanger)
• Freeze pan of water outside or in your freezer
• Place pan in a bit of warm water to loosen the ice block
• Hang outdoors and Enjoy!

Love,

Jess

I packed away the tree and cleaned the house. I feels good to get a fresh start on the new year without the beautiful *clutter* of Christmas.

Before I say goodbye to this season’s Christmas, I thought I’d post about a few of my favorite things…

My favorite gift: Shadow Box Frame for my Christmas Tree

My parents had my vintage costume jewelry tree professionally matte and framed. I collected pendants, earrings and bracelets to craft this unique and festive piece of wall art.  I created the tree (a couple years back) to mimic a similar piece that my Grandma Mary hung in her home during the Holidays.

My favorite craft: Christmas Countdown on a Stick

The 2 X 4 Advent Calendar. I took photos of this project as I went along, so, I may post a tutorial in November next year…right now I am pretty sure nobody can think about Christmas projects anymore. I did use scrap wood, Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, recycled Christmas greeting cards and an old advent calendar to put this all together.

Favorite After Christmas Sale Item: Glitter Decoupage Tree

Okay, I don’t have much to say about this ornament other than I bought it from Target for mere pennies! Why do I love to brag about a good deal so much? It just brings me so much joy I guess. It is such a pretty little thing.

Hope you all had some favorites this year too!

Love,

Jess

My front yard waiting for 12 inches of snow

Jesus is the reason for the season, even in the midst of an oncoming blizzard of snow (and wrapping paper).

Let me warn you, if you start to wrap gifts with paper bags, ribbon and jingle bells and you have some sort of brown-paper-packages-holiday-sickness (like I do), you’ll wrap and wrap until you have to dump out your recycling bag to get more paper. Like I did…er, I mean was tempted to do. Oh, who am I kidding, I did dump it out…What? It was just a Coke can!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Jess

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

Here is a good example…

I also clipped the huge raffia bow and wire hanger off of the sign.

Just as I was feeling proud that I was showing Molly about the alphabet…she stole sips of my pop because I was too busy taking blog tutorial photos. Opps!

Add the sign as a backdrop for a Christmas vignette. It adds a lot of color and a festive message without spending a fortune!

Wishing you Merry Days & Silent Nights!

Love,

Jess

P.S. My nights are a bit more silent as the twins (Claire and Leah, 2 months) are starting to sleep through the night more often! Yeh!