$3 Easter Egg Decoration

I'm all about an inexpensive find...especially when it looks good. I give you the $3 Easter Egg Decoration that you can do too!

How and where you say? Target is selling a package of six faux Easter eggs for $1...with the grass! I know. Hobby Lobby sells a dozen faux eggs for $7, but they do look a little nicer having a more natural look. I actually used both in our house to get more bang for my buck.

But back to the $3 decoration...

What you need:
- cake plate
- glass dome
- packages of faux eggs from Target ($1 per package)

How you do it:
- place eggs in upside down dome
- place fake straw on top of eggs
- put cake plate on top of dome
- flip dome over

How easy and simple is that? I hope you Love it!  

Easy Bunny Silhouette Project

Hippity Hoppity Easter's On It's Way!  Do you have 10-15 minutes of free time? What about white paper or cardstock?  Yes?  Let's make a bunny silhouette for some inexpensive (practically free) Easter decor!

How you say?  Below are the step by step instructions:

1 - Go to http://openclipart.org/people/kuba/1296480840.svg and print out the bunny clipart onto regular paper.

 

2 - Cut out the silhouette of the bunny, trace onto card stock and cut shape out of white card stock.

3 - Find anything with a flat surface (and the size you would like) and wrap burlap around object.  Use hot glue to secure.  I used a flat artist canvas panel I had lying around from a project I goofed on.  You can use anything from cardboard, a cereal box, a shoe box lid....literally anything.

4 - Hot glue card stock bunny to front of burlap panel.  Try to use as little glue as possible and smooth out the glue quickly with clean hands.  Annnnd you're done!  How easy is that?

You can make this project as large or as small as you like.  Whatever works for your space.  I adore how simple and sweet this little guy (or gal) is.  It really stands out but works well with what I have out for Easter.

 

So what are you waiting for?  Start on your little bunny and please let me know how it goes.  Everyone could use some bunny cuteness in their space.  Happy Easter!

Fresh Christmas Decorations

There's nothing better than the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in your house for the holiday season.  But why stop there?  Spruce, evergreen, boxwood, magnolia leaves, pine cones, the list goes on and on......and the best part?  All of these things can be found for free!  

So why not use nature to decorate?  It adds a warmth and scent to your home that cannot be accomplished with anything else. 

I was able to use cypress tree branches, boxwood stems, logs (yes, logs) and clippings from our Christmas tree.  Below are a few ways I used them to decorate our place this year. 

 

 

  

 

 

Beautiful boxwood garland right?  Well, Murphy (our giant schnauzer) actually picked that out.  Yep.  We were shopping at an outdoor craft fair and Murphy...well...marked it.  Yes, he peed on it.  After the look of horror faded from my face I gladly paid two lovely ladies for the garland.  Don't worry, I hosed it off VERY well and let it dry for two days in the sun before I brought it into the house.  Atleast he has good taste right?

 

 

Bringing the outside inside was very fun to do this year.  Free, beautiful, simple and easy....

What fresh things have you used to decorate with this Christmas?  

Hot Chocolate Bar

What could be more inviting/fun than a hot chocolate bar?  This is a first for us this year and we love it so far this Christmas season.  I found a recipe for a hot chocolate mix, which is SO easy and delicious, and after I tasted my first sip of hot chocolate I knew a hot chocolate bar would be in the works...

Find the hot chocolate mix recipe  here.  Be sure to use dutch process cocoa and whole dry milk (I found it in the Spanish aisle). FYI - I did not dare put in the cayenne pepper...no way.

As for your hot chocolate bar try to think of items you, your children, and your guests would actually use.  I kept it simple for our family because...we are simple people! 

Our must haves were the following:
                       -marshmallows
                       -milk chocolate chips
                       -cinnamon
                       -spoons
                       -mugs
                       -hot cocoa mix

Simple right?  We just grab a mug, put in two teaspoons of hot cocoa mix, use hot water from our Keurig, and add in our marshmallows and chocolate chips.  

Yummy and pretty.  Does it get any better?  

 

What would you have as mix-ins for your hot chocolate bar?  

Enjoy this wonderful holiday season!

Wrapping Paper Theme

Wrapping Christmas presents can be much more simple when a theme is chosen.  What?  A theme?  

Yes.  A theme.  

This year I decided to pick a color scheme that would stand out and be different from the theme of our tree.  And, of course, buy all of my supplies on a budget!  

Mission Accomplished.

 

 

Here are the details:

                       Wrapping Paper from Hobby Lobby - $4.00

                       Two Rolls of Ribbon from Hobby Lobby - $8.00

                       Gift Boxes from The Dollar Tree - $9.00

                                                                                                   Total Cost - $21.00

I've wrapped anywhere from 25-30 gifts so far with the same roll of wrapping paper....WOW!  The paper from Hobby Lobby is super thick and goes a long way.

    

 

I also decided to do away with the traditional stick on gift tags.  Each gift has the initial of the recipient.  Since the black and white wrapping paper is very distinct from other traditional wrapping papers I figured I didn't need to write who the gift is from.  So each gift is unique in it's own way.

 

How's that for wrapping presents on a budget?  What will you choose as your wrapping paper theme this year?

 

 

Label Your Stockings

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care....

I am so thankful and lucky to have been gifted beautiful handmade stockings by the hubs' grandmother.  She even incorporated parts of my wedding dress into the top of my stocking...how cool is that?!?  I felt the need to somehow "label" the stockings to show which stocking belonged to who.  Another trip to Hobby Lobby......

It's simple.  Here is how it goes:

Step One: Prance into Hobby Lobby, or your local arts and craft store, and purchase an appropriate sized wooden letter for each stocking.

Step Two: Spray paint wooden letters the color of your choice.  Choose a color that will complement the stocking but not over power it.

Step Three: Write a name on the bottom right hand corner of each letter with a sharpie.  

Step Four: Hot glue ribbon to the back of the letter, making a loop.  Be sure to make all loops the same size so letters will hang evenly.

Step Five: Hang letter with appropriate stocking, step back, and admire your handy work!

 

 

 

There you have it!  Such a personal touch for so little money and time.  

This project cost me about $4 total.  I always have spray paint and spare ribbon on hand so I simply purchased the wooden letters.

And yes, I have my stockings hung with two stocking holders and a curtain rod.  Love it!

I hope you enjoy decorating and celebrating Christmas this year.

Peace out for now!