As a child I remember gazing upon my grandmother's costume jewelry Christmas tree. It was so shiny and the Christmas lights made it mezmorizing. My grandmother was very crafty, she made hers at a church activity. This was a popular craft back in the 1970's.
There was a magazine produced with instructions back then!
(here is an excerpt)
Check out that tree, wait the hair is what is really amazing about this photo! Ha, ha.
Years later I decided that my kids deserved the a magical Christmas tree like the one I had enjoyed.
My grandmother was an avid crafter. She had homemade ornaments, stockings, and more supplies than you could imagine. When she passed away my mother brought box loads of mixed up crafting supplies. It was too much for even her to handle. I offered to take it Read more [...]
So I saved the best, or at least my favorite, for last. Growing up in San Diego I loved going to the beach. Once I moved to Utah for school I missed it desperatly! We decided that one of the boys rooms would be a surfing theme and since we visit So. Cal they would love it too. It worked, we've had two boys trade off being in the surfing room and both loved it.
(NOTE: If you haven't read the other parts to the series, check them out here: Part 1 World Map, Part 2 Star and Stripes, Part 3 Arches)
I started out looking in the Pottery Barn Teen catalog at their wall mural posters. There were a few surfing themes but they weren't large enough for the wall I wanted to cover and they were $99, plus shipping. Not gonna work.
Internet searches for beachy images didn't turn up much. Then I went to istockphoto.com and Read more [...]
I've been poking around on Pinterest loving all of the amazing front door wreaths. I decided to make my own. After a little inspiration I opted for a pine cone wreath. I went to the park in the center of town where we have an arboretum (fancy for a lot of different trees in one space). It is very well maintained so I doubted my little buddy Will and I would find any, but to my surprise there were loads! Under the pine trees the landscapers left a a large circle untouched. Under all of the pine trees there were pine needles and some had pine cones. We went in November in Utah and about half of the pine trees had cones under them depending on the variety. We chose cones from three diferent species of trees to add texture and variety. We gathered three grocery sacks full of free pine cones in about Read more [...]
Please welcome my friend Holly to Burlap & Denim
Hello! My name is Holly Marsh, and I blog at Life as a Thrifter. I am thrilled to be guest posting today! Although I used to teach kindergarten, I now stay at home with a busy toddler! Along the way, I developed an obsession for thrifting, and these days nap times are most often spent sanding or spray painting! Whether it’s a beat-up piece of furniture or a worn out pair of jeans, I have the greatest time producing something new out of something old . . . and blogging all about it!
I've compiled a few of my most favorite projects to share with you today. All of which are super cheap and ridiculously easy!
Laundry Room Display
This was a recent project I did using a few old hangers and (homemade) pictures.
Embroidery Hoop Monogram
This Read more [...]
We live a few blocks from Costco which is a dangerous place to be! We frequent the mega store like it is a corner market. We buy a lot in bulk since huge seems to be the only size Costco sells.
Last year we got a popcorn machine as a family Christmas present. This turned out be be a perfect gift for our movie loving family. Shortly after Christmas we had to put the popper up high in the pantry because we were popping corn 2X a day (not good for any of our figures)! Now it is a once or twice a week popcorn fest. With all that popcorn being consumed we stock up on the kernals at Costco. They happen to come in the greatest packaging!
These are the perfect container to recycle and reuse!
I place the whole container under a slow drip of hot water and
the label peels right off.
Read more [...]
A few years ago I decided there had to be a better way to go grocery shopping. I was tiered of trying to read a scribbled scrap of paper and walking from one end of the store to the other only to realize that I had to go back to the begininning because I forgot something. So, I took matters into my own hands.
I made a grocery shopping list. I organized it based on the store I shopped at most. Each section is broken out by isle or catagory. I filled in the list with the items I buy most.
I also made a section for listing out the dinners I planned to have that week.
Now when I am getting ready to go to the grocery store I first grab a highlighter and mark all of the items I need to purchase for each of the planned meals. Then I read each of the items on the Read more [...]
A few weeks ago I ran across a blog that I loved. It's called Crafted Niche. Dana has some crazy talent and style. I'm going to feature some of my favorite projects of hers.
Wine Bottle Tiki Torches
Check out these awesome diy Tiki Torches for your backyard!
I'm ready to hang out in Dana's yard right now. Awesome idea.
Encyclopedia Page Silhouettes
Dana takes you step by step through this adorable project. I've been on a hunt for an old encyclopedia since I first saw these.
What's even cuter is that these silhouettes are her pets! She teaches you exactly how to make silhouettes from your own photos.
Spool Side Table
I drooled when I opened my Ballard Design catalog and saw the spool side table. Perfect for a crafter. Crafted Niche teaches you how to make your own.
And all for around $20, Read more [...]
If you haven't read the other Mural 101 series, check them out first. Part 1 & Part 2
Have you been to any of the U.S. National Parks? We have several here in Utah, but one stands out amongst the rest. Arches.
It is so beautiful with the red rock, arches, and blue horizons. It is so loved here in Utah that it is one of the options for a license plate (perfect for our 3 Jeeps and Discovery)!
I've taken trips there with roommates, my hubby, and a few years ago my kids and sister's family. There are easy trails and beautiful scenic drives that all ages can enjoy. It's very hot in the summer with temperatures easily reaching 100 degrees in the summer. This brings me to my mural. In my basement we have a "storage" room that we converted into a workout room. There are no windows, it is rather Read more [...]
If you couldn't tell by now, I heart funky lighting. When I saw this fixture at Urban Outfitters, I knew I could make something of it.
At just $39 this little beauty can add a lot of
punch for not a lot of cash.
I purchased the white version at our local Urban Outfitters. 12X12 scrapbook paper is almost large enough to cover each
1/8 of the chandelier so I bought 16 papers total.
There are so many amazing colors and designs that it was difficult to chose the right 16, but this was going in a teenage girls room so I let her tastes dictate the final selection. We decided on a bird theme with an Anthropologie vibe. The orange, brown, and hot pink trees were painted from a stencil Urban Outfitters used to sell.
Before assembling it I laid the chandelier so that
1/2 of one side was on top of the paper.
I Read more [...]
Welcome to my kitchen open house! I call it Midnight Beach. Growing up in San Diego, and then moving away for college, I love and miss the ocean. I decided to bring it to my Utah home. This is the color palette for our kitchen.
Black, Dark Dusty Blue, White, Warm Wood, Stainless Steel, Light Blue, Cream, and Dark Chocolate
An inspiration for the scheme came from the black rocks found on the beaches of So. Cal. While at first glance they appear solid black,
when dry, they have beautiful gray and blue tones.
The color scheme rolls on into the nook as you can see in this photo.
I actually painted the entire space a light blue but when
mixed with the warmth of the cabinets, it looked ice cold and cheap.
It only took a couple of days before I couldn't stand it enough
and had to repaint the entire Read more [...]
'Tis the weather, at least around here, for some yummy Hot Cocoa.
As soon as the first snowfalls my kids are hitting me up for some cocoa in our Cocomotion machine. Tell me you have one of these, if not run out and get one! They usually carry them at Costco in the winter, but Target and Walmart have them too for around $20. It heats and whips the hot chocolate to perfection.
OK, now that we all have a Cocomotion machine,
lets make some cocoa.
Meet my friend Kara from Talkin' Chow Playin' House.
Kara is an amazing chef, yep its official, she went to culinary school! She says to put away the Swiss Miss (yuck!)
and make room for her family recipe (mmm).
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Kara's Momma's Hot Chocolate
1/2 gallon whole milk
2 cans evaporated milk
1/4-1/2 cup dry, unsweetened cocoa
1/2-1 cup granulated Read more [...]
Christmas, Design Steps, From Scratch, Lighting, Recycle & Reuse 
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