I have seen the most lovely vintage Christmas glitter ornaments. You know the ones with the little retro elf on a round paper ornament outlined by silver tinsel? Or the cute little festive pixie in the Santa skirt? I missed the window for Christmas. Let’s make some for Valentine’s Day!

This month, I am joining a new group of blogger friends on their monthly post of craft projects. I am thrilled to be joining the Creative Craft Hop.

This craft team posts on the second Tuesday of every month so be sure to check back here EVERY month for all of the fabulous new projects.

If you are joining me from BIRDZ OF A FEATHER, welcome! And if you are a returning friend, welcome back!! You will find all of this months newly created craft projects at the end of this post. We created these just for you!

A Proper Introduction!

HELLO!

Hello! I’m Suzanne. I owned an antique store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, for 10 years, here in Alabama near Birmingham. We closed it in 2019. I have loved creating for as long as I can remember. I’m an only child and my oldest memories are of puttering beside my dad in his workshop in our Philadelphia home. I’m back to work full time now for a regional bank but I still dabble with this blog every chance I get. My passion is for furniture but really any kind of painting gets me going. I love a good challenge and transforming old items into beautiful focal points is one of my favorite things to do. Enough about me, let’s get on with today’s crat project – creating some fabulous Valentine ornaments.

Gather Some Valentines or Graphics

I started by gathering all of my favorite vintage love graphics. I suppose 50 ornaments will do but of course I will over plan.

I found some great graphics from the following sources:

The Graphics Fairy

And, honestly, I grabbed a bunch from Google. I carefully printed them to the size I needed on cardstock. This worked rather well

Since I planned on creating 50+ ornaments, I decided it was wise to purchase a circular paper cutter so I grabbed one from Amazon. It’s always nice for the menial tasks to move a little more quickly.

Supply List for Printable Valentine Ornaments:

• white cardstock paper
• home printer
• circle cutter
• thin craft brush
• medium stiff craft brush
• gold leaf/multi color foil
• gold leaf glue
• glue gun
• Christmas hooks
• glue sticks

Glitter can be kind of messy so I decided not to use the actual glitter. I decided to give gold leaf a try instead. So I ordered some gold leaf and glue. I grabbed a foil packet with multiple colors. My plan was to use the red, pink, silver and gold.

I saved a bunch of graphics from the internet and printed them on cardstock. Then I used my new circle cutter to cut them out.

I found so many great graphics!

This project would be fabulous using actual vintage greeting cards! I will have to try this with some of my parents’ old cards. Mom didn’t throw a card away!

There was a wonderful selection in colors for the gold leaf. Each piece of gold leaf was sandwiched between two pieces of wax paper. The leaf is very delicate. If you touch it with your fingers, it actually seems to almost disintegrate. So, I did practice a bit to gain confidence with the process. I followed the directions for apply the gold leaf (and the pink leaf, the red leaf, and the silver leaf).

I used a paint brush to paint the “gold leaf glue” along the edges of each circular ornament.

Then I laid the gold leaf onto the glue and patted it down with a firm bristled brush (actually a stencil brush).

After application, I used the brush to smooth out the leaf and distribute any excess leaf.

It went rather quickly once I got the hang of the process. I liked the way the gold leaf randomly stuck to the glue in some spots but not in others. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I like randomness and distressing. So this was right up my alley.

I varied the colors of the metallic leaf trim. I used mostly red and pink and gold. But I did use some purple and some silver just to add some variety.

It really was fun combining the colors with the various prints.

So many variations!

After the ornaments dried for about an hour, I hot glued a Christmas hook to the back of each one.

I also used some of the pipe cleaners to edge a few ornaments.

But the metallic leaf was my favorite.

When I had a good number of ornaments, I added them to the tree.

I had created a good variety!

Puppies and kittens and angels.

How cute would green glitter St. Patrick’s Day ornaments be on a tree? Or patriotic Red, White, and Blue! I had better get busy.

Now I just need to get the mantle finished before the 14th!!

As promised, here are the team’s craft projects! If you are following in order, head over to visit Carol next at BLUE SKY AT HOME. Carol has a great little decoupage project for you!

Be sure to visit everyone over the next week! We certainly appreciate your support. And be sure to leave some comments as we would LOVE to know what you want to see next!

Crochet a Mini Hanging Planter (with Dollar Store Supplies!

Adorable Decorative Pillows

Decorative Cord and Mesh Placemat

Eyeglass Holder

Valentine’s Glitter Ornaments

How To Decoupage A Wood Box For Home Decor

Here are a few past Valentine’s projects:

The post Valentine’s Glitter Ornaments appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I had planned to follow up that project by making a Pride flag. But, I never got back to the barn metal. Today is the day!

Well, if we are upcyling some old barn metal into something fabulous, must be that it is…

Be sure to check out the team posts at the end of this one!

Using Antique Barn Metal

This antique metal came from my friend, Gina’s old barn that she and her husband tore down. Gina’s grandad had built this barn. When she tore it down, she asked if anyone wanted some of the barn metal for projects. You know I jumped in my van and drove to Tennessee.

Here is the previous tutorial on how I cleaned, prepped, cut and painted the barn metal. As always, use the proper tools for the projects.

Safety gloves are a must to protect your skin from the sharp metal.

I followed the same process with this barn metal pride flag. I did have to trim the one edge to square up the metal.

Don’t worry. I did take my own advise and stopped at this point to grab my gloves. You can’t be too careful when handling sharp metal.

After the trim, I sanded the edges just to make sure I would not cut myself. I used a high grit (low number) sandpaper that was very coarse. This worked perfectly. After sanding, I cleaned the barn metal to remove all of the dust. TSP is my go to for prepping pieces for paint.

Design your Pride Flag

If Pride isn’t your thing, you can use these same techniques to make any other flag…family colors, school pride, etc.

Once I wiped down the metal with some TSP, she was ready for paint. I selected some vivid colors and grabbed the Frog Tape. And started to design and measure.

Next step was to mask off the lined for the flag pattern. I needed 6 broad stripes.

The tops of the stripes would be covered by a “V” comprised of a series of 4 other colors. So, I measured and used Frog Tape to mask off the six wide stripes.

Burnish the edges of your painter’s tape to ensure a good seal that prevents the paint from seeping under the tape resulting in non-crisp painted lines.

I taped off every other stripe. Then I painted those and allowed them to dry. I reset the tape to complete the last 3 stripes.

Be sure to allow the paint to dry somewhat before moving your tape.

I am an impatient creator. So while the bottom of the pride flag was drying, I was taping off the top.

I alternated between stripes. While one section was drying, I was starting another section.

Of course, I did have some paint seep under the tape edges so I did have to allow those areas to dry.

To minimize seepage, don’t overload your brush. And, dab the paint along the tape edges instead of brushing. This adds the paint more slowly. Thicker applications of paint tend to seep under the tape lines. Thinner applications tend to stay where they are applies. I went back and touched up those leaked lines once the paint was completely dry. If you use a thin flat brush, it is super easy to touch up. Here is the brush I used for touch up. Like applying the paint to the tape lines, I dabbed in from the side instead of using a brushing stroke. Use the flat tip of the brush to tap the line into place.

I just went from color to color making any necessary touch ups. And, before I knew it, she was ready!

I sealed her with my go to sealer Crab Coat by Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. This fabulous sealer ensures that the metal will be protected from the harsh Alabama sun and heat.

Here is an antique metal ice box that I keep outside. She is well protected with Crab Coat!

I’m not sure where to put my beautifully colored Pride flag. Right now, we are in the process of re-staining our deck. So excuse the clutter behind the flag.

But I really do like her beneath that fern for now.

Are you doing anything special for Pride month? Birmingham always has a great variety of activities and events. What’s going on in your neighborhood?

My Repurposed Life – Little Girl Statue Makeover

Petticoat Junktion – Repurpose A Mirrored Vanity Tray

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – DIY Macrame Propagation Station

Shop at Blu – Barn Metal Pride Flag

The post Barn Metal Pride Flag appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Can you believe that Fourth of July is right around the corner? I know time goes faster as you age but how did we get to July in a blink? I am rounding up my past patriotic DIY projects to celebrate Fourth of July in today’s blog hop with some creative friends.

Carol at Blue Sky at Home is once again our gracious host!  Be sure to stop by her blog at Blue Sky at Home to show her some love!

If you are following along in order and just arrived from Libby’s incredible blog at A Life Unfolding, I know you have your patriotic drink in hand. We have some great DIY and decor projects, a tablescape, and refreshments for you today! So let’s get to some more patriotic DIY projects!

Shop at Blu Patriotic DIY Projects

My absolute favorite way to decorate for patriotic holidays is with Old Glory herself. Sprinkling red, white, and blue around your home is the easiest way to add some patriotism into your decor. Grab a few flags and get to work!

You can grab flags in so many different sizes. This post, Easy Ways to Decorate with Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Decor, gives you some great sources and ways to show off Old Glory!

My antique fetish began with a healthy obsession of my MIL’s rusty and primitive decor. Flo loved all things Primitive an Americana. She really was the queen of patriotic DIY projects. Back in the 80’s, Flo made a picnic table out of a giant industrial wire spool. She was amazing! I carry her influence with me along with her beautiful collection of vintage American flags. Here is one displayed on a blanket ladder.

And these are Flo’s flags by our shed in our yard.

That little American corner screams FLO!!! I upcycled that little red garden table with this corner in mind in my More Updated Metal Garden Decor post. Everyone needs a little tribute corner to provoke fond memories, don’t you think? And this is the perfect place for your patriotic DIY projects.

Barn Metal American Flag

Keeping with Flo’s Americana/Primitive influence, a friend gave me a pile of antique barn metal. I put it to great use and created this large Barn Metal American Flag.

This is one of my favorite projects. When she goes up on the deck, you know it is Fourth of July!

As always, remember to use all of your scrap materials. These smaller barn metal flags are about 4″ X 8″ as look just darling tucked into or in front of a plant. Just scatter them around the garden.

I have several pieces left and plan to pull them out this weekend for another flag project. Look for that one next week for Thrift Store Decor Team’s second Wednesday’s monthly post

We can’t forget our Fourth of July cookouts! We always need a sweet treat and I’ve got a few!

Who doesn’t love some refreshing jello? So many colors available these days but red, white, and blue is my favorite!

Of course my patriotic desserts revolve around the kids and our pool. So something icy and refreshing is a great treat for the barbeque.

And of course, the Thrift Store Decor Team has so many patriotic posts! Click on through for this round up of 60 projects!

Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop

Which brings us to today’s special projects for today’s hop!  Be sure to comment on what you like about each post.  We love to know what you like to see.

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July this year.  Despite the political turmoil, we have much to be grateful for.  Here’s to patriotic holidays!  And an extra day off!

The post Patriotic DIY Projects appeared first on Shop at Blu.

It all started with this Valentine’s Day Mantle Decor!

Today, I am joining some of my blogger friends from The Amazing Creators for a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop offering a variety of Valentine’s Day oriented projects! If you came over from visiting Linda at Bushel and a Pickle, welcome! And a warm special welcome to all of you who are new to us here at Blu. Next on the blog hop is Libby from A Life Unfolding. I hope you have time to visit everyone. This wonderfully creative group shares unique ideas to help make your home fabulous. From endless DIY and home decor tips to food and drink recipes, from product tips and crafting instructions to thrift store makeover…you are sure to find some inspiration here! It seems we are feeling the love and hearts this month. Check out all of the fabulous projects that are linked at the end of this post.

What Inspired the Creation

When the Dollar Store is stocked with new holiday decor, I grab any decorations that range from 8″ to 16″. So when I saw these fabulous hearts for Valentine’s Day at the Dollar Tree, I knew I could use them to add a great burst of love inspired color to my mantle. They are bigger than they appear, at about 14″ X 14″.

But how would I incorporate these hearts???

I didn’t want to glue or tape them to the mantle. If only I had something removeable that I could attach them to, and then attach the removeable whatever to the mantle. Where could I find such a gadget? I was trying to think of a source when I realized that I could build the removeable whatever that I had in mind. You can read all about how I fabricated this incredible hanger by clicking on the heart photo below.

Once I created my hanger, I started using it for just about every holiday,

Valentine Heart Decor Mantle Hanger

Such a simple idea that added such character to my mantle decor!

Here is another photo of that first Valentine’s Day mantle:

Here is a St. Patrick’s Day Mantle using the hanger:

And this is my fall mantle from this past October. I draped my pothos across the hanger.

I’ve used the hanger for winter decor as well.

And after this past fall, I moved the pothos to my kitchen.

Creating a Design

With a glue gun, some Dollar Store holiday decor, and creativity, you too can create a fabulous mantle for any holiday or occasion. Alternate colors and styles, size and textures to really make a statement. For added interest, add some smaller glittered or metallic items. Add some garland for fun. The process is very forgiving. If it doesn’t look right, remove the decor and start again. Very forgiving!

Now, I always grab holiday decorations from the Dollar Store and layer them together to create an expensive looking holiday mantle. You just can’t been the convenience and value of Dollar Store seasonal decor items. With $8 to $10 dollars, you can create expensive and high end looking mantle decor.

Here is a brief video of the process of attaching the Valentine’s Hearts.

This large heart swag is sure to be the focal point of your mantle. And the hanging tool will surely become a favorite for every holiday.

Show me your Valentine’s Mantle! Share with me on Social Media! Tell me what you have created lately!

The Amazing Creators

And here are the projects from my very talented friends in The Amazing Creators!

The post Build a Reusable Tool for your Mantle Decor in Time for Valentine’s Day appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I bet you already knew when I mentioned an upcycle project, that today is the 2nd Wednesday of the month and time for the Thrift Store Decor Team Projects! You will find them all at the very end of this post. I wonder what the team is revitalizing today? Let’s get on with our outdoor lantern upcycle!

Prep your Outdoor Lanterns

My plan is to sand off the rust and use some colorful Rustoleum Spray Paint to refresh these outdoor lanterns. The Rustoleum will have a dual purpose. First, it will stop any rust that is developing on the lanterns and second, it will bring a fabulous new finish to these aging lanterns.

A closer look reveal debris and rust that has accumulated from the lanterns sitting outdoors for so long. So, as with any project piece, lets start with a good cleaning.

First, I needed to remove any glass. These lanterns are aluminum and have tabs that hold the glass in place.

To remove the glass, I simply folded the tabs away from the glass and lifted the glass out.

I dusted off the debris and gave each lantern a once over with a stiff bristled brush to remove any surface rust. Next, I set the lanterns in my sink and added warm water and Dawn dish soap.

I used a bottle brush to scrub the inside and outside surface of each lantern.

I gave the glass a good bath as well so I can replace it to use the lanterns to hold candles in the future.

After a good rinse, I set the lanterns outside to dry. It was a windy day, so I laid the lanterns on their side. After about half an hour, I flipped them over to make sure they were drying thoroughly.

Time for Paint

Once dry, I took the into the yard and gave each a thin coat of Rustoleum I used fall colors that I had on hand from a previous fall project. I used the Cinnamon and the Warm Caramel.

Rustoleum 2X has fabulous coverage and I didn’t even need a second full coat. Also, I recommend the Rustoleum Comfort Grip to hold your can. It eliminates finger fatigue and overspray onto your hands. Great tool!

I gave each lantern a light coat. Rustoleum 2x coverage is so good that I only needed one light coat. I allowed this coat to dry for about 20 minutes.

Then I flipped the lanterns over to finish the insides, bottoms, and any angles that I could not reach previously.

Tips for Spray Painting

Like I said, light coats are preferred because that prevents drips and pooling of paint. If you miss a spot, wait for the coat to dry and flip the piece so you can hold the paint can at a better angle to hit those spots. If you see a drip, tap or dab it lightly with a rag. This usually removes the drip. Sometimes you can go over this area after the paint dries with another light spray, but, amazingly, sometimes the paint self levels and the touch up spritz is not needed.

I like to use this small vintage open wire shelf unit for spray painting because it can hold several small items at one. These lanterns were larger so I would spray one coat and move the lantern aside to allow it to dry. I would place the next lantern on the shelf, spray one coat and remove to dry. Repeat.

I didn’t want to touch the outside of the lantern as the paint was wet. So I cupped my hand, lifted the lantern from the inside, and set it aside to dry.

Once the lanterns were dry, I moved the to the table on our deck until I am ready to use them inside. So many possibilities.

As I said, these lanterns were outside for a few years. The two larger lanterns had rope handles. I will replace them eventually but that is a project for another day. For now, I used masking tape to cover the bases for the handles because I like the chrome metal look.

After painting, I removed the tape. You can see the handle bases in the photo below. Use painter’s tape to mask off any area that you don’t want painted. This is commonly used for hardware, glass, or to make designs.

And here are the outdoor lanterns after being painted.

I couldn’t just let them sit there all lonely and empty, could I?

Look at that dreary sky! For once I exhibited some patience and took some more photos the next day.

That sky is so much happier! My pilgrim is even smiling.

The lanterns look great on our front stoop at the entryway also!

Move the lanterns around to different positions. Use different combinations of mums, pumpkins, and gourds until you find the look that you like.

If it doesn’t look quite, right, move things around again.

Sit a mum inside of a lantern.

Add some small pumpkins or gourds. Use real or faux…whatever you have on hand.

How about using those lanterns inside! Grab some florals.

And some pumpkins.

I even added some feathers.

They make a great centerpiece for an empty table.

The larger lanterns might be a little tall to use for Thanksgiving dinner. You might have trouble looking through them to see your guests. But they would look nice before dinner. Just remove them and replace them with the entrees and the turkey!!

I can see some florals and candles sitting inside of these beauties on Thanksgiving Day.

And here are this month’s projects from my fabulous creative friends!

Refresh Thrift Store Artwork

Upcycled Brass Christmas Bell Decoration

Decorating with a Vintage Toolbox

Repurposed Santa Mug

Refresh Outdoor Lanterns for Indoor Decor – That’s ME! You’re HERE!

The post Refresh Outdoor Lanterns for Indoor Decor appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Welcome! If you visiting for the first time as part of the Amazing Creators network, I am so glad you are here. I hope you will browse through my other posts and take some time to visit my friends linked at the end of this post. You never know what kind of fabulous inspiration you will find. Who knows, maybe you will find a new favorite creator!

Let’s get started with our project!

Prep your Bottles

With any paint project, you will have to prep the surface of your project piece. Glass bottles are no different. This consists of removing any labels and cleaning the glass thoroughly, both inside of the bottle and outside.

I wrote an entire post about tips for cleaning your bottles and removing that stubborn label glue! Click on the photo below to read all about it:

What Paint to Use

Once your bottles are clean and dry, you need to select your paint!

My first thought for paint for this project was my go to Black Dog Salvage Furniture paint as it is suitable for ALL surfaces. I thought I would need something special for these glass bottles. However, My go to spray paint was sitting right here in my garage in a variety of colors needed. So, I went with Rustoleum 2X in the fall colors of Cinnamon, Warm Caramel, and Real Orange. I used a clear spray as a sealer. I highly recommend the Rustoleum Spray Handle. This baby keeps your fingertips clean from paint overspray. For larger projects it really reduces that index finger fatigue from holding down that tiny spray button.

I figured I would go ahead with the on hand supply, seal with a top coat, and see how the paint holds up.

Spray Painting your Glass Bottle for Decor Projects

Once my bottles were clean, I moved outside to my yard to apply the spray paint. If you are using spray paint indoors, be certain you have proper ventilation to avoid any excessive fumes and prevent repercussions of such.

I have an old metal bath room shelving unit that I have been using for years with my outdoor paint projects.

The open shelves allow me to spray much of the bottle and eliminate some turns of the project piece, reduce drying time, and even eliminate additional coats of paint. I can see a restoration project sometime in the future with this little MCM beauty.

I placed the bottles randomly on the shelves in a manner that would reduce overspray. Bottles to be painted the same color were placed on the same shelf.

I could hold the spray paint at the right angle to reduce overspray on different colored bottles. This saved so much time. Instead of spraying two or three bottles at a time, I did 6 and allowed them to dry. Streamline for the win!

Spray Painting Tip

It’s also important to try to choose a day where the weather is calm and not windy. You should also determine the direction of any breeze that might pop up to avoid spraying into the wind. Trust me…getting a direct shot of overspray to the face is no fun. Proper safety gear is always recommended. I love the mask from RZ Mask which is designed for comfort and use in DIY projects. Never underestimate the importance of safety gear.

I gave each bottle one light coat. With Rustoleum 2x, coverage is excellent. So I did not need two complete coats. I just gave each bottle one light coat, allowed that to dry (about 30 minutes), and just touched up any spots needing a little extra coverage.

I decided to keep some of the green glass exposed on one wine bottle. I used frog tape and paper to mask some of the glass. Then I sprayed the vibrant orange which made a great contrast with the green.

The orange spray paint covered so well!

I carefully peeled off the frog tape after the paint was relatively dry (maybe 20 minutes).

Frogtape is probably the best releasing painters’ tape. The lines are always crisp and clean.

You can really get creative with designs using frog tape and paper. My design was very simple and easy.

Be sure to seal your painted bottles with spray polyurethane or clear coat. I used a Clear Rustoleum. This will protect the finish and make it harder to scratch or chip.

Embellishing Your Glass Bottle

Once I had a nice selection of colored bottles, I grabbed some jute and some twine to embellish the necks of the bottles.

I used a variety of sizes of jute and twine. I even unraveled some thicker jute to make a wavy thinner jute.

The process was easy. I simply placed a dot of hot glue on the base of the bottle neck.

I place the end of some jute/twine on the glue dot and just wound the jute/twine up the neck.

Push the twine into place and keep adding rows.

Another small dab of glue at the top of the bottle neck kept the jute/twine from unraveling. I found these silicone finger tips on Amazon. They are a godsend for protecting finger tips from the hot glue. I use them to hold the glue in place until it dries. Great! Cheap! Effective tool!

The twine and jute added a nice texture to the project. You could even use buttons or ribbons or decorative paper or florals! Use what you love or what makes you happy! Give it your own special flair!

Next, I spray painted the bottle tops and caps to match the bottles.

The Finishing Touches

I grabbed some fabric with complimentary colors and cut some strips to tie around the bottle necks.

It didn’t take much fabric and this was so much more cost effective than buying rolls of ribbon.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND!

Be creative and mix all of the colors!

Cute, right??? Just crazy quilt those bottle necks!

Scatter those bottles around the house.

Bathroom…

The vanity is the perfect place for some fall decor bottles! You could even add a hand soap pump top!

How about the kitchen!

My plant shelf is the perfect spot for some color.

Buffet? Or piano top?

These cuties can literally go anywhere!

Other Practical Uses for Glass Bottles in Decor

• Olive oil
• Homemade seasoned cooking oils
• Bath oils
• Filtered water
• Hand soap
• Bath salts
• Body lotion

I could go on a bit longer but I’m sure you get the idea. How about some other fall and Thanksgiving fabulous projects? From tablescapes to decorating tips! Jewelry and Recipes! Planning tips and decorating tips! We even have a crochet project! Check out all of my creative friends! I know you will be amazed! And I know you will find some inspiration for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!

Shop at Blu -That’a me! I’m so thankful you are here!

Cloches & Lavender

Sweet Valley Acres

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Gathered In The Kitchen

An Organized Season

Everyday Edits

My Home and Travels

Now Choose Life

From Farmhouse to Florida

At Home With Kristy 

The Stylish Maker 

HouzewizeBushel and a Pickle

The post Creating Glass Bottle Decor for Fall appeared first on Shop at Blu.

This year’s addition is the King of Christmas 8′ Queen Flock Slim Artificial Christmas Tree With 700 Warm White LED lights. Let me just say that I knew it would be fabulous and tall but it is more fabulous than I could have imagined! I think the size and height is perfect for our living room!

The widest point of the tree, at the very bottom, is only about 38″ wide. It’s perfect for a corner. It sits nicely in front of a window but doesn’t block the entire window. Our ceilings are 9 feet tall so this 8 foot beauty is the perfect size. She is stately but not overbearing.

This beauty has 700 white led lights. And there are some fabulous settings from steady on, to slow pulsing, to quick blinking, to alternating. The light show is fabulous and the remote control allows you to effortlessly change the setting.

Of course the KOC premium artificial Christmas Trees come with KOC’s signature storage bag and gloves. The festive gloves are idea for kids and helpers with sensitive skin. Might I add, they are really fun to dance around with.

This is the third year that I have been lucky and honored to receive a Queen Flock product from KOC. Every time I open the box, I am enamored at the fresh beauty of this look. With the cooler weather finally moving in, this natural looking artificial Christmas tree really helps prepare me for the cool crisp fall weather. Last year I set up my noble fir tree early and let her sit naturally unadorned for several weeks. It was so nice to enjoy the simple beauty of this stunning tree in my main living room. After a few weeks, I decided it was time to decorate her so I used a fall theme.

The orange slices, pinecones, berry garland and orange fabric ribbon made for a gorgeous fall tree that we enjoyed through Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, I moved her into the bedroom and styled her with antique ornaments. I have a new post coming on that soon, but here is a sneak peak from when I started to adorn her with antique and vintage ornaments.

My plans for this year were to add some new fall decor but the temperature here in Alabama has been too hot for me to embrace the cooler fall color. Plus, it might be a little difficult to upstage last year’s orange beauty. So, at Mr. Blu’s suggestion, I am going to go with, for the first time EVER, a Halloween theme. I am gathering supplies now and should have the reveal within the next week. I can feel my inner witch beginning to stir. Purples and mood…this will be fun!

Let’s review some of the past years of KOC fabulousness.

Here is how I styled my very first KOC product, the Queen Flock Collection 4 Piece Set which was perfect for my mantle.

And last year, I moved the set into the bedroom. You will see the full display in the upcoming post about last year’s vintage decorated tree.

Here is the full mantle with the fall tree from last year. This was the 7′ King Noble Fir Flock.

I even used the Queen Flock Collection 4 Piece set as winter decor leading up to Valentine’s day.

And so, I am challenging myself over the next few weeks to step further outside of the traditional “Christmas Tree” box. I am embracing the moody Halloween side of decor. Do you have any suggestions? Have you created a Halloween tree? Do you have any tips or recommend any favorite accessories? Let me know because, although this is a slim tree, it is 8 feet tall!

Be sure to check back right before Halloween to see the new look of this beauty.

How about those vintage wood pumpkins on my mantle! Click on the photo below to see how I made those.

The post More Than Christmas Artificial Tree appeared first on Shop at Blu.

What better time to create decor that can be used anywhere in your home??!!! It’s Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday!! If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! On the second Wednesday of every month, my incredibly creative and talents friends and I each post a project that is a thrifty upcycle, or a decor hack, or just a budget conscious decor idea. We love introducing you to new skills, tools, methods and products that we use in our thrifty decor oriented lives.

Check out all of the new posts from the team at the end of this post.

Vintage or New Wooden Crate

I started with these two wooden crates.

This is a vintage wooden oak crate that I’ve have for many years. I used it at Vintage Market Days and other antique shows when I used to do shows.

And this is a newer pin wooden crate that I bought from a vendor when I used to have my store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment.

I see wooden crates from time to time at the thrift store. They come in many sizes so you can adjust this project for size. Table top wooden crate pumpkins would be great! You can find them new in various sizes at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart!

Two Step Process to Upcycle a Wooden Crate

This really is a very simple and easy project. I’m almost embarrassed that it is so easy but every now and then we need a no brainer, super easy project. I basically painted each wooden crate with spray paint and glued on some embellishments. Easy peasy! My projects RARELY get any easier than this.

Supplies used for this Pumpkin themed wooden crate:

• Wooden crate(s) Walmart, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or thrift stores
• Rustoleum 2X spray paint, vary colors or paint them all the same
• Jute rope
• Dollar Tree florals (you can’t go wrong for $1.25 per bunch)
• Hot glue gun. I love my Ryobi

My go to spray paint is RustoIeum 2X, which has a fabulous selection of colors and finishes. I grabbed two cans of spray paint from the garage. I thought they were both shades of teal. But one had a teal cap and was actually white paint. So I went with a light teal and a white, ensuring a more neutral color palette. Just spray the wooden crates to your liking. As I like a more shabby rustic look, I only applied one coat.

I used the aqua on the oak wooden crate. Because it was older and a bit darker, it took 2 coats.

I used my Rust-Oleum Comfort Grip. This handy tool snaps onto the top of your spray can. The pistol grip trigger ensure paint free fingers and an even flow of paint. I sprayed 3 sides of the exterior and also the interior, allowed the paint to dry, flipped the wooden crate and sprayed the remaining sides.

Allow the paint to dry. Rust-Oleum 2X also dries very quickly. I think I waited just one hour and the paint was completely dry.

Decorate Your Wooden Crate

Next, select your embellishments for your crate. I wanted the crate to resemble a pumpkin so I grabbed a small branch from the yard. The circumference was about 1.5-2 inches. I used my Ryobi sliding miter saw to chop off a few pieces of the limb to use as my pumpkin stems.

You can glue the stem to the wooden crate before or after you add your other embellishments. I considered using raffia, burlap, bright ribbon, faux leaves, jute, and floral sprigs. You can go as simple or elaborate as you like. I went with simple.

First I glued two pieces of jute rope to each wooden crate. Then I added florals. Simply trim the wire stems and glue them into place.

Finally, I glued on my pumpkin stem. In retrospect, I probably should have glued the stem on first but I was excited about using the jute so I rushed. No harm though as the stems are secure.

Did you know that you can now buy pumpkin stems? I mean, why not!

I also considered drawing a jack-o-lantern eyes, nose and mouth to cut out and glue onto the backs of the wooden crates. This way, I can use these for fall and into Halloween. Here is a link to the stickers.

Do you like the blue or the white?

Of course, I added some faux pumpkins.

I can’t wait to add some small mums to the mix.

Here are the tutorials for the Hydro Dip Pumpkins:

And for the Mod Podge Custom Pumpkins:

Can you ever have too many pumpkins?

I am quite happy with my choice of colors for these wooden pumpkin crates as I can use them anywhere in the house afterwards without having to worry about bright orange clashing with any room decor.

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DIY Cheese Box Wreath For Fall House of Hawthornes

Bathroom Wall Cabinet Makeover My Repurposed Life

Lamp Makeover with Rub ‘n Buff Our Southern Home

The post Fall Pumpkin Wooden Crate Project appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Grab a puzzle from the closet, the thrift store, the dollar store or a yard sale. This is a great way to use those old puzzles that are missing some critical pieces. Repurpose!

Did some one say REPUPOSE??? That’s right! It’s THRIFT STORE DECOR TEAM Wednesday so it’s time for some thrifty repurposing projects! Remember to check all of the team projects at the end of this post.

Here is my inspiration photo from Pinterest:

I needed to make a cardboard heart shaped base on which to glue my puzzle pieces. But I decided to prime the puzzle pieces first so the paint could dry while I was creating my heart base. 

Spray Paint of Choice

I grabbed a variety of spray paint in Valentine’s colors from my garage. I suggest using at least 3 different colors to create depth and interest. I always recommend using colors in shades of 3. That third color really adds dimension to any project. I used pink, red, and white. And while any spray paint will do, I recommend Rustoleum 2X with primer. You will need less coats (most likely just one) as the coverage is phenomenal.

Separate your puzzle pieces into 3 piles. Start with your first pile and spread the pieces flat on a large surface. Remember to protect your surface from overspray. I often use a large piece of cardboard that I keep in the garage for projects just like this. But this time, I used a pizza box, a shoe box and some other cardboard that was in our recycle bin. 

As I said, my spray paint of choice is Rustoleum 2X paint with primer. It is my life’s goal to have a can in every imaginable color. If you don’t use a paint with primer included, you should first hit your pieces with a light coat of primer. This will reduce the number of coats of color required to cover the puzzle pattern. This is especially important if you are using white spray paint to cover a commonly used water or bright colored floral pattern that seem to be the preferred subjects of puzzle creators.

Apply several light coats of spray paint allowing the pieces to thoroughly dry between coats. The force of the spray paint was quite strong to I had to apply the spray paint with short quick spraying motion to prevent the puzzle pieces from being propelled around the room. This short tapping motion was successful and probably prevented me from excessive overspray and puddling of the paint. I was able to cover the original puzzle patterns with two coats of spray paint. Repeat for the remaining groups of puzzle piles. Spray lightly, allow to dry, repeat until you can’t see the pattern beneath the layers of spray paint. 

Create a Heart Base

While the paint was drying, I moved on to create my heart base. I used a piece of cardboard from our recycle bin. Just draw a heart and cut it out. I folded my cardboard in half and just cut out the half heart shape. This ensured my heart was symmetrical. I have never been able to draw a totally symmetrical heart. One side is always fat and one side is always tall. No lop-sided hearts for this project. I followed the outer line of the heart to remove the smaller heart from the center. so I was left with about a 2″ base for my puzzle pieces. If you don’t have cardboard in your recycle bin, you can use cardboard from a cereal box or even an old gift box. And if you are a planner, you can buy always buy a heart form from the dollar store or craft store.

I used the cardboard side without the design as the base for my heart.

Start Layering

Grab the Elmer’s glue and get started randomly gluing your puzzle pieces to the heart. There really is no hard fast rule. Just dab some glue on the back of your puzzle piece and plop it onto the heart. 

Continue all around the heart until you have one solid layer. Then start your second layer on top of the first still alternating colors. Keep adding alternating colored puzzle pieces until you have filled the heart shape. 

I used 3 layers but you can keep going or stop at two. Continue until your heart is sturdy and you are happy with the appearance.

Aren’t the colors magnificent? This would be a fun project for a St. Patrick’s Day shamrock shape too!

TIP: Here is where you can learn from my mistakes. You should spray paint your cardboard heart form with one of your selected spray paint colors. I didn’t and you can see the cardboard base if you look closely at my heart. So remember this step!

You can glue a piece of ribbon to the back of the heart and hang it on an interior door. I suppose you could use it outside but my front door gets direct Alabama sun all day so it would fry and fade. You could coat it with some Polycrylic to protect it from the direct sun but you would also need a stronger glue than Elmer’s. Use an exterior glue or maybe liquid nails. So indoor use is my choice.

She looks fabulous against the white door with or without a ribbon.

And she looks pretty cute just hanging out with this primitive snowman on the mantle.

I’d like to make some smaller versions to use as ornaments on my flocked tree as those colors would be incredible against the flocking. 

This was an easy project and would be fun with kids. Speaking of which, I had a little buddy crafting with me. This was an easy project for my grandson to complete. He made a heart for his sweet mom. I forgot to snap a photo. But we did continue our crafty Saturday morning by making this Valentine’s house from a left over Gingerbread house kit from Christmas.

Do you have a Saturday morning crafting buddy? I highly recommend them. They bring a whole new level of intensity and fun to Saturday morning crafts.

DIY Hobnail Milk Glass Candle

DIY Floral Mosaic Side Table

Winter Scenes in Silver Plate

Metallic Gold And Clear Glass Vases 

Updating a Thrift Store Lamp

Teak Wooden Bowl Makeover

Bar Stools Into Nightstands

Valentines Puzzle Heart Decor

Here is my favorite Valentine’s craft from last year:

The post Valentine Puzzle Heart Decor appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I have joined a few friends to share our designs with our King of Christmas products. Hopefully, you will find some inspiration as you get ready to decorate for the holidays! Just click on the photos to see each post. So many ways to use the Christmas flock tree and set. I’ll start with my decor.

Fall Christmas Flock Tree

This beauty is currently the focal point in my living room. I just could not start the Christmas decorating while the temperature was still 85 degrees here in Alabama. So I used some natural elements and got started anyway. The end result was a Christmas Fall Flock tree that turned into a Thanksgiving Tree. I can’t wait for my guests to see this Fall Christmas Flock Tree!

Last year, I received a 4 piece Flock set. It contained a gorgeous flocked garland, two small trees and a beautiful wreath, all of which were lighted and had the option of using electric or battery power sources. I loved the set so much, that I decorated early for winter and then again for Christmas.

The Peacock Tree!

My friend Liberty from B4 and Afters decorated her flock tree with a Peacock theme last year. The tree is just such a lovely shape and so full, even for a slim tree. There’s a bonus in Liberty’s post as her daughter also decorated the tree a second time. Which is your favorite? I am partial of course to the Peacock tree because, well…BLUE!

Mantle Decor Without a Mantle

Liberty also used her Queen Flock® Collection 4-Piece Set with lights in her dining room. Proof that you can use your 4 piece mantle sets just about anywhere. I love the versatility of this set. And Liberty uses hers to deck out a gorgeous hutch. This post is chock full of creative ideas to help you decorate without spending a ton of money. You won’t believe the inspiration behind her pink Christmas accents in her dining room. It is amazing what speaks to us enough to decorate a room around, right? The pink reminds me of Europe and has a beautiful renaissance flair.

Winter Wonderland

Kristen from The 5th Sparrow No More created a beautiful winter wonderland with her King of Christmas’ Queen Flock® Collection 4-Piece Set with Lights. It is amazing to me how lovely the set looks in so many different rooms. Get ready to be dazzled by Kristen’s trendy makeover of some thrifted skis. This cozy mantle makes me want to grab a good book, some chai tea, and a fluffy blanket.

Three Looks with One Set!

Donna from An Organized Season really shows the diversity of her beautiful King of Christmas’ Queen Flock® Collection 4-Piece Set with Lights. What makes this brand so fabulous is the quality of the products. The items are well made and easy to take from box to full on display. Donna shows us the three different ways she uses this beautiful lighted set…Fall, Christmas, and Winter. I use my set from Fall well into the New Year. It’s beautiful bare and you can completely change the look by adding different colors and elements. Of keep it minimal, like Donna, So Classy and yet so fun! I love the 4 piece set surrounding the entertainment center. Just beautiful!

French Country Christmas Flock Tree

You won’t want to miss Kristy’s, from At Home With Kristy, French Country Christmas Tree. Be still my French loving heart! It has all of the glitz and charm of my favorite decor style. She is minimally decorated (something I need to work on) with the perfect blend of color. Now it looks like I have to add another tree to my home this year. Mr. Blu will be thrilled (wink, wink)!

I will leave you with a few more of my photos of my KOC decor. I’m also adding links to past Christmas post with tips for decorating. Do yourself a favor and grab some King of Christmas decor. They are having great sales right now. You won’t be sorry. Thanks for joining us today!

The post King of Christmas Flock Tree and More! appeared first on Shop at Blu.