What keeps me busy:

I've been trying my hand at pillows again.

Why are crafts so addicting to me???

I have done many calendar pillows,

but this winter barn scene is my favorite.

 

 

 

 

I gave this handled tray a face lift.

 

Before:

It was quite hideous!

 

A coat of fresh paint & some edge sanding....

 

After:

 

I love the handles on this,

they must be brass.

 

 

My stash of windows is getting some attention.

This grey one shows the lyrics to a nostalgic hymn.

 

So that's a taste of what been keeping me busy.

I hope you've been getting creative as well.

~Wishing you all a Happy New Year~

Jane

 

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home



Stack It Up!

This past summer I decided to just start buying

milk glass at garage sales (for cheap) & start a collection.

I had no rhyme or reason. 

When I spread it out at home I found

that there are TWO different colors! 

One is WAY more opaque (left).

I just can't mix them.  It makes the softer one looks crappy weak.

 

 

I thought one color variety would be older as a general rule,

but that's really not the case.  It has gotten tricky, with all the

reproductions.  So my rule of thumb is: buy what you like

and make a collection of things that look cute together!

 

I built a tower of various

pieces for a fun "fountain" look.

 

Here is a project using some commonly found plates:

 

Here is a good sight for the history facts: Milk Glass

Identity different makers here: Identify

If you prefer books, try Betty Newbound or Gene Florence!

 

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home

 

Card Hanger

I love vintage multi level hangers.

You can easily change the photos, inspirational

tags, grocery lists, or newspaper ads/coupons.

(sky's the limit)

 

They seem to be available sporadically

at thrift stores & garage sales.

But this is my last of 3 and I really

think using it for Christmas cards

will be the selling point!

 

 

Add a burlap bow to anything

and folks will drool over it!

 

Wanna see?

 

Here you go...

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/417990409136529172/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/71705819040086640/

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/213498838554780043/



 candle holder: Pinterest

Picture Frame: Pinterest

Pine cone: Pinterest

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home

 

Don't forget to check my last three blog posts

for more Christmas craft ideas!!!

 



Dear Santa...

I cheated.

I searched online for cute letters to Santa

and then took the best lines out of a bunch

to write my own adorable mock message

for a typewriter display.

 

I have THREE typewriters,

so I figured this might be

 a festive way to sell one.

I love it.

 

I stole the idea from Pinterest.

There are several cute ideas on there!

Gypsy Farm Girl

 

Linking up to:
Lavender Garden Cottage
Ivy & Elephants
 

Christmas Windows

I was determined to use up two old red windows as

Christmas theme decor this year.

The first (very bright) one features some free

garland I scored at a garage sale.

(yes I'm THAT girl that takes free junk)

 

The ornaments appear to "hang" on the garland!

I borrowed this Cricut cartridge from my sister so

my craft weren't the same every year!

 

 

The second window was $5 at a thrift store.

That might be the most I've EVER paid!

It was a nice barn red (nice size too),

 so I forked over the dough.

 

 

So which window do YOU like better?

 I love the second one.

 



Handmade Wreath

Well, now is the time I brag about my handmade balsam Christmas wreath.

I learned at a tree farm years back & enjoy making one for our door each

year.  Decorating it is...well.....like Christmas to me! ha

 

Last year I did the very Pinterest popular burlap bow.

 

This year I opted for some homegrown bittersweet berries
 & a bigger bow.  Less sparkle, but more rustic appeal.

 

 

 

The bough arrangement I did, doesn't thrill me.

But it will have to do. We got dumped on before I

got it done & now am not going to tredge through the

snow in search of various branches.

I used some spray painted hydrangea (as promised)

for a dash of color.

The snow took a tole on a few of them.

 

 

 



Christmas Crafts

I have lots of Christmas crafts to share.

This next week I'm going to force myself to

crank out some holiday blog posts!

Here is the lineup...

 

1. holiday wreath & boughs

 

2. old windows

 

3. an old typewriter

 

That is what you have to look forward to!

 

But first I'm sharing some pics of our winter wonderland.

It's below zero today, but at least we can be sure the

snow will stay until Christmas! I NEED that white stuff

to be in the mood & go cut a tree!

 

 

 

 

 

We got about 20" in two days.

Nature is "pruning" the pine trees.

That snow is so heavy,

we have many broken limbs.

 

Enough snow talk, YOU WANT CRAFTS!

Okay, here you go:

 

It's Christmas card time & they're arriving

in the mail slowly but surely!

I've taken a twist on the pen pans

from previous posts to make a card pan!

This milk glass pan was just the right

size for most cards & can handle a hefty stack

of them too!

 

Using my Cricut machine,

I cut this adhesive vinyl phrase

and carefully stuck it on the pan. 

 The cartridge for these words is called Joy of the Season.

 

It's a fun way to label the pans content

AND

send a fun message to all that enter your home.

win. win.

 

Hope you'll be back here checking

on my other posts this next week!

 

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home



Jello Mold Wreath

You may have spotted the jello mold wreaths

on Pinterest.  They seemed like a fun idea.

Here is what I whipped up...

 

 

I LOVE corduroy ribbon.

I burn through rolls like mad.

This Christmas color combo is

my favorite with the beaded edge.

 

Isn't this wreath a nice alternative

to messy pine needles?

It'd be so cute on a decorative

old door in the house, or

practical for an apartment door.

 

And the best part is that the pan

was only .50 at a garage sale!

 

Want another thrifty decor idea?

(of course you do)

 

Free jar...rescued from the woods.

(I'm a bit of a junk digger)

 

I cut the word out on my Cricut.

Then stuck the vinyl letters

on the jar & lined the inside with

some Tim Holtz Christmas theme paper.

 

 A fake (LED?) tea light gives

this candle holder a safe, warm

glow.  The (Tim H.) tinsel ribbon

 holds on a few bells for a festive

sparkly finish! Wah~lah.

 

 

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home

 

Lavender Cottage

 

Ivy & Elephants

 

 

 

 

 

 



Etsy Items

Well, my Etsy endeavours have been slow to start but still enough to keep me listing!

I sent an 8 ball to Hawaii last week!  Before that my sales included a

toy horse, bar soap holder & paper lanterns.  I'm at 12 sales and anxious for more!

 

Here is what's new in the MinnesotaJunker shop:

 

Vintage Owl Shakers

 

 

Antique Violin

 

Thermos Set

 

Thermos Set

 

Don't forget that Etsy is my GO-TO place for any

unusual, homemade or hard to find item.

They have adorable gifts too, if you like to impress people.

Some would make you the talk of the next baby shower or

the most thoughtful relative!

Example?

Lettuce Onesie

Christmas Necklace

Sign

Aren't these all great?  Esty offers boundless items & ideas too. 

 If you have an old grain sack, search that

and narrow it down to handmade.

You'll end up with some lovely possibilities!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Old Hanger & Vintage Fence

Here is a match made in heaven (for junk lovers).

 

A classy old wooden clothes hanger

&

a snip of cute old garden fencing!

 

 

This took a heavy duty bolt cutter,

pliers & grunting.

I did manage o get the ends wrapped around,

and it is hung fairly straight!

This makes a nice alternative to chicken wire

frame clip boards & plain cork boards!

 

Please let me know what you think!

I love comments.

 

Linking up to:

My Romantic Home



Thermometer Craft

I paid a dollar for an old 3 part thermometer at a rummage sale.

It looked similar to this before it's make-over...

 

I popped the cheap plastic meters out,

which left me a nice 3 hole frame!

It was just right for a holiday sign!

 

 

I used my Cricut paper die cutting machine to cut the letters.

The flower is a Sizzix die cut from Tim Holtz.

 The gem is a Close To My Heart brad!

The rustic cardboard backing was easy to tack on & free!

 

I distress inked the flower edges for a

rustic dimensional look.

 

I also tried to gently shape the petals

 so they weren't completely flat.

 

Linking up to:

Coastal Charm

 

 

 

 



Fabric Flower (obsession)

JUST LOOK AT ALL THESE FABRIC FLOWER PINS!

 

IT IS JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT I'VE MADE.

  I AM GUESSING THE TOTAL TO BE ABOUT 50!

 

WE MADE THEM IN THE CHURCH MOPS GROUP TOO.

WHAT EXTRA KITS WE HAD LEFT, I MADE UP

FOR A LITTLE FUNDRAISER BASKET!

 

MY NIECE IS THE PERFECT MODEL FOR THIS CRAFT:

HOW CUTE IS SHE...WITH HER NEW BABY SISTER?

 

SHE IS *ROCKIN* THAT FLOWER!

 

 

FOR A TUTORIAL ON THESE CUTE

BLOOMS, VISIT PINTEREST!

 

THEY LOOK GREAT WORN WITH A SCARF.

 

ON A BASKET OR PURSE, GREAT AS A BOW

ON A GIFT, ON A HAT, ON A COAT, OR

WHATEVER YOU CAN DREAM UP!

 

                                             THESE FLOWERS WERE A GREAT WAY

TO USE UP ALL THE VINTAGE BUTTONS

I'VE BEEN HOARDING FOR A FEW YEARS!

 

FOR A TUTORIAL, VISIT PINTEREST.

(AND FOLLOW ME OR MY BOARDS!)

 

LINKING UP TO:

 

BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE

 

LAVENDER GARDEN COTTAGE