Holiday S'mores Kit with 'HOME' Wood Block

Christmas is less than a week away now and I'm scrambling to finish some small gifts for neighbors and friends. Today I'm sharing with you a new variation of a gift that I put together a couple of years ago--remember the S'mores Kit's?  We live in a new town now so I guess one of the perks of moving is that I can recycle old ideas and use them again on new friends and neighbors--saves me some thinking time! ;)

I purchased the cute snowman gift sacks at Wal-mart for .75 each.  It turned out that the colors were exactly the same as the colors that I used for the s'mores tags--lucky!  I glued the kit contents tag to the side of the bag (and added one staple at the top for good measure), cut out the circle tag, and tied it to the bamboo skewers with red satin ribbon.

Download the free printable tags here.

Kit Contents:

• 1 package of graham crackers 
• 20 marshmallows in a clear cello sack (check your local dollar stores) 
• 9 snack size Hershey's chocolate bars
• 4 bamboo skewers for roasting the marshmallows over a stove plate (with an adults permission and supervision of course).
• 'HOME' Wood Block

I thought it would be fun if the chocolate bars looked like little "brown paper packages tied up with string" so I placed them on a piece of the cardboard packaging that they came on and tied them together with some string (from Lowe's).

Last month I saw the cutest little wood block that simply said 'HOME' on it at Lovely Little Snippets and thought it would be a nice addition to the kits.  I was able to make 16 six inch blocks with one 2x3x8 that only cost $2 (that's .13 each for the wood).  I used black paint ($3 Valspar paint sample from Lowe's), contact paper for a stencil, and added a piece of burlap and string from my stash.  If you would like more detailed directions on how to make the HOME block, directions can be printed here.

I added a 'HOME' block to each kit, cut 1 sheet of tissue paper into four smaller squares (so it fit better), and they were done.  You could add another small item instead of the stenciled wood block to save time or just throw in the s'mores ingredients and leave it at that.

Do you make small gifts for your neighbors and friends for the Holidays?  Are they done or are you scrambling to finish them too???

Today's Fabulous Find...S'mores Kit with 'HOME' Block

Check out these places for more fun ideas!

Six Sister's Stuff  Link Party Palooza at Lil' Luna

Handmade Pine Cone {flower} Ornaments

It seems as though I'm still hooked on these little pine cone flowers!  Probably because they are free and so darn cute!  The other day I went to put away a package of foam balls that was leftover from my son's science project (a pretty fierce looking Black Widow Spider!) and found myself imagining them completely covered in adorable little pine cone flowers.  The thought got me so excited that I went to work and made a few.  Can I just say that I love how natural these pine cone ornaments look on my Christmas tree--love!

I took the ornaments outside to photograph them in better lighting-- 

sure wish I'd noticed that little strand of hot glue before I took the pictures!  

(You probably didn't even notice it and now I just pointed it out to you!)

They are simple but take some time to make.  It's a perfect time to watch a holiday movie--you can listen to the movie and look up enough to see what's happening, but you won't miss much if you need to focus on the project.  I suggest starting with The Twelve Dates of Christmas, have you seen it?  I thought it was a cute show.

Tip:  I set a sheet of (.30) poster board on my kitchen table to do my crafting on.  I can paint, stain, glue, and my table remains protected.  When I need to move the craft for dinner, I pick up the poster board with my project mess still on it and  temporarily move it to another location.  When I'm all done the poster board goes back out to the garage to be stored until the next project.

How to make Pine Cone {flower} Ornaments

Supplies:

• 2 1/2" Foam balls (I bought mine at a dollar store, can't beat 8 for a dollar!)
• Paint and Foam Paint Brush
• Jute
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Small 1-2" Long Pine Cones
• Handheld Garden Pruners
• Ribbon (optional)

Directions:

Paint the foam ball so the white foam doesn't show through the pine cones.  (Hindsight: Black paint might look better.)

Cut the pine cones into little flowers using small handheld pruning shears.  Tutorial here.

Hot glue into place, fitting them as closely together as you can.  (I tried to line them up as I went.)

Glue the jute hanger to the top then fill in with pine cones flowers.

Tie a ribbon bow and pin it to the top of the ornament with a straight pin.  (Or hot glue it on if you're sure you want it there permanently.) I was able to use ribbon from my stash.

*Use the tips of the pine cones to make the version pictured below.  You can make one of these for every two ornaments you make with flat flowers (approximately).

 If you have access to free pine cones (thanks Grandma!), ribbon, jute, paint, and hot glue on hand, and a dollar store that sells foam balls nearby (Dollar Tree), then you too are very fortunate and can make these ornaments for .15 each--not too bad!

The ornaments also look pretty hanging on a doorknob or in a basket/tray if you only have the time and/or patience to make a few!

Today's Fabulous Find...Handmade Pine Cone Flower Ornaments

If you like the Pine Cone Flower Ornaments, you might also like:

     Pine Cone Flower Wreath     Pine Cone Flower Wreath--Take Two

Sharing at...

Shanty 2 Chic Christmas Craft Party

Fall {Pine Cone Flower} Wreath Tutorial

Happy Fall!  Last year I showed you how I made a burlap bubble wreath for my decorative door, then how to spiffy it up with Fall flowers.  This Fall I really wanted to make a wreath to hang on my front door.  My original plan was to use the leftover pine cones from my Christmas centerpieces and just glue them onto a wreath form.  When I sat down to get started though one idea led to another and I ended up going in a whole new direction.  I could not be more pleased with the results!

I spent around $5 on supplies.   The wreath form was four dollars and I had to stock up on my supply of hot glue, everything else was from my stash...or from my yard...or from my Grandma's yard (she has TONS of the cutest little pine cones). 

The pine cone flowers in the center are quite fun to make and they are sooo easy to paint!  My mind is racing with all of the ways they could be used!

 How to Make a Pine Cone Flower Wreath

Supplies

Small Pine Cones (lots of them)

3 Medium Pine Cones

12" Foam Wreath Form or Larger

Burlap

Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Small Handheld Pruners

Large (tree limb size) Pruners

Paint:  Yellow, Orange, Vanilla, Brown

A Few Small Branches/Twigs

Ribbon to Hang It

Sprig of Berries

 Clear Acrylic Spray (Optional)

Directions

Starting at the bottom, use the handheld pruners to cut the small pine cones into flat sections. 

This will get VERY messy.  You might even want to cut them outside. 

*Watch your fingers and make sure you keep them out of the way of the pruners.

Use the tip of the pruners to clean up any damaged pieces of the pine cone around the center core.

Wrap burlap around the foam wreath form and hot glue it in the back.

Hot glue the little "flowers" to the burlap, just close enough to each other that they are touching.

 

Hot glue the sticks and berry sprig to the back side of the wreath. 

Double up a ribbon and loop it around itself at the top of the wreath.

 

'Candy Corn' Painted Pine Cone Flowers

Use a large set of pruners to cut the larger pine cones into flat sections.  Again, be very careful and make sure your fingers are out of the way, you might want to wear safety glasses too.  I had to quickly open and close the pruners repeatedly to cut through the core of the pine cone.

The flowers are painted in soft 'candy corn' colors with brown paint on the tips of the petals.  You can use any paint you have on hand and layer and mix colors to get just the shade that you want.  I chose not to paint over the dark brown color around the center of the pine cone. 

To weatherproof them, spray them with a clear acrylic spray.

Glue the flowers onto the twigs, using plenty of hot glue.

In December I'll remove the Fall flowers and ribbon and add a red ribbon and Christmas flowers for a whole new look.

So now I have a decision to make:  Do I hang it outside on my unprotected door like I originally planned

(where it will be rained on, tossed to and fro by the wind, and inevitably get covered in dust) or do I find a place for it inside? 

I don't think I could stand to see it get ruined, I love it too much! 

Have you ever made pine cone flowers?  If you haven't, do you think you'd like to give it a try?

If you liked this post and would like to pass the idea along to your blog readers or on Facebook or Pinterest I'd be thrilled!  (Sharing ideas is the reason I blog.)  You are welcome to use one of my pictures with a link back to this post if you'd like.  Thanks!

Today's Fabulous Find...Pine Cone Flowers

Sharing at these fabulous parties!

Under The Table and Dreaming  Someday Crafts   Home Stories A to Z   Skip To My Lou   Tip Junkie

Beneath My Heart   Be Different Act Normal   Funky Junk Interiors   Tator Tots and Jello

 My Repurposed Life   The Shabby Creek Cottage   The 36th Avenue  House of Hepworths

5 Step Fall Stacker Blocks

The other day I was out on a drive with my family and saw that the leaves in the mountains are already starting to change colors.  It's hard to believe that Fall is already well on it's way! 

For my first Fall craft of the season, I decided to give stacker blocks a go.  I made up several different sayings but so far I only have one set that is finished and ready to show you.  These are simple to make and easy on the wallet.  I added up my cost and figure that I made this set for less than $1.25--not too bad!  (This was the cost for the wood and the ribbon, I already had the other supplies.)  I will be able to make 10 sets out of one 8' board (that cost around $1.30) and the ribbon (that was $3.99 for 9' at JoAnn's) will be enough for four sets.  I could have saved even more if I'd spent less on the ribbon or used a coupon.
 

'Fall Blessings' Stacker Blocks

(Measures 2 3/4" tall by 5" wide)

Supplies:

• 9" length of a 1 3/8" square board (I bought one at Lowe's that was 8' long for only $1.28.  I can't remember what it is called, but it was one of the economical pine boards near the cutting area and the measurement was rounded up on the sign.  Be sure to pick through them and look for a board that is fairly straight.)
• dark walnut stain and a rag
• paint colors of your choice (I used vanilla, orange, and barn red.) and a foam brush
• stencil or vinyl letters
• sandpaper
• ribbon (2 feet for each set)

Step One:

Cut the board into three pieces that measure 1 3/8", 2 1/4", and 5".  I used a miter box and hand saw.

Sand any rough edges.

Step Two:

Stain the wood using a rag or brush and allow to dry. 

(TIP:  Stain/craft over a garbage bag to protect your table.  When you are done turn the garbage bag inside out to use in your trash can.)

Step Three:

Paint the front sides of the blocks.

Sand edges to distress.

Step four:

Cut out a stencil (I used a Silhouette craft cutter) in contact paper or vinyl (or buy a stencil that is already done), place on the blocks, and paint over it.

 The font I used is called KG Skinny Latte and the leaf was converted to a stencil from a Microsoft image.

(You can read about how to stencil with contact paper here.)



Step Five:

Lightly sand over the words to distress and tie a ribbon around the blocks.



I originally painted 'blessings' and the leaf black, but they didn't stand out enough.  I was fortunate in that I was able to reposition the original contact paper stencil to paint over it again in a vanilla color.  The stencil wasn't exactly in place so some of the black shows through.  In the end it was a lucky mistake and I really like how it turned out.

My 5 year old had another vision for the blocks--It's funny how our minds work so differently! :)

If you're looking for a simple craft idea for a craft night or a 'Super Saturday' craft day I think stencilled stacker blocks would be a fun choice.  I'm planning to wrap a few sets up in cellophane wrap and add a ribbon to give away as small 'thinking of you' gifts, I hope they like them! 

Today's Fabulous Find...

Fall Stacker Blocks for just over a Dollar

Linking up to: Be Different Act Normal    I Heart Naptime   Tator Tots and Jello   Six Sisters Stuff