Holiday Decor

Our December has been super busy!  We closed on the house, moved in and started our first remodeling projects and then our 10 days of travel between both of our families began.  Our decorations, while minimal, still allowed us to celebrate together and made it feel a bit more like home.

Hope you all are enjoying your holidays and ready to ring in 2012.  Yikes...2012!

DIY // How To Make a Personalized Tap Handle

Hey there, Vamps!

Merry Christmas!!  My hubs loves beer (as do I).  And he especially loves brewing beer (as I do not. Just can't shake the mess or the stink.  But, like I said.  I love the outcome.)  So, what to get a beer brewer that has everything shy of a commercial brewery?  A custom tap handle, of course.  Luckily, I had the art ready to go. Back a couple years ago my graphic designer friend, Kat, helped me create some beer labels for mine and the hub's first wedding anniversary.  (My sappy self stuck with the traditional paper gift.)

There was no way that I was going to pay a buttload to have someone make one, so I scoured ebay to find a used tap handle with a round face, so that I could easily transplant the label.  I found so many oval and random shaped handles that I was afraid I wouldn't find what I needed and then I saw it.  In all it's perfect round face glory.  And only $10!  I jumped on it faster than you can say zwickle.

It's a Redhook Brewery Chinook Copper Ale tap handle.  (Redhook is our old hometown brewery, which made it even more perfect. Even with the impending defacement.)

Supplies:

Step 1:  Tape off anything you don't want painted like the metal connector at the bottom.  Spray a light coat to avoid running. Repeat. I ended up spraying 4 coats of the chalkboard paint to each side of the tap handle.  (The chalkboard paint allows us to write whatever beer is on tap and change it as the brew changes.)

Supplies #2:

Step 2:  Print label, cut out and apply to tap handle.  I used mod-podge to adhere it.

Step 3:  Remove tape.  Attach to keg, drink and Enjoy! 

Now all we need is a kegerator.  Next project?

What about you guys?  What did you get/make for your someone special?

Knockoff // DIY West Elm Scalloped Trees

You may have first seen this project at my guest post over at Type A Decorating!  I thought I'd share the tutorial here, as well.

Have you seen these West Elm Scalloped Trees?  Pretty awesome, if you ask me. They're constructed out of seagrass and styrofoam.  So, I thought popsicle sticks would be a great substitute and I picked up a couple styrofoam cones @ Joann Fabrics, which were surprisingly expensive for what they are.  And by expensive I mean $6 for the 15" cone.  Still less expensive than the West Elm version, but c'mon $6?

West Elm Scalloped Trees - $39-$79

Supplies:

Knockoff: DIY West Elm Style Scalloped Trees

Like what you see below? Well, check out my guest post over at Type A Decorating on Friday to see my tutorial for a copycat version at a fraction of the cost of the originals.  I'm super stoked about this project as it was my first totally original project.

I've been sitting on this since the beginning of December, so I could share something fresh and new at Type A.  You can understand how quickly my excitement turned to what I like to call, "Bitch You Stole My Idea" when I spotted this very project on Pinterest.  {Shakes fist at sky}  {And I say "bitch" in the friendliest blogger to blogger way.  Your pointy trees totally beat mine, Susan Phillips.}

West Elm Scalloped Trees - $39-$79

Thanks for stopping by and jumping on over to Type A Decorating on Friday to check it out!

DIY // How To Make Felt Mistletoe

In need of a reason to spread some holiday love?  Well, why don't you make yourself a felt mistletoe, camp out under it and get all the kisses your little heart desires?  Sounds like a good plan to me.

This project first caught my attention on Pinterest and for some reason I've put it off until now.  Silly, me.  For Green Wedding Shoes' tutorial click here.  Otherwise, just scroll down to see how I did it.

Supplies:

DIY // Handprint Christmas Tree

Nothing gets more handmade than a HANDprint project.  Am I right?  And what could make this project even better?  The addition of friends & food!  (Thanks, ladies!)

I first spotted this project on Pinterest and have been so excited to make one for our little family.  I was able to finally track down the original posting at The Other White House after traveling through many a'blog (it is a very popular project!)  The Other White House has a great little tutorial and mad props go out to Heather for sharing the wonderful idea!

So, on to the project...

The Supplies:

• Brown, Yellow, Green Paint (I used Tempera)
• Canvas (Any size will do.  I used 12x16)
• Foam applicator
• Small craft paint brush
• Hands (Hopefully still attached to the owner...gross.)

DIY // A Fun Stocking Hook Insert Idea for the Holidays

I've been itching to decorate for Christmas ever since I shoved the last bite of candied yams in my mouth, but with an impending move I've put it off.  Well, I just couldn't wait any longer so I made a trip out to the local nursery and purchased our potted dwarf evergreen.  If you're interested in greening up (pun intended) your holidays, a potted evergreen is definitely the way to go.  All you have to do is pot it or plant it once the New Year arrives, so there's no more messing with that toxic PVC tree or worrying about tossing that real one.

With the tree purchased, I rushed home to break out just a few of the decorations with three, in particular, in mind.  Awhile back I purchased a set of 4 Eddie Bauer photo stocking hooks for $1.99 each at Goodwill.  They were just what I had been searching for and luckily, it was the middle of May so I got them for a great price. (Half off!)

Instead of using photos, I decided I'd use a holiday word and with just three of us, I knew "joy" would be perfect. So, I made a template, got to cutting and was elated with the results...now all I need to do is find our stockings! (and break out the vinegar to clean off the sticky tag residue!)

So, what about you?  What are you decking your halls with?

The Portland Bazaar: Dec 10-11

We've got a "not-to-miss" event happening this weekend in the Portland area.  How did this slip by me until now?!

It's the Portland Bazaar, a curated holiday fair that celebrates the high-quality handmade work being produced by Portland’s creative community!  Grace Bonney (Design*Sponge), Greg Hennes (Antler and Co.) and Matt Pierce (Wood & Faulk) teamed up to create this spectacular event.

The Portland Bazaar will provide a unique spin on traditional holiday fairs. In addition to offering a curated selection of vendors in a wide range of categories (clothing, accessories, home goods, books, music, vintage wares, fine art, food and spirits), the Bazaar will also offer unique demonstrations and classes, including custom bike frame building and DIY workshops that teach visitors how to make holiday wreaths from local Portland flora.

To compliment the excitement happening inside the Bazaar, the street in front of Sandbox Studio will be closed to traffic and lined with some Portland’s finest food trucks. We aim to provide each and every guest with not only great holiday gift options and DIY ideas, but tasty snacks and drinks to go along with them.

DIY // How To Make a Felt Owl Beanbag

Are you all crazy about owls like the rest of the design world?  I know I am, but then again, I've always loved those curious creatures.

My first owl project was designing a baby announcement for my friend.  And then I was hooked.  I was searching out owl projects like they were going out of style.  Wait, are they going out of style?!

My Owl Barn, "for all owlovers," has oodles and oodles of owl goods & projects, like their uber-popular Owlovers Calendar, and my next victim project was just sitting there staring me in the face, an owl bean bag.  The perfect little stocking stuffer for the little guy who loves to test out his pitching arm.  I'd much prefer a soft bean bag being fired at my head as opposed to blocks.