Upcycled MIni Christmas Trees

Ok, drumroll please...here is number two of my "mini series" of Christmas tree to display in your home!   I am going to have a mini forest!

If you missed my first whimsical paper tree made from a Land of Nod catalog, click here to view. I'm proud to say these trees were made using mostly upcycled and natural materials-Izze bottle caps, wine corks and reindeer moss.

My inspiration for these all started with my collection of Izze bottle caps. If you've never had an Izze, you are missing out on the most perfectly refreshing bubbly fruit juice with the cutest little bottles and caps I can't throw away (and no, they are not paying me to write this! )

I love collecting the caps because of the pretty flower shape on them. I have used them on frames and chalkboards I thought they would be fun as ornaments on my tree.

I also have this wine cork collection I've been using in different projects. I thought they would be perfect for the bases of the trees. I used three together to help keep the trees steady. Do you want to get started on your Christmas forest like mine? Here's what you'll need:

1. floral foam cone
2. glue gun
3. reindeer moss (I used two different colors)
4. bottle caps (I used Izze)
5. wine corks (three for each tree)
6. ribbon
7. tulle
8. small jingle bells (I used three)
9. scissors

Pull out small pieces of the moss at a time and glue, covering the cone completely. 

Apply glue around edge of one bottle cap at a time, press firmly into the cone.

Cut several pieces of ribbon and tulle a few inches long. 

Knot together and glue to top of tree. Glue three jingle bells to top.

Glue three corks together. Glue them to base of tree. 

I love how these turned out-- they go along with my childlike, whimsical theme this year and I can't wait to decorate for Christmas! Are you excited to see tree number three? Stay tuned later this week! Thanks for reading and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Linking up with these parties and this party.

Recycled Dress Wreath

Hi, my name is Kristina and I am thrilled to be featured here today on Infarrantly Creative! I recently started this little blog called ReMadeSimple as a collection of all my crafting and home decorating ideas.

Many of my ideas have to do with recycled or repurposed items, using nature in decorating and bringing new life to old things. My goal is for my ideas to be low-cost and relatively simple to create-I have lots of tutorials and fun ideas I hope you check out!

Now, onto today's easy and quick wreath tutorial!

I have been having lots of fun lately repurposing fabric from worn out or outdated clothes--I feel good about reusing them rather than just donating them or throwing them away, especially if the fabric is still in good condition.

Here is a wreath I made from a dress I had loved but had become a little worn out and outdated over the years. The white woven cotton cloth was still in good shape and was so easy to work with. I love that the colors of this wreath are versatile enough for Christmas, winter or spring.

Here is another wreath I made with the same concept of using recycled fabric as another option in a different style using scraps of old lace I snagged at a garage sale.

So,  do you have any clothes, lace or ribbon stored away that deserve a second chance? And are you ready to make a really easy, fast wreath?

Here are the materials I used:
1. foam wreath circle
2. low temp glue gun
3. fabric or lace of your choice
4. reindeer moss-(soft, spongy moss I found at Michael's and Hobby Lobby)
5. buttons
6. ribbon

Here's how I made them:

1. I started with a foam wreath circle like the one above. 
2. Then, I cut strips of fabric a few inches wide and about two feet long. (They don't have to be perfect because they will overlap). 
3. I decided which side would be the back of my wreath. Then, I glued the edge of the first strip to the backside.
4. Then, I began wrapping the fabric tightly around the foam circle, hot gluing the edge again when I reached the end of the fabric strip. 

4. I continued the same process, overlapping fabric to cover all of the green foam, glueing the ends of the strips to the back of the wreath.

5. After the wreath was covered evenly in fabric, I decided to add a few rosettes. I made my rosettes by folding the strips in half lengthwise and rolled and twisted them into a tight circle, glue gunning them in place as needed.

6. To finish, I glue gunned the moss and a few buttons to make the rosette stand out more.

Here is the finished recycled dress wreath with the green and white striped hanging ribbon. I was able to give both of these wreaths away as gifts-I'm pretty sure they loved them!

linked up with these parties

Pottery Barn Style Moss Wreath with Cloth Rosettes

I found some cool moss ribbon this spring at Meijer and got inspired to make a spring wreath. I later saw the tutorial for this same wreath on the copycatcrafts blog and found out it was similar to ones sold in Pottery Barn. Well, this one will only cost you around $5 to make, or you can go buy one for $49 at Pottery Barn-your choice!

First,I made the base by tracing two circles into a doughnut shape onto a pizza box and cut them out.
Then,I then wrapped the ribbon tightly around the circles to cover all of the cardboard. I actually didn't need to use any glue because the ribbon texture stuck to itself.

  

I recently discovered making cloth rosettes and am officially addicted! They are so easy and the variety of colors, textures and uses is almost limitless. I made all of mine from fabric using old shirts and ribbon I found around the house.

I recently discovered making cloth rosettes and am officially addicted! (This cool blog called Homemade Ginger had a wreath similar to the one I made and she added some rosettes and twigs to hers-which inspired me too!) They are so easy and the variety of colors, textures and uses is almost limitless. I made all of mine from fabric using old shirts and ribbon I found around the house.

First, cut or tear a long strip of fabric. Then, begin rolling tightly, then roll and twist into a circle, glue gunning into place as needed.

To finish, I glued pin backs to these and stuck them to the wreath. I plan on making new ones and changing out the colors according to the seasons of the year, just for fun and variety!