As I have stated before, I love using glass jars for many things.  I store ribbon in them, wrap them in tissue paper, and make hanging tealight lanterns with them.  The beautiful thing about glass jars is that they are free!  Simply save the food jars you have emptied.  You will be amazed how many you can save from the recycle bin, and all of the fun things you can do with them!

For this hanging lantern, you will need a jar (of course), zip ties, wire (I used 20 gauge from Joann’s), ribbon, glue, round tip pliers, and a tealight.

Start by cutting 2 pieces of wire the length you want your handle to be, with extra for the curl (approximately 12″).  Loop the wire at the top with the round pliers.  Form an arch with the wire and secure it to the jar with the zip tie.

Use the round pliers to curl the ends of the wire that are hanging below the zip tie.  This will not only add cuteness, it will also prevent the wire from slipping under the zip tie.

Cut the extra part of the zip tie.  Measure the circumference of the jar and cut the ribbon accordingly.  Be sure to leave extra for overlap.  Glue the ribbon around the jar using Tacky glue.

Cut a piece of a coordinating ribbon and fold over twice to create a bow.  Glue the ends and center.

Glue the bow to the lantern and add a rhinestone.

Add the tealight, and your lantern is ready to be hung, or given as a gift.

Happy jarring…

“Wonder what I will come up with next”…

How many of you have “Girlie Girls”?  Well, I certainly do!  They love bling and fun hair accessories.  Those hair accessories can cost a small fortune, so I took matters into my own hands, and made my own!  They are so easy and inexpensive to make!!!  Let me show you how.

You will need fake flowers (I buy them at the Dollar Tree), ribbon, clips (I purchased these at Sally’s Beauty), hot glue gun, and rhinestones as embellishments.  I will also show you how to make these for infants.

Start by measuring ribbon so that it will cover the clip.  Start with the top of inside of the clip.  Wrap the ribbon over the entire top part of the clip, through the spring area, and only on the back where the clip is solid.  This is also the order you will glue the ribbon onto the clip.

Next, disassemble the flower and lay out the pieces in the order they were together.

Now glue the flower onto the top of the clip covered in ribbon, one piece at a time.

You are now done!  Unless, you want to glue a rhinestone onto the center of the flower.  This flower center is interesting, so I will leave it as it is.

If you want to use your flower clip for an infant, simply clip it onto a stretchy headband.

Wasn’t that simple?!?!  AND…so MUCH cheaper than buying them at the store.

Happy flowering…

“Wonder what I will come up with next”…

My sister taught me how to make these AMAZING quilted fabric ball ornaments.  They are absolutely beautiful!!!  I can’t wait to show you how to make your own!  You can fill a Christmas tree with several, place them in a bowl on a table for a colorful centerpiece, or make them as gifts.

To start, you will need styrofoam balls (I am using 3″ balls in this example), straight pins (I recommend buying them in bulk because each ball takes 208 pins), fabric (3 different coordinating patterns, cut into 2.5″ x 2.5″ squares), crafting glue, colorful ball top straight pins, & ribbon.

Start by folding your first piece of fabric in half, then again in half the other way to create a cross in the center.  Place the piece of fabric on the ball and pin all 4 corners.

Place a pin in the center of your next piece of fabric and pin it on a line @ the center of the cross on the already placed fabric.

Fold the fabric in half, grab the right top corner and fold it down to the center.  Place a pin in the center to hold.  Then pin the outer corner of the fabric on the right.  Repeat the process for the left side of the fabric.  Repeat this process for 4 pieces of fabric, working your way around the initial piece.

Take the 1st piece of your 2nd fabric and place a pin through the center, with the head on the inside of the pattern.

Measure 1/2″ from the top center point of your first fabric, and place this pin there.

Repeat the fold and pin process as described with the 1st fabric.  Place pieces across from one another. You will use 8 pieces to complete this step.

Once you have placed all 8 pieces of fabric, move on to your 3rd fabric.  Measure another 1/2″ from the center points of the 2nd fabric and repeat the fold and pin process for 8 pieces of fabric.

Your ball will look like this on the completed side.  Repeat the entire process on the opposite side of the ball.

To finish the edge, you can either use a strip of fabric, or ribbon.  Here I will use a strip of the 3rd fabric.

Cut the width a little bit larger than you will need to cover all of the pins.  Measure the circumference of the ball and cut.  Iron down each side to make a straight edge.  Wrap the straight piece around the ball, gluing it along the way.  Fold the very end of the fabric and glue it down.

Cut a piece of ribbon as your hanger and pin it to the spot where the fabric strip ended, using the colored ball top straight pins.  Add colored ball pins as embellishments around the entire strip and the center of the “star”.  Let the glue dry and you are ready to hang them, or gift them.

I hope you have as much fun making these as I have!  My finger does get a bit sore, so I use a thimble, on occasion, but I don’t stop even when my finger is red and sore!

Happy ball making!

“Wonder what I will come up with next”…