I know it’s not even Halloween yet! Sometimes an idea hits you that you just can’t ignore and you have to roll with it. That’s how this Mini Crate Christmas Tree table centerpiece happened. It’s never too early to start … Continue reading
This time of year is probably my favorite. Just before the holiday season starts, when the air is cool and crisp and the leaves are just about to start changing! I love to pull out the fall decorations. I’ve got … Continue reading
If you have a Disney fan in your home, odds are you’ve heard of a Tsum Tsum. Even if you don’t have a Disney fan you may have seen these adorable little pill shaped stuffed toys around. They are so … Continue reading
I love everything to do with Summer, especially eating outdoors. Picnics and barbecues free me from the hot kitchen and let me spend more time with my family, plus who likes to eat heavy food when it’s so hot outside. … Continue reading
By Chris Wallace for Walnut Hollow
This centerpiece is a holder for favors you can give your guests or visitors when they are in your home for the Christmas Holidays – you could also create another, more generic, one that could be used throughout the year.
I began the project with 3 Mini Crates and 6 small Ball® jars. Using a large flat brush, paint the slat sides of each Crate with DecoArt® Americana® acrylic Holly Green and the ends with Tuscan Red. I used 2 coats of each color, sanding lightly between coats with fine sandpaper. Let dry thoroughly.
Use a piece of chalk to write the words “Joy to the World” on the ends of the Crates. Use a medium round brush with DecoArt® Americana® Warm White to paint the worlds.
Use a thin liner brush to paint thin lines to make snowflakes on the side slats. Add dots to the snowflakes and all over the Crate using the wood end of the brush handle.
When the Crates are thoroughly dry, use a large flat brush to paint 2 coats of Americana® Matte Varnish for a protective finish. Let dry.
Attach chalkboard stickers to each jar. Use a Bistro Chalk Marker to write your guest’s names on the labels and fill the jars with goodies. Tie a knot with red tulle at the top of each jar.
Using 3 types of ¼” ribbon (I used red, green and gold), tie the Crates together in 4 places. Place 2 jars in each crate.
Send the jars home with your guests or visitors as favors! Enjoy your Holidays with family and friends.
I certainly don’t know any crafter/ artist who doesn’t have lots of stuff! And we all need to have places to organize and store this stuff. I like to be able to see what I have, so it’s nice when things are not in a drawer or behind a cupboard door. Decorate the organizers and add color to your crafting space because then you can leave them out on your work table.
We’ve created a couple of different ways to show you how to finish the Mini Crate.
The display above shows how to add color to your storage to brighten your craft room. We used DecoArt® Americana® acrylic paints in Desert Turquoise, Citron Green, and Purple Cow. For each Crate, basecoat the entire Crate using a large flat brush with 2 coats of your color of choice. Let dry and sand lightly between coats. Dry thoroughly, then add a protective finish by spraying each Crate with 2-3 coats of varnish.
Here are 3 more Crates which were each designed a little differently, but do work together also.
The one with Prima® laser cut wood flowers and birdcages was first misted with Tattered Angels™ Aged Brick Glimmer Mist. Love how easy this works to just mist on Rum Punch and let it dry – no brushes or water. No mess, if you first put down paper towels or newsprint to catch the over-spray. After it was dry, I attached the flowers and birdcages onto the Crate with Tombow® MONO Multi Liquid Glue.
The Washi Tape Mini Crate was first misted with Atlantic Glimmer Mist. Then I added a few different Washi tapes to the slats and the sides of the Crate. I used Tim Holtz tapes and one from K&CO. Stash program.
The last Crate is my favorite because I’m a quilter too! I used Ann Butler’s Faux-Quilting Stamps by Unity. The stamps fit perfectly on the slats of the Crate and on the sides too. I started by using Kraft Glimmer
Mist on the entire crate and stamped the Faux-Quilting Stamps using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink. I’m looking forward to using these stamps on many other projects.
Once you have your crates ready to fill………..I’ll bet you need some more. I did!
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