Natures Pom Pom- The Dandelion

 

A little over a year ago, I came across Julieanne-Pomwreath on TikTok. She is delightful & creates the most beautiful pom poms. She not only shows how to create them, but shares fun ways to use them.

Over a year ago Julieanne shared how to preserve dandelions. It just so happened that dandelions had started popping up in my yard so I decided to give it a try before they met the fate of the lawn mower. And, since the dandelions I picked over a year ago are still beautiful, I decided it's time I share this fun project.

Here is the one from over a year ago...

When searching for the dandelions, you need to find ones that have a little white showing on the bud, but have not opened...

The stems are hollow so you can easily thread wire up the stem. I inserted the wire stopping just before I got to the bud.

The first time I did this project, I wrapped the wire around a stick from my yard, glued it onto a base, then added bark to help cover the wire. This time I wrapped the wire around a cork. 

Instead of gluing the cork onto the base, I used heavy duty tape. Once the dandelions are secured, you can manipulate the wire to adjust their placement. I covered the dandelions with a glass cloche to allow the magic to happen. Some of the dandelions will begin to open very quickly. Some may take overnight to open.

Once the dandelions were all open, I gently removed the cloche & added moss to cover the tape, wire, & cork. I would recommend doing this step as soon as you tape the dandelions down to avoid damaging the dandelions once they're open. 

I added a dandelion flower that I pressed to preserve using my Aboofx microwave flower press. I have pressed so many flowers using books over the years, but this microwave press gives you instant gratification!

I added the pressed yellow dandelion flower to the moss. It gave the perfect pop of color.

I added the glass cloche back over the dandelions & will be able to enjoy them for years to come.

I have a new appreciation & love for this pesky weed!

 

Linking To:

The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, The Answer Is Chocolate, Flutter Buster, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction,  Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers, The House On Silverado

Vintage Ornament Upcycle

 

I've seen so much beautiful, vintage style Christmas decor using bottlebrush trees & vintage ornaments. So, when I saw some pretty, vintage ornaments at a local antique store for only $1 each, I bought them. I knew I had everything else needed to create something pretty, starting with vintage tart tins. I bought the tins at a yard sale. It's been years so I don't remember what I paid. But, I've used quite a few of them in other projects.

I removed the cap & hook from the top of the ornament, turned the tin upside down & glued the ornament in place using E6000.

All the projects like this that I've seen have the bottlebrush trees glued into the ornament. I wanted my tree to appear as though it is in snow. So, I piped spackle onto the top of the ornament. You can see how I pipe the spackle onto another project HERE.

Bottlebrush trees are something else I have an excess amount of! I looked for one that appeared a little more vintage, removed the wooden disc base, & inserted the tree into the ornament. The spackle will work as glue once it dries.

I like it! But, I wished I had "snow" under the ornament too. At this point there's not much room to add it. But, luckily I had bought 2 of the vintage ornaments.

So, I took the cap from the second ornament & glued it upside down onto another tart tin. Then I glued the bottom of the ornament onto the cap so that I still had an opening at the top to insert the tree.

This gave me enough room at add some snow underneath the ornament.

I love how they both turned out & am not sure which is my favorite.

I'm going to be on the hunt for more vintage ornaments to make these for friends as gifts for next year!

Linking To:

The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, The Answer Is Chocolate, Flutter Buster, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction,  Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers, The House On Silverado

Mini Santa Mug Ornament

Over the last few years, I have made quite a few faux hot cocoa mugs for my Christmas decor. They are quick & easy  to make. Not to mention adorable!

Do I need more? NO! Do I have room for more? NO!

This should be a project that I retire. But, when I saw these miniature Santa mugs at Hobby Lobby, I couldn't resist. They're the perfect size for an ornament. And, there's always room on the tree for another Christmas ornament. 

To start this project, I first filled the mug with paper. 

Then I cut a circle out of cardboard & glued it into the top of the mug. I do this because I use spackle to make the "whipped cream" & it's best to have a base for it. 

For the faux whipped cream, I place a plastic sandwich bag over a glass & spoon the spackle into the bag. This makes it much easier than trying to hold the bag open while also spooning in the spackle.

I cut the corner of the bag & then pipe it in just like icing.

I made sure the spackle came over the edge of the mug to not only hide the cardboard, but also look more realistic.

I cut a paper straw to about 3 inches & inserted it into the spackle.

Then I inserted a bottlebrush tree, some faux candy, & an ornament hook. Make sure you keep reading to learn the problem with the hook... & the solution.

I added red seed beads to look like sprinkles.

Adorable!

I let the spackle cure overnight before hanging the ornament on my tree. After an hour or so, the ornament fell to the ground. I was afraid this might happen! The spackle acts like a glue when dry, but it wasn't enough to hold the wire hook in place.

So, what did I do? I went to Hobby Lobby & bought 4 more mugs. I was determined to make this work as an ornament. 

So, I started over. I filled the mugs with paper & cut cardboard circles for a base for the spackle. But this time, I used a nail to punch 2 holes in the cardboard. I put wire through the holes, & twisted it on both sides of the cardboard to secure it. 

I glued the cardboard into the mug using a combination of E6000 & super glue. I probably only needed the E6000, but better safe than sorry.

When I added the spackle, I made sure a tiny bit of the wire loop was still exposed so I could thread another ornament hook through it.

Once again, ADORABLE! 

Threading the wire through the cardboard worked. The ornament has hung on the tree for days with no issues. The other 3 will be cute gifts.

Linking To:

The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, The Answer Is Chocolate, Flutter Buster, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction,  Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers, The House On Silverado