I’ve gotten so many compliments on this wreath—can you guess what it’s made from?   Coffee Filters—yep—coffee filters!

Supply List:

• Grapevine wreath
• approximately 80 coffee filters
• Faber-Castell Pitt  Artist Pen Big Brush–Deep Scarlet Red 219***
• Butter knife or other blunt tool to tuck in filters

Step 1.

Randomly “doodle” circles and swirls on each filter.  NOTE:  It is easier to doodle on the filters if you leave them stacked.

Step 2.

Fold filters gently in half (without creasing the filter) then scrunch to form a flower shape.  Tuck each filter in between the grapevines to secure.  Use a butter knife to tuck filters in tighter gaps on the wreath.   

It’s really that easy!  Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com

This Christmas add a little “charm” and sparkle to your table glass!  All it takes is just a few minutes using wire, beads and a charm!  Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com

Grab a can of spray paint by Krylon and makeover your old dingy and wornout accessories.  You can paint just about anything from cups, candle holders, orbs, and more!

For a fun and unexpected look this Christmas, gather up some old frames and a can of spray paint and while your at it paint a few more orbs and let them dangle from the frames!

Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com  

 This is a great project if  you have some leftover white scrapbook paper.  And if you have a small space, this little Christmas tree will make a festive statement!

Supply List:

• Pitt Artist Pen big brush Stampers pen (Black 199*** , Magenta 133*** & May Green 170***)
• Pitt Artist Pen “s” (Magenta 133***)
• scissors
• white glue
• stick pins
• Faber-Castell stamp
• Floral Craft Styrofoam Stack Tree
• White scrapbook paper 12 x12
• Gems in various colors

Step 1:

For this Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Mix & Match design team project, I gathered several Pitt Artist pens and randomly drew multi-color lines to create the tree fringe.  Then to add a bit more dimension to the tree, I stamped the lines using a contrasting color (black).

,

Step 2:

This little tree used about 1 and a half pieces of 12×12 scrap paper.  When you have all your lines colored in, simply gauge the size of the strip to the size of the Styrofoam cone piece.  Once you have your strips cut to size, snip the edges almost to the top of strip using your scissors. Glue each strip to each cone and secure with stick pins if necessary.  Allow to dry then assemble the cones to create the tree.  If any bare space show, simply fill in with some more fringed paper strips and gems.

Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com

Last week I showed you how to make this Christmas table runner so this week I turned this project into a Holiday Door Hanger!   By simply adding a bow (see earlier post on how I made these bows) and some wheat stalks, I now have a new use for this table runner.   How fun it that!

Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com

So I go to a major craft store wanting some big outdoor bows made……and they quote me $25 per bow!  OUCH!  Now I knew I could make them before approaching them but just wanted to see how much they would charge…..$25 is a bit ridiculous don’t you think!

While at the same store, I purchased 6 rolls of 2.5 inch ribbon at a discounted price to make 9 large ribbons—the total cost of purchase—about $25!    That’s less than $3 per bow (plus I have extra ribbon left over for another project)!   PS these take about 5 to 10 minutes to make depending upon how fast you work!

Making these ribbons is so easy and fun!  Simply decide how big or small you want your ribbons then make:

• 3 large loops
• 2 medium loops
• 1 small loop (center)
• 1 long tail—-my tails were approximately 5 feet long
• Supplies include scissors, stapler, craft wire and wire cutter

Yes—it’s just that easy because all you do is staple each group of  loops in the center, then fold each loop 3x and secure center of the loops with wire!  Repeat with each size loop and tail.

Now the outside of my house is ready to welcome all my holiday guests! 

Stay inspired and happy holidays!  www.KathyPeterson.com

Christmas will be here before you know it and it’s my favorite time of the year to decorate my home.  So for this Faber-Castel Design Memory Craft Mix & Match design team project, I decided to make this easy holiday table runner using some scrap fabric and Pitt artist pens!

 Supply List:

• Quilted muslin fabric (32″ or more)  finished project measures 13″ x 32″ however you can make yours smaller or larger
• fabric glue & scissors
• Pitt artist pen fine point (Dark Sema 175*** ) 
• Pitt Artist Pen big brush Stampers pen (Nougat 178*** , Deep Scarlet Red 219*** & May Green 170***)
• Gellato® (Coconut)
• Paint brush 
• Red or multi color red, black, green, white RicRac  64″
• NOTE:  use photo as a guide

Step 1:    Cut fabric to desired size and randomly sketch out tree limbs using the Nougat Stampers pen,  leafs and pine needles using the May Green Stampers pen.

Step 2:  Using the May Green Stampers pen, fill in the leafs making some area lighter and darker than others.  Next, sketch in berries and pine cones suing the Deep Scarlet Red and Nougat Stampers pens

Step 4:  Once you have all the elements colored in,  outline the leaf veins (and a few of the pine needles)  with the Nougat Stampers pen.   Next outline the berries and pine needles with the fine point artist pen in Dark Sema.   Lightly add in some Gelato® Coconut over the pine cones for a snowy look and blend with water and paint brush.

Step 5:  Once you have finished coloring and outlining the design, glue the RicRac onto the edges of the fabric.

Stay inspired and be sure to check out more holiday craft projects next month!  www.KathyPeterson.com

This week I created a fast and fun paper flower to set the perfect table as part of the the Faber-Castel Design Memory Craft Mix & Match design team.  Now if you’ve ever been intimidated by paint or combining colors,  Faber-Castel makes it really simple for any level of crafting!

 Supply List:

• White scrapbook paper
• scissors
• paint brush
• thick white glue
• Chenille stems (red )
• Gellato TM (redcherry & coconut)
• Pitt artist pen fine point (Deep Scarlet Red 219***)
• Pitt Artist Pen big brush Stampers pen (Nougat 178***)
• Stick pins with white or yellow pin heads

Step 1:    Randomly cover most of the paper with the red Gellato TM ( however leave some white space unpainted). Next sprits with water then  blend the paint with a paint brush.  Allow to dry.

Step 2:  Cut out 9 large poinsettia petals and 2 or 3 smaller petals to desired size.  Using the Stampers Pen, randomly color the edges and surface of the leaf cut-outs.  Using the fine pen, draw the leaf veins.   If necessary, apply some white Gelato onto areas of the leaf and blend with your finger tip.

Step 3:  Cut a small hole at the base of the each leaf.  Using a chenille stem, bend the stem in half and insert both ends of the stem into the leaf.  Bend the stem to the shape of the leaf .  Assemble all the leafs with stems in a bunch and adjust to shape of a poinsettia flower.  Secure stems by twisting the stems together.   Add a dab of thick glue to the stick pins and insert into the middle of the flower.  Use as a table or gift ornament. 

Stay inspired!  www.KathyPeterson.com

Well it’s  time to put away all the Christmas decor in our home.  Here’s an old window frame I found at a flea market so I dolled it up with a little Christmas cheer.  The window replaced a framed water color picture over my fireplace to tie in with my Christmas theme and colors.  It really was a fun way to change out my home decor even if it was for just a few weeks.

All the poinsettias really brightened up several rooms in our home this year and I’m kind of sad  that they.re done for the season.  I love the color red but only use it for Christmas and other special themed occasions.

Here’s to a fabulous 2012 to you and yours!

Stay inspired!   www.KathyPeterson.com