Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Under $100 Linky Party

Hello, happy hump day.  How is the holiday decorating going?  I have been in major cleaning mode before I haul out the Christmas items.  I cleaned the carpets yesterday so I am just about ready to start the decorating frenzy. Actually, I have really simplified over the past few years, not decorating every nook and cranny.  I enjoy my Christmas home just as much with less stress and hassle.

Here are some lovely links from last week:
I am hungry right now and these crackers from Love, Pomegranate House look delicious.
DIY burlap bins from The Creek Line House
Etcetorize's beautful beaded headbands
Terrific trash rescue from Dear Emmeline
The Thinking Closet's marvelous menu planner
The Menu Planner to Rule Them All via The Thinking Closet
A Few Pretty Thing's fun fireplace makeover
A window from my favorite Christmas movie by A Few Pennies

Looking forward to your links! Please remember to read through the guidelines before linking up!
Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!
2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.
3. Please include a brief description in link up.
4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.
5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.
6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

12 Days of Christmas--Day 12, WHEW!

On the 12th day of Christmas Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, some lights and snowflakes for all to see.
I do not know how to photograph lights at night, and I know the manner I used is not the correct technique, so forgive the pictures, but actually, they do a good job of capturing what this looks like in real life at night.  Also, you don't get to see a full window shot, i.e. a full shot of the dirty dishes in my sink.  I have been running from one event to another today and just got home from a football banquet that I had to cook for, hence the dirty dishes.
I painted my kitchen wall last week and took down my old window treatment.  I am not sure what I am going to replace it with, but for the holiday interim I chose lights and snowflakes.  I  draped everything from a chippy rake handle.
I wrapped and draped lights down both sides--icicle lights would be great too, but all of mine are on the outside of the house. So I just used mini white lights--three 100 count strings.
I tied dollar store snowflakes at the end of different lengths of satin ribbon and draped these over the handle as well.
I love the effect, and will probably be using this as my window valance until Valentine's Day.
Keep on linking--this party stays open through Christmas!  I will put it under my holiday tab.

12 Days of Christmas Linky Party Rules 
1.  Please link up only Christmas or other winter holiday (i.e. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) ideas.
2.  Please include my 12 Days of Christmas button on your blog or a link back to my blog.
3.  Please visit each other's posts and comment.
4.  No direct links to items you are selling.
Thank you--have fun!

**STOP--Before you link up PLEASE read rules, this is a holiday linky party, thanks!


Monday, November 26, 2012

12 Days of Christmas--Day 11

We are getting many more fun Christmas/holiday ideas and links!  Here are a few:
O Holy Night from Chipping with Charm
 
Star ornaments from The Wonders of Doing
 
Paper stars from Eyes on the Source
 

And now, on the 12th day of Christmas Beyond the Picket Fence gave me...an unexpected centerpiece.
Candles, pine cones--not that unexpected I realize.  But an elk horn in a baby cradle is a little different.  The idea for this centerpiece came when I found a baby doll cradle at the local Goodwill for a few dollars.  I painted it cream. I am decorating in mostly whites and creams this year, with fresh rosemary for some greenery and wonderful aroma.
Luckily, teenage son came home with an elk horn shed he had found while hunting (a shed is the antlers that animals shed naturally every year), so I used it.  The funny thing is is that before dear hubby and I were married, I told him that dead animals and their parts would never be included in our decor and that they belonged in the garage.  But, I loved the whiteness of this elk horn and the height that it brought to the centerpiece and the unexpected element of placing it in a cradle.
After putting it in the cradle I added some empty ribbon spools for height for my candles. NOTE--this is highly flammable and should only be burned under close supervision.  I may be replacing these candles with battery operated ones.
I used a piece of burlap to hide the spools. 
I added some pine cones and white berries.

What unexpected item could you use for a centerpiece?  A rusty toolbox, a small suitcase or travel case, an enamel pot, an old boot, a weathered clay pot would all be fun items.  Don't have any antlers lying around?  Use a twig, a an old metal chandelier arm or base, or chippy wood dowels.  Instead of pine cones you could use grapevine balls, rocks, dried flower heads, rusty junk pieces.  Have fun, use something unexpected, and put things together that would normally never be found sharing space for a fresh centerpiece this year.


12 Days of Christmas Linky Party Rules 
1.  Please link up only Christmas or other winter holiday (i.e. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) ideas.
2.  Please include my 12 Days of Christmas button on your blog or a link back to my blog.
3.  Please visit each other's posts and comment.
4.  No direct links to items you are selling.
Thank you--have fun!

**STOP--Before you link up PLEASE read rules, this is a holiday linky party, thanks!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

12 Days of Christmas--Day 10

On the tenth day of Christmas Beyond the Picket Fence gave me...an easy, paper wreath.
I went back to my elementary school teaching days to come up with this project.  I used book pages from an elementary music book.  I ironed these back to back with wonder under to stiffen up the pages.  I ended up with an 18 by 9 inch piece.  Find a how to HERE.  I hot glued mine together, rather than stapling it.
I added some burlap and ribbon for as messy bow,
and hung it on a mirror for a simple decoration.
Here are some fun links form you all:
Cozy Christmas bedroom decor from The Long Awaited Home
Peace banner from Blue Clear Skies
Plate decor from Cottage Wishes

12 Days of Christmas Linky Party Rules 
1.  Please link up only Christmas or other winter holiday (i.e. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) ideas.
2.  Please include my 12 Days of Christmas button on your blog or a link back to my blog.
3.  Please visit each other's posts and comment.
4.  No direct links to items you are selling.
Thank you--have fun!
**STOP--Before you link up PLEASE read rules, this is a holiday linky party, thanks!

Friday, November 23, 2012

12 Days of Christmas --Day 9

Before I share Day 9, let me share a few things you have linked up to the 12 Days of Christmas party:
Super stockings from Blue Clear Sky
Sweet pallet trees from A Vintage Fairy
Fun Merry and Bright sentiment from Rustic ReDiscovered

And now...on the 9th day of Christmas Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, a sign of peace.
This started life as some type of a gameboard.  You could use a tray or a plate.
I added some Annie Sloan chalk paint in a rough all over texture.  I used dark wax over the paint.
Then looking at a cartoon drawing of the earth I freehand painted the continents and added the Peace on Earth.  I wanted a little sparkle so I used a light, watered down coat of modge podge and then some glitter.
A simple way to share an important message,  I think this may just be at home here in my kitchen.

12 Days of Christmas Linky Party Rules 
1.  Please link up only Christmas or other winter holiday (i.e. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) ideas.
2.  Please include my 12 Days of Christmas button on your blog or a link back to my blog.
3.  Please visit each other's posts and comment.
4.  No direct links to items you are selling.
Thank you--have fun!
**STOP--Before you link up PLEASE read rules, this is a holiday linky party, thanks!!



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Under $100 Linky Party

I know, I said I was going to continue with the 12 Days of Christmas today, but my project failed, so you will have to wait until Friday.  But, even with Thanksgiving upon us, the under $100 party is on, hope some of you are around to link up. Here are some fun things from last week:
Kammy's Corner dressed up a chair
Deer art from Thrifty Craftaholic
Photobucket
Cabinet rehab from Restore and Renew
Beautiful pocket mirrors from Boulevard de L'antique
Crochet Dreamz' sweet booties
Book page wreath from Twelve O Eight


Looking forward to your links! Please remember to read through the guidelines before linking up!
Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!
2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.
3. Please include a brief description in link up.
4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.
5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.
6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Vintage Christmas Market

Whew, made it through another show!  This one was put on by my friend Becki and I--our first time working together and her first time putting on a show or market.  We got a somewhat late start in planning, but had a very successful and fun day, with lots of great vendors and shoppers.  I saw very few people leave empty handed.  And, we raised almost  $500 for our local food bank in the process.  But, again, whew, glad that is over.  Here are a few pictures from my booth, mine and my very talented friend Tina's, whom I have sold with for several years.  We did not communicate at all beforehand on what we were making or what colors we were painting with, but our items meshed together beautifully.  We had a star theme going--again, not planned but great minds (or crazy ones) think alike I guess.

We keep our booth set-up fairly simple always--let our merchandise do the talking.  A little brown kraft paper warmed up the walls.
Vintage Christmas Market http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2012/11/vintage-christmas-market.html All of my things I have been showing you for the 12  Days of Christmas sold, my ribbon stars, NOEL, Joy swag, chalkboard stocking holders...all of it :)!
Vintage Christmas Market http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2012/11/vintage-christmas-market.html I didn't show you this fun vintage children's folding table I redid.
A big believe sign I free-handed.See the cute elf arms and legs Tina's teenage daughter made?
Vintage Christmas Market http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2012/11/vintage-christmas-market.html I made some quick burlap banners that sold quickly.
I made these trees for an entry display--I sold two of them and we gave away one.
Becki made cute presents for the tables and the trees.
Vintage Christmas Market http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2012/11/vintage-christmas-market.html  
Tomorrow, I will continue with the last four days of the 12 days of Christmas.  Today, it is time to reclaim my home.  I knew it had gotten bad when the 16 year old son said, "Mom, our house is so messy, when can we clean it?" I guess he was tired of furniture being painted on the kitchen table and craft-filled counters.