Noel

On this Christmas Eve Eve, I was off work and it was so nice. After a visit to Michael's, I completed two crafts I discovered via the blog world. The first craft was NOEL artwork and the second craft was an ornament tree. The NOEL artwork was inspired by a pricey Pottery Barn piece and was knocked off on the The Steen Style, Frugal with a Flourish, and Thrifty Decor Chick. The ornament tree was also on The Steen Style and Frugal with a Flourish.

Here's the Pottery Barn NOEL:

Here's my NOEL:

The letters are white primed mdf that I spray painted with an oil rubbed bronze spray paint, but it really just looks like I used black spray paint. Not exactly the color I was going for but it looks fine. The background is paintable textured wall covering from Home Depot. I used spray adhesive to attach the wall covering to a cardboard backing. I painted the wall covering background with paints that I already had on hand. The first layer was creme paint I had from my kitchen remodel and the second layer is a glaze made from acrylic burnt umber craft paint that was diluted by a little bit of water. The glaze was painted on and immediately wiped off with a t-shirt. I put the finished back ground in a half priced Michael's frame and then hot glued the letters into place.

I'm really pleased with the outcome of the NOEL artwork. Now the ornament tree is a different story. I have no idea how to glue the ornaments onto the styrofoam cone without numerous gaps with styrofoam showing through. And it took way longer than I would like to admit. Needless to say, I don't love it.

Here's Frugal with a Flourish's ornament tree:

Here's my ornament tree:

It is made using a styrofoam cone, mini ornament balls, and hot glue. I got my ornaments at Dollar General. One package of 15 was $0.50 (they were half off). You can see pictured below that I bought several sizes of cones thinking I would make several ornament trees to group together, but after finishing one, I bagged the rest up and will be returning them to Michael's tomorrow. I don't even want to tackle another one. :/

Since I won't be making any more ornament trees, I have A LOT of mini ornament balls leftover, but I've already found a new purpose for them. Glass vase/jar filler!

Joy to the World!

I had high hopes for sending cute photo Christmas cards this year. But it just didn't happen. I had arranged for my friend and her fancy-shmancy Canon to snap a few shots of Tom, Ruby, and I in Norman on OU's campus a few Saturdays ago. But I'm not liking my new smile courtesy of the torturous springs connected to my braces. Let's just say my smile is kinda bumpy right now. Plus it was cold and windy all that weekend. So I canceled and gave up b/c I was kinda behind the game on it anyways. So now you get my lazy digital excuse of a Christmas card. But the message is still the same. ;)

Gone in 60 Seconds

I thought I'd share a yummy recipe with you lovelies. If you like cheeseballs, (how could you not) then you will LOVE this one. I was first introduced to it at a friend's surprise birthday party. I won't tell you how many helpings of it I ate. :/ I made it for my small group's Christmas party last night. The recipe is from local caterers, the Prairie Gypsies, who also have their own line of homemade jams, jellies, fruit butters, mustards, and salad dressings. Confession, I didn't use their signature jam. I cheated and used a grocery store brand but it turned out just as yummy (plus it's cheaper).

Here's the recipe:

Gone in 60 Seconds Dip (Cheeseball)

1/2 cup Chopped Green Onions

1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup Chopped Pecans

1 8 0z package Cream Cheese

1/4 cup - 1/2 cup Red Hot Pepper Jelly

(I used Reese Hot Pepper Jelly, although recipe calls for PG's Red Hot Lover Pepper Jam)

Crackers of your choice (I used Wheat Thins)

Preparation:

Combine shredded cheddar cheese, pecans, green onion, and cream cheese (it's easier to combine if you set the cream cheese out for 30-45 minutes prior to preparation). Form into flattened ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes and place on serving plate and spoon jam/jelly over the top of the dip just before serving. Serve with crackers.

Because I like pictures to make sure I know what I'm looking for when I'm making a new recipe, here are pictures of the jam and jelly.

PG's Red Hot Lover Pepper Jam

Reese Hot Pepper Jelly

Enjoy!

3 Things

This is my last post on our Christmas decor I promise. I recently ordered 3 things (okay technically 4 because one thing is a pair) online to complete our Christmas decorations and they've all arrived!

1. Monogrammed Tree Skirt:

We've never had a tree skirt, and its not for lack of shopping for one. Because I have, I've just never found one that I loved. And I've always wanted a monogrammed one. In years past I just bunched up gold mesh fabric around the base of the tree and called it good. But now our tree officially has a skirt. I found this tree skirt online at Pottery Barn Kids on sale. And because our tree is skinny, the smaller dimensions of the "kids" tree skirt are fine. I think it will be perfect when we eventually get a bigger tree too because I had to fold the material over at the seam because it's a little too big.

2. Needlepoint stocking for Ruby:

This is our first Christmas with our 8 month old puppy Ruby, so of course I had to get her a stocking of her very own. It is needlepoint, to keep with our tradition. Her name is monogrammed on it and the scene is of 2 dogs sledding. I know she's spoiled...

3. Wreath Stands as Stocking Holders:

The black wreath stands I blogged about here work just great as stocking holders since we don't have a mantle.

I think Ruby is going to get some new toys in her stocking. She's pretty rough on them. According to my mom, she has bionic

jaws. Note the former rope pictured below.

Too Much??

Okay, so I've never loved my star Christmas tree topper. It's cute, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it's what we came home with after shopping for our first Christmas adornments as a married couple. I'm of the mindset that a tree should be topped with a star, symbolizing the star that led the wisemen to Jesus. But this year I was wanting to add a little more 'ummph' to the top of our skinny little tree. So after our tree had been up a few days, I went to Hobby Lobby during one of my lunch hours and purchased a few sprigs of fanciness. And now I think I may have gone over the top. I'm embarrassed that I am even showing you (all five of you who read this). What do you think?? The star is still there, you just can't really see it anymore. Oooh ,that sounds so metaphorical.

When Tom came home and saw it for the first time he said, "it looks like our tree is on fire." A few days later he said, "I know what that reminds me of! Kevin, the bird on Disney Pixar's UP!"

Sheesh!