Junk to Gems

Simple and Easy Winter DIY

As you know I love adding in all the cozy for the Winter months. I’ll be adding in some Valentine decor soon too. But first the cozy!

This DIY is so easy and you have probably already done it, but just in case.

First you need a vase whatever size works for you. and an old sweater that no longer fits you. In my case I may or may not have gained a little weight over the holidays so I had a few that would work for this project :{. Or go to Goodwill and grab a cheap one.

Then cut off whatever section you want for the right amount of texture. Use some spray adhesive and simply wrap your section of knitted fabric aka sweater around the bottom half of the vase. I’m using mine as a candle holder. And I think I will be making a few more. Make sure and roll under the top and bottom of your piece.

These was so and simple! Now if losing the weight could be as easy!

Hope this gave you an easy inspo idea! As always thank you for stopping by!

Goals

Do you have goals for your home or yourself for 2021? I’ve been thinking about the word goals. I usually feel pressured to come up with a word of the year or a resolution. Which, if you know me at all I break resolutions before the month of January is done. And put under pressure I can never think of a word I think everyone else would think is a good one. I know crazy right? Im not a good on the spot thinker, never have been. You know when the teacher would call on you and your mind would go blank! That was me all the way!

But goals I think I can do! I love writing lists and crossing off during the day as I get them done. So yes goals I can do (I think). A list for myself is way too long to write. Lets just say the Lord is definitely busy working on me.

Here is my list of goals for my home and yard this year:

Stairway walls (I’m working with a wonderful company on this one, I cant wait to share).

Painting second floor doors. Right now they are bright blue as the first floor ones were when we bought our home.

Repainting and sealing our dining room floor.

Moving some flower gardens and making the yard easier to maintain. (still in the thinking process of this one).

Start more seeds inside this year. That seems to be the best way for my garden at this home.

How about you? Are you making goals or etc…?

As always thank you so much for stopping by!!!

My Simple Winter Mantel

Going from holiday decor to Winter:

Okay the holidays are done and at our house that means the house is a disaster. After the family all leaves we just basically pass out for 24 hours. For me that means I take a day or two and just relax, ignore the mess around me and binge watch something on tv and eat way too many dessert leftovers..

After we are rested up and back in our own minds again the clean up begins. First I take and put away anything that screams Christmas, anything red or shiny garlands or Christmas pillows.

For my mantel you can see I removed my nativity scene and added some diy winter trees. The trees are so easy to make. Just drill a hole in a log piece and stick in a evergreen pick or a piece of greenery from your yard. Easy peasy and inexpensive. After I had removed all Christmas looking decor I then add back in some Winter and some cozy factors:

Like throws and sweater pillows and always candles. I cant have enough candles in the Michigan long Winters. Anything that speaks warm and cozy to you, add in.

Do you see little Cloie peeking at you? I hope this helps you get into the mood of changing your decor up for the coming months. Next up will be Valentines Day. I dont usually do a lot for that but I am trying to stretch beyond my normal for 2021. We will see if I can do it!

Thank you so much for stopping by it always makes me smile and is a big encouragement. Let me know if you have any ideas you would like to see for 2021.

Christmas Home Tour Part 2

You can see my full tour here on Living It Country YouTube channel. Holly is amazing and has so many gorgeous home tours on her channel. You will be entertained for hours.

My Bedroom

Again here I just used what I had minus a green velvet pillow cover and a green throw. http://www.amazon.com/shop/junk_gems they are very affordable and good quality.

We love our King Of Christmas tree this year. It looks so real and the lights are just perfect https://www.kingofchristmas.com/?platform=grin&link_id=258681&token=RaM2UBOR3esIyLb727bLGE6zQmbfrk7I&contact_id=c0ebb515-ba3b-47a5-836a-3aa9621eb6aa&attribution_window=30.

A look from our Porch

Shew I’m all done with my decorating now on to baking and wrapping and planning the dinner etc… Thank you for stopping by! I love to read your comments and it truly is such a honor to know you have stopped by. Have a beautiful Christmas!!

Christmas 2020 Home Tour Part 1

Are you all done with your Christmas decorating? I think I am and then I start rearranging again, I may have a slight problem. I think it is ocd in the decor area. You may have to send help!

This is my Dining room. My favorite room in the house to decorate. I have a lot of sweat and tears put into this room. It had seven yes, seven layers of wallpaper on it. When I finally got all of that off it was down to gold marble laminate. Who knew then that it would become my favorite area.

You can see I use a lot of thrifted and vintage items in my decor for holidays and and everyday. I kept my dried Pee gee Hydrangeas out as part of my Christmas decorating this year too. You can see more of them here.

https://junktogems.blog/2020/10/23/diy-halloween-candy-bowl/

Two Easy Christmas Crafts From Dollar Store Items

I am always looking for some little gifts I can give to neighbors or friends and family. These two ideas have been given out and everybody loves them.

You start with a large plastic candy cane. I got mine at the dollar store.

Then I chose my fabric, I went with some red ticking fabric. You could choose whatever goes with your decor style.

Rip the fabric in about two inch strips and as long as you want.

Then hot glue the end on the tip of the candy cane and then just wrap the whole cane.

Make sure and pull tightly and glue periodically. Decorate as you like. I used some muslin fabric and rusty jingle bells and berries.

Next project

Snowman drink mixers

You just need these stir sticks. I got mine at a craft store. The snowman jingle bells I got at the dollar store. Can you tell I love the dollar store.

This one is so simple just hot glue the snowman head to the top of the stir sticks. And Wala it’s done.

I do tie a small piece of ribbon unto the stick just below Mr. Snowman.

Hope this helped you get started on some Christmas gifts or decor for you.

Thanksgiving Tablescapes

I can’t believe it’s Thanksgiving week already.

I have been knee deep in Christmas decorating, seriously it looked like Christmas threw up in my house.

Everything is put away now. And this is when I concentrate on my Thanksgiving table.

This year I wanted to use items from nature and I’ll be doing the same for Christmas.

That’s where my garden comes in. I was able to dry mini Indian corn, like what I used in my diy Indian corn wreath

https://junktogemsblog.wordpress.com/2020/10/22/diy-indian-corn-wreath/

I have used the corn husks in this tablescape as part of the centerpiece. Just put a few in a soup tureen. I also used them to scatter around the table in this tablescape below.

For both tables I used thrifted dishes and glassware. And used a leaf garland for down the middle of each table. You can easily make your own garland with some pretty pressed leaves.

Hope this helped get you started creating your own tablescape. I know Thanksgiving is different this year for some of us, but let’s remember we always have something to be thankful for.

And I am thankful for you! Every sweet comment makes my day. Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog and have a wonderful Thanksgiving 💗

The reason I decorate for Christmas early.

My first tree is up! I know it’s early for some of you. But when your an influencer and need to make posts at a certain time it speeds up the process.

I honestly enjoy Decorating early because after Thanksgiving I get to just enjoy all the traditions as a family we do.

And it takes me three weeks to decorate inside and out. I am taking my time this year and trying to be more intentional with my decor. Which has made me enjoy the process more.

Instead of rushing to get it done I’m having fun at it! If I start to get tired and find myself throwing something together I stop and think on it overnight or even a couple of days.

So if your wondering if it’s too early, do what makes you enjoy it best. This year more than ever we need to enjoy these little things.

The Lord has definitely put that on my heart through all this turmoil this year.

So are you an early decorator or after Thanksgiving kind?

DIY Christmas Challenge

I am joining some other amazing bloggers for a Christmas challenge. This month the theme is Christmas and has to be with only things you already have on hand.

First of all thank you to Terrie from http://decorateandmorewithtip.com/

She sets these challenges up every month and gets our minds rolling with ideas. If your following along you’ve been by Carol’s at

About Carol

Wasn’t her ideas so cute? Now I’m going to share mine.

I knew I wanted to make a banner for my porch this year. But I wanted something that could hold up to our winds here. It gets crazy windy at times where we live.

I had these three metal tags I had gotten a while back from Hobby Lobby. I decided to spell out joy on them mainly because it’s the only three letter Christmas word I could think of.

I painted them with three coats of chalk paint front and back because this will be seen from both sides.

I stenciled the letter on but you could easily use alphabet stickers instead.

Then I sanded the edges to get some of the paint chipped off.

I used brown paint on the spots I chipped off to make it appear like it was rusty in spots.

Then I attached roping I had across the tops of all three tags to form a banner.

Here are all the other fun diy challenges below. I’m sure your going to find some great inspiration.

https://decorateandmorewithtip.com/diy-whimsical-christmas-tree-framed-art/

https://clochesandlavender.com/diy-wood-christmas-tags

https://patinaandpaint.com/christmas-advent-calendar/

https://www.blessingsbyme.com/2020/11/primitive-wreath-ornament-2/

Easy DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

https://palletandpantry.com/diy-snowfall-festive-christmas-wreath/

https://www.thehousehouse.com/diy/wine-bottle-christmas-diy

https://www.b4andafters.com/diy-fabric-trees

My last Fall diy coming at ya!

I joined some sweet ladies on Instagram to do a candy bowl challenge. It was do fun to come up with something creative and useful.

I usually don’t decorate for Halloween, we are empty nesters and live in the middle of nowhere so trick or treaters do not come here.

That being said it was extra fun to do this! I used an orange pumpkin pail I got for a dollar at Walmart.

I put three coats of paint on the outside and just brushed the inside with a quick coat of black.

I took the handle off and added a piece of wire for the handle, but first I had some beads left over from a garland I had. I added them to the wire for a beaded handle.

I added splotches of black paint around edges and by face to resemble enamelware.

Please check out all of the other creative ladies containers over on my Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGqeWSbnTIi/?igshid=1518trdg82a7z