Simple Burlap Wreath Tutorial

I've been in love with the wrapped burlap wreath look for quite some time.

Problem is...they're expensive!

For example, this adorable wreath is $50 on Etsy, plus tax and $15 in shipping.

I decided that I could definitely figure out how to make one, so I searched YouTube and there are in fact, several tutorials on how to make this exact wreath.

Problem #2... I didn't have the right kind of metal 3-tired wire wreath form that you need in order to make this type of "bunched" burlap wreath. All I had was my grapevine wreath that I've used for several years now:

So I decided to just make due with what I had and see how it turned out.

Fortunately, I think it turned out really cute!

Here's what you need:

• A wreath form of any kind
• (1) 10-yard roll of 6" burlap
• Floral wire
• 1 roll of thick wire ribbon
• Optional: an MDF letter spray-painted any color of your choice

1. First, simply take the burlap and wrap it around the wreath. I did a twist on top each time I wrapped it to give it more bulk.

 2. Once you've wrapped it completely around the wreath, cut the end and use the floral wire to secure it inside the wrapped burlap (use the wire almost like a needle & thread).

 3. I used this YouTube tutorial on "How to Make Wreath Bows" which was very simple and helpful.


4. Then, again, I used my floral wire to secure the bow to the wreath poking the wire through both the ribbon and burlap and securing it with tight twists.

5. I think the wreath looks great just like this, but if you choose to add a letter, place the letter wherever you like, and secure it with the floral wire. I didn't want to be able to see the floral wire (which is green) so I painted over the wire with white paint.
In this close-up picture, you can still kind of see the wire on the middle right-side of the H and the bottom left of the H.

Voila! You've got a beautiful new wreath that can be changed out with the seasons that cost a LOT less than the store-bought version.

Here's my breakdown of costs:

• Wreath (free - already had it)
• Burlap $7 (on sale at JoAnn's)
• Ribbon $1.59 (on seasonal clearance at JoAnn's)
• MDF letter $2 (on sale at JoAnn's)

For a Grand Total of: $10.59!

I hope you'll give this simple craft a try next time you want to spruce up your front door.

4th of July {Ideas, Recipes & Free Printables}

I can hardly believe 4th of July is one week away! Where did June go!?!

I made the mistake of hopping on Pinterest to find an easy 4th of July craft to do with the kiddos and man did I hit the mutha-load of good ideas!

I mean, how great is this:

 

SUCH a smart idea for the tiny tots who want to participate in the sparkler fun, but are a bit freaked out to actually hold one themselves. I will definitely be trying this with Parker.

And if you're hosting a party or going to one, and need to bring something, check out these simple ideas:

Photo credit

Photo credit

 Photo credit.

Or maybe you're looking for some fun house or party decor? Here ya go...

Available here.

Available here.

How great is this FREE 4th of July banner and artwork available here along with many other party printables.

 And one of my favorite bloggers, TomKat Studios, has some beautiful cupcake toppers that you can download for free. These would also be cute during the World Cup USA games!

 

And of course, my original purpose of going on Pinterest in the first place...some cute kids crafts! Check these out:

Instructions available here.

Photo credit.

And if I had a girl...this is the kind of t-shirt I would be making...

 

And if you're willing to get a little messy (I'm thinking bathing suits...outside...with washable paints), you could let the kids loose with this super fun idea:

 Straw "Fireworks"

 The child dips the end of a straw into red, white & blue paint and then blows on the straw to make "fireworks" on the paper.

 

 

I hope these give you some fun 4th ideas. Be safe and have a fabulous time celebrating our awesome nation...the land of the free and home of the brave!

Summer Reading Program for Kids {FREE printables}

Now that we're back from vacation, I'm starting to deal with the dreaded "Summer Electronics Rules." Every parent I know with kids old enough to operate a video game has the same problem. It goes something like this:

Me: Payton, you've got 5 more minutes of computer time.
Payton: What?!? I've only been playing for 20 minutes!
Me: That's 20 minutes too long. Go find something else to do. It's summer! Go outside! Play!
Payton: It's too hot outside. There's nothing to do.
Me: Find something to do.

And usually he will go find something to do, or someone to play with, but inevitably, later in the day, he's asking to play video games again.

I don't have a problem with him playing on some electronics this summer. I realize it's the age in which we live. But I do have a problem with electronics when I feel like it's an isolating activity. For example, if he's playing Team Fortress Two alone on his computer, he tunes out the entire world that's happening around him. But if he's playing Minecraft with three of his friends in the same room, then they're talking and creating and having fun together.

We're still adjusting our summer electronics rules, but for now, it seems like he does best if he stays off electronics all morning and does something like a camp, or go the pool with friends, and then has a chunk of time to play them in the afternoon. We'll see how this goes as the summer continues.

Fortunately, aside from video games, Payton really loves to read. And he'll read just about anything that I suggest. He's read a lot of the classics (Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, Charlotte's Web, The B.F.G., Trumpet of the Swan, The Witches, The Prince and the Pauper) and several of the Harry Potter books, plus a lot of mystery series that I've picked up at the library.

So, when I'm stuck at one of those moments when it's time for him to shut off the electronics, but there's not a friend to play with, reading is always a great activity for him. And to make it even more fun, we've been using this reading rewards program the past few years:
 









It's a free downloadable reading chart for kids of any age and it works kind of like Bingo. The child reads for a pre-determined amount of time in all sorts of places/times/situations (on a Wednesday, under a tree, before breakfast, etc.) and then crosses off the box when they've completed it. Once they get a "Bingo" they get to redeem a reward "coupon."

The reward coupons are blank, so you can fill in whatever you like (movies with a friend, a music download from itunes, frozen yogurt, etc.). It's worked so well in years past, Payton actually asked me to create another one for this summer.

You have to subscribe to the web site called "How Does She" in order to download it, but I think the emails they send out are really useful and interesting so I'd probably subscribe to it even if it didn't offer free printables! Here's a link to the page where you can read more about the reading chart and subscribe if you wish.

And if you've got any great book ideas that you or your kids have loved, please send em along!

Happy reading y'all!

I'm Back! {Family Vacation Update}

If you've noticed a large void of posts here on my blog, it's because we went on a family vacation for the entire first week of summer break.

It was fantastic.
It was super fun.
It was exhausting.
It was a vacation filled with memory-making moments.
It was... well... hard to put into words, so instead, I'll just let you enjoy this little video montage of all the fun that was had.

Thank you Mom & Dad for providing the house so that we could all come together and experience such an amazing vacation as a family. We love you!

Clements Family Vacation 2014 from Stacy Heckman on Vimeo.

I'll be back soon with more non-family vacation related posts.
Until then, hope you are having a fabulous summer!

Counting Down To Summer...

Let the countdown begin.

Only 3 more days of school.

Only 3 more days of waking up to my wretched alarm clock at 6 a.m.

Only 3 more days of sleepily making breakfast and praying that the coffeemaker brews faster.

Only 3 more days of cleaning out backpacks, making lunches, and signing agendas (thank God they're already done with homework).

Yes, this Mama is ready for the slower pace of summer.

Of course 3 weeks from now I'll be pining for the structure of school and wishing the kids weren't bickering every morning over what cartoon to watch... but for now, I'm going to pretend that stuff doesn't happen and just focus on the happy summer-y things.

And speaking of fun Summer-y things, we're working on our "Summer Bucket List" today. Ya know, all the things we want to do this summer as the nights grow longer, the bedtimes grow later, and there are far more "Sure, why not?" responses than "No's."

I found a great list that the moms over at www.thepinningmama.com created. You can download their entire list, or just use it for reference, as we did, to help jog your brain for fun activities. Click here to view the list.








The boys really love coming up with all of these crazy ideas. I can't say that we always complete 100% of them, but just compiling the list is loads of fun.

I also framed a new Summer Subway Art piece. I just adore this one that I found over at www.queenofthecreek.com. Click here for the free download.

Whatever your plans are for the last few days of school, I hope you are safe and make lots of fun memories. Here's to summer, Cheers (clink!)!!