Pine Tree Topiary Tutorial

Hi! It is Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife again! I have seen some cute topiaries around blogland and  thought to myself,  "I could probably make those." So I gave it a try.

Here is what you will need:

drill, 1/16" drill bit, plaster of paris, 4" pots, burlap, sticks, glue, and fake pine branches.

The first thing you need to do is tape up the hole in the bottom of your pot. This way the plaster won't get out.

Mix up the plaster directly in the post according to the directions on the package. Then put the sticks on the pots and let them sit for several hours until they have completely set up. I got my sticks in the backyard. I trimmed them off of one of my pine trees. Any stick would do. I cut them to be three different heights.

Drill holes in the top of each stick. Then a few more at 45 degree angles just below the top of the stick.

I stripped the plastic off of the fake pine branches to expose the wire. Then I bent the wire in half until it snapped in half. If you have trouble breaking the wire you can use wire snips.

I put some glue on the hole before sticking the wire in it. Any glue would work.

Here they are all glued! Just play around with the location of the branches until it looks like what you want. The holes are small enough that if you choose not to use that hole, you can't see it. No one will know :)

I used burlap but really you can use whatever fabric you want. Or, you don't have to use any at all. You could add pebbles or moss to the pots to cover up the plaster.

Set the pot on the fabric and then bring all the side up around the stem. Since burlap frays so easily, I just pulled off a few of the strings and used those to tie the fabric. You could also use ribbon or jute.

I love these because they really could stay out all year, or at least all winter. Enjoy!

Would like to contribute a tutorial or be a regular author for TAFWT?  Email me for details.

toolsr4women2@gmail.com

How To Build A Simple Side Table - By Stacy

Hi! I am Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife. One of the things I love to do is build furniture. Today I am going to show you how to build a simple side table.

I bought a board that measured 18" by 36". I measured, then drew a line down the middle so I would have 2 table tops measuring 18" by 18". You obviously only need one, but I was planning on making a bunch for my Etsy store. I used a jig saw to cut the wood.

Then I used 1"x4" boards for the front. I wanted there to be a 1 inch lip or overhang so I measured and cut 2 boards 16 inches long. That is one inch taken off for each side.

Then, since 2 of the boards will go inside the other two boards to form a box, you need to minus the width of 2 boards together. In this case, 1 1/2 inches. So the second 2 boards I cut were 14 1/2 inches.

Do you see how 2 of the 1x4s fit inside the other 2? That is why 2 needed to be shorter.

Add a little wood glue and then use a brad nail gun.

The next step is to determine how high you want your table. I wanted mine 2 feet tall. I cut some 2"x2"s for the legs. Add some wood glue and then nail them into the corners of your box. It is very important to make sure it is flat before nailing on the legs. If the legs are not flush with the top of the box then your table top will not lay flat on your base.

Your base is almost done :) You just need to add some 1"x1" to help hold the top on. Measure in between the legs and then cut your 1x1 that size.

Add some glue and nail. Do this all the way around the base - all four sides.

Then add glue to the top of the base, flip it over onto the table top, and nail through the 1x1. This will attach the top to the base.

You will need to fill the nail holes with putty. Pick one that is sandable so you can sand it smooth when it dries. I HIGHLY recommend Elmers stainable, paintable and sandable wood putty. Not only do I sand where I added putty, but I sand the hole thing. Especially the edges and corners. I try to round them a little. Use a fine grit sand paper or you will end up with lines (scratch marks) in your wood.

I painted mine and then (this is optional) sanded it to give it that shabby chi look. I love that! You can see it a little in the close up shots. It looks better in person, but you get the idea :)

You could use it as a bedside table, in a kid's room, next to a sofa, as a plant stand, or pretty much anywhere!

Come visit me at my blog anytime for more ideas.

New Years Resolution-Start up your own business!

Happy New Years to all! This is Brooke from Sunset & Vine Jewelry and I hope you are all having a wonderful, stress free holiday season. Believe it or not it is almost 2011 and if you haven't started making a list of resolutions you still have a few days left. Fret not because I have a great idea for you to consider adding to that list. Many of you TAFWT! readers are involved in crafting and possibly run an online store yourself. If you create something and you don't sell online I encourage you to check into it. Thanks to the economy more women and men for that matter are finding themselves unemployed possibly for the first time in their lives and wondering "what comes next"?
Many of you may already be running a business in your spare time to supplement your income. There is a difference though between operating a small scale internet business part-time and on the weekends to quitting your day job and becoming your own boss. After reading an article in Glamour Magazines October issue, I decided to share with you what experts believe it really takes to work for yourselves, unfortunately it isn't all passion, talent, creativity and love for your product!

• Most importantly you need to do some major soul searching to figure out if you can cut it as an entrepreneur. Ask yourself some basic questions, do you enjoy the security of working for other people, like the structure of a normal work day, enjoy vacation time, insurance and having sick days and personal days? If the answer is yes than you may want to stick with your 9 to 5 and consider running a business part-time. If the answer is no than ask yourself, are you good at time management, do you like to take risks, can you come up with solutions in times of stress, and will you be able to handle working around the clock without breaks? If the answer is yes than you will most likely be able to handle the demands of operating your own business. Being the boss does have its downsides. Sure you can set your own schedule, and you are "the boss" but you have lots of stresses too! My father has owned his business for thirty years and he didn't take a family vacation until I was 13 because he didn't feel he could leave the business for a week. He also has to pay very high monthly premiums for very crappy health insurance, he is responsible for eight employees and their health insurance and in the beginning he worked from dawn till past dark. Owning your own business can be very demanding but very rewarding. If you are looking for more information on how to get started with your business check out the U.S. Small Business Administration. They provide assistance on how to get started and it is free!!
• Once you have the basics figured out the next step is making a business plan of sorts. I say this loosely because you don't need to have a 300 page proposal but you do need to know what your goals are for your business and it wouldn't hurt to write them down. I am a journal keeper, not because I actually keep a diary that would require consistency, but I like to keep lists and that is a great start for a business plan. Make a list of your to-dos. Are you going to need a sales license so you can buy wholesale? What about basic no-brainers such as why does your business exist, who are your customers going to be, how will you make your company successful over time? As silly as they may or may not sound you will want to be able to answer these questions fully, and with competence, you never know when a potential buyer or investor is in your midst. You will also need to be able to modify these conditions over time as the economic climate, your customer base and your business change. One thing I have found in operating a business is that just like any job you will learn as you go but there is one thing you will want to have clear guidelines about from the word go. Customer service is something that is increasingly harder and harder to find and when you stumble upon a company that delivers great customer service it is the exception not the rule. With that in mind you have the power to make sure your company will be one of those that goes the extra mile and you'll never regret making that decision. Go out of your way to make your customers happy and they will remember and it will reflect in your bottom line!
• Speaking of the bottom line, what about all the money you are going to make, after all the whole point of owning your own business and working for yourself is so you can have cash flow and a lot of it, right? Wrong, well probably wrong, at least in the beginning. Most people are lucky to break even the first year between investment and the time it takes for a business to get off the ground. I started on Etsy eighteen months ago and have just now began to realize a profit. Often you have to spend money to make money, which I never took into account when I was first starting out. Between my initial investment and money I pour back into my business, advertising and product that I give away I am probably still just breaking even but the great thing is that there is finally a buzz! When you decide to start a business you have to go into it with a lot of patience and determination. I knew that I was doing this because I loved it and that helped a lot and I knew no matter how long it took I was going to stick it out because I believed in my product and I wasn't doing it for the money. Now that the sales are coming in it makes it just that much sweeter!
• Network! Network! Network! Did I say networking yet? Networking is probably the single most important thing I have done since joining Etsy. There are endless ways to meet up with other artisans, and bloggers who are friendly and helpful and will help you build and boost your business. Make treasuries and include your friends and fellow etsians that have put you in a treasury. Join in on the forums and contact a team and apply to become a member. If it weren't for blogs like Tools Are For Women Too! I wouldn't have quite the traffic in my site or the number of great friends. Browse blogs and join in on the link parties and start your own Facebook pages and blogs if you enjoy writing. Just don't forget that while it is great to gain something from a relationship you also want to remember to pay it back. Help out your fellow etsians, bloggers, and Facebook friends when they need it and you will be blessed by these awesome networking relationships!
• The Glamour article points out that it is important to build and maintain an online presence. With Etsy, Ebay, 1000 Markets and shopify.com maintaining an online presence is easier and more manageable than ever. I would counter that building and maintaining a physical presence in our communities is the challenge for some. Having a real brick and mortar shop where our fellow community members can come in and shop our wares is a goal I have for my business. To get started you could strengthen your presence in your community by doing craft shows and art exhibits when they are offered. Scout out locations in your community and see if a lease fits into your budget. Check out your competition and do some research to determine how your product would fare in that particular market. Most importantly don't give up and believe in yourself, it also doesn't hurt to have a little faith!

How To Make Your Own Snowman Earrings For The Holidays

Hi, this is Brooke from Tidbits & Glitz. I hope you are all having a great month and are enjoying the holiday season. It is that time of year again. Depending on where you live snow may be falling, Christmas preparations are rapidly underway and hopefully you are able to spend more time with your family. There is nothing better than crafting during the holiday season and I have the perfect earrings for you to create.
Snowmen earrings are easy to make and are perfect for the entire Winter, not just Christmas. This project only requires a few materials (you can find them at any craft store) and even less steps to complete. The tools that you will need are round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and wire cutters.






You will also need the following materials:

• 2-10mm beads, 8mm beads, 6mm beads
• 2-flower spacer beads, between 4-6mm
• 2-metal daisy spacers, between 5-8mm
• 2-cube beads, between 4-6mm
• 2-2" headpins
• 2-ear wires

Once you have gathered the materials follow the steps below:

• Take your headpin and place the 10mm bead, then the 8mm bead and then the flower spacer.

• Next place the 6mm bead, then the metal spacer and finally the cube bead.

• Now you will make either a closed loop or a wrapped loop (I used a wrapped loop).

• Finally dangle your snowman from your ear wire and repeat the steps for the 2nd earring.

I choose to use crystal beads and sterling silver metal pieces but you can use any color combination and metal you like. This is a very versatile design. After you have assembled all your tools and materials it should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. My kids love to help me with these earrings and we have also used the snowmen as a pendant and added it to necklaces. This is a fun creation for yourself or make them for Christmas presents.

How To Make A Picture Block Collage

Hi! It is Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife! Here is one of my favorite cheap decorating ideas.

I wanted to do a collage of pictures in my hall. It is a funny little wall tucked in the corner, but it has always seemed so bare. I didn't want to do it with pictures frames though. I wanted to shake it up a bit. I came up with this. What I did was cut out 4X6 pieces of wood that were all different thicknesses using my jigsaw. The picture doesn't show it as well as I would like. Then I sanded and stained them. I could have mod podged  the pictures on, but then I wouldn't have been able to change the pictures.  I used sticky putty on the corners of the pictures and pressed hard to adhere it.

I love sticky putty. Another thing I use it for is to keep picture frames straight. Add a small amount to the bottom corners of the frame and press against the wall. You can find sticky putty in office supply stores or online.

What kinds of picture collages have you done?

Stacy is one of the team members here at TAFWT.  Would you like to join the team too?  Just email Rory.

toolsr4women2@gmail.com

My Cheap and Easy Christmas Wreath

Hi! It is Stacy from Not JUST A Housewife again! I was in need of some more Christmas decor but I am on a tight, almost non-existent budget so I came up with these. I love quick and cheap crafts! I bought 3 wreaths at the dollar store. They had bigger ones but because of where I was going to put them I needed them to be a little on the small side. I had pine cones from our backyard and I always have craft wire on hand. I used scraps of fabric I already had too. I ripped them into strips about 1 inch wide.

I tied the fabric on. I love the look of the rough edges.

Then I took craft wire and put it around the pine cone, and then around the wreath and twisted it so the pine cone would stay on.

I used another strip of fabric to hang the wreath.

I tied it to the wire frame on the back.

I normally have frames hanging here with pictures of the kids but I love these so much I am tempted to keep them up all year! They match my front room decor (did you notice they matched my rug?) so I could totally get away with it.

Total cost: $3.00

Thanks and have a great weekend!

HOW TO REPURPOSE A CROSS by Layne

When you are a West Texas cotton farmer's wife, you tend to be a little frugal every now and then, which is usually everyday for me over at  
THE LIFE OF THE FARMER'S WIFE!

While getting some laundry detergent at the local dollar store, I came across a clock cross that I thought was absolutely atrocious. I am sure that some people would like it, but it just was not my taste and I knew that I could snazzy it up and make it something great. Anything is possible, if you use your imagination. Then I remembered that my good friend Kayla had asked me a while back to make her a cross in honor of her dog "Prissy" who died. However, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the project, so this is what I ended up doing.

I bought the hideous clock cross for $6,  knowing good and well that I was going to go home and grab my hammer and beat the heck out of it, until the clock pieces came off.  And that is exactly what I did, however the numbers were part of the cross itself, so I had to function with the imprint of the numbers.

After that, I took spray paint and sprayed the cross a pretty pink color, since Kayla had told me she wanted the cross to be pink and black. You can still see the imprint of the numbers, but not for long.

After I painted the cross, I used my Heritage Makers program to make the name PRISSY and little saying for the cross.  Yes, it is a little cheesy saying, but it is something that will be special for my friend Kayla. 

After I printed the name and the saying, I got some zebra fabric and applied it to the cross to cover the imprint of the numbers, with Elmer's Spray Adhesive (which I was carded for at the dollar store, when I bought it).  I then applied the name and the saying to the cross, wherever they looked good, along with little bling to the cross, just to make it girly and shiny. You do not want to add too much, but you want to add just enough. Make sure before you add too much, you step back and take a look at what you have. It really does help to not over do it.

Once you have the cross glued on how you want everything, it is time to put the top coat on. For the top coat, I use Triple Thick. I like Triple Thick, because it is a clear, non-yellowing finish and it is more like acrylic than Modge Podge. You apply the first layer and then you have to let it dry. If you do not let the first layer dry, adding more layers will not do any good. I usually add enough layers to make it completely smooth. However, in this case you will want it to have a 3D effect, with the bling.

Once the Triple Thick is dry, you can then add ribbon to your cross, to hang it on the wall or a little bow. It is truly up to you. Like I said you can make it into whatever your imagination desires. This is just an example of what you can do, without spending a lot of money on supplies and without going overboard. Now the only thing I need to do is add the ribbon.

 Now that I added the ribbon to hang the cross on the wall, I step back and look at it. It is just what Kayla wanted. Remember, you could decorate the cross any way you want, just have fun with it and don't forget you can do this with anything that you want to change the appearance on.

Layne is a contributing author for Tools Are For Women Too.  
If you would like to join the team, just email Rory for the details.

toolsr4women2@gmail.com