Friday, November 20, 2009

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS

How's the holiday spirit coming along in your home?  I think I'm off to a good start this year, although I still have a lot of shopping to do and some gifts to make yet (I'm waiting on materials to arrive in the mail).  I work well under pressure, so I'm still calm at this point.  I have however, been making some arrangements with holiday greenery.  I'll share some with you.


Let me give you some background information:  I have this need to shop at consignment stores.  I find some really cool stuff there.  It's true, I'm cheap, but honestly, this is not about being cheap.  It's a treasure hunt.  Garage sales, Goodwill, consignment stores - it's all about what you can find cheap and do something special with it!  It's a sickness, really.  Anyway, there is a new consignment store in Spencer and I stop frequently.  I found this adorable bench there for $5.99!  There is a small water mark stain on it, but that's not a problem!


I fell in love with this cute little thing.  I decided to turn it into a holiday bench and give it as a gift.  I feel badly giving a gift with something I got so cheap at a second hand store, but I figured if I would jazz it up with some greenery, I could sell it for $25-$40, and that would make a nice gift for someone!  Here's what I did:

I just wired in some pine greens, hot glued some poinsettias and then an adorable cardinal.  I was going to add a bow, but it looked too gaudy, so I left well enough alone. 

My second arrangement I made for my sister-in-law, Deanna.  She used her Cricut machine to cut the flying reindeer out of vinyl and added it onto an already painted tin container.  She bought some artificial flowers and greenery and asked me to make the arrangement.  I have to say, I love doing this, especially when I have not paid for any of it! :-)  I thought it turned out okay.  Please remember - I'm not a professional anything, I just goof around until I think it looks okay.  Deanna was thrilled, so I guess that's all that matters.

 
Sorry about the distracting background.

My other little endeavor is to be used on my Thanksgiving table - but since we'll have several tables set up in various locations around my home to accommodate all of our guests, I will probably place this somewhere on the food buffet.  I found this idea on the Cricut message boards; I emailed it to Deanna because I thought it was cute.  I should have known she would have wanted me to make one - she has this knack for seeing something and then deciding "we" should do it :-).  She cut out all the pilgrim pieces on her Cricut and gave them to me along with the silk leaves.  I had the little bucket and the dowel rods here, so I got the hot glue gun out and got to work.  I think it is cute, however, 95% of my guests will probably never notice it - they'll be too busy talking about hunting.  
Isn't Thanksgiving supposed to be about family and being thankful and all that????  When did hunting EVER get invited in?  I could go on, but I'll leave that for another post :-).



THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:18

6 comments:

  1. Oh, Rhonda, I have the sickness too!

    Everything you have made is so cute! And isn't so fun when you can tell someone is thrilled with what you done.

    If I was at your Thanksgiving-i'd be sure to notice. Must be a lot of boys at your Thanksgiving.

    PS-I was always wowed by the decor at your house in PA and I know I would be in WI too.

    But hey-at least I can see your stuff on your blog!☺

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  2. thanks,Holly. I sure wish I knew if other people were reading this or not - no one comments - makes me sad.

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  3. I'm loving every post. I just have this weird thing about public comments! : ) ML

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  4. oh rhonda dont be sad....i think you dont post enough and i check it several times a day....i just hate commenting. i am always in a hurry.....i love your blog....and i want that bench.

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  5. I love your arrangements!! I love finding unique things too and transforming them. You do an excellent job! Hey, by the way, Happy Birthday very soon!!!

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  6. Aww, thanks, girls. At least I know people are reading it!

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