Unique Holiday Decor: How to Dye Beans

Once upon a time I dyed beans...and they looked so cool! It truly is one of my favorite DIY's every. As the beans absorbed the dye they puffed out, expanded and really turned out to look interesting and unusual. Well, this year I decided to try it again, using the color Marsala. The deep rich tones will also work well with my Christmas decor (bonus!). So go grab some beans and some dye and let's do this!

CONTINUE READING

Homemade GIVE THANKS Banner

While my mind has already jumped ahead to Christmas....I took a moment to come back to November and create a quick and simple GIVE THANKS Banner for Thanksgiving...or if I would have planned better it could have been for the entire Fall season.

The banner is pretty darn easy. You need to be able to paint, cut and glue. You can do that, right?

Now since Thanksgiving is right around the corner...let's get crafting!

Supplies

• 2 1/2 yards Jute Webbing, cut into 7" lengths. It comes in black and red. I used black for this project.
• I chose to use black. This is available online and at fabric stores, usually in the upholstery section. I purchased this at Hobby Lobby.

• Paint.
• I used American Multi-Surface Satin in Paprika (DecoArt)

• Pouncer.
• This works better than a brush for stenciling. If you don't have a pouncer, a foam brush would be my next choice.

• Lettering.
• I used American Simple Script Stencil. I use this stencil ALL THE TIME!

• 3 yards basic twine.

• Scissors
• Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun 

Make It!

• Cover your work surface...On occasion the paint will bleed through the burlap.

• Cut the Jute Webbing into 7" lengths. 
• You need 11 pieces.
• I like to notch my banners. At the center mark up about 1". Then cut from each side up to the 1" mark. OR mark up 1", fold the rectangle in half and cut while doubled.

• Stencil. 
• Place some paint on a paper plate and then pouncer the pouncer into the paint. Use part of the plate to tap off excess paint.
• About 1/2" up from the notch on the bottom of the banner piece, place the bottom of your stencil (centered horizontally).
• If you are not experienced with stencils, take the time to tape the stencil down to keep it from moving.
• I just hold mine with one hand.
• Carefully pounce the pouncer loaded with paint all over the stencil.
• Carefully remove the stencil.
• Wipe the stencil clean to ensure the paint does not smear onto your other banner pieces.

• Cut a length of twine 3 yards long.
• Lay it across the table.
• Turn on the hot glue gun to heat up.

• Lay the letters out in order. Place a blank banner piece between GIVE and THANKS
• Fold over the top edge of each banner piece about 1/2" to 3/4" 
• Place a line of hot glue in the fold and up the sides and across the edge.
• Place the twine in the glue in the fold and then fold over the top to sandwich the twine between the layers.
• YOU NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY SO THE GLUE DOES NOT DRY.
• Repeat until you are finished.
• I work with my letters upside down.

Now, just decide where you want to hang it, make a loop on each end of the twine and decorate!

Do You decorate for Thanksgiving?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

CONTINUE READING

Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece

We are having a very simple Thanksgiving this year...just the four of us,

but I still like to create a special table...

and then let my kids add their own special touch.

Well, I had this idea for Halloween and never quite finished posting it...

but I did manage to tweak that idea for this holiday!

This centerpiece is my contribution to this years #Thanksgiving Table!

CONTINUE READING

Burlap Table Runner for a Turkey Tablescape

A few weeks ago, I was visiting my parents in Southern California,

 and jumped at the opportunity to go shopping at the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store 

by their house for the supplies for this project.

My head was spinning...I had so many ideas.

I saw burlap...

I saw yarn...

I saw gorgeous papers...

I saw ribbon...

I saw, well everything!
I had a vision (sort of)...and now  I had the supplies.
It all eventually came together with a

Burlap Table Runner

 for a Turkey Tablescape. (#turkeytablescape)

http://www.504main.com/2013/11/burlap-table-runner-for-turkey.html

CONTINUE READING

How to Cook a Turkey in a Slow Cooker

I made my first ever turkey!

  To me, cooking a turkey meant getting up early, gross bird stuff all over,

and hours and hours of cooking for it to still not be done.

I always put my husband on "bird duty."

But no more! I did it!I am like a grown up now!

CONTINUE READING

Turkey & Cranberry Tamales (featuring Save Mart Supermarkets)

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client

I have a confession...I have never on-my-own cooked a turkey.
I always leave it to my hubby.

Well that all changed this week when I headed out to Save Mart Supermarket

to shop their BOGO deal. My kids and I are always on the go and

the mix-and-match meat sale allowed me to grab a great deal on some of

their favorite meal "must haves." Better yet, these cuts of meat were hearty...

so they allowed me to cook up a meal, have some left overs...

and to whip up a batch of tamales.

My kiddos go crazy for tamales!
They have been asking and asking for me to make some, and this presented the perfect opportunity for me to try one of my unique tamale concoctions - I just love trying unusual, non-traditional ingredients in my tamales. So, I figured...it is almost Thanksgiving...
how about some Turkey Cranberry Tamales - oh yeah...yummy!

Now...for your purists...this is my version of a tamale,not necessarily a traditional tamale...but we LOVE it! And so do the guests I serve them too! 
Every time I tell people I make tamales they look at my like I am crazy.
I had always heard how time consuming tamales were,
 but I really don't have that feeling when I make them...so go for it!

CONTINUE READING

Celebrating "My Kind of Holiday" & How to Make a No-Sew Table Runner

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Target. All opinions are 100% my own. Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

 Our holidays are pretty simple.
I once dreamed of big fancy affairs and elegant tables,
but that does not quite fit into my life at the moment.
However, that does not mean we lack tradition
or that our holiday tables are any less charming,
in fact I think in our house we have created our own unique kinds of holidays! 

One of our favorite family traditions is letting the kids decide on and decorate the Thanksgiving table. I help a little bit, no seriously just a teeny-tiny bit. They take a huge amount of pride in this task and it makes them feel good.

CONTINUE READING

Harvest Table and Designing Ideas

When I hear the term "Tabletop", I get all dreamy eyed and my mind starts creating and dreaming up inventive ways to do things, and well, I get a little caught up trying to create something really special - my wedding planner mentality takes over - and I spend days fretting over what to do. Visions of lighting and draping and chandeliers, and custom linens...well, you get the picture.

I truly enjoy creating a beautiful tablescape or event space.
It is one of the things that makes me so happy and really inspires my creativity.
I love creating spaces outdoors, perhaps because I am from coastal California where the weather is pretty much the same year round.
I also love creating tables with texture, interest, unexpected surprise...and most of all tables that look rich and expensive...but are not!

You have to see the rest...click on READ MORE!

CONTINUE READING

Thanksgiving Tabletop Turkey (the non-edible kind)

I hardly ever decorate for Thanksgiving.

In fact last year we went to Disneyland for the holiday.

But this year we are staying home and we need a few little things for our table.

When I received my Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Punch, I immediately thought the pretty edge of the circle would make pretty turkey feathers.

I was trying to create a modern version of a fold out honeycomb party decorations.
(does that make sense to you??? It did to me anyway!) 

I happen to love they way they turned out!

So, we will behaving visitors this year -

the two legged, gobbling, non-edible kind for Thanksgiving!

SUPPLIES (for one turkey)

• Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Punch (since this only goes on sale 11/13 and you may want to make turkeys before then, you can easily cut circles and use them for the turkeys and then embellish the edges or other punches or decorative edge scissors)

• Turkey Template DOWNLOAD HERE (if you have trouble let me know - I am not "skilled" as templates. I tired to get this the right size and to be downloadable...sorry tech challenged here!)

• Elmer's Rubber Cement (my glue of choice)
• Hot glue gun and glue stick
• Black Sharpie
• Scissors

Paper:

• I used a fluted sheet of cardstock from Canvas Corp. You can also use paper bags, cereal boxes, chip board - let your imagination run wild!
• Tim Holtz Kraft Kore paper pad with "sophisticated" turkey colors.

• Optional: Distress In, Frayed Burlap

MAKE IT! THIS IS FOR ONE TURKEY
1. Print out the template (click here to download)

2. Cut out 2 turkey bodies in the fluted cardboard (NOTE: you can use any paper - I have even used the back of cereal boxes). BE SURE TO FLIP THE TURKEY BODY OVER SO THAT YOU HAVE ONE OF EACH SIDE.

3. Cute out 2 waddles (I used the same red for all of the turkeys - it only takes a bit of paper).

4. Determine your color combinations for the turkey feathers (my paper pad only had 24 sheets, so I mixed and matched).

5. Cut 3 circles total: 1 - 6" circle, 1 - 7" circle, 1 - 8" circle

6. Fold the circles in half; cut the circles in half; fold the halves in half.

7. Glue the turkey bodies together using the rubber cement (or you glue of choice). Brush rubber cement on both sides of the body and stick together for the best hold.

8. Use the Distress Ink to ink the edges of the turkey body

9. Right where the curve of the turkey neck becomes the "body" run a line of hot glue and attach the one half of the 6" circle along that line  - Try to place it so that the hot glue is not visible from the front of the turkey. Hold in place until glue hardens.

10. Run a line of hot glue just behind the folded 6" circle. Take the half of the 7" circle and place it right up next to the fold of the 6" circle.

11. Run a line of hot glue just behind the folded 7" circle. Take the half of the 8" circle and place it right up next to the fold of the 7" circle.

12. Fan out the folds. My paper was a cardstock and folded and kept its shape pretty well. You can add more glue to keep the feathers in the order/arrangement you desire.  

13. Glue the waddles on the turkeys.

There you go...cute little non-edible turkeys - one for each pace setting...or better yet how about making one big one as a centerpiece - off to make one now! 

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving table decoration?

Don't forget, you can tune into HSN or visit HSN.com on 11/13/12 to get the Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Punch (it's only available on HSN and HSN.com)

Read my Circle Edge Punch Review

Martha Stewart Crafts is offering a 20% discount online through 12/31/12 when you
enter the Coupon Code BLOG20 at checkout.
(it cannot be used on the Circle Edge Punch which can only be purchased on HSN)

   

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

disclosure: I was supplied a Circle Edge punch for a previously published review

CONTINUE READING