GardenMama

.: Hanging Window Vase Tutorial :.

.: Thank you for the beautiful comments you shared with me on my last post. It was truly a pleasure to read each one! :.

.: Glass jar wrapped with wire and embellished with decoupage creates a hanging vase to grace the window :.

While the snow still sits outside covering the earth surrounding us there is a noticeable shift in the quality of light. The sun has returned to our windows to shower us with it's distinct feeling of happiness as it streams over the sill and kisses the tops of the children's heads. 

While the winter continues I look to the sunny spot in the living room as a foreshadowing of spring.  While  the sun works it's magic along with the help of Mrs. Thaw, the earth drinks in the melting snow that nurtures the soil of the gardens. 

Even though the Tulips are not yet awakened or prepared to greet us in the gardens, after some thought I went right to work to create our own bit of spring in the windows...
 

This is a great way to use recycled jars. Mason jars that have a smooth front work beautifully as well. 

The next step I will share here is how to create the handle for the hanging glass vase.

I was happy to come across this wire encased in jute that made for a very natural-looking handle.  (This may be found in the floral section of many craft stores)

First I took a nice long piece of wire. I  sized it by holding it up to the vase and made sure that it was long enough that it could hang from the door or windows and still lay flat.

Form the wire into a handle shape as seen in the above photo. Make 'hooks' at the end of the handle wire.

Wrap the wire around the rim of the jar twice. Before securing it, place the handle 'hooks' under the wrapped wire. Make sure it is very secure by closing off the hooks.

Pull the wire that is wrapped around the rim tightly. Twist the ends together to form a very secure closure. 

You now have your functional hanging vase. Now for the fun part!

Next prepare to adorn the glass hanging vases,  you may choose your paper images. 

These spring-like images were found in the scrapbook section of the local craft store. I am planning to create a few more vases and look forward to using images from a chicken catalogue as well as from seed catalogue's.

.: Choosing and placing each paper image :.
 

Start placing your images until you find one that will become the finished piece.  Set out some modge podge and get ready to adhere the images.

Modge Podge is brushed onto both the back and front of the paper images to adhere and seal the image.

Once the image is adhered, you may take a small damp cloth to neaten up the glass around the image.  Finish with a dry cloth to polish up the glass and make sure any last remnants of glue disappear.

Add water to your vase and some gorgeous Tulips, and you are on your way to a spring view in your window! I hung a few of these tulip-filled hanging vases from the latch on the window. For wooden window frames you can screw in a small hook to hang your vase.  

This touch of spring in our newly sun-filled windows has brought the freshness of Spring to the windows of the living room. 

It is lovely to have a handmade hanging vase full with the freshness of Spring flowers placed in the bedroom windows or in the kitchen above the sink.

Or to greet you as you come and go on your front door!

Here's to bringing the bright happy feelings of Spring to our windows and doors in a handmade way!

.: Creating A Birch Bark Frame :.

.: This birch bark frame was created to compliment this natural photo :.

Recently I received a beautiful photo in the mail from Nicola. I had been dreaming up the idea of creating a birch bark frame,  and this photo seemed just the right one to naturally frame!

I look forward to sharing my process for creating a nature-inspired frame. I am very happy with the results and hope you enjoy it too!

.: I knew right away this photo would have a special adorned frame :.

I knew right away this photo would not be placed in just any frame. I wanted to create something just as lovely to hold it. Now I will share the process of the birch bark frame I made to bring a bit of nature indoors!

.: A simple frame was used as the base. Its simple lines suit the birch bark that will be secured to it :.

I began with an inexpensive frame.  I made sure to pick out something that was low profile enough so that when the birch bark was adhered to it, it would lay evenly and completely from all angles.

.: I used these few pieces of birch bark I had stored away in the craft closet :.

Most of my creating is inspired by nature and by the objects we collect along our nature walks.  My craft closet holds stones, pinecones, shells, and birch bark (to name a few) so that during the winter months we still have access to these natural ingredients for our crafting.

.: An inexpensive frame, hot glue, scissors, and birch bark are the materials used to create this nature-inspired frame :.

I had a few pieces of birch bark that we had previously gathered from a fallen tree. Even if you only have a few pieces of birch bark, the rough look of pieced bark together on the frame adds natural beauty.  If you do not have access to birch bark, try looking for scrap book paper in a birch motif that you could adhere to cardboard before securing it to the frame.

.: Piecing together the birch bark to create a rustic and natural looking frame :.

I began piecing together pieces of birch bark along the frame, securing it with hot glue and cutting pieces to fit as I went along to create a rustic look.

.: The finished frame with photo inside! :.

I am quite happy with the finished result. I think this nature photo and natural frame complement one another very well!

.: I love the pairing of the birch with the flower print - it looks lovely at home! :.

We are enjoying the way the photo paired with the birch bark frame looks at home. I look forward to creating many more!

.: May the beauty of nature inspire your home! :.

.: A Gift For The Birds :.

.: Pinecones gathered on a snowy day :.

We enjoyed feeling the energy of this day through time speant outdoors. The temperatures have dropped and snow storms continue to visit leaving us spending the last few days indoors. 

It felt refreshing to fill our lungs with fresh air if only for a short time, as we set out to gather pinecones to create a gift for the birds. 

We walked to the edge of the pine grove and took shelter under the pine trees. They seemed to be the only place untouched by the snow. We imagined that wild rabbits, deer and squirrels enjoy this place as well. The air was cold and the snow that covered the landscape around us swirled up into the air as the winds blew, creating a beautiful show.

.: The pinecones opened up when brought into the warm house :.

We moved our feet across the pine needles that lay under the trees to reveal tightly closed pinecones that we then placed into our baskets.  We arrived home and set out peanut butter, cooking trays, yarn, and birdseed to craft a nurturing winter gift for the birds!

When the pinecones were brought inside the baskets became even more full as the pinecones opened up in the warmth of home.

.: Each pine cone is strung upon a yarn loop for hanging :.

Many pinecones were strung as we created beautiful ornaments to adorn the trees once again...

.: Buttering each pinecone with peanut butter :.

Each pinecone was first covered in a coating of peanut butter.
 

.: Rolling each peanut butter covered pine cone in birdseed :.

While rolling each pinecone into the birdseed we enjoyed the feeling of  preparing a nutritious and layered meal for these favored friends that faithfully visit each day to grace us with their beauty as we observe them in special moments by sunny windowsills. 

.: The finished treats for the birds :.

.: Looking good enough to eat! :.

Each peanut butter and birdseed covered pinecone was placed onto baking sheets and put into the refrigerator to further set.

We concluded that these treats looked good enough to eat! It was our pleasure to decorate the trees with these sweet simple treats for our friends the birds.

.: One of my favorite birds, a Chickadee enjoying this treat! :.

.: This Tufted Titmouse would take a seed and then sit over on the branch to crack it open :.

In no time at all they found the snacks that we left them. Soon all that was left was a bare pinecone left to return to forest once again!

.: A closer look at this friend who was enjoying the treat we left him :.