GardenMama

.: Frosted Votive Centerpiece~Tutorial :.

While the house is cozy and warm we pull back the curtains in search of the morning sun. To our delight we find our old friend Jack Frost has paid us a visit and left behind his lovely artwork on the newly-frosted windows!

With Christmas drawing near, we wish to bring cheer to all of our family and friends who may visit! We set out white tissue paper, glass jars, and glue to create frosted candleholders!

.: The candle reminds us of the warmth of  home, and the white tissue paper covered jar is  reminiscent of the beauty of the morning frost! :.

For this project you will need:

.: Half-pint Mason jars.  (Recycled pickle, jam, or sauce jars would be wonderful as well!)             

.: Modge Podge Decoupage Glue  

.: Paint brush                          

.: White tissue paper.                                                        

.: Paper doiles (Can be found in the baking section of a craft store.)

.: Raffia  ( I used brown-colored Raffia  to pick up on the brown pine cones in the greenery.)

Steps One, Two & Three:

Cover the entire glass jar with glue.

Tear white tissue paper into strips and begin to cover every part of the glass with the tissue paper. Once this step is finished, coat the entire jar a second time to seal it and ensure a smooth finish.

Cover the bottom of your jar with glue and set it on top of a paper doile.  This will give your jar a place to dry without getting glue everywhere. (It also brings a sweetness to the candle with the 'lace' edge showing.)

Step Four:

Cut out the center of one of the larger paper doilie's and glue the circular shape onto the front of (a larger sized) lantern so that the glow of the candle within highlights the lace design.

Step Five:

Tie your Raffia around the rim of the jar. Next, place your greenery and pinecone in place and secure them to the jar with the raffia as well.

* These frosted votive holders are also easy enough for the children to create for their own gift-giving*

  These small frosted winter votive holders were originally part of a commission for a winter party. I inscribed all of the attendant's names on the bottom of each paper doile.  All of the votives are ringed by a handmade evergreen wreath to create an illuminated natural centerpiece. At the end of the evening each guest will take home a frosted votive as a keepsake of the celebration! 

.: The decorated mantle - also part of the creating I did for a winter party commission piece! :.

May your holiday celebrations be infused with intention, artfulness and light!

.: Bittersweet & Pinecone Crafting :.

.: The colors of autumn growing all around us! :.

We are taking in every last bit of autumn and so on this last day of November I would like to share with you some of the gathering and creating we have been up to in these last days before December-- inspired of course by family walks in the woods!

.:Pinecones and Bittersweet berries were gathered during our walk in the woods!:.

Pinecones were gathered in gathering baskets to join bittersweet wreaths and to incorporate into many crafting projects throughout the winter months ahead.

Bittersweet grows wild all around our home, with each walk and visit outdoors we have enjoyed gathering it up by the armful!

.: My son clips away each leaf to prepare the vines for weaving! :.

My oldest son began the wreath by clipping off each and every leaf that grew on the bittersweet vines.  The leaves will dry and crumble, but the bittersweet berries will slowly open, sharing both a brilliant orange and yellow. If stored properly they will join us on our door next autumn as well!

.: These small woven vines soon turn into a full wreath! :.

We began sorting out the vines and started to weave them in and around,  securing them only by twisting one vine around the next.  I continued weaving each vine until the wreath became very full.

.: Pinecones wrapped with wire and secured to the bittersweet vine :.

Some of the pinecones we gathered also made their way onto the bittersweet wreath.  Thin green floral wire was wrapped around the center of the pinecone, joined in the back, and then twisted onto the vines.

.: The finished wreath is a daily reminder of our time spent in the woods! :.

The completed wreath hangs next to the front door.  In a few days the yellow berries begin to open and soon transform into a beautiful orange. I appreciate how the the colors of the pinecones complement the brightness of the berries and remind us of our special walks in the woods!