DIY Twine & Paper Lampshade

I'm in love with this cute little lampshade I
made for my January Whisker Graphics
Design Team Project.

Looks cute in the day.........

....and at night.

I started off with an an old lampshade stripped
of it's cover.

I wrapped the frame with
Whisker Graphics Black Licorice Divine Twine.
This twine is a perfect complement to the toile
scrapbook paper I choose to weave into a new
shade for my little lamp.

After the frame of the lampshade is completely
covered in twine cut your paper.

A cutting board with a rotary cutter attachment makes this a snap.

I cut my paper into 1/2" stripes. This worked perfectly for my small
lampshade, only 5" tall. If you attempted this paper twine lampshade
craft, (say that 10 times fast) you may have to adjust the widths
of your parer strips.

Now time for the weaving.

Wrap the paper around the frame and secure
with some hot glue.

As you weave the paper under and over the
frame secure the paper to the frame with hot glue.
Attach strips of paper together with more glue to
make them long enough to go around your shade.

Weave in a complete circle one row at a time.

Tada......!  I love the way the twine complements the toile.

So pretty with the light on or off.

The shadow the shade makes is super cool.

The way the light glows threw the paper is
super cool too.

Love'n those shadows.

**** make sure to use a low wattage bulb****

Like one used in night lights.   ;)

Supplies:

Lampshade

Divine Twine

Scrapbook paper

Scissors

Rotary cutter 

Cutting board

Ruler

Glue gun and glue sticks

Lamp

Low wattage lightbulb

Check out all the fun over at.....

Be Different Act Normal

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My kids keep going around saying, "I'm so EXCITED about Christmas."

All THE time. And I am too. This is the first year that both our

boys 2 and 4 really get it. We've donated a lot this year and it's been

awesome to see them get excited about giving and sharing.

Well, just wishing everyone a really special Christmas full of giving....

and.... receiving....... too.  ;)

I'm SOOooooOOOOooo excited about Christmas!   ;)

Hershey's Blossom Cookies With Mint Chocolate Kisses

Hello and Merry Christmas to everyone out there in Blog Land.

If you're looking for a last minute cookie to make I got a good
one for ya. Fast, easy, delicious and FESTIVE!!!

Chocolate cookie dough rolled into a ball. Dredged in sprinkles
baked and then toped off with a mint kiss! YUM....

For the dough,
Cream together, 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of shorting,
1 cup sugar. Once creamed add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Mix well.

In a separate bowl sift together, 2 cups all purpose flour,
4 tablespoons of Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon salt
and 1 teaspoon baking powder.

Add slowly to butter mixture. Mix well but, do not over mix,
over mixing makes for a tough dough.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop and roll dough into 1" balls.

Roll balls into sprinkles and place on cookie sheet.
Bake about 10 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven.

When the cookies come out of the oven let them cool about a
minute the place a kiss in the center. As they cool the kiss will
harden again.

F-E-S-T-I-V-E

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.


I made these again too.

Would totally recommend them again.

Super DUPER Festive!!!!!! I've been asked about the large
pearlized sanding sugar..... I found it at Michael's in the regular
baking area NOT with the Holiday sprinkles.....!  ;)

Hope your Holiday is coming along nicely!!!!!!!

Whisker Graphics Design Team Christmas Wreath, Swag, Garland,..... Project

Hello All,
Hope your Holiday Season is off to a good start and all is......

I'm so diggen this festive little swag I made for my Whisker Graphics
Design Team project. It's so merry and bright glittery.

During a trip to a home improvement store I spied these little
drapery rings.

They got me thinking,... mini wreathes!!!!!
So, I picked up a few spray painted them white and wrapped
them in Green Apple Divine Twine.

Decorated they would make fun little Christmas Tree ornaments.

TIP:
Wrap some twine onto a small spool or paddle so you aren't
dealing with too much twine at once. Use that to wrap the rings,
as it will be easier to pass threw the ring. The large spool of twine
does not fit threw the ring easily.

Start wrapping the twine next to the eye hook.

Use hot glue to secure the twine every inch or so.

I couldn't find red glittery letters at my local craft store. Sooo,
I purchases white glittered letters and re-glittered them,.. red.
Tis the season.....
I guess red sells out fast this time of year.  huh... ;)

I pre-place the letters on the rings.

Making sure everything laid out nicely.

Then went to town glueing the letters down with hot glue.

Clipping the rings onto the ribbon they hang from was....
well just as easy as clipping them on.  ;)

I love this swag as an alternative to a
traditional Christmas wreath.

I'm loving the red glitter with the freshness of that green, such
a great color!

Diggen that happy ribbon too!
Glitter white polka dots on red grosgrain =
visual peppermint.

MERRY Christmas...... more to come with those rings too!

Supplies;
Drapery rings with clips
White spray paint
Green Apple Divine Twine
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Glitter letters
Ribbon

Come check out all the fun at.....
Be Different Act Normal
I Gotta Try That