Create and Share Archives - Knock It Off Kim

Jewel Tone Christmas Pinecone Trees

Posted in Christmas, DIY, Winter: Seasonal Decor and Crafts

on December 6, 2016

Pine cone Christmas Tree Ornaments in sparkling jewel tones are easy and inexpensive to make with outdoor pinecones and acrylic paints.

How to make a pine cone Christmas tree in sparkling jewel tones

Hi, friends! I’m here today to share a fun holiday project with you! It’s the first Tuesday of the month which means it’s time for the December Create with Me DIY Challenge! This fun challenge is where you, our readers, vote on the projects we’ll work on each month, so be sure to scroll to the very last bit of this post to vote for next month’s project theme before you go!

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclaimer for further information.

This month our material was pinecones. Pinecones are such a great crafting tool, especially during this time of year. And, since I have Christmas on the brain, a Christmas project is what I’m sharing today – specifically, Christmas Pinecone Trees!

These couldn’t be more simple to create and the materials to make them and very inexpensive, especially if you are lucky enough to live in an area that has pine trees. Or rather, I live near an area that has a ton of pine trees. My son takes therapeutic horseback riding lessons on a farm nearby that happens to have an over abundance of pine trees and cones. During his last lesson, I arrived toting a bucket! #anythingforcrafting

I was inspired by, and love, love the bottle brush trees that are so popular these last few Holiday seasons. Even more than the shape and texture of the trees I love the colors!

To make some yourself you’ll need:

Large pinecones – about 10-12
Medium weight, brown cardstock
Cone pattern – I used this one here and printed it out on my computer
Glue – glue gun and regular purpose craft glue
Pruning shears
Paint in your choice of colors
Matching glitter(optional)
Clear spray

How to clean and dry pine cones

1. If you are using outdoor pine cones, start by baking them on a cookie sheet in a 200-degree oven for 30 minutes. Baking will kill off any varmints! Then, carefully remove the “petals” of each pine cone at the base.

2. Create your cones using varying heights according to the template instructions.

3. Using a glue gun, attach the petals point side facing towards you and down, starting at the bottom and moving around the bottom edge. Continue to add petals, moving upwards in rows, spacing them out evenly as you work until you’ve completed the tree.

4. Paint the trees in the color or colors of your choice. Let dry.

5. If using glitter, dot each petal with all-purpose glue and sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.

Pine Cone Table Decorations

I love how these turned out and am so excited to display them on my dining table this Christmas!

Don’t forget it, Pin it!

Now, we need YOUR help! Take the survey below and tell me what you want to Create with Me for January!

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For even more amazing Pinecone projects, check out the other projects for December!

Snow Tipped Pinecone Wreath- Little Bits of Home

Pinecone Kissing Ball – Our Crafty Mom

Snow Covered Christmas Decor- Refresh Living

Dipped Pinecone Gift Wrap Embellishment- Making Joy and Pretty Things

Jewel Toned Pinecone Trees- Knock it Off Kim

Pinecone Fire Starter- My Life from Home

ByKim

4 Comments

Tags : Create and Share

3-Tiered Industrial Lamp – April Create and Share Challenge

Posted in DIY

on April 27, 2016

Welcome to the April Create and Share Challenge! Each month, an item is chosen, and each participant must make something using all of the components of the item. This month’s item – a 3tier wire hanging basket!

3-Tier Wire Basket – Amazon.com

You might notice this month’s challenge is a bit sparse with participants – the One Room Challenge is keeping many of us busy. My room make-over is coming along, but I’m feeling the stress of time ticking away. Please, stop by and take a look at my progress so far and let me know what you think!

Thank you to Stephanie and Cat for hosting this month’s Create and Share Challenge despite being crazy busy themselves. What we lack in participants we make up for in creativity. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for a complete list of projects for this challenge!

When I first saw our object for this month, I was a little stumped. I extended out the baskets, turned it sideways, turned it upside down.. and finally, an idea came to me.. an industrial style hanging lamp! It’s funny what happens when you look at things upside down.

This is my final result – cute right? And perfectly quirky and fun for my son’s room!

Here’s how I did it. First, I snagged a light kit from Amazon, but I think you might be able to get something similar at World Market. I love their light kits for their price and usability! I threaded a chain through the chord by opening up the light socket, unthreading the wires and re-threading them after threading the hanging chain.

Light Kit

After removing and reattaching the chain links holding the baskets together – I reduced the reach to six links between baskets – I removed the chains and hook from the top and shortened the chains off of the bottom basket, using a pair of pliers.

Using a very sharp pair of wire cutters, I cut out an opening the size of the socket, into each basket, lining them up to ensure the light would hang through the middle, then bent back the wires left on the basket to remove any sharp edges.

I then reattached the chain hanger and reattached it to the chord chain using the links removed.

Finally, I added an Edison-style bulb and placed the light in its new home – my son’s room!This was a super easy project that I hope you’ll have a chance to try on your own! In the meantime, grab a coffee, have a cookie and check out the other projects in this challenge brought to you by the following talented ladies!

DIY Wire Mirrors : Casa Watkins Living

DIY Bath Caddy : Pocketful of Posies

Repurposed Hanging Storage Basket Stand : Garden Matter

Industrial 3 Tiered Pendant Light : Knock It Off Kim

Pin for later – 3-Tiered Industrial Lamp

ByKim

4 Comments

Tags : Create and Share, diy

Indoor Fairy Garden in Pots

Posted in DECOR, DIY, OUTSIDE, SPRING: SEASONAL DECOR AND CRAFTS

on February 25, 2016

The one thing you can count on in Virginia is the crazy weather. After a particularly unpredictable and stormy day, filled with chilly moments, tornado-inducing winds, torrential downpours, all ending with a 70+ evening, I’m back with a fun little fairy garden project. Clearly my brain is still on Spring’s inevitable arrival!

Today’s project started as a challenge, specifically a Create and Share Challenge hosted by the sweet Stephanie of Casa Watkins.

Every month, each member of a group of some of my favorite bloggers is given the same item and tasked with coming up with an original idea for that piece. The only rules are that the entire item must be used in the final result. At the end of the challenge, each blogger presents their project. Our item this month I found to be especially challenging for some reason. I even had a brainstorming session with my family, searching for ideas. Out of that session came this one – a fairy garden!

I love the whimsy of a fairy garden. There is something magical about them. You half expect a real fairy to come flitting out from under the flowers and plants! That’s what I was trying to achieve with this project.

This is what we started with.

Adding large craft sticks to the front and back of the stand with a glue gun, spacing them slightly apart, gave the look of fencing.

Applying dark walnut wax to the entire piece, matched the new fence pieces to the old finish, and adding a small circle of floral foam to each pot allowed picks to be held in place, including the tiny birdnest used in the garden.

The nest fit perfectly into one of the pots and was then surrounded by reindeer moss. A tiny fairy nestles in, her little face peeking out from under the pansies.

A thicker moss across across the other pot, a carpet for the other accents. Flower stalks are a lovely umbrella to shade a comfy chair.

The finishing touches – adding a tiny pennant across the bottom and a sweet sign makes sure fairies know they are welcome.

I can’t wait for my real garden to come to life, but in the meantime, this adorable indoor garden will keep my hopes alive and bring a smile to my face.