Tami Loves Vintage

Creating Keepsakes With Vintage Treasures

8 of My Favorite Spring Craft Ideas

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I have been having so much fun crafting and creating for spring this week. So I thought this would be a great time for me to share 8 of my favorite spring craft ideas with you. I hope you have a much fun with these projects as I have!

I love crafting for any season. Or for no season at all! But there is just something special about crafting for a season that is all about new beginnings. Every year we are given a fresh start and that always makes me feel joyful. There are so many spring projects (old and new) that I love. But today I am sharing 8 of my favorite spring craft ideas. I hope you love them as much as I do!

8 of My Favorite Spring Craft Ideas

Choosing a favorite craft project is like choosing a favorite child. It can’t be done. But the nice thing about craft projects is that you can try as many as you want to. And fall in love with all of them for different reasons. Below are some of my favorite projects for spring. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Making Fabric Carrots

This may be one of my most popular spring craft ideas. I think that is because these fabric carrots are not only adorable, they are also so adaptable! You can make them vintage like I did, go traditional, or add some bright spring colors to your decor!

Making Fabric Carrots

Decorating Vintage Easter Eggs

These vintage Easter eggs are a beautiful way to bring some vintage flare to our spring decor. I love choosing different combinations of pretty things to add to each egg. They can be as simple or as intricate as you like. They are sure to come out beautifully however you make them!

Decorating Vintage Eggs

How to Make a Paper Mache Bunny

Don’t let the words “paper mache” scare you! This cute little bunny is done using the instant variety, not the buckets of messy paste. Fun to make and easy to embellish, this adorable bunny is definitely one of my favorite spring projects!

Paper Mache Bunny

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

This is a collection of inspiration all on its own. Some of the ideas are mine, some of them I have collected through the years. But I sure do love them all! No matter your style, you are sure to find an Easter egg decorating idea you’ll love!

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

How to Make a Vintage Cardboard Collage

This Easter project is probably one you can make today. It uses supplies that you most likely already have on hand! This cutie makes a great shelf sitter or mantle decor.

Vintage Cardboard Bunny

Making Crispy Easter Nests

This sweet Easter treat has been my signature dish for Easter gatherings for years. I’m sharing our family’s not-so-secret recipe for crispy Easter nests! The best part is that they aren’t just for Easter. Swap out your candy colors and you have a treat for any holiday!

Making Crispy Easter Nests

How to Make Hand Painted Easter Eggs

Another one of my most popular spring crafts is hand painted Easter eggs. I know that hand painted sounds hard but I promise it’s not! If you can put paint on the brush, I can show you how to make these beautiful eggs for yourself!

How to Make Hand Painted Easter Eggs

Growing Grass: Spring Craft Ideas

This fun spring project is perfect for creatives of all ages! It combines a little planting with a lot of crafting fun. This is a great one to do with the kids. My girls always loved decorating empty eggs with funny faces and planting grass as their hair. But there are a lot of other fun ways to do this one too!

Growing Grass: Cute Spring Craft Ideas

The Wrap Up

So there you have 8 of my favorite craft ideas for spring! I love each one for different reasons and I hope you have found some inspiration for your own spring projects. I would love to know if you try any of these fun crafts! Leave me a comment here or tag me if you post pictures of your creations on social media.

I hope you have a fabulous spring and a great time creating, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Growing Grass: Cute Spring Craft Ideas

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I am really craving spring right now. To get me through these last weeks of winter I am pulling out an old spring craft favorite. I am growing grass in cute containers. The results are adorable and they bring new life to our homes at a time when we are most craving it!

By the end of the summer season each year I am over cutting the grass. But, at the end of winter, I am longing for new grass and all the growing things! That makes growing grass a cute spring craft idea with uplifting benefits.

Whether you grow your grass in decorated eggs or another cute spring container, it is sure to brighten your home and your day!

Growing Grass: Cute Spring Craft Ideas

One of the things that I love about this project is that you can plant your grass seeds in just about anything! I love using the egg shells, especially around Easter. But I have also done them in paint cans and cute little watering cans.

You can use anything that will hold water so get as creative as you like! Just remember that if you use eggs you will need something to place them in so they stay upright. I love this cute egg holder in the picture below. I use that for sure but I also have a couple of cute egg cups that I use.

It’s totally up to you what you use, just make sure the eggs will be standing up and that your stand can handle a little water if you drip.

Growing Grass: The Perfect Spring Craft Project for Kids!

If you have kids in your life, the eggs are a really great option. Younger kids will need help cracking the egg and forming the opening. But they can help dump the eggs (my girls have always loved doing this!) and they can definitely get in on the decorating.

If you have younger children or just don’t want to get all the paints out, you can use permanent markers to decorate the eggs instead. Your kids can draw whatever they want on the eggs. We used to love adding funny faces! Then when the grass starts growing it becomes hair for our egg characters.

Another reason this project is great for kids is that the grass grows quickly. Patience is not something many of us are good at as children. Or as adults, for that matter (haha!). But you won’t have to wait long before your seeds start to sprout.

Your kiddos will be able to see the results of their work quickly. AND they’ll be able to give their eggs “hair cuts” after a couple of weeks. I think my girls were able to cut theirs 4 or 5 times before the grass was done.

Growing Grass: Cute Spring Craft Ideas Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  • If you are going to use eggs as your container they need to be emptied first. What I did was save my egg shells for a few days. But you could also empty several into a bowl and then save them to bake with or for scrambled eggs. Whatever is easiest for you!
  • To empty your eggs, crack them at the smaller end and then gently use your finger to break away enough of the shell to make an opening at the top.
  • Once the eggs are empty, rinse them out and leave them to dry.
  • Now you can decorate your eggs! Use paints to add cute pictures or floral designs to your shells.
  • When your paint is dry, use a spoon to add potting soil to each egg. Tap the soil down after each spoonful so it gets packed down a bit. Fill the eggs a little more than half way. Then sprinkle in a little bit of grass seed. Now add a little more soil to cover your seeds.
  • Finally, water the seeds. You want them nice and damp but not soaking.
  • Set your eggs in a sunny window and your seeds will sprout in just days!

Caring for your Grass

Grass is a very forgiving plant. Which means that, even if you aren’t a green thumb, you can still do this adorable project! All your grass really needs is some sunlight and a little water.

Choose a sunny windowsill or other sunny spot in your home to keep your containers of grass. If your container is small (like eggs) check them fairly often to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out completely. As long as your grass has sunlight and water, it should keep growing for awhile.

Usually what would happen in our house was that the grass lasted as long as my girls’ interest in it did. We would have fun with them for weeks and then, when the weather would break and we were outside again, our grass eggs would fade from our memories until the next year.

As always, spring teaches us about the circle of life.

The Wrap Up

And that’s a wrap, friends! This is such a fun and easy little spring craft project to do. I used to love doing the eggs with my girls. And now I love trying new things with growing grass as a craft! No matter which direction you take this project in, I hope you love it as much as I do!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Make Hand Painted Easter Eggs

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If you have been following me for awhile, you know that I love to decorate eggs for Easter. Today I am sharing one of my favorite methods! I am showing you how to make hand painted Easter eggs. And it’s easy, I promise!

I may not color eggs with my girls every year like I used to. But an empty nest doesn’t mean that I can’t still have a blast decorating eggs! I just get a little more creative these days. I have several go to egg decorating techniques and, in the video below, I show you how to make hand painted Easter eggs like a pro!

So grab your eggs (more on options for these later), your favorite paints, and let’s get crafting!

How to Make Hand Painted Easter Eggs

I know that, if you aren’t a painter, hand painted anything can be intimidating. But I promise that there is nothing to be scared of with these eggs. If you can make a blob, you can make a hand painted egg!

When you watch the video tutorial, you will see exactly what I mean. But know that these flowers are very forgiving. Basically they are just a few blobs of pretty paint that are pulled together to make a flower.

These flowers are pretty at their most basic. But you can always add more colors and details if you want! Sometimes I blend in extra colors, others I add a few paint dots at the centers of the flowers. Whatever you want to do will be lovely!

And, if you have true painting skills, the sky is the limit! I am really good at painting large pieces but not as skilled with the details as some of you girls are. But I still love the way my little painted eggs turn out!

What Type of Eggs Can I Hand Paint?

You can use anything egg shaped for this project! I have used real egg with great success, you just have to blow out the insides (I explain how to do that below). Or you can buy paintable eggs. There are some that are weighted and textured to feel just like a hollow egg.

You can also use wooden eggs. They hold up great and can give you a beautiful texture. I also love the look of brown paper mache eggs. You can paint them but I have also decorated them in other cute ways!

And, if you have those bright fillable plastic eggs laying around, you could even use them! It would probably be a good idea to hot glue the egg closed before painting them. That way you won’t have to worry about them popping open when you handle them.

Each type of egg will give you a slightly different surface to work. They will also have slightly different textures. So use what you have on hand or what you prefer. The technique will work great on whatever you pick!

How to Blow out Eggs for Painting

  1. Start by putting a piece of tape on both ends of the egg.
  2. Then use a needle, nail, or thumb tack to gently make a hole in the top of your egg. Gently push the needle into the end and then twist it lightly to make a small opening in the egg.
  3. Repeat the same process at the bottom (larger) end of the egg. Make this hole a little larger than the one on top.
  4. Now use a long sharp tool (opened paper clip, tooth pick, etc) to stir gently stir the egg. If you mix it up, it will blow out more easily. Just be gentle with your mixing so you don’t crack the shell.
  5. Then put your mouth over the hole on the top. Hold the egg over a bowl and blow the mixed egg through the hole in the bottom.
  6. Finally, rinse your eggs and leave them to dry overnight. They need to be completely dry before you paint them.

Hand Painted Easter Eggs Supply List

  • Eggs
  • Filbert paint brush and a fine brush
  • Paint (for flowers, flower centers, and leaves)
  • Paint tray
  • Black permanent marker
  • Hair dryer (optional)

Step by Step Instructions

  • You can paint right on a white or brown egg. Or you can paint your whole egg before painting your flower. If you paint your whole egg first, allow it to dry before adding your flowers.
  • Put a little bit of each of your paint colors onto your paint tray. Dip the filbert brush into a flower color. Then use it to make 4-5 roundish flower petals.
  • Then use a finer brush to add a circle of another color at the center of your flower.
  • Next, use a green paint and a filbert brush to add a leaf to your flower.
  • Then you can go back in and add smaller flowers if you want to. Make sure you paint is dry before moving on. You can use a hair dryer to speed this along if you want to.
  • Once your paint is dry, use the black magic marker to roughly outline your flowers. This does not be to be exact. Just outline part of the outer edges of the petals and leaf. And add a vein to your leaf and a couple of little lines inside your flowers. Whatever you think looks pretty!

The Wrap Up

And that’s it! I promised you it would be easy. I know that many of you were worried you wouldn’t be able to make these because you aren’t a painter. But you totally can!! Remember, it’s just blobs of pretty color pulled together to make abstract flowers. You can do this! And when you do, I hope you love them as much as I do.

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Making Crispy Easter Nests

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I have a sweet and fun treat to share with you today! My daughter Summer and I are making crispy Easter nests and taking you along for the ride. This super easy recipe is our go to holiday treat!

I know it’s still a little early to be making crispy Easter nests. But these nests aren’t just for Easter! I just made some for Valentine’s Day and they turned out so cute! You can make these Easter nests for any holiday by just changing up your candy colors.

Green and red for Christmas, red, pink, and white for Valentine’s Day, or pastels for making crispy Easter nests. You get the idea! And luckily for us, they make M&Ms for all seasons so it’s easy to adapt the recipe. No matter what holiday you make them for, they always taste amazing!

Making Crispy Easter Nests

I started making these Easter nests years ago. I don’t even remember how long it’s been. They are now my signature Easter dish and I make them every year. My favorite way to make them is with my daughters though. We have been making them together since they were very little.

And in the video below I get to make nests with my daughter Summer. We work together to show you how to put together these cute Easter treats. And, as always, have a blast doing it!

Tips and Tricks

This recipe is messy but I promise it’s deliciousness is so worth it! It will still be messy but I do have a couple of tips to help you minimize the mess and maximize the flavor.

First off, you can use a second smaller bowl to combine your marshmallow fluff and peanut butter. That will allow you to make sure they are well combined. And it allows you to add a little at a time to your other ingredients. That can make the mixing a bit easier.

Since this is can be tough to mix, you may want to just get in there with your hands. Greasing your hands with butter will help keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers. The butter also helps when it’s time to shape your nests. We keep a little bit of butter handy for any time we need to re-grease.

We also like to roughly chop our plain M&Ms before we add them. It makes for more even distribution and the nests are a bit easier to form. Just don’t go too nuts or the candies will be crushed too finely and you won’t be able to see the color.

Making Crispy Easter Nests Supply List

17 ounce jar of marshmallow cream (2cups)

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons of softened butter

15 ounce can or bag of chow mein noodles

One cup chopped up plain M&Ms

1 cup peanut M&Ms un-chopped

Fine green sprinkles (optional)

You will also need a large mixing bowl, spoon, and wax paper to place your nests on while they set.

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by combining the marshmallow cream and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl and mix well to combine. Then add the noodles and 1 cup of plain M&Ms. Mix well with a fork.
  • Lay out your wax paper. Then, with greased fingers, form small nests and place them on the wax paper to set. Let them stand until they are firm. You can sprinkle the bottoms of the nests with powdered sugar to keep them from sticking.
  • You can sprinkle the green glitter (if you are using it) on your nests to look like grass.
  • Finally, place 3-4 peanut M&Ms into your nests.

The Wrap Up

These sweet crispy Easter nests are definitely messy. But they set up nicely and aren’t a big sticky mess when you eat them. And, like I said, my girls and I have always loved making them together. Whether you make them to share or get the littles in your life involved, I hope you love these nests as much as we do! ENJOY!!!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland

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I can’t believe that February is almost here! Today I am sharing a quick and easy project to get your February off to a great start. Learn how to make a vintage Valentine’s Day garland that will be the perfect addition to your holiday decor!

One of the things you may notice about this tutorial is that it doesn’t have a video like most of my blog posts do. The reason for that is that this adorable vintage Valentine’s Day garland is one that I did a few years ago in my membership group, Tami’s Making. It’s an example of one of the bonus tutorials that I throw in each month.

I couldn’t share the video of this project with you because it is only accessible to members of the group. But when you join us you also have access to all past videos so you can scroll back and watch it! I do at least 3 exclusive video tutorials every month. As well as little bonus crafts like this one.

And, you also have access to all the tutorials that I’ve done since I started the group in 2019! I’d love it if you would come craft with us!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland

Get ready for one of the cutest and simplest Valentine’s Day crafts around! This one literally took me only minutes to make. I had to stop myself from making enough to drape my whole house. There actually can be too much of a good thing, no matter how cute.

Vintage Garland Tips and Tricks

One of the best things about this project is how simple it is. But I still want to give you the tips and tricks that I shared in the video tutorial.

To start, I always trim the margins off of my pages. I used a wonderful old dictionary with large pages. The margins were quite wide and I didn’t want blank spaces on my hearts. So I just cut them off before I started punching out my hearts.

I also chose pages that had lots of words and few pictures. You can choose the type of pages that make you happy, though! As I was laying out my hearts I made sure that I liked the look of the side of the heart that would be facing out. If not I just flipped it over.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you want the yarn to cross each heart at the same level. I glued mine across the widest part of the heart to give them as much support as possible. Keeping them all at the same level will make them hang more evenly. And they will look more clean and uniform.

Design Variations

The idea of this group is just to inspire you, you can do so many different things with this project! One thing that I thought about was spacing the hearts out a little more and adding buttons or vintage jewelry pieces between each one.

You could also do this with colorful paper. I just love vintage things so I like knowing that my hearts are made from vintage books. Any cute paper would work too though!

You can use any shapes you want too! An Easter egg or bunny punch would be so cute for Easter. Or flower shapes for the summer. The options for Christmas and winter are so many. You get the idea, make them for any and all seasons you like!

Another thing I thought of was to add lettering. “Be Mine” or any of the cute conversation heart sayings could be lettered onto your hearts. And you could even add glitter to really sparkle things up. Whatever you do with this idea, I hope you have a lot of fun with it!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by cutting off any large margins from your pages. Then use the heart punch or stencil and scissors to cut out a pile of hearts from your pages.
  • Cut your yarn to the length you want it. Then tie a double knot at each end to keep it from fraying.
  • Put a line of hot glue horizontally across the thickest part of one of the hearts. Then lay the yarn on top of it and push it down.
  • Leave a space (I did mine a finger tip apart) and then add your next heart. Continue this process until your whole garland is complete.
  • Then flip your garland over. Use the hot glue to attach a second heart over the back of each of your existing hearts. this will cover your yarn and make it pretty from both sides. I put a dot of glue on each hump and the tip of the hearts. And one on the yarn itself. That kept them nice and secure.

The Wrap Up

As far as Valentine’s Day craft projects go, this one is definitely a favorite. I strung my garland across the old bed springs that hang on my wall. But you can hang yours anywhere! They would be cute across a doorway or a mantel too. Wherever yours end up, I hope you love them as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Making a Vintage Book Collage

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I have such a cute project to share with you this week, friends! I am making a vintage book collage that is perfect for displaying heirlooms, family photos, and any other treasures you want!

When one of you finds a project you know I will love and shares it with me, I absolutely love it! I got the idea of making a vintage book collage from Kasey Van Dyke with DIY Everywhere. Thank you Cathy Miller for reaching out to me with her idea!

I was able to take a damaged old book that I had and give it new life. Now it is a beautiful decorative piece that can be used in many ways. Below I share the video tutorial, supply list, and step by step instructions so you can make your own fabulous vintage book collage!

Making a Vintage Book Collage

This vintage book collage combines so many of my favorite things! You know that I love using vintage books. And my favorite projects are the ones where I get to give wonderful vintage items center stage. A huge bonus to this craft is that it can also be really special and sentimental. Like I said, all of my favorite things!

When I went live on Facebook to share this fun project, you guys had some great ideas about how else we could use these book collages! It was suggested to use a cookbook and put grandma’s handwritten recipes in the folds. Use a church hymnal and put favorite song titles for a secret sister gift.

Some other ideas were grandma’s handwritings as a gift for your sister or mother. Or baby or graduation photos as a gift for a special occasion.

There are literally a million different ways that you can take this fabulous design. It can be customized to your own look and interests. And can be adapted to make very special gifts.

Book Collage Variations

You can use a book of any size, shape, and condition! Mine was a large hardback book in really rough shape. I used hot glue to reattach the cover and binding before I started making my collage. The large size of my book allowed me to add lots of fun vintage items.

But you could absolutely do this with a smaller book. It just depends on the space you are trying to fill and the books you find or have on hand.

You can also display your book in different ways. Either standing up, open flat, or propped up like mine is. I have my book collage propped against an old lamp with a greenery plop next to it. I love how greenery adds a pop of color and texture next to my neutral toned items. Who am I kidding? I love greenery everywhere!

Here’s a Tip…

When you watch the video below you will see that I found some fabulous illustrations in my book. Next time I do this I will be sure to look through the book first. That way I can carefully remove any pages that I love and want to feature in other projects.

Since you are only taking out a page here and there it won’t be noticeable that some are missing. And you will be able to see those beautiful pages in another project instead of them being hidden away in the book. Just an idea!

Watch the Video Tutorial Here!

Vintage Book Collage Supply List

Apply hot glue along the inside seam of the book
Roll the edges of the pages back toward the glue

Step by Step Instructions

  1. The book that I used was in terrible shape so I started by using hot glue to reattach the binding of my book.
  2. Then I skipped in a few pages and grabbed a section of pages (it happened to be about 20 pages but the number doesn’t matter). Next, add a line of hot glue at the binding and then roll your pages back and tuck the edges into your glue line.
  3. Repeat the same process 4 more times working with one section at a time. The sections do not all need to be the same size.
  4. Now you can add in any vintage book and music pages, postcards, family photos etc. into the folds.
  5. You can add any fun bits of vintage items that you like. I used keys, buttons, and burlap on mine!

The Wrap Up…

I am so happy Cathy Miller shared Kasey Van Dyke’s idea with me! And I couldn’t wait to share my version with you. There is so much to love about this project. and so many ways that you can do it. Whether it’s a treasure for yourself of a fabulous gift for a friend, I hope you love them as much as I do! And if you make your own I would absolutely love to see them. Tag me on social media or sign up for texts with me so I can check them out!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Brussel Sprout Bacon Brie Bruschetta

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Hi, friends! I know that I normally share vintage things that I love with you. But sometimes I have other fabulous things that I want to bring you. And that is exactly what I have for you today! I am showing you how to make brussel sprout bacon brie bruschetta. It is absolutely delicious and I think you are going to love it!

Party season is upon us and with it comes lots of good food and good company. I made brussel sprout bacon brie bruschetta last week to take to an Ohio State party. I just knew that some of you would love them as much as I do. I went live on my Facebook page to show how I make them and several of you wanted the recipe. So here we are! This recipe is originally from Café Delights. I have included the ingredient list, step by step instructions, and my video tutorial in case you missed it.

These pretty little appetizers pack a whole lot of flavor and they are always a big hit. They are the perfect thing to take when attending a party. For that reason I wanted to make sure that I got the recipe to you quickly so you will have it for all of your upcoming holiday parties.

Brussel Sprout Bacon Brie Bruschetta

One of my favorite things to bring to (or serve at) a party is appetizers. They are perfect for grazing and people can come back to them again and again. Plus, have you ever noticed that often the appetizers get more attention than the main course? You spend weeks planning that perfect Thanksgiving meal and by the time you all sit down to eat everyone is already half way full of appetizers.

I don’t mind it. As long as our guests leave with full and happy bellies then I am happy. But I like to make sure that the appetizers that I do serve are fabulous! That way if we fill up before dinner we don’t feel like we have missed out on all the good stuff.

I also love parties where appetizers are the main event and there is no sit down meal. It can be hard to break with tradition when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas but for other get togethers an appetizer spread is the best! I love that people can bring any type of appetizer they want. And that they can eat what they want when they want it. People don’t feel pressured to eat all the things or to stop a good conversation because the dinner bell has rung. It is a more laid back approach to food that is still tasty and filling. Don’t get me wrong, I love a big ole holiday feast too. It is just nice to switch it up sometimes and appetizer swaps are a fun way to do it!

Watch the Video Tutorial here!

Brussel Sprout Bacon Brie Bruschetta Ingredients

Step by Step Instructions

  • Pre-heat your oven to 350.
  • Cook the bacon in a skillet and chop it when it is done. Return it to the pan and add the chopped brussel sprouts and garlic to the bacon.
  • Continue cooking over medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes.
  • Slice the baggett and brush olive oil on one side of it.
  • Next spread the brie onto each bread slice.
  • Add a tablespoon of the cooked bacon, sprouts, and garlic to each slice.
  • Drizzle a bit of the reduced balsamic glaze onto each slice and then bake for 5-7 minutes. Keep a close eye on it after 5 minutes.
  • Let them cool a little bit and then serve.

The Wrap Up

Whether you are hosting a party or making something to take along, these tasty bites are sure to be loved! I know that not everyone cares for brussel sprouts but I have actually converted a few with this recipe. And, of course, you could always make some ingredient swaps if you want to. Just like any other recipe this one can be tailored a bit.

However you enjoy this brussel sprout bruschetta I hope that you are blessed with many loved ones to share it with!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Decorating Flameless Candles

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Hi, friends! Today I have a really quick and easy project for you. I am working on decorating flameless candles today and I wanted to share how it do it!

You know I love the big projects but sometimes it is nice to have one up your sleeve that only takes a few minutes. Crafting helps me to relax and unwind. Sometimes that means pulling out all of my supplies and working on something new. Other times I go back to a project that I’ve done many times and still love. (I’m looking at you decorated vintage bottles!)

And on days when I only have a little bit of time or energy, I love easy projects like decorating flameless candles. I still get to craft and I still love the results but I don’t make a mess and I can wrap things up quickly. Read on to learn how I take plane candles and add a little bit of love to make them beautiful!

Decorating Flameless Candles

I do love the smell of real candles and I have decorated many over the years. When I had my shop we would buy candles from a local candle store. We would get the ones that had minor imperfections and then dress them up. Once they were covered with pretty thing you couldn’t tell that they had bumps and bruises. They sold like hot cakes in my shop and I loved making them.

That candle store is closed now and I have really come to love flameless candles. I love that I can turn them on and off with a remote and don’t have to worry about them burning unattended if I doze off or leave the room. And, since I don’t have to worry about anything that I add to them catching on fire, I have more design options too!

Decorating Flameless Candles Supply List

  • Flameless candles (the smoother the better, try to avoid the ones with lots of faux wax drips down the sides. These look lovely but aren’t as easy to decorate).
  • Vintage lace, tatting, doilies, ribbon, etc.
  • Buttons and other embellishments
  • Hot glue gun
  • Any other fun things that you want to add

How to Decorate your Flameless Candles

As promised, this part is super simple! What I do is go through my lace and pick out pieces that I love and that will fit around my candle. One of my favorites pieces that I have used was a beautiful vintage collar that I picked up at a vintage market.

If you don’t have a vintage lace collection you can probably find some pretty pieces at your local craft store. I know that I have seen some very pretty laces at mine. You may even be able to snag some premade collars too. Once you have your pieces picked out use your glue gun to attach the lace around your candle.

You can wrap your lace around the top, middle, or bottom of your candle. You can also use more than one wrap. Then go back and add your buttons and other pretty things. On one of my candles I added buttons all around the top of the candle. I have also added pretty broaches and other jewelry pieces.

Another Fun Idea

With the holidays quickly approaching I have been thinking about dressing up some of my candles to match. You could stick with a vintage theme for this or leave the antiques behind and just use holiday items. A nice thick fall or Christmas ribbon would be fun to wrap your candles in.

Then you could add little bells, snowflakes, holly sprigs, tiny ornaments and other pretty things! For you fall themed candles you could add faux fall leaves or florals. This could be a great way to find a use for little leftover bits that you have from crafting!

The Wrap Up

I love adding my decorated candles to my decor displays. When they are all dressed up they look lovely tucked in with my other vintage items. I made these for myself this time but decorated candles also make great gift ideas! You can tailor them to the recipient’s decor.

Or make them with holiday themes and give them that way. They would also make a cute hostess gift as we start attending holiday parties again! I hope you enjoy this cute little project and that you love your decorated candles as much as I love mine. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Make Christmas Sock Gnomes

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Hi, friends! I have another simple and adorable project for you today! I am showing you how to make Christmas sock gnomes that I really love! Easy to make and precious to display, I think you are going to love them too!

You probably already know this but Christmas is one of my favorite holidays to craft for! The only problem that I have is deciding which ones to do. I see so many cute ideas and want to try them all! I made this video a few years ago when gnomes were really gaining in popularity.

I love that they are still going strong! Since it is time to start planning our DIY Christmas decorations for this season, I wanted to make sure I shared how to make Christmas sock gnomes with you! These little gems are so simple and fun to make. And there are so many ways to make each one unique!

How to Make Christmas Sock Gnomes

The first thing you want to do for this project is is find your socks. I really had fun picking mine out. They don’t have to be anything fancy, my dollar store had a great selection. Or, if you are like a lot of people, you many have a whole stash of Christmas socks! This would be a great way to use up the ones you will never have the chance to wear.

The only important thing about sock selection is that you find colors and pattern that you love! For some of my sock gnomes I used the same pair for hat and clothing. For others, I mixed and matched different ones. So just have fun with them and see what you come up with!

Sock Gnome Tips

When making my gnomes I liked using footie socks for the core. They were just the right size and shape. But you could try a larger sock too. Just trim off any excess once your sock is as full of rice as you like it. It really doesn’t matter what the core sock looks like because you are going to be covering it with your decorative socks.

If you like a gnome with a big tall hat you are going to need to stuff it so that it stands up. I used some crumpled card stock in one of mine and it worked great. I am sure there are other things you could use too though. So if you have something on hand that you think will work, go for it!

A classic feature of gnomes is the beards resting just below their adorable noses. Not all of mine have beards and you can leave that out completely if you want to. But, if you like the beards, just cut one out from a piece of white felt and then hot glue fur or soft frayed string onto the felt. This will give you some really cute beards!

Also, there are about a zillion ways to dress your gnomes up! You know I love buttons so I used several of those. But bows, scarves, beads, etc. are all great additions too. You can make them as simple or as complex as you like. Use what you have on hand or see what treasures you can find at your local craft store!

Gnomes aren’t Just for Christmas Anymore!

I love gnomes for Christmas! Probably because those little white beards remind me of Santa and his elves. But these little guys broke out of their Christmas shell long ago. Now they are popular for all the holidays and also just for mid-year fun!

And, luckily for us, you can find socks for just about every occasion these days! Cute heart socks for Valentine’s Day. Shamrocks for March. Cozy fall socks make adorable gnomes too. You get the idea, just swap out the Christmas socks for other designs and you will have gnomes to display all year long!

How to Make Christmas Sock Gnomes Supply List

  • Socks (you can find some great ones at the dollar store!)
  • Rice
  • Rubber bands
  • Large mouth funnel
  • Scissors
  • Buttons, ribbons, etc. anything you want to dress your gnome up
  • Hot glue gun
  • White felt and fur for beards (optional)

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by using the funnel to fill one plain sock with rice. Then use a rubber band to secure the top.
  • Now choose a sock or two to be the gnomes clothing. Cut the sock in half. Take the half with the toe and set your rice sock into it.
  • Then gather a bit of the rice bag into a small nose and tie it off with a small rubber band.
  • You can either use the other half of the sock as your gnome’s hat or you can choose a sock with a different color and/or pattern. Pull the hat down to the nose and you have yourself a cute little gnome! Use a little hot glue to keep the pants and hat in place.
  • Now you can hot glue buttons, bows, and whatever other decorations you want to use.

The Wrap Up…

I just love how these little guys and gals turned out! Each one is adorable in its own right. And, since they are quick and easy to make, they are great crafts to make in a group! My family made gnomes together one year, after Thanksgiving dinner. It was so much fun and we loved doing it.

You can even involve the little ones in your family! Obviously the glue gun is not something they can use but they can help choose the socks and dress the gnomes. It could be a fun activity to do during your holiday celebrations or any other day of the year. I hope you love these DIY gnomes as much as we do!

Our after Thanksgiving gnomes!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Make Paper Mache Santas

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Hi, friends! I have a really cute Christmas craft project for you today. I am showing you how to make paper mache Santas with a vintage look. I just love how they turned out and I hope you do too!

It is the time of year when I start diving into making Christmas crafts. Somethings I make for myself and others I make as gifts. I wanted to show you how to make paper mache Santas because they are great for both keeping and gifting! For us vintage lovers, this project is a fabulous way of adding to our Chirstmas decor.

And you can paint them any way you like so that they match the color scheme you are going for. A little brown glaze brushed on at the end and you have yourself some adorable vintage looking Santas! Use them as ornaments or hang them with ribbon anywhere you need a little something jolly!

How to Make Paper Mache Santas

I know that the thought of paper mache is enough to make some people cringe. But with instant paper mache you get to leave a lot of the headache and mess behind! Don’t get me wrong, it is still a little messy but nothing like going the traditional paper mache route.

The instant stuff is really easy to mix up and then it just acts like clay. You still get the rustic texture but without all the drippy mess. And that is a huge win for me! Another thing that I love about this project is that the sculpting doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact the roughness adds a lot to the vintage rustic look of the Santas.

And don’t be afraid to make each of your Santas a little bit different. I used different shapes and sizes. I also added different details to each one. If you make one that you absolutely love and want to make them all similar, go for it! But just know that you don’t have to.

Painting your Paper Mache Santas

For my Santas I used a mix of acrylic and chalk paints. I used a cream colored chalk paint to tone down the brightness of my reds and greens. That made them work well with my own decor. But you can use absolutely and color combinations that you like.

You can make them bright and bold or you could even stick to only neutral colors if you prefer. There are no rules when it comes to painting! And you don’t even have to be great at painting for this project. Again, the roughness of the project means it doesn’t have to be perfect.

All you need is a couple of craft paintbrushes and a few colors and you will be on your way. Any old paint will do so use what you have or what you can easily get your hands on. I do suggest using a fine tipped brush and some black paint to fill in the eye holes you make. This helps the eyes to stand out and helps with the overall look of the Santas.

The only extra step that I took after the basic painting was brushing on some brown glaze. That is what really gives these Christmas ornaments their aged look. But if you are an artist you could add more details to yours. You could add shading or decorative elements to yours and really make them stand out!

Paper Mache Santa Tips

This Christmas craft project is really pretty simple so I don’t have too many tips for you. In the videos below I show you all the steps to make and paint these cute Kris Kringles. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though. Before you start, dig through your junk drawer and find some bobby pins or paper clips. Add these in at the top of your Santas before they cure and you will have a hook to hang them with.

Another thing you may want to do is have some E6000 on hand. If there are any parts of your ornaments that you are worried about falling off, just add a dab of the glue. That will ensure that no noses will go rolling away on you when you go to hang them. I think that is it for tips. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get into the fun!

Paper Mache Santas Supply List

  • Foil
  • Paper clips cut in half or bobby pins
  • CelluClay (instant paper mache)
  • Pencil
  • Small paint brush
  • Paints (any kind or color you prefer)
  • Brown glaze
  • Chip brush

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by taking a piece of foil and smooshing and shaping it into a rough Santa shape. This is the base for your clay. Make your foil the size and shape that you want your entire Santa to be. Work a paper clip or bobby pin into it so that you will have a hook at the top of the Santa where you can add an ornament hook or ribbon.
  • Next get your CelluClay ready by following the package instructions. Then use it to completely cover your foil.
  • Then use the eraser side of your pencil to make Santa’s eyes. And the sharpened side to make a little mouth.
  • Next take small bits of clay and roll them into eyebrows and add them to the head. Make a small ball for his nose and set it in place.
  • Then roll out a longer piece for the brim of the hat. When you put it in place wrap the ends around the back. Then make another small ball for the hat and put that in place.
  • Now roll out another piece to make the mustache. You can stop here or you can roll out a few long pieces and lay them in stripes to add the beard.
  • Now let the paper mache set. You can let it air dry or you can bake it in a 175 degree oven for a couple of hours. Just keep an eye on them.
  • Then it is time to paint! Paint as much or as little of your Santas as you want using your chosen paint colors.
  • Next use the chip brush to lightly apply the brown glaze. This will age your Santas and make them look antique.

The Wrap Up

Oh my goodness I just love these little Santas! Each one has it’s own look and personality. There are so many ways that you can style them to suit your own likes and decor. And they would make great gifts for your fellow vintage loving friends and family.

I love to hang my Santas in my tree but you could also hang them on cabinet doors or lamp knobs. You could use them as gift tags on presents. And you could even glue a magnet to the back and display some on your fridge. Wherever your Santas end up, I hope they bring as much joy to you as mine have for me!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Tami Loves Vintage…

My name is Tami Neff and I would like to thank you for visiting my website. I hope you found many unique items to inspire you.  I love bringing you found vintage items to use when creating your treasures.  I have picked some of the nicest greenery around for you to use in your decor.  Please stop back often as we are always adding new items just for you.

tami

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