DIY Leather-wrapped Vases and Votive Holders

Hello lovelies! Today I'm back for another fun DIY that I created in partnership with my friends at Waverly. This time I thought it would be nice to create some table decor that will look just as lovely at a festive party this season, as it will in-use all year 'round.

Let's make some easy DIY leather-wrapped vases and votive holders!

DIY Leather-Wrapped Votive Holders

Gather your supplies. You will need:

• Small glass votive holder(s) | The variety used here were purchased at Michael's
• Sharp craft scissors
• Realeather Craft Lace in Metallic Gold and / or Silver | Available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby (find additional suppliers here). Be sure that your leather cord has two flat sides (like a fettuccini noodle...not round like a spaghetti noodle).
• Hot glue gun (low heat) and glue stick(s)
• Battery-operated candles

Plug in your glue gun and allow it to get hot. Begin by squeezing a small line of glue somewhere within the top 1/3 of your votive holder. Immediately place one end of your leather down into the glue and press to adhere. If the glue dries too quickly, you can easily peel it off the glass and try again.

Once the end is glued in place, wrap your leather cord around the top of your votive holder until it meets back at the starting point.

Squeeze a drop of glue on top of the end of your cord (where you first started) and lay the loose end of your cord through it. Be sure that you have pulled the cord taught so that it is not drooping. Once this dot of glue has hardened (it should take just a few seconds) continue wrapping your cord around your votive holder.

You can keep your lines parallel or overlap them like I did here. If you want to create the overlapped look, just be sure to add a dab of glue under the cord anytime you will have two pieces laying on top of one another. Keep your cord nice and tight while you work.

When you get to a good stopping point, add a dot of glue on top of a portion of leather that is already wrapped around the votive holder, and lay the end of your cord through it to adhere. Use a pair of scissors to trim off any excess cord. If there are any bits of dried glue on your votive holder, you can use your fingernail or the tip of your scissors to carefully peel it off. Place a battery-operated candle in your new holder, and you're done!

Now on to creating a pretty DIY Leather-Wrapped Vases!

Gather your supplies. You will need:

• Tin can(s), emptied, cleaned, and dried | Make sure to use the variety with the pull-off top so that you are not left with any sharp edges. You can also use a glass cup in place of the can if you prefer.
• Sharp craft scissors
• Realeather Craft Lace in Metallic Gold and / or Silver | Available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby (find additional suppliers here). Be sure that your leather cord has two flat sides (like a fettuccini noodle...not round like a spaghetti noodle).
• Hot glue gun (low heat) and glue stick(s)
• Fresh flowers (and water)

Plug in your glue gun and allow it to get hot. Begin by squeezing a small line of glue beneath the top lip of your can. Immediately place one loose end of your leather cord into the glue and press down to adhere. If the glue dries to quickly you can easily peel it off and try again.

Now apply another short line of glue just slightly below the top lip of your can, and directly following the portion of cord that is already attached. Don't place the glue too close to the edge or you will have a messy vase top. Place your leather cord into the hot glue, making sure to pull your cord tight as you are working so that there is no slack in the cord. Continue to work in small sections, adding glue, and placing leather cord, until you have made your way back to your starting point.

Now add a small dot of glue on top of the cord end (where you started) and overlap the loose end of your leather cord over it, angling it down slightly (as seen in the photo).

Continue to wrap your leather cord around your can, keeping the cord taught as you work, and the top edge of your cord snug against the bottom line of the cord above it. You will not need to glue the cord down along every row. If you'd like to apply a small dab of glue every few rows to make it extra secure, you can. The very top row is the only one that need to be glued down completely.

Continue wrapping cord around your can until it is completely covered. Glue the loose end atop the last wrapped row and snip off excess cord. You'll see that the leather on the back of the can angles down just a bit (nobody will notice when there are flowers inside it)...

...but the front is nice and straight.

Use your fingernail or the tip of your scissors to carefully remove any excess glue along the edges. Fill with water (carefully so it doesn't leak on the leather) and a bouquet of beautiful blooms!

Doesn't it look lovely?!

And here it is in gold!

Bonus...these vases can also double as snazzy pencil holders! I have the gold one on my desk right now!

And one last gratuitous rose photo...because I just can't help myself. xo Ez

Prop sources: Pencils - Target | Journals - Delphine Press (from a trade show), Sparrow & Co. | Silver Dictionary - received as a gift | Japanese Masking Tape - etsy | Metallic Flowers - vintage Christmas decor | 

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This post was kindly sponsored by Waverly. Follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, and like them on Facebook. The DIY content, images, and opinions shared in this post are my own.

DIY Festive Wooden Trees

Hi friends! I'm back today with another fun holiday project that I created in partnership with Waverly: Festive Wooden Trees! I first made these trees to decorate my home a couple holiday seasons ago (you might have also spotted them over on my Instagram a few weeks ago), and have always intended to share a tutorial with you here (better late than never, right).

Even though this project involves the use of a craft knife (I know that can be intimidating) it is actually pretty easy to create...just a few straight cuts, glue, and you have a nice bit of modern holiday decor for your home! Let's get crafty!

Supplies needed:

1. Balsa wood - 1/16 x 4 x 24 in. | Balsa wood can be found in an assortment of sizes in the woodcraft isle of craft stores. I purchased mine at Michael's.
2. Craft glue | I highly recommend Aleen's Original Tacky Glue (found in craft stores) for this project. I tried several glues, and this one worked the best.
3. Pencil
4. Craft knife with a sharp blade
5. Ruler
6. Self-healing mat with ruled lines | Available at fabric and craft stores

TIP: Click on the tutorial images below to see an enlarged view in a new window.

Gather your supplies.

Place your wood down onto your self-healing mat, aligning it with the mat's ruled lines. Determine the height that you'd like for your tree. I chose 5" for this one, so I'll use that measurement in my description. Place your ruler across your board at the 5" point and hold firmly in place. Use your craft knife to cut along the 5" line using the ruler as your guide. Use steady firm pressure. You will need to make several cuts before you will pass through the board, so don't worry if it doesn't go through with the first cut.

Once your rectangular portion has been cut, align it with the ruled lines on your mat again.

Next we need to find the center of the board. Since the board I purchased is 4" wide, we will note that the center falls at 2" in (if your board is a different width you will need to find the center of it by measuring). Place your ruler first at the bottom left corner of your board, and then up to the 2" center measurement (as noted in red). 

Once again use your ruler as your guide to cut along this measurement with firm downward pressure. Use slow steady cuts until you've made it through the board. Remove the skinny triangular-shaped piece that you just cut off, and set it to the side.

Now repeat the measuring steps on the right-hand side of your board. First place your ruler at the bottom right-hand corner and make sure the ruler then passes through the 2" center line. If you are using a clear ruler, you will see that you have a large triangle-shape beneath your ruler (as seen above). That means you're doing it right! Cut along the edge of the ruler to remove the second skinny triangular-piece.

You should now have three triangular pieces: 2 narrow and 1 wide.

So that they will fit onto your tree more seamlessly, you will want to cut away the tips of the two smaller triangular pieces. I placed the pieces  together (forming a larger triangle) and just trimmed off the top using my craft knife and firm downward pressure.

Align your large triangle with the mat's ruled lines and use a ruler and pencil to mark a light guide line down the center. Flip the triangle over and make the same mark down the center of this side.

You should now have 1 large triangle with markings down the center of both sides, and 2 smaller triangles.

Squeeze a small line of glue along the pencil line on one side of your large triangle.

Take one of your small triangles and embed the long edge of it into the glue line.

It is very important to make sure that the bottom edges are aligned (seen in the photo above) and that the smaller triangle is not overhanging the edge. If this happens you will end up with a wobbly tree. If it is not aligned, just move the boards around until they are in the position you'd like them to be. Use gentle downward pressure on the top edge of the smaller board to make sure that it is properly set into the glue. 

At this point you can use your fingertip (or a q-tip) to wipe away any excess glue.

Lay your glued boards to the side to allow the glue to set (it shouldn't take too long). You can work on creating additional trees while you are waiting, or go make yourself a cup of peppermint hot cocoa! Yum!

Once the first side has set, repeat the gluing process with the second side. Set it aside to dry completely (you can leave it standing upright).

If you want to get extra crafty, you can make a fuller tree! First make the basic tree (explained above) and then add 4 extra pieces. You will do this by cutting a board using the same measurements as used on the original tree. Just be sure to cut the larger triangle in half (so that it forms two triangles), so that you are left with 4 tall triangles to add to your basic tree.

Arrange them in your home and enjoy!

If the plain wood doesn't suit your holiday decor, there are endless ways that you can customize these trees to your liking. Here are a few ideas:

• Paint them with standard paint or chalkboard paint
• Dust trees with glitter
• Adorn the top of each tree with a pom pom
• Add "ornaments" by gluing on pretty beads or sequins

Have fun and make merry! xo Ez

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This post was kindly sponsored by Waverly. Follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, and like them on Facebook. The DIY content, images, and opinions shared in this post are my own.

DIY: Simple Neighborly Clay House Ornament Gifts

Hi friends! I'm back for my second neighborly-inspired project (here is my first one), in partnership with Vivint and their blog The Neighborhood.

But first before we dive into this fun project I want to quickly remind you all that today is the final day to enter for your chance to win a free admission ticket to attend Alt Summit 2013. Jump on over and enter...you can submit as many entries as you'd like to increase your chances. I hope I'll be seeing you there!

Okay, now on to the house-making!

This project is pretty simple to create. You could easily make an entire neighborhood of houses without too much effort.

Tip: I recommend storing your extra clay in an air-tight container while you work so that it doesn't dry out and you can use it again for other projects (such as my DIY Lollipop Ornaments, Scandinavian Inspired Star Garland, Nursery Mobile / Wall Hanging, or Easy Geometric Gem Mobile). Can you tell that I like this type of clay?!

Supplies needed:

• House + Flag Template - Download using the button below | printed onto heavy-weight paper
• Premier Stone Clay by LaDoll - available at craft stores such as Michael's or online | You can also use oven-bake clay for this project if you'd prefer (although I don't cover the baking step in this tutorial)
• Craft knife
• Craft scissors
• Twine | I recommend something that is sturdy but not overly thick
• Freezer paper or waxed paper to protect your work area
• Rolling pin (I use a non-stick version. I'm not sure how a standard one will work)
• Glue | I highly recommend Aleen's Original Tacky Glue for this project (found at craft stores)
• Bamboo skewer

Optional items for customization:

• Fine glitter | I used Martha Stewart's glitter in "white gold" (purchased at Michael's)
• Paintbrush
• Tiny star-shaped cookie cutter | You can usually find these sold in a set in the baking isle of craft stores

Tip: You can see the tutorial steps at an enlerged size by clicking on each image.

Cut out the house template you'd like to use (there are two size options available on the printable file), then begin by protecting your work surface with a piece of freezer paper (waxed side up) or waxed paper. Take a golf ball sized portion of clay (or larger if needed) and begin rolling it out using your rolling pin. Make sure that the flattened shape is is both wide and long enough to fit the house template you will be using. The finished thickness of your rolled clay should be about 1/4."

Place your template on top of your prepared clay and use the tip of your craft knife to lightly trace around the outer edges of your template. The goal is not to cut all the way through the clay, but to give yourself a guide for the next step. Once you've traced your house shape with your blade, begin cutting out your house. This is best accomplished by cutting straight lines all the way along each flat edge until your blade passes through the edge of your clay. This will remove clay in smaller sections and will give you the cleanest edges on your house. Tip: If you are worried about cutting into your work surface, I recommend working on top of a cutting board or self-healing mat.

Use your finger to smooth out any roughness on the edges or surface of your house. It can sometimes help to add a dab of water to your fingertip during the smoothing step. Once your shape is nice and smooth, use the sharp end of a skewer to press a hole into the center of the top point of of your house. The impression doesn't need to be too deep. This is where you will be gluing your twine for hanging.

While the clay is wet you may wish to add additional decorative touches to your house. In the first example I used my craft knife to very gently create the outline of a door and window. In the second, I used a small star cookie cutter to punch a design out of the center. If you would like to glitter your ornament, you will need to wait until the design is dry to do so (keep reading below).

Cut out as many house shapes as you'd like to make and lean them gently against a surface to air-dry. The drying process takes several hours, but I recommend letting them dry overnight for best results. If you are able to rotate the shapes half-way through the drying process so that the more damp side is facing out, they will dry more quickly.

Once your houses are dry you can use them as is, or embellish with glitter. To glitter the edges of your dry house like I have here, apply glue along the edges using a paintbrush. Sprinkle glued area generously with glitter. I recommend working over a piece of scrap paper to make clean up easy, and so you can reserve the excess glitter. Tap your ornament to remove excess glitter and allow the glue/glitter to dry. Next, cut out the pennant flags that you'd like to use on your house. Blank tags are included incase you'd like to write your own message. Leave at least 1/4" of blank space on the flat side of the tag if you are writing your own message.

Create a loop for hanging. Select the length of twine you'd like and tie the two ends together. Be sure to leave a small tail of twine beneath your knot. This will come in handy when attaching it to your ornament. If you'll be including a paper flag, apply a small amount of glue to the backside edge (the side without the message) of the paper. Sandwich the bottom of the loop inside the end of the flag, folding over just enough of the paper so that it seals around the twine. Press firmly for a few seconds to make sure that it adheres. Allow glue to set.

Once your tag is dry, apply a small bead of glue into the hole that you made at the top of your house ornament. Take your twine loop and place the ends into the hole until they are embedded and glued in place. Make sure your flag is facing the right direction (rotate the loop as needed to adjust). Allow the glue to fully dry.

Give your beautiful handmade ornaments as gifts to your neighbors and loved ones. Bonus: these ornaments would also make a thoughtful housewarming gift at any time of the year. An ornament flying the "Home Sweet Home" flag would look lovely hung in an entryway all year 'round!

Happy holidays friends! xo Ez

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This post was kindly sponsored by Vivint. Find more from Vivint at The Neighborhood, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. All images, content, and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

DIY Gift Wrapping Kit

Tip: click on the tutorial images below to see an enlarged view in a new window.

A few years ago I posted about a special gift wrapping kit that I made as a birthday gift for my sister. She ended up loving the gift and that post is one of the most visited here on Creature Comforts, so today in partnership with Waverly, I thought I'd finally share a more official DIY Gift Wrapping Kit for any of you who have a pretty packaging fiend on your holiday shopping list. What I love most about giving kits like this is how truly unique and customizable they are. You know that your loved one can't go out and buy it for themselves, they will never receive another one like it, and they will feel truly spoiled!

In this post I'll be sharing a few simple DIY techniques for pretty goodies that you can fill your kit with. But of course these are just the tip of the iceberg...the possibilities for what you might fill your own kit with are endless! Tip: to make things easier, and for a more finished looking presentation, I recommend working with a specific color palette or theme in mind. This will make finding supplies much easier (they'll practically jump out at you while shopping)...and the whole process a lot more fun.

Here's a list of what went into my finished kit (keep reading for the DIY for many of them):

• DIY Fabric Handle Gift Bags - tutorial here
• Mini ball garland - JoAnn
• DIY Fabric Ribbon - tutorial here
• Assorted yarns and twine - JoAnn's, Michael's and We Sell Coffee (baker's twine)
• Tissue paper - Hobby Lobby
• Scissors - JoAnn's
• Assorted ribbons - JoAnn's
• Gift wrapping tape - Target
• Adhesive sticker dots - Michael's
• Mini kraft bags - Michael's
• Adhesive-Backed Fabric Bag Seals - tutorial below
• DIY Paper-Backed Fabric Gift Tags - tutorial below
• DIY Yarn Pom Poms - tutorial here
• Glitter - JoAnn's
• Assorted sequins - JoAnn's
• Mini jingle bells - Michael's
• Red mini pom poms - Michael's

And for packaging it all up:

• Glassine bags in assorted sizes - available at Shop Sweet Lulu
• Wooden spools - Hobby Lobby
• Photo storage box - Hobby Lobby

Additional supplies:

• Waverly fabrics - JoAnn
• Waverly yarn - JoAnn

Up first in the kit we have some simple DIY Fabric Adhesive Bag Seals:

You may recall my 5 Minute DIY fabric stickers post from a couple years ago. I'm still using those sweet stickers for gift packaging and thought they'd make a fun addition to the gift wrapping kit. I made these ones a bit wider and longer than the version from my previous post so they could serve as adhesive bag seals. Easy!

You'll need a Xyron sticker maker with a permanent adhesive tape roll (found at craft stores for around $10). For the seals, cut strips of fabric that are narrow enough to fit through the opening in the sticker maker, and about 10" in length. Feed your fabric through the machine with the printed side of your fabric facing up. Follow the directions that came with your machine for proper use. Remove the clear plastic covering off of each sticker, set aside, and repeat process with remaining fabric strips.

Cut your 10" sticker strips in half so that you are left with two 5" stickers. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut a notch out of the end of one side of your sticker so that it looks like a pennant flag. Repeat with remaining stickers. For presentation, place stickers in a glassine bag or bundle them together using a strip of paper wrapped around the middle (secure the paper band with a piece of tape).

Next up we have another simple project that I repurposed for this gift kit...my DIY Paper-backed Fabric Gift Tags. I used several different fabrics to create an assortment of tags. My favorites are these pretty white ones that look hand-stitched. I love these tags because they are so very simple to make, but you would never guess that when they are prettying up the top of a gift.

No matter what fabric you use, the process will be the same (I use two different fabrics in the steps below...I hope it's not too confusing):

Apply glue stick to a piece of heavy-weight cardstock, making sure to coat a surface area that is as large as the portion of fabric you will be gluing to it. Place your fabric (right side up) onto the glued paper and press firmly all over the design to adhere.

Once the glue has dried, use a pair of sharp scissors to trim around your fabric tag. For printed fabric, you can simply use the outside edges of the design as your guide or cut a shape free-hand. Attach an adhesive dot to the back of each tag, or include a little glassine bag filled with them so your gift recipient is well-stocked and ready to wrap.

Another easy idea that has big impact is to include little spools of pretty twines and ribbons inside your kit:

Follow the directions for my DIY Fabric Ribbon here. For yarn and twine spools, just begin wrapping twine/yarn around a plain wooden spool (sold in packages at craft stores for a couple dollars) until they are full. Ta-da!

Package little crafty supplies inside glassine bags for a cohesive presentation.

Keep mini kraft bags, gift tags, or anything else that is flat from getting loose by banding it with paper. Just wrap a strip of scrap paper around until snug and secure with tape. You can label or leave the band blank...it's up to you.

Package everything inside the photo box starting first with the flat supplies (such as gift bags and tissue), and layering additional supplies as they fit best. If you will be shipping your gift, be sure to fill in any empty spaces with crumpled tissue paper so that the supplies stay in place.

Write a sweet note or the recipient's name on the tag in the front of the box (optional). Tie your kit up with some of the gift wrapping supplies you created (for a little hint at what's inside) and give!

Here are a few additional supply/source suggestions for filling your gift wrapping kit:

• Printable tags and labels online (check out my free printable gift tag roundup for a few ideas)
• Manila tags, metal-rimmed tags, colorful or metallic binder clips, adhesive labels - found in office supply stores
• Glassine bags (assorted sizes) found online
• Mini clothespins, glitter, sequins, decorative papers, the list goes on - found in craft supply stores
• Fabrics, trims, ribbons, buttons, etc. - found in fabric stores
• Japanese masking tape - found online
• Anything else you thing the gift recipient will love! 

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This post was kindly sponsored by Waverly. Follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, and like them on Facebook. The DIY content, images, and opinions shared in this post are my own.

5 Minute DIY: Fabric Handle Gift Bags

Today I'm delighted to have teamed up with Waverly to create a fun and simple DIY that will only take you a few minutes to make: DIY Fabric Handle Gift Bags!

There's certainly nothing wrong with using a plain store-bought gift bag...but with only a few minutes and minimal supplies there is really no reason not to make that basic bag into something worthy of the gift you're giving! Here's how to create your own:

Supplies needed:

• Cotton fabric. I used fabrics from Waverly that I purchased at my local JoAnn's (you can also purchase them at JoAnn's online).
• Gift bags with removable twine/ribbon handles. I found the ones for this project at Target and Hobby Lobby for around $1 or less each.
• Fabric Scissors
• Bamboo skewer (optional)
• Yarn (optional)

Simple Fabric Handle Bag: Version I

Remove the original handles from your gift bags. Cut your fabric into strips that are equal in length, or longer than the handles you removed. Be sure to include a little extra length for tying. I cut my strips freehand for a more organic look, but you can use a ruler and be more precise if you'd like. My strips were around 1.5" wide. The length is determined by the size of your bag and the handle size that you'd like to have.

To thread your new handles on, pinch the end of your fabric in half once and then fold it in half again. Thread the folded end through one of the holes in your bag (threading from the outside of the bag, in). A bamboo skewer may come in handy for pushing thicker fabrics through the opening, especially if the holes are on the smaller side.

Once you have threaded both sides through (like seen in the image) tie a not in each end. Trim off any excess fabric and straighten your handles. Repeat with the other side, making sure that your handles are the same length. Trim off any loose threads...and you're done!

If you'd like to add on a simple pom pom like I did in the example above, you can find my fast and easy 5 Minute DIY: Yarn Pom Pom video here. Just tie the pom pom on your bag's handle using the two loose yarn ends. Snip the excess yarn off to finish.

Simple Fabric Handle Bag: Version II

Cut fabric strips the same way you did in Version I...but this time you will want to make them quite a bit longer so that you can have a nice tail at the end of each handle. The actual size will depend on your bag and your preference. Remove the handles that came on your bag and thread your new fabric handle through (threading from inside, out). pull the handles down until the handle loop is the size you want on top, and you have long enough tails threaded out the front.

Tie a knot in each end of your fabric handle, leaving nice tails at the bottom. Create a decorative end like I did on mine by folding your handle in half (as shown) and cutting at an angle with the scissors pointed down towards the open edges. Repeat handle-making process on the other side, taking care to make sure your handles are the same length (you will do this during the knotting stage). Trim off any loose threads. Fill your bag with a gift and give!

Additional credits: Maileg Deer Softie from My Sweet Muffin (sold out) | Gift Bags from Target and Hobby Lobby | Find my 5 Minute DIY Yarn Pom Pom Video Tutorial here.

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This post was kindly sponsored by Waverly. Follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, and like them on Facebook. The DIY content, images, and opinions shared in this post are my own.