00:00For this project, I decided to go treasure hunting around town rather than buying everything new.
00:04I started by stopping into a couple of my favorite secondhand stores to curate candlestick holders that would complement each
00:10other.
00:11Since the shorter holder wasn't brass like the other two, I wanted to bring it into the same family visually.
00:16I cleaned the entire piece thoroughly, then painted it with an antique gold rub-and-buff finish.
00:21Once it dried, it blended beautifully with its brass companions.
00:26Next came the fun part.
00:27I took a disc of floral foam, cut it in half, and hot-glued one half to the top of
00:33the shortest candlestick holder.
00:35Then, using a pair of pliers, I found the end of the wire holding a bundle of pine branches together
00:40and carefully unwound it.
00:42This gave me a set of individual picks I could arrange exactly how I wanted rather than being stuck with
00:48the shape they came in.
00:49I pushed the picks into the foam one at a time, working around the holder and filling in any bare
00:55or sparse spots until it looked full and balanced, just like a real little evergreen.
00:59Once I was happy with how each arrangement looked, I carried the greenery outside and gave it a light, even
01:05coating of faux snow spray.
01:07The next day, I nestled the larger snow-dusted bundle into the tallest brass candlestick holder.
01:11Finally, I arranged all three pieces together along my fireplace hearth, varying their heights just as I'd planned.
01:18Now I have beautiful mini Christmas trees crafted almost entirely from second-hand finds.
01:23They add texture, height, and a little vintage charm to my holiday display.
01:27For this festive project, I first headed to Walmart and found this medium-sized plastic planter that resembled a barrel.
01:34Starting with the plastic planter, I first began taping off the three rings around the barrel with painter's tape.
01:41I made sure to cover each ring entirely before moving on to paint.
01:46Next, I painted the planter with two coats of an off-white paint and primer combo and let it dry
01:52fully.
01:53I removed the tape once it was dry and painted the rings with gold rub-n-buff, then finished it
01:58off with a clear semi-gloss sealer.
02:00Once the plastic planter was fully dried, I flipped it upside down and hot-glued four black round buttons to
02:07the top ring, equal distance apart.
02:10Then, I hot-glued four more black buttons to the bottom rim in between the two buttons above it.
02:16Next, I took a roll of this wire jute cord I got at Dollar Tree and began hot-gluing it
02:21to the planter.
02:22Last up for this plastic planter, I flipped it over, placed it on a flat surface, and drilled several large
02:29holes into the center bottom to create a larger hole that will come in handy later.
02:34I then focused my attention on the wooden barrel planter.
02:37First, I loosened the screws that held the metal in place.
02:41I took some Dollar Tree wired ribbon, removed it from the spool, and folded it in half.
02:46Then, I began feeding the ribbon up through the bottom ring, up and over the top ring, then back down
02:52under the bottom ring.
02:53I found it helpful to pull the ribbon all the way through, then hot-glue the end to the bottom,
02:58before continuing to weave the ribbon through.
03:01I took my time and adjusted the screws as needed.
03:04Now, it was time to decorate.
03:06First, I removed all my Halloween decor, then laid out my Christmas outdoor rug, placed the wooden planter on the
03:13right side of my door, and the plastic on the left side of my door, both upside down.
03:18For the plastic planter, I took a four-foot faux Christmas tree I got at the Dollar Tree, fluffed it
03:24out, then placed it inside the hole of the planter.
03:28Now, I have cute planters turned Christmas drums that make my front door extra festive this holiday season.
03:34Grab a plunger, yes, a toilet plunger, and a small bucket or round container from the Dollar Store.
03:41Start by drilling holes into your plunger handle.
03:44I did three vertical rows of holes running up the length of the handle.
03:48Once your holes are drilled, use wire cutters to snip apart your greenery stems so you have individual branches.
03:54Now, start inserting those branches into the drilled holes one by one, pointing them downward toward the base of the
04:00plunger.
04:01This helps create that natural, tree-like shape.
04:04Next, grab your bucket and set your plunger inside.
04:07Give it a good plunge so it suctions right to the bottom.
04:11I added some vase filler rocks to completely cover up the plunger part, and once it's covered, it truly looks
04:17nothing like a toilet plunger anymore.
04:19Wild, right?
04:20You just made a gorgeous, perfectly shaped mini Christmas tree out of a Dollar Store plunger.
04:26This could be styled in so many ways around your home this season.
04:30I saw lampshades last week and grabbed one that I love the shape of.
04:34I also had some left over at home from other projects.
04:38To start this project, I want to paint all of the lampshades green.
04:41I've grabbed some craft paint, and the first thing I want to do is water it down.
04:46Next, I want to mist the lampshade with some water.
04:48By getting the fabric wet, it will help the paint and water mixture absorb more evenly.
04:54I have purposefully chosen lampshades with different textures so that they'll all have a different look.
04:59While my lampshades are drying, I want to start making some garlands for them.
05:04Again, I love that I can upcycle these into something new.
05:07I'm using a large needle and some thick thread to attach them all.
05:11As I get some onto the thread, I can push them along until they're all spaced out well.
05:16I'm going to start with the pom-pom garland and attach it with a little hot glue on the top
05:21of the shade.
05:22And once it's twisted around the stacked shades, I can do the same at the bottom where it ends.
05:27Next, I want to add my button garland in between the rows of pom-poms.
05:32This lampshade tree was so fun to make, and I love that I could use something left over to create
05:37something new.
05:38I hope you'll grab your leftover supplies and home decor as well to make some fun decor this holiday season.
05:44I had an idea for a cute snowman project, so I headed over to my local lumber store and picked
05:51out some wood spindles.
05:53Then I had my husband cut them out for me.
05:56Next, give them a good thick coat of white paint on all sides.
06:00Now it is time to give them character and dress them.
06:03Before we clothe them, we will put their faces on.
06:07I free-handed their faces, but if you need some inspiration, search up snowman face on the internet,
06:14and you will find all sorts of cute expressions.
06:19My snow family consists of a dad, mom, brother, and little sister.
06:24I chose to give each a different expression and one that was fitting for their personality.
06:30When all of their faces were done, it was time to dress them.
06:33For the father, I created a long toque by cutting a piece of cotton fabric that reached around the top
06:40of the snowman head.
06:42Start gluing at the front by gluing the middle of the fabric to the front of the snowman head.
06:48Then glue the seam of the toque all the way to the end.
06:52Next, glue on a piece of jute ribbon as trim for the toque.
06:58You may need to double up the ribbon so that the fabric won't show through as I had to.
07:04Next, bend over the end of the toque, tie it with twine, and snip off the excess twine.
07:11Next, glue on brown jingle bells as buttons.
07:15Lastly, cut a strip of the same fabric and make it into a scarf for the father.
07:21Tack it in places with the hot glue so that it lays nicely.
07:25For the mom, I created her hat out of a two-inch wide piece of jute ribbon.
07:31First, cut a piece long enough for her hat.
07:35Next, fold the end of the ribbon and glue it to the back of her head.
07:40Then trim the toque with a decorative piece of ribbon and glue it all the way around with the seam
07:46at the back.
07:47Then tie the top with a piece of twine and trim the excess.
07:52I cut long strips at the end of the toque.
07:56Next, cut a piece of ribbon long enough to make a scarf.
07:59And glued on a couple of rusty jingle bells as buttons.
08:04Follow the same instructions for the little boy and girl snowmen.
08:08Now it's time to enjoy.
08:11Set them up in a little wintry spot in a place where everyone can see them and admire them.
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