DIY TOBACCO STICK TREE with CHICKEN WIRE

Here's a cute craft I like to make, a Tobacco Stick Tree.

I've made various styles through the years, 

(click here to see,) 

but I really like this one because I found a way to incorporate some cute chicken wire and stars.

I started out with some old tobacco sticks I have laying around. I keep them in a trash can, out of the weather so they won't rot.

Used a nail gun and secured the top three together.

And then formed the bottom shape by cutting some pieces of the tobacco sticks to fit a bottom.

Got the basic shape 

 

then I started to decorate it with some pieces of chicken wire .

I bought a roll of it at the store called Rural King. Southern States stores and Tractor Supply stores also has this type of wire. You don't need much.

Then I started to tie some strips of it to the inside with thin craft wire.

 Just keep tieing it in place until you get a good filling to the inside.  Then tie on some rusty craft stars if you have some.

 

I was going to add those orange, silicone dipped light strand that you see there, but I didn't think they looked right in the end. It looked better without lights.

And here it is all finished up.

What do you think? Cute enough to sit out on ya' porch for Fall decorating?

See ya'll next time,

~Lisa

Ps.

Here's a pic of my all time favorite, full length tobacco stick tree I think I ever made.

DOLLAR STORE PRIMITIVE CANDLE Makeover

I picked up these cute, Fall themed candles today at the Dollar General.

These are 3 oz Jars for only $1.00 each

And this is how they turned out:

Their scents are Creamy Pumpkin Pie and Candied Maple Sugar!

Ummmm right?

I knew I could throw a touch of prim on these to spruce them up somehow.

Especially with such yummy scents.

And so here is how I did them.

For the more brown colored candles, the Candied Maple Sugar, I used some closely colored construction paper in a similar brown. I cut a strip wide enough to cover up the existing label.

Like so, and just wrap it around the candle and overlap just enough to cover it.

Cut off the excess. 

Then I decided to get out my black ink and stamps

and my letter stamps.  

 Don't worry, if you don't have stamps and such, you could always use a black permanent marker and free hand some on. Or maybe print out cute words onto the brown paper beforehand! Here's one lable I free handed with an inkpen.

Two pics up, you will see I also used the letter stampers to stamp the candle name onto a Grungy Hang Tag that I made with this recipe.

Here, I stamped the paper strips with the willow tree stamp (that I bought on eBay.)

 To attach the brown stamped paper to the jars,I used E-6000 glue instead of hot glue.

 The reason I used E-6000 glue was if the candle is used, when the wax gets hot, if you use a glue gun, chances are the hot glue dobs will come off. And with the E-6000 it kinda holds forever.

Then for one of them I had a bit of cute fabric. I cut it the size to cover the label and also e-6000 glued it on.

Once I had it on, I thought about stamping the name of the candle onto a smaller piece of brown paper and then ripping it to fit.  

To give the label a worn and torn look like so.

 I REALLY like how that torn label turned out.

Then I just used a bit more e-6000 glue to stick it right onto the fabric.

And then I finished it off with a little rusty brown star that I tied to the top with some brown and white bakers twine. Jute brown string would work or just about anything.

And then here is another that I was working on with the willow tree stamp.

I ended up putting the hand written label on as a hang tag.

So if I used something you don't have on these Dollar Store candles, just improvise and use something you do have on hand.

When it comes to making things primitive style, you really can't go wrong!

I have to say, I really like the plain, brown, stamped labels!

Which ones do you like the best?

COUNTRY HOME IDEAS

COUNTRY MAKES MY HOUSE A HOME

 (Taking a break from crafting posts today to share some pics.)

I have been re-arranging and already getting my house ready for fall.

Enough summer heat and bugs for me already. 

So while digging out my found treasures from auctions and flea markets, I thought I'd share a few pics of stuff that I love to collect.

All these items are what makes my house a Country Home.

Yes, I love canning jars.  

I am in the process of putting these in a cabinet. Photos later.

And no, not just the blue ones either.

But the aqua blue ones really are my absolute favorite.

 (Sorry about the darker pics, this Samsung Tablet doesn't have a flash)

But there is just something about having  a bunch of the clear ones sitting around that makes me feel at home. That good ole' country home feeling.

And since I can stain them, like I shared in a previous post, HOW TO STAIN MASON JARS, I love having plenty on hand to work with.

And then we have the wooden spoons and rolling pins that I absolutely love.

Here are a few shots from around my dinning room and kitchen.

Oh, and the crocks. I love them, but doesn't everyone?

And old pitchers for the patterns and because they can hold wooden spoons lol.

Even the old cracked and broken ones can find a place in my home.

What I love about country living and decorating is that there are no rules.

If I like it, I use it. If it fits, it stays there.

Oh, and I love the red and white enamelware! I am really just starting to collect the plates and such too.

Hum, I'm beginning to wander if I have enough pitchers full of wooden spoons? Now that I am snapping pics, I am realizing I have quite a few. Na, not enough yet!

 Here's an old coffee pot I also love.

And here's some more random shots. I just really cannot get enough wooden spoons tucked here and there!

And rolling pins. What country home doesn't have a few rolling pins here or there?

And here are some tiny, wooden rolling pins my aunt Marlene gave me:

Ain't they just cute? 

And I think that is pretty much enough indoor stuff for now.

I don't want to overload you with my love of the country decorating.

So before I go, here's one last thing. It's my favorite outside garden thing.

This use to be the entrance to my strawberry garden.

Sadly they didn't grow great here, so I moved as many as I could that were left.

When taking down the fenced in area, (lots of lattice) I had my husband to leave the entrance like so, with the gate.

And I love it.

Right now it has tons of morning glories trailing up it.

And one more last thing, lol.

Here's my country, barn wood fences out front.

And here is the backs. I've put some rose bushes behind them now so I can see them from my front porch.

Here is a link to how I made these barn wood fences, if you are interested.

Hope ya'll liked these pics of my country decorating ideas.

See ya'll next time!

~Lisa