Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!, Home Decor, Party Planning

New Year, New Start

Simple NYE CenterpieceThere are times when it’s nice to forget all the drama going on in the world and just try to enjoy the day. New Year’s Eve is one of those times. We get one chance to make both a memorable current year mix with an amazing start to the next year. Just don’t start your new year praying to the porcelain God. Not classy.

I don’t believe in making resolutions, because let’s be honest: I’m really just setting myself up for failure, and I don’t like to fail. Instead, I vow to be a better person; to better myself as an individual. I know I seem quite perfect to you (….kidding…), but there’s always room for improvement right? Unless you’re Taylor Swift. I’m not sure she could be more amazing. Did you see what she did for Christmas? Somehow she missed my house…but I’ll let that slide. I guess she does have room for improvement. 😉

I wanted to make NYE 2014 memorable, but with just returning from a vacation and just moving into our new home (and fixing a leak in our living room ceiling), I knew it would be lackluster. That being said, I put my quickest resources together: The Dollar Tree (DT), my craft closet, and some spray paint. I think it turned out alright given I only had a few hours to prepare!New Years Eve Centerpiece Table DIY

My favorite part was probably my “centerpiece table.” I had the candlesticks already, so I went to DT and bought some white candles (and two large white jar candles), threw a little gold spray paint on them, and voila! I grabbed some of my favorite candies, put them in DT martini glasses, and let it roll.DIY New Year's Eve Numbers The 2015 numbers were the most tedious decoration. I bought the gold garland (used about 4 packs) from the DT, cut out the numbers from cardstock, and a friend and I wrapped the garland around. This project was a great reminder that I have zero drawing skills. Hand writing those numbers was the hardest part.

Cheers to 2015! What did you do for NYE?

DIY, Home Decor

From This to That

Green Bay Packers Wreath DIY

It’s been three weeks and one day. Can it be? I fell into a dark hole and couldn’t find my way out. Well…a deep dark hole on the beach in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Where it was actually bright and sunny. And 80 degrees. Can I go back now? More about Mexico later. You didn’t think I’d take a dreamy vacation and not blog about it did you? Of course not. Bragging rights.

Starting back to work after over two weeks of vacation is not fun. I mean, it could be much worse (like if my iTunes shut down and didn’t let me listen to Taylor Swift’s 1989 on repeat), but I think most people would rather be on vacation. I’m actively playing the lottery in order to be permanently on vacation. I’d appreciate your well wishes that I win.

When I drudged into the office on Monday morning, our little Christmas wreath was still on the door (see above left). I was about to throw it away when a light bulb went off in my head. Gold and white wreath…I’m only missing one color. Green. As in The Green Bay Packers. I had to represent.

Our (as in the city of Green Bay…which I so graciously call mine) team is well on it’s way to the NFC Championship game. If we can beat Dallas this weekend, it’s on for Seattle.  Their twelfth man has nothing on our fans.

I took my old Christmas wreath, tied some green ribbon into it, and hung my football ornament from the middle. Easy peesy. Then I subjected my office-mates to having it hung on the door. Hey, if your team is out, mine is in. I mean, it’s only fair.

DIY

Crafts Attack! Was it the Strip Club or the Craft Closet?

DIY Owl BookmarkDon’t you just love when you know exactly what to give someone for Christmas? No need to brave the mess of shoppers at the mall, no fuss with debating over which thing they would like more: Jelly of the Month Club or The South Beach Diet Cookbook? Hint: gift cards.

Then you have those other friends. The friends that tell you they don’t have a clue what they want, they have no idea what they need, and they just want your friendship. Come on people. My friendship isn’t that great, so I know you’re sticking around for some other reason. Besides, we all know that if you don’t tell me what you want, you’re going to end up with something handmade. Which was cool ten years ago, when you started getting handmade gifts from me. But by now your living room is filled with blankets, books, frames, wreaths, baskets, etc. All handmade by me. Your families think you live in a craft store. Your other friends insist they meet you at the cafe instead of picking you up. They might never get out. Crafts attack: the fuzz from the handmade blanket will cover your black skinny jeans; the glitter from all my crafts will cover your body in a layer that appears slightly the same as when you left the strip club. I guess maybe your husbands appreciate that gift.
DIY Owl Bookmark I originally made this owl bookmark as a Christmas gift, but then snapped back to the reality of 2014 when I realized that none of my friends read actual books anymore. Apparently I’m the only one stuck in the 90s. I love books. Real books. With spines.

So Mr. Who is not going to be gifted to anyone. I’ll probably just keep him in my own pile of crafts. He’s not full of glitter, so my husband has no excuse.

If you want a Mr.Who for yourself:  cut out the body/wings/nose from felt and use brown thread to hand sew them together. Grab two buttons, sew them on, and then attach Mr. Who to elastic.

He’s pretty cute actually. I’m glad I’m keeping him.

DIY, Holidays!, Home Decor

Put a little Bur in your Lap.

DIY Burlap Christmas Tree SkirtTis the season. The season for burning your fingertips on hot glue, slicing your finger on a scissors, and taking over the living room floor with crafts. It’s also the season of giving. So I’m going to give you this tutorial. Which I got from someone else. I like to re-gift.

I saw several burlap tree skirts on Pinterest this year, and I instantly fell in love. Originally I was going to purchase one; who has the time for a five hour project right before Christmas? But after counting my nickels and dimes, I could not come up with the money to afford one. So instead, I did what any DIYer would do. I got down to business.

I found this online tutorial, saw the words “Hot Glue” and knew it was for me. I went to the store, purchased my burlap and felt, and got to work. Five hours later…  UghThis is me after only three rows. My back was killing me, my legs hurt, and my fingers were burning from the hot glue. Was it worth it? Totally.DIY Burlap Christmas Tree SkirtWhen I finished, I loved it so much that I went back to the store, bought more burlap, and made a second one. These things are gorgeous. Maybe I’ll make a few more when I can feel my fingers again. Then again, maybe not.

Apparently I’m not the only one in my family that found the time to DIY this holiday season. I’d like to introduce you to my cousin Mindy, from Green Bay, Wisconsin. She made one of her own tree skirts before I even got started on mine. I asked her if she’d give you a little detail into how she did hers, since it’s a little different.  So without further ado…

DIY Burlap Christmas Tree SkirtI am an avid “pinner” and when I found this gem of a tutorial, I thought this could either be amazing or an epic Pinterest fail.  I seem to have a lot of Pinterest fails under my belt, so much to my surprise–this project turned out awesome and very simple to complete! I bought a plain felt tree skirt at Target for $5 and then went scavenging through the clearance section at Hobby Lobby for burlap material.  To my surprise they make burlap ribbon- with wires!  The wires made it super easy to mold each row prior to going in with the glue gun, so no need to pin down the rows as you go or cut strips of fabric.  How much easier could this get?! 

-MindyDIY Burlap Christmas Tree Skirt

Side Note: If you’re like me (the pre-skirt me) and you don’t have five hours to spend DIYing, you should consider purchasing one from this Etsy shop. I love supporting other people’s craft businesses, and if you can afford one, it is definitely worth every penny. Or quarter. Or lots of dollars.