I wanted to share this simple tutorial with you because it was so easy and has so many decorating possibilities.

      All you need for this project is 1. yarn, 2. a form (I used a large styrofoam cone), 3. glue, and 4. heavy spray starch.  I left the plastic wrap on my form because my first step was to soak the yarn in slightly watered down glue.  After soaking the yarn, I wrung out most of the glue back into the bowl.  I then just wrapped the yarn this way and that around my form.

      When the form was covered to my liking, I left it to dry overnight.  The next morning I used my heavy spray starch to completely cover the string (while it was still on the form).  I let that dry overnight.  Give the yarn one more good coating of the spray starch and let that dry overnight.  The last step is to carefully remove the dried yarn from the form.

      I am thinking about making some snowmen for my winter mantel with this method.  I also think hearts for Valentines Day would be cute.  There are just so many possibilities.  If you do make something with this method please share some pictures with me.  I would love to see what you come up with.

 Bless this Mess!

 Here is a little prettier picture.

      Our Christmas breakfast table is almost the same as our Christmas Eve dinner table.  It is more simple and more playful.  Some of the salad plates were bought at Walmart years ago and some were given to me a Christmas gift.

 I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! 

      Every year on Christmas Eve, our family hosts a prime rib dinner.  It’s the one time each year we get all fancy. 

      I usually use these Christmas dishes.  I bought these at Walmart eight years ago.  I have some other Christmas dishes I will feature tomorrow when I set my Christmas breakfast table.

      I have added a few things this year.  I was lucky enough to find these Mikasa, crystal, candlestick holders at my local thrift store for only two dollars each.  I bought the cream-colored napkins at Home Goods this summer.  They are so wonderfully versatile, I use them all the time.  I made the tree used as the centerpiece.

      Remember the Christmas project I wanted to create but was having a lot of trouble getting it to turn out the way I wanted?  Well, this is not it.  I tried and tried to get that to work but it would not.  My husband came up with a great idea that would work today.  Too late to try this year but maybe next year.  Anyway, back to this tree.  It is a bit like my original idea but uses much lass negative space.  This is a yarn Christmas tree.  I will share a tutorial with you soon.

      And last but not least I used some pillow cases and tulle to “fancy-up” our dining room chairs.  I had our little ones at the table so I wanted a “fancy” that was worry free and cheap.  I wanted to spend money on presents not the table!   Merry Christmas!

      I had a few ideas for Christmas decorating I wanted to bring to life but, I don’t have the money or the space to do something like this in real life.  So of course, I hopped on over to Olioboard.  Hop on over yourself.  Right now there are a ton of Christmas decorating boards to check out or create one yourself.  Happy decorating and Happy Holidays!

     I finally took down my Roast Beast Feast table setting.  This is all that is left.  I thought that this dark little corner of my kitchen could use a little Christmas cheer.    I also thought I would share how I made my “Beast”.

     I knew I wanted to use my Fiestaware platter for the beast so I found a bowl that fit it.  I wanted the “Beast” to be a cross between a ham, turkey, and crown roast. And because I wanted the “Beast” to be extra Seusss-y (and crown roast-ish)I made four turkey legs.  The legs are balloons slightly filled with air and taped around the ends.  I had to tape the balloons to the bowl to keep them in place.  So step one:  make a form.

      I covered the bowl in wax paper (so I could get the paper mache off of the bowl when it was dry).  Then I cut a bunch of newspaper strips and dipped them in watered down glue.  I covered the beast with about three layers of strips.  I let it dry over night.  Step two:  paper mache.

      I knew I wanted to score the top and add cloves just like a real ham but the dried paper mache just wasn’t looking just right.  My husband suggested covering it with drywall compound (we had a bunch leftover from our ceiling disaster).  I applied a very thin coat with my hands and smoothed it out.  When it was slightly dried and set I scored the “Beast” with a butter knife.  I let this dry overnight as the joint compound got the paper mache a little gooey.  But that turned out to be a plus because I put it on my platter and it dried so fit perfectly.  Step four:  cover with joint compound and etch the design of your choice.

      The last step was the most fun.  I used spray paint to get the “Beast” brown.  I then used acrylic paints to add some depth and dimension.  I went over the scored marks with black.  I dabbed a couple of different tans, browns, and reds here and there so it looked like it could be real.  When I was satisfied with the paint, I glued real cloves on.  When the paint and glue were dry, I applied a coat of polyurethane (the kind in a spray can).  I went to five stores to try to find the little “crowns” that go on a crown roast but could not find any.  I ended up using mini muffin liners.  Step five:  paint, primp, and protect.