Getting Ready For The Holiday Rush Everyone In The Family Helps Out

The holidays are just around the corner and I
am doing my best to stay ahead of the game! 

Ive been busy ordering last minute jewelry 
supplies and packaging, and getting everyone 
in the house to help out in some way. Im also 
waiting for word from my publisher that my 
two new jewelry instruction videos have been

released. It should be any day now! Yay!

My daughter Erica puts labels on jewelry boxes while kitty Sara keeps a close eye on quality control.

Having family members (namely your kids!) help out
with small tasks for your business or Etsy shop 
is a great way to bond while doing something that benefits
everyone in the family. When my girls help out with making 
packaging, or a similar task, we always have a good time talking
 and laughing, and they are learning about small parts of business, 
and also what it means to be a family and to help each other. 
Plus they love being a part of everything!

If you have your own business or Etsy shop, how does your
family help out? 

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

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Deck the Halls Mantel DIY Spindle Candle Holders

How I repurposed old spindles into candle holders and went beserks on the mantel for Christmas 2015.  My buildy friend Jen at The House of Wood is hosting Deck the Halls DIY Style and today is my day to share.  

Jen hosted a similar series last December when we shared our DIY tables, there are some beautiful ideas there, but this year the focus is mantels or vignettes and I choose to repurpose some twisty old spindles into candle holders and flood my mantel with candles.

I've had these spindles for at least 5 years with no project in mind.  The twisted shape attracted me long ago and I've just held on to them, in all there were about 30 spindles.  Reluctantly I cut them into shorter pieces trusting my project would work out.

And now they fill our Living Room mantel with a sea of glossy, red, twisted wood spindly goodness!

Down below I'll show you how I repurposed the spindles and made them into candle holders.

Click here to continue reading »

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The Upcycled Chandelier

Dont take that old chandelier to the dump just yet! Did you know there are tons of
smart ways that you can upcycle an old chandelier into something brand new and 
wonderfully different? How about turning an old chandelier into a planter for your
garden, or into a backyard bird feeder?  Dont have a cast off chandelier of your own to 
repurpose into a new creation? Then why not create your own unique chandelier out of 
salvaged and repurposed materials like some of the ones pictured below? 
Read on and be inspired! 

Anthropologies Magpie Chandelier is a colorful explosion of found objects and trinkets

Chandelier planter with tutorial by DIY Showoff

Very cool chicken wire candle chandelier

I love this fairy chandelier by BellStudios on Etsy

Check out this fabulous outdoor chandelier made with electric insulators and old garden

 fencing (above and below) made by Vickie at Ranger 911

Looks beautiful at night!

Old chandelier turned into a unique planter

Handcrafted Bohemian kitchen chandelier: crystals, beads, chains, and spoons

by Madeleine Boulexteix

Outdoor chandelier made with electric insulators by Brian at Gadget Sponge

DIY solar light chandelier from Southern Life Beautiful

Recycled wine bottle garden chandelier

Cute birdhouse chandelier

Garden chandeliers with votives from Ruffled blog found via Pinterest

I see lots of vintage chandelier crystals at flea markets. Why not fashion your own mini
garden chandeliers with wire, chain, and a handful of old crystals? 

Garden birdfeeder chandelier 

Bike part chandelier by flyingpuppy via instructibles

Umbrella frame chandelier by T.O.M.T.



What do you think?

Pin this post!

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

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Beautiful Unique Painted Doors Indoors and Out

I love beautiful, artistically painted doors. 

What better way to show off your creativity and add a unique, personal touch to your 

home than with an entrance that truly says "welcome home".  Indoors or out, a uniquely 

painted door is a fantastic way to add color and  to your home.  Check out what the folks below did with a little paint, style, and creativity!

DUMBO door (down under Manhattan bridge overpass) photo by johnwilliamsphd via flickr

Rose pained door from The Spanish Dahlia

Bohemian door

Mermaid painting on a door in the streets of Funchal on the Portuguese Isle of Maderia
via timetravelturtle

Beautiful yellow-green door 

Bathroom door Kristine Putt

Ornately decorated entryway

Chili Valparasio street art by descartes.marco via Flickr

City on the door

Bird and branch painted door from whimseybox

Door in Morocco

Handpainted chinoiserie door, see the before & after, from designsponge

Bali door

designsponge

Contrasting white pain on purple via lushome

Painted door project from onekingslane

Beautiful rainbow door 

What do you think?

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Read More..