Repurposed Wall Decor

When Matt and I first moved in to our new house, I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of empty wall space that had to be filled. Between appliances and furniture, decorations fell low on the priority list of what needed to be purchased for our house. As time went on, we gradually began the process of accumulating things that help turn our house into a home. Some of my favorite decorations in the house are items we've picked up at antique stores or off the side of the road. It's typically things that you wouldn't expect to find on a wall that draw me in.

I found this old screen door at an antique store. It's pretty beat up so I only paid $40 for it and can now use clothespins to hang up pictures on the wire.

The photos are easy to access so it's great for swapping out newer pictures frequently.

And because the "canvas" is so large, you can hang items that wouldn't fit in other frames like Photo Booth pictures, ticket stubs, etc. Think of it as another take on a cork board.

Another of my favorite finds was this old barn window we found nearby. The owner was selling it for $25 (on craigslist) so I picked it up with the intention of putting four large photos behind the glass. Once we got the window home, I loved it as-is enough to just hang it on the wall with a hercules hook. As a bonus, it's also great for hanging banners and holiday decorations on.

And I love the look of a gallery wall but they can definitely seem intimidating to accomplish. I had purchased a few different frames at ikea to get the wall started and eventually broke some of the glass. I ended up just putting up the empty frames and have loved the look ever since. This would be super easy to accomplish with broken frames from any thrift store.

So as you're out and about, always keep your eyes peeled for hidden treasures that can be repurposed in new ways to dress up your home. It's a great way to find less expensive pieces you'll absolutely love.

Glass Dome Ornament

One of my favorite holiday activities each year is a friend's annual ornament and cookie exchange. It's always fun to see what cute ornaments people have found for one another and of course to bring one home for the tree. But it can be really hard to find something that stands out as being worthy of our event. Last year, after going to numerous places looking for the right one, I finally decided to make one myself. This cute little deer ornament was the result. And bonus: it's super easy. Like seriously, once you have the materials you can start and have this baby on your tree (or in a box ready to give) in less than ten minutes. So here's what you'll need:

• Fake Snow
• Miniature deer pack
• Miniature wire brush tree pack (also come in straw color)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Pencil
• Funnel
• Small Wood Circle (this one is 3.5" diameter)
• An open bottom glass ornament (this is the hardest thing to find. I searched everywhere online and found one here that should work but if you live near a Ben Franklin, everything can be bought there.)

First, you'll want to lay out your scene to make sure everything you want to include fits correctly on your wood. If your deer are small enough you could put a couple in there. Or maybe you've found a cute house to put instead of a tree. This gold deer is extra special which is why he is as giant as the forest trees. But I like it that way.

Then, before you glue anything down, plop that glass dome right over the top to make sure everything still fits properly and looks the way you want it to.

As long as everything is honky dory, start gluing everything down. It's ok if there are big glue blobs around the deer feet and trees because they'll be covered with snow anyway.

Channel your inner blizzard (DQ version) lover by tipping it upside down to make sure everything is held on nice and well. Check to make sure there aren't any glue strings hanging off the trees or the deer because the snow will stick to it later.

Place the glass dome back on the wood and trace lightly around the outside with pencil so you know where to put your glue.

Glue along the inside of your line, holding on to your trees to turn quickly and easily.

Place your dome on top of the glue line. Press down gently but firmly to make sure the glass sticks well to the wood.

Pull the little silver top off of your ornament and use a funnel to pour your desired amount of snow into the ornament. You may need to use a pencil to help push the snow through the little opening.

Put a little but of hot glue right on the underside of your silver top so that as it goes back on to your glass, everything is sealed up tight.

And that's it! It's ready for the tree. Excuse the cute little child hand in the background that came home from preschool right as I finished and was building his own forest scene with the leftover trees and deer.

I think you need this on your tree. And it's a great easy gift to make for friends too! Homemade gifts and ornaments like this one are always extra special. If you have any questions as you attempt this on your own, let me know and I'd be happy to help.