I love spending the month making projects inspired by the season and sharing them all December long. Today, I'm sharing my first craft: a tiny winter wonderland.
This project started taking shape when I found a papier mache house for $1 while thrifting. Though its dower colors didn't scream "Wonderful Christmastime," its scale worked with bottlebrush trees I had for years, but the trees and little house needed to be brightened up.
(FYI: I found affordable papier mache houses found here and bottlebrush trees here if you're interested in recreating this craft.)
I started by bleaching the bottlebrush trees. I filled a small plastic tub with hot water and a few caps full of bleach and let the trees soak for a few hours. Slowly the green color and faux snow melted away and I was left with cream-colored trees.
While the paint on the house and the bleached trees dried, I had a revelation. Epsom salt! Yes, epsom salt. I had a carton of it in our bathroom and it would make perfect look-alike for snow. Also, the salt was rigid enough to hold the house and trees in place inside the glass jar.
It's adorable Ashley and love that it's all happy together in the jar. Surprisingly enough, I was doing a little crafting over the weekend myself. Maybe I'll actually get a post up about it. I also like those tiny little pine cones - so cute. I splurged a little bit and got the miniature nativity set that Pottery Barn was selling this season. I had a gift card and a coupon so I made light of the purchase.
ReplyDeleteThe pinecones are actually foraged from our backyard! I'm excited to see your craft post!!
DeleteReally, really adorable! Love the neutral version much better!
ReplyDeleteThese are darling!!! Looks so lovely on your limed desk.
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with these old items. Very resourceful and creative!!!
ReplyDeleteHow did you know that bleach would work on those trees...genius.
ReplyDeleteA little birdie named 'Pinterest' told me to try bleach! Worked like a charm!
DeleteI love this. I just got some little houses at Hobby Lobby for the girls to decorate. I'd like to think ours will turn out as beautiful as yours...but I have a feeling they will be a bit crazier. :) And that jar is fab btw.
ReplyDeleteAdding little girls to the mix would make it crazier--but definitely more fun! The jar was a secondhand find! I think it was, like, $25...not bad, huh?
DeleteI absolutely love that idea!! Dont hate me I might have to do one for myself!! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteHate you? I consider it a major compliment!
Deletei love this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea. You styled it so pretty! If I have enough time- I would love to make one of these too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tracy!! I loved playing around with the styling here--not my strong suit but always fun to practice for pretty pics.
DeleteAshley, love it!! It is so charming and I am so impressed you bleached the trees!!
ReplyDeletexo Sissy
PS you asked about the color I used in Bill's den and it is Gentleman's Gray, just like your room!! I had Benjamin Moore match some grass cloth wallpaper and that is the color they came up with. I am going to included your room when I post the whole room!!
So glad you like the project, Sissy! Thank you for your kind words. And isn't Gentleman's Gray fantastic? I'm happy to know I'm not the only one who loves it.
DeleteAshley, this is so adorable!! I love the simplicity and beauty of it. I love it so much that I wouldn't mind retreating in your little jar and living in your papier mache house! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, Ashley! I don't have a lot of time to tackle projects, but this one is so worth it. And easy, too. I really love it! xo
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