Endless Possibilities with Tassels!

I have been wanting to make my own tassels for quite some time now...I hadn't because it was difficult finding the finials for the top.  If I wanted to get really creative and up off the couch...finding a wooden topper, or ceramic topper would not have been a difficult tasking!  On the other hand that would have required drilling and all sorts of other tools that I would have to find and later put away:)  Truly I am not lazy but on occasion I like the easy way out! Finding these tassel toppers at my local Hobby Lobby about made my week, what could be easier??? 

Here are the supplies I gathered before sitting down to do my project:
Tassel Topper from the local Hobby Lobby
Assorted Ribbons of various sizes, colors, shapes, even rick rack, and beads.
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun
Wooden Wheel(this is optional)
2" Foam Ball

You will want to start out by cutting your ribbon.  If you want the ribbon to loop remember to cut it double the length.  A variety of lengths will be needed for each tassel.  While you are cutting the ribbon the glue gun can be heating up. Form individual loops and glue together.  Find your 2"foam ball, start gluing the ribbon around the circumference of the ball.  You can line the ribbon up side by side, use as many ribbons as you would like on each loop around the foam ball, working in rows. 

The following picture is a top view of the foam ball after all the ribbon pieces have been glued on.  I am not a neat crafter....please keep that in mind:)

This next step is optional...however if you choose not to do this step the top portion of the tassel still must be finished somehow.  I will show you two alternative ways to finish out the top of the tassel.



I found this neat stretchy ribbon that I used around the wheel, then  used a cording to break up the ribbon.  After being as creative as you care to be hot glue the wheel to the top of the foam ball.  Take your tassel topper and hot glue it onto the top of the wooden wheel.  Tie a ribbon onto the topper to use as a hanger.  Below is the first tassel I finished!

Now for a second finish to the topper.  This one is a little more tricky.  It is more of a pleated design around the top and I used ribbon.  I really think it might be easier to use fabric? So pick a starting point and start folding the ribbon.  The ribbon has to be glued on both the top and the bottom of the pleat in order to stay put.  This is the bottom ugly view!

Here it is sitting up.

Around the last tassel(pictured below), I pleated the ribbon on the bottom of the topper and then simply hot glued a wide piece of ribbon. 

I hope you all enjoy creating these as much as I did!!!! Thanks for stopping by:)

Herding Elephants!

This is what I call shopping with my children! Therefore, I have began online shopping more and more over the last couple of years.  No traffic, lines, screaming children(including my own), grumpy people, fidgety husband....and that's within the first five minutes!  Being the responsible blogger that I am, I decided to put together a list of fantastic sites for my loyal readers(no laughing:).  This list was gathered mostly from magazines and suggestions from friends...I hope you find them useful!!!


Bath and Body Products
Fresh, you will find great soaps & body care products.  Their packaging is beautiful!
Illume, monogrammed candle jars....super cute gift and the monogram gives it that personal touch.
Stephanie Johnson offers the widest array of cosmetic bags I have ever seen.  She has a collection of over twenty-five different bags and LOTS of fabric choices!  
Tokyo Milk, lets just say I have made more than one purchase in my life based on packaging!  Their nest and egg bubble bath is the cutest!

For Your Home
Barnes and Noble has this Cream Covenant Garden alarm clock, super cute and functional.
Mothology has some truly unique items.  This Glass salt cellar is functional and has that vintage flair!
Tara Shaw, I am sure I cannot afford any of the furniture or anything else on this site....but it is great to look at!   
Terrain, has been listed on my blog before...it has home accessories, garden goodies, and bath and body products.
Wisteria, has so much stuff I love it's ridiculous!  The Glass Beehive Cloche is beautiful...and the handpainted iron bottle carrier would make a great wine carrier to your holiday gatherings.


Paper Products/Stationery
Expressionery, has a great setup....shop by item, artist, product, or occasion.  Personalization is encouraged.
Inkello, great paper products on this website...you can personalize anything from a packet of seeds to recipe cards.

Homemade Lightbox

Tinkering with my photography I ran across this great tutorial for building a homemade lightbox.  This thing is great, it can be used for anything!  If you sell on eBay it can really enhance the photos.  It surrounds the subject in light and using this little jewel is almost foolproof. It makes every photo look great!  Made mine last night....however I am not posting a photo for two reasons 1) I used no exact measurements, and 2) an eight year old assisted me....need I say more:)

Cream Cheese:)

So on a shopping trip to the commissary a few days ago I came across this cookbook from Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese.  It is chock full of GREAT recipes!!! It is no flimsy pamphlet cookbook either, this thing was meant for the kitchen.  If you have a chance get over to the commissary and pick one up for yourself.....the best part is,  it's FREE...yes, FREE folks!!!!!

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving was pretty exciting around here...the turkey was awesome and Jill made pumpkin roll!  It was delicious to say the least.

While preparing for our Thanksgiving meal we had fully intended on using our normal everyday plates.  Well Jill found these beautiful Waverly plates, napkins, and even matching cups at Target!  Let me give a small disclaimer about these plates, they might look beautiful......yes, beautiful but not sturdy!  The cups are not pictured, my kids wanted to drink out of Mason jars, apparently they consider that fancy.....HELLO SOUTH, the Reeves have arrived!