I have been making wood slice ornaments for a few years. They are solid, but something easy for kids to make and are nice decorations for the Christmas cookies we give out. This DIY wood slice ornament tutorial is super easy and also inexpensive if you have access to the logs and a saw. I have included links to the products I used and may earn a small commission if you make purchase at no additional expense to you.
Two winters ago damaged my birch trees and they were laying on my roof. Unfortunately, I had to cut them down, but bright side, I have birch logs to make these rounds from with my chop saw. I slice up 2″-3″ logs about 3/8″ thick. Don’t havea woodshop yet? Check out my article for 6 essential tools for your woodshop.
I used white and black chalk paint along with acrylic craft paint to make a first round of paint.
Next was time to put on the details. I would mark lightly in pencil my design or lettering. I’m not great at lettering, so I printed some samples from my computer, and used that to help free hand the outline of the letters on the wood slice. Then I used acrylic paint pens carefully over my design.
Aren’t they so cute?! All that is left is to drill holes in the top and tie them up. I centered the hole over the design and made sure there was enough space from the edge that they didn’t split.
I used a natural jute twine and threaded them this way so that they hang facing out when on the tree.
These DIY wood slice ornaments are a quick project and make really unique gifts and will also look great on your own Christmas Tree.
Furniture makeovers: transform any piece of furniture into a piece you love! I don’t know about you, but I can’t walk around my house and look at the mishmash of furniture I’ve collected over the years without envisioning what I want the piece to look like, as if I bought it at pottery barn or Homegoods. I literally can’t stop myself from all the ideas I have to transform any piece of furniture you have lying around the house (or grab off the curb) into something you love!
When I was younger I was consigned to make what I had work, and never really thought about transforming what I had into a cohesive style for my home or room. I also grew up in a household that never painted furniture. I mean NEVER. Most my furniture projects included stripping paint from old piece to stain and poly the beautiful natural wood. While I have done a lot of transformations myself, like my wicker furniture makeover, mid century modern nightstand makeover, I want to share some of my favorite flips from around the web.
Laminate
This first one is one of my ultimate favorites: The painted hive has an amazing transformation of a laminate piece I still can’t believe it. I want to recreate this on a simple pine piece in my bedroom.
Queen Anne
My next transformation is something so easily found in homes, on the curb or for cheap at a thrift store. Queen Anne pieces, whether end tables, a coffee table, or nightstand are easy to find. Here are a few of my favorite makeovers.
This makeover is not what I usually like, but I have been really into the black and gold or navy and gold look on painted furniture. This piece from Karen Lebere design is beautiful.
Look at this great idea! We all need an ottoman made from a boring old end table for $40! I can’t find who to credit for this image or DIY so if you have the original let me know I will link it!
This is coffee table from Anastasia Vintage is much more my style. I really like the painted legs and contrasting top look. A natural wood top is my favorite, but this gray wash is really nice on this piece and would make a great light coffee table for a french farmhouse inspired room.
Knotty Pine
Knotty pine with a natural oil-based finish is one of my least favorites. It’s yellow-ey and unless I’m in a cabin in the White Mountains, has no place in my decor. However, it’s one of the least expensive solid wood pieces you can find, so it’s easy to have these pieces dragging down your motif. Here are some of my favorite furniture makeovers; transforming knotty pine into something you love.
My first example is the simplest of makeovers, painting a solid pine dresser white by Craving Some Creativity. She used a paint sprayer and several layers, but this dresser would have been a perfect candidate for some white chalk paint and a protective layer to seal it off. Read her full makeover on her website cravingsomecreativity.com.
Virginia Hewgley did an amazing job on this pine nightstand. I love a wood top with painted bottom.
I could spend all day searching and looking at photos of the amazing transformations completed around the world. Pinterest has so many great ideas and tutorials, get creative and find a piece around your house, find your inspiration in photos or tutorials and get to work!
I love anything pumpkin flavored. Moist pumpkin bread, muffins and pie all top my list. Here is my favorite Pumpkin Streusel Muffin recipe!
Pumpkin Muffin Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking spice mix (or 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves)
3/4 cup salted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 – 15oz can plain pumpkin puree
Streusel Topping Ingredients:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3 1/2 tablespoons melted salted butter
Directions for the muffins:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and spray or line 18 muffin tins. Cream the sugar and butter with a mixer on high speed. Mix in the eggs and blend well. Mix in the can of pumpkin puree and mix well on high with a mixer. Combine dry ingredients and hand mix into wet mixture just until all the flour is combined. Spoon into muffin tins.
Directions for the crumb topping:
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix in melted butter to form a crumb consistenancy. Spoon onto muffins before placing in the oven for 18-20 minutes.
