DIY: Tulle Christmas Tree

This is a fabulous, fun and easy project to do this holiday season. Not to mention, you will have a decoration to use again and again or give it as a fantastic homemade gift.

Supplies needed:
- green tulle (I recommend at least two shades)
-wood dowel and wooden base (cut dowel to desired height for tree)
-hot glue gun
-glitter spray (found fabulous spray at the Dollar Tree)
-bows (also got these at Dollar Tree)

I choose three shades of tulle and this photo was taken before I decided to add glitter spray & bows

1 - Have someone handy drill a hole in for the dowel. Had to have my hubby do this. Fill hole half way with hot glue and insert dowel. Add more hot glue around base where dowel meets base. (Please note: I tried to glue dowel to base without hole initially and it kept falling over even after glue was dry. So hole is necessary.)

2 - Cut tulle into strips. You need to make several different sizes so your tree tapers to top. I would make about 8-10 strips in each size. I did about 50% of strips in forest green and 25% in kelly green and 25% in lime green. I would make strips about 1" or so in size difference.

3 - Start tying tulle around dowle. Use slip knots. To do this fold tulle strip in half, put folded end around dowle and pull other ends through to make a slip knot.

4 - Keep tying the tulle until you get to the top. Strategically place tulle around the dowle so your tree is even and full all the way around the base.

5- Once the tree is complete it's time to embellish!! I added glitter spray. Make sure you hold spray at a distance and do one light coat so it doesn't weight tulle down. Once dry do a second coat. Then add bows if desired. Tie gently on select tulle strips.

 

Voila!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and get to make yourself a tree this season!!!!

A Potato Or A Rock

I cannot believe I forgot to share this story with you in my last post. While we were eating Thanksgiving dinner my mom shared this story. She told us how she bought a 5lb bag of potatoes at Stop N Shop for Thanksgiving and how one of the "potatoes" felt a little funny and heavy.  Upon further examination she realized it was a rock in her 5lb bag of potatoes!!! The rock is photographed above with a quarter to show size. Needless to say she obviously didn't get 5lbs of potatoes.  I wonder if this is a new ploy from grocery stores to cheat us out of product...Hmmmm....Makes you think....

Finally - A Recap

My family - Thanksgiving 2013

I haven't really spoken to you guys since before Thanksgiving and I felt an urgency to say hi and update you on my crazy world. First and foremost I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. My Thanksgiving was nice except for the fact that my girl refused to get dressed to go to my family's house. I had almost given up and resorted to sweatpants after I had spent time putting together an adorable outfit but finally she agreed to put on her dress. Later on in the day I was able to add on her headband and boots. Below is a picture of my cutie pie in the outfit I had envisioned.

Of course this was the best photo I could get

I actually didn't do any shopping this weekend except for the fact that I had promised to do some shopping on Etsy for Small Business Saturday. I didn't have a chance to get anything then but the only shopping I did today was on Etsy and this is what I got from Yellow Spot Designs .

A gift for me!

Today I got a the Violet Voxbox from Influenster and I am super excited!!! Below you can see everything I got. I cannot wait to try it all!!! I will be sure to have a post with all the details.

What else is new you may ask?! I have been super busy editing photos from all the holiday photo sessions I have been doing and also keeping busy making new items for my Etsy shop: Hole In Her Stocking Designs. Below are a few of my newest designs.

 

 

 

I am also on the lookout for other bloggers who own Etsy shops. I would love to swap items with you and we can feature each other''s items on our blogs. Email me at dancewithadolly{at}gmail{dot}com if interested.

 

Erin Condren Life Planner, Groopdealz & Starbucks Giveaway!

The New Year is just around the corner, so we are giving away an Erin Condren Life Planner to start 2014 off right! If you have never heard of Erin Condren's Life Planners, you do not know what you are missing. I can't imagine my life without mine and I take it with me everywhere!  It's so useful, plus you get to personalize and design the planner yourself. There are tons of available options, ensuring you will get a planner that represents your personal style. You also have a chance to win a $25 gift card for Groopdealz, (one of my favorite online boutiques), and a $10 gift card to Starbuck's! So be sure to enter below to win one of the great prizes below from Rebekah's Ramblings and friends! Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and Good Luck!

Rebekah's Ramblings / A Beautiful Exchange / Sprinkles & Sundresses / The Florkens

Life After Athens / Health, Love & Fire / Dancin' With A Dolly / Two Miracles

My Safe Havens / Two Places at Once / The Art of Balance / ANNiEMAYZiNG

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Are You Shopping Small?

Are you shopping small?! I think this was a brilliant campaign that American Express started a few years ago, helping the mom and pop shops. So many big box stores are run by greed it's nice to help out individuals who are working hard to make ends meet.  As a small business owner I am grateful for today.

To thank those individuals shopping small today I am offering FREE shipping and a FREE surprise gift with purchase! Coupon code: NOSHIP. Make sure you visit my Etsy shop: Hole In Her Stocking Designs to see some fab jewelry gifts, like the ones photographed below, priced between $4-$20! 

And don't forget to enter to win this super cool and super pretty personalized name wire wrap bracelet. 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

And I plan on doing my part. I am looking for some fabulous presents solely on Etsy today. I will be posting again tonight and I will show you my fabulous finds!!

 

Hip Black Friday Sale & A Giveaway!!

Have a lot of cool gals to shop for this holiday season?! Then you'll want to check out Hole In Her Stocking Designs . Tons of fun and stylish designs and everything is under $20!! On top of that for one day only the shop is giving 30% off for Black Friday. Can't beat that!! Use coupon code: SHOPFRIDAY at checkout to get the discount. Below are a few of my fave designs...

 

As if that wasn't good enough, I am giving away a personalized wire wrap bracelet to one lucky winner!! Bracelet photographed below!! Enter below and winner will be announced and notified next Friday. Happy Shopping!!!

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No shame?!

I have to admit, the older I have gotten the less patience I have for people's ridiculous shenanigans. I don't mean crazy, drunk bar shenanigans but the ways people act at normal places: the bank, grocery store, the mall.  The closer the holidays are the crazier people get.

For example, today I took my toddler grocery shopping with me. She's almost two so she has her moments to put it lightly.  We have been diligently working on getting her to behave once again when we are out shopping. The current issue has been getting her to go in the shopping cart. Today was the first day in a while that I was able to reason with her get her in cart and she was an angel the whole trip. After walking around the store for a while and then waiting on line for while she was starting to get a little antsy. Nothing crazy, just typical two year old stuff. I kept thinking thank goodness we are next to get checked out. That was until I heard the women on line in front of us arguing with the cashier over a 50 cent coupon.  The woman clearly had the wrong item for the coupon but proceeded to argue how the coupon made no sense and it should be good for item she has too. For real?! It's 50 cents..You are making the women with the antsy baby wait an extra 15 minutes so you an argue over 50 cents!!! I swear I was so close to taking a damn 50 cents out of my bag and giving it to her so she would just move on but right when I was getting to that point she decided to let it go. UGH!! Don't people have any shame?!

Personally, I would maybe say something about the coupon but if they didn't accept it I am not going to hold a whole line up over a few cents. I would be embarrassed and would try to be considerate of others. It reminds me of the time I was at Walmart and a lady was fighting the cashier over the fact that an item rang up $19.99 but the sign said $19.97. OMG!! Seriously??!! Holding up a long line over 2 cents....No shame....