Category: Christmas 2020

Hey there!  If you are coming from Mariah Worchester Run, so happy to have you here.  Welcome to the Surprise Box challenge!  We had so much fun doing the first Surprise Box Challenge we decided to do it again.  I am so thrilled to be hosting this challenge with my talented blogging friends.  I have all of their links at the bottom of my page.

Here are the rules we had to follow:

1. Purchase $10 worth of “out of the box” items.
2. Send the items to your assigned person.
3. You have to create something from the items you receive.
4. You can add things you need to your surprised items.
5. You have to use all of the items in your box.

I am sharing my surprise box with you in the video below.

I received my surprise box from Mariah Worchester Run, as you can tell she gave me some pretty hard items to work with.  Challenge excepted Mariah!  It was a true challenge working with the can of broth, believe me!

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I was so excited when opening my surprise box, I forgot to take a photo of my three items to share here.  To refresh your memory from the video above, I received a can of broth, green plaid material and red wooden mini beads.

Let’s start with the material.  Both pieces of material will be a perfect size to make a Christmas stocking with.

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS STOCKING

To make a Christmas stocking pattern I used a stocking I had on hand.  I placed both pieces of fabric, pattern sides together and traced out the stocking.

I cut the pattern out and stitched a simple stitch around the edge, leaving a gap at the top.  Before turning the stocking outside in I cut notches in all the curve areas, this helps keep the seams flat and smooth.

Turn it outside in and press the seams.

I added a small hem to the top of the stocking.  I turned the edge over just a little and stitched it with a simple stitch.

Now taking 2 of the Dollar Tree dust pads, sewing them together at one end to create one long pad.  Trimming any extra off near the seam.

I lined up the seam of the stocking with the seam of the dusting pad.  Pinning the fur side of the pad to the inside of the stocking.   Hope this make sense.  The padding should be inside of your stocking with the fur facing the wrong side of the material.

I pinned all around the top of the stocking.  Using a simple stitch I attached the pad to the stocking, leaving the one end of the pads unstitched.

Taking a strip of fabric to make a hanger for the stocking and then I folded it up and stitched down one side to create the hanger.

I also stitched down the side of the opened piece of fur and cut the extra piece off. I placed the hanger between the fur and the stocking.  I stitched the unfinished seam closed.

Cutting the dust pad made a mess.  I took a piece of tape to clean the stocking off.

Item #1 is complete.  Here is my stocking.

With the mini beads I am going to add a charm to the Christmas stocking.

HOW TO MAKE A BEADED STAR ORNAMENT

The tutorial I followed was by Soulful Notions, you can go check out her You Tube tutorial here – STAR CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT.  Her tutorial was so easy to follow.  Below I am going to share some photos of how I made my star.

I used fishing line, a needle and the mini red beads Mariah sent me.

I added some larger beads to create a small garland.  Item #2 is complete.

I tied the twine loop to the stocking’s handle.  It completed my stocking.

OK now to the challenging item at hand, the can of broth.  I knew I would use the broth for cooking so when I made a chicken potpie for dinner I used the broth.  By the way, our dinner was delicious. 🙂

When opening my can I used my Pampered Chef can opener which is a great way to repurpose a can because it cuts the lid off without causing sharp edges.  I then removed the label and washed the can.

That was about all I could think of doing with my broth can. ha!  After some heavy thoughts I decided what I wanted to do with the can.

HOW TO MAKE A FAUX VINTAGE CHRISTMAS BELL 

While I was looking at ways to decorate a basket I saw a basket with bells hanging off of it.  Light bulb came on.  Here is what I am going to try to make with the empty can of broth.

I figure out how to take the bottom of the can and make it round.  Crazy how my mind works. I took a piece of scrap wood and placed it inside the can, turned the can upside down holding the can tight I banged the stick on the concrete garage floor until it bent the bottom.

It worked.  Now to gather all the other things I needed for the bell.  I took a piece of a dowel rod, a picture hook with wire, one split lock washer and antique gold spray paint.

To add a topper to the can I punched two holes with a nail.  I put the scrap piece of wood inside the can while I punched the holes to support the shape.

The washer would not bend at all so I went with Plan B, I used a key chain ring.  I slipped it into both holes.  Bending the ring back into shape after it was put in place.

For the bell’s clapper.  I took the picture hanger with the wire, I screwed the hook in one end of the dowel rod.

I spray painted the can and the dowel rod with the antique gold spray paint.

Threading the wire inside the can into one of the holes, I pulled the wire through the hole until I got the clapper where I wanted it in the can.  I wrapped the wire around the key chain neatly.

I took some nautical rope from Dollar Tree and tied it to the key ring.

Thought I was done, but…..I didn’t like the lines on the can.

So….back to thinking this out.  I decided to use compound to fill in the lines on the can.  I applied a good amount on the can and let dry thoroughly.

Once it dried I sanded it lightly with a worn out sanding sponge, I sanded it as smooth as I could.  I cleaned the outside of the bell with a damp cloth.  I spray painted it with the antique gold AGAIN!

The lines aren’t totally covered, but I am happier with the look.  Like the inspirational bell, I added some details with Waverly chalk paint in the color Fawn.

I applied one coat of poly on the bell.

Looking back at the rope in the first attempt it looks to thick, instead of the full rope I used one strand.  I applied hot glue to the ends to prevent from fraying.  I did remember to use my finger protectors, (after I burned one finger).  I tied the rope to my bell.

I placed my DIY bell hanging on one of my tobacco basket. What do you think?

I did it!  I completed all 3 items and actually love all 3 of them.  Now let’s go over and check out what Jodi, The House House thinks about the surprise box I sent her.   Click here to come with me to Jodi’s surprise box blog post.  ⇒  THE HOUSE HOUSE SURPRISE BOX CHALLENGE

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Stay strong and blessed! ♥

To see all the other’s surprised box challenges click on their names it will take you right over to their blogs.

Mariah – Worcester Run

Jodi – The House House

Tammy – Patina and Paint

Tara – Stilettos and Shiplap

Shae – Sweet Southern Grace

Shayna – Robinson Repurposing

Jessica – Jessica B Simmons

Emily – LeCultivateur

Dylan – Dylan Kade’s Blog