A Peace Wish

Wishing the World PEACE, love, acceptance and healing in the New Year. 

– Love ❤️ Genbumom and Family

Christmas Wood Slice Tree

I’m sortof obsessed with the simplicity of Scandinavian- style Christmas decor. My home style is a little more eclectic but this easy DIY wood slice tree fits right in!

All you need are a few tools: a saw and hot glue gun.  A miter saw would cut the slices more evenly but I used a jigsaw. My slices are uneven in thickness but that was the point!

Step 1: Stain your wood. Current fav is a burgandy wine stain color, but dark walnut would also look great. This piece of wood was 9 x 18.”

Step 2: Cut your wood slices. Find a thick branch on your next nature hike! Look for approximately a 1″ – 1.5 ” diameter branch.  You will want smaller and larger slices to mix and match.

Start cutting… you need 26-28 slices of various sizes (width and thickness). (Follow safety rules! Goggles, hands a safe distance away, etc…)

Step 3:  Bake slices at 200 degrees on an old pan (sap could leak) for 30 to 45 minutes to kill any critters.

Step 4: Start glueing your wood slices! Reserve one branch for your tree center. I used the top of our Christmas tree for sentimental value.

After it was all glued down, I weaved twine in a criss cross pattern along the outside wood pieces and added a red paper flower at the top. Hot glue works great, but if you want the piece to last longer, Loctite 1363589 Super Glue Ultra Gel Control Adhesive, 4g Bottle” target=”_blank”>Loctite Glue works the best (they make a great outdoor glue) for weather-proof bonds.

Jute cord was stapled to the sides for easy hanging.

Try different adornments, like wood button “ornaments” or a splash of red berries if you want more color! I’ll be making a larger scale one next year for our front porch.

Joyeux Noel from the Genbumom Family to yours! Enjoy your holiday decorating.

Recommended Products (Amazon):
David Tutera Burlap Flower Picks – 4.5 x 3.5 inches – 16 pieces

Canvas Corp CVS3027 Burlap Flower, 4-Inch, Red

Loctite 1363589 Super Glue Ultra Gel Control Adhesive, 4g Bottle

As part of the Amazon Affiliate program I may receive compensation for products purchased via my Amazon links. However, I do not have access to your personal information or account information, nor does this affect the Amazon store prices.  Happy Shopping Genbumom readers!

DIY Holiday Décor with Jute Lights

Before and after pictures were a must for this project! I love breathing fresh air into what others would call ‘junk.’ There is always a story when you reclaim a piece of furniture. A simple sign on the wall becomes a conversation piece!

Two abandoned Adirondack chairs were  being left for trash at the side of the road by someone at the back side of our neighborhood.  I had noticed them on a walk with my family earlier that week. I may have driven past them a few more times in the subsequent days. May have. Come Saturday I had a date with my friend for garage sale shopping and our first stop was: the chairs.

Something about ‘dumpster diving’ chairs from the side of the road while in your mid 30’s tickles me, so it’s safe to say we were laughing the entire time we were lifting these into my vehicle. We knew they were there for scrap, but it was nonetheless hilarious to be ‘taking’ them.

At the time, I had planned a backyard bench project using both chairs, but ended up with this idea for lighted wall art after purchasing the jute lights at a craft store.  I paid a pretty penny for these pre-made jute lights, but you could DIY them yourself for cheap with lights from a dollar store and some jute. (See picture of a DIY jute light I made at the end of this post)

Step 1: Sand down your wood, but ONLY in certain areas to further distress and remove any rough. Clean with a warm wet washcloth to remove any dirt or debris.

If you locate any rotted areas, sand down, then fill with a wood putty and top with polyurethane to seal and prevent further issues.  Use the other side of the piece for aesthetic reasons (hide any wood flaws).

Step 2: Attach an extra strength wire hanger to the back.  I generally purchase mine at flea markets which can be cheaper than the hardware store. Look for 50 lb. plus strengths when hanging heavy wood.

Step 3. Level out the battery pack thickness.  The battery pack was glued to the back, then secured with a small piece of electrical tape, but it made the back of the sign sit uneven against the wall. Screw on a small block of scrap wood to level it out.  (See top right picture)

Step 4: Add Lettering or a Special Message. I bought plain wood letters, painted them a deep red, then added an antique glaze to the edges for a rustic look.  You could also use a paint marker or acrylic paint to hand write a favorite Holiday quote.  Get creative here!  Use song lyrics, a French or German language Christmas greeting, or a Monogram of your family initials.

Step 5: Make a burlap bow.  I used a tutorial from MommySuite.com.  The burlap I used was $3 for a spool and I had plenty leftover. It was super simple. You only need a hot glue gun.

Step 6: Attach the jute lights.  I chose to wrap it around in a circle pattern and VERY carefully used a hot glue gun. You do not want to burn a hole in your copper wire for your lights.  Twisting the jute to add the hot glue on jute areas only was easy to do, it just took time and patience.

I also added a burlap flower to the bottom left corner. Remember- creativity! You can add buttons, paper flowers, or a string of twine with clothespins to hang pictures from.

My friend Lisa purchased this from me at a craft fair and I loved seeing a picture of it on her wall!  It is very satisfying to know she will enjoy it every Holiday Season for years to come.

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Want to DIY your own JUTE LIGHTS? It’s easy!  Buy thick jute cord (you can get a huge spool for about $5 at a craft store) and $1 battery operated LED lights from a dollar store.

As you attach your jute lights to your project, twist the lights and jute together tightly, then hot glue it to your piece. Be careful not to touch hot glue to your lights or cord, it could affect its functionality. I did this for this project below.  The frame is from an old art canvas.

Marigold Mason Jars

A fun (and simple) fall craft! Stuff marigold tops in a mason jar. Instant fall decor perfect for a mantle, table centerpiece, or outdoors!

I like to paint my Mason Jar lids but you can leave them as-is also. Scout out discount stores for used mason jars (reduce and reuse). They are often cheaper that way! I purchased mine at Goodwill for .69 each. Deal!

Add a burlap flower or ribbon… tie a small wood letter to the jar with twine to customize and give as gifts. Add a mini pumpkin, acorns, or pine cones to the bottom of the jar.

The possibilities are endless!  My kids picked our last few ‘green’ tomatoes and put in this bucket. This prop was used as part of a fall photo shoot with my kids and my nephew.
I also caught this cute little caterpillar on camera!

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Genbumom Creations update:

I am still on a hiatus due to surgery but was able to add the final touches to this custom order I started back in early October.

Latest custom order made for a family via Genbumom Creations. This was a fun sign project for a child and his baby sibling to be.

Text details. The wording is a play on their last name “King.”  So cute!

I am excited to get back to work Mid- November but for now I’ll blog a little, rest a lot, and catch up on my Netflix shows.

Spooky Halloween Sign Tutorial

Why pay upwards of $15 for Halloween Décor when you can make it yourself for $6 or less?

I made mine for the cost of the craft wood (only $2 each). I already had the other items in my home. If you are crafty you probably have Mod Podge, Sharpie markers, and craft paint!

Materials:

• Craft or scrap wood
• Horror book (think Stephen King)
• Black Acrylic Paint
• White Marker or White Acrylic Paint
• Black Paint Marker or Sharpie marker (I use Sharpie Oil Based Paint Markers- they are $6 but one marker lasts forever)
• Mod Podge Glue
• Paint Brush
• Coffee grounds (used and still wet)

Step 1:

Paint your craft wood black. Once dried, add some white streaks to distress along the border with your white marker or white paint. Less is best.

Step 2:

Cut up your horror book pages, find passages with creepy words or scene descriptions.  Cut them with a curvy edge.  I cut several about 2 x 2 inches and a few smaller 1 x 1 and 1/4 x 2  inch passages.  (Do not just cut one page, or you will see too much white space on the page.) You want all of the text to run together and cover the  wood piece.

Rub your wet coffee grounds gently on your paper to give it a brown, vintage feel.  Brush off gently and pat dry flat with a paper towel. You can start step 3 even if the paper is still damp…

Step 3:

Start gluing! Cover your wood with craft glue or Mod Podge and start layering your words. Leave the edges exposed. This does not have to be perfect! Just don’t leave any huge gaps.

Cover top with glue to seal.  Allow to dry completely.

Step 4:

Add your spooky words or cute Halloween sayings with a black marker or paint pen! Fonts I really like are Harrington and Algerian.

Add a silhouette of a raven, black cat, or bat.

TIP!  Always sketch out words first in pencil and use a ruler to mark straight lines. The second sign I made I did not do this and you can see that the word DARE cuts off at the bottom. Crafting fail.

Enjoy your signs! Once you have the materials handy you can make these signs for just the cost of the craft wood (or use scrap wood you find laying around your garage or barn).

Happy Haunting!

Place on a mantle or bookshelf:

Spicy Basil Pesto

Super simple basil pesto recipe that can be used to top pasta or baked whole-grain bread slices.

Keeps for up to 5 days in fridge. You can also spread cooled pesto on top of whipped cream cheese for a tasty cracker of veggie dip!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups packed fresh Sweet Basil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped slightly
• 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan
• 2 medium jalapeños, seeds removed, chopped (could sub 1 habanero)
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Remove stems from basil, rinse and pat dry. Add basil to a high quality food processor with pine nuts, garlic and jalapeños. Blend well.
2. Add 1/2 cup olive oil and blend well into a paste.
3. Pour into a bowl and fold in fresh parmesan and the remaining 1/4  cup olive oil.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a dash of cayenne pepper if you really like spicy!

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Serve over warm pasta with a few slices of tomato or olives for a vegetarian dish, or toss with cooked chicken. I always add a little more parmesan on top of mine!

(Note:  If the thought of 2 jalapeno scares you, reduce to 1. I have made this with just 1 and it’s extremely palatable and not too spicy.)

My basil comes fresh from my organic garden. I plant it  for a natural garden pest repellent, so I always have plenty for this recipe. 2 cups is not a lot considering I have 6 basil plants!

It’s a prolific and hearty herb that super produces leaves all spring and summer. The more you pluck the more it grows.

Just 2 TBSPs of basil contains 6% of your DV vitamin A and 2% vitamin C.  It also contains phytonutrients.

 

And, of course,  olive oil contains good heart-healthy fats!

A Few Nutritional Facts about Basil:

“Basil leaves compose of several health benefiting essential oils such as eugenol, citronellol, linalool, citral, limonene and terpineol.

These compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

• Basil herb contains exceptionally high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zea-xanthin. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.” [1]

 

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Sources:

1. Accessed August 3, 2016. Basil Herb Nutrition facts. www.nutrition-and-you.com