Americana Archives - Spindles Designs by Mary and Mags

I’m Bored Jar

November 24, 2014 by Margaret 13 Comments

“Mom, I’m bored.”

Has anyone heard this yet this week? I’ve been hearing it for two weeks now, thus was born the

I’m Bored Jar

We are not just on Thanksgiving break at my house. We go to year round school, which means we have most of November off. I really do love this schedule, it gives my little guy a nice break. This year however it snowed early (yuk!) and our outside time was cut really short.

I need something to help me bust through the boredom of snowy days. We love movies and are completely content being couch potatoes, but really this only lasts one day. Good thing too!

I can give my little ones ideas of what they can do… but they get bored with mom too.

So we made a game. And Mom got to paint!!!

I started with an old peanut butter jar.

Spray painted it white. Thank you weather for cooperating.

I cut stars from label paper and stuck them all around the jar.

Using a natural sponge, I painted 2 colors of blue all over the jar. Then pealed off the star stickers.

Added a little ribbon and my jar is finished. Now you’re probably thinking “Margaret, its Thanksgiving not 4th of July.” I know but, Americana is how my Family Room is decorated so Red, White and Blue work all year round for us.

Now for the I’m Bored game. It is a very simple game. I wrote down a bunch of activities… not all fun… on craft sticks and away we go. I placed them in the jar and when the kids get bored or just want to play the game. We draw out a craft stick and….

let the fun begin.

Or not like I said not all the activities are fun there are some chores and school work activities.

Enjoy!

Margaret

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USA Blocks

June 20, 2014 by Margaret 2 Comments

Every year when the 4th of July rolls around I see great decorations to make or purchase and I always wish I had made something or bought one. This year in my quest to use up thing laying around the house and the garage I made these “USA Blocks” for a little festive decor for the month of July.

I started my search in the garage. We have had several wood projects and have a lot of wood scraps laying around. The nice clear pieces that I found were only 3/4 inch thick I didn’t think they would stand up very good so glued scraps together making the blocks about an inch and a half thick.

I didn’t want them the same size so the U is 5″ X 7 1/2″, S-4 3/4 ” X 6″, and A- 5 3/4″ X 8″. I sanded them and used again, a partial can of Heirloom White spray paint. When dried, I sanded the edges just to take off that blunt edge. I purchased this great star striped scrap book paper at Hobby Lobby and cut along the stripe lines to make strips then cut them to the correct length for each side and mitered the corners. Using Mod Podge which I had in the cupboard, I glued the pre-cut strips in place then centered the letter on each block. The letters are in PDF form and can be printed and traced onto navy blue and red card stalk.

Coat again with Mod Podge to seal and protect the paper. Because the blocks are wood glued together there is a seam all the way around the block, I trimmed burlap ribbon and glued it all the way around to cover the seam. I thought they turned out fun.

Materials needed

Wood scraps

Striped Scrap book paper

2 color card stock

Mod Podge

Burlap ribbon

Hot glue and glue gun

See what fun things you can make from your leftovers.

Mary Ellen

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FIREWORKS!!!

June 16, 2014 by Margaret 20 Comments

A number of years ago we took our children on a trip to Washington D.C.

for the 4th of July. We had the opportunity to see the fireworks on the Mall with the “1812 Overture” playing in the background.

I love the colors of our flag and ever since then, at this time of year, they give me a different feeling and bring back fond memories.

I have been making my husband save these old thick cardboard rolls. They are rolls from home decor fabric. I told him that I was sure I could make something out of them.

Well it finally happened.

I found that we had 3 different diameters. I cut them into

3 different lengths; 12″, 9 1/2″ and 7″. You can use any size, toilet tissue, paper towels, wrapping paper or foil rolls.

We came up with some other ideas for this project. You might try a Pringles can. Paint the lid and punch a hole it it, a ready made top.

Instead of painting the tubes, cover them with fun
red, white and blue scrap book paper.

One of my goals is to use up stuff. We had a couple of partial cans of my favorite, spray paint. One of off white and one red. Margaret let me use some of the left over paint from her son’s bedroom very appropriately named “Americana Blue”.

I painted 2 of each color.

I needed something to cap the top and for something coming out of the top, I wasn’t quite sure what yet. I made some rounds pieces out of some scraps of foam board and poked a hole in the center, glued them in place and gave them a spray of paint.

Of course with every project I didn’t have everything I needed. They looked okay but very boring, they needed some glitz. Off to the local Hobby Lobby store to look for some life for the project. I found some star garland and July 4th picks. I bought some scrapbook paper for another project and used a little of that too.

I cut some stars off the garland and glued them on the white, cut along the stripe line of the scrapbook paper and glued a boarder along the tip of the blue and decided the red would be plain. I cut the picks in half and placed them through the holes in the tops.

Because the paper rolls are so light weight I glued them together with hot glue and cut a piece of star garland and tied it around them.

Here are my “FIREWORKS”.

They will look fun on our table for the Fourth.

Happy 4th of July!

Mary Ellen

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Fabric Apples

August 6, 2013 by Margaret 11 Comments

In my Americana Welcome, I mentioned that I would write a post about the “Fabric Apple“, well here it is. They are fun an easy to make and can be made to match all colors of decor. These sit my Americana Bathroom.

Things you need:

Fabric piece about 8 1/2″ X 15″
Poly fiber fill
Paper twist or paper ribbon
Long needle
Knit cro-sheen
1 1/2″ long cinnamon stick
Hot glue and glue gun

1. Cut 4 tear drop shaped apple pieces from fabric and 2 double leave from paper twist or ribbon.

2. Sew 2 apple pieces together using a 1/4″ seam forming half the apple. Turn. Do the same for the other 2 pieces but don’t turn.
3. With right sides together sew the 2 half apple pieces together leaving a 1 1/2″ section about 1 inch from the narrow end. Turn right side out.

4. Stuff firm with poly fiber fill and stitch closed using a blind stitch.

5. Using a long needle and knit cro-sheen, double thickness with a knot on the end, starting at the narrow end pull the needle through to the middle of the wide end.