no sew | This Old Colonial Home

As if this time of year isn’t busy enough with all the decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking … I decided to throw a few Christmas crafts into the mix as well. I just can’t help myself!

It kind of all started when I saw this cute sign at Marshalls.I love its rustic vibe, but I didn’t love its $25 price tag. So I figured maybe I can make something similar.

I ended up using this framed mirror that I had lying around.I didn’t want to keep the hooks, so I took them off and filled the holes with spackle. Wood filler would also do the job.While I waited for that to dry, I covered the mirror in a brown paper bag and then some burlap. Once the spackle was set, I lightly sanded the entire frame. Then it was time to spray paint!It only took 2 or 3 quick coats. After it was dry, I reinserted the now burlap backing.Then I simply used a snowflake stencil that I picked up at Party City for 99 cents. I used white paint I already had on hand and bought a foam pouncer from Michaels for around $2.50. Now granted my sign is a lot smaller than the one at Marshalls, but for less than $5 I’m pretty happy with it!

Eventually I would like to add some wording along the bottom, like ‘Let it Snow,’ but for now it still brings some holiday cheer to our living room.In addition to the sign, I also made some fun, Origami stars using festive scrapbook paper.I’ve only done Origami a few times and the last time was probably when I was in 6th grade! But this video tutorial I found through Pinterest was really easy to follow! If I can do it, so can you!

And last, but not least — I couldn’t resist making some more no sew throw pillows! I followed the same method as my placemat pillows, but this time I used kitchen towels. The red one was actually plain, but I stenciled on a big snowflake!It’s another easy and inexpensive way to add some more Christmas cheer around the house!

If you want to keep up with more of my Christmas decor, please be sure to follow me on Instagram at @oldcolonialhome and check out the hashtag #oldcolonialhomechristmas 🙂

Merry Christmas, my friends!

When it comes to sewing, my skills are pretty limited. I can reattach buttons and … nope, that’s it. I hope to change this one day and actually learn how to use a sewing machine. But until that day comes I’ll be using no sew methods that I come across. Exhibit A:You guys, I actually made this little pillow! (Patting myself on the back.) Can you believe these are actually placemats from the dollar store? This was such an easy and inexpensive project.

Let me start at the beginning.

I had originally bought this placemat at our local dollar store thinking it would look cute in a frame for Thanksgiving.Then I came across this lovely pillow that Collette over at Through the Front Door had made from a kitchen towel. Light bulb! I figured I could do something similar using the placemat and without using a needle and thread (because like I said I’m not that talented … yet). I just needed to pick up another mat for the back. But, of course, by the time I got around to it there weren’t any left. So I just picked up two new placements that were autumn-y.I chose to use two different ones that way the pillow can be displayed on either side. (In reality it was because I couldn’t decide which one I liked better. Haha!)

The only other supplies I needed were stitch witchery and pillow filler, which I picked up at Michaels.

To make the pillow, I started by laying the placemat face down and cutting strips of the stitch witchery for along the edges.I then lined up the other placemat laying it face up.To get the tape to adhere to the placemats you cover the fabric with a damp press cloth and use a steam iron on the wool setting and press for about 10 seconds on each side. I didn’t have a press cloth so I just used an old kitchen towel, which worked fine.I went around three sides and let it cool before adding the pillow filler. Once my filler was in place, I tried ironing the last seam, but had a little difficulty getting it to stick. So I pinned it down just above the stitch witchery to help keep it in place.That definitely worked better. And after just a few more presses, my pillow was complete!I probably could have stuffed it a little more, but hey, not bad for my first try I’d say. I have a lot left over, so I’ll definitely be making more of these. Maybe as Christmas gifts? Hmm.

As for the original placemat … I ended up making it into a banner for our mantel.All I did was cut out the squares and attach it to twine with some clothes pins – items I already had on hand. Easy peasy!