Nature Crafts Archives - Manda Panda Projects

Fall Floral Grapevine Basket Door Decor

Amanda — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:53:08 +0000

Create a stunning DIY Fall Floral Grapevine Basket bursting with cozy autumn florals and rustic charm! This easy craft is the perfect way to add warm Fall door decor to your home on a budget.

I am absolutely literally obsessed with this sage green velvety sunflower. Hob Lob for the win!

I saved it for the PERFECT project and this was 10000% it. I love how it looks with the other florals, the feathers, and most of all….the mustard sweater pumpkin.

This Floral Grapevine Basket was SO easy to put together, I’ll show you how in a flash.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies needed to make a Fall Floral Grapevine Basket

How to Make a Fall Floral Grapevine Basket for your front door

I made this Fall Grapevine Basket on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

I found this grapevine basket at Hobby Lobby for 40% off, and I just HAD to have it. But then, it sat in my stash for literal years until I finally put it to good use.

I started by stuffing the basket with some spanish moss, to fill it up and hide the floral foam I was about to put in.

Then I stuck one block of foam right on in there, keeping it towards the top.

Then, I started arranging the florals one by one! I played with it a bit, moving them around until I got them just right, but I made sure that the green velvety sunflower was front and center.

I added a pretty feather pick ,and to give it those “Fall Vibes” I added the mustard color sweater pumpkin that I stuck on a wood skewer. You could just as easily buy pre-made pumpkin picks.

It needed a lil’ somethin’ somethin’, so I added a lace ribbon shoestring bow, and layered a raffia bow with button on top.

For the hangtag, I very lightly stamped a floral stamp to give it a distressed look in the background, and then I used acrylic alphabet stamps to write “Fall Vibes”. I then glued it to the front of the bow.

When it was all said and done, it was next level GORG! Here she is!

Absolutely in LOVE with how this Fall Grapevine Basket turned out! It looks so cute on my front door!

I thought my Thrifted Floral Watering can was my fave fall DIY, but I think this one now takes the cake!

Are you going to make a Fall Floral Grapevine Basket ? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

If you’ve got a million projects on your crafting ‘to-do’ list like I do, than you need my FREE Craft Project Planner so you can plan to make *all the things*! When you sign up for the craft planner, I’ll also send you lot’s of fun, easy, and budget friendly ideas for you to fill it up with!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this Fall Floral Grapevine Basket Door Decor? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post Fall Floral Grapevine Basket Door Decor appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter Decor

Amanda — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 22:17:56 +0000

Spread your crafty wings and fly with this adorable DIY wood butterfly shelf sitter with a vintage vibe. This easy to make decor will take you from Spring, right on into your DIY Summer decor!

I have had this pack of wood butterflies in my stash for waaaayyyy too long. It’s about darn time that I turn them into something cute!

There are so many directions that you could take with this craft, depending on your style. And if you know me at all, I change my style as much as my underwear!

On this particular day, I was in a more vintage-y vibe, so vintage-y we went.

And I am SOOOO happy that I did! If you aren’t a VVP (Vintage Vibe Person – yes I just made that up), then you could go super fun and bright with typical springy colors and this project would be just as cute.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies needed to make a Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter

How to Make a Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter

I made this Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

Here is the pack of Vintage Scrapbook paper that I went with to determine the whole vibe of how this project was going to go. Its a small 6×6 book, so perfect for the smaller butterflies.

I first stained the back and the outer edges of the 3 butterflies with Waverly Antique Wax and a baby wipe.

I then stained 4 wood shims as well (these were the 8″).

When I lined up the 3 butterflies on the shims, the base ended up being a tad too long, so I trimmed the end of 2 of the shims so that it was the perfect size once I had them glued together.

I then glued the shims together in two sets of two.

So I applied hot glue to the top of one shim, and glued another on top, making sure the thick end lined up with the thin end, so that it makes one even wood base.

I then glued them together, end to end, to make one long base.

Next, I traced the wood butterflies onto 3 different pieces of scrapbook paper and cut them out.

Apply the scrapbook paper to the butterfly using a thin layer of Mod Podge to decoupage it on top.

Sand off any excess paper using the best tool ever….a Gator Sander!

Using a finger dauber, apply the Kilz Dark Wax to the edges of the butterflies to distress and grunge it up.

Glue a stick to the center of the butterfly to make the “body”.

Cut two small pieces of rusty wire for “antennas” and glue them to the top of the butterfly with E6000.

I made a messy fabric bow using my Bowdabra, but you can make any type of bow that you like. This bow is for the center Butterfly, as the main event, so I wanted it a little “more” then the other 2.

For the other 2 butterflies I made what I call my Twine “figure 8 bow”. Just wrap the twine around your fingers a bunch of times until it’s as big as you want.

And then tie a piece of twine around the center.

Glue the twine bows to the front center of 2 of the butterflies, and then glue a small button to the center of each.

To make the hangtag I layered muslin on top of kraft paper. I first stamped the word “Spring” onto a piece of muslin and then ripped that out.

Then glued the muslin to a piece of grunged up Kraft paper.

Add a loop of twine and glue the hangtag to the center of the messy fabric bow with a small button on top.

Now to put it together! Glue the butterflies standing up on the wood base lined up. We are going to add jenga blocks for reinforcement so don’t worry about them falling over.

Glue two Jenga blocks to the back of each butterfly to help then stand up and make them nice and sturdy.

Finish it off by gluing a smidge of Spanish Moss around the bottom of the butterflies on the base.

Here is the center butterfly all done!

And a look at one of the outer butterflies too……

Here is a better look at how they are reinforced on the back.

Absolutely in LOVE with how this Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter turned out!

Are you going to make a Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter ? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter ? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post Vintage Butterfly Shelf Sitter Decor appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Decoupaged Wood Round Bunny

Amanda — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:30:09 +0000

This thrifted wood round is transformed into a beautiful decoupaged bunny with a floral succulent napkin and a beautiful fabric bow. The hand lettered “Hop” tag sets this one off into cuteness overload for Easter and Spring!

Decoupage a thrifted Wood Round with a napkin from my Big Pack of Craftkins napkin subscription!

The Big Pack of Craftkins is my quarterly subscription of adorable napkins sent right to your door so you never have to buy entire napkins for Crafting ever again.

Add some Jute ears, a fabric bow and a little HOP tag and you got yourself adorable DIY Spring or Easter decor!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies needed to make a Decoupaged Wood Round Bunny

Napkin from Big Pack of Craftkins
Wood round
Coordinating fabric and ribbon
White paint
Mod Podge
Dried white flowers
Lace
Wired Jute
Hangtag (I coffee stained mine)
Hand Lettering for Beginners Course
Black Sharpie

How to Decoupage a Wood Round Bunny

I made this Wood Round Bunny on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

I hand lettered the HOP tag myself, using skills I am learning in a hand lettering course I am taking called “Hand Lettering for Beginners”. It’s so fun to be able to letter my own tags!

Are you going to make a Decoupaged Wood Round Bunny? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this Thrifted Decoupaged Wood Round Bunny? Make sure to PIN it for later!

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Buzz-Worthy Beeswax Crafts That Are Simple To Do

Amanda — Fri, 03 May 2024 22:30:03 +0000

In the world of eco-friendly and all-natural crafting, beeswax is becoming *all the rage*. With its earthy charm and versatility, beeswax crafts are not just a fun DIY project; they’re a way to support sustainability and celebrate one of my fave spring and summer insects….the bumblebee! If you’re ready to dip your fingers into some sticky, sweet crafts, here’s your complete guide with buzz-worthy beeswax crafts that are simple to do and great to have!

The Buzz on Beeswax: Exploring the Benefits

Crafting with beeswax isn’t just about jumping on the sustainability bandwagon. Beeswax is a renewable resource that supports the beekeeping industry and, by extension, our planet’s pollinators. For individuals with allergies or sensitivities, beeswax provides a safe crafting alternative as it’s hypoallergenic and doesn’t release toxic compounds when heated. Plus, beeswax is a natural air purifier, making beeswax candles a popular choice for clean-burning enthusiasts.

Making Candles That Light Up Your Home and Heart

Beeswax candles are not just for lighting up a room; they’re a testament to the craft and care that goes into all-natural DIY. They’re easy to make and require only a few materials, which means anyone can enjoy the warm glow of a beeswax creation. Start by melting beeswax over low heat. Then, when it’s liquefied, set a wick in the center of a candle mold. Pour the wax carefully and leave it to harden. The result? A snazzy, sweet-smelling candle.

Wrap It Up With Beeswax Food Wraps

Reduce, reuse, and be sustainable with homemade beeswax food wraps. Cut your piece of cotton fabric to the size you want, and sprinkle on grated beeswax, a pinch of pine resin, and jojoba oil. Pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and voilà—you have a reusable, moldable, and washable wrap to store your snacks and leftovers.

Bee-utify Your Smile With Bee Balm

Who says crafting can’t have a personal touch? Homemade beeswax lip balm is a delightful concoction that makes your lips soft and your soul happy. Melt beeswax with organic and eco-friendly options for lip balm ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. Pour the mixture into small containers and cool. Keep your lips protected while feeling good about what you’re putting on them.

Eco-Friendly Gifting and Home Decor

Giving the gift of beeswax crafts is more than sharing something beautiful; it’s a way to spread awareness about sustainability and the importance of bees in our ecosystem. Beeswax candles make a thoughtful present, while beeswax wraps are a unique and practical gift for eco-warriors. For home decor, beeswax crafts add a rustic charm and a celebration of nature that complements any interior with its warm, organic hues.

Where to Source Beeswax and Supplies

To kickstart your beeswax crafting adventure, sourcing high-quality beeswax and other necessary materials is crucial. Local beekeepers are often the best source, providing a sustainable and community-friendly way to gather your supplies. For those without access to a local apiary, there are plenty of online suppliers offering eco-friendly and sustainably sourced beeswax and accompanying materials.

Crafting with beeswax is more than a portfolio of products; it’s a lifestyle that honors the environment and the gifts it provides. Beeswax crafts are simple, meaningful, and have a buzz-worthy impact that resonates with the eco-conscious and the DIY enthusiast alike.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post Buzz-Worthy Beeswax Crafts That Are Simple To Do appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

5 Craft Items You Can Make With Nutshells

Amanda — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:15:19 +0000

As a craft enthusiast, you might be eager for new projects with materials you haven’t used before. If so, nutshells can offer you limitless crafting possibilities. Nutshells are versatile, easy to work with, and downright adorable in their tiny appeal. So without further delay, here are five craft items you can make with nutshells!

Hawaiian Lei

Allow the beauty of the tropics to inspire your next DIY project: a Hawaiian lei. But instead of using traditional flowers, try making one using the kukui nutshell, which is one of several unique materials you can use for lei. Unlike flowers, kukui nutshells won’t wilt and lose their color, which allows you to keep and enjoy your lei for longer.

Holiday Ornaments

Some other unique craft items you can make with nutshells are holiday ornaments. They’re charming and eco-friendly alternatives to more costly store-bought options.

Paint the shells with festive colors, glitter, and other materials as you like. Then, attach a ribbon or string to each ornament and let the holiday spirit shine through your homemade creations!

Bowls

Before pitching your nutshells in the trash, try upcycling them into crafty bowls you can have around the house. Although the size of your bowl will depend on how many shells you have, you can make a bowl big enough to hold fruit. That will make you glad you didn’t let those shells go to the landfill.

Tiny Scenes

If you love all things miniature, you can bring to life enchanting miniature worlds inside nutshells. These captivating creations can be outdoor scenes or small little rooms where people dwell. Nutshell scenes make for perfect keepsakes or personalized gifts and are also a testament to your artistic prowess.

Artificial Flowers

One last project you can try is adding a new twist to artificial flower arrangements with pistachio nutshell blossoms. After you have glued the pistachio shells together, you can paint them different colors so they truly bloom. This craft makes for a great decoration or a memorable gift.

These craft ideas show that nutshells provide abundant opportunities to unleash your inner artist. By giving these fun and unique craft ideas a try, you can repurpose nutshells into exquisite and personalized creations, all while honing your crafting skills.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

The post 5 Craft Items You Can Make With Nutshells appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree

Amanda — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:50:48 +0000

Who says that Christmas decor can’t be found on the Beach! This gorgeous Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree is the perfect addition to your coastal DIY Christmas Decor, and it was made with all Dollar Tree supplies. Merry Christmas in July!

You’re gonna want to sit down before scrolling this blog post because I’m about to blow your mind with cuteness with this Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree!

If you don’t celebrate Christmas in July now, you will after seeing the coastal cuteness I made for a Craft event that I was in over on Facebook.

The event was called “An Old-fashioned Christmas”, and I may have strayed a litttlleeeeee bit from the theme, but what can I say, I’m a crafty rebel!

This Coastal Christmas Tree is PERFECT for a beach home, if you spend the holidays in a tropical location, for Christmas in July, or even if you just miss the warmer weather.

So run to the Dollar Tree (or to the beach!) and stock up on seashells, sand, and sea glass, and lets make a Seashell Christmas Tree with an Ombre background!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make an Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree

Paint sticks or wood background (I used and old fence I found outside)
Seashells
Sea Glass
Nautical rope
Starfish
Diamond Dust
Sand
Jumbo popsicle sticks
Mod Podge
Paint: White, and various blues and greens
Packing tape
Candle wax
Hot glue gun

How to Make a Coastal Christmas Tree

I made this Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

For my background, I used pieces from an old fence that I found outside my apartment, and stashed in my craft stash for 2 years. It’s highly unlikely that you will have a random fence piece in your stash, so you can just as easily use paint sticks or any type of wooden background.

For paint sticks, line them up and then brace them together using jumbo popsicle sticks or smaller pieces of paint sticks. The back will look like the below pic. It’s a hot mess but who cares it’s the back! Yours will be neater if you are using paint sticks. You can see the nails and everything on my fence but I love the character!

For the background, I did the “Chippy Method” using wax and packing tape. First, rub the candle wax all over the surface of your wood background/fence. Then paint the ombre right over the top.

I started with very light tan at the bottom where the sand will be, and then blended into lighter teals, greens, darker teals, and then into blues. It’s best to watch the replay to see how I did this, as it’s very hard to explain in writing!

You can mix the colors that you have together to get new colors and make for a better ombre effect. Don’t worry about the blending being perfect, just make sure you don’t let your paint dry in between colors, or it will be more difficult to blend.

Dry your paint completely, and then use packing tape and place it on top of the paint, and rip it off. This will “chip” the paint and expose some of the white below, giving it a worn, distressed, and beachy vibe.

Next, Mod Podge real sand to the bottom tan part of the background. I did about a 2-3 inch portion of the bottom, making the sand more heavy at the very bottom and lighter towards where the “water” starts.

Glue a small piece of nautical rope as the Christmas “tree trunk”, and some smaller shells around it as “presents”.

Now to build the Seashell Christmas Tree! Just glue the shells line by line until it forms a tree. I started with 4 shells on the bottom, and then 3, and 2, and 1.

Glue small pieces of sea glass as the “ornaments”.

It wouldn’t be a Coastal Seashell Christmas Tree without a starfish tree topper!

Paint a wood starfish white, or use a faux starfish (from Dollar Tree!), and then Mod Podge Diamond Dust on it to give it that sparkle. Glue it to the top to finish it off.

Did I blow your mind with this one or what!? I am absolutely obSESSed with how this turned out and I hope you are too!

Now if you’re not into the whole Coastal Christmas, don’t worry I’ve got a ton more Christmas Tree crafts that you will love. My fave right now is this Wooden Shim Christmas Tree so make sure to check that one out.

You can barely see it in this pic, but the Coastal Christmas Tree looks so cute with my Summer Burlap Banner! Merry Christmas in July!

Are you going to make an Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post Ombre Seashell Christmas Tree appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set

Amanda — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 19:31:48 +0000

Nativity sets don’t have to be elaborate and expensive, you can make one with some supplies found at the Dollar Tree and in nature! This simple DIY Mini Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set is the perfect amount of rustic and cute. A Christmas crafty Win Win!

I come up with A LOT of my own craft ideas straight out of my little ‘ole brain, but sometimes you see something on Pinterest that you’ve just got to recreate! And that was this adorable mini Terra Cotta Pot Nativity set!

In my private subscription group, The CRafterparty, we just made a gorgeous Rustic Nativity Set, so this is a smaller different version but equally as cute.

This is the perfect nativity if you live in a smaller apartment and don’t have a ton of room for decorations, OR you could even make it into a sort of oversized ornament.

Whatever you decide to do with it, this mini Terra Cotta Pot Nativity is sure to be a hit!

I got a bunch of wood rounds from my local Christmas Tree shop last year when we picked out our tree. If you get a real tree, check with your farm! They usually throw away the rounds that they cut off the bottom of the trees, so most farms will give them to you for free!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make a DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set

How to Make a DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set

I made this Mini Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

For Joseph, I glued a wood bead to the top of a 2 inch terra cotta pot, and drew a very simple face with 2 black dots as the eyes and lightly brushed on pink for rosy red cheeks.

I then cut a piece of burlap, and put it over his head and tied a piece of twine around his “neck” to secure. I added a stick for extra detail for his walking stick (I have no idea what it is called).

To make Baby Jesus in his manger, I filled a mini terra cotta pot with excelsior, and then glued the wood bead head inside. I drew the same simple face as Joseph (Mary as well).

I then added a piece of a wood skewer with a mini gold star for decoration.

I made Mary almost the same as Joseph, except I used a piece of coffee stained muslin instead of burlap, and tied the twine around her forehead.

For the Christmas tree in the back of the terra cotta pot nativity set I used a snowy pine cone that I pulled off of a pick from Walmart, but you could easily use faux snow and a regular pine cone to make one.

I added a mini gold star on top!

Here it is from the back! You can see how nice and thick that wood round is that I got from my local Christmas Tree shop for free when we got our tree last year.

This is just the simplest, cutest, most rustic-y little DIY nativity set I ever did see!

How darn cute does this look with that Half Wood Snowman we made, and the Christmas Mittens! Oooooo it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmaaaasssssss!

Are you going to make a DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set? If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set? Make sure to PIN it for later!

The post DIY Terra Cotta Pot Nativity Set appeared first on Manda Panda Projects.

Neutral Fall Tiered Tray Inspo

Amanda — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:24:47 +0000

Take a walk on the wild side with this Neutral Fall Tiered Tray. This handmade Rustic Tiered Tray decor has accents of Leopard Print, Gold, and Sunflowers, with plenty of pumpkins to go along with it. If this Neutral Fall Tiered Tray doesn’t give you all the Fall feels, then I don’t know what will!

Not only did I hand make all the decor that you see on this Neutral Fall Tiered Tray, I made the tray itself! If you’re following along on Facebook, you probably saw me make many of the pieces you see here live.

If it’s handmade and on this tiered tray, then there is a tutorial for it. The only things I did NOT make are some of the little filler pumpkins and hay bales, and the mini mugs from Hobby Lobby, because they never come off my tray.

I’ve decorated tiered trays in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. My last fall tiered tray was not neutral at all. It was a lot more traditional, but with lots of POPS of teal. And my smaller tiered tray is packed with cute Halloween decor. But this year I did something totally different and did a Neutral Fall Tiered Tray with leopard print accents throughout.

And I could not be any more in love! It looks so fabulous with the whole Neutral Fall-O-Ween vibe I have going on in my living room!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Neutral Fall Decorated Tiered Tray

Almost all of the little pieces that you see on this tray are handmade, including the Tiered Tray itself. I’ve linked below to the Facebook Live, and/or the blog post tutorial where we made each one so that you can easily find them if you want to make them yourself! I hope you find lots of Fall Inspo here and I can’t wait to see how your Neutral Fall Tiered Tray turns out.

Handmade Crafts for a Neutral Fall Tiered Tray

I decorated this beautiful Neutral, Gold, and Leopard Print Fall Tiered Tray on a Facebook Live video, so you can WATCH me decorate it HERE or click on the picture right below.

Watch the Facebook Live here

I don’t have a strict rulebook when it comes to decorating my Neutral Fall Tiered Tray. I know there are some decorating “rules” you are supposed to follow, but honestly I’ve never been one to follow those rules! I’m a #CraftyRebel.

One thing I do know to be true when it comes to decorating a Tiered Tray is that you want to create layers and varying heights with your pieces. One trick I have is to use little round wood discs as risers to create some height on things in the back. It makes a world of difference.

First things first, you need to start with a clean slate and take EVERYTHING off of your tray. Then I get out everything that I plan to use, so that I have it all right there in front of me.

Then, I just start putting things on and moving them around until I like how it looks. Sometimes I tweak and tinker with it for way too long before I get it how I want it.

Let’s start from the top with our Chunky Leaf, that is actually reversible from Target Dollar Spot. All I did was add the leopard print on the front, and music sheet on the back. In front of that is my fave piece on the whole tray….the Mini Salt Shaker Fall Florals!

To the right we have a cute It’s Fall Y’all Frame that was made with a napkin from the Big Pack of Craftkins (my napkin subscription).

It wouldn’t be a handmade Tiered Tray without the two staple pieces front and center…..the Mini Fall Bookstack and Mini Fall Wood Bead Garland.

Moving down to the middle, we have another fave front and center, the Mini Fall Ladder, surrounded by 3 Sunflower Mini Stamp Blocks that were made with Digital Deco Designs.

One of the blocks is on a Mini Pumpkin Riser that we made, and another is sitting in the Mini Mug from Hobby Lobby. And yes, I do realize that the one block is upside down, WHOOPS!

In the back left, we have the Burlap Candy Corn. This one wasn’t originally made for my Fall Tiered Tray, but I thought it fit on there perfectly so I decided to add it.

The two pumpkins, one mustard color and one dark brown, weren’t handmade. I found them in my stash and threw ’em on.

Before moving on down to the bottom, let’s talk about that Mini Burlap Pumpkin Banner that is hanging from the middle tier. So cute, right!?

Front and center on the bottom is the Mini Burlap Pumpkin Cutting board, with another mini mug and Sunflower block next to it. And those mini hay bales just absolutely make it!

It’s hard to see, but in the back right we have a reversible standing pumpkin. I intentionally made this one that was kind of big, and a little bit plain, because I knew that it would be hiding in the back.

In front of that is probably my third favorite, the Mini Pumpkin Pallet. It’s so pretty with those gold and white splatters, and the leopard print mini bow.

On the opposite side in the back we have the “Pumpkin Queen” round sitter. Another that was made with a napkin from my Big Pack of Craftkins.

And last but not least, the Leopard Print Pumpkin Pallet and the Gold Pine Cone. The pine cone was originally gold, but I painted it a *better* gold to match the rest of the Neutral Fall Tiered Tray.

The adorable little “Unbelievably Blessed” and “Thankful” mini mugs were a Fall Hobby Lobby find from a few year back, and are pretty much the only major items on here that I didn’t make!

If you see any little empty spaces, use your filler pumpkins and hay bales to fill in the gaps.

Some may say that my trays are “busy”, but that’s how I like them! And you do you BOO! What can I say, I’m EXTRA and it shows in my Neutral Fall Tiered Tray!

Are you going to decorate a Neutral Tiered Tray for the Fall Season this year? Shoot…are you gonna decorate a Tiered Tray at all?! If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

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Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

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Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor

Amanda — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 18:01:42 +0000

It’s beachy, it’s coastal, it’s nautical…..it’s a Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor! This gorgeous and affordable piece of DIY Decor can be used to decorate for summer in your home, or year round in your beach home. Whatever you decide to make it for, one things for sure, people will be asking “Where did you buy that!?”

Last summer I made the most amazing Ombre Seashell Seahorse for an event that I was in. It got me thinking “What other seashell thingys can I make?”

So my own idea inspired this Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor idea, and here we are.

A little bit of a coincidence is that this was also made Live over on Facebook for a different event that I was in.

Come to think of it, I made a Seashell Christmas Tree for en event too. I swear it wasn’t planned that way! I guess I like to make seashell things for events.

What seashell thingy should I make next!?

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Supplies Needed to Make a Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor

How to Make a Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor

I made this Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor on video. So you can WATCH the tutorial by clicking below.

Watch the video HERE

To make the background, line up 13 paint sticks, making sure to alternate the handles. Brace them together by gluing other paint sticks, and/or popsicle sticks to the back.

Paint the entire background with the Teal paint (or whatever color you like).

Cover the teal with a coat of Waverly White Wax, and then wipe it off while it’s still wet to give it a white washed beachy vibe like below.

Now for the fun part! Start by laying out all of your seashells on your wood anchor cutout. It is kind of like a puzzle, getting them all to fit on just perfectly. This part is a little tedious and time consuming, but it’s super easy to do.

Once you have them all arranged, glue them all down using hot glue and/or E6000. E6000 will be best to keep them on there long term, but the hot glue will make them stay NOW. You can get away with using only hot glue like I did, but beware if the shells start falling off down the road, especially in the heat!

Add some glass beads and pearls throughout the anchor to fill in some of the gaps.

Take a piece of Jute Rope and wrap it loosely around the anchor, starting at the top and then coming out on the bottom left.

Glue a sand dollar to the end of the rope on the paint stick background.

For the hanger, take a piece of nautical rope and tie a knot at each end, leaving some extra tope hanging after the knot.

Glue it to the front of the background as decoration.

This is optional, but I took a lighter and singed the end of the rope to give it a finished look and to prevent it from fraying further.

Here she is all put together and looking beautiful!

I am SOOOOOO super happy with how this turned out! It looks just adorbs and is the perfect addition to my Seashell Seahorse and Ombre Beach decor!

Are you going to make a Dollar Tree Seashell Anchor? Shoot…are you gonna make anything this Summer?! If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations.

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Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

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Patriotic Rustic Tiered Tray Inspo

Amanda — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 18:48:54 +0000

Put your American pride on display this 4th of July with this Patriotic Rustic Tiered Tray. With the red, white, and blue, plus flags and stars, this handmade 3 tiered tray is packed with DIY Americana Decor inspo from top to bottom! Every item on this tray is handmade with American pride!

I absolutely LOVE to hand make everything for all my tiered trays. In fact, I even made the tray itself!

It has become a sort of tradition to have Tiered Tray Live extravaganzas on my Facebook page where I go on a 1, 2 or even 3 week long spree hand making everything for my tray.

I go live on my my lunch break and call them Lunchtime Live Tiered Tray Extravaganzas! These are all short, easy, fast, and cute little crafts and at the end of the series I go Live and decorate my tray with everything we made.

So if you’re following along on Facebook, you probably saw me make many of the pieces you see here live. If it’s handmade and on this tiered tray, then there is a tutorial for it. The only things I did NOT make are the mini mugs from Hobby Lobby because they were just too cute not to add.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a cent more!)

Rustic Patriotic Tiered Tray

Almost all of the little pieces that you see on this tray are handmade, including the Tiered Tray itself. I’ve linked below to the Facebook Live, and/or the blog post tutorial where we made each one so that you can easily find them if you want to make them yourself! I hope you find lots of patriotic Inspo here and I can’t wait to see how your Americana Tiered Tray turns out.

Handmade Crafts for a Patriotic Tiered Tray

I decorated this beautiful Rustic Handmade Patriotic 3 Tiered Tray on a Facebook Live video, so you can WATCH me decorate it HERE or click on the picture right below.

Watch the Facebook Live here

I have no rhyme or reason to how I decorated my Patriotic Handmade Tiered Tray. I know there are some decorating “rules” you are supposed to follow, but honestly I’ve never been one to follow those rules! I’m a #CraftyRebel.

First things first, you need to start with clean slate and take EVERYTHING off of your tray. Then I get out everything that I plan to use, so that I have it all right there in front of me.

Then, I just start putting things on and moving them around until I like how it looks. It takes a bit of tweaking and tinkering until you get it just right, but in the end you are left with something uh-maz-ing. One trick I have is to use little round wood discs to use as risers to create some height on things in the back. It makes a world of difference

I usually start by putting my bigger staple pieces on, then adding some smaller pieces, and finishing it off with the mini mini things and filler pieces. Then move and tinker until I’m Happy!

Let’s start from the Top! You absolutely cannot miss that gorgeous Rusty Bedspring Star on the left. This one really isn’t a “tiered tray craft” because it’s actually pretty big, but since my tray is HUGE it works just fine. This was made in a set of 3, but I only use 2 of them on here.

I balanced this larger piece out with a small USA Rae Dunn inspired jar to the right. And it wouldn’t be a tiered tray without a Mini Jenga Block Book Stack (or two)!

To finish of the top tier I added a small Patriotic red, white, and blue Wood Bead Garland, and I think that was the perfect touch.

Moving on down to the second tier, we have my very favorite piece front and center, the Freedom Patriotic Ladder. To the right all the way in the back is a craft we made with a napkin from my Big Pack of Craftkins napkin subscription, the Patriotic Lobster Mason Jar. It’s a little hard to see here, but trust me he’s a cutie!

In front of the lobster is a mini Patriotic Stamp block, and you guessed it….another Jenga Block Mini Book stack, but an American Flag this time.

The tray wouldn’t be complete without the USA Star Mini Banner hanging across the middle tier.

To the left is an adorable Jenga Block Uncle Sam Hat, and right behind that is another Stamp Block sitting on top of a mini mug from Hobby Lobby (one of the only non handmade items on the tray!)

I filled in some of the empty spaces with some cute Red, White, and Blue Kraft Paper Stars, and some mini laser cut stars.

We’ve made it all the way down to the bottom tier, where the cuteness continues with another craft made with a Craftkin on the back left, the “Home Sweet Home” USA flag sitter with its fun crackle look. This tray is super big and needs some larger pieces for the bottom back spots, so to the right of that I put another one of the Rusty Patriotic Stars.

In front of the Rusty star on the right is another of my faves, the Vintage American Flag USA Chippy Block raised up just a tad with 2 small wood round risers. Another Mini Patriotic Stamp Block is filling in some space right in front of that, an adorable Mini Flag Pillow is front and center resting against the candlestick.

Right in front of the pillow we have the USA Scrabble Tiles that are so darn cute! I am going to make these interchangeable with different tiles for each holiday so that I can just swap them out.

All the way to the left we have the Star Wand coming out of an old salt shaker, with adorable Mini Cardboard Patriotic Flip Flops propped up against it. And just off to the right of those we have the last piece on this tier, the Jenga Block Firecrackers.

And here she is in all her glory! A view from each side of the tray so you can get the full picture of some of the items that are hard to see in the individual tier pics.

Are you going to decorate a Tiered Tray for Memorial Day or 4th of July this year? Shoot…are you gonna decorate a Tiered Tray at all?! If you do, I’d love to see it! Pop on over to our free Craftspiration Facebook group, and join in on the fun by posting a pic of your Tiered Trays, DIY’s and crafts. I just love to see all your creative and crafty creations!

Free printable Craft Project Planner

Get organized, get inspired, and get crafting, with our free Craft Project Planner!

Download my free planner!

Until Next Time…

Stay Crafty San Diego!

Love this Rustic Patriotic Tiered Tray? Make sure to PIN it for later!

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