Post a Comment On: Larissa Another Day

                                  [Image]

[Image]
I wanted to make a spring wreath that could stay up past Easter and that wouldn't look out of place if I got lazy and didn't put up another wreath until after summer. Welcome this Springy little number. While this looks all sunshiny and happiness hanging on my door, this crafting adventure was missing most of its similar sunshine and happiness.

The Wreath Making Saga: There are tons of really cute wreath ideas using beans of all shapes and sizes, acorns, and so on. I have been scouring the stores for months waiting for something to jump out at me that might be another alternative. One day I was child free at the craft store, what??? Child free! Yes it was glorious, and I came across these foam beads normally used as fillers for vases. They were tons cheaper than wooden or plastic beads. PERFECT (not really...keep reading).
I also decided to buy this straw wreath because it was TONS cheaper than the foam one (again, not smart).
[Image]

I began my hot-gluing marathon. Man those beads were teeny tiny. First bit of doubt about their perfection. Man this straw wreath drops straw everywhere. First bit of doubt about the wreath choice.
Hours and hours and hours later, I still was only here...
[Image]

Going SUPER crazy by this time. Plus I had lost several layers of skin...teeny tiny beads are hard to glue. Second bit of doubt about their perfection. I might also keep having to pick errant pieces of straw out of my hot glue. Second bit of doubt about the wreath choice.
What I never doubted-- I would get it done, even if I no longer had fingerprints! I was in LOVE with my fabric choice from JoAnnsI was equally in LOVE with my coordinating spray paint color, Blue Ocean Breeze
[Image]

So I kept at it. In my head I saw the final product and it was lovely. That mental image kept me going as I was actually going mental. When I glued that last bead on, I collapsed on the floor. YEAH! I was done. Now the easy part. All I had to do was spray paint it.
Can you sense the foreboding?
This very next part is why instead of a tutorial there is a cry session and a crafters beware...
The spray paint ate away and pitted the teeny tiny foam beads. I am no longer doubting these things are not perfect, now I know. I will forgo telling you the boo-hoo fit I had upon seeing this. All that hard work down the drain, right? 
WRONG. I am still using the sucker. It still looks decent close up and it looks GREAT far away. The color combo still makes me happy. As we drove away from our house the other day, both of my older boys declared how beautiful it was.
[Image]
ugg...see the pitting???
My ADVICE--
If you don't have a wreath, make one that will last more than just one holiday, so that if it does take a lot of work you can rest for several months!
Don't use straw unless it is Fall OR unless you are willing to vacuum/sweep 3 times a day.
Teeny tiny foam beads are not good for painting, or gluing for that matter, so when they beckon you to come pick them up and take them home, just keep walking.
Even if it isn't perfect, still hang it up. Chances are you really are the only one who notices. Don't let that hard work go to waste. This applies to every craft you do!
At the very least...
go and buy this spray paint and craft something springy
just beware of teeny tiny foam bits...haha