Lighted Christmas Balls + Outdoor Lights 2013

Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky in the husband department.  I mean, most dudes don't willingly put up Christmas lights let alone enjoy putting up a display like this.

We hang lights instead of shoveling our driveway.  It snows light every other day so we've given up.

There might be some lights thrown in the bushes if I was in charge (which was my job this year).  You would never catch me up there in those peaks.  I definitely wouldn't spend the time outlining the sides of the house.

So instead of thanking Nate, I pull out a quote from one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Michelle: The little lights... they aren't twinkling.

Nate: I know, Michelle. Thanks for noticing.

We are slowly adding lighted Christmas balls to our little tree area.  We made these last year but I never blogged about them.

These balls are easy to make.  We hope to have a big ol' forest of hanging ball in the future.  We added a few more this year.

We were originally inspired by this pin which no longer leads to a valid site.  Awesome.  It did at one time and it taught us how to make these lovely lighted Christmas balls.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Chicken wire
  • We used the 2" kind.  About 2 feet for each ball.
• Wire cutters
• Mini Christmas lights (1 box per ball)
• 3 prong outdoor adapters
• Outdoor Extension cords

Form the cut ends into a cylinder.  Twist the cut ends together.

Close both ends of the cylinder.  Trial and error will get you to a point where the ends look more like a sphere than a square.

Keep fluffing and twisting until you end up with something that resembles a ball.  Wrap the lights around the ball.  (We stuck some inside to help keep in place during the windy/snowy month of December.

To hang, drape an extension cord over a tree branch.  Thread the power cord into the ball.  Loop it up and in and plug into the lights.  It's seriously a stupid easy outdoor light project!   

Do you have outdoor lights?  Are you one of those awesome houses that has the display set to music? 

Christmas Countdown Art {Dare to Deck the Halls}

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  Nate and I enjoyed a lovely snowy weekend in Chicago.  The city is pretty much magical covered in snow.  More on that later.

Today is the last link up for the Dare to DIY.  Goodbyes are always hard.  The theme this week is Dare to Deck the Halls and the party is over at NewlyWoodwards!  I've been working on quite a few DIY holiday projects (which I have already completed) but the one I wanted to share for Dare to DIY is a Christmas Countdown.  Which I finished last night.  I'm so on top of this blogging stuff.  

I've always wanted some sort of Christmas countdown art.  This is one of those projects that in my head was going to be quick and easy and turn out beautifully.  None of that happened but it's still cute in it's own quirky way.  (It also photographs horribly. Eh.)

I started with a blank piece of wood that I painted with chalk board paint (two coats).  I then designed the lettering/numbers in Photoshop.  I traced them onto the sign using tracing paper.  (I'm going all old school on you.)  I then used white Sharpie paint pens to poorly go over my tracing paper marks.  

You could just do this with chalk pens.  I wanted something that I could use year after year.  

This year I am just "priming" the circles as I fill them in.  Next year I will probably "x" them out.

Here is it hanging in our festive dining room.  And I still have like 10 days to enjoy it.   Go team Michelle.

Now it's party time.  Be sure to check out the fabulous projects by my partners in crime.

(Colorful pom pom wreath via Primitive and Proper, Joy to the World print via Maybe Matilda, Christmas countdown via Decor and the Dog, Plaid and Union Jack pillows via NewlyWoodwards)

Now it's time for you to head on over to NewlyWoodwards and link up your best deck the halls projects!  There are some great handmade items for one lucky person that links up!

Did you dare to deck the halls?

Dare to DIY Features + Dog Art Giveaway

Happy Friday the 13th!  Last day of work for the week.  Yes!  Nate and I are headed to Chicago.  He surprised me with tickets to Elf the Musical.  We're both pumped.  Hopefully we can beat the snow!  We've never been to Chicago during the Winter so we'll so how tough we are.

Today I'd like to share with you features from Monday's Dare to DIY {Give Handmade} link party, a sneak peek of Monday's Dare to Deck the Halls project and an awesome giveaway.  Action packed post, right?

First up, the features.  There were seriously a ton of great ideas.  Be sure to check them all out right here!

I really loved this DIY novelty IPhone speaker from CeciBean.  It's beautiful!

Next up is this delicious looking lemon sugar scrub from Made2Style.  I'm kind of obsessed with body scrubs and this one's ingredients look like a winner to me!  

Check out our Dare to DIY pinterest board for inspiration!  Wanna see the other co-hosts picks? Check them out at Maybe Matilda, Newlywoodwards and Primitive and Proper!

The party is over at NewlyWoodwards on Monday.  The challenge is Dare to Deck the Halls. 

"DIY something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same."

Here's a peek at what I'm working on!

And now it's time for a fun giveaway from a childhood friend's Etsy shop, Painfully Polite.  

Amanda and I grew up in the tiny town of Dayton, Iowa.  I don't talk about my hometown much but it was a pretty awesome town to grow up in.  800 people.  No stop lights.  One of those towns where you seriously know everyone and their families.  We ran the town until dark and then went home to have suppers with our families.  Us Dayton girls stick together.

Amanda is a graphic designer that is looking for a way to use her skills outside of work.  And I'm madly in love with her latest dog art. 

Amanda took this darling photo of the Ike-ster in his Charlie Be Good tie...

and turned it into this masterpiece!

I die.

Ike's girlfriend, Daisy, got in on the action too.

TOO MUCH CUTENESS!!!

Would you like to win a masterpiece of your pup?  Amanda is kindly offering up a digital print for one lucky reader!  Be sure to check out the quirky collection of art available from Painfully Polite.  I know some of you will love this grammar art print.  Enter via rafflecopter below!

Happy weekend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway