UPDATE~ I will be linking up with Today’s Creative Blog!

 
and
 
Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special

Hi friends! So, with the Halloween decor down I am just itching to move onto new projects to fill the lonely space. It’s early November but Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year and we like to welcome it early in our house! We don’t forget about Thanksgiving but Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without the Christmas decor!

As I’m sure it is for many of you, it is so important to me that my kids remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Santa and presents are fun and my kids get caught up in this part very easily so I try to drill in their heads that the birth of Christ is why we celebrate. Which is what got the ideas flowing on this project…well that and Annette’s Shadow Boxes!
Supplies I used bought at Hobby Lobby:
Unfinished wooden candlesticks
Unfinished wooden napkin rings
2 unfinished wooden plaques, 2 unfinished wooden finials
One 3ft unfinished wooden slat
and one 1×6 board purchased at Home Depot
I started by marking and cutting down the 1×6 to 36″
with my Ryobi battery powered circular saw.
I then sanded down the edges with my battery powered Ryobi sander.
I then spray painted all of the pieces with a favorite, Rustoleum American Accents Heirloom White.
I used my Cricut (George and Basic Shapes cartridge) to cut out stencils and dry brushed over them with Americana Lamp (Ebony) Black acrylic on the 36″ board.
Distressed the edges and corners with my 3M sanding block (80-grit paper)…
and then applied Minwax Dark Walnut stain to the distressed edges to bring out the detail!
I then used the Gorilla Glue Epoxy to glue two napkins rings and two candle sticks together and glued them to an unfinished wooden plaque
and repeated to make two bases!
I then used the Gorilla Glue Epoxy to glue them to the bottom of the small wooden slat, set that aside
and got to work on the board again.  I applied the Gorilla Glue Epoxy to the bottom side of the board
flipped the candle stick and board up and secured the board on top!
Now for the finishing touches!
~ A little Minwax Dark Walnut stain on the edges of the small wooden slat
~ Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze all over (paint on a wipe off)
Remember the finials…a little glaze
some Gorilla Glue Epoxy on the bottom and …
a Christmas Center piece is created!!!
Like I said, it is so important for me to keep my boys in check when it comes to the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  I love this new piece and I hope that it will be a constant reminder to my boys and me as well as we head into the Holidays! 
I will be adding this to Just A Girl’s Party for thrifty Christmas gifts…. Check it out guys!!
UPDATE:

 
And…
 
DIY Day @ ASPTL
 
I will also be linking up at Works For Me Wednesdays over here…
 
 
UPDATE:
 
 
 The DIY Show Off

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41 Comments

  1. I love your creativity. We also like to keep the true meaning of Christmas out and around in our decorations.
    And oh my, can I just say that I love to sew, papercraft, quilt and now I am seeing wonderful things made with this Gorilla glue. LOL, I don't need another addiction. I have never used that stuff before but some of you ladies in blogland are making some very creative things with it.

  2. I LOVE THIS SIGN!!! Love how you used the candlesticks as a base… Fabulous. I also love all things vintage looking…Go check my blog for my newest clothing creation. I used vintage fabric to make a YUMMY Christmas set… DIVINE. It'll make you wanna eat Christmas Cakes!

  3. been starting to follow your blog and had no idea that you were a Christ follower as well. makes me love this blog even more. 🙂

  4. I love it! This week I was trying to think of an idea for my center piece. I am going to have to use this one!
    I so wish I had a Hobby Lobby close to me. Oh, well thank heavens for Micheals!
    Court
    frog2fab.blogspot.com

  5. LOVE IT SO SWEET. You guys are wood lovers… it cracks me up all the wood re-dos you do. Great job, super sweet!

  6. What a great tutorial and a wonderful post. I will definitely make one of these. Love it. Hugs, Marty

  7. I LOVE THIS !!! I am ACTUALLY going to try it but I have no portable circular saw…wonder what I can do to compensate ? I think this will look GREAT on my mantle !

  8. What a cute idea! And yes, it says it all. A child is born. Jesus..The reason for Christmas. Love your blog.
    Kelly

  9. as with all of your projects, this one is wonderful! What a great idea for a meaningful (gorgeous) Christmas centerpiece!

  10. Great Idea, I too want every one to remember the true reason that we celebrate Christmas.. great idea!
    ~jen

  11. i will be doing this project. i've been designing sign ideas.(in thought only recently)but i think i'm going to apply this technique.
    thanks
    marie

  12. Wow – I love it. I have the perfect piece of wood that I haven't known what to do with – thanks for the great idea.