Burlap Lampshade DIY - Facci Designs

I just love the look of a burlap coffee sack lampshade. It's a type of fabric I think can go with just about anything and it's not very expensive to make.

I ordered a lampshade frame from www.lampshade.com. You can get burlap bags online. Here's one place. http://burlapfabric.com

I wrapped newspaper around the frame to make a pattern. Then I laid that pattern onto the fabric. I cut it about an inch larger all around and then pinned it onto the frame.

The burlap bag is sewn together on the sides with a thicker burlap string. I took it apart and used that string to sew the fabric to the lampshade frame. I folded the bottom and top pieces of fabric under and stitched that as well.

Light on!

Marzipan Candy Picture Frames DIY

Marzipan holds a special place in my heart. My mom is from Stuttgart Germany and as kids we would receive a package from her aunt every Christmas. Marzipan and Gummi bears, advent calendars, chocolate ornaments wrapped in foil and more would be nestled in a pretty box. We were so excited to open the package!

I wanted to make some marzipan candies this year for Christmas. But of course, I wanted to do something different. The internet is filled with mini marzipan fruit DIY's, but couldn't find much else.

I always assumed almond paste was marzipan...but no! Almond paste is used to make marzipan. You can purchase already made marzipan in a tube or make your own.

I decided to make my own marzipan. It's so simple, it's just a combo of almond paste, powdered sugar and corn syrup. (You can find a ton of recipes online.) If you want to die your marzipan with food coloring, do this right before you are ready to make your candy. I found a pretty frame mold, brushed it with cornstarch and pressed the marzipan into the mold. While it was still moist, I trimmed it with an exacto blade. Let the candies dry at least 24 hours before you decorate. If you're going to add some sugar pearls, do this before they dry. Once dry, I dipped some in chocolate, highlighted them with food coloring, brushed some with edible lustre dust and inserted an edible image inside the frame...so the entire frame is edible! (Find a bakery that has an edible image printer and ask them to print your images for you). I also used marzipan pieces to help the frames stand up. I "glued" them on with royal icing.

Faux Birch Branch Sunburst Mirror DIY

I love the look of birch branches, the stark black diamond shaped markings against the bright white bark. The black and white color combo is a timeless and elegant color scheme. Sunburst mirrors create a big impact even in small spaces. Try hanging one over a mantel, sofa or above a console. This focal point mirror is created with the Faux Birch Technique. Gold leaf applied to the tips adds a unique elegance to the branches. Individual pine cone shales frame the center mirror and completes the effect.

CBS Morning Show Appearance

Things have been quite busy and exciting for me. Last week I appeared on the CBS Morning Show.

Here's a link to the spot.

Up Close & Personal

Kendra of Helga-Marie Blog interviewed me for this wonderful article. Here's a snippet of it, to read the rest of the story, click here.

A wonderful POST...

So thrilled I was featured in The New York Post for my felted dogs!

Insider Art Video

So excited to be feature on Insider Art. Check it out!

CLICK HERE

How to Make Wonton Wrapper Hearts

This is a fun project to do with your kids (make sure an adult does the frying). They'll have a good time creating the different heart shapes with cookie cutters, a hole puncher, decorative paper scissors and more.

If you don't have any fancy scissors or cutters, just use a regular scissor to cut out the hearts.

Materials:
Wonton or Egg Roll Wrappers
Vegetable Oil
Powered Sugar
Honey
Sprinkles, non-pariels
Decorative Paper Scissor/Stamp
Hole Puncher

How To:
1. Gather your supplies.
2. Cut out your shapes, have fun!
3/4. Place in heated oil, until light brown, flipping occasionally. It's a good idea to place your fried hearts on a paper towel to soak up any excess oil.
5. Once cooled, sprinkle on your powered sugar.
6. Dizzle some honey on top of your powered sugar so your sprinkles stick to the hearts.
7. Or just use honey...or chocolate syrup!
8. Have fun with your shapes.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Love Linda