I’ve been working on a new version of my fullest, fluffiest wreath ever to bring to you guys next week.  It’s been on my door for a few days now, and it has so much personality.  I can’t wait for you to meet him.  I mean, it.

While I was tszujing it on the front door, it occurred to me that although I have told you my method for hanging a wreath with a ribbon on a door, I’ve never actually shown you.  It’s really easy, so I snapped a quick picture.

I take a long length of ribbon, maybe a yard and a half, and I loop it around the wreath and through whatever center ornament I am using.  So, for this wreath, I wrapped it over the top of the wreath, through the B and then back up behind the wreath.

Then, I pull the two ends of the ribbon together so they meet at the top.  If I’m using regular ribbon, I just attach it to the top of my door  with a small finishing nail and then cut off any extra that may hang past the top of the door.  For something like this jute ribbon that has a really open weave, I fold about an inch or two under and then nail it on the top of my door.  The nailhead is flush with the top of my door, so it doesn’t interfere with the door opening and closing.  This is how I’ve been doing it for years, and I just pop that one nail in and out of a single hole – I don’t even use a hammer these days.

Generally, those wreath hangers you buy in stores are way too short.  They make the center of your wreath hang on the top 1/3 of your door, and it’s much prettier if the top of your wreath is hung more in the top of the second 1/3 region.  Sounds confusing, I know.  Just make sure that the center of your wreath is near or slightly above the center of your door.  I spend all of the Christmas season wanting to go around to the homes in my neighborhood and move their wreaths further down the door.  Maybe that can be my version of Pay It Forward this year.  🙂

How do you hang wreaths on your door?  Let me know if you have any questions!

Last week, my husband was reading Reddit and came across an interesting DIY project idea.  We had just had a huge discussion about the future of our flooring at the hands of one of our dogs, and he jokingly suggested that we could just create flooring made of pennies.

Floor at Revolver in Indianapolis

I seriously laughed out loud at the thought…but, I was a little intrigued.  I recalled that I had actually seen a wall covered in pennies in a restaurant.  I couldn’t remember where (perhaps Washington, DC?), so I started searching for images of it.  Lo and behold, there are TONS of creative people out there using pennies for unique decor.

Now, before anyone freaks out, it is not illegal to alter coins if you are not trying to pass them off as being worth more than they really are.  That’s what my fake law degree tells me…and also the Secret Service website.  If you choose to put together a coin project and are worried that the Secret Service is going to bust through your door, you should either a) consult a non-fake attorney or b) not do it.  Okay, stepping off my soap box.

Like I was saying, I came across a treasure trove of great DIY projects featuring tarnished pennies.  I loved them so much that I started a Pinterest board featuring them.  I’ll continue to add to that board as I run across more projects, but I wanted to show you a few today.

Lizzie at The Hip Soiree covered a wall in pennies – in a rental property!  She hung a piece of plywood so that they wouldn’t damage the landlord’s wall.  She used Elmer’s Glue and about $50 worth of pennies.  The result is gorgeous, and it looks fantastic with the vignette  she put together.

I found this beautiful penny floor on the “modern day mancave” site Design Trawler.  He used 7,500 pennies for this installation and completed the transformation in one weekend.  Me thinks he’s a way faster worker than I am.  From what I can tell, he just painted his kitchen tile black and started gluing.  I think the shimmer is beautiful – and I love the risk taken in a bachelor’s flat.

Ashley at Domestic Imperfection painted her old laminate bar countertop black and glued pennies on it with Gorilla Glue.  The bar was top coated with Epoxy for a smooth finish.  She learned a lot of do’s and don’ts along the way, so be sure to check out her post if you are considering a large scale penny project.

If you don’t have enough change in your coin purse to cover a floor or wall in pennies, you can try something similar to what Rebecca did over at The Crafted Sparrow.  She covered paper mache letters in pennies for a friend’s housewarming gift.  So unique!  This brings in the sparkle of a penny installation without the huge commitment.

This isn’t a DIY project, but I found it too special not to share.  Rachel Denny is an artist who is best known for her “Domestic Trophies” work – faux deer heads covered in cable knit sweaters.  She created this penny covered horse head, entitled War Horse, this year, and it is an amazing piece.  I’m sad for me/happy for her that it’s been sold, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have been able to afford it anyway.

I don’t think I’m brave enough to go for a penny covered floor.  Maybe I will follow Lizzie’s lead and cover a piece of plywood.  I don’t know exactly where I’d put it, though…although you guys know I can always figure out a way to work something into a room if I want to badly enough!

What are your thoughts on these installations?  A penny for your thoughts?