Mini Recipe Books

I made some recipe books for friends and family. They contain some of my most enjoyed cookies and appetizers from when I host monthly craft events. You can see some of the recipe's here.
:)

Gingerbread House Teacher gifts

 Here are some cute Gingerbread houses I'm filling with cookies for Teachers and staff at my son's school.
You can read all about it here, on The Robins Nest blog!
Merry Christmas!

Vintage Inspired Santa Claus ornaments - giveaway!

Today - I am featured on The Amazing Mold Putty blog, showcasing a tutorial  I made from vintage candy molds. I am also hosting a giveaway, all details on their blog! :)

Lets make Dew Drop Hair Clips!

 If you are stuck on what to make friends and family this Holiday, how about some Dew Drop hair clips?
So easy to create and beautiful to wear!

Leslie Rahye's - A Very Merry Holiday SteamPunk Blog Hop!

 Welcome to another SteamPunk Blog Hop hosted by Leslie Rahye's!
The theme for this one is Christmas, so I thought it would be fun to make some ornaments!

Downtime Art.

As a full time Stay at home Mom, Cub Scout Leader and Mixed Media Artist, I don't get a lot of downtime.
But when I do, I like to color. I have a 12x12 clear scrapbook box that I keep all my "cards in progress" in. I like to pre-stamp images on cardstock and have them ready to color in whenever I'm in the "mood" Sometimes I use color pencils, watercolors or last night I played with my collection of Spectrum Noir pens. These are alot like Copic pens, just half the cost.

Back before I was married, I used to paint. All the time. Color is my strong point, my passion. My goal for next year is to frame some of my favorite random pieces and decorate our barren walls in the house.
I also loved to paint by way of pointillism.
It's a technique of adding color one dot at a time. To me it's therapeutic. Mentally and visually.
What types of art do you like to do that involves color?

Handmade Christmas Decorations

 It's the first Monday and the Designer Crafts Connection is posting handmade projects for Christmas which I'm sure you'll love! From gifts, ornaments to easy decorations like these tissue paper flowers I made.

 To make these easy flowers, you will need 8 identical cut out circles. Then you'll want to fold each one in half and then in half again. Next fold at the point so you have a pie shaped piece.

Decorated Address Book

This is a decorated Address book I made for my Holiday card writing. You can see the inside and how I made it here. :)

Iris Folding Ornament Cards!

 Yes...I too have discovered the joys of "Iris Folding!"
Don't you just love these Ornament cards I made?

 

They are all made with the elegant glitter embossed papers  from The Robins Nest where right now until November 26th, 2012, you can save 25% off your entire shopping order!

 Just use the code BLACK25 at checkout.

Then visit The Robins Nest blog to view this tutorial.
I'm warning you...these are addicting.. I made 3 in one hour! :)

Resin Christmas Ornaments!

Looking for some Christmas Ornament inspiration? Come on over to The Amazing Mold Putty blog to see how I made these beauties! :)

FREE Christmas Clip Art!

From now until the rest of 2012, if I don't have a regular post to share, I'll be sharing with you some clip art or other royalty free images to play with in your art. Please only use the images for personal  and not to make a profit.

For the rest of November, I'll be sharing with you some favorite "Santa" images. In December, I'll share some vintage post card images and other winter fun. You can expect 2-3 images in a post up to 3 times a week. If you like what you see, I'd appreciate comments. Thanks!

Home for the Holidays - Blog Hop Winner!

I want to thank you all for visiting me for the "Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!"

The tea light holders above were my creation for the hop using product from The Robins Nest and Helmars glue. You can see my entire post here. 

The designers from The Robins Nest and the designers from Helmars each had a drawing for a $10 shop gift card. My winner is : Kiki Halbert! Congratulations Kiki!
The Robins nest and the Helmars blog both gave away a $20 gift card to their shop. :)
Please visit The Robins Nest blog  to see if you have won too!

Holiday Sequin Ornament

 Recently I was asked to try a great new product called Smoothfoam ™
It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes from small balls, eggs, hollow shapes, wreaths and sheets.
It it very smooth making it perfect to paint, sand, and cut.
I chose to make a sequined ornament, similar to ones I had when I was little.

 To get started, you will need 2" balls of Smoothfoam ™
Gold or silver sequin pins, assorted colors and sizes of sequins, and ribbon.

 First tie a length of ribbon around your Smoothfoam ™ ball. Tie a knot then tie at the top so you can hang your ornament once completed. Layer your sequins onto the pins and easily push into the ball along the ribbon. This will help secure the ribbon while you work. Add more pins and sequins filling in the gaps as you work.

 When you have covered the entire ball, double check and push in any loose pins.
Hang and enjoy!

You can find Smoothfoam ™  and all these supplies at any major craft stores.

Festive Friday Ornament Tag Cards!

Here are some Ornament tag cards I made over on The Robins Nest. 
Please come by to see the rest of them and say hi!

Designers Craft Challenge- A Thank You Gift Idea

 Hi everyone, so nice to see you again! This month for The Designer Crafts Challenge group, the theme is thankful gifts. Now that cooler weather is happening upon most of us, I thought it would be nice to make up some "Spiced Lemon Friendship Tea" to share. This is a favorite mix I've had for along time and thought you might like it as well!

Home For The Holidays- Votive Tea Lights & Giveaway!

 Welcome to "Home For The Holidays!" A blog hop sponsored by The Robins Nest and Helmar!
We were asked to create something that makes us feel at home for the holidays. To me, seeing brightly decorated votive candles makes me feel like Christmas is almost here. I love the dancing flame and the way the colors sparkle brightly.

Give Thanks

November already? I know I have much to be Thankful for. Which inspired me to make this card. You can see how I created it over on The Robins nest blog here.
Don't forget to come back here on Saturday for a "Home for The Holidays" blog hop, sponsored by The Robins Nest and Helmar!
See you then!

What's that lurking in the dark?

 Delight your friends and Trick-or-Treaters this Halloween!
I have been saving toilet paper and paper towel tubes all month just for this. So wicked cool!
You will need, empty tubes, scissors and a glow sticks in red or green.

Cut spooky eyes into the tubes with your scissors. Get creative and think of the eyes on a traditional Jack-O-Lantern.  Then "activate" your glow sticks and place inside the tube. Cover both ends of the tubes with black duct tape if you have it. This will keep the glow stick in place and keep the light concentrated to just emit from the eyes. Put these outside in front of your home, in your pots, bushes, tree's, maybe in your graveyard! 

Happy Halloween!

Leslie Rahye's - A Very Spooky Halloween Blog Hop!

Welcome to another Steam Punk blog hop hosted by Leslie Rahye!

For this project I decided to make some vintage inspired spiders to wear and decorate my home!

 I purchased the gears from Hobby Lobby in their scrapbook embellishment section.
They are fairly easy to bend a bit to fit the spiders abdomen.

How to make a Spider Egg Sac for Halloween!

 Every Year for Halloween, I always put up my traditional spider web. As you can see, I've gotten quite good at stretching the cotton web! Of course it helps to have stucco to act as anchors for the clingy material. :)

I have always wanted to make one of these spider sac's. I hung it in the corner above the door and placed some large, extra creepy spiders above it. 

 To get started you'll need the following:

1. Cotton batting.
2. Cheese cloth.
3. Some leftover webbing.
4. Small plastic spiders.

5 Haunted Halloween Houses for less than $10!

 Here's a great craft you can do for less than $10! The above houses can be found at your local Dollar Tree store for $1 each. You'll find that the paint detail on them is really is really sloppy, don't worry about that...just make sure there are no chips or cracks on them before you buy them.  Then head over to your favorite place to buy spray paint. I buy mine from Walmart. Pick up a can of "Flat Black" Krylon, indoor/ outdoor paint. Spray paint your houses outside. Make sure to place them on newspaper, maybe in a box.  Let dry completely before handling or your fingers will leave impressions.

Happy Halloween "Boo" Banner!

Here is a Halloween banner I conjured up over on The Robins Nest blog. I hope you visit them and say hi!

Spooky Skull Resin Ornaments

 

  I have a little black tinsel tree that was looking so bare until I made up these resin skull ornaments! Just the right size and full of enough "spook" for Halloween!
To get started, you will need Amazing Casting Resin, Alumilite Black dye, a craft sheet or wax paper to work on, quick release spray made for resin crafts, a skull ice cube tray, scissors, wire, a dixie cup, stir stick, e-6000 and rhinestones.

31 Days of Halloween - Pumpkin ideas

Here are some idea's I've found through pintrest that I thought you might find inspiring this month!

 Fanged Pumpkins. 
Simply cut a section out of a mini pumpkin, add plastic vampire teeth and two brads for eyes.
Brilliant!

Festive Friday Card #19!

I know this is not a Halloween card, but I wanted to share this with you anyways. Christmas is just around the corner and if you are like me, you could you all the help you can get! Right? :)
I made this card with a few vintage goodies and some Robins Nest items.  Visit their blog here for the "how-to" or just hop along the link list below.

31 Days of Halloween- Miniature Faerie Gardens!

 Welcome! All through October I will be posting halloweing idea's to get you in the mood.
Today this post is about my friend Jaime  has decorated her miniature Faerie garden with some Halloween flair. Enjoy!

 Most of these items can be found anywhere doll house or Christmas villages are sold.

31 Days of Halloween - Spooky "Boo!" Ghost Wreath

 Are you looking for a frightfully fun and easy decoration for your front door?
This wreath is it!
I began with a bit of leftover chicken wire which I shaped into a wreath like circle.

 Then I spray painted it a flat black color.

31 Days of Halloween - No Carve Pumpkin Faces

 All month long, I'll be posting  Halloween craft idea's because I LOVE Halloween so much and want to help inspire you to love it too! Some idea's will be past ones I've posted here on my blog, some will be brand new for the year and others will be borrowed from a friend or two. :)

Above is a really simple but great idea for kids to make.
 It's  "no-carve-pumpkin-faces" by Jessica Okui of Zakka Life.
Visit her blog for the full tutorial!
If you or someone you know would like to have a Halloween idea featured on my blog...please drop me a line! You don't need to have a blog, just great photos!
But if you do have a blog, please add my button (see top of this post) to your blog with a link back to mine.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!