After Christmas Family Fun Day

December 28, 2015Leave a comment

I love getting the chance to be with the family on Christmas. That in itself is a gift.

But… after all the Christmas Craziness is over, we like to take a day and have a little family fun.

I almost enjoy it more than Christmas. (it’s more relaxed)

In my hometown we have a small town square and parked in the square was this cute decorated

wagon. I knew it was the perfect spot for a family picture. I just had to wait until everyone was home.

The weather was good. (a little sunshine and a light snow would of been perfect)

It didn’t take much coaxing for me to get them to go.

They’re all good sports. (they knew I’d pout if they didn’t.)

After a few pictures, we headed to the local bowling alley for a Family Bowling Night.

It’d been exactly a year since I’d bowled.

The kids even got in on the action.

After spending such a nice and perfect day with the family, we woke to a winter ice and sleet storm.

So… today I will be staying in, relaxing and hopefully reading the new book I picked up.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing start to the New Year.

Homespun Rag Ball Ornaments

December 20, 2015March 25, 2018Leave a comment

This year, I wanted to do a small little tree for the dining room.

A simple homespun tree with strung cranberries and hand-made ornaments.

I had grand ideas and a galvanized pail.

But reality hit, a long with the cold and flu, which knocked me out for a week.

It took my creativity level down to a one.

And sad to say… My small little tree didn’t get done.

I did string the cranberries… (a first for me)

They were so bright and colorful. I loved the look and took lots of pictures.

After a week or so, the cranberries started getting a mushy.

So… I put them out on the tree in the front yard for the birds to eat.

It looks pretty out there too.

Next time, I’ll make them last minute.

For the Rag Ball Ornaments…

Instead of just wrapping the strips of fabric until it formed a ball,

I made the rag ball using a Smoothfoam 2-Inch ball*.

Supplies used: (*affiliate link)

- Smoothfoam 12-Pack Balls Crafts Foam for Modeling, 2-Inch, White*
- Fabric Scraps
- Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue*
- Paintbrush
- Twine
- Ribbon
- Sanding Block*
- Craft Glue*

Directions:

Lightly sand the ridge around the ball.
Cut the fabric into 3/4″ strips.
Apply Mod Podge onto the back of the fabric and adhere to the ball.
Continue until the ball is fully covered.
Add an additional coat of Mod Podge over the ball to finish and seal.
Poke a hole on the top of the ball and add a dab or glue into the hole.
Insert twine into the hole to use as the ornament hanger.
Embellish ornament by gluing a bow on top.

Wouldn’t a whole bowl of rag balls would be cute? (maybe next year)

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Smoothfoam and uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Merry Christmas Gift Bag

December 18, 2015December 17, 20151 Comment

Make your Christmas Gift Bags a little more special with iron-on letters from Joy.

Start with a plain drawstring bag. (Mine was from Canvas Corp.)

Replace the drawstring cording on the bag with red and white gingham ribbon and add iron-on

letters in red and neon yellow. (in person the neon yellow looked lime to me)

Glue white lace, rick rack, buttons and a small wreath to the front of the bag.

For a truly personalized gift add a name instead of Merry Christmas.

This project was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

Simple Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

December 17, 2015December 17, 20151 Comment

Every year I make a new Christmas Ornament or two.

As I was putting up the Christmas Decorations, I ran across this one.

The simple little felt Christmas Tree was one I made several years ago.

Still one of my favorites.

Put together using fabric glue. (with a little stuffing inside)

Simple, Simple, Simple…

Quick and Easy Stenciled Holiday Pillows

December 14, 2015January 11, 20163 Comments

Stenciled Holiday Pillows 2422

Add a little warmth and coziness to your home with Quick and Easy DIY Holiday pillows.

Today’s pillow projects have a couple of unique twists to make these projects super easy.

For the “Believe” pillow I started with a .79 dish towel that I picked up at IKEA.

To give my towel a creamy vintage color… I soaked my towel in a tub of hot tea.

I wanted my towel to stay light so I only left it in a minute or two.

Leave towel in longer for a darker brown color.

Rinse the towel in hot water and then throw in the dryer to set.

Iron the towel to make crisp and stencil the towel using the 12″ Word Xmas Tree stencil from Clear Scraps and dark red acrylic paint.
Fold the towel in half, stenciled side in, stitched the towel together and fill with a soft stuffing.

The Snowflake pillow is a No Sew Pillow. (I really cheated with this pillow.)

I used a plain 14″ x 20″ canvas placemat from Canvas Corp Brands which I stenciled with the Snowflake stencil from Stencil 1 using Tattered Angels Chalkboard Mists. Make sure to cover and mask any areas that you wouldn’t want sprayed.
Glue the ribbon, lace and buttons onto the placemat using Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive, 4-Ounce, tucking ends to backside of the placemat.
Glue place mat together and fill with a soft stuffing.
No Sewing Required. (for decorative use only)

Polka Dot Peppermint Parfait

December 9, 2015October 17, 2019Leave a comment

A Quick and Easy Etched Glass Project

I picked up some sweet green parfait glasses at a estate sale awhile back.

I’ve been wanting to do something special with them and thought they’d look cute

with some polka dots. (I mean who doesn’t like polka dots?)

The Polka Dot Parfait glass is a project you can make in under a half hour.

*FTC Disclosure… “This is a sponsored post. I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas. The views and opinions are my own.”

Here’s what you’ll need:

*Disclosure… This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Directions:

Measure the width of your parfait glass. Cut the vinyl to fit around glass.
Using a standard hole punch, punch random holes onto the vinyl to create a polka dot pattern.
Wrap the vinyl around the side of the parfait glass.
Make sure to burnish the vinyl to get out air bubbles and to make sure the all edges all down.
Wrap additional areas around the glass with removable painters tape to protect the area from splatters.
Apply a thick coat of Etchall® etching crème over the polka dots using the squeegee. (more is better)
Wait 15 minutes. Scrape excess etching crème from the side of the glass and return extra etching crème back into the bottle. (it’s reusable)
Rinse glass with warm water to clean.
Remove Stencil and dry.
Wash glass thoroughly before using.

For a Light and Festive Holiday Treat try adding crushed Candy Canes to vanilla ice cream.

Place ice cream back into freezer to set up.
Don’t forget to save some crushed candy canes to sprinkle on top.

Christmas in a Pickle Jar

December 6, 2015November 21, 201816 Comments

Christmas Crafting with Repurposed and Recycled Items…

Sometimes you have to find and save something for awhile before their purpose is revealed.

Like the base used on my Christmas in a pickle jar. (the inspiration for this project)

This past summer we had a new ceiling fan installed in my son’s room.

It was flush mounted to the ceiling, so, they didn’t use all of the parts that came with the kit.

I came across the unused parts in the garbage and decided to save them.

FYI…It’s not hoarding if you use them. (I’m just saying.)

Because I wanted to be informative when writing this post,

I emailed my brother for the correct name of the part. I am told it is called a canopy.

I glued the canopy onto the jar using Beacon Glass, Metal & More Premium Glue*.

Here’s what I used for my Christmas in a Pickle Jar:

Small Pickle Jar
Canopy (base)
Old Knob
Black Spray Paint*
Cream Bottle Brush Trees* (*affiliate link)
Plaid Ribbon
Wood Deer Cut-out
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Vintage Photo*
Ink Applicator & Blending Tool*
Small Bottle Brush Wreath
Adhesives
Epsom Salt*
Beacon Glass, Metal & More Premium Permanent Glue*

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

I painted the pickle jar lid and the old knob with semi gloss black spray paint.

I added a circle cut from a decorative scrapbooking paper and glued it onto my lid before

gluing on the knob. (I could have added a hole and screwed on the knob, this was easier.)

I spruced up the plain little wreath by adding a new bow and jingle bell and a small holly

berry embellishment. I added the ribbon to the neck of the jar before gluing on the wreath.

The little wood deer would of looked fine just as it came.

Instead, I decided to rub brown ink onto the deer to give it a stained look.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Inkpad* with a Ink Applicator & Blending Tool* (*affiliate link)

To make installing the deer a little easier, I glued the finished deer onto the front of one

of the trees before I placed it in the jar.

The Cream Bottle Brush Trees* come with a little wood base.

I added a super sticky craft glue dot under the base of each Cream Bottle Brush Tree*

before adding to my jar.

You can use a liquid glue instead of the sticky glue dots. (this was just faster and easier for me)

Next, I added Epson Salts into my jar for snow.

A great Holiday Gift Idea.

Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial

Christmas Brag Book

December 5, 2015December 5, 20152 Comments

This year make a Christmas Brag Book for all your fun Holiday Memories.

For my brag book I used clear flexible pouches from Deflecto Craft Solutions and paper

from Canvas Corp Brands Farmhouse Christmas Collection for a Quick and Easy project.

A Great Gift Idea for the Grandparents.

A fun way to share Holiday Silliness and the Sweet Little Moments shared between generations.

The Christmas Brag Book was created for Craft Ideas Magazine’s Holiday Issue

and has my Christmas photo’s from last year.

Craft Ideas is a great magazine for creative inspiration.

Finished Size: 3 1/4” x 6”

Materials:

Deflecto 20019CR Flexible Pouch (1 package of 10)
Canvas Corp Brands CCP2827 Farmhouse Christmas Tags on Ivory 12 x 12 paper
Canvas Corp Brands CCP2826 Farmhouse Christmas Stripe on Ivory 12 x 12 paper
Canvas Corp Brands CCP2638 Red & Ivory Mini Dot Reverse 12 x 12 paper
Canvas Corp Brands CCP2639 Red & Ivory Ribbon Stripe 12 x 12 paper
Canvas Corp Brands Binding Ring-Small Antique Silver
Canvas Corp Brands Optical Lens Antique Brass
Canvas Corp Brands PaperTape: Christmas Wrap
Paper Source 5/8” Ivory/Red Striped Ribbon
Red Mini Rick Rack
Small Red Button
Photos
Black Cardstock

Basic Supplies:

Paper Cutter
1 11/16” Circle Punch
Scissors
1/8” Hole Punch
Double Stick Tape Runner
Glue Stick
Craft Glue
Thermo Web Mini Glue Dot

Directions:

For the Cover: Cut a piece of black cardstock 3” x 5 1/4”. Cut “It’s the most Wonderful Time…” from the Farm House Christmas Tags just slightly smaller than 3” x 5 1/4” and adhere to the black cardstock. Add a 1/2” x 3” strip of Red and Ivory Dots to the left side of the tag. Glue a 3” piece of red mini rick rack onto the right side of the tag.
On the Inside Front Cover: Cut a piece of black cardstock 3” x 5 1/4”. Cut a 3” x 5 1/4” piece of Red & Ivory Ribbon Stripe just slightly smaller than the 3” x 5 1/4” and adhere to the black cardstock. Adhere two strips of 1/2” x 5 1/4” Red and Ivory Dots to the top and bottom of the striped paper. Adhere “I’ll be Home…” from the Farmhouse Christmas Stripe layered on black cardstock onto the center of the striped paper.
Insert Cover and Inside Front Cover into the Flexible Pouch.
Add Paper Tape around the plain end of the Flexible Pouch.
Punch a 1 11/16” Snowflake Circle from the Farmhouse Christmas Tags and glue onto the back of the Optical Lens by adding craft glue along the outside edges of the lens. Glue small red button onto front of the lens in the middle of the snowflake.
Cut a 10” piece of Ivory Red Striped Ribbon. Tie onto front cover adding the Optical Lens.
Choose pictures that can easily be cut down to 3” x 5 1/4”. Add to inside of flexible pouches.
Create Back Cover using the Red & Ivory Mini Dot Paper, Red & Ivory Striped Paper and Farmhouse Christmas Strip.
Add Paper Tape to each of the pouches.
Mark and re-punch the holes using 1/8” hole punch on each of the pouches and gather the mini album together using a small book ring.

Christmas Mini Album Inside front cover 7412

This project was created for Craft Ideas and was sponsored by Deflecto Craft Solutions

and Canvas Corp Brands.

Sue’s Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

December 4, 2015November 25, 2015Leave a comment

Every year, around the Holidays, I like to share my Sugar Cookie Recipe with you.

It’s a great recipe. (and easy too.)

The cookies are soft, delicious and even a little bit popular in my circle of family and friends.

The recipe was given to me by my mother on my first Christmas as a new Bride. (a long time ago)

It was carefully written down, in her own handwriting, on a piece of notebook paper which has now

turned yellow. It is brittle, tattered, ripped, creased and stained. (It is priceless to me.)

Enjoy!

Sue’s Sugar Cookies

1- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2- 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda

Cream sugar & butter, add egg & flavoring, mix thoroughly.
Sift dry ingredients together and stir in. (I dump)
Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
Heat oven to 375°.
Divide dough in half & roll out on lightly floured pastry sheet.
Roll thin, but thick enough to pick up the design with the cookie cutters.
Dip cookie cutter into flour before each cutting. Cut as many cookies from each rolling as possible. The least amount of working with the dough gives the best cookie.
Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 7 to 8 min. or until delicately golden.

For the Glaze I dump around a cup of powdered sugar into a bowl. Add a dash of vanilla. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you want. (hint: not too runny)

A little Holiday Sparkle…

December 3, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

Thinking of adding a little Holiday Sparkle this year?

Adding a little Holiday Sparkle doesn’t get much easier than this.

Gather up a few sparkly holiday sprigs…

tie them together with a jingle bell and satin ribbon and then glue them onto

your favorite frame. Your frame will be dressed to impress.

I loved the way this frame turned out, so sweet and simple.

But let me tell you… I really struggled trying to get a good picture to show you.

Taking good pictures of clear acrylic frames is really hard.

I took over 150 pictures of this frame. (no joke)

When it started snowing yesterday morning, I decided to try again.

It was such a beautiful snow, I didn’t even mind getting cold.

For my Holiday Sparkle Frame I used the NEW Clear Magnetic Curved frame

that will be available from Deflecto Craft Solutions in January 2016.

I love the original curved magnetic frame* and I am so happy that they decided to

make it in a smaller size without a border. (can’t wait to get my hands on a few more)

This new frame measures 5″ x 7″ and is perfect for a 4″ x 6″ picture or graphic.

(you can find the larger size here*)

“Tis the Season to Sparkle” comes from the 4×6 Horizontal Journaling Card Elements

from Simple Stories “Claus & Co.” collection layered on red glitter cardstock.

*Disclaimer: “This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.” This post uses Affiliate links if you choose to make a purchase, I receive a very small commission that helps maintain this site. Thank You for your support!