Top Eleven of 2011

I am fairly new to the craft blogging world.  I remember coming across my first craft blog in the fall of last year and then surfing the web for hours, linking from one blog to the next.   I could not believe all of the amazing/talented/passionate people out there and their willingness to share their ideas and inspiration!   It finally gave me the motivation I needed to get some projects done around my home and I have been addicted to these daily doses of inspiration ever since.  

At the end of last year, bloggers were doing recaps of their favorite/most popular posts from throughout the year.  As a new reader I LOVED this.  I didn't have the time to go back through all of their archives and look at everything so I was glad to have a little taste of what they had been up to before I came along.   So, considering 99% of you weren't around when I started out here on LS, LD in March, I figured I'd do the same!  To be honest I'm just grateful to have 11 posts worthy of recapping. :)

First, the post that started it all, my Entry Way Remixx.

Then my sad and boring kitchen backsplash got a little makeover with some paint and vinyl! I'm still LOVING this, by the way, and it's holding up great.

The Kitchen Gets Some Love

My most popular recipe post to date.... Truffle Roundup.   

This post started a bit of a thumbtack trend.  I'm still trying to think of things to cover in thumbtacks.

Thumbtack Vase Fillers

At some point I realized the other half of my kitchen needed a style boost as well.  I painted bold stripes and gave my two favorite tips on keeping the paint from bleeding under the tape.

Painting the Perfect Stripe

If you've been around for a while then you know I have this 5x7 frame on my kitchen table that I like to switch out for every holiday/season.  I.  Love.  Printables.  Easy to make and easy to share!  Here is one of my most popular ones so far... 

Fourth of July Printable

Since getting my Sihouette (just upgraded to the Cameo!), my crafting life hasn't been the same.  Nothing is impossible now... including organizing my baking cupboard.

Vinyl Canister Labels

I turned a waste of space into something functional by applying some sheet metal and then proceeding to hot glue magnets on everything in sight.  This project has not disappointed.

Magnetic Command Center

With fall coming and an aqua/yellow/cream pallet to work with, what else could I do to these poor pumpkins? :)

Pretty Pumpkins

This one has been the biggest shocker of them all... somehow it got picked up by Stumble Upon and has been viewed almost 150,000 times since I posted it mid-November.  Who has an in with Stumble Upon and how do I make that happen again? :)  These trees are dang cute though. And fun to make.

Glitter Cardstock Trees

And finally, my ginormous printables I made to fill my blank Ikea frames.  I've been shocked by how much you all have liked them... such a nice Christmas surprise!

Go Big or Go Home Christmas Art

If you were around to see me risk my life to paint that entry way then I tip my hat to you (and thanks for sticking around!).  If you just got here, then I give you a big welcome hug (and hope you stick around even though I'm invading your personal space).    Here's hoping I have at least 12 decent projects in 2012!

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick

My Favorite Christmas Decoration

There is something in my Christmas bins that I canNOT wait to get out each year.  It gets a prime spot in the family room where I can look at it as much as I want all through December.

It is this photo:

That is my now-almost-12-year-old son, Jack.

As you can see by the cheesy, super-imposed graphic courtesy of the mall people, the year was 2001.  Jack was almost 2 and I was enormously pregnant with our second son.  We were living in Albany, NY at the time and we set out to get the perfect photo of our beloved son with Santa Claus.  I was hoping for a picture to send out as our Christmas cards that year.

The second we sat him on Santa's lap he began screaming and trying to get away.  Thank goodness for Santa's death grip on the boy (enlarge the photo, if you can stomach it, and check out Santa's hairy black arms... it's awesome).

The "elf" who was helping turned to me and said, "So... what should we do?"

I was like, "Take the picture!  Quick before he stops!!!!"

I could not have asked for a better Christmas card photo that year.

It's a good reminder for me each year that things don't have to be "perfect" and go-as-planned for them to be wonderful.  

Here are just a few more detail shots of decor I have around the house.  You've seen my family room decor here and here.  This is what I've got going on in the living room and kitchen.  As you can see, I'm a fan of just filling up glass containers with ornaments and calling it good.  Glitter cardstock trees tutorial can be found here.

Merry Christmas to you all!!  

You've enriched my life this year more than I can ever express.  Thank you for all your comments, emails and support.   I hope you have a wonderful holiday with those you love the most!

A Wassail Recipe

There are certain things that just mean Christmas to me.  Certain smells.  Certain decorations.  Certain activities.

This wassail recipe is one of those things for me.   My mom started making it waaaay back in the 90s when I was in high school and it's been a holiday favorite ever since.  When I take a sip, it's like I'm drinking Christmas and all of the wonderful things that go along with it.  And no, drinking Christmas is not a BAD thing although it doesn't sound like something you'd want to do.  It's all the good of the holiday minus the crowds at the mall, pine needles in your carpet and credit card bills.

It's warmth, joy and comfort.

Plus, part of it requires you to simmer cinnamon, allspice and cloves on the stove for two hours so your house will smell ah-may-zing.  There really is no downside!

{side note: After researching wikipedia about wassail, I am realizing that it might usually have alcohol in it.  This recipe does not, and, as I just said, I just learned that it probably should about 5 minutes ago.  So sorry if you're looking for that kind of a wassail recipe.}

This recipe makes a TON of wassail.  It's perfect for a large Christmas Eve crowd or to serve at your cookie exchange party (as I did a couple of weeks ago).  If you want it just for your smaller family simply cut it in half.  You'll still have plenty.

Also, I don't usually have cheesecloth on hand so I've been known to cut the foot off an old (but clean) pair of nylons, put the spices in there and tie the top for simmering.  Works like a charm.

Holiday Wassail

4 ½ quarts water

4 ½ C. sugar

1 gallon apple cider or apple juice

9 C. orange juice

6 C. lemonade

Tie in cheesecloth bag:

12 sticks cinnamon

12 whole allspice

36 whole cloves

Simmer cheesecloth bag, water & sugar for 2 hours.  Pull out bag of spices.  Add apple cider/juice, orange juice & lemonade.  Heat and enjoy!

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick

A Tradition: Elmer the Elf

Last year I decided my kids are now old enough to really appreciate and enjoy a few things around Christmas.  Before this time I knew any effort I put into anything cute & creative would, in all likelihood, be all for not.  They just wanted their presents.  End of story.  But now, with my oldest son verging on 12 years old, the second son coming up on 10 and a soon-to-be 6 year old daughter who is allll about the details in life, I decided to step up my "Christmas game" as it were.

So, the "Assigned Elf" tradition was born (I just made that title up, btw).  This is an elf who was assigned to our house and comes to visit each night (starting about a week before Christmas....I WISH I could get it together enough to do a full 12 days of Christmas but I've learned to accept my limitations). He/she then leaves a little something for the kids to find in the morning.  This helps with the "longest week of the year" (as my son calls it) to stave off the boredom of being out of school but going out of their mind with anticipation.  These are not big things.  As a matter of fact, these are usually things we are going to do anyway, so why not have the elf deliver them, right?  It's much more fun that way.

Last year, it was Clarence the Elf.  This year it will be Elmer the Elf (Clarence got promoted).  Elmer will leave a little note along with a little sumpin-sumpin for the kids to enjoy.  

Here is what the kids will be greeted with in the morning... the first letter from Elmer!!  He's a bit of a smart aleck. 

I write each letter the night before, as opposed to writing them ALL right now to have ready.  Why?  Because plans change, things get deleted from the best laid plans and things get added.  It's best (for me) to figure out what I'm in the mood for the night before and then get it all set. 

Here is a list of ideas for your elf to leave:

• supplies for this craft
• "Snowman Poop" (a bag of powdered donut holes)
• Gingerbread house kit (this year we are doing foam ones... I'm interested to see what the kids think).
• This fun cookie thing (my 5 yo is going to freak!).
• "Tickets" to go to JumpStreet (I got a good Groupon deal).
• "Tickets" to go see a movie as a family
• A new board game to play as a family.
• A Christmas movie to add to your collection (last year Clarence brought us the classic Frosty the Snowman/Rudolph ones).
• Hot chocolate mix and a bag of fun shaped marshmallows (I got some snowman shaped french vanilla ones... I might be more excited about this one than the kids :).
• A big puzzle (like, 1000 pieces) we can all work on at the dining room table over the holidays (this was a HUGE hit last year!)
• Some of THIS on Christmas Eve.
• A bunch of paper and scissors to make snowflakes (fun snowflake templates here!) to stick on a large window (also a huge hit and the kids worked on them all day).
• Marshmallow guns (remember, this isn't about you--ha!).  I saw them at Michaels over in the dollar section.  Might be a huge mistake but who knows??
• Sprinkles and frosting with instructions to bake sugar cookies and then invite a family over to decorate them with you.
• These adorable reindeer noses.
• etc...etc...etc....

(if you can think of any more or have seen anything else that would be fun to do please share in the comments!  I'm always trying to think of stuff... Pinterest will help me more in the future, I'm sure!)

All of Elmer's letters will be written on this template I created below.  You can right click and save it if you'd like.  I also made one with two on one page in case you want to conserve paper.  Open in Photoshop and add your text layer and print!  You can also print it off and then hand write a note. I backed mine with black cardstock, set it up on an easel and done!  

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick

Meltaway Cookies

Let me create a little scenario for you... you are invited to a cookie exchange at the last minute and don't know what to make.   OR, scenario #2 (more likely), your kid comes to you and says he/she needs to take in cookies the next day for {fill in event here} which he/she has known about for a month but is just telling you about now.

I give unto you a cookie recipe that you should probably file away somewhere for just such an occasion.  Why?  Because I am 99% sure you will always have all the ingredients for these on hand!  I love these things for their deliciousness but also for their lack of a zillion ingredients.  Needed: flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, butter, vanilla, cream cheese.  See?  Toldja.  And you can make them whatever color you want for any occassion.

The name fits them perfectly too.  They practically melt in your mouth!  I got this recipe from a friend a few years ago.  She has two boys that are allergic to eggs so these are a great fit for them.  Nothing but buttery yum in these babies.

Meltaways

1 C. butter

¾ C. cornstarch

¾ C. powdered sugar

1 C. flour

1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting (see below)

In a medium bowl, cream butter until fluffy.  Add cornstarch & sugar and blend well.  Beat in flour until thoroughly mixed.  Drop by small teaspoons onto baking sheet & flatten out with the bottom of a class. (Dip glass in powdered sugar to prevent sticking).  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Cool on wire rack & frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (3oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1 C. powdered sugar

½ t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together.  Color with food coloring if desired.

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick

Go Big or Go Home Christmas Art

Today's post idea was a total experiment.

Somethings happen out of necessity and necessity only.

This is one of those things.

I had bought these HUGE frames at Ikea a while ago.  A looong while ago actually, considering they were still empty as of a few days ago.   I had hung them up above our couch in the family room with big plans of finding/taking some adorable photos of my kids to put in them.

And there they sat.  You know how it goes.

I was fine with them until I started decking the halls like a banshee.  Then suddenly the RIBBA RIBBA RIBBA going across there wasn't doing it for me any more (sorry about the crookedness of those frames... my boys play football there--the couch is the touchdown-- and, needless to say, those get rattled a lot.  Maybe I don't even notice it anymore?  That's sad).

Since I hadn't had a chance to take any photos of my kids I decided to try something.  I created some subway art-ish images in Photoshop using Christmas song lyrics and had them printed 20x30 at Costco ($8.99 each!  Can you believe how cheap enlargements are these days?  Mind boggling).  

I'm not in love with the middle one but they are sure better than RIBBA, right?

Those songs are in my head a lot now, as you can imagine.

If you'd like these images I created them in all sizes... 5x7, 8x10, 16x20 and 20x30 and you can download them in this Box.net collaborative folder HERE.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick

"We Three Wreaths" Mantel

My mantel is all put together...finally!  Every year it's basically the same but I tweak it here and there as my tastes change.  This year I may have gone a little crazy on the wreaths!   As you look at this, keep in mind that our family room is two stories high.  That space needed more than one measly wreath!

I got the ornament wreath at the grocery store, of all places, and LOVE it.  A bunch of little disco balls?  Yes and yes.  I made the red one using the same techniques as I used on the entry way wreath but made a lot more flowers.

I made the cute little silver one by wrapping it with silver fabric and then pinning a strip around the edge in a "ruffly" way.

And, of course, my thumbtack trees needed to get involved!  

One of my favorite projects for the mantel this year was that cute reindeer.  I got him at Goodwill for $2.  He is made out of wicker and one of his antlers was totally crooked (like it had been stuffed in a box for a long time).  I chopped off his antlers using my hedge clippers and spray painted him silver!  Then I jammed in a couple of holiday picks as his new antlers.  Look at him now!  So regal.  He guards my thumbtack trees splendidly.

Is there anything better than having all the lights off except the mantel Christmas lights a-twinkling, turning on the TV and watching The Biggest Loser?  

No way.  

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick, Southern Hospitality Mantel Party

A Christmas Wreath

The wreath in my entry way has gone through a few changes this year.   I've pinned and unpinned that thing so many times I'm sure it hates me.   This is the latest incarnation.   And I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!  It was shockingly fast and easy.  It took me around 45 minutes once I had assembled  the supplies.  I know 45 minutes are hard to come by at this time of year but if you can squeeze it in here is how you put it together!

Supplies needed:  straw wreath form, fabric, tissue paper, straight pins, wire, ornaments, hot glue.

First,  I wrapped my wreath with silver tissue lamé using the same technique I used for my fabric wrapped trees.  Basically cutting it into 2" strips, folding the strip in half, lengthwise and wrapping it around the wreath and pinning.

I then moved on to the tissue flowers.

Cut silver tissue paper into 6" squares.

Layer 5 pieces on top of each other and fold accordion style.

Secure the middle with a wire and round the ends for the petals.

Then, starting on one end, fluff up each layer one at a time.

Do the same on the other side to make the cutest dang flower you've ever seen.

Make as many as you'd like (I made four) for the look you want.

I then pinned them to my wreath in an aesthetically pleasing way and hot glued some inexpensive ornaments on to add in my desired color.

So easy and I LOVE how it looks in the ole' entry way.   I may replace the ornaments with snowflakes or something after Christmas and keep it up through the winter.  It has that "winter wonderland" feel, doesn't it?

I hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly!  I've been busy getting the house all gussied up.  Expect several posts in the near future.  At some point I'm hoping to get to the shopping for presents part!

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee,  Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick