I saw this

and love it.

Simple sweet carnations paired with some bittersweet in an old fashioned glass milk jug (the mouth of the jug keeps them bunched together) and voila!

Sometimes simple can be SO beautiful.

Cost: About $4

Welcome back!

Stockings were needed, so I made these…from Goodwill sweaters.  I wish a couple of these had been in my size AND in good shape, because I would’ve probably worn them, but they’ll make good stockings.

A wreath for Lorelei from leftover sweater pieces.

Our tree.  It’s three feet tall and our decorations here are wee-little oranges.  We’ve eaten most of them now….  The star on top is made from scrapbooking cardstock paper I had.

This past week, we’ve been finishing up tons of small projects – one of which I had bought the materials for MONTHS ago!  So, this WFMW is an idea for displaying your child’s artwork!

I found these 4 frames (just the frames) in the middle of an aisle at walmart.  I’m guessing they got busted or something, since I’ve not seen them there regularly.  I originally had picked them up to make dressing frames to help Lorelei learn how to dress herself, but then decided I’d just paint them white (with turquoise along the inner edge) and display her art.  I’m planning to either attach a little clip or a magnet to the wall, so we can have a moveable art gallery.  This way, I can display any 4 of her art pieces and change them out as she grows (same with A).  The items taken down from the “gallery” will either be professionally framed or put into sleeves in a binder so we’ll have them!  Obviously, I don’t mean EVERY crayon drawing or every time she sneaks off with a permanent marker…but her better stuff, you know?

(PS – Thanks Nis for the heads up!)

I just finished uploading a photo and ordering a box of 6 Valentines. Usually…we don’t really send these out, but I couldn’t help myself. These are cute!
And, they’re free. Like, REAL free. Even the shipping is covered.

Check it out:  https://stories.scrapbooksetc.com/shop/cards/valentines/

Use the coupon code (at checkout): VALENTINE

This probably won’t last long so HURRY!

Here’s the challenge for this week:

January 11-17: Theme – “Tiny” – The only real guideline really would be the theme word itself..TINY. So, just make it tiny.

If you plan on doing it or have any questions, please be sure to leave a comment – and please feel free to play and accept the challenge! The more the merrier – these can be crafts you do solo or with your kids or WHATEVER, and you can use any supplies or mediums you want, pretty much.

Once you have your entry posted on your website or blog, just come back here and leave it in the mr. linky by using the exact html that will lead directly to it! —And, you can do this any day between the 11th and 17 (or 18th, if you need an extra day!)

Here’s my submission for the contest:

Here’s an idea for a neat little book made out of ENVELOPES!

I used a bunch of random envelopes I had of varied designs and sizes and then cut them down so they were smaller but still made a pocket.  Some were sealed and some weren’t, and for the sealed ones, I just cut along the left side and took the mail out, then scaled it down.

Gather your envelopes together and poke your holes and thread any sort of ribbon or string or jute.  And…ta-da!

Extra artwork by Lorelei.

PS – Add tabs, pockets and ribbons for more decoration.

These are great to hold little notes or receipts or coupons – whatever you can think of!  Keep small pieces of paper inside by using colorful (or not) paperclips

This is the felt board I made for Lorelei for Christmas – it’s great for children beginning at approximately 18 months up to almost any age (the older the child, the more complex pieces they’ll like for their board).

To make your own, all you’ll need is :

-scissors
-a framed corkboard from the store (or used)
-a butter knife
-enough felt to cover the board and the frame
-extra felt for pieces

To make the board, simply cut out enough felt to cover your board and slightly less so that it cover about half of the frame.  I cut one side at a time, as I went so I wouldn’t end up with too little.  Next, using a butter knife,  wedge the felt between the board and the frame, being sure to pull the rest of the felt so wrinkles don’t appear.  If your frame is loose, you may need to secure it with some glue or adhesive but mine worked fine.

For your felt pieces, your imagination (or someone else’s) is the limit.  You can make random shapes, people and clothes, or characters in a storybook…

Some ideas:

-Cars and trucks
-People and clothing
-Scenes: farm, zoo, city, etc.
-animals
-letters and numbers
-shapes that can be put together to make other objects (you could also include googly eyes with felt backing for strange creatures)
-seasonal shapes like snowflakes, ice skates, autumn leaves, jack o lanterns, etc
-story book (or Bible) characters and accessories to play out stories

*For much older kids, you could easily entertwine history lessons or science or art or WHATEVER to help the children re-play to you what they’ve learned…or, as a simple way of showing visually what you’re teaching.

Total Cost: Free to $10, depending on if you have the materials already or if you buy an expensive cork board.

I’m starting this new thing coming January (although you can start now on the themes listed at the end), a challenge of sorts (are ya with me?):

Every week, for 52 weeks a “theme” will be posted and crafters will have an entire week (from Sunday to Saturday) to brainstorm and create their fabulous crafts. “Crafts” include paintings, photographs, drawings, fabric crafts, paper crafts, metal crafts, and everything in between. (If you’re unsure, just ask me.)

At the end of each week, an area will be created for the participants to add their links to their own blogs and websites of the craft they created and how they created it (photograph with instructions/tutorials). Of course, participants who don not own websites/blogs are also invited to join and may send me via email a photograph of what they made along with typed instructions, which I’ll post (giving them credit) on my own blog.

As we get prizes in, there will also be polls going up for visitors to vote on their favorite crafts. And, while I plan to run this for 52 weeks, participants are encouraged to join in as much or little as they’d like – whether it be only once, randomly as they have time or are inspired, or for the entire length. Participants also don’t have to sign up at the beginning of the week, so don’t feel bad if you planned to make something but then life happened and you couldn’t quite do it…you only sign up once the week is up and your project is finished.

Of course, this also means we’ll have tons of new and great crafts to try, as well. We can inspire each other to think in new ways and to see different materials in a whole new way. Heck, if all else fails, store your creations somewhere safe and you’ll have a head-start on Christmas for NEXT year! Ha!

Any questions? Email me and I’ll start a FAQ section for this.

COMING UP:

January 4-10: Theme – “Envelopes” – You can use envelopes in this craft, construct a creative envelope, depict an envelope, etc. Use your imagination… (You ARE allowed to use other materials besides envelopes.)

January 11-17: Theme – “Tiny” – The only real guideline really would be the theme word itself..TINY. So, just make it tiny.

January 18-24: Theme – “New Year Resolutions” – Craft something that will either help you reach your New Year’s Resolutions or something that portrays them. Maybe you are wanting to get rid of the box of clothes in the attic to make room for something else, you could possibly use some of those pieces in this craft. Or, maybe you plan to get past some demons in your life, paint us your story.

January 25-31: Theme – “Important Dates” – January is the beginning of a new year, so make a cool calendar or use one to make something else. Or, use your own creative genius to capture the spirit of planning for a new year in an entirely different way!

***I’ve given you the themes for throughout January, so technically you have up to a month to work on some of them if you so choose. Feel free to work ahead, if you wish – just don’t forget to send it in once the theme comes due (more info on that later).