CandyCanes News

Halloween die cuts

2011-10-17T15:55:00.000-05:00

Here's a pic of the cute little die cuts I made today. They are for sale in my Etsy shop if you would like to purchase them.

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com

new website for scrapbook kits

2011-09-10T19:05:00.001-05:00

Please be sure and check out my Etsy Shop for custom made scrapbook kits, die cuts and other crafts!

visit and "like" my page on facebook as well just look for Teresas Crafts!

Click on the link to visit my Etsy shop!

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com

Fall is around the corner!

2011-08-26T16:31:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! We finally got moved back to Alabama and are beginning to get settled in just in time for Fall. I have been busy lately with my cricut machine and scrapbooking. I hope to post some Fall and christmas things soon.

In the meantime, check out my business page and take a look at the Halloween scrapbook page kits for sale!

http://www.facebook.com/TeresasEtsyShop
It's a new business so there will be lots of new items posted weekly!

Have a great weekend! :)

snowy day projects

2010-12-13T10:12:00.000-06:00

here is a couple of pics of ornaments i made yesterday while watching the pretty snow fall!

ornaments i made

2010-12-13T07:56:00.000-06:00

Here's a pic of the ornaments I made to give as a gift to a friend. I used glitter that I had on hand and some stickers and paint pens. They turned out really pretty.

photos of ornaments made with cricut machine

2010-12-09T08:41:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics of the Justin Bieber ornaments that I made for my daughters tree using my cricut expressions machine. They turned out really cute!

Cute kids craft idea

2010-12-09T08:24:00.000-06:00

Trim buttons with trees for a no-sew decoration. Cut a triangle from felt, and cut notches in both sides to make tree shape. Fold tree in half horizontally, and cut a vertical slit in center about the same size as button. Slip on after buttoning shirt.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Button Covers - Martha Stewart Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-23T13:22:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to take a minute and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are getting ready to go to Tennessee to be with family for Thanksgiving so it will be a few days before my next post.

I will post some pics of the ornaments I mentioned in the previous post once we get back from our trip!

God Bless!

ornament idea

2010-11-16T11:29:00.000-06:00

Every year I try to come up with different handmade ornament ideas. This year I came up with an idea for my teenage daughters christmas tree that we put in her room. I'm going to use my cricut machine and make different christmas cut outs that are big enough to place small pics on. She really likes Justin Beiber so we are going to print off some pics from the internet and glue them to the christmas cut outs.
You could use any subject with this idea and even embellish each cut out with various items such as glitter, sequins,ribbon etc.
The possiblities are endless!

Cricut Expression Projects

2010-11-10T18:32:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to have my Cricut Expressions machine! I've only had it a couple of days so my projects so far have been little. I can't wait to move on to bigger projects. Here is a pic of the 2 mini cards and matching envelopes that I've made so far.

Fruit and Nut Chocolate Sticks

2010-11-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

I ran across this recipe today at bhg.com and it looked so good I thought I would share it!!

Ingredients

1 3.5-oz. pkg. individually wrapped 60-calorie rich dark chocolate sticks (9 sticks)

4-1/2 tsp. creamy peanut butter

3 Tbsp. snipped dried cranberries or golden raisins

3 Tbsp. finely chopped nuts, such as peanuts, toasted pecans, macadamia nuts, or toasted hazelnuts

Directions

1. Holding each chocolate stick with a paper towel, spread about 1.2 teaspoon of the peanut butter on half or more of the stick. Roll coated stick in dried fruit and nuts. Makes 9 servings.

Felt Stocking Project

2010-11-04T12:37:00.000-05:00

These little stockings are soo cute! I found them on MarthaStewart.com and they seem pretty simple to make!

Tools and Materials

Stocking template
Disappearing-ink marker
Pins
Felt (in assorted colors)
Scissors
Needle and thread
Pinking shears
Fabric glue

Stockings How-To

1. Download stocking template, enlarge 150 percent, and print. Cut out stocking shape.

2. Lay stocking shape on top of 2 layers of felt; trace around stocking with disappearing-ink marker. Pin 2 layers of felt together and cut out, leaving a 5/8-inch seam allowance.

3. Sew along ink line, double stitching back and forth for an inch at 2 top edges for a strong opening.

4. Cut straight line along top stocking opening. Using pinking shears, trim out rest of the stocking, cutting 1/4-inch away from the seam.

5. Fold felt over 3 1/2 inches (as seen on template) for the cuff.

6. Make a loop for hanging: Using pinking shears, cut a 3/4-by-8-inch strip of felt. Fold in half, position inside the right side of the stocking cuff, and sew.

Tip: stitch "in the ditch" (in the seam) of the cuff so that the stitches are hidden.

7. Cut out shapes from template or of your own design from assorted colors of felt. Glue shapes to cuff with fabric glue.
Read more at Marthastewart.com: Felt Stockings - Martha Stewart Holidays

Exciting news!

2010-11-03T08:10:00.000-05:00

I ordered my Cricut Expressions machine a couple of days ago and can't wait to get it! I hope its simple to use since I will be in crafting overdrive, LOL! I hope to create lots of new items for my Etsy shop and get that going well again. I ran across some software called Sure Cuts a Lot and I'm thinking of ordering that once I get the Cricut. If anyone has any opinion of the software please leave me a comment.

Happy Wednesday!

Nov. 1st

2010-11-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

Well folks Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is around the corner. Looking forward to eating Thanksgiving dinner! Stay tuned for more Fall recipes, crafts, etc.

2010-10-31T10:21:00.000-05:00

Breadstick Bones Recipe

2010-10-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

Here is a really cute recipe from Pillsbury.com that would be quick and easy as well as yummy for your Halloween dinner. Enjoy!!

INGREDIENTS

1can (7 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated breadsticks (6 breadsticks)

1egg white, beaten

1tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

1/2teaspoon dried basil leaves

1can (8 oz) pizza sauce, heated

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough; separate at perforations into 6 breadsticks. Roll each until 12 inches long. Loosely tie knot in both ends of each breadstick; place on cookie sheet (do not twist).

2. Brush breadsticks with egg white. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

3. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm "bones" with warm pizza sauce for dipping..

Jar O'Lanterns Craft

2010-10-28T13:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a really cute craft idea I got from MarthaStewert.com.

Paint jars in pumpkin colors and give them funny faces.

Tools and Materials:

Clean jars
Oil-based enamel paint in black and orange or yellow
Paintbrush
Extra-wide masking tape
Marker
Utility knife
Plastic-covered 20-gauge wire
Needle-nose pliers
Small candle (such as the LED candle)

Jar-o'-Lanterns How-To

1. In a well-ventilated area, paint inside of jar orange or yellow until opaque. Apply masking tape to outside. Press out air bubbles. Draw a jack-o'-lantern face in marker on tape (or print out our templates onto adhesive labels). Cut out and peel away features with a utility knife to form a stencil (an adult should do this).

2. Paint stencil with black paint. When dry, peel off tape.

3. For a handle, loop the end of wire with pliers. Make a lasso shape that will hug jar. Bend remaining wire over for a handle. Cut wire; make another loop to hook onto ring. Slip ring over jar's mouth; tighten.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Jar-o'-Lanterns - Martha Stewart Crafts

Enjoy!

Scented Pinecones

2010-10-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a great little craft idea that I got from a friends post on cafemom.com.

Items Needed:
Cinnamon*

Ginger*

Nutmeg*

Craft glue mixed with equal amounts of

Water

Foam brush

Pinecones

*Add any other spices that you like the smell of. Mix in the proportions that you desire (I'd go heavy on the cinnamon as I love the smell).

Directions:

Rinse pinecones under running water. Lay the pinecones on an old cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees until the pinecones open up (this not only kills any little beasties that may be residing within the pinecones but also melts the sap resulting in a pretty glaze).
Spread pinecones out on layers of newspapers and set aside to dry completely
Use the foam brush to apply the glue to the pinecones.
Mix the spices in a bowl using a wire wisk. Roll the pinecone in the spice or add the spices to a baggie; add the pinecones one at a time and shake to coat (like shake-n-bake)
When coated, allow to dry thoroughly.

Use these wonderfully-scented pinecones in gift baskets, as christmas tree ornaments, on christmas wreaths, or placed in bowls to add a wonderful scent to a room.

If, after storing, you need to refresh the scent of the pinecones just stick them in a microwave until the smell is revived.

Watchful Eyes Wreath Project

2010-10-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

Another great idea from bhg.com! I thought this was so cute I had to share it!

Googly eyes eerily peer at guests as they enter your Halloween lair. Hot-glue green pom-poms to an 8-inch-diameter plastic-foam wreath. Then adhere various-size googly eyes onto the pom-poms using hot glue. Fold a length of ribbon in half. Loop the folded ribbon around the wreath and pass the ribbon ends through the loop. Tie the ends together to make a hanging loop.

Enjoy!

Halloween Pizza Pot Pie

2010-10-24T20:19:00.001-05:00

Found this yummy looking festive pizza pot pie and thought I would share it with everyone. I got the recipe from bettycrocker.com. Think I'll try and make it sometime this week.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef or Italian sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 can (8 ounces) pizza sauce

1 can (4 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1/4 cup very hot water

Directions:

1.Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease four 10- to 12-ounce casseroles.

2.Cook ground beef, onion and bell pepper in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in pizza sauce and mushrooms. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon beef mixture into casseroles. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on each.

3.Mix Bisquick mix and very hot water; beat vigorously 20 seconds. Turn dough onto surface dusted with Bisquick mix; gently roll in Bisquick mix to coat. Shape into ball; knead about 10 times or until smooth. Divide dough into 4 balls. Pat each ball into circle the size of diameter of casserole. Cut steam vent in each circle with knife or cookie cutter. Place each circle on beef mixture in casserole. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until very light brown.

Candy Corn Door Pocket

2010-10-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

(The photo above was from bhg.com)

Instead of cutting out and then sewing this ensemble together you could draw a candy corn pattern onto poster board and cut it out and staple or glue it into the cone shape and either paint each section of the candy corn or hot glue colored fabric on the candy corn shape. You could also attach a small loop to the back for hanging and then fill with your choice of twigs, raffia, or just about anything.

OMG!!!!

2010-10-20T15:30:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's almost Halloween and Christmas is only 66 days away!! The days are getting away from me before I can get anything holiday related done. I think I will set aside some time each day over the next week and prepare some crafts and recipes for the holiday season.

Stay tuned..........

Yikes! Only 100 days till Christmas!

2010-09-16T09:06:00.000-05:00

I just realized that there are only 100 days till Christmas! I can't believe I haven't got any shopping done at all. I must admit that I'm starting to feel a little panic rise up inside me, LOL! I still haven't even managed to finish unpacking from our move and have yet to come across my wrapping supplies. Guess I better start switching over to high gear with my unpacking so I can move on to gift shopping.

Have a great week!

Summer is coming to an end

2010-09-08T13:53:00.000-05:00

Well folks, we finally got moved to Kentucky and summer is finally ending. The weather has been really nice up here and it's making me want to get my Fall decorations out. Of course there's lots more unpacking to do before I'll even find those decorations. I'm looking forward to watching the leaves change colors, think I'll start looking up some Fall recipes to try.

Happy Summer!

2010-06-22T19:09:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to wish all of my readers a Happy Summer!!

We are in the process of moving to Kentucky so I may not post again until late August. I'm looking forward to sharing more Fall and Winter crafts and recipes with everyone.

They turned out great!

2010-02-16T11:36:00.003-06:00

I've been busy the last few days making more jewelry pieces for my Etsy shop and this morning I finished my first matching earring/necklace set. I have to say that I love the way it turned out!

They turned out so well that I think I'll make some more today :)

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-09T10:43:00.002-06:00

I've been busy making Valentines themed jewelry for my Etsy shop. I plan on planning my family's special Valentines dinner this week. Here are some ideas to help make Valentines Day special for families.

* special 3 course meal (appetizers, main course, dessert.....things that you don't make regularly)
* add candlelight and classical music
* decorate the table and room with valentine theme decor
* place special valentine gifts/cards at each place setting
*use your good china or buy valentine themed dishes

Have a Happy Valentines Day!!

New Year Happenings

2010-01-20T15:45:00.002-06:00

Hope all of you had a great Christmas and happy New Year!!

I wasn't able to blog during the holidays due to illness and other issues, but hopefully things will continue to get better and I can blog more often. I've been busy putting away my Christmas decor this week and pulling out some Valentine decor.

I've also been busy making more items for my Etsy shop so feel free to stop by and take a look!

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com

Have a great week!!

December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T09:13:00.003-06:00

Only 24 days to go now! I'm loving the hussle and bustle of the season. We put our tree up thanksgiving weekend. It's a 9ft tall Fraser Fir and it is beautiful!! I still have a bit of shopping to do and I think I will get out and do a little of that today.

Enjoy the season!!

Fall decor

2009-08-31T14:51:00.002-05:00

It has been a beautiful Fall like day today and I have enjoyed it so much!! I worked on putting my Fall decor up some more today and I'll try and get some pics posted here in a day or so. After getting it up I've realized that I could use a lot more,lol. I didn't seem to have as much as I thought I had so maybe I will hit the stores again this week and see if I can find some Fall bargains.

Weekend Bargains

2009-08-24T13:24:00.003-05:00

I found these Fall decor items over the weekend, the acorn placemats were 50 cents each! I only spent about 5 or 6 dollars for everything! It was such a pretty weekend that I didn't get around to doing any inside decorating so I will work on it a little each day this week and maybe finish up by the weekend.

It's almost time!!

2009-08-17T15:57:00.002-05:00

I can hardly wait till the weekend so that I can put up my Fall decor!! I've have hit the Dollar Tree several times and picked up a lot of cute new stuff to add to my existing collection. I plan to finish my Fall cleaning by Friday so that I can decorate all day Saturday! I think once I get my Fall decor up and finished I will take pictures and create a slideshow to share with everyone.

Handmade ornaments for my Fall Tree

2009-08-10T08:35:00.002-05:00

I finally finished my first set of ornaments for my Fall tree. We are huge Tennessee Vols fans so of course I had to make some Vols ornaments for my tree. I hope to get another set done this week.

Autumn decor

2009-08-08T18:10:00.002-05:00

Here is a pic of some goodies I found at the Dollar Tree to decorate with for Fall! I can't wait to get started on my Fall decor! The kids go back to school Monday so next week I will start pulling my decorations out of the attic and going thru them.

blog giveaway

2009-08-01T10:20:00.003-05:00

Click on over and check out Ms. Life's Place blog. She is doing a CIJ giveaway so be sure and get in on that while there's still time.

http://lifewithoutmanual.wordpress.com/

Fall

2009-07-30T18:04:00.003-05:00

Fall and football season are right around the corner! Ol Smokey is ready for some Tennessee Football!!!

I've been busy today making some TN Vols ornaments for my Fall tree!

CIJ Sale finds..

2009-07-27T15:50:00.003-05:00

I found these cute little bowls on the clearance isle at walmart the other day and bought 9 of them. They are fourth of July decor but with them being stars and red I thought they would make nice Christmas party decor or even Christmas gifts! If I decide to use them as gifts I think I will put homemade candies or cookies in them and maybe package 3 of them together with some cello wrap and a bow for a nice handmade gift.

Rudy Day Crafting

2009-07-27T12:12:00.003-05:00

Here are some pics of my "rudy day" crafts.

I made little magnets for my frig out of wooden shapes by painting them and applying a magent to the back. I also made some ornament hooks for my Twilight themed Christmas tree that I am going to have this year. I also started on a Twilight ornament but haven't finished it yet.

Instructions for making the elves

2009-07-21T19:06:00.003-05:00

what you'll need:

2 wooden beads 25 mm or 1 inch wooden balls with small holes in bottom
2 split peas for noses
2 small jingle bells
2 chenille stems 12"inches long
2 pieces of felt 2 1/2 x4" each in two colors cut into "fat triangles"
2 pieces of 1/8" wide ribbon in coordinating colors
acrylic paints : flesh color,red,white,black
hot glue gun
glue sticks
acrylic gloss sealer

Get Started:

glue nose to each wooden ball (heads) then paint the heads flesh color. Once that is dry paint on the eyes, cheeks, and mouth and let dry. Spray with sealer and let dry.

Cut the felt into 2 "fat triangle" shapes and wrap around the head to get a good fit and then glue the felt together after its dry glue the felt hats to the heads and bend the top down, apply a small amount of glue to keep it down and then glue the bell on the tip of the hat.

Wrap chenille stems around a 12 inch dowel rod or pencil to create the coils. straighten one end about a half inch and apply glue and then stick the stem in the hole in the wood ball (head). Tie a ribbon to each chenille stem.

If you want to hang them on the tree just tie a ribbon around the hat where it bends and whala!

handmade elf and snowmen ornies

2009-07-21T15:08:00.004-05:00

Here are the cute little elf ornies I made today! They are so cute I think I will display them now instead of waiting till the holidays, lol!

I also made some cute little snowmen ornies out of popsickle sticks. They could also be used as embellishments on gifts as well.

how to make melted snowmen ornies

2009-07-14T10:32:00.003-05:00

I had a comment asking how to make the melted snowmen ornies so I will share the info and you can make a few of your very own.

items needed:
aluminum foil
hot glue gun
glue sticks
black glass beads for eyes and mouth or wiggly eyes and a black chenille stem for mouth
orange chenille stem for nose
ribbon for hanger

instructions:
heat up your glue gun and lay your foil out on your work area, once the gun is good and hot insert a glue stick and start making a puddle of glue. Before the glue starts cooling add your eyes and nose and mouth. I added my ribbon before I put the eyes on and added a little more glue on top of where the ribbon is. Don't try to make a perfect circle of glue. The whole idea is a melting snowman so it will not be perfectly shaped.

melted snowmen ornaments

2009-07-13T19:51:00.003-05:00

Christmas in July continues with these little ornies!!

They got excited and went out to play and oops! the sun melted them!

special announcement

2009-07-13T11:45:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am now offering International shipping over at TeresasCrafts.

Stop by and take a look at all the new christmas items listed!

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com/

As part of my Christmas in July celebration I am giving away 2 Free ornament hooks made by me with any purchase during the month of July!!

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

2009-07-12T16:36:00.002-05:00

I'm having a lot of fun with my Christmas in July crafting!! I finished this cute little ornament the other day and just got him listed in my Etsy shop. I sort of want to keep him for myself, lol. I think I will make some more like him and maybe even some snowmen heads using the same concept.

altered jars

2009-07-05T11:48:00.002-05:00

Here's a pic of the reindeer jar I painted. All it needs now is a pretty ribbon or antlers and maybe a small votive candle holder on top and it makes a cute centerpiece!

2009-07-04T11:54:00.000-05:00

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

Christmas in July continues

2009-07-03T19:17:00.003-05:00

CIJ continues today with another set of ornament hooks! I also managed to get another ornament painted last nite. Here are the pics!

another set of ornament hooks

2009-07-02T18:02:00.002-05:00

here's another set of ornament hooks that I made today!

I'm having a lot of fun doing Christmas crafts in July, lol!!!

Handmade ornament hooks

2009-07-02T16:38:00.002-05:00

I'm continuing the christmas in July celebration by making some ornament hooks today! I'm thinking of doing a drawing sometime this month and giving away a pair of these little cuties!!

Also feel free to check out the new ornaments that I just listed in my Etsy shop!

Merry Christmas in July!!

2009-07-01T20:30:00.002-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's July already! Christmas will be here before we know it. I plan to add at least one or more handmade christmas ornaments to my Etsy shop each week in celebration of Christmas in July.

Here is a pic of the ornament I just listed!

first ornament for 2009

2009-06-23T21:56:00.002-05:00

I'm working on Christmas ornaments for my Etsy shop and I just finished my first one for 2009.

I plan to make a lot of ornaments in the coming weeks to sale in my Etsy shop.

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com/

Christmas decor

2009-06-03T11:13:00.002-05:00

I can't believe that Hobby Lobby has already began putting out some of their Christmas decorations and ribbons!! I wonder if they will sell anything Christmas related between now and August. Maybe they will have some good sales and we can all get a jump start on our decorating.

Check it out!

2009-04-04T12:40:00.001-05:00

Be sure and check out my other blogs and view the slideshows of my Twilight room work in progress!!

Happy Spring!

2009-04-01T20:32:00.001-05:00

It's finally Spring! Take a look at my other blogs! Check back here soon and I'll have some Fall and Winter crafts and things to share!

New blog

2009-01-28T08:41:00.002-06:00

I have created a new blog geared toward crafting, jewelry making, and decorating throughout the year. This blog will be just about Fall and Christmas. Please visit my other blog.

www.teresascrafts.blogspot.com

Taking photos of jewelry and crafts

2009-01-26T19:57:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited! After receiving several suggestions about taking my Etsy photos using a light box I decided to look into getting one. I ordered one today and hopefully it will come in by the end of the week.

I strongly suggest getting one or making one if you take photos of your handmade jewelry and crafts. Especially if you put them on a website to sell. After seeing the difference that using a light box makes I cannot wait to retake my photos and redo them on my Etsy shop.

New bracelet for my Etsy shop!

2009-01-21T11:30:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited! I just finished another bracelet for my Etsy shop and it is so cute that I wanted to share a pic of it on my blog. I am really enjoying making jewelry. I've ordered some beads and can't wait for them to come in so that I can make several more new items!

Cleaning and Crafting

2009-01-14T10:47:00.002-06:00

Do you love to craft? Do you find it hard to get the housework done and do crafts as well? I enjoy my newest venture so much that it's hard to concentrate on doing housework because I just want to do my crafts. I made a rule this week to keep myself in line, lol.

My rule is that I have to do most of the housework or at least work on the house an hour or two before I can allow myself time for my crafts. I have tried this over the last few days and found that it really helps. I don't have to feel guilty now when I take time to work on my crafts because I'm not letting the house work go. I think it also frees up my mind to be more creative and do a better job on my crafts.

new item

2009-01-14T08:30:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that I added another item to my Etsy shop last night and I plan to add a couple more items by this evening!

Valentines Day Ideas

2009-01-12T08:32:00.002-06:00

Does anyone decorate for Valentines Day? I like to put a little decorations throughout the house for Valentines. Here are some ideas:

* candlescape with white candles and red marbles
* heart windowclings
* valentines hand towels for the bathroom
* place little heart shaped boxes on end tables
* flowers in pretty vases

I'm sure I'll come up with even more by the end of January.

Have a great week!

Visit my shop!

2009-01-08T20:47:00.003-06:00

I got so many compliments on my Twilight inspired charm bracelet that I made so I decided to creat an Etsy shop. For those who don't know Etsy is like Ebay except Etsy is specifially for handmade items. So I will be making crafts and jewelry and selling them in my Etsy shop. I plan to add a lot more items but I wanted to start off simple.
Please visit my shop!

http://www.teresascrafts.etsy.com/

winter decor ideas

2009-01-07T17:36:00.002-06:00

The christmas decorations are down and some of us are wondering what to put next.

Why not put out snowflakes, icicles, and snowmen
keep some evergreen garland with pinecones out as well
You could even take a planter and fill it with white styrofoam "snowballs"
Put wintery fleece throws on the couch for those chilly winter days.

I like to have a wintery theme up until the end of January and then I switch over to Valentines.

January Plans

2009-01-05T18:55:00.002-06:00

With a new year beginning it's time to start cleaning. I plan to get my house cleaned up and organized this month. My starting point will be taking Christmas decor down and then organizing all my decorations into seasonal or holiday bins with labels. Once that is complete I will tackle my crafts and organize all my craft materials. Before I purchase any new storage containers I will go through and get rid of things that I don't need or can't use yhat way I'll know exactly what I need to store the rest of my materials.

Here are some tips on organizing and decluttering:

1. sort thru all decorations and place into categories according to seasons or holidays then store in labeled bins
2. sort thru any greenery or florals and store in labeled bins according to seasons
3. Throw or give away items that you have not used in the last 3-6 months
4. when sorting craft materials, place each item in a category and when that is done place in see thru bins with labels
5. Have one bin with craft projects you are currently working on and do not allow more than 2-3 projects in the bin at a time.

new things for 2009

2009-01-02T10:36:00.003-06:00

Hi Everyone! Now that the holidays are over I'm sure all of us are trying to get the decorations down and get things back to normal. I've decided to create a couple more blogs and do more blogging in 2009. I also have the normal weight loss plans as we all start off the New Year with. Exercise is a must as well. So what sort of plans do all you have for 2009?

feel free to visit my other blogs:

http://www.celebrateme2009.blogspot.com
http://www.twilightvampfan.blogspot.com

My cutest Christmas gift!

2008-12-31T12:19:00.002-06:00

My daughter and I received the cutest fairies for christmas from my sister so I had to post a photo for everyone to see! They are porcelain Heirlooms from Duck House.

Craft notebook

2008-12-30T10:01:00.001-06:00

Here's an idea to get your crafts organized for the new year. So far I have come up with 8 sections or dividers. You can customize it for whatever craft you do.

1. project ideas
2. photos of finished projects
3. tips and techniques
4. receipts for supplies
5. gift lists or ideas
6. special requests / orders / sales receipts
7. product / supply inventory list
8. Notes

For the actual notebook cover we could make it like we made our Christmas notebook except not christmassy.

new blog

2008-12-28T09:18:00.002-06:00

Hi All.
I have a second blog. It is...... http://www.twilightvampfan.blogspot.com

It will have a lot of Twilight related stuff in it but it will also have other things such as my new hobby which is jewelry making. Come by for a visit and if anyone has a jewelry making blog or Twilight blog let me know.

love and blessings

2008-12-24T15:48:00.001-06:00

Ho Ho Ho......

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

Christmas gift idea

2008-12-22T09:16:00.002-06:00

Need a last minute idea. How about a charm bracelet? They are simple to put together and they are a gift that lets the receiver know that you remember little things about them. Place charms on the bracelet for any special thing you know about the person.

I'm making Twilight Movie themed charm bracelets for my friends daughters.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-19T08:00:00.002-06:00

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Blessings to all!!!

personalized coffee mugs

2008-12-11T15:43:00.002-06:00

Great gift idea!!!

needed items:
*coffee mugs (white or light solid color)
*porcelain pens (from craft store)
*stencils or templates

Stencil or use your templates and draw the desired designed on your mugs with the porcelain pens (color or your choice). Let dry and then bake in the oven to make the ink permanent.

These would make a great gift to put in a basket with some flavored coffee or cocoa and cookies and anything else that goes along with your theme!

Ice Blue Snowflake Wreath

2008-12-09T09:25:00.001-06:00

This striking wreath adds winter flavor all through the holidays. Cover a white foam circle with a white feather boa, attaching it with U-shaped pieces of wire. Spray foam balls with artificial snow to resemble snowballs and add them to the wreath with several purchased snowflake ornaments. Add an ice-blue satin bow, and hang with a loop of matching ribbon.

idea from bhg.com

Christmas card display

2008-12-09T09:11:00.002-06:00

For a festive and inexpensive way to display all of your Christmas cards try covering a bulletin board with wrapping paper and pin up your cards as they come in. Place the bulleting board on a desk or hang in your entry way.

Winged heart ornament

2008-12-03T19:31:00.003-06:00

Materials:

Heart ornament, doll wings, glue gun, wire

Instructions:

Glue the wing on the heart, attach a thin wire, and hang.

idea from Christmas magazine

handmade candy cane ornaments

2008-12-02T08:53:00.002-06:00

You'll need red and white chenille stems (pipe cleaners) from your local craft store.

Take a red and white chenille stem and twist together evenly from top to bottom and then bend one end so that it looks like a cane and hang them on you tree!!
Great for kids to make!

Quick Holiday Greenery Spray

2008-12-02T08:40:00.003-06:00

Take several long pieces of greenery cuttings and tie a bow in the middle set in a window sill for a quick holiday look. Add a candle or figurine behind it to finish it off.

Elegant Beaded Fringe Ornament...... craft

2008-11-21T10:17:00.003-06:00

Needed Items:

*cup to hold ornament
*scissors
*purchased beaded fringe trim
*glass ball ornament (solid or pastel color)
*tape
*thick white craft glue
*rhinestones to coordinate with ornament
*narrow ribbon
*clear pedestal style candle holder

What To Do.........

1. place ornament in cup to prevent rolling, cut the beaded fringe trim to fit around the ornament. glue trim in place. if necessary tape the trim while the glue sets. (test the tape on an area to ensure that it doesn't lift the finish off the ornament). When dry, remove tape.

2. Glue rhinestones randomly on the top half of the ornament . let dry.

3. Thread ribbon through the hanger. knot the ends together to hang or tie in a bow and display ornament on the clear candle holder.

***This would make an elegant display if you made several of them and place them on your table for your holiday party***

this craft idea came from a bhg book

Sugar Cookies

2008-11-19T15:32:00.001-06:00

* 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
* 1 cup margarine or butter, softened
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
* 1 large egg
* 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (if using self-rising flour, omit baking soda and cream of tartar)
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
* granulated sugar

1. Mix powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla, almond extract, and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
2. Heat oven to 375*. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening.
3. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. cut into desired shapes with 2 to 2 1/2 inch cookie cutters. sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet.
4. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

(Betty Crocker recipe)

Mantel Stocking holders

2008-11-17T13:58:00.003-06:00

I searched and searched for ideas on how to make my own stocking holders and couldn't find any ideas that I wanted to try. After much thought and a visit to the Dollar Tree I came up with my own idea.

I found some small tin Christmas pails and some Christmas ribbon with wire-edges and some small ball ornaments.

I'm going to hot glue a piece of ribbon to the bottom of each pail and tie or hot glue a small ornament at the bottom of the other end of the ribbon. Then I will fill the pails with small rocks to make them heavy enough to hold the stockings and then it will be ready to hang my stockings on the end and the ball ornament will keep them from falling off the ribbon. Of course when I fill the stockings Christmas eve I'll take them off and lie them under the tree.

I'll post photos in a couple of days.

Stocking Flatware Holders

2008-11-15T14:13:00.002-06:00

I've seen several magazines advertising stocking flatware (silverware) holders. Instead of purchasing from the actual magazines you could buy the small stockings from the dollar tree or even make your own from christmas fabric or even felt and embellish them the way you want.

Handmade Bandana Purse

2008-11-14T16:28:00.003-06:00

I was on Cafemom one day last week and saw a post about how to make a cute Bandana purse. I thought I would share since it would make a cute Christmas gift for a little girl.

This purse is so easy to make! There's no sewing... just cut and knot!You can buy bandanas at almost any dollar store or department store. Purchase two of them. Lay the bandanas out, wrong sides together, lining up edges as best as possible. Using fabric shears, cut 1" around entire bandana "sandwich" in one piece and set it aside to use as the handle. Then cut a slit every 3/4" cutting up to the most inner printed square on the bandana on 3 sides of the bandana. You will be cutting out the corners and discarding these small squares of fabric. Beginning at one of the corners, take one of the fringes from the top and one from the bottom and tie them together in a double knot. Tie one on each corner. Continue tying all around except for the top. This will be left open.To make the handle, cut each long scrap into two equal pieces. Discard one piece and braid the other three together knotting at each end. Knot an end to each side of the bag. Iron the top fringes down on each side.

Holiday Door Tags

2008-11-12T14:04:00.002-06:00

Items needed:

*three 18x24" pieces of white corrugated plastic, poster board or matt board
*blue and black acrylic paint
*1" wide foam brush
*craft glue
*iridescent glitter
*large clear iridescent sequins
*several wooden snowflakes
*2 1/2" wide wire-edged ribbon
*3M command adhesive strips

1. For the Tags, trim the 2 corners from one end of each plastic or mattboard piece. Cut a hole in the end for the ribbon. (so that the piece looks like a gift tag)

2. Paint a 1" wide blue border around the edges of each tag. Stencil or Write the phrase " Let It Snow" one word on each of the three tags. Paint the words black.

3. For each tag apply a thin layer of glue to the words and border, then sprinkle the glued areas with glitter; glue sequins randomly to the tags, when the glue is dry gently remove excess glitter.

4. Glue several wooden snowflakes to each tag and tie a length of ribbon through each hole. Use the self-adhesive strips to attach the tags to your front door.

****How To Make Wooden Snowflakes****

1. glue 3 wooden craft sticks together
2. paint them white
3. glue white buttons to the snowflake
4. spray it with glue
5.cover both sides with "snowy glitter"

Symbols of the Season Gift Ornaments (Craft)

2008-11-07T15:44:00.002-06:00

These symbolic ornaments would make a perfect Christmas gift.

Items needed:
6 plain glass ornaments
glue or spray adhesive
glitter
acrylic paint or paint on snow (optional)
cut out designs from wrapping paper, cards, etc, or stickers
ribbon
small tags

Images for the ornaments and their meanings:

1) rabbit.......The image of a rabbit brings HOPE for a bright future and a happy home.
2) bird.........A bird inspires JOY both during Christmas season and throughout the year.
3) fruit basket..... Filled to overflowing, a fruit basket symbolizes GENEROSITY and kindness.
4) pine cones....... Pine cones remind us to be thankful for times of peace and PLENTY.
5) angels..........Messengers from heaven, Angels bring GUIDANCE for our lives.
6) Santa...........Santa, the childrens friend, bears wishes of GOOD WILL to all.

Once you have all of your images glued to the ornaments and embellished as you like, write or stencil the bold red words on each tag and and tie it to the ornament with a small piece of ribbon and on the back of the tags you could write the meaning of the symbols. Place in a ornament gift box and youre done!

craft idea came from one of my Christmas books.

holiday shower curtain

2008-11-05T08:32:00.003-06:00

If you don't have a christmas shower curtain, why not add some things to yours to make it Christmassy.

Check out these ideas.

* hang jingle bells on a ribbon from the curtain hooks
* use small safety pins to pin ornaments to the outside of the cutain
* buy an inexpensive liner and paint Christmas ornaments or glue some on the liner
* buy some inexpensive hooks at the dollar store and glue ornaments to them

Happy Decorating!!

napkin rings

2008-11-04T13:52:00.002-06:00

need napkins rings for your holiday place settings?

Try wrapping a piece of thin ribbon around each napkin and glue a small wooden christmassy cut out to the top. You could also glue a small ornament to the top of the ribbon or even tie a bow and glue it to the top.

Tree Skirt craft project

2008-11-03T16:25:00.002-06:00

Looking for a customized tree skirt?

purchase a fleece blanket in your color choice and add christmassy iron ons or paint designs that match your decor. You can also sew snowmen cut outs on the blanket and leave a small opening to stuff with batting for a 3 dimmensional look.

Best Ever Butter Cookies

2008-11-03T16:16:00.002-06:00

prep. time: 60 min. baking time: 6 min. Makes 3 dozen

1 cup land o lakes butter softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine butter, sugar, and egg in large bowl. beat at medium speed until creamy. reduce speed to low, add flour, orange juice, vanilla, and baking powder. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-third at a time (keep remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness. cut with 3 inch cookie cutters. place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. cool completely.

Found this yummy recipe in a magazine!!

Did you know....??

2008-11-03T14:04:00.001-06:00

Did you know that....

*America’s first recipe for Christmas cakes dates back to 1796.

*In Australia, the turkey is eaten cold.

*In the old times, sugar was very expensive; therefore, Christmas cakes were a luxury.

*In Denmark, they put hot porridge outside for the pixies on Christmas Eve.

*The first gingerbread man is credited to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who favored important visitors with charming gingerbread likenesses of themselves.

These fun facts were found on allthingschristmas website.

decorating tips

2008-11-02T16:19:00.002-06:00

* fill clear glass vases and bowls with ornaments
* tie little bows to all of your cabinet knobs in your kitchen
* hang ornaments from your light fixtures
* hang bells or christmassy items on all your door knobs
* fill a basket full of white styrofoam balls and tie a ribbon with snowflakes around the basket
* add clear lights to plants
* switch all of your candles to christmas colors or fragrances

These are just a few tips to decorate on a low budget, I'll list more ideas as I think of them.

Happy Decorating!!

Simple Holiday decor

2008-11-01T09:03:00.003-05:00

Here's an idea that I have done for the holidays that is simple and not costly.

If you already have a candlescape on a countertop or elsewhere why not make it christmassy by adding red or green glass beads around the candles and place a few artificial berries in the scape as well. That's it, fast and simple and very inexpensive.

Butter Frosting

2008-10-31T09:59:00.002-05:00

Heres a recipe that I got from a magazine today and thought I would share!

prep time: 10 minutes
makes: 1 1/2 cups

3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup land o lakes butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 t0 3 tablespoons milk

Combine all ingredients except milk in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistancy.

Variations:

Almond Frosting: Stir in 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Cocoa Frosting: Stir in 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa. Increase milk to 5 to 6 tbsp.

Peppermint Frosting: Stir in 1 tsp. peppermint extract and 3 to 4 red drops food color.

Spice Frosting: Stir in 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. each ground cloves and nutmeg.

Table Centerpiece

2008-10-30T09:14:00.002-05:00

Create an elegant centerpiece for your holiday dinner party by decorating Christmas balls with stars, dots, stripes, etc. using glue and glitter. Glue the finished ornaments onto small mirrored discs. Remove the hangers from the tops of the ornaments, add a little water and insert buds, sprigs of greenery and berries.

I got this idea from BHG magazine and I think I'll give it a try this holiday season.

Cider Recipe

2008-10-29T13:36:00.000-05:00

HOT MULLED APPLE CIDER

2 qt. (8 c.) apple juice
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
6 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks, broken into 1" pieces

In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer covered, for 20 minutes. Strain to remove spices. Serve warm with a cinnamon stick. 16 (1/2 cup) servings.

Here's a simple cider recipe I got from the internet, enjoy!

Christmas Chair Covers

2008-10-29T08:13:00.002-05:00

Here's an idea I thought of this morning.

Use a red or green or white pillow case and sew or paint or glue Christmas items on them and let them dry and then place them on your chair backs. You could even use garland around the opening of the pillow case to hide the hem.

If your chair backs are too wide then take some Christmas fabric and make a slip over cover and add a bow in the middle.

ornament craft

2008-10-28T19:27:00.003-05:00

You'll need white glue and food coloring and wax paper.

Put the glue into a squeeze bottle or icing piping bag after adding a couple of drops of food coloring. Draw simple Christmas shapes onto wax paper and let dry. Once they are dry peel off the shapes and tie a ribbon on them and they are ready to hang.
I got this idea off the internet and thought this was a good craft to do with kids.

Christmas Jokes/Riddles

2008-10-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

These came from allthingschristmas and I thought they were cute so I wanted to share them with everyone.

Q. What do snowmen wear on their heads?
A. Ice caps.

Q. How do sheep say Merry Christmas in Mexico?
A. Fleece Navidad!

Q. What is a snowman's favorite lunch?
A. An Iceberger!

Q. What do vampires put on their Christmas turkey?
A. Grave-y.

Q. What did the ghost say to Santa Claus?
A. I'll have a boo Christmas without you.

Q. What do you call a snowman party?
A. A Snowball!

Q. What did the Gingerbread Man put on his bed?
A. A cookie sheet!

Q. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a shark?
A. Frost bite!

Q. What do you call an Eskimo cow?
A. An Eskimoo.

Q. How is the Christmas alphabet different from the ordinary alphabet?
A. The Christmas alphabet has NO EL.

Q. What do the elves sing to Santa Claus on his birthday?
A. Freeze a jolly good fellow . . .

Q. What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmastime?
A. Sandy Claws!

Q. Why are Christmas trees such bad knitters?
A. They are always dropping their needles.

Coffee Can Snowman

2008-10-28T15:45:00.002-05:00

If you are a coffee drinker you probably have an empty coffee can or two lying around. I've decided to make a snowman out of one of my cans. I'm going to wash it and paint it white and then paint a face on it and maybe tie a small scarf from felt around the bottom. I may even put candy or cookies in it and then put the lid on. I was thinking about making a hat to place on top of the lid.
Just thought I would share this idea.

Holiday Appetizer Recipe

2008-10-28T15:43:00.001-05:00

Bacon Wiener Wraps

pack of hotdogs
pack of bacon
box of brown sugar
toothpicks

1. cut hotdogs in lengths of three and cut pack of bacon in half
2. wrap each hotdog with a peice of bacon and insert toothpick to keep bacon wrapped
3. place them in a crockpot
4. cover them with a box of brown sugar
5. cook them on low for about 3 hours

Actual cooking time may vary a little so be sure and check on them.

Christmas Countdown Planner Notebook

2008-10-28T15:23:00.003-05:00

If you don't have a Christmas planner already I encourage you to visit www.organizedchristmas.com and create your planner today. It will help you stay organized and the holidays will be a lot less stressful.