As I lifted a perfect loaf of bread out from the oven, I couldn’t help but be appalled by my potholders. On top of being worn through, I couldn’t even identify what food lined the crusty edges! At times like this, I’d usually remember to pick up a few during my weekly shopping trip….but fortunately, that habit has changed! Yearning to be more self-sufficient, I learned to knit my own potholders.

Grabbing some yarn from the hall, I sat down in front of my stone fireplace and got to work. Scared by the thought of “knitting,” I was shocked when I discovered the ease of it. A year ago, I had bravely purchased a knitting loom and a bundle of colored yarn from my local fabric store. Not having a friend who knits, I went online and found some great beginner tips (things only a true knitter could teach you). Potholders were my first project. Locating a free knitting pattern online that was easy to read and actually made sense, I went to work!

Within a few hours I had my first potholder! Ecstatic, I began to turn out potholders in no time. I became quicker at my new art, and started giving them out as gifts to everyone I knew. Christmas colored potholders are a favorite to give out with my famous oatmeal raisin cookies each December. That way, my loved ones are each getting something I put my time and love into. Not something I bought on a whim at the local super store.

Not only have I acquired a new skill, I have taught several of my friends how to knit as well! Using a free knitting pattern, it doesn’t take much money to make a homemade treasure. Getting back to the basics is something I have wanted for my family. As I sat in front of the fireplace with my yarn in hand, I was grateful for being brave enough to try something new!

This project used green pine tree gel clings, and just like our blue snowman and snowflake gel cling vases, can be displayed alone or grouped together in 3’s using other glass vases of various heights.  You can showcase your beautiful vase or vases on a fireplace mantel, bookcase, and coffee table, or perhaps on a dining room table as a centerpiece.

Begin by adhering the pine tree gel clings to the outside bottom of your glass vase.  Be sure to space the gel clings evenly around the vase creating a border.  Repeat the same step creating a second border right above your first layer.  Next, begin layering the inside of the vase starting with snow flurries, then a layer of bright white blanket type snow, and finish with small pinecones towards the top of the vase, leaving 2 inches of un-layered space.

Supplies:

Please note that gel decorations are removable and reusable. Do not expose to high heat or direct sunlight on hot days, sticker can melt.  Just like our blue snowman and snowflake vase, you can pack your vase away safely at the end of the Christmas holidays by stuffing a balled up wad of newspaper in to the top of the vase, placing a plastic or small paper bag over the top, and rubber banding it all to keep all the contents intact.  Then, just pack it away securely for the next year.

Working for almost 10 years straight, I was a bit shocked after the birth of my first son.  I had always yearned to be a stay at home mom and raise my kids.  However, going from talking to adults all day to little babies, was a major transition.  Two kids and 4 years later, I have learned that I still need that grown-up social interaction. That’s when I formed a crafting club.

Running a tight household, I relied on myself to come up with creative ways to save a penny.  My love of decorating combined with some good online crafting ideas, gave me all the ammunition I needed to start a crafting club.  With a quick call to some of my close friends and a few neighbors I wished to know better, we set up a weekly time to meet.

Our process is quite simple.  Every week one of us is in charge of coming up with a crafting idea.  Using a decorating or crafting website, we always find things that we want to make.  Whether for holidays, entertaining, or everyday items, it’s always fun to make something with your own two hands.  The projects are cheap, and the payoff, rewarding.

Being indoors the majority of the day, we relish getting a few moments outside.  With the help from a sturdy monitor, we put our sleeping babies down to rest and head out to the back patio.  With only a glass pitcher of lemonade and a few snacks, we jump into our project.  I have been amazed at the things we can accomplish when we are together.  We laugh, share stories and have a glorious time.

I used to think that being a stay at home mom meant becoming somewhat of a hermit.  Learning to respect my needs for friendship and socializing was a major help to the rest of my family.  I have become a much happier mom and quite the accomplished crafter.

Do you have a party to plan for the holidays?  If your looking for a fast last minute before your guest arrive project that you can fit in to your Christmas home décor, try adding some holiday charm to non holiday sofa style pillows.  Not only will you be able to transform the look of your plain pillows within seconds, you will also have custom designed pillows that your guests are sure to love.  You need to do something, so lets get going. 

This project requires no sewing. So put the needle and thread away.  Begin by carefully wrapping a felt ribbon around the front center of your pillow.  Next, taking a miniature felt – covered ornament type pillow, attach it to the felt ribbons by tying the ornament hanger and felt ribbon together.  The ornament can very easily be removed for other purposes.  Remember, this is a quick project to add a little extra Christmas cheer.  Note: Try using felt ribbon that comes with bells attached, or different ornament design patterns with similar felt covered materials to add texture and interest to your pillows.  That is it.  Very simple and quick.  Below is a list of items you will need for completing this quick Christmas decorating project

Supplies:

This project used snowman and snowflake gel clings, and can be displayed alone or grouped together in 3’s using other glass vases of various heights.  Showcase your beautiful Christmas vase or vases on a fireplace mantel, bookcase, or coffee table, or perhaps on a dining room table as a centerpiece.

Begin by adhering snowman and snow flake gel clings to the outside of your glass vase.  Be sure to space the gel clings evenly around the vase.  Next, begin layering the inside of the vase starting with snow flurries, then use bright white blanket snow towards the top, leaving 3 inches of un-layered space .

Supplies:

Please note that gel decorations are removable and reusable. Do not expose to high heat or direct sunlight on hot days, sticker can melt.  You have finished.  When the holidays are over, you can keep your Christmas decorating project intact by stuffing a wad of newspaper in to the top of the vase, placing a small paper or plastic bag over the top and rubbing banding it to keep all contents in place.  Then, just pack it away carefully for the next year. 

Have you ever looked through those boxes of Christmas ornaments of yours either before or after Christmas, and wondered how in the world you might be able to add some sparkle to them, yet still keep it traditional with your Christmas theme?  Taking a few of your plain ornaments every new Holiday season and adorning them with easy to find scrapbooking items to make personalized Christmas ornaments will add some new life to your selection in a custom way, and leave your guests thinking that you spent a fortune on your ornaments.  

For this project we decided to just use a large plastic satin finished ornament.  As was previously mentioned, you can also look through your existing collection and find some of your plain solid color ornaments to use.  It is important to stick to solid color ornaments because of the designs you will be adorning them with.  You don’t want to take away from the design. 

Apply peel and stick crystal stickers typically used for scrapbooking to the ornament. Stickers can be applied to cover the entire ornament, or you may want to apply them vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to create a pattern. Next, tie a satin ribbon , ¾ inch or smaller works best, to the top of the ornament creating a bow.  Try using a plaid ribbon with colors that compliment the color of your ornaments.  Simple!  You have a new personalized Christmas ornament.

Supplies:

Spring is one of the most anticipated times of year…especially if you live in a colder climate. The winter snow has melted away and cherry blossoms are blooming on that backyard tree. It’s time to brighten up your house with the signs of Easter! Whenever you’re in need for an instant craft, always look to the brown paper bag. These bags are dirt cheap and have several uses ranging from decorative lanterns to holiday centerpieces. Grab the kids and get ready for a fun and crafty afternoon.With holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, decorating for Easter seems to get overlooked. If you want to spruce up your Easter collection, a good place to start is with Easter Bunny Sacks. Finding online instructions, the only things you will need to purchase are the sacks, tracing paper and whatever painting colors you desire. Having a good supply of some basic paint colors will allow you to mix and create a broad range of other colors. Accessing an online crafting website, print off an Easter Bunny template designated for this particular project. Carefully place your tracing paper right on top and copy the full design. After you are completed with the tracing process, it’s time to mix up your paints. There should be instructions online for what paint colors would look best with the project, but ultimately the decision is yours! Use your favorite Easter colors and watch the Easter Bunny Sacks come to life. After the bags have dried, stuff them with brightly colored Easter paper. You now have a beautiful and unique gift bag, or a household decoration. If you’d like, forget the tissue paper and use them as lantern bags to illuminate the front porch. You can even loan these fabulous little sacks to the Easter Bunny for his annual “delivery.” Whatever you decide, you now have a fun and quick Easter Bunny template to look forward to every spring!

Decorating your home for the holidays can be so simple. Those of you with very busy schedules may want to consider an area in your home that you can transform in to a showcase vignette that can be easily changed out for each holiday.  For this project we choose a kitchen garden window.

Step 1 – Position a suction cup hook to the inside of your garden window determining the height that your wreath will hang from. Next, begin by wrapping multi-colored red and white satin ribbon to the top of the resin berry wreath creating a pretty bow.  For this step, take the stained glass holly ornament and hang it on to the suction cup hook. The stained glass ornament becomes a sun catcher as well as a focal point.  Once your bow is secured in place, position your wreath on the suction hook with the bow at the top.

Step 2 – Below on the window base, set a desert serving tray (we used a brown metal tray and added a small Christmas desert plate to the base of it).  This now becomes a display stand to showcase some of your favorite decorative kitchen items. Next, fill one small outdoor ceramic pot with fresh red berries, then insert a rustic moose ornament and a small pinecone pick to add an outdoor woodsy feel. Next, position 3 small artificial pears next to the pot which will add a nice Christmas kitchen theme touch.

Step 3 – A Christmas sleigh was added to balance the look of the display and to house 2 small artificial potted herbs. A small Christmas country style wired ornament hangs from the sleigh reminding us of the holiday season.  In the center of the window base, another small outdoor ceramic pot with a red bow tied around the top rim of it was added.  As a final touch fill the ceramic pot with fresh red berries, an outdoor find.

Supplies: Step 1                                                                   

Supplies: Step 2                                                          

Supplies: Step 3