bottled candy

gearing up for a new year's party?  these are super cute for kids of all ages...

what you need:

• lots of candy
  
• clear bottles and caps
  
• paper - scrap book paper or wrapping paper or newsprint, whatever you have {you know the drill}
  
• mod podge {of course, this is one of my favorite craft tools}
  

course of action:

1. clean and dry all the bottles of their labels and contents {yum}
   
2. mod podge a label to each bottle {for a christmas party our label read, wishing you the sweetest christmas}
   
3. cut paper to fit the bottle case and mod podge in place, trim
   
4. cap each bottle
   
5. party

how much fun is this?!  we are doing this for our valentines this year, so tune in then, too!

peppermint

my grandpa would have been proud...

mint chocolate chip ice cream, milk, peppermint sticks... blend, yum

oh christmas tree

or should i say, oh my, christmas tree?!

i let 1 and 2 decorate the cookies any way they wanted...

fun times... more is better, right?

deck the halls

we usually toss our holiday cards and photos into a basket or display a few on the fridge.  this year we are using our art-display in our little hall to display our cards.  i have never been known to leave well-enough alone, so i dressed up the clothes pins.

what you need:

• mod podge
  
• clothes pins
  
• paper - scrapbooking paper, news print, photos, whatever you have
  

cut the paper to size and glue it on - that is all.  i also added a magnet the the back of a few to use on our fridge.  simple and easy - just my style.

what do you do with all the holiday cards arriving at your house this season?

same concept, but this time with letters... p e a c e

i roughed up the edges with sand paper and painted a bit of white to distress, then mod podged over the top.

just a reminder to myself during the crazy holiday season... p e a c e.  maybe it should say b r e a t h e?

more pine cones

i keep referring to this box of pine cones we collected while on holiday in wyoming... it is never ending, so we decided to glitter a few up and hang them on our tree.

what you need...

• pine cones (duh)
  
• glitter
  
• mod podge (we like the one with glitter already in it, so it won't get in little ones' eyes by chance)
  
• ornament hangers
  
• hot glue gun 

1. paint, paint, paint, each pine cone and let them dry (we dried our cones on waxed paper)
   
2. glue a hanger onto the pine cone
   
3. hang it on the tree

tah-dah!  that's all folks.

mint chocolate covered pretzels

need a last minute gift for the neighbors, your mail carrier, or something yummy for a holiday party?

these are super easy, quick, oh so yummy, and kind of cute 

mint chocolate covered pretzels
what you need:  

• 1 bag large pretzel sticks 
  
• 1 bag of andes crème de menthe baking chips  
  
• 1 bag of andes peppermint crunch baking chips
  
• waxed paper on a cookie sheet
  
• cellophane wrap and washi tape 
  

melt the crème de menthe chips either on the stove or carefully in the microwave
sprinkle some peppermint chips on the waxed paper
dip the pretzel or drizzle the chocolate to cover the bottom 3/4 of the large pretzel stick
place on the covered pretzel on the sprinkled peppermint chips and sprinkle more peppermint chips over the pretzel 

i am not so patient, so I stick them in the freezer for a couple of minutes so I can wrap them and clean up 

  better taste one before they all go away... yum

i have had a lot...

...on my plate.  now it is time to play and get into the holiday spirit.

likes

i am half japanese and keeping with my culture, for our wedding we folded 1,001 origami cranes... a labor of love {a tribute mostly to my late grandmother}.  so, i can only imagine origami for etsy, but these are beautiful.

via Rigmarole

pinecone wreath

we collected a box full of pine cones this summer during our trip out west, so i made this wreath this holiday season.

here is an easy tutorial to follow if you have desires to make your own, via V & Co .

what a hoot... more likes

these all would be such friendly gifts...  who wouldn't smile?

earth-friendly, too - made from recycled sweaters.

these could happily fly in a little ones room...

via friends of socktopus handmade eco friendly by blackbirdfashion

who knew a sweater could be so cute.  made from repurposed materials...

via buttercupbloom

and this flock is just cute as can be...

via hilary cosgrove

i wish i had more than 24 hours in a day

i was just thinking this today...

via WilliamDohman
(made from recycled wood)

likes

gorgeous... said best by the artist, luxurious and elegant.  made with pure organic cotton.

can anyone teach me to knit as beautifully?

via Tickled Pink Knits 

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need a little extra glow this winter?  this is beautiful.  crafted from retired oak wine barrels... what a fantastic design and concept.  oh - and check out their stemware holders.

makes me want to fly over to napa for the weekend.

by Stave Creations

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holiday parties, hosting, gathering... this would be beautiful on any table.

via gleena{shop} on etsy

thanksgiving

we had a lovely thanksgiving holiday with family...

the season is upon us

just a quick note.... i am swamped.  family arrives tomorrow {yipee, we cannot wait}, i have orders to get in the mail {thank you to my lovelies}, and i really want to clean {did i just say that?!}...  i went a little haywire with a few new seasonal designs for my shop.  i was trying to stay up on a little extra stock for holiday shopping, but people keep buying it {thank you, thank you} and i guess that was the point, right?  here is a glimpse.

happy weekend.

ps - i love you etsy.

simple holidays

 i love to craft during the holidays.  here are a few ideas...

all you need is a can {let us try to recycle}, scrap booking paper or other repurposed papers, glue, a ribbon, and a button or other embellishments.

1. measure the paper just slightly taller and longer
   
2. glue the can and the paper
3. smooth the paper to the can and make sure there are no bubbles
4. fold the top of the paper over the top lip of the can for a more finished look
5. glue a ribbon and button around the can to embellish 
6. toss in a handful of treats and give it away

here are a few ornaments we made with the same concept.

1. kraft paper ornaments or an old ugly ornament you would rather cover
2. scrap book paper, cut to fit
3. glued and sanded around the edges to give it a more worn or vintage look
4. then glitter mod podged to seal   

next, i am on to fabric.

what will you create this season?

bowl or basket... a question

this little guy is so cozy... i have new designs i will share along the way, too.

pillows...

♻  wool eco-chic pillow covers -handmade by me... i {heart} them.  ♻

these ultra-cozy, wool pillow covers are made from an upcycled, repurposed vintage 1940's to 1960's military issue swiss blanket and a vintage 1950's italian military issue blanket. 

love the eco-chic, green living, earth friendly nature. straight up cozy.  

happy 11.11

this recipe seriously takes a total of about 11 minutes... enjoy.  

this is the easy, low-fat version... just my style.  

chicken cobbler

1 1/2 cups heart smart bisquick 

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup parmesan cheese 

1 teaspoon onion powder

mix together, kneed a few times, roll to 1/2" thickness and cut with round cutter.

2 cans of homemade-style chicken noodle soup

1/2 cup skim milk

2 tablespoons flour, mixed in with the milk

combine soup, milk and flour.  bring to a boil then divide into large / individually sized ramekin bowls.  top each with the round biscuit.  cook in 450 oven for about 10 minutes, until biscuit is golden brown.  

kids diy

i am really not sure what i think about this centerpiece, but it was easy and the kids did it all themselves.

 we had a few small pumpkins sadly lying about from halloween and the leaves are falling like crazy.

we also have a box full of pine cones from wyoming.

add it all together and we have an autumn container.

what fall projects are keeping little hands busy at your house?  happy monday...

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these marshmallows are so pretty.  can you imagine this little goodie arriving as a holiday gift?  light and fluffy, ready for a cold night, snuggled by the fire.  perfectly priced, too... i don't even have the urge to try this at home.

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i wish i had a wood shop...
instead, i will settle for this beautiful piece from Firewood Furniture.

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i am not a good houseplant keeper, but i might give it another try... this looks so simple and pretty.

this puts me in the mood for a little sushi and miso soup.

both likes by Pigeon Toe Ceramics.