How cool is this ornament???

I posted a link to this ornament the other day. Here is the first one. Don't mind the paperclips. The glue is still wet!! The first one took me all afternoon to do. But I have the system down and I finished probably 75% of it in about an hour and a half. Although it was very time consuming, it only took 5 sheets of 12X12 scrapbooking paper and some white glue. Oh and lots of paper clips. So not a bad handmade. I plans for a few more. Once they are all done I will post more pics!

I've been playing on CRAFT again...

Kusudama - These would make awesome ornaments.

Paper Roses - What a beautiful and environmentally friendly alternative to a bouquet of flowers. And here are some Lilies.

Pin Hole Camera - Got any photographers on your list?

Photo Pencil Covers - Artists or writers??

Paper Globes - Another great ornament idea

Paper Ornament Stars

Cereal Gift Boxes - Recycling at it's best! And here is one out of old greeting cards.

Hair Accessories

Book Hand Bag - for those book lovers!

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Paper Ornaments

Fold Out Flower Box
imaging these done to look like poinsettias and holly leaves....

White Paper Flower Bouquet

Cute gift idea

Photo Cube

3D Paper Stars

Over the Shoulder Holder

This idea came from Craft Magazine. When I saw it I just HAD to make this for my friend Laura.

Chess Set Complete

You may remember from earlier posts about the chess set I made my father for Christmas. Well, here is the board/storage box I made to go with it. You may notice that I added a washer to the base of the king. I discovered that the king and queen were a little top heavy and they got knocked over if you breathed to hard! LOL So I added a 3/4 inch washer to the base of all the pieces except the pawns.



And here is a view of the inside of the box. I just used card stock to create the compartments. It isn't perfect but it keeps the pieces from rolling around and banging into each other.

Pinwheels Galore!

Using the instructions here, I made these.








This one is my favorite.








This is Drake's favorite








and this is Kyllian's favorite.

Rune Stones and Magic Wands

I just finished the rune stones and magic wands I am working on for the boys for Christmas. They will go in red and green bags I found at Ikea. All said and done, using paper, glue and paint I already had on hand, these cost me 8 dollars to make. The wands cost nothing. They are hot glue, paper and paint and I already had all those things on hand. The bags were 4 dollars (2 each) and the clay for the rune stones was 4 dollars and I still have some left over in case I come up with anything else to do with it!

The Nuts and Bolts of Chess

Here is the chess set I made for my father for Christmas.













Here is a close up of the King and Queen,









the Knight, Bishop and Rook,









and the pawns.

I found them!

Pinecone Fire Starters

Pinecone Air Freshener

Baked Clay Baby Picture Frames


If I rescue any other ideas from my black hole of a desk I will add them! :)

Homemade Holidays Get-Together

Saturday we had a Homemade Holidays Get-Together at Mosiac and here are a few of the ideas that were generated.

1. Soups-in-a-jar. Use recycled glass jars decorated with bits of fabric remnants, ribbon or paint. There are a multitude of books available with recipes. Check the library, they are bound to have a few. Or peruse the internet and you will find plenty of websites. Here is one to get you started.

2. Nature Wreathes. I am sorry to say that the instructions for the nature wreathes that was provided has fallen victim to the black hole that is my desk. When I find them I will post the links. In the mean time, take a nature walk with the kids and gather fallen leaves, twigs, moss etc. and use it to decorate a grapevine wreath. At the end of the season you can return what you found to the outdoors and store the grape vine wreath for later use.

3. Popcorn Garland. Pop your corn the old fashioned way with only oil (that is on the stove top, not the microwave) or with an air popper. Avoid microwave popcorn, jiffy pop, and salt. The birds don't need the chemicals. Using dental floss as your thread and using a fine needle (ask me why I know this!), thread the popcorn on to the floss. Some will break and thats okay. Eat them or toss them in a bowl to give to the birds later. When you are finished with your garland hang it in the trees for the birds.

4. Best Homemade Hot Cocoa Ever! I am biased of course, lol. Here is a bulk recipe for hot cocoa. You can package this in jars with alternating layers of mini marshmallows or you can fill holiday tins. Be sure to use recycled tins and jars if you can.

Bulk Hot Cocoa Recipe
2 pounds powdered sugar
25.6 oz. box powdered instant milk
1 pound unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp. fine salt
8 tsp. cornstarch

Here is the tag to put on each gift with a smaller recipe so your recipient can make more if they want.

Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 ½ cups powdered milk

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine well.

Fill a mug half full with mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine.

Seal the rest in an airtight container.

5. Fire Starters. For the men on your list that like to grill, wrap up small bundles of specialty woods in fabric remnants and ribbon. Be sure to include instructions on how to use them if they have never used specialty woods while grilling before.

6. Ceramic Family Tree. Take a ceramic tree and hang family photos from the branches like ornaments. Many craft stores have paint your own ceramics.

7. A few other examples were small handmade books showcasing children's art work, notepads featuring children's art work and notepads with the recipients name printed on them

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Now for some gifts-of-food tips.

1. Try using mini muffin tins for brownies and muffins. Your batter will go much further.

2. If you are baking cookies, add a slice or two of plain white bread to the storage tin or bag. The cookies will pull the moisture from the bread. In a few days your bread will be crouton crispy and you cookies will be freshly baked moist.

3. Try getting together with some friends and baking several batches of your "specialty" and exchanging them with each other. You will get a wonderful variety of holiday baked goods and all you had to do was make you tried and true favorite.

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If you are not on www.wowio.com, WHY? Hello, free e-books! If you are on www.wowio.com check out "Gifts from the Heart" by Virginia Brucker. Although it speaks only of Christmas, there are some great ideas in there for the Winter gift giving season.

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And finally a collection of quotes for your reading pleasure.

The way you celebrate Christmas can be a gift in itself – handing on traditions that will give your child a feeling of continuity, comfort and joy in all the Christmases to come.
~Mr. Rogers

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories…
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.
~George Eliot

A good meal soothes the soul.
~Frederick W. Hackwood

It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.
~Mother Teresa

The only gift is a portion of thyself.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The gift you give to another need not be an expensive thing, as long as you’ve tucked some love inside before you tied the string.
~Anonymous

Every gift, though it be small, is in reality great if given with affection.
~Pindar

I’m sending you these tiny gifts and know you’ll understand, why I’d rather send you something that I made myself by hand.
~ A Victorian Christmas Card

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
~Aesop