Behind Again!

I know, I know. I've promised a couple of tutorials and have yet to deliver. I actually was all set up to do one the other night. I started to take pics with my camera...no flash. What the heck? Maybe it's not charged enough. Nope, that's not it. Maybe the card's too full. Nope, not it either. I have no idea what went wrong with it, but with no flash, my pics are turning out ridiculously awful. They're so bad I don't even want to show you. Hubby ordered a new camera online today (Hurray for Cyber Monday!). It will be arriving sometime between December 3rd -9th. (Hopefully sooner rather than later!) In the meantime, I'm going to keep trying to take pics with the old one (or maybe even *gasp* my cell phone.) If I can get any that look half way decent, I will be making tutorials like mad! I have a couple of fun ones lined up that I can't wait to show you. On the plus side, I started decorating the house for Christmas last night. I will be posting pics of the decorations, despite the fact that they will probably be bad.

Happy Crafting!

A Productive Weekend

I feel like I got loads of stuff accomplished this weekend. I cleaned a large portion of my house. I mean really cleaned, as in scrubbed several rooms top to bottom. It made me feel pretty good. It probably helped that we were actually home this weekend as opposed to constantly running like we always seem to be. I managed to even sneak in a few craft projects. Some of which are on my Christmas present list!

I made three sets of tile coasters:

These were so easy it's not even funny! I'll do up a mini tutorial for you this week. I have to run out and buy more tiles now. I must make a zillion of these things to give away for everything! I have to say, I like the look of the stone tiles the best. So, I can mark tile coasters off my list!

I also had time to make this cute Santa sign:

Yea! I am so in the mood for Christmas it's not even funny! My goal is to have the entire house cleaned by the end of the week so I can start sorting through Christmas decorations to put up the second Thanksgiving is over! (Plus I have to figure out how to rearrange my living room in order to make the Christmas tree fit.)

Have you started on any Christmas crafts and/or presents yet? What are they?

Happy Crafting!

My Christmas Present List Part II

On Tuesday I posted who I had to find gifts for. Today I'm posting a list of what I'm planning on making for gifts. I'm not going to post who's getting what in the interest of saving any family who might glance at this the surprise. I plan on making:

1. Tile coasters like these (2 sets, maybe 3).


2. 4 crocheted scarves


3. Gingerbread men (and women) cookies


4. Gingerbread house (If I have time! These last two have been tradition for a few years for me, the kiddos like looking at it, and if they're the last stop on the visiting train, to eat it!)


5. Spoon Handle Necklace (specifically requested)


6. Felted Soap


7. Homemade body scrubs (2-3)


8. Personalized ornaments for each family (I have done this for Dave's side of the family every year for a few years now.)

That's all I can think of so far. I'm sure I'll come up with more ideas as we get closer to the holidays! Do you have any plans for homemade gifts this year? I would love to hear your ideas, don't be afraid to share!

Happy Crafting!

*Edit: I am marking things off as I accomplish them in red and green font. *

My Christmas Present List

I don't think my family reads this blog much, or at least I hope they don't, 'cause this year I'm posting my list and showing off the gifts I made to fit the list. Here's the people I need gifts for:

1. Hubby
2. Sister-in-Law
3. Soon to be Sister-in-Law
4. Generic gift for Mom's side of fam
5. Generic gift for Dad's side of fam
6. Mom
7. Dad
8. 4 Nieces
9. Nephew
10. Goddaughter
11. Brother
12. 2 Grandmas
13. 2 Grandpas

Those are the major ones anyway. I also plan on sending a box of goodies to a couple of friends. That is quite a list! I am not necessarily making gifts for all of them. The nieces, nephew and goddaughter will probably get toys from the store 'cause they're picky like that. Although I did think about crocheting each girl a scarf to go with their toy. The generic gifts are always fun to do. Both my mom and dad's side of the families do the everyone puts a gift into the pile and then we all get to play a game to see who gets what. It always results in a loud, crazy, fun adventure with people stealing presents left and right! I would highly suggest it for anyone with a big extended family. I actually like this Christmas better than the gift exchanges we used to do. Super fun!

Tomorrow I'll post my "planned" gifts for everyone (at least everyone I know what I'm making them!). I'm planning on posting periodic updates with what I have done and what I have yet to do. I'll even show the gifts and hopefully, work up some tutorials along the way.

Happy Crafting!

*Image from The Graphics Fairy

Giveaway Winner!

Oops! I realized I hadn't posted the winner of the giveaway yet! The winner is: commenter number 2: Amanda who said... "I love the Snowy Winter River Scene picture. My favorite holiday is Christmas." I have all ready emailed Amanda to let her know how to claim her prize. Thanks to all who entered!

I hope to be making a tutorial that will get posted sometime this weekend.

Happy Crafting!

Quick, Easy Tutorials for Christmas Gifts

I am slowly starting to go toward a handmade Christmas. (Of course the nieces and nephew don't count toward this, mostly because my hubby spoils them and gives them whatever commercial item they want.) ;) I thought I'd share with everyone a list of some quick, easy tutorials that I've found that make great Christmas gifts.

1. Tile Coasters


2. Cinnamon Bird Ornaments


3. Make your own reed diffuser


4. Felted Soap


5. Button Ornament/Package topper


6. Body Scrubs

I hope these tutorials help you get a head start on your handmade Christmas gifts this year!

Happy Crafting!

*Image from The Graphics Fairy

Recent Accomplishments

No, I didn't win any prestigious awards or an Oscar or anything. But I do feel like I have finally been able to accomplish some things at home that make me happy. For instance, the messy craft porch is almost (not quite done yet!) finally all organized and put away. I have one or two small areas to work on before I rearrange the layout of the room. Hurray! Because my craft supplies have been more organized, I've been able to get a couple of small projects done. Amazing! What have I been working on? The above pic is a preview. I'm writing a tutorial for it that I'll hopefully get done by the end of the week. Now I just need to clean the dreaded office room (dun, dun, dun!) and my house will actually start looking sort of clean.

Don't forget! You have until Today at 5pm to enter the giveaway!

Happy Crafting!