handmade gumdrop ornaments

Each year the girls and I try to do a few crafts together that we can then use year after year. We've got a few years under our belt and it is fun when we pull them out each year and they say, "Remember when we made these?!" It's all about making memories, right? However I don't want one of those memories to be fighting (the girls) and tears (mostly mommy's) when things go south. Our craft window is short so simple and fast is my theme.

I have long admired these Colors of the Rainbow ornaments from Land of Nod and each year I think about buying them for the girls' tree. And every year that thought is followed by "Nah, that's silly. Surely I can find something cheaper." But I never do.

Then this year we were walking thru Michaels to get something random and totally un- Christmas related when I noticed a little spot that I'm sure I pass each and every year. Glass ornaments. Six for $5. And with the ubiquitous 50% off coupon I always have thanks to my Michaels app (yes I've got a Michaels app on my phone) the decision was made. Ladies and gentleman, we've got our craft.

The piles of craft paint I keep in a junk drawer finally paid off. We went home, popped the top of those suckers, squeezed some paint inside and rolled them around.

This is when I would show you pictures of "the process" but A. it went so fast (that's just how easy it is) I didn't have time to man the girls and take pictures and B. it is really so easy there isn't really much to show. It took us longer to pick out which colors to use than to actually make them.

Once all the paint was swirled around inside I let them dry over night upside down (with the open top facing down) so any excess paint could drip out. And in the morning I had a table full of happy little gumdrops to put on the tree. The colors are rich, they are as happy as Santa himself, and they scream "Wahoo!" I for one love an ornament that screams with glee. It worked so great we went back for more and I made a whole pile of red ones like the Serena & Lily numbers for my mom's tree.

Here is the sneak peak of them on the girls tree. Look for the full reveal of the ornaments, and the rest of the house tomorrow as my house is up on The 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes.

Cyndy @ The Creativity Exchange is up today and I can't wait to see her home all decked out. Here is the full schedule of goodies:

12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes Schedule:

December 1 - Jenny @ Evolution of Style

December 2 - Amanda @ Amanda Carol Interiors

December 3 - Amanda @ Dixie Delights

December 4 - Pam @ Simple Details

December 5 - Lisa @ Shine Your Light

December 8 - Kris @ Driven by Decor

December 9 - Jennifer @ Dimples & Tangles

December 10 - Cyndy @ The Creativity Exchange

December 11 - Elizabeth @ Little Black Door

December 12 - Stacey @ Steward of Design

December 13 - Andrea @ Oak Ridge Revival

  AND

December 16 - YOU - Link up your Christmas Home Tour

So have you tried any DIY projects this holiday season? Have you ever been embarrassed to admit the amount of craft paint you have in your junk drawer? Any ideas what I can make for a 1st Grade Holiday Party?

See you tomorrow!!

giveaway winner and a present for everyone

Good morning sunshines. Thanks to all who entered for a chance to win some fab fabric from Williamsburg's newest line. Lucky Lisa M. you've got a cheery email from me in your in box. Congratulations!


And I couldn't leave the rest of you empty handed, what kind of blogger would I be? So be sure to stop by Dixie Delights today and see what Amanda put together for day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes! Did you see Amanda Carol's home yesterday? So beautiful!

12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes Schedule:

December 1 - Jenny @ Evolution of Style

December 2 - Amanda @ Amanda Carol Interiors

December 3 - Amanda @ Dixie Delights

December 4 - Pam @ Simple Details

December 5 - Lisa @ Shine Your Light

December 8 - Kris @ Driven by Decor

December 9 - Jennifer @ Dimples & Tangles

December 10 - Cyndy @ The Creativity Exchange

December 11 - Elizabeth @ Little Black Door

December 12 - Stacey @ Steward of Design

December 13 - Andrea @ Oak Ridge Revival

AND

December 16 - YOU - Link up your Christmas Home Tour

As for me, I'm still pulling out all of my Christmas stuff. Nothing like working right up to the wire. What about you? Is your house all decked out for the holidays? Have you put up any twinkle lights yet? Is it ever possible to get those suckers to not tangle up thru the course of the year?

the 12 days of christmas tour of homes

What?!

I go from no posts to two posts in two days? I am just that exciting. True.

It is rather important to me to take the time to enjoy the season/holiday we are in and not jump ahead to the next one. Poor Thanksgiving gets run right over with the excitement for the big daddy of the year - Christmas. So I exercise as much strength as I can to not pull out anything for Christmas, not even a song on the radio, until Thanksgiving is over. The excitement is even bigger then when we finally unwrap all of those great things that stay in a closet 11 months of the year.

But, I am also one for planning ahead and I love to mark things down on my calendar. So with that in mind, I'm excited to let you know that I'll be joining several other fabulous bloggers this year for The 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes.

Now not only does this mean you have 11 days of holiday eye candy to look forward to, but best of all, on the 12 day will be a great link up party so that you can share your holiday home as well! I can smell the pine and peppermint already.

So mark you calendars and get ready for some holiday cheer!!

12 days of christmas tour of homes

Hope y'all had a great weekend. We are all fighting some phantom flu/cold bug that just won't leave our house and it took all the energy the hubs and I could muster to go out with the girls and get a tree. We managed to get it in the house, but now I need a burst of health to get it decorated. But, I know where I'll go for some holiday inspiration.

Today is the first day of The 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes. My tour won't be until next week (thank god) but today please do head over to Evolution of Style and see what a beautiful job Jenny has done with her home.

Follow along for the next 12 days for great inspiration and eye candy galore!

Have you finished your holiday decorations? Do you get a real tree or fake? Do you want to come over and help me with my tree? Happy Monday.

the best of the 12 days of christmas tour of homes

Thanks everyone for all of your kind words on my holiday home tour! It is always great fun to see how everyone puts their own spin on such a traditional holiday. In case you missed any of the tours, click on any of the images below to get the full show.

And be sure to come back tomorrow to link up and show YOUR holiday tour!

 

   

Only 10 days to go! Cheers!

repeat performance or keeping it fresh

I've been slowly working on getting my house Christmas ready and one of the things that keeps a pep in my step for this yearly ritual is the idea of mixing it up. What will I do with the mantel this year? What type of tree should we get? Lights outside or not?

Sneak peak of my mantel from Instagram

I don't find it stressful, I find it comforting. It is almost as if I'm adding another layer of warmth just as it gets extra frigid outside. It gets me in the spirit and sparks special memories and traditions. (Cue the Hallmark movie cheese ball music)

What about you? Do you put everything in the same place every year? Do you clear the decks and start fresh each year? Do you have any weird traditions or items that you must do/pull out before it feels like the holidays have started?

And don't forget to catch today's feature on the 12 Days of Christmas Tour of Homes. I've listed the first three homes below.

Day 1 - Evolution of Style
Day 2 - Shine Your Light
Day 3 - Dixie Delights

Happy Wednesday!

monday distractions

I don't know about you, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting in gear today. So, I thought I would do what any responsible person would do in this situation - encourage others to procrastinate with me.

If you have some spare time today, or have a long list of things you don't want to tackle, here are three good reads. And really, reading is exercise for your brain and exercise is very important to your health. So this is actually rather important for you in order to lead a long and healthy life.

First up, the new (hand over your heart) domino. Have you read it yet?

My old friend Domino and I met for a date on the porch this weekend and we had a grand time. I love the Style Council layout, which gave a completely fresh view to photos we've all seen before. It goes without saying but I'll type it anyway, how I wish this was still a monthly publication!!

Then we've got the new issue of Ivy and Piper. Always a good read full of delicious pictures.
This amazing house tour is right up my color obsessed alley.

Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - Ivy and Piper

Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - Ivy and Piper

Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - Ivy and Piper

And don't forget House of Fifty. Several great articles, a feature on local (to me) genius Amie Corley and jewelry I am putting on my Christmas list.

House of Fifty

Exercise regime for today complete. You're welcome.

How do you get thru a particularly slow Monday? Any other good magazines this month I shouldn't miss? Does anyone else get a contact high from Brasso?

link party - 12 days of christmas tour of homes

OK, I showed you mine. Now it is time to show me yours. It can be your whole house, or just a room or festive corner. No matter how big or small you go, or what holiday it is for, show me how you dress your house for the holidays!

We want to see!!

getting in the spirit

Holiday Pinecone Trees we made two years ago

It's that time of year. The time to stress over things that are meant to bring joy, not grey hairs. You can count on articles, news segments and how-to-lists on how to deal with holiday stress just as you can count on your Facebook feed to get flooded with Elf on the Shelf pictures each and every season.

All the articles say the same thing, but yet none of them every seem to help. But I'm here to tell you what to do to not just survive, but enjoy...

Last Year's Christmas Tour

Ha! I wish! If I knew that trick Oprah would bring back her show just for me to spread the word. Nope, I have no trick or great idea. Just like everyone else, I take on too much, complain too much and then feel too much hysteria to enjoy this 'magical time of year'.

Each year I try something different with varying degrees of success. This year I'm trying not to worry so much about getting it all done at once, but slowing down and taking my time. We got our tree this weekend and worked on it for a while, then took a break when we all started to drag and watched a movie instead. It'll get done. A pleasant mommy is more important than a decorated tree.

DIY jewel colored votives

Now that's not to say it won't get done, I've just decided that I don't need to work at a breakneck pace. No one is keeping score...right?

So let's be honest. How does this time of year make you feel? Do you make an effort to slow down and enjoy? Do you take it all on and use it as a chance to spread more holiday cheer? Do you just leave town?

merry vacation to all

I had grand plans to have a whole house tour and shovel out one last dose of Christmas cheer. However, the cheer of real life got in the way and I'm having too much fun to sit still long enough to put together a proper tour. So these pictures will have to do.

Merry Christmas and see you in the new year!!

12 days of christmas link party

A huge thanks to the best readers around for your wonderful comments on my house tour. That was the best Christmas present a girl could ask for. And since it is the season for sharing, now is your chance to get in on the fun.

Head over to Evolution of Style and share your holiday home. And if you missed any of the 11 tours, click on the images below for the full monty.

You can never have too many parties at this time of year, so head over to join the fun now.

I'm heading off the grid for the next few days for some quality fun time. So enjoy these next few days, no matter what you celebrate, and know that I will be toasting each and every one of you.

Cheers and Merry Merry to you!