Christmas Keepsake Ornament~

Our Christmas tree is filled with ornaments that mean something to us, as well as ones that are just plain pretty. One of Sean's Christmas gifts this year was an ornament I made to remember our first Christmas in this home. I got the inspiration from one that I saw on Pinterest.
So I took our front door key and had one cut in brass. Then I simply added some ribbon, one tag that said "Our Home" and the year on the back. Another tag to say the address of our home.
This a tradition that I will keep up, no matter how many times we may move in our lives. Then every year when decorating the tree, we will remember where we have been.

Color Shift

I did a layout today that is a very similar design to the Christmas layout I created on the weekend. Challenge yourself and when you're not feeling creative, take a layout you have done before and just do a color shift! Still looks great, but gives a very different look.

I Little Time to Crop~

This past weekend I had a little extra time to go to crop at the Michaels store here in Sydney. Here are 3 of the layouts that I created while I was there.

I don't often make layouts without photos, but I do have a photo in mind for this one. It just has not been printed. Paper is by My Mind's Eye.

Papers and sticker die cuts by Echo Park

Purple pattern by Little Yellow Bicycle

Momma's Chocolate Chip Cookies

So....for anyone out there that hasn't found their PERFECT Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, here it is! They are always a hit!

Recipe:

1 Cup Margarine

1 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup White Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

3 Cups Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

3/4 to 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Cream together your sugars, softened margarine, eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda.

Gradually mix the two together, then add the chocolate chips. Sometimes I do a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter chips....or white chocolate....or a few Skor bits.

Heat oven to 375.

Bake for 6-7 minutes. You want then slightly golden at the edges. Do not over cook!

A couple of TIPS:

1. I always use Chip It Chocolate chips. Don't skimp on that :)

2. I always use parchment paper when baking cookies.

Hope you enjoy!!!

52 Reasons I Love You~

Here is a crafty little project that you may like to do for that special someone in your life for Valentine's Day. It's created using a deck of cards!

You'll want to use a good quality deck of cards. They tend to be thicker. I actually only used half the deck and had more than one reason on each page. Mine also were red on the back side, which went with my theme. All things you may want to keep in mind when picking your cards.

I used one metal ring in the top left hand corner, and tied a bunch of different ribbons.

I also left some of the original card details showing in order to bring the "52" theme together.

Date Night Ideas

As some of you may already know. Sean and I are getting married this coming August. So that means I have a whole other reason to get crafty!! So here is the first of many Wedding Themed posts.

This is something that will be at each table at our reception. A mini composition book that I covered with scrapbook papers, added some ribbon and a flower. I may still add a little more :)
As you can see from the second photo, it's a notebook for our guests to share their best Date Night Ideas. Almost like a guest book.

Scrapbook Paper by Deja Views

Letter Stamps- Magnetic Letter Stamps by Making Memories

Recipe Journal

If you are anything like me I love to try new recipes. But when I find a recipe online, or a friend emails one to me. I can never seem to find something other than small random pieces of paper to write them down on. Not any more! Now I jot down recipes into my Recipe Journal. Then, only when I have tested the recipe can it make it onto a cute recipe card!

I took regular note books and simply cover them with scrapbook paper. Then I added some ribbon to the binding. The mini aprons are made from chipboard and covered with paper. Add a little ribbon to the top and VOILA! A cute little journal to have handy to the computer!

Letters, Letters and More Letters!

Just a couple more!

The Man Bouquet!

What to you get for the guy that seems to have everything? This year I decided to make something for two of my best guy friends. I knew what they liked to do. I also knew that they both had most everything they would need to do those things. So here it is.....the man bouquet. Filled with little goodies to suit each guy!

I started with the pre made gift boxes and found styrofoam balls that fit in the bottom. Hot glued them in. Them I attached most of the goodies to wooden skewers using duct tape.

The golf tees I just stuck into smaller styrofoam balls to make them look a little like flowers.

Each sprig is then stuck into the base. The gift boxes I used were tall so I could fit some other goodies in as well. Add a little ribbon to the bottom and VOILA!

JOY

The 9" letter is not JUST for children's rooms. Try using them for main living space home decor. This is a photo of my JOY letters for a part of my Christmas decor.

Some other places you could use 9" letters...

In the kitchen or dining room- EAT

In your living room- FAMILY

In your living room or bedroom- LOVE, AMORE

Happy 2012!!

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Holiday Season! It has been some time since I made a blog post. Sorry about that! But I found that all of December I spent creating Christmas gifts, so I wasn't able to post the photos before people opened the gifts!
So in the next few days I will be making a few posts of gifts given this year.

I have done large letters like these a few times as gifts for friends as they have children. These were for our beautiful niece EMMA, obviously.

The letters are 9" wooden letters purchased at Michaels and decorated with scrapbook paper and other embellishments.