Advent Calendar

This is what I've been working on an advent calender
 for our grandson.   I created different tags for each
package and then downloaded the numbers HERE
to make it more cohesive.

There are a million and one ways to make an advent
calendar from complicated to easy!  Check out my
pinterest board for more advent ideas HERE

Christmas Tags

Finished up a couple more Christmas shipping tags.

(Click HERE to view my other tags)

I used regular shipping tags and embossed a

snowflakes background onto them with my 

Sizzix BigShot.  I then painted them with

white gesso and once that was dry I spritzed

them with Purple Haze and Azurite Blue

 Color Mists.

All That Glitters Christmas Craft Challenge Giveaway

Check out my projects over at 

May Arts Ribbon and  leave

a comment for a chance to 

win some ribbon of your own!

May Arts Ribbon

All that Glitter's Challenge

Bottle Brush Forest

I've been having fun bleaching and 

coloring more bottle brush trees

using Outside The Margin's

Color Mists

See my glitzy Crystal 

Lacquer Tree tutorial HERE

You might remember the 

vintage tart tins I picked up at a 

garage sale awhile back 

(read post HERE)

I drilled holes in the center of the tins

and removed the tree bases that they

were originally on and mounted 

them onto the tins.

Spoonful of Christmas

Spoonful of Christmas

can be purchased on  Etsy

I told you I'm addicted to bleaching and coloring
these sisal Christmas trees!! Here's my newest Artist Chubby 

Block I created. I used a tea cup ornament

 (from www.outsidethemargins.com) then added 

faux snow and of course another bedazzled tree!

Click HERE to view my 

Glitzy Tree Tutorial

Pin It

For Unique Whimsical 

Gifts Visit

Take me to the

Shopping!

Freebie Images for Your Use

Looking for some freebie images to download 

and use in your art or craft projects check out

  www.OutsideTheMargins.com's freebie 

images and ephemera.

HERE and HERE

Pin It

For Unique Whimsical 

Gifts Visit

Take me to the

Shopping!

Sparkling Berry Necklace

 

Sparkling Berry

Necklace

~Sometimes simple
uncomplicated projects are the best~

Supplies Used

Clear 3D Crystal Lacquer  White Brass Jewelry Blank (9/16 x 3/4 x 1/16') "Viva Las Vegastamps!" (Slient Night Sheet Music Stamp, Star Stamp) Jolee's Holly Glittered & Rhinestone Stickers White Tags ("Viva Las Vegastamps!")

Candy Box ("Viva Las Vegastamps!")Extra Fine Glitter Dust Chain with Jump Ring Gold Leafing Paint Card Stock 2 Way Sticky Tape Stazon Ink (Red)

Step 1: Start with a Sakura Hobby  Craft jewelry blank, then cut one of the holly sticker's leaves off  so it will fit inside the blank.	Step 2:  Cover and fill the blank with 3D clear Crystal Lacquer and pop any bubbles you may have with a toothpick.
Step 3: VERY Lightly sprinkle extra fine iridescent glitter dust over the wet lacquer and allow to dry in a level dust free area.	Step 4:  Once the first layer is dry add another layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer filling in any areas that may need it and allow to dry.
TAG & Gift Box Steps:	Step 1:  Using red stazon ink load your stamp with ink and stamp your tag.
Step 2:  Using gold leafing paint stamp the star stamp  onto the candy box and allow to dry and repeat on the backside of the box as well.	Here is an example of both the tag and the box.
Step 3: Cut a  1/4" cut on either side of the tag.	Step 4: Once your sparkling necklace blank is dry add a jump ring and chain to your necklace and slip the chain between each slit you cut.  Tape the backside of the tap to hold the reminder of the chain in place using 2 way sticky tape.
Step 4:  Place the candy box on card stock and trace around the box and cut it out inside the lines you traced.	Step 5: Apply your tag with the sticky tape to the card stock and slide it into the  candy box. You know have a fun gift for a friend ready to go!

Chocolate Biscotti Printable Recipe Cards

I'm still busy doing my holiday baking and made
more biscotti yesterday. They are so delish!
As a gift to you I've created two 4x6 size recipe cards
for you to print and use.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti

Recipe Card side 1

Click on these 2 recipe cards to enlarge, save, and

print out. Then glue them back to back

or laminate them.

Recipe Card Side 2

Click HERE for my Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe

Happy Holidays!

Visit my Zazzle Store &
view my newest additions!

Gifts from the Heart

I thought I'd share some gifts hubby made for Christmas...

Here's a copper necklace that hubby totally surprised me with! I am so thrilled to have something he's made! I saw him making part of it, but though it was part of the train he was making for one of our sons and had no clue it was a part of a necklace for me!

Here you can see that the copper cover swings open to reveal a polished piece of stainless steel. He had originally planned to stamp with tiny metal stamps Beautiful at the base of the mirror but even with the tiny stamps he had it was too big to fit the word.

Here's a money train he made for one of our sons who collects trains....each of the nickles have been threaded and will roll along the train track.

<==check the archives to view previous posts

A few more Christmas Cards

Here's a couple more Christmas cards for your viewing pleasure, one quickie and one that wasn't so quick. I had to muse over this one a bit before I put the final touches on it.

Click HERE to view all Christmas Cards and Tags.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays Blog Buddies!

Here's a new digi piece I created. I used one of my past freebie images.

We're off to pick up the middle son from College not that its all that far, but he's been calling since last night eager to get home....my response was "Patience grasshopper!" LOL

<==check the archives to view previous posts

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

Cross Stitch at About.com Use the free back stitch motifs for quick ornaments or stitch several together for a larger project.

Layers Upon Layers There are lots of projects that can be done in time for the holidays, even at this late date!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery The fastest festive reindeer necklace ever! Perfect for holiday party crafting.

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares another simply stunning ornament idea you can whip up in a flash!

About Family Crafts Using these free printables, you can make your own cards, party invitations, favors bags, place cards, napkin rings, gift tags, and much more to help celebrate Christmas!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world The 15 days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways continues at Craftside. Just answer questions and you are entered to win free books! And while you're there check out a tiny embroidered necklace, a decoupage reindeer necklace, a fun centerpiece, a floral barrette tutorial, a winter memory photo ornament project and a couple of invitation ideas!

Crafty Princess Diaries Holiday Guerrilla Marketing Tip for Crafty Princesses - Don't forget that so important and handy business card this holiday season.

<==check the archives to view previous posts

Cookies and Freebie Images what more can you ask for!

I manage to get a double batch of my Christmas cut-out cookies made and frosted (click HERE to see recipe). That's about as artsy as I've had time for. I use a simple frosting taught to me by my mom. It's just powdered sugar, vanilla (or flavored extract) and a tablespoon or two of warm water. There are no measurements its just adding warm water and mixing with the powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want. I like mine to be thin enough that it self levels yet not too runny! I mix up a large bowl of white and then spoon some of it into smaller bowls and add food coloring to the smaller bowls. To me its the least messy of cookie frostings (except when frosting LOL) it doesn't stay gooey and hardens enough that you can stack them.

Here's the first couple of batches, mmmm!

Yes, I admit it I'm a messy baker!

Mmmmm! Good enough to eat!

Now that you've had a few cookies, how about some freebie images for you to go make some art with!

CLICK HERE to download and save.

These are a few of my favorite things...

These are a few of my favorite things at Christmas...

Wood Carved Santa my son carved and painted for me when he was 10 or 11 (he's now 16). He also made me a couple of smaller wood Santas as well and they are some of my favorite decorations at Christmas time.

My sun ornament is one of my most treasured ornaments. I received it the same Christmas my mother passed away and it always reminds me of the last time I spent with her.

The Tools of Christmas!

Another favorite is my drawer full of cookie cutters! I love making cut out sugar cookies for the holidays. Its a tradition I've had with my kids since they were toddlers. I have the best recipe for sugar cookies, one you can mix and make right away no waiting to refrigerate them.

No Refrigerate Sugar Cookies

• 1 Cup of Butter (Room Temp)
• 1 Cup of Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 1 Tsp of Orange Extract
• 1 Tsp of Baking Powder
• 3 Cups of Flour

Cream to together the first 5 ingredients. Mix the Baking powder with the Flour thoughly. Slowly add the flour to the creamed butter and sugar mixture (I use an electric hand mixer). Squeeze together a ball of dough, sprinkle out some flour on a smooth surface and roll out the dough and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 325 to 350 for about 8 min's.

My family loves these cookies and I usually end up making a double batch.

I was going to make a batch today but as luck would have it I was out of eggs so I'm hoping to make some tomorrow.

ENJOY!

PS: You can click HERE to view my baked and frosted cookie post.