{free Christmas photo cards}

My good friend Erica passed this deal on to me, and I'm so glad she did! 50 free photo cards and envelopes were just delivered to my home today, and I love how they turned out. The offer ends November 30th, so check it out today.

CLICK HERE for the link, and enjoy!

{oreo turkeys}

I saw this darling idea on my friend Jewel's blog...how clever! This would be the perfect afternoon activity with your preschoolers. LOVE them!

{easy garland banners}

I have always wanted to make a cute banner for my mantel, but since I don't have a cricut, I really never gave it a try. When I saw THIS at The Girl Creative, I knew I wanted to give it a shot.

I decided to make one that could be up the whole winter (since it lasts long time here, lol), and I LOVE how it turned out!

It really is super simple, and can be done with only a few items.

ITEMS YOU NEED:

-scrapbook paper (double-sided not necessary, but I prefer it...for coordinating, and for layering & matting)
-cardstock for layering, if desired
-your printer :)
-double stick tape
-scissors
-ribbon
-a round object for tracing
-pencil
-paper trimmer

DIRECTIONS:

-I started in MS Word, and used different fonts for each letter of the word I wanted to spell. I sized them between 150 and 200, depending on the font.

-Print your letters on desired paper.

-I decided to mix and match circles and squares. I traced a glass for the smaller circle, and a cornmeal container for the larger circle. The larger squares are 4.25 inches, and the inside squares were 3.5 and 3 inches respectively.



-Using double stick tape, adhere the top layer to the bottom layer.

-Punch holes in the sides of each piece. Tie several pieces of ribbon to connect the pieces together.



-Tie a longer piece of ribbon to the very outside edges of the first and last letters. This is how you will hang it, so make sure it's as long as you need it to be.

-You can use curtain clips to hang them, or just a good old-fashioned knot around a nail...whatever works for your space!

LOVE these...birthdays, welcome, holidays, even over a bed in a child's room...so many ways to use them!

{scrabble advent calendar}

A friend made this darling advent calendar from an old Scrabble board, and I thought it was so clever I just had to share!!
Imagine it framed, sitting on an easel, or hanging on the wall--SO cute!!

{creating christmas blog fest}

I LOVE Christmas. I look forward to each and every part of it, and then I savor every moment, wishing that the time would pass just a little bit slower.
So much of the enjoyment for me comes in the creating and the preparing, and I love making things for my friends and family.

So, who better to get ideas from than YOU, my fellow bloggers!!

The girls at The Girl Creative have something fabulous cooked up for 5 whole days during the month of December. We know that there there is so much talent out there, and we would love you to share your creative goodness with us.

During the week of December 7th through December 11th, we are hosting our first EVER...

Creating Christmas Blog Fest.

Each day there will be a new category for you to link up to. Your posts don't have to be from this year. They can be last year's posts. You will get the chance to share your favorite posts from Christmas Recipes to Holiday Traditions to Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas to Handmade Gifts to Showing Off your Christmas Tree!

So, grab our button, post it on your blog, and share it with your readers. Let's join together for a wonderful week of Creating Christmas!

{flour sack dishtowels}

When I started seeing adorably fabric-enhanced dishtowels, I knew I wanted to try it. I also knew exactly what I would use...flour sack dishtowels. They are one of my favorite things...and who can resist something with that name?
They are inexpensive...around $5 for 4 of them, and I just used leftover ribbon (another favorite thing...jumbo ric rac) and fabric scraps for a darling and cheap project. SO cute!
Now that I've made this one, I can't wait to get started on some holiday ones. Can you just picture red & cream ticking? LOVE it.
These would also make GREAT neighbor, friend, and family gifts, while not breaking the bank.

Since I am not a seamstress in any sense of the word (I can sew a straight line, and that's about it), I don't really know how to give any directions. But, basically I hemmed my material, sewed it onto the towel, then added the ribbon. It took me less than 15 minutes!

{chore charts}

I LOVE this idea for chore charts, seen HERE at The Creative Crate.
My girls are really into being independent right now, and having their own stuff. This would be perfect for them, since they could each have one! GREAT idea!

{creative party alert...cooking party}

My friend Lei is a master party-thrower, amongst her many other talents. She is incredibly creative, and always has the most fun ideas. Her latest success was a cooking party, given for her 5 year old son's birthday. You HAVE to go check it out here!

She features a yummy menu, including salad-on-stick:


Adorable favors...



Clever centerpiece and table setting...




and more!!

{decorative clothespins}

I was inspired while reading my new issue of Country Living, which is exactly what I was hoping would happen. I had been mulling around some Thanksgiving placard ideas, when this came to me...and I love it. With a little Mod Podge and scrapbook paper or fabric, you can transform the humdrum into the adorable! There are so many things you can do with them, and here are just a few.

PLACARD HOLDERS



I can't wait to use these on our Thanksgiving table! I plan to tie ribbon around the napkins, then clip these on.

CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER


I love displaying Christmas cards by hanging them with clothespins on a piece of jute or twine, then stringing it across a mantel or window. This will just spice it up a little--so cute!


DECORATIVE MAGNET


Just add a magnet to the back, and voila! You've got a darling way to jazz up your magnet board, or refrigerator.


ITEMS YOU NEED:

-clothespins
-scrapbook paper (or fabric)
-Mod Podge

DIRECTIONS:

-Trace your clothespin onto the back of your scrapbook paper, then cut out.
-Using a foam brush, brush the Mod Podge onto the clothespin, then place the scrapbook paper over it. Add another layer of Mod Podge on top. Let dry.
-If desired, add a magnet to the back.

That's it! How simple!!

{trash to treasure}

My friend let me in on her secret. There is a fabulous Habitat Restore here in the town where we live, and it is filled with treasures galore. I can't believe I lived here for 7 years without knowing about it! While there for the first time, I found a table that would be perfect in one corner of my family room. It was a typical wood color, with rounded sides, but I knew I could easily fix both of those things. So, I bought it! I am thrilled with the results...definitely worth the $20 I spent.

BEFORE:



This is after I started priming, but you can see where I cut the rounded sides off...so much better already. I have re-finished many pieces of furniture, but this one turned out to be one of my favorites. One thing did keep? The hardware. LOVE it!

{monogrammed boards}

We have been working to finish a large room in our basement for about 7 months now, and hallelujah, it's almost done. We still have to paint trim, put up baseboards, and finish the ceiling, but of course I have already started decorating. There is one larger wall that I needed to fill up, and my super talented friend gave me a great idea. She used actual wooden frames purchased from a craft store for hers, but I decided to change mine up a little bit, and make them out of MDF. That's one of the greatest things about crafting...you can take a great idea and make it your own.
I love how it turned out, and it was just the right size for the space. Stay tuned for what will go underneath them...

ITEMS YOU NEED:

-MDF, cut into desired size. Most large hardware/home improvement stores should do this for you. I made mine 18 inches square, because I wanted a large 3 inch border.
-spray paint
-sandpaper
-12x12 piece of scrapbook paper, per board
-double stick tape
-wooden letters
-hot glue gun

DIRECTIONS:

1. Paint boards. Let dry, then sand edges as desired. Wipe dust off, and let dry.


2. Apply double stick tape to wrong side of scrapbook paper, and place directly in the center of your board. You could also easily use Mod Podge for this project--I decided not to for a couple of reasons, but mostly because the tape allows me to remove the paper easily from the board if I ever want to change the paper out. (For some crazy reason I like to change things around occasionally!)



3. Using the hot glue gun, apply hot glue to the back of the letter, then place squarely on the paper. Be VERY sure you have it where you want it before you put it down--you will not be able to remove it. Let dry completely.




OTHER IDEAS:

You can make these any size you would like to, and to fit any space. Who doesn't love a monogram? Think how adorable they would be over a child's bed, or even on an easel in a family room or living room. Hmmmm. I might have to do that.

-sweetpea

{and the winners are...}

Dawn who said, "These will make great Christmas presents - thanks for the great idea!" and Kim who said, "This is adorable. Your blog is the best!!"

Congratulations ladies! Please email me your address and the letter you want me to personalize with at snipsnailsandme{at}gmail{dot}com. You can also include your preference for color if you would like. (red or brown)

(results generated by random.org)

{Purse Set - Giveaway!}

This is a purse set that I am making for my friends as a Christmas gift. It is super fun and super easy. It includes a two-year calendar/planner, a personalized notebook, and a fun brag book made with badge holders which are the perfect size for wallet-size photos. Since it is hooked with a ring, you can buy more badge holders if you need more room for pictures.

The instructions are simple. Just choose the paper that you want to use for embellishing, and trace and cut to size. Use a good adhesive to stick it all on, and you are good to go. I added ribbon book marks to the calendar and the notebook. If you do this, just make sure you glue the ribbon on before you put the paper on.

I have a real problem over-buying things like calendars, notebooks, papers...lets face it, I have a problem over-buying everything. Today, you benefit from my office supply hoarding problem. I have made 2 extra purse sets, and I am having a giveaway! To enter, post a comment on this blog entry by Sunday (11/1). I will draw the winner on Monday morning and post the 2 lucky winners here (I will personalize with the letter of your choice).

Kierste - surprise :)! Yours will be in the mail as soon as you tell me if you would like the brown or red set.

What you will need: A composition book, a pocket calendar with a clear plastic cover (Michaels - dollar bin), a pack of Badge Holders (office supply store or walmart), scrapbook paper and embellishments.

before

{EASY chalkboard frames}

I had the ugliest frame in history, sitting up in my craft room. It had moved with us more times than I can count, and it was finally time to change it into something I loved. I also still had my trusty can of chalkboard spray paint, and wondered why I couldn't just spray the glass with the spray paint. So, I tried it, and what do you know? It turned out beautifully. This really might be the simplest (and cheapest!) way of all to create an adorable chalkboard--in any size you want!



ITEMS YOU NEED:

-frame, with glass intact
-chalkboard spray paint
-spray paint, color of choice (for frame)

DIRECTIONS:

-Lay out a large piece of cardboard. Place frame and glass on it, several feet apart.

-Spray frame desired color, let dry.

-Following directions on can (I used Rustoleum), spray entire sheet of glass. You don't want to tape it off, there isn't enough of a margin that won't show on he front side when you're finished. Let dry.


-That's it, really!!! Just insert your glass back in the frame, and you're ready to go!

You can use any size of frame for this project---big or small. So, start searching your basements, attics, and thrift stores!

Other ideas for framed chalkboards:

-hang on your pantry door with ribbon--menus, shopping lists, messages to your kids...
-personal chalkboards for your kids...great for traveling, or to keep in the car
-hung above a guest bed...you can write messages to your guests
-stick them in your church bag...perfect for keeping small ones quiet

{framed burlap quotes}

I've been inspired. Burlap has always intrigued me, and after seeing several darling projects floating around, I came up with this idea yesterday. As soon as my cute husband got home, I was off to JoAnn's for supplies. I stayed up way too late last night finishing these, but I'm so glad I did! And can I say, so simple??!! I love that!
Here's what I did:

ITEMS YOU NEED:

-burlap

-frame of choice, with glass

-craft paint

-foam stamps

DIRECTIONS;

-Remove backing from frame. Use it as a template to trace the amount of burlap you need for that size of frame. Cut it out. Make any adjustments necessary, after placing it in frame to confirm it is the proper size.

-Fray edges of burlap slightly, by pulling out a couple of strands on each of the four sides.

-Place burlap on wax paper, or other surface that can get paint on it. Carefully mark with a pencil where you want your saying to go.

-Using your finger as a brush, dip it in the paint and carefully add paint to your foam stamp. You do not want an excess of paint, or it will smudge easily.

-Stamp desired word. Let dry.

-Place in frame, and replace backing.

-Ta-da!!

There are so many options!! I made ones that say "spooky", "fall", "joy", "family", and our last name. You could do your child's name for their room, a teacher's name, "r+k" (substitute your own letters) would be adorable in a master bedroom, and of course any holiday words you can think of.
You could also use any other type of fabric--I'm thinking toile would be fun, or even holiday fabrics.

I hope you like it! This is a fast, easy, and adorable way to add some extra holiday decorations into your collection.