THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 1

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE TO ALL!

I have been wanted to try out one of these silver trays I have seen all over the web and finally found the perfect tray!



This is a small oval silver plated tray that I found in a thrift store. The decorative papers are all from the Tinsel & Twig line from the Girl's Paperie. I have embellished with a large red glittered MERRY, red buttons, white pearls and green glittered leaves. I finished the tray off with a red hand dyed satin bow and some silver tinsel trim.

I hope you have enjoyed my count down to Christmas projects as much as I have enjoyed sharing them! I wish you and your the most joyous of Holiday Seasons - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 2

OK, WE ARE DOWN TO THE WIRE AT MY HOUSE.

PRESENTS WRAPPED - CHECK!

COOKIES BAKED - CHECK!

CRAFTS FINISHED - "OOPS" - NOT YET, BUT DON'T WORRY BECAUSE TODAY I HAVE TWO CLEVER ORNAMENTS - AND YOUR HUSBAND CAN PICK UP THE SUPPLIES AT THE HARDWARE STORE FOR YOU!





Hinges and Krylon Spray Saint make this one of the easiest ornament ideas EVER! Base coat the Snowman hinges with #8800 White Dual Paint + Primer and let dry. Base coat the Santa hinges with #8804 Burgundy Dual Paint + Primer and let dry.

Use Americana Paints from DecoArt to finish the features and a Krylon Leafing Pen in #9901 18 KT. Gold to accent the details. Seal with Krylon Matte Finish in #1311 Clear to protect your painted surface.

Loop a satin ribbon through the top hole of the hinge and hang on your tree!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 3

LAST MINUTE GIFT TOPPER IDEA!



I love to create personal gifts and treats for all of my family and friends. I had purchased these cute little mittens some time ago at a craft store because they were CUTE! I then turned them into Christmas pins to wear during the Holidays and have attached them to the ribbons on my gift packages this year!

The "head" is a wooden ice cream spoon that has been painted and topped with a fabric hat tied with a piece of embroidery floss. Santa has a fabric heart, button and satin bow on his mitten "body" and the Snowman has a fabric scarf and buttons on his mitten "body". The final step is to glue on a pin back.

The mittens can be found here at Wimpole Street Creations on the web.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 4

ANOTHER VINTAGE INSPIRED ORNAMENT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY!



This snowflake ornament started out as a simple wooden shape from the craft store. I covered it with vintage Dictionary paper and punched a 1" scalloped circle from the same paper and inked all of the edges with grey ink. I stamped "LET IT SNOW" in grey ink and attached it to the snowflake with several layers of dimensional foam adhesive squares. I glued on a silver tinsel pipe cleaner stem, small Mother of Pearl buttons and silver beads - to add sparkle. I then took my Crop-a-Dile and punched holes around the edges to create additional interest. I stamped 2011 on the back of the snowflake in grey ink.

I have made a whole bunch of these this year and will give them to family and friends this Holiday Season!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 5

A RECYCLED CHIPBOARD COASTER BECOMES AN ORNAMENT!



I covered a 2" wide coaster with vintage music and inked the edges with dark brown ink. I then stamped a circular row of light green holly leaves and dark green holly leaves. Using a cute typewriter font stamp set, I stamped "holly daze" in the center with dark brown ink and highlighted it with glitter glue. I finished the ornament with red rhinestones, a red satin ribbon bow and a hanger - now it happily lives on my Christmas tree!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 6

Cute, quick and easy - this is what I am all about this Holiday Season!

My project for today is a Super Glam Snowman ornament that is super easy to make!



I started out with three 2" Styrofoam Balls, painted them with Aleene's Original Tacky Glue and rolled them in a paper plate full of white glitter. Shake them off and let them dry, then just fold the paper plate in half and pour your glitter back into it's container! Cut a 24" length of white satin ribbon and tape the folded end to the blunt end of a wooden skewer. Thread on a bead or button (any kind because it won't show) and knot the loose ends of the ribbon. "Thread" the Styrofoam balls on to the ribbon, so they are touching, thread another bead or button on the top and secure with a dot of glue.

Using Inksentials Wonder Tape by Ranger in a 8" by 10" sheet, cut out six coal eye, three carrot nose and twelve coal mouth shapes. Peel one side from the three carrot nose shapes and push firmly into a paper plate of chunky orange glitter. Peel second side from carrot noses and place one on each Styrofoam ball. Peel one side from the six coal eye and twelve coal mouth pieces, push into a paper plate of black chunky glitter. Peel second side from coal eyes and place two coal eyes on each Styrofoam ball. Peel second side from coal mouth pieces and place four on each Styrofoam Ball.

Using Decorative Chalks or left over blush, give each snowman two rosy cheeks. Cut two 6" and two 4" white feather trim pieces. Glue two 4" pieces around the buttons at the top and bottom of the snowmen. Glue two 6" pieces between the snowmen.

Hang on tree for a Glam Holiday!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 7

Make your very own ELF ON A SHELF with an upcycled clay pot, wooden ball, some paint and scraps of fabric!



Just a quick share today - because I have to get the rest of the Holiday shopping completed then start on the Holiday baking!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 8

Just a super quick ornament idea to share today! These are easy to do with the kiddos, you just have to help them with the hot glue!

Hope you enjoy - they are almost yummy enought to eat!!



Flaten the bottom of a satin covered ornament by pushing down and twisting on your work surface. Hot glue the bottom and then edge in a paper cupcake liner. Ice the cupcake with 3D Fabric Paint like the Tulip brand from ilove to create. Smooth with a palette knife or plastic knife. Sprinkle with glitter, shake off excess and set aside to dry. Drying may take up to 24 hours based upon how thick a layer of "icing" you use.

Once dry, tie a section of gold cord or ribbon for the hanger and hot glue two metallic pom poms to cover plastic hanger loop.

Hang on the tree and give as gifts. The bottom of the cupcake makes the perfect spot for your child's name and the date!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 9

Anyone hungry for some Christmas Cookies? These are the kind that you hang on the tree, not eat becasue they are made from Craft Foam and 3D Fabric Paint!

They do look good enough to eat, though!



Cut shapes from tan craft foam - I prefer the Foamies brand from Darice - or use a cookie cutter to trace your pattern. I started with a heart. Ink the edges of the "cookie" with Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink by ClearSnap to give that fresh baked look. Fill in the "icing" with Tulip 3D Fashion Paint in Slick Deep Red, outline and dot in Metallic White, then draw a squiggle circle in Slick Pistachio Green. To finish, place a Silver Metallic bead in the center to resemble a confectionary dragee and sprinkle with clear glitter. Once dry, glue a gold or silver cord to the back for hanging!



The candy cane is just as easy. Cut your candy cane cane shapre from the tan craft foam and ink the edges. Starting with Slick Deep Red, outline the stripes on the candy cane and fill in. Next outline and fill in the white stripes with Metallic White. Draw a line of Slick Pistachio Green in the center of each white stripe and place the silver metallic beads on the red stripes. Sprinkle with clear glitter. Once dry, glue a gold or silver cord to the back and hang on the tree.



These cookies make great gift tags as well - just write your TO and FROM on the back!

Delicious decorations and easy to bake, I mean create, too!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 10

Here we are - 10 days before Christmas - YIKES! No worries, though, because today I have a super easy project to share!



SNOWMAN TV - an altered Altoids tin makes the perfect Christmas Tree ornament AND Gift Card holder!

Create one for each member of your family featuring Frosty and all of his friends!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 11

ONLY 11 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND COUNTING! BUT DON'T WORRY, THERE IS STILL TIME TO CRAFT SOME GREAT PRESENTS & DECORATIONS!



Today I am sharing a Christmas Tree and Ornament made from empty ribbon spools and paper scraps - I never throw anything away!

Stack the spools in largest to smallest order, cover with decorative papers and embellish with buttons, stickers, rhinestones, glitter and pearls! Glue all of the spools together. Tie with red and green ribbon, then I made a paper rosette for the topper. I used a very graphic paper line from Making Memories from last year, but this project would look lovely with some of the vintage papers that are out this year.

Follow the same steps for the Ornament, but thread the ribbon through the center of the spools (once glued) string on a crystal and thread the ribbon back up to the top. Then tie in a bow and hang on the tree!

A quick and easy project that is great for clearing out your stash!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 12

QUICK AND EASY CRAFTS TO COMPLETE IN THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!



I have had this cute little basket laying around for a while, just waiting for a project, but I have seen similar baskets in the $1.00 section at Michael's.

I based coated the lid with Titanium White, the handle with Lamp Black and the Band in Hauser Dark Green. Using a detail brush, I painted the nose with Jack-O-Lantern Orange, the snowflake with Winter Blue, the coal eyes and mouth with Lamp Black. The plaid "scarf" was created with the same detail brush and stripes of Hauser Light Green, Country Red and Titanium White. I watered down some Lamp Black and painted the detail on the carrot nose. I always use Americana Acrylic Paints by DecoArt because they have the best coverage! The cheeks were tinted with Pebbles Decorative Chalks.

Using my Marvy Clever Lever Extra Jumbo Circle Punch (yellow) I punched out two 1 1/2" circles from red cardstock, glued the red feather trim to the cardstock with Aleens Tacky Glue by i love to create and then the cardstock to either side of the handle to create the snowman's "ear muffs". Glue 2 black buttons on the front of the basket. Last step is to glitter the snowflake with Ranger Stickles in Diamond.

Fill your snowman basket with a candy treat or gift card - Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

PANTONE'S 2012 COLOR OF THE YEAR!

Today is the day!

Pantone's pick for "Color of the Year"!

Drumroll please - the color of the year for 2012 is....



TANGERINE TANGO


According to the official announcement, the deep red-orange color is intended to give us all a big energy boost; a refresh and a recharge.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Institute tells us more about the choice for 2012:

"Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy."

Color Combo #1: Red-Orange and Gray-Brown

A highly-usable color for interiors. It's very easy to incorporate into a room as an accent, although the full wall treatment (as shown above) is absolutely an option for those willing to take the plunge, as it can be easier to coordinate with than reds with a cooler, blue tone.

Color Combo #2: Red-Orange and Cream Bathroom
Red-Oranges work easily with white and warm neutrals, such as creams and gray-browns and can look fantastic with other strong colors - it's great in combination with pale blue, other "true" oranges (think pumpkin) and also army green.

What do you think of the choice?

Are you ready to try the "tangerine tango"?

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN DECEMBER

CHILLY THE SOCK MONKEY SNOWMAN!



The Designer Crafts Connection was challenged with a Sock Monkey Blog Hop this month and I love to see the creativity that this group shares! AMAZING!

There are basic instructions for making a sock monkey that include the cutting and the sewing of the Rockford Red Heeled Socks and The When Creativity Knocks DVD "Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas" was a fabulous source of inspiration! I was originally going to sew up my sock monkey traditionally, then dress him as a snowman, but then I thought - why not make him an actual snowman?

I sewed the face and ears according to the basic instructions, then sewed on buttons for the eyes, "carrot" nose and mouth. I stuffed the head with a 4" Styrofoam Ball and some fiberfil to round out the head and muzzle. I stuffed the body with a 5" and a 6" Styrofoam Balls, then stitched the bottom closed. I added the red yarn pom pom to the top of his hat, a red felt scarf, the three buttons and CHILLY was born!



My sock monkey package also included a sock monkey stamp.

Rit Dye is a sponsor of this challenge as well, however, I love the brown of the socks so I chose not to dye anything this time.

There’s a contest you can enter until December 19th to win a sock monkey package worth over $40!

Prize pack includes:
■ DVD “Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas"
■ 1 pair of Rockford Red Heeled Socks
■ Sewing kit, including: needle, button eyes, floss and stuffing
■ Plus 1 pre-sewn sock monkey

Here’s how to enter:
1.Go to the When Creativity Knocks website.
2.In the Member Login box click Create An Account.
3.Enter the code: Sock Monkey

I would like to send out a special thank you to all the sponsors of this challenge:
■ When Creativity Knocks
■ Rockford Red Heeled Socks
■ Rit® Brand Dye
■ Judikins

To view the rest of the creative and imaginative Sock Monkeys please HOP around to the other Designer's blogs by clicking either HOP BACK or HOP FORWARD on the Designer Crafts Connection navigation icon on my right sidebar and ENJOY!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

SNOWMAN TREAT CUPS

The Holidays are quickly approaching and I am always in need of quick gifts, so instead of waiting until the last minute this year - I made a batch of these cute Snowman Treat Cups. I can fill them with candy, homemade treats, or even a gift card!



I took some peate pots that hadn't been used and painted them with this new paint line from DecoArt - Glamour Dust Glitter paint in Ice Crystal - LOVE this stuff! Very good coverage and very sparkly (even though you can't tell from my photo). Attached black button eyes and a carrot nose made from a scrap of orange calico fabric. Chalked on a cheek with Pearlescent Jewel Tone Chalks from Pebbles and drew in the features with my trusty Sharpie Marker. Attach a stem of pine to the top edge and some twisted white wire for the handle. Fill with your favorite treat or gift card and you are good to go! I think a dozen of these took me only an hour to complete. A great project to do with the kids as well!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth