Top 10 Most Popular Posts of 2012

As the clock ticks down on 2012,  I'm reflecting on what a great year it has been for my blog.   My blog has grown in ways that I never imagined this year.  But I've still got a lot more growing that I want to do.  I've "met" some wonderful blogging friends and had some great opportunities come my way.  

For my last post of the year, I'm recapping my....

Top 10 Most Popular Projects of 2012 

in case you missed them the first time around!

DIY Light Table  

 Soda Bottle Birdfeeder

 Yellow Chevron Curtains

 10 Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Pallet Art Table

 

                                             Envelope Closure Pillow

GAK

 Lobster Handprint and Footprint Art

Rainbow Dash Birthday Party

Mason Jar Bathroom Organization

My favorite project/post by far is the  Yellow Chevron Curtains   I'm very happy with the way they turned out and the response I got from them was amazing.

I'm sure there are some on that list that many of you have never seen!  My DIY Light Table still brings in the most traffic and I wrote that almost a year ago.  Never underestimate the power of Pinterest, my friends!

I'm excited to see what 2013 has in store for my blogging adventure.  I hope you will continue to join me on my journey!

Countdown to 2013: 12 New Year's Eve Ideas

  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Are you ready to get back into the swing of things?  I am!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

New Year's Eve already? 

I LOVE to throw parties but have never thrown a New Year's Eve party because after all the Christmas planning, I am pretty much exhausted. Someday I will go all out with invites and decorations and a swanky party but until then, I have compiled amazing ideas to share with you

I adore the clock theme!

from Lisa Storms

I really love the look of gold and silver together 

from My Blessed Life

Shimmering streamers 

from Martha Stewart

This sparking setting from

 Martha Stewart is simple yet elegant.

For the kids, how about this New Year's printable 

from Thirty Handmade Days

Throw a Rockin' party with these free 

New Year's Eve Party printables 

from Pick.Print.Party

You can never go wrong with the black and white color combo.

DIY Streamer decor from A Subtle Revelry

Add some glitter glam to your party with

Glitter Holiday Party Hats from Studio DIY

New Year's Countdown and Confetti from Homework

Just be prepared to vacuum it up!

Give guests a sparkly backdrop with this

Sequin Photo Booth from Oh Happy Day

Countdown to Midnight in style with

Countdown Toast Champagne Glasses 

from Martha Stewart

Be sure to record all your dreams for the New Year 

{big or little!} with these

New Year's Resolution Bottles from Homework.

I've got big dreams for 2013! What are yours?

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

I will be taking a little time away from the blog to enjoy the holiday with my family.

I'll see you back here soon.

Brown Paper Packages {tied up with strings}

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.  

The presents are under the tree.  

Or if you are like me, the present wrapping hasn't quite started yet.  I've got a LONG couple nights ahead of me.  What about you? Do you wait until the last minute to wrap gifts? I HAVE managed to wrap one present so far and am sharing my masterpiece with you today.  

Bakers twine accented with snowflakes can dress up any package and add a unique touch.

I used brown craft paper that I found at Staples but you can get it at any craft store.  You can also upcycle paper bags from the grocery store.

The snowflakes were plain wood and painted with acrylic paints.

Add some bakers twine and you have a beautifully wrapped present to put under your tree. Simple, affordable, and stunning.

What are you waiting for?  Get wrapping!  

Cookies and Crafts for Sandy Hook: Beaded Candy Cane Ornament

One week ago today, I sat in my daughter's classroom at 9:30 am.  Her class was having their Christmas Craft Day and I had volunteered to help.  The mood was very joyous in that room.  

At that same time, the students and faculty at Sandy Hook Elementary were experiencing extreme terror. Today I have teamed up with some blogging friends to share cookies and crafts that we have done with our kids.  This post is meant to honor of the victims, family, friends and community of Sandy Hook Elementary and Newtown, CT.

 

For my craft, I am sharing the Beaded Candy Cane Ornament that my daughter made in her class that day:  

I don't have photos of the process since it was pretty chaotic trying to keep 24 kids organized and on task.  However, this project is pretty straight forward.  

1. Take a white pipe cleaner and bend it in the shape of a candy cane.  

2. Twist the end so the beads don't fall off.

3. Use red, white, and green beads with three "points" on them.  Sorry, I don't know the proper term for these beads. 

4. String the beads onto the pipe cleaner. 

My daughter is very into patterns right now which is why hers is very organized but you can string the beads on in whichever way you want.

Twist the other end and you are done!

Here it is hanging on our tree.

We have had so much fun making ornaments this year.  You can see some of our others here and here.

If you like this project, please consider sharing it on Facebook or Pinterest, Tweeting about it using  #BloggersforSandyHook or sharing on any of your other social media outlets.  We want to show our support for the Newtown community and let them know that they are not alone.

If you would like to join in and show your support but do not have a blog, you can take a picture of a cookie or craft that you made with your child and post it using #BloggersforSandyHook.

You can also donate to the Newtown Youth and Family Services. Click on the button below for more information.

Several of the bloggers participating in this event are also donating a portion of their proceeds from their Etsy shops.  

I wish you a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends and remember those in Newtown who have lost so much. 

 This event is brought to you by: Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks, The Red Headed Baker, Real Housemoms, Crazy for Crust, Something Swanky, Life After Laundry, Two Kids Cooking, Frugal Foodie Mama, The Doctorate Housewife, Heather's French Press, Operation Dinnertime, Lovely Pantry, What's Cooking Love?, Cupcakes and Kale Chips, Occasionally Crafty, Pint Sized Baker, Pineapple and Coconut, Wine & Glue, Lemonsforlulu, A Sweet Baker, Mom On Timeout, The Freshman Cook, Sweet Twist of Blogging, A Family Feast, Julie's Eats & Treats, Eat at Allie's, Here Comes the Sun, The Kitchen is My Playground, Just My Crazy Kitchen, The Sweet Chick, The Tasty Fork, Wholly Delicious Dishes, Chocolate, Chocolate and more , Yours and Mine ARE Ours, Kitchen Meets Girl, Daily Dish Recipes, Sweet Bella Roos, Mom's Test Kitchen Persnickety Plates Food Done Light

Framed Snowflake Art

Do you need a last minute decoration for your house?  You know, to fill that one spot that is bare and you don't know what to do with?  I've got a quick decoration that you can whip up before your holiday guests arrive.

It doesn't get much easier than this.

Here are the supplies you will need (add in some scotch tape too!)

Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to 5"x7"

Cut a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper to 5" by whatever width you decide looks good with your snowflake.

The snowflake that I have was made by my mother in law with one of those fancy sewing machines.  She gave me 2 and I used one as an ornament and one for this project.  You can use any snowflake that you want.  A chipboard snowflake would look nice.  A sticker would work well too.

Tape your snowflake to the middle of the red paper and then tape the red paper to the middle of the green paper.

Here is a close-up of the snowflake.  The loop in the upper left is for hanging on the tree.  It amazes me what these new fangled sewing machines can do.

Place your paper into the frame and you are done!  I love that this is such a simple craft yet you can personalize it to go with any decor.  

I have mine displayed on our entryway table.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Please make sure to join me back here tomorrow for Cookies and Crafts for Sandy Hook.  I have teamed up with a group of bloggers to pay tribute to the victims of last week's tragedy in Newtown, CT.  

You can find out more about this event by following #BloggersforSandyHook on Twitter.

You can also read about it here or click the icon below.

Embellished Gift Card Holder {DIY}

One week till Christmas.  Is your shopping done?  

Do you like giving gift cards? Do you like receiving gift cards? I sure do but most are so boring looking and plain. Not anymore!  I've got a fast and easy way to dress them up.

Cut a piece of cardstock to 4.25" x 11"

Score the paper at 4.25" and again at 8.25".

Fold the bottom up to the first crease (at 8.25") and then up again along the crease to form the pocket for the gift card.  Adhere the sides of the pocket with double sided tape.  Fold the top down to form the front.

I embellished the front with a printable and some brads. I tied some twine {from Pick Your Plum} around the holder and attached and a bell.

Inside, I added another printable and a holiday stamp.

Now your gift cards can look just as pretty as the other packages under your tree.

Cookies and Crafts for Sandy Hook

I don't have words for the tragic events that occurred on Friday. I have a 6-year old daughter in kindergarten and a 3-year old and can't imagine if anything like that happened to them. I sent my daughter off to school this morning with a heavy heart, thinking of the 20 families in Newtown, CT who will not be able to hold their children again and for the educators that also lost their lives.

I have teamed up with several bloggers to show support for Newtown, CT and Sandy Hook Elementary School through Cookies and Crafts for Sandy Hook.

On Friday, December 21 we will be honoring the victims and families of Sandy Hook Elementary and the community of Newtown, CT. by doing a post in their honor.  This is our way of showing support during this time of incredible grief.

If you are a blogger, please consider posting a cookie or craft that you can do with your child.  Please spread the word using hashtag #BloggersforSandyHook.

If you don't have a blog, you can still share this event on your FB, Twitter, Instagram or Google+.  Make a craft or cookie, take a picture and share it.

If you would like to donate a monetary amount, please consider donating to the Newtown Youth and Family Services.

According to their website, Newton Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a "licensed, non-profit mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area."  All donations made to them will go to those affected by the school shooting.

There are also a number of bloggers who will be donating the proceeds from their Etsy shops on Friday.  You can find a list of these shops at Crazy for Crust. 

Please join me and show your support for Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday, December 21.

Fabulous Friday Features and Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Signs By Andrea giveaway.

 The winner is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Ashley! You will receive an email, shortly.

Last week, I ended my Fabulous Friday link party.  It was a decision that I had been thinking about for a while.  It may be just a break and it may be a permanent change.  I just don't know at this time.  I did not have time over the past few weeks to do features  so today I am giving you features from the final two link parties.  

ENJOY!

Joy Photo Collage by Lilikoi Joy

 Felt Pinecones by Love Grows Wild

Ornament Wreath by Phaedra's Adventures

Snowflake Tutorial by The Velvet Moon Baker

Christmas Shirts by The Chirping Moms

Christmas Tree on the Wall by Turtles and Tails

Santa Bell Ornament from Crafty Journal

Christmas Wreath by Bullfrogs and Bulldogs

Burlap Candy Cane Wreath by Life on Lakeshore Drive

If you were featured today, grab a button!

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Thank you all for linking up with me for the past year.  I'm excited for what next year will bring and I hope you will continue to join me on my blogging journey.