Oh Christmas Tree

The 12 Days of Christmas are rapidly arriving with dazzling lights, packages are under the tree, cookies baking in the oven. Sharing our home at Christmas is quite an honor. Come on in grab a cup of cheer let's celebrate this wonderful time of year. We have white Christmas trees, one made of curly willow, and another filled with the story of our family. Yes that is right, today is the final day of the 12 Days Of Christmas showing our trees for our viewing pleasure.

Welcome to Our Porch

Welcome to Our Porch

It is early on the 11th Day of Christmas. Today is all about Christmas Porches.  This hinged Welcome sign is inspired by a sign I saw at JoAnns. It is 4 feet tall and folded in half will store easily in our home. Enjoy the many talented bloggers who are sharing many ideas with the !2 Day of Christmas Blog Hop.

Christmas Gift Cards

Christmas Gift Cards

 Sometimes when presented with a challenge happy accidents create a better product than the original idea or shall I say three. This design will make a gift card holder, tag, and note. Funny thing is I started out making thank you cards but, my mind went blank as to cutting out the letters in the card. UGH! Of course when I completed the 3 cards in one project I remembered the way to cut a shape plus text at one time. If I added the thank you it would narrow the use of the card. This card can absolutely be used as a thank you note hence it should be the 4 in 1 card project. :)

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa

The 12 Day of Christmas is more than almost over. Today is day 10 which prompts us to work on our table setting. We serve buffet style for our holiday parties. We do however set a place for Santa to rest on his world tour in one night. It is Breakfast with Santa that we are serving up today.

Santa Glam Wreath

Santa Glam Wreath

Honestly I am enjoying the magic of the season this year. At our house we have been switching up our decorations, which has made the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop great fun. The most remarkable part is the fact that my craft stash is dwindling but not our cash. This Santa Glam Wreath has been made totally from my holiday craft stash. This has made Prince Charming very happy :)

Sugar Cookie Tips

Sugar Cookies Tips

Our family has been making these cookies for years. Imagine a table surrounded by 6 excited kids and one busy mom slicing cookie dough and wrangling stray sprinkles between sliding baking trays in then out of the oven. Fast forward 25 years peeking in my window there are to young boys helping me make these simple family favorites. We experienced a few fails, lots of tasty success while making priceless memories. On day 8 of The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop I will be sharing the tips we have found along the way.

Hot Cocoa Bar

Hot Cocoa Anyone?

Today I hope you will join me at the hot cocoa bar, while it has become quite cold outside in my neck of the woods. We might have a snow fall today which will look lovely framing the Christmas decorations Prince Charming decked out our house. 

Family Tree Game

Family Tree Game

The 6th Day of Christmas is all about Games. This theme gave me a challenge for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop. Until while working with our ancestry I realized it would be fun to learn about all our family by playing a game. There are usually about 20 of us celebrating at one party then 30 more at the next house on any holiday. Normal controlled chaos it is hard to ask simple questions about the others in our family. This Game is designed to learn a little more about each other with a few laughs and giggles along the way.

Dollar Store Christmas Wreath

Dollar Store Christmas Wreath

Day five of the 12 Days of Christmas is the Dollar Store theme project. This one gives you bang for your buck. Insert Chuckles here! This time we will learn how to take your creativity to tweak a Hula Hoop to make a big wreath for Christmas. The bow is ribbon from last years Christmas clearance sales. Lets save money while learning how to make a large wreath from the Dollar Store!

Every Party Needs Gorp

Happy 4th day of the 12 Days of Christmas.

My Mom has made this easy throw in a bowl and serve snack mix for years. Every party needs a a bowl of Gorp. One time we had a party and somehow someone even took the bowl. It is that GOOD!

Photo Credit to @Taste Spotters

Antiqued Snowman Top Hat

Every snowman needs a top hat.

 As part of the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop day three has a theme of snowman. A snowman without a top hat would not be complete. This quick easy Mod Podge tutorial will have you creating the perfect top hat for your best dressed snowman decor. Follow along with the many creative makers during the blog hop to be inspired by this talented group of bloggers.

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Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!

Shirley~Intelligent Domestications I Alli~An Alli Event I Michelle~Our Crafty Mom I Marie~DIY Adulation 

Erlene~My Pinterventures I Beverly~Across The Blvd. I Debra~Shoppe No. 5 I Victoria~Dazzle While Frazzled

Megan~C'mon Get Crafty I Michelle~Michelle James Designs I Amanda~Domestically Creative

Deborah~Salvage Sister & Mister I Jeanie~Create & Babble I Sherry~Olives & Okra

Jenny~Cookies Coffee & Crafts I Emily~Domestic Deadline I Bonbon~Farmhouse 40 I Susanne~Pearl Street Designs 

Leanna~Of Faeries & Fauna I Pam Larmore~P.S. I Love You Crafts I Kelly~North Country Nest I Marie~The Inspiration Vault

Gail~Purple Hues and Me I Lynne~My Family Thyme I Karen~Dragonfly and Lily Pads I Trisha~Blowing Away Out West

Tomika~Life In Pumps I Rachee~Say it, "Rah-Shay" I Ra'Nesha~Queen Thrifty I Lorrin~Embrace The Perfect Mess 

Jaime~Love Jaime I Serena~The Weekend Jaunts I Terri~Christmas Tree Lane I Jessica~A Southern Mother 

Sam~Raggedy Bits I Rachel~Smart Mom Smart Ideas I Surya~The Busy Mom Club  I Cyn~Creative Cynchronicity

Valeria~Val Event Gal I Yami~The Latino Next Door I Jeannee~Centsably Creative I Tania~Little Vintage Cottage

 Lauren~Wonderfully Made I Vanessa~DIY 180 I Kimberly~A Wonderful Thought I Kim~Everyday Parties I Erica~Erica Ever After

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Supplies 

Antique Mod Podge

Paint Brush for Mod Podge (Chip Brushworks great)

Wax or Parchment Paper

Tacky Glue

Paper Top Hat 

Newspaper

Crystal Glitter DecoArt Paint

Small Paint Brush for Glitter Paint

Thick and Thin Ribbon

Pom Poms 

Paint Brush for Mod Podge 

Tutorial 

Tear the newspaper into pieces including the edges. You should use text. No pictures to get this look. Using the chip brush dip it into the antique Mod Podge painting it onto the paper hat shape. As you add more paper covering the whole top hat you will continue to add more Mod Podge layering more paper to the edge of where you just finished. Similar to keeping a wet edge when you are painting. Give your whole top hat a coat of Mod Podge to seal the project. It will also give you and antique or yellowing look to your newspaper. Let it dry over night. 

The next morning measure by wrapping the wider ribbon around the hat cut.  Tacky Glue worked great to hold it in place. The thin ribbon added a little more glamour to the top hat which is easy to attach by tying it in a not after following the same process to cut the length needed. Pom poms seemed like the perfect way to finish the decoration with added sparkle. Let it dry then add to your Christmas decorating in your home. Below is a few examples of how I styled small vignettes with my DIY winter glam decor top hat.

Doesn't it look pretty with the glowing DIY Holiday Candle Wrap I made with my Cricut.  The snow man top hat and stars will be decor which will last right through the winter months. Don't you just hate the emptiness of your home after the holidays. I know I feel like my house is naked.⌣

By tipping the hat with the cotton peaking out below the top hat gives this simple glamour inspired top hat a whole new feel. Finally I was able to catch a photo with a glistening a bit of glam.

Add to Your Pinterest

Since you 💖DIY Winter Glam Decor here is a perfect pin to save it to your Holiday or Winter Boards.

Question of the day- What is your favorite Frosty The Snowman Show? 

Lets Get Social

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~ Let Your Creative Spirit Dance  ~ 

      

                                                     Karen Marie

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Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!

Christmas Movie Printable

My Favorite Christmas Movie Printable

We all have a favorite Christmas movie and mine is an oldie but goody. It is a black and white film which has been colorized. Involves a family on hard times, with an angel named Clarence. Did you guess, It's A Wonderful Life? You are right.  What is your favorite movie during this time of cheer? Let me show you how easy it is to make a Printable for your house with Pic Monkey. 

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Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!

Shirley~Intelligent Domestications I Alli~An Alli Event I Michelle~Our Crafty Mom I Marie~DIY Adulation 

Erlene~My Pinterventures I Beverly~Across The Blvd. I Debra~Shoppe No. 5 I Victoria~Dazzle While Frazzled

Megan~C'mon Get Crafty I Michelle~Michelle James Designs I Amanda~Domestically Creative

Deborah~Salvage Sister & Mister I Jeanie~Create & Babble I Sherry~Olives & Okra

Jenny~Cookies Coffee & Crafts I Emily~Domestic Deadline I Bonbon~Farmhouse 40 I Susanne~Pearl Street Designs 

Leanna~Of Faeries & Fauna I Pam Larmore~P.S. I Love You Crafts I Kelly~North Country Nest I Marie~The Inspiration Vault

Gail~Purple Hues and Me I Lynne~My Family Thyme I Karen~Dragonfly and Lily Pads I Trisha~Blowing Away Out West

Tomika~Life In Pumps I Rachee~Say it, "Rah-Shay" I Ra'Nesha~Queen Thrifty I Lorrin~Embrace The Perfect Mess 

Jaime~Love Jaime I Serena~The Weekend Jaunts I Terri~Christmas Tree Lane I Jessica~A Southern Mother 

Sam~Raggedy Bits I Rachel~Smart Mom Smart Ideas I Surya~The Busy Mom Club  I Cyn~Creative Cynchronicity

Valeria~Val Event Gal I Yami~The Latino Next Door I Jeannee~Centsably Creative I Tania~Little Vintage Cottage

 Lauren~Wonderfully Made I Vanessa~DIY 180 I Kimberly~A Wonderful Thought I Kim~Everyday Parties I Erica~Erica Ever After

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Choose Design in Pic Monkey to start your project. There will be colors, textures and so much more to pick from while creating your printable. You can even develop your own design. Above I added two corners turned each one then centered them to my page. I wanted to make soft angel wings for the background. These are only a suggestion in the background so I faded the wings to let the words have more prominence. 

The font was found in Winterland. I varied the sizes and fonts until I felt the quote was pleasing to my eyes. After I decided on the font and color I centered the words on the page.

This final step in the creative process was adding depth to the quote with a drop down shadow, giving the appropriate credit to the movie and designing a border.  Now all that's left is saving the printable to your photos before pressing print in the size you would like in your home. 

As I was working on this post I found out something new about my favorite movie. This is the most missed line in the film. I hope you will watch the movie to find out why. Remember my question way back at the beginning of this post. Leave a message in the comments so we can all watch each others favorite Christmas movie.

Question of the day- What is your favorite Christmas Movie? 

Lets Get Social

              Pinterest   Facebook    Google +  Twitter   Instagram   BlogLovin

~ Let Your Creative Spirit Dance  ~ 

      

                                                     Karen Marie

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Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Holidays Ornament

The 12 Days of Christmas

 Today is the first day of the 12 days of Christmas which myself and several other bloggers will share tutorials on how to create some Christmas magic in your home.  December is here and I am changing up my decorating style this year.  To begin I will show you how to make this Happy Holidays ornament I designed on my +Official Cricut.

DIY Winter Glam Decor

Winter Glam Decor Tutorial 

Today using antique Mod Podge with newspaper we are going to learn how to make a snow man top hat with a glamorous twist. This project is fairly easy but takes some time drying time. I split up the project between one football game (the Bears lost) and let it dry over night then started after breakfast. 

 More Good news for you my darlings! Together with a group of amazing bloggers we are sharing posts together to give you the best ideas based on decor, crafts, recipes, and shopping guides. 

DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

  Learn how to create this simple addition to your holiday decor in a minutes by adding a wrap to your candles for the holidays. These temporary wraps can be used for many different decor options. I designed these stars with my Cricut Explore Air 2. This darling decor project can be used for your home or any of your friends and family as candles always make wonderful gifts. 

 Lorene from Remodelaholic has lead a crew of talented bloggers to  give you 26 Creative Christmas project tutorials.

Be sure to hop over to these 26 amazing blogs, pin these 26 great tutorials to your Pinterest boards. The remaining 25 follow my holiday candle wrap tutorial

                                                 

Supplies for Candle Wrap

Glitter Paper 12 X12Measuring Tape
Candle (use candles with no flames)
 Removable Adhesive
Optional Cricut Machine or Scissors and Ruler (to make template)
Exact-o knife

Tutorial DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

Measure around the candle to determine the size wrap you need for your candle. Mine was 9.58' adding enough to slightly overlap completing the design. Then chose the height that is pleasing to your eye.  

 There are several holidays where stars are an appropriate decoration. Do you love interchanging decor items around the house? I 💓to swap decor from rooms to different houses. 

Weld the stars together by dragging your cursor across a horizontal line of stars with the tips of the the stars overlapping. When the stars are framed by a blue box hit the weld button with your cursor. Whala! 

Follow the steps on your computer screen to complete your cuts making sure to chose the Glitter Card stock. Place your material on your cricut mat carefully matching the edge to the lines on the mat. Place the mat on the Cricut then press the arrow to guide the mat in to the machine. Now that your ready wait for the start button to flash as well as your computer screen will prompt you.  

If you look closely you can see the stars are cut out and ready to be reverse weeded. Reverse weeded means you take the waste off first.

Be gentle as you remove the stars from the cutting mat. The DIY holiday candle wrap is delicate between the stars. Gently wrap the band of stars around the candle securing with removable adhesive.

 My small vignette of diy holiday candle wraps now grace my coffee table in the sun room. I am not ready to decorate for Christmas yet since I will be hosting six family members for a fun Thanksgiving visit. I am grateful my sister and brother in law host our Thanksgiving meals for the family.

I hope you love this quick project as much as I enjoyed creating this tutorial. If you 💓it Pin It!

Question of the day- What is your favorite Christmas decoration? 

Lets Get Social

              Pinterest   Facebook    Google +  Twitter   Instagram   BlogLovin

~ Let Your Creative Spirit Dance  ~ 

      

                                                     Karen Marie

Now darlin's don't forget you have 25 new friends to meet along with 26 home made tutorials to learn. These projects make great gifts for friends, teachers, coworkers, family or yourself. ⌣

                                                                                                                               

  

DIY Christmas Trees and Ornaments Wintry Silver Dollar Store Christmas Tree Decor | Remodelaholic Marbled Christmas Ornaments | Doodlecraft Scrap Wood Inlay Ornaments | The Ugly Duckling House Woodburned Wood Slice Ornaments | Sisters What Flocked Pine Cones | Practical and Pretty Abstract Monogram Ornaments | Domicile37 Concrete Christmas Ornaments | The Palette Muse Wood Slice Deer Ornaments | Our Crafty Mom Vintage Gumball Machine Ornaments | Beth Watson Design Studio Etched Glass Ornaments | Just Call Me Homegirl Unicorn Inspired Christmas Tree | The DIY Mommy Driftwood Reindeer Ornaments | Sustain My Craft Habit

Woodland Glam Holiday Decor

15 Minute Holiday Decor

It is time again to share just 15 minutes to brighten your holiday decor with three simple items. This quick three piece decoration will create a sweet corner with tiny lights dancing through glass and pine cones. 

Metallic Fall Art in 15 Minutes

  Happy Fall Darlin's! Truth be told I am a believer of summer isn't over yet. Today I have a tutorial on how to make this metallic fall art in 15 minutes but, that is not all. I know I have been drooling over the new Cricut Maker. Have you seen this baby? She is life changing people! Be sure to read through the tutorial and grab your chance to win one from Cricut. 💖 This week with the Craft Lightning Crew we are focusing on Halloween. Make sure to visit all this week to see amazing talented bloggers sharing inspiration for your fall decor.

My metallic abstract pumpkin was inspired from Jen Goode Designs Leaf in the Cricut Design Space. Lets gather your materials and get started. 

How to Buy a New Car

Sponsored Post
 Shopping for a new car in our house is a big deal. Recently we bought a new car which was a step by step process in for us. The last time we bought a new car was my 2002 Mini-van which has served us well. I will be sharing our process on how to buy a new car.

Back Pack Tassel Tutorial

Imagine the feeling of school starting. There is new clothes, shoes, supplies and back packs. A pile of back packs sits at the door with kids grabbing their bags on the first day of school.
You have purchased, separated and labeled EVERYTHING! Your kids do not have to read the label on their back pack to know which one belongs to them this year. Each back pack is easy to see because a few weeks ago you gathered up your kids and followed this Back Pack Tassel Tutorial.
Craft Lightning Back to School projects are meant to prepare for a busy school year. All in 15 minutes or less.

A Box with a Purpose

15 Minute Red White and Blue Decoration

This 15 minute red, white and blue decoration project is easy to due. It can be used to decorate bikes for parades, fences to show your patriotic pride, or decorate a picnic grove for the family picnic. 

48th Edition of TADA Link Party

48th Edition TADA! Thursdays

46th Edition of TADA Link Party

46th Edition TADA! Thursdays

Start a Fire Pit in a Blink

Sponsored

Hello darling! How have you been? I am thinking warmer weather and sunshine. I am guessing you are too. The HomeRight Electrolight Fire Starter was given to me to share my thoughts about this wonderful product. Of course my thoughts are my own but you can already see I loved the way the Electrolight Fire Starter  works.

45th TADA Link Party

45th Edition TADA! Thursdays

44th Edition of TADA Link Party

44th Edition TADA! Thursdays

The 43rd Edition of TADA

43rd Edition TADA! Thursdays

42nd Edition of TADA

42nd Edition TADA! Thursdays

41st Edition of TADA

41st Edition TADA! Thursdays

Thrifty to Nifty Decor

Thrifty to Nifty Decor

 Is a challenge we face everyday as we decorate our homes on a budget. This group of talented bloggers take thrifting to a new level. Dragonfly & Lily Pads has decided to join them to bring you a wealth of information to use in your home. Today I am sharing a wreath that I bought a few months back for Fifty cents. Learn how to make yours below along with Twenty Nine more thrifty decor items.

The Rules:

• Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
• There's no monthly theme.
• There's no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Erlene | My Pinterventures    Kim | Made in a Day Dru | Polka Dot Poplars    Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles    Pili | Sweet Things Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog    Jes | My DIY Envy    Ann | Duct Tape and Denim Molly | Just a Little Creativity    Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods    Kimm | Reinvented Kim | Farmhouse Made    Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled    Sara | Twelve on Main Chelc | Inside the Fox Den    Sue | A Purdy Little House    Michelle | Our Crafty Mom Sherry | Savvy Apron    Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Lora | Craftivity Designs Ali | Home Crafts By Ali    Denise | My Thrifty House    Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek Toni | Small Home Soul    Jeanie | Create & Babble    Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay Michelle | Michelle James Designs    Medina | Grillo Designs    Karen | Dragonfly & Lily Pads

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!