Hands can express so many emotions and feelings. This gift has been one of my favorite to make since the vision of a family holding hands brings me a warm cozy vibe. This tutorial of a Mother's Day hand made gift will provide you with the basic tools and ideas. This project came out so cool in less than 15 minutes excluding drying time. A young child would need help but a older children could handle this art/gift on their own.

The Christmas Link-up Party Gifts

How are you doing with your holiday shopping? Have you found all the right gifts for your list? Darlins' I am bringing back a personalized gift I have made in the past. Making your Christmas list shortened by a gift you can make quickly but, look like you spent hours.

 Where did I find the acrylic ice tub? Home Goods and TJ Maxx.

Blogger Silhouette Tutorial Ornament

    The Blogger Christmas Series was created to bring you a wealth of ideas to celebrate the season with many bloggers. She has rounded up several different blogs from around the country for the last few weeks. Thank you +Christine Graves for coordinating, as well as orchestrating these beautiful packages wrapped up for all of us to share with our readers

Red Solo Cup Ornaments

 

     

Fall Mod Podge Pumpkins

   A recent Fall trip to our lake home was not providing the desirable effect. Cold, wind, and rain were dampening my mood. Do you remember my Mod Podge Miracle post?
 My Prince Charming had to drive to the store. Normally I would skip the grocery store to stay lakeside but, not today. He offered to go to our local +Michaels Stores with me, then I could find a creative outlet to brighten my gloomy day. Now a trip to a craft store with my guy, may not be every girls cup of tea but, I was happy to get to spend time with my busy man.

  I spotted an affordable, easy Fall craft project, on sale in the first aisle. This display of sale items led to Fall Mod Podge Pumpkins. We bought two items on our shopping trip paper pumpkins, and cocktail napkins for this craft. We all know I could never walk out of a craft store with two items. Two carts were full! Those items are for future posts. Hey! It was a Clearance Sale.  I already had the paint brush, and Mod Podge from previous projects. 

Fall Lovin October Silhouette Challenge

     This month the theme for the October Silhouette Challenge is Fall! I chose
 5 different shades of +Bazzill Basics Paper card stock: on sale for 59 cents at  +Michaels Stores
 One group of leaf shapes from the +Silhouette America Store:  99 cents.
 One wreath Stand from +Decor Steals:  (previous purchase)
 The leaves I wanted to cut out from my Silhouette library

"Favorite" Silhouette Challenge

   

  This "Favorite"Silhouette Challenge is one I have been waiting to share with you. I had this project waiting in the wings.  A family emergency kept me from completing my design for an earlier challenge this year.

   List of Supplies, 

4th of July Round-Up

 I am honored to be a part of this 4th of July Round-Up 

with so many other talented artists.

 I designed and crafted my banner to decorate my fireplace on 4th of July.

My father served in the Army, Air Force and National Guard.

  I have family members who have served, or are serving the USA as of right now. Service  is a part of my family heritage. I am a proud American girl, who is grateful to each person and their families that has served our country, for our freedom.

  I dedicate my , "Made in America Banner"  as a tribute

 to all who have stood strong, beside the Good Old USA!

Celebrate the Birth of our Country Proud and Free!

Thank you for inviting me to your 4th of July Round-up.

I'm excited to have joined up, with some wonderful bloggers to present to you the perfect patriotic projects. Get those creative juices flowing just in time to celebrate our day of Independence!

Kindred Spirits

A Handmade Gift Exchange started by my friend Tori

 created a journey of Kindred Spirits.

 Two Karens, same country, different states, 

Married 10 and 30 years, Loving Husbands (different men) LOL. Two children all boys, SAHM one starting the other finished, 

both creative, and talented in the many ways.

Handmade Gift Exchange

 Tori was following our Facebook Group called the Silhouette Challenge. All of this handmade work swirling through the words of our members. Each post a person, pictures of a new project, with loads of encouragement below. Others asking for an opinion, which looks better?  Where do you get the best vinyl? Tricks to keep your machine running smoothly, and money savings tips too.

Tori Set up an event Handmade Gift Exchange asking people to participate, then she split us into pairs sent us our present partners, gave us ideas how to get to know each other, and of course a deadline for when the packages to ship.

Facebook

As you can see from above, is how I met my kindred spirit Karen. We have not met in person but, we have corresponded like modern day pen pals. 

Showers of Love for Baby Dove

      Last year we celebrated with the lovely pair of Doves as they married. Fast Forward one year and we are Showering Baby Boy Dove, who is on his way. My BFF, her Daughter-in- Law, Mamma Doves  sister,  I were off to the races with finding ways to decorate, games, and gifts. Pinterest was a great resource but, I did not find the items. That is the only reason I did not attach the appropriate credit. I helped with the +Silhouette America Cameo making some of the decorations. This was one of the most coordinated, detailed baby showers I have been involved in to this date. 

Sweet Love Bridal Shower

           

Sweet Love Bridal Shower 

     This shower was the first of the three I attended recently. I did not make the shower decor but, did take all the photographs. I thought you would enjoy the beautiful touches of simple elegance, added to this special event, by my sister-in-law and a few of her dear friends. 

   The Wreath of Flowers and ribbon banners were made by the mother and father of the groom, curling each petal of the flowers, with scissors.

It is Beginning to Look Like Christmas

http://wp.me/p3Su5W-3dv

    The house has been a flurry of activity since Thanksgiving. There has been family from out of town, visits to museums, birthday celebrations, and finally decorating for Christmas. I have viewed many of the Holiday House Tours, which are absolutely gorgeous. I thought it would be fun to do a little tour of my favorite Christmas decorations in our home I hope you all enjoy the homemade,  memento filled, Christmas sparkle of our home.

I made this Tree Skirt for our First Christmas, 29 years ago

 The ornaments on this tree represent, experiences, milestones, hobbies and favorite things for our family. This tree resides in our sun room which is one of my favorite rooms in our house.



 This little angel has been with us for 29 year too. She sits on top of our tree made from scraps of lace, muslin from the backing of the tree skirt, Gold stitching says our family name and year we were married. Under her skirt is a piece of card board shaped into a cone, it was a Welcome Home sign to greet us, when we arrived home form our honeymoon. I made dolls for my nieces, and that is the fabric for the face and arms. Her face is embroidered, and her hair is left over yarn from an Afghan my Mom made for a shower gift, stitched by hand to her head. Her wings are doubled fabric stitched with zigzag trim. She hasn't age a bit for all the years she has spent topping our Christmas tree.

The Garland looks like a Cross Stitch of Buttons and Thread

Hallmark Corporation may want to send a
thank you card for the advertising. (Ho Ho Ho)

  An original window from our home rest on top of the mantel year round, along with candles. For Christmas we have added some sparkle, nature, stockings and a sprinkle of blue. Three of the items are made by artisians. First +Deanna Guzzi owner of The Artistick Studio, Inc. made the nature inspired metal pots with stamping, burlap, pine cones and sphere of moss. Next +Diane Gutenek made the Forget Me Knots metal print art, with added embellishments of ribbon, and white flowers from antique hats.

This basket of Greens, red Berries, which includes battery power lights with timer switch can hang outside or be used indoors. In my sunroom it is working hard to cover a power cord, printer and hide a speaker. It was bought in Mt.Vernon, IL at a local craft fair in the fall.

These are Panda Bears stand guard in the hallway to escort you to the rest of the house.

 We are still working on decorating, look for another post as soon as we finish the rest of the rooms. I hope decorating for this special time of year is filled with warm memories, of loved ones here, and in spirit.

 I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

                                          Happy Holidayshttp://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=36fa88a88bb36b79fe4c6c75bb479ecc&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fdiyshowoff.com%2F%3Fp%3D12369&v=1&type=U&libId=a506fe45-e0d1-4b79-b6ce-6102a105e599&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp3Su5W-3dv&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fdiyshowoff.com%2F%3Fp%3D12369&title=Christmas%20Tree%20Link%20Party%20%26%20Contest%20-%20DIY%20Show%20Off%20%E2%84%A2%20-%20DIY%20Decorating%20and%20Home%20Improvement%20Blog&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp3Su5W-3dv&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13867444734438