Happy Holidays!

I wanted to take a moment in the middle of family madness to wish you all a very lovely HOLIDAY! This year has been a tricky one. I haven't been the greatest blogger but I'm really happy I've hung in there! I'm so grateful for anyone who reads this blog and for all the wonderful inspiration out there in the internet world! I'm looking forward to the new year with all the growing and learning that is bound to happen! But for now I'm going to be lazy, indulge myself with sweets and enjoy my crazy family for a while! I wish you all a lovely holiday and may your families and travels be safe!

Homemade Gifts!

This year my family is doing all homemade gifts. I feel like I'm normally good at this kinda stuff but I've felt really creatively stuck lately. Which means I've been terribly slow getting these done. The deadline approaching is really getting me to kick into gear. I wanted to share what I've gotten done so far! I still have to wrap and label all of them. Plus I've got a few more projects that still need to be finished up. PHEW not enough time! 

Tic Tac Toe games! I got this idea from Zoei and I love how they turned out! I got the pieces from HERE and the bags from THERE. I also found this additive from Martha Stewarts crafty line of stuff that you add to acrylic paint to make it fabric paint. I got it HERE and it worked really well. It thinned out the paint to make it easy to lay on the fabric and wasn't crunchy when it dried. Overall a pretty fun project! 

 I made some specialty sets by printing out mini photos! These were a bit more work with the printing, cutting, pasting then giving it a nice top coat. This set is Van Gogh verse Paul Gauguin! (I'm a art nerd I know! But I think my dad will like the cleverness!)

 This one is my sisters dogs! I made this for my brother in law, he loves both these puppies! These turned out hilariously cute! On these ones I also added some funky designs on the sides. It made them look more mismatched then I was hoping but oh well!

Lotion bars! I've been wanting to make these for myself for a while and I thought it would be a good gift for my sisters. I use THIS recipe and bought THIS amazing honey bee mold! They turned out really well and super cute. This recipe is super duper easy and these lotion bars are easy to use! I also used extra bags from the tic tac toe games to gift them in, I just added some polka dots!

 Last but not least I tried my hand at Shibori dying! I got THIS kit and dyed THESE tea towels. I have to admit these were a HUGE pain in the ass! Mostly (my fault) because I tried to do it all in my bathroom. I laid down a plastic table cloth so I didn't stain anything and mixed the dye in a plastic storage bucket that I put in the bathtub. Which sounded like a good idea but that meant I was bent over the bathtub for like 2 and a half hours. My body was killing me! Also the dye has a weird smell and this dying process has a LOT of steps. My advice if you're wanting to do this is do it outside and devote all day to it, not an evening after work in your jammies and socks so your feet don't sick to the plastic! Over all I love LOVE the way they turned out! I think my mom is going to love them!

I took photos of my favorite patterns! Here are the items and techniques used to bind them.

 Left: Accordion fold bound with rubber bands. Right: Accordion fold with wood blocks.

 Left: marbles and rubber bands. Right: clothes pins

There are a TON of resources on the internet for this kinda dying. I looked at serveral different blogs to find my folding and binding patterns.

Phew! All that is left is wrapping and giving! I really could use a few extra days. haha I hope you're all prepared for Christmas!!

Lovely Things: Gingerbread!

Gingerbread and gingerbread houses is one of the holiday things that just escapes me. I blame my family for not having this tradition when I was little. It wasn't until I was older that I got to assemble a gingerbread house and even then I remember it being very frustrating and messy. Also are you suppose to eat them?? Cause you leave them out and they get all hard. I've never quite understood this. It has now turned into one of those things that is now too embarrassing to ask, I'm 25 I should know if you eat gingerbread houses or not! Anyways, I keep coming across wonderful gingerbread houses and recipes! One of these years I'm going to be brave enough to bake and assemble my own house! Until then heres some links I've been oooh-ing and aw-ing at!

Tiny houses over at My Name is Yeh! I love this entire post about her adventures in the White House and those teeny chicken coop houses are amazing!

This one is a rectangle! I'm not sure if that makes it easier or harder? This post shares some really good tips and tricks! Food52

Another recipe! This one looks pretty user friendly, also the result looks more up my ally. Which means easy and doable. Baked Bree

Someone made a gingerbread replica of the hotel from The Shining! Now you're probably like me thinking that movie was a bit creepy seems like an odd combo BUT NO its wonderful!! You need to click on the link and see the other photos. It'll make you chuckle guaranteed! Messy Nessy

Last but not least the recipe that I make when the rest goes to hell and I want something gingery but don't ever want to see a gingerbread house ever again. I've never actually made scone but they are so yummy and pretty. I really should learn how to make some! Sprinkle Bakes

Song and Doodle #64

Christmas is almost here! On this lovely winter solstice evening I'm trying to get my to-lists in order and sort my brain while listening to some Darlene Love. This has been the year of 60's music for some reason, so its only fitting to dig into some old Christmas tunes! I feel this odd sense of scattered-ness and hopefulness and love for everything lately. I guess that the magic of Christmas! I hope all you busy bodies are getting stuff done and preparing for this wonderfully stressful holiday!

List of Thoughts as of Late + LINKS!

(death to stock photo)

1- Time is just flying by. I swear when the universe knows you have lots to get done it speeds up a little bit.
2- Flow Magazine was having a free shipping weekend so I got to snag up the book for PAPER LOVERS! I'm super excited. I've wanted one for a while but the shipping was always more than the book. Eeep!
3- I'm in LOVE love with THESE rosemary mini wreaths! I'd love to do something like this but my cousins have a bad habit of teasing when my gifts are too beautifully wrapped. I can't help it I just LOOOVVEE good packaging! Maybe they are just jealous. haha
4- I'm pretty sure I was over ambitious with my homemade gifts this year. I'm not sure if I'll get it all done but I'll be sure to post photos!
5- I'm obsessed with sleepwear lately mostly cause its cold and cozy so the first thing I do when I get home is bundle up in my jammies. I just ordered THESE cause they were on sale and I'm super stoked. I actually love everything Aerie has and probably spend too much money there.
6- Writing this post I realized that I've recently purchased a lot of things for myself. #treatyoself!
7-The thing I hate most about winter is having to wear shoes. Flip flops are just the best and washing and matching socks is a pain in the bum.
8- She & Him have a new Christmas album and its AH-mazing! Its on heavy rotation this season.
9-One Year of Stitches sounds like an awesome project! I'm not sure if I have that much commitment or will remember to work on it. haha
10-Seems like everyone around me is getting sick. I've been drinking TONS of orange juice and eating blueberries everyday. So fingers crossed that I don't get sick! Tis the season for colds.

November Art Journal!

This last month finished up the last little envelope notebook I made! By the end of the month this little guy got a little bit full, but nothing a little string couldn't hold together. I'm thinking for the month of December I should go for real small journal. Mostly because with holiday events and projects that need to get done I'm not sure how I'm going to find time! So the smaller pages might be quicker to finish. Tis' the season for being overly busy! I can't believe its December! I'm ready for the year to be over, but I still feel like there are things left to accomplish this year. Regardless times waits for no one! I hope you are all ready for the holiday season!