Sally's Angelworks

{happy new...almost}

Are you almost ready for the new year????

I almost am!! It's just that little word "almost" that I'm contending with!! I love to plan and organize and do all of those fun things that one does at the beginning of a "new something"!! :) 

This year is no different! But my plans for 2012 are BIG and EXCITING!! 

They include a lot of quilts, a lot of music, a graduating senior, and just all around more love and hope in our house! 

Let me show you a little of what I'm talking about!!

In the very near future, you will see something fantastic made out of these:

and something special for February 14th made out of these:

and this:

some fun monogrammed napkins, anyone?

How about these fabrics paired with this fun pattern?

and a LOT more of these:

LOVE!!!

So, as I get it together for tomorrow night's festivities and plan for next year's frivolities, all of the Kellers wish you a very Happy New Year!! Join me next year in gobs of fun, inspiration and most of HOPE for the best year ever!!!

{our Christmas Eve picture!!}

{12 days Grand Prize winner + a little more inspiration!!}

Ohhhh I hope your Christmas was as merry and bright as ours!! It was fantastic!!

AND...Mr Random picked his winner!! I'm sooooo blessed with all of your comments!! I had 128 total comments throughout all 12 days, so I put that number in Mr Random's number generator...

and Number 116 was Phyllis!! yay!!!

Phyllis, watch that mailbox!! It's going out tomorrow!! yipeeeeee!!!

________________________

Ohhhh, I wanted to show you a couple of things tonight...

Our Houston Modern Quilt Guild had our Christmas party and Ornament exchange a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun Secret Santa type exchange, where we drew names and then when we opened our presents, we had to guess who made/bought our ornament!! It was super fun!!

I drew Deirdre's name...and her flickr faves had a bunch of pictures from Paris in it! It also had embroidery and that inspired me to make this for her...

The fun part of this is the back...

This fabric is actually from Paris!! Deirdre brought it back and cut it up for those of us who wanted some!! It was very cute when she was guessing who made it! She said, "I should know who it is since I gave them the fabric, but I gave a bunch of it away!!" LOL!!

 Here's what it looked like on my tree! (heeheee...yes, I promise I gave it to her!!)

I love the charm!! 7Gypsies!! :)

The antique lace is from Round Top Antiques show!

So we also got fabric and a fun yummy!!!

Here's my loot from sweet Sabrina!! She is also a musician! A classical pianist! so fun!!!!!

I have this chocolate hidden in my secret craft studio stash!!! yum!!!

and that fabric? Soooo fun!! What should I make out of it???

and here's the fun ornament she made for me!! 

Isn't it awesome??? Thanks, Sabrina!!

I will post a couple more Christmas-sy things before the new year this weekend. 

I am also revamping the blog this week along with the Store!! I'm excited to release a new look and feel to the store. And everything in it will be marked with FREE SHIPPING!!! How awesome is that????

Thanks again for joining me in my 12 days of Christmas fun!!
Stay tuned!! Great things are rolling toward that new year!! yipeeeee!! 

{day 12 - a very merry Christmas to you from sally's angelworks!!}

 

And we've made it!! Yay!!

We played for 12 days!! Well, we still have today to play a little!!

If you are like me, you are still wrapping gifts, or frantically shopping, or cooking!! Yep, that's me today...all of the above. Although, I could probably not do any of that and be okay! But we choose to do those things! Our pastor said last week that "the power of the gift is in the sacrifice it takes to give it!" I love that! It's what makes me continue on in this quest for Christmas delight! 

...to add that special touch while wrapping...

...to pick up that last gift that will bring that joyous smile...

...to cook that favorite dish or bake that perfect cookie...

I want it all, yes I do...to experience the magic of Christmas together as a family any way we can. 

And one of the greatest ways we do that is through music!! Tonight we will be having our special Christmas Eve service at our church. It actually is replacing our regular Sunday service. And we will be singing, praying, listening to the Word, eating and fellowshipping with our "family"! And one of the things we are doing as a family (the 6 of us) is singing a special song. It will be our gift to the church.

 

Check out our two Christmas CDs!! (links below!)

Find our albums here:

Brazos River Turnaround on CD BABY

or

Brazos River Turnaround on iTUNES

 

 

It wouldn't be a true 12th day without a little tute for you!!

So here is an awesome tute on how to make quick tags for your gifts!!!

Run over to Oscraps and pick up Leora Sanford's Christmas printables set!! 

Check out what you can do with these!! (keep in mind that my printer was running out of black ink, but you can print these in color or black and white! Color is much more fun!!)

the circle tags are perfect for doubling up the fun!

grab a scallop punch and cut your row of tags down so you can fit that punch in there!

punch the joy circles, too!

put tape on both sides of your tags and put your baker's twine on the tape on one side!

put a joy circle on the back of the to.from tag!! The tape on both sides keeps the twine in there! so coool!!

fun, quick and awesome, huh????

 

fill in the back of your tag and add it to your present!!!

LOVE!!!!

_________________

What about these tags? Do you have any metal embellishment tags in your stash???

Write Merry Christmas on one side and stamp a little poinsettia on there!

write who it's from with another poinsettia stamp on the back side!! Add it to your gift!! We gave this to our sweet hostess last night at a party we went to! It was super fun!!! :) And since I had made the bag earlier, the wrapping on this gift was SUPER FAST!!! yes!!!

want to see some FREE downloadable tags???

There is a phenomenal site that has a bunch linked!! Ohhhh my goodness, I almost lost it with excitement!!

Creature Comforts: go here to get links to a BUNCH of free tags!!!

Here are some that I printed out!!

and finished on the gift??

 

I haven't cut these out yet, but I can't wait to use them!!! Soooo fun!!!

Let me know what you print out and use!! super fun!!

 

I just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you this Christmas season. Each and everyone of you readers are important to me...but you are even more important to God. So important that He sent His Son down to become a little baby in a manger.

He grew in stature and started His ministry at age 30. For three years, He healed the sick, the blind, the dumb, and spread the word of Love...His gospel...his undying love. That love that people sing about at Christmas time is a life-changing love.

It is a love that was nailed on a cross...a love that died and was separated from His Father...a love that took on the sins of you and me.

This very love is being poured out on you right now! You may not even know it or hear it. But it's there.

I encourage you to listen a little closer to the sounds of the season...the arms of Jesus are there to wrap around you...His song is singing over you!! and if you listen even closer, you'll hear his voice!! Because you know what...His sheep can hear His voice and tell it is Him...

and here's what He's saying and singing over you...

...and i do, too!!

Merry Christmas!!

 

{day 11 - wrapping it all up!!}

Two more days!!! Eeeeeek!! Do you have all of your shopping done?? Do you have all of your wrapping done???? I think I better not tell you that the answer to both questions for me is NO!!! wow!!! Time to get moving, huh???

This morning, I want to show you a very fun (and quick!!) way to wrap up a gift!! In the time that you get out your wrapping paper, find the Scotch tape (never findable in my house!!!), find a suitable box, wrap said box and get the tag all written, you could have had two or three of these awesome decoupaged boxes filled and tagged for your loved ones!!

Let me show you how to make one of these:

SUPPLIES:

Decorative boxes from craft store

acrylic paint

paint brushes

decoupage glue

deco fabrics

little girlies to help you (optional!!)

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Get your desired paint colors and a paper plate and pour a little paint on the plate.

With a paint brush or sponge, paint the entire outside of your box. You can paint the inside, too, if you want!

I actually poured the paint directly on the box...it got a bit messy (aren't my thumbs the greatest??? I call them ET thumbs...LOL!!).

My girlies loved this project!!

They both chose to paint the inside of their boxes!! Teeeheeee!! 

Let your boxes dry before you do the next step.

WHile you wait, eat a couple of fun sugar cookies your neighbor brought over to you!!

Cut out the decorative part of the fabric with pinking shears (or a rotary cutter...whatever look you want to have!)

"Paint" decoupage glue on the back side of your fabric. I did this on top of my box where I am going to spread decoupage glue all over it anyway.

Turn your fabric over and straighten it out on your box exactly where you want it. Rub all of the bubbles out of it! Looking good!! (and so fast!!!)

"Paint" decoupage glue all over your box. You can use glossy glue if you want it to shine. Mine is matte.

Make sure you cover the entire box, especially the fabric part!! :)

Let dry, grab tissue paper, wrap little gift in tissue paper and put in the box...Voila! You've got a wrapped gift! yay!

And the cool thing is you can use it year after year! It will last way longer than gift bags!!

Check out this blue one I made 14 years ago!! I made it about two months before Christmas as I was about to have my son in the beginning of Nov (1997!!!). This one uses paper images! Paper and/or fabric work great!

So fun, huh???

________________

Since that tute was a little short one, I have another to share!!

So, I was shopping in the mall earlier this week (yep, i'm a glutton for punishment, although the word hadn't gotten out that the mall opened early! I was there with the workers and the walkers...totally awesome!!) and I went into one of my fave inspiration stores, Pottery Barn. They had most of their Christmas stuff on 50%. Love that! Check out the wrapping stuff I got for wine!

Here are three bottles in our wine stash...

Aren't those the cutest wrappings???????

Mr. Gorgeous gave me two new bottles of wine for our anniversary Thursday, and he had them wrapped in the little chef apron and hat and the scarf and hat!! Sooooooo cute!!

But really, it was the Joy to the World bag that inspired me. 

Here's my take on it!!

SUPPLIES:

muslin (unbleached looks awesome!!) cut into a 30"x11" rectangle

holiday rubber stamps

Pigment ink or archival ink

ribbon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold the fabric in half and sew up the sides. If you want to sew your ribbon into the seam, fold your ribbon in half and match the folded end to the raw edges and make sure that the ribbon is in the seam!

Fold your bottom corners in to make triangles.

Sew about two inches up (this pic is only one inch, but make it two...you'll like it better!) all the way across! Makes a neat pleat. Do this on both sides of the bottom of the bag.

Turn the bag right side out and fold the top raw edge inside about 1/2 an inch. Press it down. 

Fold it over again about an inch and press!

Sew close to that first folded edge. 

TIP: The Pottery Barn bag started as a longer rectangle...about 36" x 11" and the second fold here was about 3.5". I tried it both ways and I think I like it with a bigger hem, too. Try it both ways! :)

If you didn't sew the ribbon in the seam, at this point, fold the ribbon in half, open it and sew it on the seam at the middle fold.

Using pigment ink, stamp your images onto the middle of your bag!!

To set the ink, turn your bag over and iron it on the back side of it!

And you have a bag!!! And you didn't have to pay the 7$ I did for the one from Pottery Barn!! :)

So fun!!

 

Ohhhhhh I have to share this other fun gift wrapping from Pottery Barn...

This has to be my fave!!

Okay, again, the scotch is from Mr Gorgeous's stash!! (don't tell him I messed with it!!)

Aren't those hysterical????

soooo cute!!!!

Check out these sites for more wrapping ideas!!

Martha Stewart

Country Living

Real Simple

Tip Junkie

 

decor8

 

Such fun ideas!!!

 

Don't forget to comment!! It's going to be a big giveaway! And I will run Mr Random on Christmas evening!! So you only have two more days!! eeeep!!

comment on any of the 12 days posts! yay!!

One more day...be sure and check back tomorrow for a free MUSIC DOWNLOAD!!! yay!!!

{day 10 - little gingerbread fun}

You know you can't have Christmas without a little gingerbread fun!!

So my posts may be getting a little bit shorter since it's getting closer to that magical day, and I just haven't finished my shopping (or creating!! eeeep!) yet! I'm a lot closer! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Christmas is on Sunday. Somehow that is making it easier for me! and I've been sneaking into the stores early when there aren't as many people. LOVE that, too!! :) and of course, Amazon online has been a little Santa-ish for us this year! yay!!! But I hate when the packages arrive and the kids are all "What is that????" "is it for me?" "Are you sure you don't want me to get the door? The UPS man has a LOT to give you!!" LOL!!! 

But while we are ordering and fending off children from their packages, we can take a moment to whip up little fun crafts!! Like this one today!! A little gingerbread man to add to your package or just for the tree or you can do like I did and use it to mark the days off in your advent calendar!

Here's the tutorial!!

This is what we are making!! yipeeee!!

supplies:

red embroidery thread

brown felt

little bitty buttons

patience

poly-fil stuffing

 

instructions:

I found a pattern online HERE! I tried to follow the instructions, but apparently I have bad luck with gingerbread men. So I created my own instructions using this fun pattern!

Fold your felt twice and pin your pattern against both folds and cut that sucker out! (basically you are cutting 2! :) )

BTW, I reduced the pattern so my little guy could fit in the pocket of the advent calender!

Using cool embroidery thread and a straight stitch, sew around the gingerbread man leaving an opening in the side of it's leg. You are basically doing this on the outside of your guy (ie...wrong sides together). and this is where the patience comes in!! Make sure you get it all sewn together well!! :) 

Once you have it all stitched except that one little spot on the leg, fill it ever so slightly with poly-fil! Just enough to give it a little puff!

Add some eyes, a mouth and a button for embellishment sake! Yay! And you have a cute little gingerbread man!! yay!!

Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

~of the father's love begotten lyrics

Wanna see a really inspired blog with eye candy galore and picture after picture of a Winter Wonderland! I could spend days on Torie Jayne's blog!!

 

Aren't her pictures phenomenal??? 

Check out her gingerbread houses!! They are sooooo gorgeous!!

Thanks, Torie Jayne, for the inspiration!!

 

I have to tell you what I did yesterday! I made some gingerbread cookies!! Check it out!

Check out that very cool pan I got!! LOVE!!!

Didn't they turn out great???? 

Here's the kicker, though...

A darling friend gave this mix to me...5 years ago!! I don't know why I waited to use it, but I did. So I tried eating one...nah...not really good!!

So I decided to paint them!! so fun!!!

Cora joined me, too!! pure awesomeness!!

We were watching Holiday Inn while painting! Now everytime I see these, I think of Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby!!

How fun!! I will probably use them to decorate packages!! I love Christmas!!

Ohhhhhh we are nearing the end of our 12 day journey here! If you want a chance to win a little somethin' somethin' for yourself after Christmas, just comment!! Each comment you leave (you can leave more than one on a post, but I'll only count one per post!) I will put your name in the proverbial hat!!

Want another glimpse at something else I'm including in your Grand Prize Pack???

Because I'm in Texas, I thought you'd need some fun Southwest mini quilt kits!!

Fun, huh????

And they are all yours, too! If your name is drawn...but your name won't be in the pile unless you comment!! Let me know what special things you do when making your gingerbread houses!!

{day 9 - a little sheepish Christmas fun}

Ohhh you know me!! If there is a celebration going on here on the blog, there are bound to be sheep!! LOL!!!

So welcome to the day of sheep here!!! Do you want to see some fun sheep pics first??? (sorry if you've seen these before...teeheeee!!!)

and a little reality...(below: these sheep are at a winery in Napa!!)

I decided that I wanted to do some sort of stuffed sheep for today's tutorial! So I made a little sheep ornament for you today!!!

It's fun, simple and reminds me that someone watches over me since I'm kinda like a sheep!! :)

Now, I have an announcement before we get started...This tutorial has a pattern paired with it. But I need to tweak it a little bit! (yep, the season is getting the better of me these last few days!! eeep) But I want you to have it! So, to insure you will get it, go to my Facebook page AND LIKE me! Next week, I will post the link to the pattern PDF on my page!! Be sure and LIKE it today!! I'd hate for you to miss this great sheep pattern!!

SO let's get started!!

SUPPLIES:

Fabric - scraps work! A fat eighth for the body will work great!

fusible web or glue stick

Poly-fil stuffing

Freezer paper

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your freezer paper and trace your pattern...the body and the head separately.

Iron your pattern to the right side of your fabric. For your body fabric, fold a piece in half and iron it on one side!

Here is a spot where you can decide how you want to put your cute little sheep head on the body!

If you use freezer paper, cut out your head.

Take the freezer paper off, turn your head over and using a glue stick, put the glue all over the back and stick it right where you want it!

Zigzag around the head right away! 

If you are using fusible web, trace your sheep head onto the back paper side of your web. Iron it onto the backside of your head (wrong side of the fabric). Take the paper off and iron it where you want it! Zigzag around the head!

Using a blanket stitch, stitch almost all the way around the sheep body, wrong sides together. Leave an opening for stuffing at the bottom of the body.

Stuff that sweet lambie all full!! and finish up sewing the bottom.

You can sew the baker's twine in the top seam if you remember to put it in there!! If you don't remember, like me, then fold the twine in half and sew a straight stitch on top of it at the top of the sheep.

And there you go!! You can add embellishments all over your sheep! You can embroider on it, or add button eyes...lots of options! For my ornament, I used Aneela Hoey's Walk in the Woods and Little Apples fabrics for my sweet sheep!!

Here's another project I whipped up using that fun sheep pattern:

I added little feet to this sheep!! So fun!! and I used Ruby by Bonnie and Camille from Moda. I embroidered the words on the bottom! LOVE embroidery and this verse!!!

Be sure and LIKE me on Facebook so you can grab this pattern next week!!

 

One of my favorite verses about sheep...

{credits: Hope and Joy from Kitty Designs & Beloved from Jennifer Labre}

 

So here are some other stuffed lamb patterns!! I love lambies!!

 

This is Happy Lamby Sewing Pattern from LittleHibouShoppe.

sooo cute, huh???

This pattern is one of my faves!!

It is Lilly Lamb from Bit of Whimsy! I've whipped up several of these...

Here's one I did...

I love that her name is Lilly...just like my Lil...

Both Lillies are cute!!!

Now, check out this FREE sheep tutorial!! Soooo cute!!

Little Lamb pillows from Purl Bee!!

soooo fun!!!

I hope these have inspired you to make something sheepishly!! :)

I just have to take a second to mention Mr. Gorgeous and the fact that today is our 20th anniversary!! YES!! We've been married for 20 years today...it was a beautiful wedding...filled with Christmas decorations and wonderful people and gorgeous music!! Here are another look at this scanned pic from the ceremony:

Here are some digital LOs scrapping some of the pics...

wanna see pics of my sweet wedding dress...taken by my first born?

I'm super excited to say that I'm more in love with this fantastic man than ever!!!!

he's pretty awesome...just sayin'...Thanks for celebrating 20 years with me!! 

Tune in tomorrow when I share some fun GINGERBREAD fun!!! yipeeeeee!!!!





 

{day 8 - decorate your table with a festive runner!}

 

How exciting is this to have Julie visit my blog??? I LOVE this project and can't wait for her to show you how she did it! So without further ado, here's Julie with the Intrepid Thread!!

 

Better Than Mistletoe Table Runner

DOWNLOAD the printable PDF here!!

 

 

Supplies:

 1/2 YD Background Fabric

1/3 yd Ornament fabric or enough to fussy cut 6 – 5 inch circles

1/2 yd Border Fabric

6 – 3” strips by WOF of Ribbon fabric

5/8 yd Background Fabric

½ yd – 20” wide Fusible web

Batting, insul-brite, or fleece

 

Instructions:

 

1. Fussy cut 6 motifs from your ornament fabric using an old CD or the template provided. I like using an old CD because you can center the hole over the middle of the motif and make sure that you are cutting them all the same. Cut out the same number of circles from your fusible web.

(you can download a circle template HERE if you don't have a CD hanging around!) 

 2. Apply the fusible web to the back side of your fabric circles according to manufacturer’s directions.

   

3. Cut background fabric to 18” x 36”.  Arrange ornaments, three on each side in a pleasing manner. I placed them 7”, 4”, and 9” from the short edge and about 1 ½” from the long edge on either side.  Fuse.

 

            I alternated on the each side to make them more interesting.

4. Trace around the Bow Template on your fusible web 6 times. You don’t have to draw them out as perfect bows - you can fit them in here and there on scraps of fusible. As long as you remember to have a right and left side for each bow it will be okay. The bow template is also provided so you don’t have to trace around the picture. As you can see my tracing skills are not so great LOL

DOWNLOAD your BOW template HERE!! 

 

5. Fuse and cut one bow and cut one 1” strip from each 3” x WOF strip of ribbon fabric

6. Use your ruler and draw a line from the edge to ½ inch from the center of each ornament.

 7. Fold each 1” strip in half long ways and press.

8. Place the bows on the background next to the ornaments in a pleasing manner. Then pin the raw edge of the corresponding folded strips on the drawn lines

9. Sew a scant ¼ down the raw edge.

 

10. Fold the folded edge of the strip over the sewn (raw) edge and press.

Then edge stitch down both sides of the strip very close to the edge. Make sure that the folded edge is covering the raw edges. Trim if needed to achieve this.

11. Finish the raw edges of your ornaments in your favorite raw edge appliqué technique. I used a fancy stitch on my machine.

12. Fuse the bows on placing the knot over the end of the strip. Then finish the raw edges as desired (I used a blanket stitch). As you can see there is a little space in between the pieces.

13. Cut 4 – 3 ½ inch strips from border fabric. Subcut 2 strips to 36” in length and two strips to 23 ½” in length. Sew the 36” borders to the sides, then sew the 23 1/2” borders to the top and bottom using ¼ inch seams.

 

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

 

____________

yay, Julie!!! LOVE love love this!!!

Let Julie and I know if you make this fun table runner!! wow!!!

 

isn't this a fun quote???

{credits: Paislee Press and TaylorMade Lemonade Stand, Jennifer Labre's Beloved, and the tree template from Sue Cummings and Vicki Stegall's 52Inspirations {christmas inspired}}

Ohhhh I'm super excited to share other tutorials Julie has done!! Check out her link here to her TUTORIALS from her blog!

and I just have to share some of my favorite fabrics that she has in her store...

Rendezvous by Khristian Howell!!

Flora by Lauren and Jesse Jung 

Gorgeous!!!!

Pear Tree by Thomas Knauer

love!!! (You've probably seen some of these fabrics before from me!! teeeheee!!)

Meet the Gang by Marisa from Creative Thursday

Ohhhhhh this is my latest love...Stay tuned to the blog after Christmas! (Or maybe even before!!)...

...ohhhhh it's getting ready to be something AMAZING!!! :) LOVE!!!

SO I have an exciting announcement!! I"ve been working a lot in my craft studio and I keep finding fun things that I just don't have time to use!! Soooooooo...today, I'm giving away in my Grand Prize giveaway...

drum roll, please???

a 5-pack of Kaffe Fasset fat quarters!!!!

WOW!!!! All you have to do is comment on one of the 12 days posts!! and your name will be entered in the drawing! wow!! You can comment on every post! and I will count it each time you comment! (once per post will count! :))

Ohhhhh tomorrow, things may get a little Sheepish around here!! so fun!!!

{day 7 - fun quick kitchen gifts!!}

yes, can you believe it? it's day 7 which means we have 6 days before Christmas arrives!! eeeek!! Are you done with your Christmas crafting? your shopping? I have to answer no to both of those!!!

So today's tutorial is a collection of fun ideas for kitchen-themed gifts! Who doesn't love a little kitchen inspiration??? First of all, goodies...You need to make some tasty goodies for your friends, teachers, or hostess gifts!!

Here's a clever idea for a yummy seasonal treat:

PEPPERMINT BROWNIES

Super easy to do!! Just grab a good box brand that you LOVE (like Ghirardelli!! yummmmm!!), some Peppermint Extract, and cracked peppermint candy and you are good to go!!!

Don't forget to read the instructions before you start!! This particular box says to mix the wet stuff first and then add the dry...

After you've mixed in the dry box mix, add some peppermint extract (a dollop will do!!) and then the crushed peppermint!

Ohhhhh, I am loving this fun glass brownie pan...perfect!!!

Santa was helping me check the readiness of the brownies!! To do that, just stick a toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean! If it does, pull them out!!! 

It took me a bunch of toothpicks to finally finish baking these gorgeous brownies!!

Can't you just smell the minty yummminess????

Now, you need an oven mitt to take those brownies out!! Check these out:

I made this one first...(I've been using it quite a bit during the holiday season...especially when I was cooking my turkeys!!)

And here is my second one:

Perfect for your vintage kitchen!!! :)

To whip one of these up, go HERE to Amanda's blog to download the tutorial!

How fun is that??? Wouldn't they look fabulous on top of a pan of brownies for your daughter's piano teacher? or your son's cello teacher?

_______

And what about dishtowels??

Here is a fun quick tutorial on embellishing dishtowels!!

When I had my big Delighted launch party here on the blog, I had a number of winners that won little pin cushion kits. Crazily, I got all wrapped up in the Thanksgiving season and didn't get those little gifties out until after Thanksgiving!! eeeeep! So, in order to thank all of my lovely winners, I included a fat quarter of vintage Christmas fabric in with their gifties! I love this sweet fabric, and I bought some for me, too!! Here's one idea that I did using this fun "postcard-type" fabric and dishtowels I got from IKEA for 4$ for 12!!! wow!

To do this fast fun project, you'll need fusible web (like Heat N Bond Lite) and Sulky's Tear Away stabilizer...love that!

There are a several of ways you can do this! I'll show you two! Cut out one of the panels. Use a rotary cutter to create straight edges!

Place fusible web on the back (wrong) side of the panel.

Iron it onto your dishtowel.

Before you zigzag around your panel, pin stabilizer on the back side of your dishtowel right behind your panel!

zigzag around your panel (TIP: use a tighter stitch than I used here so when you tear the stabilizer out, you won't pull out the stitches!!)

rip a little bit out of the middle of the back of the panel and then tear it all off of your dishtowel! (notice my stitches are tighter!)

Here's another way to do this...

Cut out three panels in one grouping!

When you are ironing your panels onto your dishtowel, measure each side to make sure you are centering your panel.

Pin your stabilizer on the back!

Zigzag around your panel!

tear your stabilizer off!

This is what the back looks like after the stabilizer is off! Nice and clean and ready to go!

What if you didn't measure???

Here's a fun way to center it all...add some stamping!!!

stamp your words on the left side of your panel...

and your final project on the oven door!!!

I just love these panels!!! and I love the vintage Christmas they bring to my kitchen!! yay!!!

Let me know if you do any of these tutorials for your kitchen!!!

Best Christmas verse ever!!

{this uses Sue Cummings and Vicki Stegall's 52 Inspirations {Christmas Inspired} and doodles from the font Pea Deva McQueen}

Did you get enough kitchen inspiration???? 

I didn't think so...

because the kitchen wouldn't be finished unless you had an apron!!!!

So I've recently guest posted on other blogs with apron tutorials!! I LOVE aprons!!

Check them out:

Matching Mother-Daughter Sugar and Spice Aprons

Go to the TUTORIAL HERE!!

and my Promenade apron! Love this flirty apron!!

Check out the tutorial on Julie's BLOG HERE!!

 

Aren't those so fun????

I have to also share a new product I will have in my store starting January 1st!!

It is a custom apron made for you!! All you'll have to do is go to Julie's store and pick two fabrics that you absolutely LOVE, and I will get the fabric and make the apron for you!! All for the low price of $20!!! wow!!! It doesn't get any better than that!! 

wait...there is more!!

Starting January 1st, there will be FREE SHIPPING on all items in my store to any US address!! And I will add shipping to other countries, too!! yay!!! How awesome is that????

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post!! OHhhh we have another guest treat for you!! Julie over at the Intrepid Thread will be sharing her tutorial for her secret project that she sneaky peeked over at her blog last week!!!! wooohooooo!!!

{day 6 - art journaling our way to transformation!}

You didn't think I was going to do have a 12 Days run without some paper crafting, did you???? Of course not!!! I still really enjoy getting out the paper mess and creating randomly! (although my philosophical daughter argued with me the other day that nothing is really random!! Then she mentioned Jackson Pollack and that's when I started thinking about painting and then I got all lost and then I think the conversation was over!! homeschoolers!! LOL!!!)

Are you looking for a quick gift to whip up in an afternoon? Something that uses your stash??? (It could be fabric, too!!) Look no further!!

Several years ago, while "researching" scrapbooking online, I came across Rhonna Farrer's blog. Rhonna is a scrapbook designer, both digtal and paper, and a very inspirational artist! Rhonna was about to start her "21 Day Challenge". There is a belief that it takes 21 days to create a habit! (I believe it!!). Rhonna did a challenge for 21 days while art journaling through the journey! She posted a new inspirational quote every day and brought a bunch of girls with her on that journey!

This was my first introduction to digital scrapbooking. It's how I got hooked!! I was already a paper scrapper and a stamper. And I LOVED art journals!! I still do!! 

So today, I'm going to show you how to make a simple fun 21 day art journal for someone you love! Or even for yourself!! 

SUPPLIES:

a mini blank notebook (I got mine from Stampin' Up!)

paper

punch for the spiral holes (optional)

stickers, metal embellishments, vintage images - whatever you LOVE

spray ink (I used Glimmer Mist! awesomeness!!)

glue stick, glue dots, double sided tape, other adhesives

black water resistant ink

number stamps

pigment pen

 

Let's CREATE!!

Cut your front paper to size (mine was 5.25") and punch the left side with the spiral hole punch. Using a glue stick, cover the back side and glue it to the front of the book!

Do the same for the back cover only punch the right side of the paper! LOL!!

Using spray ink, mist the cover lightly!

You can lay something on the paper and then spray, leaving a white spot! (see above!)

add deco tape, pictures, cards, metal epherma, stickers, whatever you LOVE...notice the sheep sticker on mine!! LOL!!

Also, I love to title my little books. I used two number stickers and then wrote Sally's and days around the stickers. FUN!!! 

I also used glue dots (best invention ever!!) to place my antique buttons just where I wanted them!

For the inside, I stamped a number on each page. Because my book had twenty sheets, I stamped "1" on the opening page, then each number on the right page of the two page spread, then "21" on the last page of the book.

I used a pigment pen to write the word "day" around each number! So fun!!

I added matching ribbons to the spirals and VOILA!!! There is my journal!!

...all ready for me to start changing my habits!!

So I thought you might want to see pieces of a finished art journal...

I did this one a while ago...it is a hybrid journal - a combination of digital pages and paper with writing on it.

It's so fun to go back and read through these old journals!! I get all inspired again...

Yes!!! FOLLOW your CALLING!!! yay!!

Feel free to comment with any questions about creating your own 21 day challenge Art Journal!!

For me, this verse says it all about Christmas!! The Joy and Hope that comes from that little baby in a manger!! and because of that hope, I will praise that baby everyday more and more!!!

 

I know you wanted to get in on Rhonna's 21 day challenge when it comes back around!!

The cool thing is that link will take you to her page that explains it...and she has previous challenges archived so you can go back and do it yourself with a HUGE amount of inspiration!!!!

Join her on her blog for this exciting journey!! You might even see a familiar face while doing it!! (yeah, that was me I was talking about!! LOL!!) 

 

Ohhhhhh and in honor of you art journaling, I have to show you a couple more fun things that I'm giving away in my GRAND prize giveaway! yay!!

Yes, you see right!! Your very own mini art journal with 20 pages inside! And you get three handmade completely blank accordian mini books!!! And that cute little thing on top of one of the mini books is a fun little fabric birdie paper clip from Anthropologie!! yep...you will be hip while journaling!!! 

All you have to do to be entered to win is comment on one or all of the 12 days posts. I will count one comment per post with a maximum of 12 entries per person!! yay!!! wow!!! 

I so appreciate your comments!! And I hope this has inspired a little bit of art in your life today! 

{day 5 - let's decorate that mantle with a Christmas banner!}

 

You know what I'm going to say!! YES!! I"m so excited!! Today I get to share a tutorial from my sweet friend, Brooke, from Silly Mama Quilts! She has a fantastic tutorial on how to make this fun Countdown Christmas banner for your mantle. You know I have an affinity for these fun bunting banners!

This is one of my fave fabric lines, too!! Countdown to Christmas by Sweetwater Designs! WTG, Brooke!! It's sooo fun!! Let's make it!

DOWNLOAD the printable PATTERN HERE!

Merry Christmas!!!  Brooke here from Silly Mama Quilts blog and etsy shop and today, I am excited to share a new fun Christmas Decoration project with you.  I was thrilled to be included in Sally’s Countdown to Christmas event.  So hope you are ready to begin….

Countdown Christmas Banner

 

Select some Christmas fabrics and rick rack.

I chose to work with Sweetwater’s Christmas line.

I selected 7 different prints.  I cut a 5 inch strip the width of the fabric of each.

 

Next I place a piece of batting in between the two layers like this.  I am going to free motion quilt the strip beginning at the open ends and working toward the folded end.

 

Do this with the remaining fabrics.

Now you are ready to cut out your bunting pieces.  I cut a triangle 5 inches wide and the sides are 7 inches long.  I made a pattern out of paper.  I cut out my triangles and then pinked the edges.  You can get about three triangles out of each piece.

 

*note – some of my fabrics had wording and I didn’t realize until cutting out the triangles that on one side the wording will be upside down – oh dear!

 

So here are all of my banners.

 

Next I laid a piece of jumbo rick rack on the floor to begin placing the banners on it.

 

My rick rack is 2 yards long.  I decided to work with the black first.

I laid my banners in a pleasing arrangement on top of the rick rack.  Then I sewed a zigzag stitch over the whole piece.

 Next I laid the red rick rack over the top and zigzagged again.

 

Then since I love Sweetwater’s labels, I added a Christmas label on one of the banners.  I ironed it on and then stitched around it. 

So there you are a fun banner to add to your Christmas decorations.

 

Merry Christmas to one and all!!  I would love to see your banner project too!!!

Merry Christmas!!

___________________________

Ohhh Brooke, it's awesome!!! Thanks sooo much for sharing this with us today!! yipeeee!!!

Here's a quote I found that is very fun and fitting!! 

{all digital elements from 52 Inspirations {Christmas Inspired} by Sue Cummings and Vicki Stegall at Oscraps}

You must go and check out Brooke's other tutorials!! She has several on Amanda's site!

Her latest is gorgeous using Amanda's Delighted Fabric!!

To see the FREE eMag that I pilfered this picture from, and to see other projects of Brooke's using Delighted, GO HERE! and you can download the tutorial for this table topper at the end of that post!! yay!!

And if you are signed up for Julie's newsletter (see her sidebar), she usually has a fun tutorial in each monthly newsletter!! 

Here are some awesome projects that she has for sale right now in her Etsy store!!! So you don't even need to follow any tutorials!! Run and grab one or all of these!!! (hurry, before I do!!)

Blue Iced Snowflakes table runner

Snowmen Circle Up table runner

Kumari Holiday Circle Table Runner

Isn't she a genius??

I have the best friends!! :)

And to prove that her tutorials are awesome, I've followed one and made my own Christmas table runner! (This tutorial came from Julie's November Intrepid Thread Newsletter. Thanks, Julie and Brooke!!)

 

I love my dining room...I know...I'm a broken record! But it's fun to truly be thankful!! 

I chose to just zigzag the edges...no stress, fast finish and a little whimsy in there, too!! :)

LOVE!!!! (I grew up with this nativity set...I think my aunt made it out of plaster of paris! fun!!!)

This is made from Khristian A. Howell's Moroccan Mirage! Soooo gorgeous and it feels like magic!! You can get some in Julie's store right here!!

Thanks again to Brooke for her wonderful genius tutorials!!

BUT WAIT...she's not done!!! eeek!!!

When you comment on a 12 days post here, your name is entered in my GRAND PRIZE drawing!! Yay!!! (Maximum entries is 12!! wow!!!)

And today, I'm gonna tell you that if you win, you will win a 20$ GC to BROOKE's ETSY STORE!!!!! OHHHHHHH WOW!!!!!!!!

If you feel like you just don't know how you can choose from her wonderful stuff, you can just pick something and send it to me!! teeeeheeee!! I LOVE IT ALL!!!

Thanks, Brooke AGAIN!!! for being a part of my 12 days!! yay!!!!!