December 28, 2010

my favorite project of the year

This week's CSI Project theme is your favorite project of the year. Now that my son is almost 4 years old, I've been able to get back into crafting. (The willingness of a child to play independently is such a wonderful thing!) I had a number of craft fails in 2010, but I've also made several things that I've loved. If I have to choose just one favorite project, it would be my Goodwill dresser/hutch makeover I did back in October.

Before (but after sanding because I forgot to take real "before" photos):




After:

I've always wanted to revamp a piece of furniture. I'm proud of myself for finally doing it and completing it in less than a week from start to finish (my husband needed his side of the garage back). I sanded it myself, painted it myself, and replaced the hardware myself. My husband did help me move it (it is heavy). He also primed it for me. I think he knew it was going to turn out awesome and wanted to be able to take credit for helping!

December 23, 2010

painted wood Christmas ornaments

I had some leftover scraps of wood from my painted jack-o-lantern project, so I decided to make some little wooden Christmas ornaments.




They were so easy to make. I painted the front and back of the wood pieces with a brush and a light coat of eggshell white acrylic paint. Normally when I paint, I do several coats to completely cover the wood. For these ornaments, I wanted a more distressed look, and one light coat allowed the wood grain to show through. I stamped the ornaments with various Christmas stamps and StazOn ink. I sanded the edges to get rid of the rough spots and distress it even more. A few little holes drilled in the top, some craft wire, a quick coat of matte sealer, and they're done! I'm going to use them as package toppers for my Christmas gifts this year. The ones that turned out less than perfect will find a home on my Christmas tree. Thanks for looking!

December 18, 2010

SMS Giveaway Winner!

Using random.org, the winner of my Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway is comment #21. . .

barneyn said...


this year i will be making a few of these as gifts! they are soo cute!
http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/07/tissue-pouch-tutorial.html

Thanks for everybody for participating in my giveaway and sharing all of the fun gifts you are making for Christmas this year!

December 12, 2010

Sew, Mamma, Sew! Giveaway Day

It's Sew, Mama, Sew! giveaway time again! I will be giving away one morsbag (fabric shopping bag) to at least one lucky winner. If I can finish more than one bag this week, there will be more than one winner. Of course I haven't finished any bags yet, but they will look something like this--


--except they will be made out of different fabric from thrifted sheets. (I promise the material I use will be like brand new. I'm pretty picky about the thrifted items I use to make my bags.) I'll post a picture of the completed bags when they're done.

To be entered to win, just leave a comment on this post (one comment per person and US residents only) about a handmade gift you have made or plan to make for somebody this holiday season. (If you have a link to the tutorial or a picture of your completed project, I would love to see them. I'm always looking for new ideas!) If you're not a crafter, leave a comment about the best handmade gift you ever received. I will use random.org to choose the winner(s) from all comments left by 12 midnight CST on Friday, December 17, 2010. I will ship the item(s) by December 20. Be sure to leave an e-mail address if I can't contact you through your comment. Thanks for participating!

December 8, 2010

krafty Christmas cards

I have about half of my Christmas cards made. I decided to go very, very simple this year. . .


The cardstock is cardboard I rescued from the trash at work. I have a thing for saving kraft-colored stuff, and some of the cardboard has a really beautiful texture to it. I embossed the bottom using my Cuttlebug. The "Merry Christmas" paper, corrugated green cardstock, and twine are all from my stash so my cards were pretty much free. I'll add a computer-generated sentiment inside, print off my address labels and cross cards off my to-do list. Thanks for looking!


December 7, 2010

nativity parade

Char at Crap I've Made is hosting a Nativity Parade.  We inherited a manger and nativity figures from my mother-in-law last year after she moved to a smaller home.  The manger was handmade by my husband's grandfather in 1973--so it's older than I am.  The ceramic figurines are dated 1976 on the bottom.


I also have a clay pot set my friend made me for Christmas several years ago.  I put it on my almost 4-year-old son's dresser.

My son keeps asking me why baby Jesus is in a pot, and I don't really have a good answer for him!

December 1, 2010

painted Christmas signs

I love this small handmade painted sign I purchased at a gift shop a few years ago--


I've considered buying more every time I'm at a craft show, but I decide not to since I could make one myself.  I finally bought a 1" x 2", had my husband cut it in small pieces and made this--


I painted it with Ceramcoat acrylic paint (barn red and lime green) and used foam stamps to stamp the sentiment.  I wasn't that happy with the paint job on the words until I sanded them a little.  It distressed it just enough to make it look good.  (Not that you can tell from the horrible picture.)  Now to make about 10 more before Christmas!