I have really been trying to use up some of the crafting supplies I have on hand this Christmas so I thought I would post a few more Christmas gifts I made this year. I got the idea for this from here. I loved the one she made using an embroidery hoop. I wanted to use what I had on hand, so I used a 16x16 canvas. The only thing I had to buy was a few vintage Christmas ornaments. I found them at Habitat for Humanity for $2.00 for a box of 21. I think I need to make one for myself =)

 Next up I needed some girly gifts for the hubbys assistants at work.

 I've had this recipe for lotion for a few years, and probably had all the ingredients since last Christmas.

 I got the recipe from here.

 I packaged them all up in a few plastic jars and used lots of rhinestones and ribbon.

 Add a little gift card for coffee and he's good to go!

After finishing the Christmas ornament tree I decided I liked using the glitter letters so I added Silent night to the driftwood tree I made. I love it even more now!

 I bought these cute little "Merry Christmas vinyl kits from Groupdealz  (I think)

 The kits came with the wood pieces and the vinyl, I added the paint, card stock and rhinestones from my crafting stash. One is going to my neighbor for a "neighbor gift". She bakes, so I didn't want to burden her with MORE baked goods =)

 I will probably keep one...

Now to decide which one to keep! Ha!

 I think a bomb exploded in the craft cottage!

 The silly thing is...

 I can still manage to create in this mess!

 Keeping it real friends and hoping to get it all cleaned up before the New Year =)

 This morning we had a craft get together in the craft cottage.

 A friend asked me to direct her in creating her own wedding invitations. She contacted me a few months ago asking for my help. She sent me an example of some invitations she loved on Etsy...

 I was able to make some samples in different sizes, so she could see how inexpensive we could recreate them for. She was able to purchase the paper, create the wording for the invitations, then take everything to a print shop to print on her paper and cut to size. All we had to do today was some hole punching, perforating, folding and ribbon tying!

 They turned out beautiful!

 You can't have a party without munchies,

 or beverages!

I've missed hanging out in the craft cottage... but I have a few projects in the works I will be posting soon!

Valentine Mantel 2012 #2!

 This is my second post for today, continue to scroll down for the first one!
I finished my Valentine mantel in the craft cottage! I kept it pretty simple. I had purchased the twig heart on a recent craft trip and wanted to dress it up a bit. I added some felt flowers with button centers. Lots of tutorials in blogland... I didn't follow one in particular, just pulled out my glue gun and cut the felt that was already out.

 I made the heart garland in about 10 minutes! So easy... again quite a few tutorials out there... just grabbed my mini stapler and some strips of red and white paper. I would have liked to make these out of felt, maybe next year!

 This frame had the glass break... I added some $.99 letters from Target right onto the pressed board backing, then added a glittered heart.

Considering it will be changing again in a couple weeks, I am going to call it done!

Linking to this linky party!
Tomorrow I am taking you for a walk through the yard, the birds are chirping the frogs are croaking! Spring must be close!

Valentine Artwork, thoughts this Saturday morning...

 I created a couple Valentine frames like the Fall one I did here.

I also posted a tutorial of how I did it here on my other blog.

 We woke up to our first snow of the winter and 2012.

 I am hoping it doesn't stick around for too long!

I am still working on redecorating the house since all the Christmas has been put away. What have you been up to?

2011 Christmas tags

I had some fun a few weeks ago creating some tags for Christmas presents.

I used some Stampin Up! paper I had, some glittered thickers and punched some snowflakes from some pretty glittered paper.

I made some that were a little more masculine looking for the men.

And some that were more on the feminine side for the women.

I think I will put them on my list to make ornaments for the tree next year =) Christmas is getting closer, are you ready?

Thanksgiving table settings and Christmas crafts

 Before I show you a few things I have been working on for Christmas, I thought I would show my Thanksgiving place settings. I know... rewind! Sorry, I haven't posted in a few weeks.

 It was just the hubby and I so it was a quiet, easy day.

It's still fun to dress the table up with little extras! I found these small black frames at Michael's in the 2 for $3.00 section. I left the paper that was already enclosed in them and just added some wood like letters I had on hand and some clearance fabric flowers with a bit of ribbon. Made up a little card for each of us to write down what we were thankful for this year. The "Blessings" stamp also came from the bin at Michael's.

 Now lets talk some Christmas! Do you make gifts or buy them all? I like to do both. I usually make a gift that I do for quite a few family members. This year I am including some nieces that have moved out on their own and are probably beginning to start their "Christmas collections".
I was on Groopdealz a few weeks ago and saw this cute vinyl ($8.00) and thought it would be perfect for a few Christmas presents. Also a good class project for the Craft cottage.

 It is good sized 10x13. I went to Walmart and bought 2 sizes of frames 10x13 and 11x14 (which was the size I wanted but they didn't have enough of them). I have 3 different fabrics to put behind them, the one above is my favorite gold shimmery snowflakes on a white shimmery background.

 A solid green and a solid red. Originally I was going to paint the frames with some white spray paint, I did do a couple of them but haven't finished them yet. I kind of like the pop of black and gold. I have been having fun decorating each one a little differently.

  I've used some punched snowflakes, some rhinestones, stickers, bits of ribbon and even some jingle bells.
I had a craft class last weekend and forgot to take pictures! We had a great time even though it was a smaller group. We did 20 Christmas cards.

I had bought some of these flat clear ornaments at Michael's when they were 50% off, so I thought I would make some melting snowman ornaments.
Are you all decorated for Christmas? Shopping done? I am as decorated as I am going to be this year! I couldn't take the bins all over the house any longer and called it done to restore order. Shopping is almost done, I am hoping to get them all packaged up and sent off by the end of the week.
Thanks for stopping in today! Have a lovely week!