lovely little lions...

Aren't these lion cookies darling? My mind is bubbling with ideas based on these sweet creations. Oh, and there are penguins, too. So many clever ideas in blogland!

via Chez Beeper Bebe

yule yarn...

An easy-peasy holiday craft, almost as simple as those delightful candle jars from the last post! Yarn ornaments. Simple styrofoam balls wrapped with nubby yarn in pretty colors. I did this once years ago to fill a decorative basket but never thought of them for ornaments. Don't you love that thick colorful yarn. Simple and kid-friendly, that's happy!

via Bloom

get your holiday craft on...

I don't know about your house, but around here the holidays just aren't quite as festive without a bit of glitter and glue, pom-poms and paint, ribbon and ric-rac. We gotta craft! Right now we're gearing up and can't get enough of the online magazines filled with brilliant ideas, free printables and pretty pictures. So much inspiration... we're eating it up!

I've been perusing Amy's glossy new issue of Inspired Ideas. It's chock full of Christmas craftiness. The darling glittered village above is made with milk cartons and a bit of magic. You know you want to make tiny, sparkly houses. Don't you!? What could be happier? Except maybe a yarn ball wreath or yo-yo trees!

Then I came across Gifted Magazine the other day and immediately fell in love. Pretty galore. Creative tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses of artisans preparing their holiday wares and a fabulous gift guide. I'm in love with the achingly beautiful and simple vignette of jars filled with candles and "snow" below (pg 94). Go flip through, you'll find much to love, too.

I'm inspired, now I'm off to straighten my craft table so I can fill it with new bits of crafty goodness. What fills your house with holiday cheer? Are you craft-obsessed, too?

manifesto...

I've been seriously contemplating killing our t.v. lately. It would be so good. Really good. Can I give up "What Not To Wear" though? That is the question. Shallow or what?

How great is this aardvark manifesto? I'm thinking we should come up with one for our family. What would it say? Things like... eat more jello... siblings = friends... maintenance is key... ride your bike... march to your own drummer... choose healthy food... be nice to your mother.  Good stuff like that.  What would yours say?


manifesto via Aesthetic Outburst

greetings in bunting...

I never seem to tire of bunting though I've made plenty.  I've sewn large bunting for parties in fabric, in paper, in plastic.  I've incorporated tiny bunting in designs for cards, for flyers, for bulletin boards, you name it.  But it's never occurred to me to make tiny bunting as the actual card.

I am so loving this clever idea from Cathe Holden that I think I may even whip one up today for my niece's birthday and then maybe one for my newest nephew.  What a fun and festive way to use up lots of paper or fabric scraps.

♥ felt...

Alicia's done it again.  Felt ornaments so delightful it makes me want to cry.  Look at that red coat.  The red gingham... the tiny stitching.  Could it be more darling?

The last three years she's designed these felt ornament kits and each year I drool and then hem and haw over them until they are gone.  I have no embroidery skills.  Would I massacre their heirloom-worthy loveliness?  Would this fear cause me to leave the kits in their bags indefinitely?  How sad would that be?

I was actually slightly relieved when I saw the new kit.  I can't possibly buy it since I never actually bought the previous kits.  Right?  Can't not have a complete set.  Then I scroll down.  Oh... oh!  It's the cottage with the sweet beaded lights from last year, the tree with the perfectly placed sequins, the charming pink cocoa cup and... *sigh* the beloved, much-remembered ice skate.  She's re-released the last two year's sets.  My heart beats faster.  Now a new reason to hem and haw... should I spend $75. on ornament kits that may suffer the horrible fates listed above?

Oh, but look at that ice skate.  Can I resist?

easy as a-b-c...

Check out this great playroom.  So cheerful and crisp.  Do you think it's always that neat?  Wish mine was!

And those alphabet canvases... simple but eyecatching.  Perfect for a kid's bedroom, too.  Wouldn't these be great in a bedroom shared by a sister and brother?  Girly fabrics and boyish fabrics all working together to make the alphabet.  Fun!

via ohdeedoh

rootbeer cupcakes...

I love me some rootbeer.  Don't these cupcakes look fun?  I wonder if they taste as good as they look...

via twigandthistle

handmade hangers...

I think I've got a crush on this clever custom hanger...

fit to be tied...

How spiffy are these personalized neckties for Father's Day? I don't know if I'll have time to whip one of these up this year though.

Do you have any great Father's Day gift ideas?

wee watercolor...

This idea looks so fun with such wall-worthy results, I can't wait to try it this summer with the kiddos!

via plumpudding

pull-toy perfection,,,

I am so enamored with these adorable pull-toys... I haven't been able to stop thinking about them for several days. Aren't they dreamy? Smooth and graphic and timeless, oh my! There aren't any for sale right now but oh, how I want one. Maybe I'll have to make one of my own with the directions the artist so generously provided here. Perhaps a pink polka-dotted bunny or a gingham giraffe or... so many ideas so little time...

via ohdeedoh

to market, to market...

Check out this pretty little Jane Market Bag at Posie Gets Cozy. Just as practical and roomy as the ones they sell at the grocery store but so much more attractive. Buy the pattern here and make one with your favorite fabrics. A perfect way to brighten any shopping trip!

Wouldn't it be sweet as a Mother's Day gift? Or how about as a customized kit for the sewing mama. Choose some cheerful fabrics to give with the pattern. Cute!

Now if I can figure out how to sew with baby on one arm...

felt fishies...

How fun is this Aquarium Board with Felt Magnet Fish? It would be so great as an interactive art piece in a playroom or child's bedroom wouldn't it? Great directions for making it here!

mail order...

This clever idea is going to be a good thing on the table in my front entry. Simple and smart.

This plate rack looks like it would work...

handmade...

Adding this adorable craft project to my list of things to do... someday!












via Country Living & plumpudding

sweet valentine packaging...

I think I'm in love with these ideas for packaging up Valentine sweets!

















Twig & Thistle has two delectable templates for us to print.

The first one is for a Sweetheart Brownie Valentine. A festive bag filled with brownies cut into heart shapes! Easy, peasy plenty of time to do that for someone special before Saturday, right!?

The second one is a template for a Sweetie Pie box to be filled with mini apple pies. So adorable!

Sweet and nicely designed... lovely!

P.S. If you can't find the bags she uses for the brownies, the template could be printed onto paper and pasted to a cute box.

via Design Mom

dolly dress display...

Love this sweet idea over at allsorts. I wonder if my mom would let me have some of her old dollies for a project like this. Perfect for dolls that are too fragile for play and better than just tucking them away in a lonely dresser drawer.

creative calendar...

Hmmm... I'm thinking that I must have a thing for calendars lately. Anyhoo, I think this Perpetual Photo Calendar looks like a fun project. The kids would enjoy searching out numbers to photograph.

bakerella...

Go check out all the Halloween cuteness at Bakerella!