Thursday, December 19, 2024

BFF Open House Party Through Year End

 


Happy Friday Eve all! By this time next week, Santa will have come and the first night of Hanukkah candles will have been lit. I'm taking a page out of a friend's idea and making this a two week party that will stay up through year end. 

This week I shared my 2024 Christmas Cards and here's a short video from our Disney trip. If you've ever thought of going at the holidays I highly recommend it. Everything that stands still is decorated and attractions like The Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World are completely transformed. The Anaheim Haunted Mansion is the only one of all the Disney Parks to re-do itself in a Nightmare Before Christmas Theme, complete with a scented Gingerbread House ballroom. All of the characters are also dressed for the season. And the treats! 


Let's take a  look at some ideas from last week's party!


Sonata Home Design shared a wonderful Tassel Tree Framed Art Piece made from yarn! So creative. 


My Thrift Store Addiction has a great gift idea you still have time to do with Homemade Herb Sea Salt


Artsy Va Va shared this wonderful Farmhouse Style Centerpiece that can also double as a wreath! 



Finally, Rose Bakes shared this very festive Grinch Punch. Next to Disney gear, the next character we saw the most of on fellow park goers was The Grinch. Shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, backpacks, you name it. 

Thank you to all who linked up not only last week but in 2024. Can't wait to see what creativity is in store for 2025 and what crafty tools Santa may leave under your trees! Whether you're celebrating Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, something else, or nothing at all, wishing you all a joyous and peaceful end of the year and a great and creative start to 2025! The link party will stay open through New Year's Day









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Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Papercrafting: 2024 Christmas Cards

 


My first love remains papercrafting and cardmaking. I still make all of my holiday and birthday cards for friends and family and remain honored each year that several keep and use them in their own holiday decorating. 

I have amassed quite the collection of papers but can't resist checking out new ones every year and sometimes combining with collections from previous years. I start stalking Michaels in September for their holiday papers since they go fast when they come out. Here's this year's crop! 

Supplies
  • Holiday Themed Papers: New stacks this year High Shine and Holiday Cheer by Recollections
  • White 110lb Cardstock: Recollections
  • Glitter Cardstock (Amazon)
  • Foam Tape and Squares (Dollar Tree)
  • Tape Runner and Tape
  • Self Adhesive Rhinestones


See? Stacks on stacks! 

I found some wonderful tree images via my Creative Fabrica subscription that are reminiscent of handmade papercuts. Thanks to modern technology I can use my Cricut to cut! I uploaded the images to Cricut Design Space, used the offset feature to create another layer, and cut them out.


I love metallics and glitter papers but especially at Christmas. I cut the offset layer from foil cardstock and the tree from glitter. Then layered the papercut tree on to the offset layer using foam squares. 


For a few I went glitter on glitter. The more sparkle, the better!

I chose various papers from the stacks to use as background and kept these fairly simple (for me) since I have to keep postage in mind and I am convinced the post office says "Not her again". 



Oops a little off on the placement here. Photos don't lie, but at any rate, you get the idea!





Sharing At:










Thursday, December 12, 2024

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve from The House of Mouse! We took our holiday sleigh to Disneyland for some Christmas fun this week. Seriously, I'm not sure we'll ever go when it's not Halloween or Christmas time because it's so festive and fun and much cooler than doing it in the Summer. This time I planned ahead and got this party scheduled before we left!


This week's features!

Steph Creates shared this DIY Wood Riser to hold a festive holiday vignette. I think things always look better with differing heights and this adds that depth! 


The Apple Street Cottage shared how to make an elegant and special Glass Bowl Christmas Tree. Hit the Thrift Stores! 

Artsy VaVa shared this brilliant way to make a DIY Holiday Bottle Stopper. You'll never guess what she used! 

Finally, 'tis the season where Mama and Papa may need a cocktail right? This Turtle Cocktail from The Kitchen Is My Playground would fit the bill! Who knew there was Pecan Whiskey?! 


Thanks to everyone who linked up and see you next week! 

(Free At Free SVG Planet)















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Thursday, December 5, 2024

BFF Open House

 


Happy end of the first week of DECEMBER and Friday Eve! I hope my US friends had a nice Thanksgiving and we're running like a snowball downhill towards the finish line! 

This week I remade an old sign which inspired a new tray and shared some Christmas/Winter themed printables. 



Now let's take a look at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party! 

Crazy Little Lovebirds shared this beautiful Faux Arched Winter Window. I get in trouble every time you link up a Dollar Tree item I haven't come across yet. Keep them coming!  

Steph Creates shared this adorable Framed Camper Ornament Shadow Box


Try It Like It Create It shared a modern take on a retro craft with this Festive Ball Decor Project. Perfect for New Year's Too! 


Finally, these Sacher Torte Cookies are perfect for Christmas or Hanukkah! From Cindy's Online Recipe Box

Thanks to all who linked up and can't wait to see what you have to share this week! 







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Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Holiday Printables

 


Creative Fabrica subscription plus Procreate equals more Printables than I know what to do with. Which is why sharing is caring right? You can download these here







If you use any, would love to see! 














Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Holiday Decor Hot Cocoa Tray

 


I love it when a plan I didn't have comes together. After I refreshed my Cocoa Bar Sign, I thought this tray, which was originally going to be a Halloween project, would make a perfect companion. Before I fell from high atop the thing in October, I'd already painted it so all that was left to do was add some vinyl!

Supplies
  • Plain Wood Tray (I got mine at Dollar Tree in the Not A $1.25 Aisle)
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Digital Cutting File (I found mine in Cricut Design Space)
  • Cutting Machine (Cricut Explore 2)
  • Vinyl
  • Transfer Tape 


Here's my plain wood tray which I painted with two coats of white acrylic paint. I debated using the same image from my Cocoa Bar Sign but there were so many fun images in Cricut Design Space and what's the point of a subscription if you don't use as many images as possible, right? 


I chose this one that complemented the sign. Since I plan to use this to hold my cocoa toppings, I kept it fairly simple. Size to fit the tray, cut, and weed. Le sigh. The "H" and one of the "O"s decided to be difficult. I'm sure it wasn't me trying to weed too fast. No, couldn't be that. At any rate, I ended up with:


Oops! There was a time when my OCD would have trashed the whole thing and done it again. Growth! I went back into CDS and cut "HO" the missing letters. 


I went ahead and put the image without the missing letters, then added them afterwards.



And voila!


And I love how it goes with my Bar Sign.