Thursday, January 14, 2021

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve all. 2021 is chugging crazily along and while I still haven't been making much, I'm grateful for the gift of creativity and the ability to be inspired by the projects you all share here. Thrilled that vaccine rollout has come to our state and hoping by the time this posts I will have gotten my Mom signed up. My bestie and her husband were both diagnosed last week:(  As my BFF said: "This sh** is scary". Please please please continue to mask up and wash up! 

Let's see some of the ideas from last week's party! 



My Home of All Seasons has a great post on transitioning from Christmas to Winter decor if you (like me) haven't put your Christmas decor away yet. Or pin for next year! 


Don't have a digital cutting machine? Priyam from Simple Joys is your go to source for paper cutting without one. Can you believe she made this paper chandelier without one?! I'm not sure I could do as beautiful a job with one and I have both a Cameo and a Cricut Explore Air 2! 


I keep a stash of organza and muslin bags on hand for small gifts, especially jewelry. Eccentricities by JVG shows us how to have some fun with plain muslin bags using Freezer Paper Stencils. I love that you can tailor these to any occasion!


I love cream cheese in frosting. I think it gives that extra body and cuts the sweetness just perfectly. And yet, I've never made a Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and can't wait to try this recipe from The Kitchen Is My Playground because it looks delish! 

OK let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 









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Thursday, January 7, 2021

BFF Open House First of 2021

 


Happy New Year officially since last week's party was on NYE. I hope you had a safe and happy one and that the New Year is treating you kindly so far. I haven't been as creative as I would like...I've spent more time looking at the beautiful artwork at the hospital where I've had to go for a few tests ( not COVID ). Lifelong respiratory issues. Will get back to creating soon!

Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party to get the New Year off on a fresh creative foot! 


I love the simplicity and elegance and message of this beautiful card from Linda at Paper Seedlings



This is the time of year that so many are cleaning out / organizing. This is a great post by The Organized Dream on how to re-purpose some of those things we always seem to have plenty of...Old T-Shirts. 

This is the perfect thing for Mr. Chocolate and me: Bourbon Bacon Jam! I love bacon, he loves bourbon, match made in culinary heaven. From Homemade On A Weeknight. YUM!


Finally, as we all strive to eat healthier this time of year, there's no reason you can't do it in a way that's also delicious. Check out this Hight Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread from The House on Silverado


OK let's see what you've all been up to so far in the New Year! 









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Thursday, December 31, 2020

BFF Open House HAPPY NEW YEAR !


 




New Year's Eve Greetings everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. One of my son's packages finally arrived YESTERDAY! Still tracking the other. It was the one w/ all the homebaked goodies which managed to survive in tact. It was special when he opened one container that was filled with a cookie I only make at Christmas and to see his face on ZOOM as he said "Smells like Christmas". 

While I always marvel at the end of a year and wonder how we got there so fast, I don't think many of you will argue about saying "Good Riddance" to 2020. Gina C Creates has some fun NYE props like the "Happy New Year" graphic above if you're looking for last minute ideas. We are doing "Nacho New Year" tonight and will I'm sure be asleep by 10! Whatever you do, Happy Happy. 

Let's see some ideas from last week's party!



Satsuma Designs has a great post on ways to celebrate NYE with kids. Love these Faux Fortune Cookies! 


Got burned out bulbs? Or maybe pick up some on sale post-Christmas, but Mary Jo from Masterpieces of My Life has THE perfect use for them. Maybe a New Year's Day project to get a jump start on next year!



With all of the extra boxes from this holiday season, that's a lot of cardboard to recycle or re-purpose which makes this idea from Howling Liz just perfect! Cardboard Canal Houses or you could start now on a Faux Gingerbread House for next year! 



If you need a last minute dessert for tonight or want to plan ahead, check out this "Death By Peanut Butter and Chocolate" (my preferred way to go) from Marilyn's Treats

Thank you ALL for making 2020 bearable by sharing your creativity and talents here each week. I don't get to comment on every link but I look at them all and am so honored you choose to share your work here. 

Be safe! Mask Up! Here's to 2021! 











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Monday, December 28, 2020

First Post-Christmas Cards: Cream Gray and Turquoise


 

I hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Christmas celebration.We Zoomed with our son on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and fingers crossed, his packages will arrive today. Grrr. He took that in better stride than we have! 

I started on my "catch up" New Year's cards ( a couple people I inadvertently missed with Christmas cards) and January birthdays. After making the snowflake card using some Christmas papers, I really liked the color combination so I used it to make the first of my January birthday cards. 



For this one, I used a snowflake patterned paper from Recollections "White Christmas" stack and then an icy bluish / light turquoise Craftsmart glitter paper. I cut snowflakes using my Cricut Explore Air2 from cream glitter paper, and layered using foam dots as shown. To finish, I added an iridescent snowflake sequin and light turquoise snowflake sequin. Simple but fresh and clean for a new year!



I liked the color combination so much I went with it for the first 2021 birthday card I needed. I used the same glitter papers to make the party hats. I'm an "ecumenical" crafter so for this one I used my Silhouette Cameo and an image from the Silhouette online store. It's a layered image so I cut out of three different glitter scraps and then layered to make the hats. I think I'm going to do more of these in other color combos so I have party hats at the ready for future cards. I mounted these on a gray Echo Park Paper and used the Craftsmart light turquoise glitter papers. The sentiment is also from the Silhouette online store, and I cut it using Cricut silver adhesive foil, applied it to a cream cardstock scrap, then a light turquoise glitter scrap, and finished with some silver star sequins. 


Happy last days of 2020. I don't think any of us will be sad to see you go! 





 

Thursday, December 24, 2020

BFF Open House Merry Christmas!

 


Happy Merry Christmas and Friday Eve all! Wishing the happiest of holidays to all those celebrating. It will be a different Christmas for many of us. Our first without our son since we made the collective decision to not have him travel right now. It's all good (except for the fact that his presents may not arrive on time..."out for delivery" is vague) but they'll get there. As he was growing up, I vowed not to send him off to college without cooking survival skills and he's only continued to develop them in grad school, especially during this pandemic. He will make himself a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meal and I can't wait to see the cookie recipes he's trying! 

Putting the party up early and then spending the rest of the day doing some baking and maybe even relaxing! What's that?! Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party! 


If you're still looking for a last minute idea, printables are your friend and Kathleen from Our Hopeful Home has some cute ones.



Especially this year, it's possible celebrations are smaller and if it's just one or two of you, there's no reason not to make it special. Grab some things and make your table special. Mantel and Table has a great post! 


I think it's an understatement to say that we'll be glad to say goodbye to 2020 and The Apple Street Cottage has a great way to say goodbye! 


Finally, you've seen Charcuterie Boards, but how about a Dessert Board for New Year's Eve? Yes please! Check out this idea from Lindsey's Sweet World


I want to thank you all for sharing your creations here this year. You all have inspired and kept me going through this crazy year and I can't wait to see what 2021 brings! 




















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Thursday, December 17, 2020

BFF Open House

 


Happy one week until Christmas Eve Friday Eve all! How on earth is it one week until Christmas? Although that puts us closer to the end of 2020 which isn't a bad thing. You've been busy elves so let's see what you've been up to. 


I love vignettes and how you can incorporate everyday decor items into seasonal decor. Mary Jo from Masterpieces of My Life shows exactly how to do that with her post on baubles in crates. Giving a wider view and a closeup view. 

You really need to check out the whole post to appreciate!


Artsy VaVa is back with another gorgeous painted and stenciled sign and the grain sack accent stripes and boxwood "O" really make it pop! 



Two Chicks and a Mom shared this bright and fun wreath made with supplies from one of my go to places, the Dollar Tree. Perfect to leave up all Winter! Not only is it fun and festive, it has a special story. Please read the whole post. 



Naush from Doodlebuddies shared these Simple and Elegant Christmas trees you can still make for this year or pin for next. 

Thanks as always for sharing your creations here each week. I love seeing what you've all been up to even if I don't always have time to comment. 

OK let's see what you've been up to this week! 














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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Holiday 2020: Gifted Cards


Like most Makers, I have a stash of supplies. Mr. Chocolate lovingly teases me about my paper addiction  which, as a result of its existence, has produced cards he's asked for "like that" ! And you know what? I make no apology! Because what it enables me to do is combine my love of making things with giving back. I wasn't even going to post these because I wasn't happy with the pics and I don't like to come off "look at me", but then I thought others might relate so here we go. 

Also like many Makers, I have moments of self doubt. "Do people really like what I make or are they just being polite?" Be honest. Have you felt like that?  Nonetheless, given the Pandemic That Stole 2020, my love of making things, and my paper stash, I risked the self doubt and decided to make some cards for my health care provider, The Mayo Clinic. 

No one has worked harder this year than Healthcare Workers. Doctors, nurses, admin staff, cleaning staff. EVERYONE! So I thought I'd make some cards to show my appreciation. Literally, beyond masking up and distancing, the least I could do. I made three dozen, packaged them up, and dropped them off, letting them decide whether to use them for patients, staff, volunteers...or at all! 

Last night, I got the nicest email validating I'd made the right decision not listening to that little voice that sometimes makes me doubt myself. The point of all of this? Trust your instincts. Have confidence in yourself. Know that doing something for others may be the one thing that day that helps them. 

I made sets based on white, green, and red cardstocks and coordinating papers: 



These pics don't do justice to the foiled goodness on some of the papers! 
 


I wish I'd bought more of these little wooden stickers I found at Dollar Tree!


Packaged them up with envelopes and put them in sealed bags. 


The email said they will be used for the staff which I absolutely love!