BFF Open House

 

Happy December and BRRR from the desert, where I woke up to 37 degrees! Not to be outdone, our son texted that it was 7 degrees in Chicago, so I'm not going to whine. Much. 

I hope my US Creatives had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was small and lovely. I'm in full on Christmas mode and since I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving, I'm on day four of Operation Decoration and having a blast. 

A new addition this year made me so happy! Check out my take on the viral Gingerbread version of the Dollar Tree stackable tree here. 

Some fabulous ideas were shared at last week's party, and here are a few to inspire you!

This Tabletop Decoration from Steph Creates Things is absolutely precious! 

Whether for yourself or as gifts, these Christmas Tree Earrings from Try It Like It Create It are fabulous! I first thought they were resin, but even easier! 

Two Chicks and a Mom shared this super-cute idea for a Felt Santa With Goodies Inside. 

This last feature is truly a labor of love and a thing of beauty...A Chocolate Truffle Tree from Sonata Home Design! Gimme!

Wouldn't this be a stunner on any holiday table?! 

Thank you to everyone who linked up. The one natural resource that will never be in short supply is creativity. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Holiday Decor: Dollar Tree Stackable Gingerbread Tree

 

No doubt you've seen all of the incredible ways people have transformed the stackable tree from Dollar Tree into all kinds of wonderful Christmas decor. I was immediately smitten with the gingerbread versions and knew I wanted to try my hand at it. 

Supplies:

• Stackable Tree from Dollar Tree
• Rustoleum Spray Paint, Nutmeg
• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint, Nutmeg
• White Paint Pen (Apple Barrel)
• Mandala Dotting Tools

If you're not familiar with these stackables, they have trees, snowmen, and presents. I also suggested to them that they add a Nutcracker next year. I mean c'mon...it would SELL! I also like that they fit inside each other like Russian nesting dolls, which makes things easier for storage purposes. 

I spray painted each section with Rustoleum Nutmeg. Then I went over it with Apple Barrel Nutmeg to ensure deeper coverage.

From here, it's just a "let your imagination be your guide" kinda thing. I used an Apple Barrel white paint pen and just started freehanding each section. This is the bottom section. 

For me, it was much easier to do this section by section, than assemble the tree and wrangle the whole thing! This is the middle section. 

Same process for the top section. I used hot glue to create a "snowcap", which I painted white once the glue was set. You can totally stop with just the pen work. But I'm a "more is more" kinda girl so I got out my Mandala styluses and added more detail using different sizes. 

It becomes kinda meditative, like people have said about Zen Tangling / Zen Doodling. Once everything was dry, I snapped all the pieces together and added some gingerbread ribbon I found at Michaels! To finish, I also added a gingerbread-themed poinsettia I found at Walmart. 

And here's the finished tree being guarded by the Gingerbread Nutcrackers I shared last month!

Should they do a Nutcracker? 

Sharing At:

Creatively Crafty Linky Party #278

Holiday Decor: Winter Wonderland Vases

 

More and more, I think I should change my blog name to incorporate Dollar Tree, but I don't want to get into copyright trouble! Mr. Chocolate doesn't believe me when we pass one I haven't been to and ask to stop. 

Supplies:

• Dollar Tree Glass Vases
• Dollar Tree Candleholders
• Dollar Tree Icicles (Two Sizes)
• Dollar Tree Snowflake Ornament

You get my dilemma? 

I love the texture on the candleholders and they worked well with the texture of the icicles and snowflake ornaments. The icicles come in two lengths, You need one package of each per vase. 

I used a combination of E6000 and hot glue to secure the candleholder to the vase. Hot glue one of the snowflake ornaments to the vase. 

Since the snowflake is an ornament, it has a hole for hanging. I guess I could have left it, but it bugged me. So I got out my neverending supply of Creatology Gems. 

They fit perfectly over the hole, so I glued one there, and on the other points of the snowflake. 

I grabbed a flatback rhinestone from my stash and glued into the center. Now we're ready for the icicles!

I used the tape to determine where to start gluing my icicles. For balance, and also to make sure I didn't get too close to the ornament. 

They come in two lengths, so I had to keep them separate in order to keep things straight! 

This next part is optional, but I chose to snip the ends off. A good wire cutter works!

Start gluing your icicles, alternating the two sizes, and I left some space between them just because that's what I did. 

And done! I'm debating whether these will be part of my table decor or go on the dresser in the bedroom. This is decorating week so, decisions...decisions! 

Sharing At:

Creatively Crafty Linky Party #278

BFF Open House Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Friday Eve and Happy US Thanksgiving! However you are spending the day, I hope it's filled with peace and joy, and of course, good food!

 Thank you all for being one of my blessings! I love hosting and seeing all of the creativity shared each week. 

I will definitely not be venturing out to any Black Friday sales. Online shopping though...

And now, it's CRUNCH time! I still have so many ideas in my head and need to get this brain under control. Since I don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, it will be nice to get some of my projects out of the craft room and where I have them going...at least in my head!

Let's take a look at some ideas that are perfect for the season.

No doubt, if you're hosting Thanksgiving, you have some jars on hand. Steph Creates shared a wonderful way to repurpose one into a beautiful piece of Winter Decor. 

Sonata Home Design had fun with friends making some GORGEOUS Handmade Ornaments. Great to keep or give as gifts. 

Sum of Their Stories shared another beautiful ornament idea with these Scrap Fabric Tree Ornaments. Pretty and practical! 

Finally, with all of the making and decorating we're up to, don't forget to take time to treat yourself! These Caramel Pecan Brownie Donuts from Recipes Simple would definitely do the trick!

Enjoy the day! Can't wait to see what you've got to share this week. 

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Papercrafting: Layered Turkey Thanksgiving Cards

 

This whole trip down the Crafting rabbit hole started with card making. It will always be my first love and the "ber" months, are my favorite cardmaking time of year. Sharing this year's Thanksgiving cards sent to family and "framily" (friends who are like family!). 

Supplies: 

• Craft Smith Rose Gold Paper Stack (an older stack from Michaels)
• Recollections 110lb Cardstock, Cream (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Kraft (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Metallic Copper (Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers (Online)
• Foam Squares (Dollar Tree)
• Self-adhesive Rhinestones (Stash)

I always cut my components first. I have a tendency to make heavy cards and I'm trying to skinny them down because postage keeps going up! Still, even when I do need two stamps per card, it's less expensive than buying cards. 

My cards are generally 5x7. I cut the solid copper panels 4.75x6.75 and the patterned papers 4.5x6.5. Layered as shown.   

The layered turkey is a Cricut Design Space image from my CDS subscription. I cut the base layer from kraft cardstock, and the detailed layer from a coordinating glitter paper. Attached these using my tape runner. 

I used foam squares from Dollar Tree to attach the turkey to the base. I also did the GOBBLE sentiment in Cricut Design Space. 

To finish, I went to my rhinestone collection and found these antique gold ones that worked. Added these to the "GOBBLE", and done! I thought I was going to use the sequin mix shown above, but once I "rediscovered" these rhinestones...

Gobble til you wobble!