Nov 18, 2012

DZ Doodles Autumn Freebie's Decor and Projects, and more added throughout the week!

"Happy Autumn Holiday" Doodles Followers!

Now that our shift is into the Christmas-mode, on Nov. 24th, Saturday, "Shop Small Business Day" and show your support!

 

CHRISTMAS CRACKER! Video tutorial and pdf handout newsletter project will only be available for one week: Dec. 20th thru 27th 2012. I've added to my blog for any of you who are fashionably-late. This Christmas Cracker which can be filled with candies or small gift items was created from, yes you guessed it, a toilet paper roll. Of course, I've often saved and used my paper towel "rolls" as well and just cut them to my desired size. Simply alter the colors of the cracker and you have a cracker for your New Year's or birthday celebrations! Download the pdf print handout here. Watch Video's Part 1 and 2 below! :0)
 
 


PASS THE STAMP! A 4 card video using just one stamp image from Hero Arts Stamps, however, a great idea for using stamps from your collection too!




Magnolia Rouge, imagery to inspire from Ruby and Willow Design Studio has a "mint inspiration that's paired with rich copper shades which is simply divine. Find out more...

Marvelous Molds are superior molds because they are flexible, extremely durable, naturally non-stick, very heat resistant and uneffected by freezing. Though every mold is made with food grade silicone, these silicone molds excel when used with non-food materials like polymer clay, paper clay, soap, plaster, casting resins and candle wax. Read more...







My Memories Suite 4 ... "coming soon!"
 
Use my Code: STMMMS19631 when you place your order!
 
 


Ornament week at Crafts `n Coffee has a dozen different ornaments you can make with paper. Who doesn't love paper? It's inexpensive, easy to use, and sold everywhere; not to mention the endless selection! I found a Christmas ornament out of this dozen different ornaments that I just have to make for my tree! Patty Schaffer used her paper punch to make this Red and White Paper Punch Ornament. It looks easy enough to work on during TV time. Read more... 



1 Fine Cookie not only lists the many things she's thankful for, she also shares a "delicious" Spiked Apple Cider Dip ... yes, there's liqour in it, apple brandy sounds just perfect to me! She also includes a pricey "where-to-buy" the Autumn cookie cutter set link, but, don't waste your time, go here... 



Paper roses are everyone's favorite crafts. They can be used on gifts, worn in your hair, adorn apparel, creat a bouquet, and more. Lia, at Ellinee Journal, shares her PDF template rose downloads; white, orange, salmon pink, pale pink, and pale yellow, along with a printable PDF version of instructions. Give it a try! Read more... 

Hi everyone! In just a few short days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving here in the United States. I always look forward to that day and spending time with our loved ones. Of course, the food is pretty enticing too! I hope that wherever you are spending your holiday that it is filled with many blessings!

I have to say, I was so excited when I received my "leaf" cookie cutters in the mail that I had to show them to you - for the prices, they are a great value and are well crafted! Now that I just got my new stove/oven delivered today, I'm all set this week to start making cookies, baking some pies, the turkey and stuff!

I have some great ideas for gifting and creating this week. Be sure to head all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter and pick up the freebie downloads, too!

Show someone you care with this meaningful wall home decor. You won't believe how easy it is to create "I Appreciate U" Wall Decor. If your home needs a refreshing pick-me-up and change in scenery, try these 19 Cool Wall Art and Decor Ideas, great for any room in the house. This guide includes ideas for home decor wall art and outdoor wall decor, as well as vintage and modern bathroom wall decor ideas to liven your wall decor and home accents. It also includes projects for peel and stick wall decorations if you are looking for a temporary change but don't want to make a full commitment to a new design. And the kids can get involved too, with easy kids wall stickers decorations, perfect for livening up their rooms too.



WISE buys ... Attention, Black Friday shoppers: In your rush to nab holiday deals, don't let store displays sway your choices. A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that retail customers tend to narrow their visual focus to the center of a product display in the final seconds of the decision-making process - and then grab a product within that zone. Just being aware of the effect can help consumers make smarter choices, researchers say. Even better, do your homework before you hit the mall: Make a list of sale items you're hoping to score, and stick to it!



THINK THANKS! Encourage an attitude of gratitude with this fun family activity. Grateful Expectations: Have a Thanksgiving countdown with a gratitude calendar. Make a base - use painted foam core - and every day fill attaches mini craft envelopes with notes describing what family members are thankful for. Opening them becomes an entertaining pairing with pumpkin pie. Pay it forward: If a note says "toys," for example, have each child offer up one for donation.

Congratulations! After years of training and countless solicitations of the magic word, your kids' auto-reply is to say "thank you." Now, if you can get them to mean it. Thankfulness ranks up there with character, integrity, self-control, and shared values in a family. Fostering a thankful attitude is an important responsibility for parents: If your child doesn't absorb the value of thankfulness from you, who will it come from? Fun ideas put appreciation into action toward the absorption. And don't worry if your younger children aren't exactly lofty in counting their blessings. It's "a good start" if kids are thankful for things like toys, trinkets, or even old refrigerator box that they've turned into a clubhouse. As children grow, their thinking changes, and they're better able to recognize things of an abstract nature. At that point, they might value things such as community, warm home, or intelligence. So let the games begin.

"By promoting gratitude you're teaching
your children empathy and understanding."
  
TALK TURKEY! What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Or in this case, gobbler. You'll find inspiration in the Christmas book The Elf on the Shelf and spawn a new tradition: hiding a toy elf every night for the kids (even adults) to find the next day. If you don't have a tiny toy turkey in the house, buy one at the dollar store and take turns hiding it in unexpected places - such as in the medicine cabinet. Each night attach a note of thanks. It'll surprise your family, stir anticipation, and remind everyone to be thankful.
 
Help yourself ... Hectic schedule making you crazy? Try volunteering. In a surprising University of Pennsylvania's study, people who spent precious minutes on a charitable cause felt they had more time to themselves at the end of the day than those who performed a nonaltuistic task. The researchers say that squeezing in a good deed makes people feel good and creates a sense of usefulness, which can put other time demands in perspective. Visit volunteermatch.org to find out how you can lend a hand in your community!
 
Crafting With Class: Got Pie? Karli Miranda has a lattice top apple pie baked right out of the SVG ovens at svgcuts.com's Fall Harvest SVG Kit!





 
 
A quick Christmas card at Tuesday T T Impression Obsession! This is really a lot easier than you think it would be to create, and it uses up leftover pieces of white (or other colors) cardstock. Plus it makes good use of some of your paper punches that you've collected! Oh so pretty when finshed!
 
Stamp Owl Studio created this Christmas stocking tag using Die-namics Jumbo Christmas Stocking as the base to this tag and Sweet Tooth Felt for the white piece of the stocking. It's embellished with the Die-namics Jumbo Snowflake which three dies are cut, 2 trimmed down in varying sizes, from glitter paper to create the gorgeous snoflake! I'm thinking, if stockings were layered together it would make a great "gift card" envelope to hang on the tree, or place atop a gift.
A sweet mini scrapbooking album, Puppy Love, is a gift-album that any dog lovin' two-legger would cherish! I have cats, and sometimes they know they're in-the-dog-house because of their antics! Wouldn't this be a great album to give when you "gift" that new puppy? Makes me wanta ask Santa for a puppy this year, however, I have someone in mind who would love getting this album! And yes, I had to order the stamp set! Read and see more... 
Bare walls are so boring! Nothing brightens up a room like some homemade decor crafts and there are so many options for you to try. Think outside the box and add fabric to a canvas, create a cool clock or use paint chips to create a cool mosaic. Feel free to experiment and try something new with your wall decor projects.

Don't forget that wall decor crafts make great housewarming and holiday gifts! Show off your creativity and make something that is sure to become a conversation piece! Plates On Display! Arrange plates on the wall without visible hangers using these adhesive-back disks with built-in loops. They are available in different sizes, the hangers can be easily applied to (and removed from) the back of any plate using water. Starting at $1.99 each; Hobby Lobby Online Store 3-inch Disc Plate Hanger and 4-inch Disc Plate Hanger.

3D Canvas with Silfk Flowers! Give a floral canvas painting real dimension with stiffened silk flowers and a 3-D vase made from a plastic water bottle. This great project from Heidi Borchers of Inspired at Home is a great way to recycle a plastic water bottle instead of tossing. Read more...










"OMG! Don't you just love it?!" Jean Hardy used Transfer Artist Paper (image transfer sheets) ironed onto white cotton, and then stretched over a square wooden block. Embellished it with ribbon, shell buttons, and lace, then framed the block in a small white box frame, and called it, Little Bird. Read more...

PACKAGE DEAL. Every holiday season, friends clamor for holiday homemade treats. Offer them up with wrappings worthy of the yumminess inside! A scrapbook-paper lining and bands of ribbon dress up a standard baker's box. A cupcake-size box (3x3x3)is perfect for holding a few shortbread coins or sugar cookies, but the same techniques work on a larger box.

Homemade Sparkle Paints. They are called this because they glitter once they are dry due to the salt. Making and using your own sparkle paints is almost a form of therapy. It is just so relaxing. All you'll need is some white flour + salt + water + acrylic paints and plastic squeeze bottles for each color made! Read more...






Redo a plan clock by adding some of your own personality! This clock craft shows you how to turn any old clock into a Glam Chevron Clock using scrapbook supplies and embellishments
Read more at

Cookie Envelopes! Giant monogram cookies are a special delivery inside an embellished pochette (also called a petal envelope). Cut scrapbook paper to fit the interior; adhere with doble-stick tape. Use glue dots to attach two buttons - one to the flap and another 1/2 inch from the fold. Wrap twine in a figure 8 around the buttons to close. Use the template available below to create your own pochette. And for those of you thinking "wine" gifts I've included a wine bottle card template.

 
 
Tool Belt! It may not be Dad's-time-of-the-year right now, but, we still have birthdays to add to our holidaytime list. This card is one that's for a true guy's guy - loves machines, tractors-trucks-cars, tinkering with and building stuff. This tool belt card is also something to think-ahead about for Father's Day!
 
1. To size this pattern, in your printer program select "legal size" paper for printing. Take two 110lb. weight cardstock pieces and butt one end to-another and apply some packing tape over the pieces to attach. Measure and cut this cardstock piece to 11-inches long. Well-la! You've just created a legal size paper to print on. When printing, be sure that the taped side doesn't get printed on; this will make a very nice reindeer size "pattern" and the size I used to create my samples shown. Print and cut each piece out to use as a template. Be sure to be accurate on your cutting and I suggest using an Xacto knife and #11-blade. In doing so, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches in creating a "balanced" finished piece. 2. I used thick cardboard to trace my templates on for each reindeer piece. Using Mod Podge, I quickly and lightly applied the glue to one side of each piece and quickly positioned it onto the 12 x 12 scrapbook paper: allow to dry overnight flat, with a stack of books on top to make sure the page remains flat; when dry trim around each piece using an Xacto knife making sure to also cutout "slots," and do that same application to the other side using the unused paper portion. One 12 x 12 sheet is needed for each reindeer. Again, trim around each piece using an Xacto knife. Match same pattern pieces to one another for each reindeer to make sure both line-up with one another for accurate balance; cut and trim where necessary. Attach pieces where you've cutout slots.
 
 

 

Still not finished! New photo's at the end of the week 
will show "aged look" and added enbellishments!
  
November 14th 2012 was National Pickle Day and Abby Glossenberg created a free pattern for the German legendary Christmas pickle ornament. The pattern is a free PDF and is very quick and easy to make; just 3 pattern pieces (of felt fabric), and a bunch of French Knots (or seed beads)! Read more...  Here's the pickle “legend” from one Web site: “A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.” This Christmas pickle story, with a few minor variations, can be found all over the Web and in print inside the ornament package. It says that Germans hang a pickle-shaped glass ornament on the Christmas tree hidden away so it's difficult to find. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat or an extra present.
 
Of course, anyone familiar with German Christmas customs can see the flaws in this “legend.” First of all, the German St. Nick doesn't show up on Christmas Eve. He arrives on the 5th or 6th of December. Nor do German children open their presents on Christmas morning. That happens on Christmas Eve in Germany.





Nov 12, 2012

DZ Doodles Freebie Fall Images, Nutcrackers, Printable Sleigh, Dimensional Reindeer, Pop-Up Reindeer Cards, Fantasy Felt Flowers, Ornament Mini Album, and more updates throughout the week!

Hello Fellow Doodlers!

Here are some gingerbread image card design inspirations, for those of you who are gingy-addicts, that I'm re-creating for my holiday cards, and thought I'd share them with you! They all use the one or more of Stampin' Up's Got Treats Stamp Set-120627, Holiday Collection Framelits Dies-127814, and Scentsational Season Stamp Set-121190.

 
 





 
Altered "Tin" Brooch Tutorial and Tins-On-Sale! Nichola Battilana designed these gorgeous Tin Brooches that are perfect little things to wear over the holidays, don't you think? However, my first thought was designing them as Christmas tree ornaments, or magnet-backed designs for the refrigerator (or any other "magnet" board). But anyway, how about for gifting? Seriously, who needs yet another piece of junk from a mass retailer store that has zero personality? Make a slew of these up in an afternoon to give away as presents! View Nichola's photo-tutorial and her attention to details, and see the full list of supplies needed, and where to buy, to create your own altered brooches! P.S. Great "memories" gift to give any time!


It's mid-November a-l-r-e-a-d-y, meaning that Thanksgiving is nearly here and Christmas will be right around the corner ... "eek!" I'm a huge fan of getting a big chunk of my own holiday shopping done online, and this year, I'm crafting a lot of "handmade" to add to the mix; stockings, crochet appareal, reindeer projects/decor, baked goodies, jar gifts, to mention a few of them. I hope you will enjoy and try, as I am, the many project ideas I'll be bringing your way over the coming weeks, to think "handmade" as well.
 
Coordinating Gift Tins
Use a variety of tins -- even a clean paint can -- to give teas, coffees, or seeds. Attach decorative paper to the sides and lids using spray adhesive. Customize labels by printing text on the computer. Use rope or other notions to tie tins together. Square Tea Tins. Altoid Tins.

TISSUE BOX CRAFTS - When I saw this video I just had to share the idea with you too! Make someone with the flu think of you each time they need a tissue to "blow" and get a chuckle when they do.


Glitter Bird Ornaments designed by Lindy Rose Lane - Find directions and shopping list to create these fun to make eyecatching creatures. Beautiful glitter and elegant paisley stickers combine to create ornaments that will be talked about. Create some for gifts and some to keep!







The cold has entered our state and burrr-ree! Time to turn the furnace on and start "thinking Thanksgiving" with some idea's for Christmastime that will have to stay in the back of my mind for now. I ordered my leaf cookie cutters and can't wait to get started on my "fall cookie baking". I'm all prepared to get started as soon as they arrive! But, until then, I'm creating some Thanksgiving cards to send out using a few of the images below that I thought I would share them with you too! I love-love-love nutcrackers and have included two of my favorites as well as a darling dimensional reindeer that you might like to have a go at using the idea of the one in the photo!
 








Courtesy of Noella Designs is this Sleigh and Reindeer Decorative Candy Holder. It's so versatile and so easy to make, and the best part ... it's absolutely FREE! 110lb. weight card stock is recommended for the page printouts and overall design; Walmart carries the Georgie-Pacific White Card Stock Heavyweight 110lb. 150-sheets - 8.5"x11".

 
 
Designer Patti Milazzo's Reindeer decor will inspire you to re-create her holiday reindeer decor. Although the pattern isn't included, I found one that should be a suitable template for use. Read more...

Today is the perfect day to get card making! Why not get started with this fun Christmas reindeer pop-up card - it's free! Read more... 





Martha Stewart Reindeer Pop-Up Card. Spread holiday cheer with this one-of-a-kind holiday card from pop-up artists Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.












"It's wonderful what a little bit of
something can be turned into pieces of
beauty. We just need to let our minds
enjoy the process!"
This fantasy felt flower collection embellished with sequins, beads, and embroidery are projects that will "wow" card making, scrapbook pages, and so much more! Sewn Up by Teresa Down Under's photo tutorial and color combinations will inspire you to get started on creating some of your own fantasy felt flowers too!









Scrapbook-Crazy (mini album tutorials and altered projects) made this cute little tree ornament that turned into a mini album! For instructions and the Christmas ornament template (PDF) read more...

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