Archive for November, 2011

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mini chocolate bar advent calendar + free printable

Nov
30

Every Yule I have the good hearted intention to make a quilted Advent calendar. And every year comes and goes and that sweet little quilted Advent calendar never gets made for lack of time. I really need to put it on the schedule for next year before my girls grow out of the idea. Do you ever grow out of the idea? Hmmm, I wonder. I’m 36 and I still love the countdown! Hmmm.

That is not to say that we go calendar-less. Oh no, and this year is no exception. No quilted version, but there is a printable, chocolate-y version, oh yes!

 This year, I made the girls an Advent calendar using mini chocolate bars. I used Hershey’s holiday edition (mmm, Super Dark Chocolate) and mini wrappers that I designed.

I printed and wrapped 48 bars, tossed them into a candy jar and placed the jar on our hall table. The girls have to sort through the pile each day to find their daily treat, but I think that’s part of the fun.

Since it is the giving season, I want to give you a copy of the wrappers so you can make a quick Advent calendar. The countdown begins tomorrow!

Grab your Christmas Advent Calendar Mini Chocolate Bar Wrappers on Scribd!

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classic vintage back in shop + monogram gift tags and pillow boxes!

Nov
29

Is everyone feeling festive? I am most definitely feeling festive! Working on Christmas inspired birthday parties and new printables for the festive season. There is a lot of joy coming your way, starting with today!

I just put last year’s Classic Vintage Collection back in my Etsy shop. The first of many this holiday season.

Since I love this pattern (it really is one of the patterns my mind immediately wanders to when I think vintage Christmas) and I am loving coordinating packaging, I added Pillow Boxes and Monogram Gift Tags to the Classic Vintage collection this year.

Festive packaging for all your tiny edibles and sweet surprises.

A new design to the shop this year, simple Monogram Gift Tags.

The Pillow Boxes (set of 2!) and Monogram Gift Tags are available separately in my shop!

The Classic Vintage Collection is on sale for $15.00 for the entire Christmas season! Oh yes it is. I even added the set of digital scrapbooking papers as a separate listing, just in case you don’t want the set but you want to get your craft on with classic Christmas patterns. Go on, get your craft on!

Grab the Classic Vintage Collection in my Etsy shop!

Get your craft on with the Classic Vintage Digital Scrapbooking Papers!

Package up your sweets and tinies with the Classic Vintage Pillow Boxes!

Label your presents with the simple Classic Vintage Monogram Gift Tags!

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a primitive christmas

Nov
24

I’ve been working on a simple, red damask Christmas collection. Simple, classic in a deep, folk red, like the kind of red you’d expect to see in a New England saltbox during the Christmas season. I love that red. Something about it is so cozy, warm and old time festive. Is it any surprise that I am in love with primitive, folk design?

My daughter and I are discussing how to decorate for Yule this year. She has asked to design the tree and living room design this year. Of course I said yes, but that doesn’t mean mama isn’t going to try and throw some folk decor in there.

Like this burlap banner I found in the Old Keys Vintage shop on Etsy.

Black Friday Etsy Cyber Monday Etsy Handmade Vintage style rustic red burlap banner holiday garland waldorf

I love the red striping on the natural burlap, perfect for a primitive, folk Christmas! It would look lovely above my fireplace.

And it would go perfectly with these Christmas ornaments I found in the Rustic Country Crafts Etsy shop.

20% OFF SALE - Rustic Burlap Hessian Christmas Stocking Decoration with Rusty Bell

These would be perfect for our tree. They would coordinate beautifully with the decorative, red corn ornaments I made a few years ago.

What is your decorating theme for the holidays?

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it’s officially christmas!

Nov
23

Don’t these cookies make you smile? I found these cookies last year on Sweetopia’s Facebook page and they never fail to put me in a Christmas-y mood. Makes me want to bake festive cookies, build snowmen and knit by the fire. Lucky for me, it’s officially the Yuletide season! Well, it is for me!

The Yuletide season became official this past weekend when my husband and I took four kidlets to the Santa Claus parade Saturday evening. We set up camp on the side of the road in blankets and sleeping bags, hats and mitts, popcorn and a carafe of hot chocolate. A joyful evening full of gingerbread houses, Christmas music and rain! Yes, rain. Thank goodness I remembered to bring the umbrella’s.

So I am in full, festive swing, working on new printables for the season and getting ready for a full on, Christmas craftapalooza! Oh there are many things to be made!

It’s a jolly, holiday around here, and don’t worry, there will be lots to share!

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giving thanks

Nov
17

The Canadian Thanksgiving has passed, but American Thanksgiving is on the way! Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for your family? Delight your family with the warmth and coziness of the Giving Thanks printable! It’s on sale for the next week for only $5.50. Grab yours in my Etsy shop!



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a thank you to my 100 fans

Nov
14

My Facebook page made it to 100 fans over the weekend! 100 fans! How amazing is that? I am always amazed, excited and humbled when someone likes what I do enough to “Like” my Facebook page. I am grateful for each and every one of you that support what I do. I don’t think the excitement and thrill will ever wear off!

Speaking of excitement! Yesterday after dinner, my family had a sweet little surprise for me.

The sweetest surprise from the sweetest family. That is my daughter’s hand swiping a finger full of oh-so-sweet icing.

I promised that when I hit 100 fans I would have a giveaway for all of you that support what I do. So, what kind of giveaway would you like to see? It is a celebration of you after all, I would love to hear your thoughts!

And as always, thank you, thank you for being here and showing the love on Facebook. I am so happy you are here!

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{NEW TO SHOP} sweet and simple pillow boxes

Nov
10

I am a lover of pretty packaging. Whether it is a perfectly wrapped gift, a sweetly decorated bag for favors or creative packaging for homemade candies. If I am throwing a simple party for one of my girls or a friend, sometimes I just make a high towering cake and set out some sweets or little gifts in sweet little packages. Like the pillow box.

Pillow boxes, such pretty petite packaging. Perfect for packaging homemade taffy and nougat for the holidays. I love to wrap earrings and necklaces in pretty tissue paper and tuck them in pillow boxes to gift on birthdays.

And if the pillow box is sized just right, they are perfect for wrapping gift cards. A gift card may be a simple, easy to grab gift but when wrapped in something sweet like a pillow box, it is a delight to open. Throw in a little sprinkle of sparkly confetti and it’s a party in a box!

That’s why I’ve added these sweet little boxes to my Etsy shop. And just like the Sweet and Simple Collection, the colour and pattern is customizable. Throwing a small holiday affair with the new Sweet and Simple Collection? Add on some pillow boxes for a perfectly matching and oh so sweet favor for your guests to take home.

The Sweet and Simple Pillow Boxes are now in my Etsy shop! But I want to give you a pillow box so you can wrap all the sweet, little things you may be gifting! Just like yesterday, I want to share the love I have for this new collection with you and entry is simple!

Head on over to the Sweet and Simple Collection launch post to take a look at the 20 colours and 6 patterns available in the Sweet and Simple Collection. Then come back here and tell me your favorite pattern and colour in the comments below. Don’t forget to leave me your name and email address, and I’ll send you your favorite Sweet and Simple Pillow Box! Only one entry per person, thank you muchly. 

You have until 11:59 pm EST to tell me your favorite combination. So tell me, what is your favorite pattern/colour combo?

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{NEW TO SHOP} sweet and simple party hats

Nov
09

I love a sweet and simple party. A small affair with nothing but a 4 layer cake topped off with bunting, homemade marshmallows, drinks and party hats.

Yes, I must admit I do so love a pretty party hat. It can be hard to keep them on the kidlets at times, but there’s mama proudly sporting her hat all day long.

If they coordinate with pretty party paperie, all the better! A little tissue paper flower at the top, an elastic stapled to the sides to keep it snug around my chin, and I’m a happy girl. But I also like to wear flowers on my head (fabric and tissue). I think this must be related.

So for you lovers off all things sweet, and all things party hat, I now have Sweet and Simple Party Hats in my Etsy shop.

And they are completely customizable! Just like the Sweet and Simple Collection, all you have to do is tell me the colour and pattern you love and I’ll make you a party hat, so you can print off as many as you need. Perfectly matching and so very sweet.

The Sweet and Simple Party Hats are now in my Etsy shop! But I want to give every lucky reader a party hat of their own! Yes, EVERY reader because I am that excited about this new collection and I would love for you to spread the word! Entry is simple!

Head on over to the Sweet and Simple Collection launch post from yesterday to take a look at the 20 colours and 6 patterns available in the Sweet and Simple Collection. Then come back here and tell me your favorite pattern and colour in the comments below. Don’t forget to leave me your name and email address, and I’ll send you your favorite Sweet and Simple Party Hat! Only one entry per person, thank you. 

You have until 11:59 pm EST to tell me your favorite combination. Once midnight strikes, this offer (much like Cinderella) is gone.

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{NEW TO SHOP} sweet and simple collection

Nov
08

UPDATE
No Random.org needed, you are all winners!!!!
Look for your Sweet and Simple Collections in your Inbox this week.
Thanks to all who entered!

I am a lover of sweet and simple parties thrown in the home. I adore pretty paperie. I am a pattern junkie. I love the simple things in life. I love celebrating simply. Which is why I am so excited about my new collection. It’s big and customizable and oh so pretty. It’s Sweet and Simple.

The Sweet and Simple Collection is a collection of 6 of my favorite patterns.

Spire

 

Petal and Dot


Quilt

 
Dotted Circles

 
Cross Hatch


 Triple Diamond

Each pattern is available in 20 different colours and 12 different fonts.

Available in a simple set including tent cards, cake bunting, a full alphabet party banner so you can create your perfect banner and a sheet of decorative paper for extra crafty ideas.

The Sweet and Simple Collection is now available in my Etsy shop!

And because I like you, my dear readers, fans and crafty customers, I want to celebrate the launch of this collection with a simple giveaway. I want to give away six Sweet and Simple Collections to you!

How do you enter? Why that’s simple as well! Simply tell me, in the comments below, what colour and pattern are your favorites! In one week, I’ll randomly select 6 winners to win a Sweet and Simple Collection in your favorite colour and pattern.

Want to add to your favorite Sweet and Simple Collection? Come back each day this week for your chance to win some coordinating party printables! I’ll be adding some sweet and simple party accessories to the Sweet and Simple Collection: party hats, pillow boxes, digital paper collections, party circles and more! So don’t forget to check back this week to pick up some of these party accessories.

Are you ready to win your favorite Sweet and Simple Collection? Tell me which is your favorite below!

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Posted in Parties | 13 Comments »

mini bunting note cards

Nov
04

Oh my love of mini bunting and its many uses is strong! I am thankful my girls are fans as well, and my husband, well he is getting used to my adorning the house in a rainbow of colorful itty bitty party banners. It’s so very festive!

This crafty project is one he’ll appreciate very much, mini bunting note cards. We noticed over the weekend that our card box is pitifully low on birthday cards. But thanks to this little crafty project, I think our stash-o-cards will be replenished in no time! I’m not the only one who has a stash of cards for birthdays and events, right?

What you need: 

  • Blank white note card and envelope. I used the Recollections Value Pack Blank Cards and Envelopes from Michael’s. They are easy to find and very inexpensive.
  • A bit of Baker’s Twine in your favorite  colour.
  • A glue stick or small puddle of white glue.
  • Four pennants of mini bunting. I used my Simple Solid Mini Bunting in pastels.

Cut out your four pennants, then cut each pennant in half, so you have four triangles.

Slide your bit of twine across the top of the glue stick, or through a small puddle of white glue until the twine is covered in glue. Run your fingers down the twine to remove any excess glue.

Position the twine on the front of the note card, gently moving it around until it looks just right and then press into place. Trim the twine so the ends are flush with the edges of the card.

Position your four pennants along the bit of twine until they are evenly spaced, then secure in place with glue.

Let dry for 30 min.

Once dry, store with an envelope until your next birthday/shower/wedding/i miss you/just thinking of you celebration/moment arrives. Then take the opporutnity to share your crafty goodness with the world, possibly attached to a lovely little package to gift.

I think a little set of mini bunting note cards, bundled with some pretty coloured envelopes and wrapped in pretty ribbon would make a lovely gift at Yule/Christmas. Give someone the gift of correspondance.  The simple joy of receiving a card in the mail, so very sweet. Sigh.

Need some bunting to make some mini bunting note cards? Of course you do, I don’t want to be the only one playing with pretty bunting! Head over to Scribd to download some free mini bunting in a rainbow of colours. Just download and cut out all the letters and numbers you’ll need to spell out any message you heart desires. The back sides of each pennant are blank for those moments when words aren’t necessary ;) Te free mini bunting is available in pastels, brights, and jewel tones. Go grab yours, then drop me a line (or a handcrafted card in the mail) and let me know what you’re crafting!

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