In my year of healthy changes, I've become very interested in the healing properties of essential oils. I've read and researched and interviewed and experimented... it's all just very, very fascinating to me! While my collection of oils is small, I've picked up several to help with my family's sinus and skin issues, muscle aches, sleeplessness, and just overall wellbeing.

You may be thinking... the placebo effect is strong with this one...

And maybe it is, but I've been pleased with the impact they have had on our household.

So, for my handmade Christmas efforts this year, I thought it would be nice to share a gift of health with my kids' teachers and a few friends. Not to one to knock a great drinking vessel, but do they really need another mug?

My other idea was a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts. Mmmm... doughnuts are my kryptonite. They may really wish I'd given them a gift card!!

I made blends that I thought would be universally appealing - for sleep, alertness, and sinus relief. I used some recipes that I found on Hello Glow as my base and customized from there.

Good Night, Sleep Tight :: roman chamomile + lavender

WAKE UP! :: frankincense + peppermint + orange

Breathe :: eucalyptus + peppermint

I then knit up these adorable little bags to carry them. For the knitters among us, this is the first pattern that worked up on my own! I shouldn't be this proud because it's so simple, but I am.

I added a Christmas ribbon and a menu card... Voila! A simple, yet very personal little gift.

If you think this is an idea for you, you are completely welcome to my files, recipes, knitting pattern, etc. Just let me know what you'd like.

I am curious - if you are a teacher, would you use a gift like this or would it be regifted? I would love to know if I'm just thinking inside of my own bubble.

What are you crafting for Christmas this year? I'd love to hear all about it!

My oldest son had to tag along to work with me on Friday.

Poor guy...

I sent him out for a walk and he promptly returned carrying a four leaf clover that he found.

He was so excited! He spent the rest of the afternoon telling everyone about it and dreaming of the many things he might wish for.

Even though this clover has seen better days, my son still wanted to preserve it. We decided to create a charm for his backpack. A "lucky charm."

I pulled out a few trusty supplies... a 1.5" glass dome, cardstock, bails, lobster clasp, findings... We added a penny for a little extra "luck."

To seal the clover behind the glass, I  followed the same procedure outlined for my Happy Magnets. Check out that post for full instructions (and another fun project!).

After patiently waiting for it all to dry, we were anxious to put it all together and...

Ta-da!

Imagine how cute this would be with a GREEN four leaf clover!

As always, the best part about this project was collaborating with my son. I'm constantly challenging him to think creatively about materials.

I could be shaping a creative genius or manic hoarder.

He's actually been taking weekly art classes with a local arts alliance and he's been so inspired. He's learning to weave with plastic bags... printmaking with Styrofoam plates... the importance of daydreaming for the creative process...

Here's one of his printmaking projects. His house is the one in the immediate foreground, followed by his classmates' additions. I just love this!

What thrills my heart the most are the conversations we have after class. He is always so proud to learn new skills and discover new talent.

"Mommy, art class is awesome!"

I wholeheartedly agree.

Our fun with wine glass charms continues!

Here is another option that we crafted this weekend.

Kellie and I found some great chalkboard alphabet stickers during our shopping trip. A little scrap paper... a little Mod Podge Dimensional Magic... a few jewelry findings...

This project is so simple!

We added a layer of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to give the charms a "domed" appearance.

Allow the Dimensional Magic to completely dry. It will feel like FOR...EV...ERRRRRR, but it's so important for a nice, finished project.

The addition of scrapbook paper to the back is a fun way to personalize these charms.

So cute and easy! I think these would make a great hostess gift.

I think the pictures tell the DIY story, but do let me know if you have any questions about how we made these.

Have a great week ahead!!

My friend, Kellie, has been smitten with these Pottery Barn wine glass charms. She loves to entertain and has been on the search for this particular set for quite some time.

She shared the photo with me this weekend and I immediately suggested that we try to create something similar, but more personal.

That's how this happened...

We loaded up on goodies at the craft store... dimensional alphabet stickers, glittery scrapbook paper, jump rings, and jewelry wire. I found a bag of florist marbles at the Dollar Tree.

After laying down our stickers on the scrapbook paper, we adhered a florist marble on top of each letter with Mod Podge Dimensional Magic and let it dry overnight.

We couldn't find the right hangers for our charms so I crafted them from heavier gauge jewelry wire. I cut 2" of wire, shaped it in a circle, and bent the ends with a set of jewelry pliers.

After cutting marbles from the paper, we glued a silver pendant bail to the back of each. 

Bonus!! If you're using these for a party, you can send your guests home with the charm they choose. The addition of the bail means these will make great pendants for a necklace.

We think the results are amazing! These are glamorous, personal, and a great addition to anyone's bar ware.

We were on a roll so we kept the theme by crafting another set of wine glass charms. That post is next. Stay tuned!!

I knew this day would come eventually.

The day my son would come home with his first... science project.

As I read the assignment, the cold sweat and mild anxiety attack may have given my true feelings away. My first thought was to schedule a meeting to gain deeper insight into his teacher's methods and desired outcomes. What if we misinterpreted the assignment?!

{Can you tell that I've recently graduated with my M.Ed?}

But... this is the third grade. And, the written assignment did say a poster was appropriate.

{Okay. Let's do this.}

Despite all of the worry, my son and I had the best time working on this! We researched together. We shopped for supplies together. I taught him painting techniques and how to use Adobe InDesign.

And, our end result was fantastic!

Hmmm... one might say, "Out of this world!"

Sorry, couldn't help throwing in the bad pun...

My Silhouette came in handy for this project, too. We made the labels from silver adhesive vinyl.

I'm still a teensy bit anxious about him turning this in—just as though I was back in school myself! I know his assignments will only get tougher as he gets older.

{sigh}

Let's hope they are all as much fun as this one was!

Y'all.

It was -12 degrees, with a wind chill of -34, when I woke up this morning. It is so cold it physically hurts! Have you felt the effects of the "Polar Vortex of 2014?"

Meh. Everyone is talking about the cold... so, let's talk about crafting.

It was really no surprise when my nearly-four-year-old began asking for a "shark cake" for his upcoming birthday.

Not a superhero theme... not cars... not dinosaurs... sharks.

He doesn't make anything easy on us.

{wink-wink}

So, I set to work this weekend, crafting shark accessories for the cupcakes that he was taking to share with his classmates.

I found the perfect scrapbook papers at a local craft store - a shimmery gray for the shark toppers and a watery iridescent for the cupcake wrappers.

This is one of those times that I said a prayer of thanks for my Silhouette. I downloaded patterns for the sharks and the cupcake wrappers from the Silhouette store and set to work.

My Silhouette is an older generation, but I still love it! Here it is in action.

And, the end result...

To make the toppers, I "sandwiched" a toothpick between two sharks. Time consuming, but so simple.

I think it looks as though they are leaping from the surf with the fluffy white icing.

He was happy as can be to share the cupcakes and shark water squirter favors with his classmates today!

Score one for mommy.

Wherever you are, stay warm and dream of cupcakes. Even better, bake some and take advantage of that warm oven.

I did not enjoy Christmas "marketing" this year. I grew sick of the cries of "more, more, MORE!!!" coming from my television/radio/internet very early on. It was all just too much.

Bleh.

I have always tried to give handmade to close friends and family. My crazy schedule did not permit me to spend much time in my studio, but I was able to make a few things.

If you're looking for a few last-minute ideas, these might be just what you need!

Felted Mum + Scarf

A few months ago, I fell in love with this felted flower brooch, made and shared by Megan Reardon:

Until now, I haven't had the time (or motivation) to sit down and make one. I thought it would be perfect for my dear friend, Elly, who has stepped into the role of mother, comforter, and confidant for me since moving to Pennsylvania.

She has her own style and a flair for the unexpected accessory. I thought this brooch would look great on her.

I followed Megan's tutorial step-by-step. Materials required were:

• high-quality felt
• fabric glue
• chipboard or cardboard
• embroidery thread

And, lots of time. This is not a quick project!

I did omit the envelope on the back that Megan included on hers. Adorable, but not right for this gift. Instead, I did some simple embroidery on the back to further personalize the flower.

I actually wound up making two of these - one for Elly and one for my sweet neighbor. I paired Elly's with a black and white chevron infinity scarf and my neighbor's with a turquoise and white scarf.

The two items work together perfectly and make beautiful presentation. Great girlie gifts!

 

Handmade Labels

Another dear friend that I've made since arriving in Pennsylvania is Cristy. Pretty much my entire social calendar revolves around this girl. And... our hubbies really hit it off so that's an added bonus.

Talk about handmade Christmas... Cristy's fingers have been hard at work for months as she's knitted scarves and hats and dishcloths and more for all those she loves. I'm astounded at all she's accomplished!

It only seemed fitting to give her custom labels for her handmade wares.

For this project I used:

• 100% linen fabric
• Pellon paper-backed Wonder-Under
• Inkjet printer

I love the natural, almost burlap, look of this linen.

I designed my art in Photoshop. The font is "Snow," available through CreativeMarket.com.

I cut a piece of Wonder Under to 8.5" x 11" and ironed it on to the back of my fabric on the bias. You can see in the photo that the fabric grain is on the diagonal. This prevents excessive fraying.

I then trimmed my fabric to the size of the Wonder Under and ran the sheet through my inkjet printer. Tip: if you're printing line art, change your printer settings to print 600 DPI or greater.

The results were exactly what I had hoped for.

I used a ruler to guide my rotary cutter as I cut out the individual labels (50 of them!). It was no quick task, but well worth the results.

When she is ready to use one, all she has to do it peel off the paper backing and iron on to her handmade item. She can finish off with an embroidered border, but it's not necessary. The bond is permanent.

I was so excited to give these small gifts because these are women who appreciate the art and personal meaning behind something handmade. It takes more thought and more care to create something from the heart.

This season is not about giving "more, more, MORE!"

Yet, in a way... it is.

Merry Christmas!

"How important it is to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"

~Maya Angelou~

I'd just seen my oldest board the bus and was heading to work. Suddenly, I noticed my lovely neighbor waving me down so I pulled over to chat.

"Did Dylan tell you about what happened on the bus yesterday?"

{fear... horror... wonder...}

She relayed a story about Dylan falling victim to a bully on the bus (something he never shared with me) and proudly shared how her daughter stood up for him, going as far as to report it to the school administration.

{sadness... pride...}

As I began processing all of the other emotions that followed, one kept rising to the top—sheer admiration of this small girl who did a really big thing. I had to figure out a way to honor her.

My go-to? You guessed it... something handmade... something celebratory... something a tween might appreciate? A sparkly confetti necklace!

Here's what I used.

I used a simple hole-punch to make the confetti and began layering it on my wooden disc with Mod Podge and a toothpick (one end as a brush, the other as a positioning tool), allowing the confetti to overlap the edges of the circle.

I printed and punched my quote and added it to the back of the disc while the front was drying.

Once the front was dry, I trimmed the overlapping confetti from the edge of the disc.

The newest material to me was Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. This was a first experiment with this medium.

{Learn from my mistakes} I added way too much to the top of the confetti side and it began to drip down the sides. Oops! Start with a thinner coat and build up.

A few hours later, I added a few more confetti pieces and another layer of Dimensional Magic to create more dimension to the piece.

Once all was dry, I sealed the back with traditional Mod Podge and added a silver bail with E-6000 adhesive.

You know how I like to overthink things. It's just how I roll... I remembered that I received a bottle cap in an assortment of jewelry findings and thought that I could make this pendant even nicer with that serving as my tray.

All was looking great until I became too impatient and added the epoxy bubble to the top before the Mod Podge was dry. There was too much moisture trapped in the layers below. It doesn't look bad, but it could have been perfect {with a little patience on my part}.

I hope my little hero will wear her special necklace. I can't wait to give it to her this weekend. Not having girls of my own, I can only guess about what she might actually wear.

Unrelated, but related... I gave a Hello Kitty poster and marker set to a feisty little 6-year-old down the street, who promptly informed me that she doesn't care for Hello Kitty - at all. Oops. Clearly, I'm out of touch.

Well, I'm so pleased with how these turned out that I might just make one for everyone. There is no limit to the looks you can achieve with different papers and textures.

I'm thinking about vellum... Ooooooo...