{ this week on pinterest } holiday edition

Each week I will feature 5 awesome things that I find floating around on pinterest. Pinterest, if you are not familiar with it, is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post.

Request an invite or ask your friends to invite you!



 
 
 

{ home decor }

pinecone christmas trees

source

{ do it yourself }

soda straw christmas wreath 

source

{ good eats }

snowman icecream shots

source

{ do it yourself }

vintage ornament tutorial 

source

{ for the kiddies }

beau jangles the elf's photography blog 

source



{ diy advent calendar }

i decided to try a new form of advent calendar this year. mr. b has gotten bored with the candy countdowns....the paper chain countdown....and the countdown the christmas scene calendar we have used in the past. i took two 16 x 20 canvases and painted them (one green and one red)

i took 24 clothespins and adhered christmas scrapbook paper to them. i hot glued them to the canvas. i used 24 mini sacks ( i wanted to use brown craft sacks but went with the white instead) and added little gifts inside. i tied them up with baker's twine that i made myself out of kite string and grey markers (tutorial to come soon) the bakers twine was for a little bit of decoration as well as to ensure that mr. b didn't peep.

i printed the numbers on top of digital scrapbook paper that i made and punched with a circle scalloped 1.5' punch. i adhered them to the sacks in case i wanted to change the calendar next year. i had a last minute idea to do a deal or no deal type of thing...but maybe for next year.

here is what i have in my sacks in random order...since i dont remember where i have them all placed!

24. micro machine

23. tony hawk undies (1 pair)

22. shaun white belt

21. tony hawk tech deck  mini skateboard

20. tony hawk tech deck  mini skateboard

19. mini lego man

18. mini lego man

17. 5 $1 bills

16. champagne party poppers

15. 1918 dime

14. 1935 buffalo nickel

13. $2 bill

12. pirate treasure chocolate coins

11. 2 gold dollars

10. 8 quarters

09. crazers hot wheels erasers

08. micro machines

07. shaun white wallet with $5

06. gloves

05. hand sanitizer

04. $5 toys r us giftcard

03. open one christmas present

02. $5 walmart gift card

01. $10 target gift card

hope some of my ideas might help you as well.

merry christmas to all!

FREE Elf-Magic Elf & Snowcase

Enter to win a free Elf Magic Elf and matching snowcase courtesy of Southern Holiday Life magazine & Elf-Magic.http://www.elf-magic.com/

To enter goto Lake Wedowee Life's fan page on Facebook and answer today's trivia question:

"What is Annabelles favorite candy?"

**Hint** The answer is in the current issue of Southern Holiday Life AND in one of my more recent blog entries!

Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

{ free owl 2012 calendar }

 Owl Lover 2012 calendar project is the encore of last year's "Owl Lover" calendar project - a collaborative project between My Owl Barn and 30 international artists. The project was featured on several reputed blogs like decor8, poppytalk, and the calendar was downloaded by almost a hundred thousand owl lovers all over the world.

Select the month from a drop down box. There are 30 images to choose from! Hit "Download Calendar" button at the bottom of the page. You'll be prompted to download or open the PDF file. Make sure you choose to download it. Once you have the file, you can open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader and print it.

Visit the link here!

{ this week on Pinterest }

Each week I will feature 5 awesome things that I find floating around on pinterest.

Pinterest, if you are not familiar with it, is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post.

Request an invite or ask your friends to invite you!

{ green living }
recycled altoid tin

source

{ to have & to hold }
something blue : blue tulle added
underneath the dress

source



{ foto inspiration }
shadows

source

{ typography / word art }

love this signage

source

{ do it yourself }

washer monogram initial

source

enjoy & happy pinning!!!

Elf Magic

A couple of weeks ago Lake Wedowee Life received a surprise. We came into the office and noticed a small velvet bag with a poem. When we opened the bag there was a cute little Elf named Annabelle inside. According to her poem she is a magic elf from the North Pole. She wanted to visit with us for a couple of weeks so that we could let all of our readers know about her and her pals.

Over the past couple of weeks she has gotten into some mischief! Apparently Annabelle and her Elf friends cause quite a ruckus in the households they visit before Christmas.

Over fifty years ago, Elves made their debut in the childhood home of Elf Magic’s Chief Elf Officer (CEO) Piper Worthington. Elves sent by Santa himself magically appeared in her home when she and her sister, Anita, were fast asleep. For weeks, they would find these playful Elves hiding in a different spot each morning when they awoke. As kind as they were adventurous, the Elves began helping the sisters with daily chores and leaving them personalized notes, imparting important lessons about responsibility and selflessness.

Elf Magic’s “Timeless Christmas Tradition” begins with a child writing a letter to Santa Claus requesting an Elf Magic friend to visit through the Christmas season. Before going to bed, the child will place the Elf’s favorite snack of crackers and ice water on the kitchen counter to lure the Elf. Why crackers and ice water, you ask? Because Elves’ favorite snack is a reminder of their snowy home – the ice water is melting North Pole Snowflakes and the crackers sound like crunching snow!

Magically, an individually named, 10-inch plush Elf appears at the child’s home between Thanksgiving and the days leading up to Christmas … once the Elf has finished all of his or her work at the North Pole.

Each Elf Magic Elf comes with a poem and tips that explain the tradition, along with magical North Pole Snowflakes, which the child sprinkles on the Elf each night to bring him or her to life. While the family is asleep, the Elf is wide awake and ready to play! This is the time when the Elf goes on all types of adventurous Elfcapades from cookie baking, gift wrapping and hiding in freezers (because the Elves love the frosty temperature!).

After a night of embarking on playful adventures, the Elf hides for the child to find the next morning – maybe under a pile of unrolled toilet paper or even on the blade of a ceiling fan! If the fan is on high, the Elf might just “fly” through the air.

Elves are very creative and love to have fun! During the day, they can tag along on all the child's daily adventures from gazing at Christmas lights, visiting the child's school, going shopping or even organizing a sleepover "Elf parties!” Some Elves even pick a weekly Bible verse the family can discuss and memorize. There is no limit to the joy Elf Magic can bring!

The Elves can be a spirited group. While some of the Elves have mischievous streaks from time to time, Santa knows which Elf will be the best fit for each family. So whether a family wants excitement or simply companionship from their Elf, Santa will make sure the right Elf arrives at that home.

Elves return to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve to help deliver toys around the world; but don’t fret, as the Elves will return again next Christmas to create more fun-filled memories. Elf Magic Elves are so endearing, they become the child’s best friend! Because of this, Elves have been known to show up for brief visits throughout the year as a surprise for special events, like birthdays, the first day of school or even on family vacations!

For more information on the Elf Magic tradition, visit Santa's Favorite Website: http://www.elf-magic.com/.

Holiday Wreath Alternative

Sometimes you want to try something different...so here is a great idea for your door. Instead of the traditional Christmas wreath, try this burlap sac with a live spruce sapling. After the holidays are over you can plant it in the yard. Buy your burlap sac or make your own like I did.

That's a Wrap

So you have finished your holiday gift list (you checked it twice). Make sure the thoughtfulness of your gift is not lost in boring Christmas wrap.

You’ve found the perfect gift but it is not quite complete. Looking for a way to add a little something extra to your gifts this year? Get creative with your wrapping and make each gift extra special, give it a personalized touch with unconventional wrapping techniques.

Wrapping paper is especially important at Christmas, when presents sometimes sit under the tree for several weeks before being opened. Beautiful gift-wrapping might seem difficult to achieve, but many simple tricks can make any present look more alluring. Before you get started on your gift wrap session be sure you plan ahead and gather all your supplies. For the gifts pictured I used brown craft paper, white butcher paper, sheet music, a potato chip can, scrapbook paper, and miscellaneous embellishments. For the holiday treat packages (which will be one of the last gifts you wrap) I used empty coffee containers, a potato chip can, scrapbook paper, and a tumbler. Customize each gift’s packaging to the personality of it’s recipient. Another tip to try is to have the packaging go along with the gift itself. The tire marked wrapping paper with racecar adornment is the perfect gift wrap idea for a racetrack or vehicle accessories. Many household items can be recycled to make beautiful gift wrap. An old map and a broken toy compass made the perfect wrap for a GPS, and for the fisherman in the family, you can incorporate part of the “gift” into the name tag or add as a trimming. A potato chip can wrapped in scrapbook paper makes a creative container for any type of small gift, or for homemade treats. Empty coffee cans can be decorated using wrapping paper scraps or with decorative papers. One major coffee distributor pre-made templates on their website for each holiday occasion that will cover it’s labels.

Before I throw out an incomplete game board or any type of toy sets I hang onto the small pieces to use as decoration for a later time. You never know when they will come in handy (like they did in my Creative Crafting project!). Personalizing your gift presentation helps making the present more memorable and special. Monogrammed ornaments or key chains can also double as a gift tag.

Another tip when it comes to gift packaging is wrapping in an item that can be used again at a later date. Our Magic Elf, Annabelle, happens to love peppermints. We package some for her in a plastic tumbler that will be perfect for drinking hot chocolate out of. We used scrapbook paper to print ‘Happy Holidays’ from the computer, and attached it to the cup with adhesive. We created cones from pretty Christmas papers, punched two holes for string and created an ornamental gift. Fill with your favorite holiday snack and hang on your tree until it is time to give your gift.

One thing to remember during your Christmas present exchange is to be mindful of our environment. Use recycled wrapping paper or items that would typically be considered trash to “dress up” your gifts. Reuse as many “wastes” from this Christmas that you can for next season.

Merry Christmas and Happy Wrapping!

Winter Wonderland Ornament

This winter wonderland ornament has the appeal of a snow globe and terrarium, but is made simpler for children. I have put my environment loving spin on this project.

Reuse old toys/Christmas ornaments for the inside pieces. You can buy the snow at your local craft store, or cut up plastic grocery bags for the “greener” route. Use 9 oz clear solo cups as the top, and scalloped edge cardstock on the bottom. For a personalized touch, write the crafter’s name and date on the bottom of the cardstock.

Frosted Luminaries

I have seen several different crafts using Epsom salts to embellish holiday décor. I wanted to give it a try and here is what the result was.









I got the glassware from the thrift store for a quarter each.

Color your epsom salts with 2-3 drops of food coloring.

Mix together and get all clumps out. Let mixture dry for about an hour.

Cover your glassware with your favorite adhesive.

Roll adhesive covered glass into colored Epsom salts.

 Allow them to dry a couple of hours. Coat with gloss sealer several times. Add your candles and enjoy!

Creative Crafting { Southern Holiday Life }

Here is my latest for


Lake Wedowee Life Magazine's Southern Holiday Life special issue.

Enjoy!

DIY Christmas Card Book

Have you been wondering what in the world you're going to do with all the Christmas cards that you get from friends and family each year? Not really wanting to throw them away, but also not wanting the hassle of scrap-booking them?

Here is what I do with my beloved Christmas cards. I create yearly books that I put out as decoration during the holidays. Simply take your hole punch and line the card up so that it punches just the TWO holes evenly on the card. (Three holes will make it harder to open.) Then get some clasping metal binder, and you have yourself a beautiful coffee table adornment!

You will be able to look back over the years and enjoy flipping through to read what holiday wishes your loved ones sent. Easy, unique and eco-friendly.



holiday photo check list { free printable }

The problem with most photos taken during the holidays or other special celebrations is that they don’t capture the special feeling of the season or event. Here is a photo checklist, along with five tips to help you photograph your holiday season.

Don't be afraid to get up close. Almost every digital camera has a Magnify or Macro button that lets you get close and create a much more interesting photo.

There's nothing wrong with pictures that are posed, but you can create variety by taking candid shots of family and at social gatherings. Capture people while they’re engaged in conversation or as they’re opening a gift. Keep your camera batteries charged up and your camera nearby so you can catch spontaneous moments.

Try to tell a story. Don’t just photograph the opening of the gifts. Photograph the process of selecting the gifts, wrapping them, and the mess that is left over after they are opened. This process is called photojournalism and has been growing in popularity in photography over the years.

If you are shooting indoors during the day, make your portraits with your subjects standing near a window or door instead of relying on the flash. The flash can cause red eye and give your subject a harsh appearance.

Looking at rows of people staring at the camera and smiling at you head-on can be a bit boring. If you want to take a photo of your family or friends, simply changing the angle and looking at a familiar scene from a new perspective can give it a brand new look.

Download HERE



magic santa key { free printable }

How does Santa get in a home or apartment with no chimney?

He needs a magic key!

At our house we do not have a fireplace for Santa to come down the chimney, and we can’t just leave the door unlocked! For the past 5 years I have hung the Santa Key that I made outside the front door on Christmas Eve so that Santa can get into the house and deliver his gifts.

If you have a chimney, but are worried that Santa might not be able easily fit without getting stuck, this would also be a good alternative.

I have designed a printable exclusively for Southern Holiday Life. I have also included a “magic key” in case you cannot find one. Download HERE. Enjoy!