Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Traditions

Christmas is starting to take on new meanings for me.  I'm going to keep up with traditions, because they remind me of loved ones, but I'm also going to start new ones.  We have to remember the reason for the season. 

We decorate a Christmas tree, hang stockings, and make way too many cookies.  I say Merry Christmas, because even if you don't celebrate it, I want you to have a merry day on December 25th.  I want you to be Blessed, no matter who or what you believe in. 

What Holidays do you celebrate this time of year?  What special traditions do you have? 

I want to scrapbook Christmas this year, and I'd like to make a few pages dedicated to all the traditions my family and friends like to keep the most.  If you're reading this, I'd like to consider you in one of those two categories, so please, leave a comment and it will get added to the scrapbook. =) 

Happy Holidays! 

Melissa & Neo

Tutorial Tuesday #1 Easy Christmas/Holiday Card Hanger

Hello, Hello! It is Tutorial Tuesday!  (I'm really going to try and keep up with this!) 

Today is a really simple tutorial.  All you need is:
Holiday Cards
Scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon
Jump ring or D-ring. 

(and a place to hang your finished product.  I took down a picture that usually hangs near where people come up the stairs into our dining area.)


So I amassed the Christmas Cards we've received and I wanted to make a big, pretty, elaborate Christmas Card holder to use year after year, but you know, this is a busy time of year.  So! In the meantime, I've created this super easy way to display your Christmas or other Holiday Cards.

First, grab your ring that all the ribbon is going to hang from.  I chose the little square one, but if you don't have any of these, just steal a jump ring from an old keychain. 

Second, punch a small hole in all your cards.  I punch on the inside of the back of the card. 

Arrange your cards, then thread the ribbon through the holes you've punched.  Once you have them arranged nicely, tie a small knot below the punched hole so they don't slide down the ribbon. 

Note: If you are having a hard time threading the ribbon through the holes, use a large eyed needle.

Tie your ribbon of cards to the jump/D-ring.  If you receive more cards after you've assembled this, you can always add another ribbon to the ring!

Voila! There you have it! A super easy Holiday Card holder.  Use it for more than just Christmas! You can even make one of these for Birthday or Mother's Day cards! 



Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!

Melissa & Neo





Friday, December 9, 2011

Fabric- The Obsession

I go through spurts with obsessions.  My current obsession: Fabric.  I keep telling myself I am building a stash, but the reality is that I'm just buying it to buy it.  *sigh*  It's not like I have a very big stash, but I don't know what I'm going to do with what I have, so what am I doing?!?!  =) 



Here is one of the potholders I already made.  I'm having a heck of a time finding more of the Pashmina by Sentimental Studios for Moda fabric.  I purchased a few fat quarters months ago, and it seems that was just before they stopped carrying it in the local stores. 





I did buy some fabric with a purpose though.  I picked up watermelon rind, and watermelon inards fabrics to make potholders with.  My husband thought I was a dork.  I think I'm a genious!  (Well, maybe not a genious...)  lol   I will post pictures as soon as I have them made.  I'm also working on a breadwarmer that you can just throw the whole loaf pan in and take with you. 


While in the fabric shop, I was reminded of the upcoming Cabin Fever Shop Hop that is put on here in Michigan in February.  For more info, go here





I'm pretty excited about doing something with these ring bases too! 

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I'm Getting This Right.

I've tried this a few times before, and it never felt right to me.  I wasn't doing what I was being called to do. 

This blog is going to be about crafts, and my walk with God.  I'm not going to preach.  I'm going to share.  Sharing involves giving you my side of my story, and sharing scripture and what it means to me. 

There will be tutorials, there will be scripture, and there will be life experience. 

I've tried writing in different blogs on different topics, but they've always bled together.  Everything in my life bleeds together, that's what makes it life. 

I am not going to put my life into neat little category boxes.  It doesn't fit that way.  I've broken every box I've tried to fit myself into.  Literally, and figuratively. (I'm not petite, by any standards)

I sincerely hope you'll join me on this journey.  The heartache and triumph of others is the best teacher, because we can analyze it from the outside.