The Best of 2011

First Up: The winner of the Chic Headband Giveaway are:

email me and we’ll get you your prize!

I don’t know about you but the week after Christmas – I  go into deep cleaning mode.
I want every.single.thing. organized and spotless!
Out with all the clutter and start the new year fresh.

I am going to be taking this week off to organize and rethink my life, my home and my blog!
You know – make some goals and all that jazz!
But just in case you miss me terribly (hee hee!)
I have complied a list of my 10 favorite tutorials from this year for you!

Thank you so much for being apart of my year!
You guys are the best readers and I am super excited for what 2012 has in store for all of us!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


Planked Family Sign

Rope Bowl Tutorial

My daughter’s room

Thing One and Thing Two

Lighted Skeleton Garland

Planked Rustic Christmas Tree

Lacey Rosette Headband

Ruffled Knit Skirt

Unique Flower Pots

Family Activity Advent Calendar

I also wanted to give a BIG HUGE shout out and Thank you to my Sponsors!
You guys are the best!!

 

 

 

Linked to Tatertots & Jello

Merry Christmas!!

(Don’t you love this?)

My husband told me that the next few years are going to be the best Christmas’ EVER!
I agree!

and hope our kids do too!

Hanging JOY Art! {Tutorial}

Last week I was over at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff spreading some Christmas Cheer and I shared a fun little shabby hanging Joy art sign that I created – In case you missed it – here it is again!

I created this super easy tutorial so you can make one too!!
First, I went out to my spare wood pile and found a piece of smooth wood and cut it into squares/rectangles. Mine are about three inches by four inches (3”x4”).

Then I used Warm White by Plaid and painted them!

I used some vinyl and cut out JOY with my vinyl cutter and applied it to my blocks. But you could just as easily stencil them on too!

Then I used some Distress Ink and distressed them all up!

Next, I sanded them down just a bit to shabby them up!

I flipped them all over and using twine and my staple gun – stapled the twine to the back of each one. I started at the bottom of the “Y” and stapled, then stapled at the top of the “Y” – then moved on to the “O” and “J” -

At the top of the “J” I made a loop and stapled it twice. I used a hammer and hammered each staple to make sure it was good and secure!

Then I used some red and white polka dot ribbon I had and tied it around the top -

And then I was done!!

I love the way it turned out and think it is so fun! The distressed look was just the look I was going for! I hung mine on my Christmas tree but it looks super cute on a door knob or just your door!

Do you just love it too!!?? Since these are so simple and easy to make – you could even make them for your neighbor gifts!

Check out some of the other Christmas crafts I’ve been working on.

Noel Wall Art * Planked Christmas Tree * Advent Calendar

 

I am linked to some of these great parties!!

Ornament Wreath

Remember a couple years ago when THIS wreath was THE wreath of the year?

And every.single.person. (and their cute dogs) made one?

Seriously – it just exploded into blog land like the plague – but why not – it is super cute and super easy to make!

So easy – I made one this year!!

I used a bunch of ornaments I had from previous years that I wasn’t using this year – and strung them onto my wire hanger.
You can find a full tutorial here.
Eddie Ross used ornaments that were all the same size.
I took a gamble and used some that were all different sizes – and love the way it tuned out!

Since mine were all different sizes – I had a few {bare} places – so I simply hot glued some extra ornaments in to fill it in a little bit more.

Then hung it up with a big green bow!

I love it and am well pleased with the way it turned out!
So if you have no idea what I am talking about or haven’t jumped on the band wagon yet -

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
(Is that enough peer pressure for you!! haha!)

I mean – you still have FIVE days before Christmas!!

Soft Molasses Cookies {Recipe}

Last week I headed over to Jenn’s house for a wonderful Cookie Exchange Party!
I decided to make my Soft Molasses Cookies! They are a family favorite!
My dad even caught wind that I was making them and “stopped” by!

They are the prefect neighbor treat because they make 13+ DOZEN!
Yes! About 160 cookies!!
I hope you guys love them as much as my family does!!

COOKIES:

1 1/2 C. Shortening
1 1/2 C. Margarine
4 C. Sugar
4 Eggs
1/2 C. Molasses

MIX and then Add in:

2t. Cinnamon
2t. Ginger
2 t. Ground Cloves
4t . Baking Soda
8 C. Flour

MIX

Roll into quarter size balls and roll around in cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.

FROSTING:

l LB Package of Powdered Sugar
2 TB. Vanilla
1/3 C. Water

Smooth over hot cookies!!

ENJOY!!