Christmas Cookie Exchange, a Party Craft Idea and some winners!

It was so fun meeting new friends Tuesday at my Holiday Cookie Exchange. Thank you to everyone who came. And for those of you who couldn't come, I am hoping to make this an annual party, so maybe you will be able to join us next year!

I found the idea for a fun chalkboard tree picture in the Seattle Magazine. I just loved the idea, and decided to make a Chalkboard Tree for the Cookie Exchange.

I had a frame, and I covered the frame with some canvas that I had in my fabric stash. My canvas wasn't long enough, so I sewed two pieces together. I covered the underlying board with the fabric and secured it with Gorilla Tape.

Then I freehanded a tree on the canvas. I painted chalkboard paint on the tree. To get the edges smooth, just load up the paintbrush with paint and gently brush the paint along the pencil edges. On the bottom of the tree, I drew a box and then cut out some fabric and hot glued it onto the canvas.

It was fun to have the guests sign the tree with season wishes or just adutograph it when they came into the party!

It would also be a fun thing to do for a birthday. You could paint a package and use ribbon to "wrap" the present. Or, for a New Year's Eve Party -- you could paint a clock, or the year.

Everyone brought such amazing cookies!!

And thank you to Amy from Living Locurto for the great FREE Cookie Party Printables  -- download them for FREE on her blog!!

And here are some winners! 

The Little Black Dress $30 Shop Credit --

 

#351 -- Robyn @ The Pink Peony of Le Jardin

THREE Winners of  Pretty Things For You Party Packages:

1. Selissa @ All Palmer

2. Anna @ Living in the Park

3. Mimi @ Living in France

$25 shop credit to Parties by Hardie:

Kassi @ Life as We Know It

$40 shop credit to Photo Making Jewelry:

The Clayburn Family

XOXO

PS -- It's another great day on the Holly Bloggy Christmas Party --

with a Recipe Party and fantastic Giveaways (hint - Lisa Leonard). 

So link up your recipes and see all the delicious creations!! 

YUM!

Advent Calendar from a Scratch-n-Dent Door!

I was at Ikea a few months ago. And you know that side room where they keep all the scratch and dent stuff? Well I found a big door in there for $4!! I was so excited. The other Ikea shoppers were looking at me like I was nuts. Who is that crazy lady who is giggling about some random, scratched up door?? I was going to make some Christmas Subway Art with it, but the wall I wanted to put it on wasn't big enough for this big old door. So it sat in my garage for a couple months.

Then when I got my Christmas boxes out, I found my little musical advent cones that I made and embellished last year and thought that instead of hanging them on my tree this year, that maybe I could turn that old door into an advent board.

So I headed down to my favorite Home Depot. Did I tell you they offered me a job in there because I show up so much?? hahahaha. I picked up some picture hanging cable and some 0-eye screws.

I decided that the white door was way too white, so I used my little mouse sander to distress it a little. Then I put some Walnut Stain over the whole thing and rubbed it into the the edges real well.  I measured the board and decided that I could make 7 rows of wire 7 inches apart.

So I marked it off with a pencil. And then drilled pilot holes with my screwdriver. And then screwed those 0-eye screw in. Then I cut off some of the picture hanging cable and twisted it around the 0-eye screw really well. I used my pliers to get it real tight. Then I stretched it out to the other 0-eye and twisted it on as tightly as I could. I did that 7 times.

I also found some great keyhole hangers that fit flush against the wall - they are great.

I love this project because I am using it as an advent board right now, but I plan to leave it up all year. It can be a message board and a place for the kids' to hang their artwork, messages, pictures or other cards that we get throughout the year.

See how practical I am???

Here is the tutorial if you want to make the Advent Cones. 

And there's also a free template printable there so you can cut them right out.

I went to the Dollar Store and filled my cones with some awesome stuff -- they had chocolate coal at the Dollar Store, isn't that fun? Plus, I found holiday erasers, pens, lollipops, and pencils. And on the 24th I am going to put in Movie tickets in envelopes and we are going to go see a Christmas movie together that day!!

And to go along with each day, I have added an activity.

Here's the advent list I made up for this year:

Watch It's a Wonderful Life

Wrap Up Christmas book and then open one each day.

Make Christmas Cookies and doorbell ditch them to the neighbors.

Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it.

Address and Mail Christmas Cards

Go to Bookstore and buy a new Christmas book to read.

See The Nutcracker

Have a Cookie Exchange

Go Ice Skating

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Ride Trax downtown to see the lights.

Make a snowman and then drink hot cocoa.

Go sledding

Do a kind deed

Make a gift basket for a lonely neighbor or friend

Have a Snowball Fight

Make and Deliver neighbor Gifts

Talk about Christmas in other countries

Make a Gingerbread house

Decorate the Tree

Make Homemade Marshmallows and Fudge

Make Fondue and eat it watching Miracle on 34th Street.

Drive around to see the lights.

Go caroling

Act out the Nativity Story

Open one gift before Christmas

Make Rice Pudding with 1 almond, then give a present to the person who gets the almond.

Ride the Christmas Train

Go to the movie theater and see the latest Christmas movie.

Hang the picture of Grandpa and fill his stocking with memories

Write a letter to Santa

Make sugar cookies

Sign up for the Giving Tree and buy items for a needy family.

Host a Christmas Eve Brunch and invite all of our friends.

Clean out old toys to donate to children in need

Watch Elf

Go to a Christmas Concert

Watch It's a Wonderful Life

Make gooey Caramel Corn

Do YOU have an Advent Calendar -- if so, what kind do you use?

xoxo

PS -- I am working on a Ruffle Tree forest today. The tutorial will be coming up tonight or tomorrow :)



PPS -- Don't miss the Tatertot and Jello Facebook Giveway TODAY ONLY

and win a RED or GREEN Mugsy and Lulu Madcap accessory!!

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Great for under a helmet, the madcap keeps hair from falling into your sporty girl’s eyes. For non-sports, the kerchief-style madcap is a cool solution for girls.The cap is available in 8 fun colors to match all of your stylish one’s outfits.

Christmas Subway Art Pillow Tutorial & a few winners!

You know how much I love Subway Art. I just had to try my hand at a Subway Art Pillow.

{Click on the Read More button for the full tutorial and to see the giveaway winners}

Subway Art Christmas Pillow Tutorial

Here's what I did: 

• I figured out the size of pillow that I wanted to make. Then I split the pillow up into a green part which is smaller and a red part which is larger. It ended up being 5 inches in height for the green and 8 inches in height for the red. Then I sewed the two pieces together. 

• I decided to make an envelope back so I added 6 inches to the width of the back and cut the back in two -- so the back overlaps by three inches. I sewed the pillow together.

• I used my Silhouette and Heat Transfer Vinyl for the letters. I love that stuff!

 

• I laid it all out on my computer and then cut it on my Silhouette.

 

•  Then I ironed on the lettering. Note -- Do NOT let the heat transfer material overlap like I did. It makes the heat transfer material stick to the vinyl. Very bad!

 

• The last thing I did was make a flower for a little extra embellishment. I attached the flower to the pillow and voila I was done!! 

 

Now I have a little Christmas Subway Art to ring in the Holiday Season!!

I just love my new pillow! 

 

And, speaking of Silhouette -- have you entered to win the Silhouette giveaway I am hosting right now?? 

I can't wait to see who wins!

Here are a couple winners from last week: 

The winner of the Darling Memories  

Virtual Christmas Card Package is -- 



#11 -- 



 Vivienne @ The V Spot 

There is still time for all of you who would like to make a Virtual Christmas Card - 

Becca is offering a 10% discount for anyone who signs up by Wednesday!!

Simply her at  rebecca@darlingmemoriesdvd.com and say "I want a Virtual Christmas Card!!" to lock in your special price!  

 The winner of the THREE Subway Art Kits from  

Makia Creations is -- 

#127



 That One Girl



Be sure to check out Makia Creations, where you can make a wonderful project with your girlfriends by signing up for a crafting party! 

 And the winner of the Zig Zag Quilt from Honeybear Lane is -- 



#215

Through My Eyes



Remember Honeybear Lane for wonderful handmade quilts and gifts!

I'm linking up to these fabulous parties  - check them out!!

  

xoxo

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