Thing-a-Day 2012 - #10 3-D Paper Ball Ornaments

3-D Paper Ball Ornaments

I found the instructions for this ornament here. I think the all white style is my favorite. I want to make some more of these in all kinds of sizes. I also want to try making a large one out of clear plastic or vellum and then insert a small, low watt light bulb inside to hang as a pendant light. I think that could be amazing!

Thing-a-Day 2012 - #9 Felt Valentines

Felt Valentines

I saw somewhere on the 'net some felt valentine ornaments, but I am running out of places to hang things so I left off the ribbon and made these to nestle in a bowl. Unfortunately, the bowl I wanted wasn't available, so I stuck them in my mondo mug. I think they're cute and I got to practice my blanket stitch again :)

Also, they were made completely with supplies I had on hand AND they are stuffed with scraps! Waste not, want not. I used up the scraps from these hearts in 3 of them and then pulled out a bag of fabric scraps from a bag I made a couple years ago. Yes, I kept my scraps for that long. Yes, I always keep the scraps. You never know when you may need a patch, or a small bit for another craft :)

Thing-A-Day 2012 - #8 Felt Heart Bunting

#8 - Felt Heart Bunting

I had a huge stack of felt that I bought several years ago for another craft that I never got around to finishing. I've seen these heart buntings around the 'net for awhile now, not only in felt, but paper as well. It took me longer than I thought to hand cut all those hearts and in the end I had to cut some more to complete the entire room. On the up side, I did use up most of my felt bits and instead of tossing all those scraps I stuffed them into an old mason jar, tied it with a bow and called it "bonus craft!"

And later I can pull those scraps out and do something else with them ;)

There is nothing better than making something awesome out of scraps that would normally go in the trash. 

Thing-a-Day 2012: #7 - Valentine Specimen Art

Valentine Specimen Art

I already had the frame and tons of paper scraps so this craft was a no-brainer. I do wish I'd had a heart punch to make this go a little faster. I didn't enjoy hand-cutting 20 little hearts for this. I think I'll need to skip my next craft because it requires almost 100 tiny hearts. I need a heart punch. I'll leave that craft on the list for next year, I guess. I'll also add the punch to my Christmas Wish list :)

Side note: I missed days 4-6 because I was sick - as in really, really sick. It rarely happens that I am so sick I'm stuck in bed for 3 days. I was so bummed that I missed out on completing the Thing-a-Day challenge this year. Ah well...can't win 'em all.

Thing-a-Day 2012 - #3 Circle Ornaments

Paper Circle Ornaments

I've seen these around the 'net and in several magazines lately, so I thought I'd give them a try. And goodness knows I have plenty of paper laying around to play with :)

Something pretty...

to look at! found on pinterest. A very cool website!

I would love to have the chair and mirror in my master suite...that is, ehem, if I had a master suite...

Crazy Cake Adventures

No one should take on two really important cakes the morning after getting back from a vacation. But, lucky me, the Mr. didn't give me much of a choice. I had to bake and decorate these cakes in less than 24 hrs! I baked cakes from 7 - 10:30 pm one night and went back to frost at 7am the next day! Craziness indeed. And I didn't get to make all the decorations I wanted to make. I was seriously dissapointed. But I did have fun working the frosting designs. I'd like to make some more of these...but mini-sized! Wouldn't they be so cute?!

This is a 2-layer, 14" strawberry cake with buttercream frosting, decorated with stippling.

This is a 2-layer, 9" strawberry cake with butter cream frosting, decorated with ribbon swirls.

I really, really wanted to make some chocolate butterflies to set on top, but I just plain ran out of time and I was soooo tired from the trip I just couldn't function. I guess I'll save that little bit of fun for some other time.

Inspiration Station: The Kitchen Plates

Look at these pretties! I found this on DesignSponge. Which was inpired by

Lisa Congdon's clever kitchen post on Design Sponge. I like this idea and fully intend to copy it when I finally have a house again :)  Especially since I loooooove collecting interesting old plates and things. What a fun collection!