My Cluttered Corner

I'm actually not complaining, we have had such a dry spell we REALLY need the rain, but it is going to put a crimp in my photo taking today.

Fortunately I already have a photo of the layout for the ScrapTiffany challenge today which is to use sewing on a layout. I love sewing on layouts. Thing is I am not a great sewer at all (did you see the post where I talked about my Mom bailing me out and sewing Little Miss's Halloween costume?). Yeah, I dont know how to sew clothes AT ALL. Turns out, that is not a skill you need to have fun with a sewing machine on layouts. I love the texture and the unique, homemade look that sewing adds. Before I ventured into machine stitching, I was hand stitching everything and now I love to add both. This layout has a bit of both.

 I machine stitched around the circle

 and hand stitched the scalloped border. The scallop border punch I used has tiny holes and I used those to stitch through.

Check out the rest of the fun sewn projects at ScrapTiffany and if you take the sewing challenge be sure to email it to Tiffany.

I'll be back as soon as I can get some sun to take pictures of the projects I worked on this weekend. Until then, hope you all are warm and dry :)

Am I the only one struggling to stay on top of their to do list these days? Yikes, Christmas is going to be here before I know it and there is so much to do.

Color Me Daisy is hosting a 12 days of Fast Holiday Ideas. Just some quick and easy projects to get everyone's creative juices flowing. I know everyone loves to give and receive handmade, but at this point in the month if it doesnt take less than 1/2 hour, let's face it, we're saving it for next year lol! So every idea posted in this special thread will take less than 15 minutes. Mine was posted today and it is a quick and easy "snowy" ornament. It involves a very quick and simple way to cover and decorate and personalize a chipboard ornament to use on the tree or decorate a gift. Here is one of the ornaments I made:

Check out this thread on the Color Me Daisy message board for my tutorial and to see what the other Daisy girls are creating.

Things are busy over at the Posh blog too. This week I had this card posted:

I made a quilted look by punching squares from various Basic Grey Nook and Pantry papers and sewing a zig zag stitch around them. The chipboard sugar bowl, buttons and brown letters are also from the Nook and Pantry line. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this collection?

Also the first Posh Wish List winner was chosen this week. Hurry over and make your own wish list for a chance to win $100 worth of product! All information is HERE.

Also take this sketch challenge for a chance to win a cute stamp.

Come back here Monday for the latest ScrapTiffany challenge.

Oh, and keep coming back next week because I am getting seriously close to my 100th post and I am going to HAVE to do a giveaway to celebrate that momentous occasion ;)

I know... BUSY, right? Hope your busyness isn't craziness. Happy weekend :)

Yesterday got away from me, so I decided I had to get these pictures up today and of course now we are having super short and overcast days so the pictures are kind of dark, but....

This is the advent calendar I started with.

It is made by Kaisercraft. The outside is particle board and the drawers are plain chipboard. You have to assemble it, which wasn't my favorite part of the process. Not difficult, just not any fun. I spray painted the whole exterior and then covered the drawers with patterned paper and coated them with glossy mod podge.

The chipboard numbers were also included and for those I inked, painted, glittered and again covered with Mod Podge.

In the center I used some American Crafts Thickers and I was going to create my own paper mantle and hang stockings from it, but then I saw the cutest Jolee's mantle and Christmas tree and decided to take the quick and easy route. I laid down a felt "rug" placed the tree and mantle and strung the lights.
 The only items I hand made were the presents. I tried folding my own chipboard boxes and was unsuccessful so instead, I tore the handles off a brown paper shopping bag, rolled them into different sizes, taped them up and then wrapped and decorated them to look like mini presents.

They are my favorite part of the whole thing. The kids like them too and I am now wondering if they are going to last ;)

They are going to take turns opening a drawer each night. Sometimes there will be little treats and sometimes stickers or small toys or tickets for something special to do. I am not usually so on the ball with getting holiday stuff done in time, but I am so glad I got this project completed because it has really increased the already mounting excitement about Santa's visit. Now if I could only get everything else done!!