Saturday Snapshot: Life Lately

1 & 2) We had a beautiful BEAUTIFUL autumn in Minnesota.
3 & 4) The leaves are all gone now, though, and winter is officially here.

It's been a while since I did a life lately post!  So much has changed in the last several months.  We moved into our new home, I started a new job teaching, and John got a new car (yay!).  Then again, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  We've been taking a lot of walks and hikes, I put up our Christmas decorations VERY early, and of course, I've been eating too many sweets :)

1) Inga looking cute (and miserable) in her festive sweater
2) Stockings and a really chimney to hang them by!
3) Maybe my new favorite ornament- the Eiffel Tower bought from Gilt

1) Poached pears
2) Cupcake and hot cocoa
3) Trader Joe's macarons- check them out!
4) Caribou coffee and donuts

What have you been up to?

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Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to thank my regular readers for being such great friends- whether we have met or not!  I love making things to share with you all, and I'm so excited for the year to come.  I hope that you are able to spend today with loved ones, and that you are enjoying all of the little things we have to be thankful for.

Of course, I am thankful for my wonderful husband

My family, here in front of our old home on the couch my grandparents refurbished.  The home was in our family for 46 years

And this little peanut, Inga, who I can't believe was ever so small

Have a wonderful wonderful day.

Golden Holly Leaves Ornament

I am absolutely in the Christmas spirit!  I have our tree set up, the mantle decorated, the stockings hung, and I'm well into my Christmas shopping :)  I just can't help myself- maybe I'm part elf?

Today I've got another simple ornament DIY for you to try.  The thing I like best about this one is that because the glass is left clear, you really only have to do about half the decorating! ;)  Now, I did this on a smaller ornament, but you could easily do it on a larger sized ornament as well.

You will need:

• Glass ornament
• Martha Stewart's glass paint in an opaque gold
• Glass paint in a translucent gold glitter
• Paint brushes
• Red ribbon
• Tiny jingle bell

Simply paint ovals in sets of three using the opaque gold glass paint and a small, flat brush.  You will probably want to do two coats to be sure it looks solid.  Paint sets of three all over the ornament.

sorry for the blurry photo!

Next, take a smaller, pointed brush and add three spikes on each side of each leaf.  This makes it look like holly!  Again, you might have to double up on coverage.

Then, take the applicator of the opaque gold to squeeze curly lines from one cluster of leaves to another.  This is easiest if you are always moving the bottle from the bottom of the ornament to the top, in an upward movement.  It helps keep the lines smooth.

Finally, once the opaque gold has dried, paint on some gold glitter.  Let it dry, then add a red ribbon and a jingle bell.

It's ready to hang on the tree or get wrapped as a lovely gift!

Merry One-Month-Til-Christmas!

Saturday Snapshot: MCAD Art Sale

Last night, John and I had the opportunity to go to the annual Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Art Sale.  It's such a fun event that displays and sells student art.  It is always packed, and there are always pieces that elicit a strong response- whether it be grotesque, funny, or breathtaking.  Last year we picked up a watercolor that we still need to get framed.  This year, we nabbed two pieces.  I'm thinking maybe an art wall is in the cards for our new home...

Blues 02, Mixed Media Screenprint, Watercolor, Ink by Donna Johnson

Spider Friends, Ink and Cut Paper by Sarah Evenson

I hope you all have a happy weekend!!

Winter Berry Branches Ornament

Another glass ornament DIY for you today!  I didn't think it was possible, but this one is even easier than the one I posted last week!

You will need:

• Clear glass ornament
• Martha Stewart multi surface paints in (pearl) gold mother of pearl and a gold gliter
• Martha Stewart glass paints in an opaque dark brown and a glittery red
• Red ribbon
• Tiny jingle bell

First, take your glass ornament, pour in some gold mother of pearl paint, and shake it up to coat the inside.  Drain the excess by putting the ornament upside down on a paper towel.

Take your dark brown glass paint and run a streak around the circumference of the ornament.  Add a few branches off to the sides.

Once the brown dries, squeeze some red glitter in small dots along the branches.  Finally, add some touches of gold glitter paint along the branches.

String a piece of red ribbon and a jingle bell on, and you're good to go!

Polar Bear Gift Tag

Last week, I shared a winter walking bear gift tag to tie onto your holiday presents.  This week, I've got another for you, and I think it's adorable!

You will need:

• White stiffened felt
• Green felt
• Black permanent marker or black paint
• Pencil, scissors, and needle
• Red beads
• White embroidery floss
• Polar bear stencil

Click here for your free printable stencil

Trace the outline of the stencil onto the stiffened felt.  Then cut it out and pencil in the details of the bear.  Color the details in with either your black sharpie or black paint.

Cut the green felt into two small holly leaves- these are just jagged little rectangles basically :) Sew the green leaves onto the bear's ear.  Then, add on three little holly berries made out of the red beads.

Finally, thread on a loop of embroidery floss at the top of your little guy's head.

I decided to darken my bear's features with black paint

Done!  So cute (and so simple!).

Saturday Snapshot: Kitchen Lighting

While I'm busy posting Christmas craft ideas instead of home pictures, I thought I'd share a few of the wonderful details about our home in the meantime.  This is the light that hangs above our kitchen sink.  When it is lit, it has the prettiest colors!

Gilded Leaves Ornament

I am so excited to share with you all the glass ornaments I'm making this year!  Last year, I posted a marble type ornament that was so simple to make.  This year, I'm upping my game.  But don't worry; it's still totally doable!

You will need:

• Martha Stewart multi-surface paint in (metallic) brushed bronze, (pearl) gold mother of pearl, and (glitter) florentine gold
• Glass ornaments
• Red ribbon
• Tiny little jingle bells
• Paint brush

First, squeeze some of the gold mother of pearl inside an ornament.  Then, put on some Taylor Swift and shake, shake, shake until the inside is covered.  You'll want to put this upside down on a paper towel to drain any excess.

Next, take the brushed bronze and paint thin lines down the sides of the ornament, stopping about halfway down.  Vary the length and angle of the lines to make it more natural and random.

Add on some leaves by dabbing the brushed bronze up the sides of the lines.

Finally, load up your brush with the florentine gold and glob some glitter over the bottom half of each set of leaves.

Add some red ribbon and a little jingle bell, and it's ready to go on the tree!

So simple!