gift ideas.

I tried to be my usual crafty self this last holiday season, but I was having a difficult time coming up with new things to make as gifts. There were a few things I did though and here is one of them:

I made yarn covered block letters for a few of my married friends to hang up in there house. I actually really loved how they turned out. And they were really fun to make which was an added bonus. I'm already planning on making more.

xoxo

gold and glitter.

Creating a Christmas wonderland.

I've started making a few new Christmas decorations:

- I made some trees out of old magazines.

- Spray painted them gold.

- Used spray adhesive.

- Then added lots of glitter.

- Now just to find something for a tree topper...

Look for them at my etsy shop, SincerelyAmes! They make great, very festive Christmas decorations.

xoxo

Harry Potter.

I'm so excited for Harry, Ron, and Hermione! Unfortunately I didn't get to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at midnight, but I get to go tonight with some of my best friends.

I even made some cute little Gryffindor ties...

This weekend is going to be so much fun. Tonight is slumber party time with Erin, Chad, and Eric. Then I have two Thanksgiving dinners to go to on Saturday and Sunday. That means a lot of baking. Pumpkin and Apple pies. And some cute oreo turkeys too.

xoxo

organization.

Hello again. So I intended on showing you an update on some Christmas crafts...well my weekend was a bit busier than I had expected and I wasn't home very much. But I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get more time for them this week. I have a few ideas in my head that need to be put into action.

One thing I have been doing, or trying to do, is organize all of my craft supplies. It is a HUGE job/process, there are multiple boxes in multiple rooms of my house with craft stuff thrown in them. And whenever I sit down to make something it seems that I am always missing one thing that I need and I have to search through about 7 different boxes just to find it. So it will be wonderful once everything is organized, or at least organizationally messy, which is how most of my life is.

This is now under my desk and pretty much already full of paper, felt, and various cutting tools.

This is next to it: 2 folders of stickers and other little adornments, as well as the hot glue gun.

And well these don't really have a place yet, but at least they are all in boxes. Let's see a box of sharpies/other pens, a box of dmc floss and needles, one of extra scrap fabrics, one with glues and tapes, and another with more glue, hole punches, and various scissors.

It's already started to feel so much better. I just made a card to put in a package that I'm sending some friends and it was so easy because I knew where everything I wanted was. Only thing is, I still have like 4 more boxes of stuff to go through and it won't all fit in those drawers...I'll have to figure out another solution.

I should have some baking posts coming up this week. Yum! And a Christmas craft or two (keep your fingers crossed).

xoxo

Can I quit my job and just craft all day?

I borrowed this from the library yesterday.

I'm super stoked.

I can't wait for a chance to go through ALL of it and get some new ideas!

(Yes, that is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I'm reading it

againin anticipation of the movie. I can't wait, only a week and a half more!)

xoxo

Wishing for COLD weather!

I started working on a few little Christmas projects yesterday. I know what you're thinking, "it's only November 3." But I'm telling you, Christmas is just around the corner. Before you know it we'll be eating turkey for Thanksgiving, then it's black Friday, then Christmas sneaks up on you without you realizing. All that to say, keep your eyes open for a little sneak peek coming soon.

A Quirky Bridal Shower Luncheon.

The bridal shower this last weekend went off wonderfully. I had so much fun with Leah, the maid of honor, putting everything together.

The bride loves gnomes and has a quirky little collection, so we decided to use them on all the tables. It was a fun little touch.

Scrapbook/crafting table.

( complete with paper crimper ;) )

Everyone made a lovely little page for a book that Leah is going to put together. She had the great idea to get pictures of the bride with all the guests that were coming to use on their pages. And I think everyone used them.

Ring Pops!

Leah made pom poms. So much fun.

Pinwheels and mustaches used as centerpieces.

I made a makeshift doily runner, found here. Meaning I didn't have time to actually sew them together, so I just laid them out on the table, and it worked fine. I also arranged the flowers, which is harder than it seems, at least it was for me. It took me a while to get the hang of it.

More pinwheels and mustaches.

And the day ended with this. By far the best part of the shower.

more crafts and tasty treats.

On Tuesday I made a fun little banner for the bridal shower.

I tried to make it look like cute little flags.

Her "colors" are a peachy cream and black, and I guess she wants to incorporate teal too. I liked the way it turned out. I'll string it up with clothespins on some twine.

Yesterday I made madeleines for the first time! It actually was a lot easier than I thought.

They turned out delicious and I'm so excited now that I have a madeleine pan and can make them all the time. Yum!

I also made some red velvet cupcakes!

Then I went out with some of my best girls last night. It was so much fun to all be together, which doesn't happen too often, and go out dancing the night away.

Monday's Crafting.

Yesterday I feel like I got a lot accomplished in the crafting department, although it doesn't look like much. I also thought of a lot of other ideas for the shower.

I sat here for most of my day. It only looked that clean for about 15 minutes before the table became a giant mess of papers etc.

I made these really fun pinwheels found here.

I think these are so fun. I feel like I could sit and make hundreds.

This one kept me company all day lazing around next to my table.

Next it was mustaches.

Now this may seem like a strange thing to have at a bridal shower, but if you knew the bride you wouldn't think so.

This took me a little while because I had to draw them all out by hand first. And it took me some time to figure out what kinds of mustaches to make and which looked the best.

The finished product! I made some brown ones to, but I still have to glue them on to their little sticks.

Today: finish the mustaches & make a banner.

Maybe even get a little doily action thrown in there.

xoxo

A Few of My Favorite Things.

I'm devoting this week to crafts and baking. Two of my all time favorite things. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this week.

Saturday is my best friends bridal shower, thrown by her sister and I. Most of my crafting and baking will be to decorate the tables, make some yummy treats, and create a nice little summer ambiance in her backyard. We're shooting for a lovely little tea party, with a quirky twist. Let's just say the bride has a very eccentric personality and we are trying to incorporate her in there because we are celebrating her and how much we love her. I'll post some pictures later this week or our little crafting adventures, hopefully, I know I'm really bad at that. And while I'm at all this crafting and baking, I'll probably make a little extra and send out some packages to a few friends whom I miss dearly.

xoxo