Laundry Room Coat Rack

We have had the flu here & time has been against me. So, I am posting a quick coat rack I put up last week. Our mudroom/laundry room is L shaped and didn't have a coat rack. We needed one badly. Ever since Old Man Winter came we have had snow pants, boots, coats and scarves piled everywhere. Yuck!
I, simply, had a 2x4 cut down to size, spray painted it and then used an electric drill to attach it to the wall. I really wanted to do lockers, then a faux board and batten like the girls over at Shanty2Chic (see below inspiration picure) but that will have to wait.

My little coat wall will do for now. I like everything neatly in it's place.

Christmas Cards

I have been working on Christmas cards all month. Here is a peek at a few of the finished produts. I'm particularly fond of flowers so the ice skating couple is my favorite.
I'll show you some close ups and tell you how I created the cards later in this post. First, we are in southcentral Wisconsin and we have had 9 inches of snow this past week. Here is a picture of the beautiful snow capped trees.

All the snowfall has allowed plenty of craft time INDOORS!
I made this card with snowflake paper from KandCompany, the music is an old paper & I have no idea who made it. The Dec 25th circle was made by September Blue. I love it because you can download it and resize it for you particular card.

The Noel card was inspired by a recent card in Papercrafts magazine. It was very simple to make. I simply cut a strip of paper from my KandCompany pack and then added small tags with the red polka dots. The NOEL is stickers from Target.

This card is my favorite because of the paper flower. It is 5 layers of sheet music punched with a scallop circle. The ice skating couple is from Jolly By Golly elements pack at Jessica Sprague.

I used glitter glue to make her skirt and hat more fun. Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment if you like what you see!

Snow Banner

First, please forgive me for the terrible pictures. I have an old camera and I took the pictures at night. I had to get this little lovely into the mail for a Secret Santa exchange over at Club CK.

I love the digital/printable paper & projects over at Jessica Sprague. When I saw last Friday's hybrid project, I knew I had to do it. The template is a printable "Holiday Cheer" banner. It comes with the banner, letters, and medallion. You just print and assemble. I decided to use the banner and the plain circles but to use my Cricut Expression to cut the letters for the word 'snow'. I used glitter glue to edge the circles. I then used crepe paper to make a sweet ruffle around the circle.
The instructions with the banner gave a great tip on making the ruffles. Using double sided tape, run a circle around the edge of the cricle and then attach the crepe paper. So easy!
Isn't this snowflake print adorable? I love the colors.
The mittens and hats tie everything together.
This is the original project idea. It is lovely. Everything in Jessica Sprague's shop is 20% so head on over and pick up something good!

Printable Christmas Countdown Blocks with Tutorial

As I was reading The Paint Stick Ornament tutorial over at Todays Faboulous Finds I got to thinking. What if you used digital scrapbook paper to make the paint stick ornament? I will be trying that later this week.

What I really wanted to do was make a printable download for the Christmas Countdown Blocks. This would eliminate the need for a Cricut and vinyl. So, here is my version of the Christmas Countdown Blocks in a printable version.

Supplies:

1.5" wooded blocks. I got mine at Michael's for $.99

Modge Podge and/or Glue Gun

Small wooden plaque

Christmas Countdown Blocks Template:

Since I am offering this download for free, I ask that you become a follower of BabsMadeIt if you download/print it. Thanks! This file is for personal use only.

Directions:
*Print the templates onto white paper with your home printer and then using a copy machine, copy them onto light card stock.
*Or print directly onto light cardstock and spray with a clear acrylic.
Either of these methods will prevent the modge podge from making the ink run. (This applies to ink jet printers only.)
*Cut around each block either with scissors or a paper trimmer.
*Adhere to 1.5 inch blocks with modge podge or glue gun.
*When glue is dry, modge podge over the entire face for durability.
Admire your blocks and start your countdown to Christmas.
* Paper is from Echo Park Paper Co Hybird Collection. It can be downloaded here.

I am relatively new to blogging and sharing files so if something doesn't work or you have a question please leave a comment. I'll do my best to fix it. Happy crafting!

Star Ornament has become a BANNER!

Remember this guy? I originally made him as a stand alone ornament. However, I love him too much to leave him alone.

So now he has a whole family of friends. I felt like the red didn't pop enough so I wrapped the glitter sticks around the medallions for the extra WOW factor.

I wanted a vintage style font to match the vintage feel of the Santa's. The letters are Egyptienne Zierinitialien font. Which can be downloaded here.
I found this vintage Santa at The Grapics Fairy. If you haven't been to her site, you have to check it out. There are so many great downloads.

I love the overall feel of the banner. It's very glitzy and glamorous. The paper on the star is a glittered green from My Mind's Eye. The sheet music I copied from an old piano book of my own. It is actually Santa Baby. I distress it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in tea dye. The Joy letters and the vintage Santa were printed on ivory paper.

If you like what you see please leave a comment. TFL!

Mini Christmas Countdown Blocks

I have seen these blocks all over the blogosphere. I even sold a few in my Etsy shop here. These, however, are mini blocks. Why are small things so adorable? These blocks are only 1.5 inches tall. I'm deciding what to use for my base. It has to be equally cute, right?

There's a a great tutorial at Jenny Garland. I made my numbers with my cricut and used ivory paper that I distress with tea dye ink. TFL!

Crepe Paper Flower Ornament

I am a Secret Santa over at Club CK. I made this cute little ornament to include with a card. I did not do a step by step while making the flowers but there is a good tutorial at A Cherry On Top. My flowers aren't perfect, but that's the joy of handmade. I cut the star with my Cricut Expression, covered in good ole school glue and glitter. The "Fun and Frosty" circle was downloaded from Septerber Blue. Try making one for yourself or someone special in your life. Handmade gifts are the best!

I found this cute little crepe paper wall hanging at a liquidator store for $.79! Yes, 79 cents! I had to buy it because it had the cute crepe paper flowers.

I think this flower would be simple to make. Just cut little strips out and add a pom pom center with some sweet tinsel. Go get your glue gun and get started!

I am linking up with Mommas Kinda Crafty, A Little Knick Knack, Sassy Sites, and Fingerprints on the Fridge. Check out the "Linky Party" tab at the top of this page for more.

Jolly Ol' Elf Frame

I made another medallion flower from the My Minds Eye Sweet Dreams Holiday Avenue Paper. It is simply hot glued to a strip of decorative paper and modge podged onto a hand painted wooden frame.

I love the dimension the medallion gives the frame. I also love polka dots. Everythings looks better with polka dots, right?
Thanks for looking. I'll be linking up to a few Thursday parties too.