I loved Barbara’s color study post so much, I asked her to share a couple more of her art projects. This paper chain is such a colorful pick-me-up for winter. 

If you have small children, or school-aged ones, then you definitely have lots of old art lying around in piles. Unless you’re insanely organized, of course, in which case you might need to rifle through your labeled boxes and choose some pieces you could part with for this project.

At home, I throw lots away (when they’re not looking) but I also keep
lots (mostly paintings) for later use. Sometimes we cut them up and use them for birthday cards, or cut letters from them and make signs. This time we made paper chains! I love this craft because it’s easy, we are recycling, and there is no mess!

To make your own paper chain you’ll need:
- 10 to 15 pieces of old art (we used about 12)
- Paper cutter (or scissors + a ruler and pencil)
- Staples (or you could try double sided tape)

Cut your old art so that they are all a uniform width. Mine were cut to 8.5” wide. I then cut them into 1.5” strips. My “assistant” (12-going-on-20 yr old daughter with strong opinions) and I discussed how to fasten the circles, and also how to organize the colors. I wanted to use double sticky tape, she wanted to use staples. She thought tape would not hold since our art was on cardstock paper, and she could be right. But we’ll never know since she won that debate and we used staples. From far away, you can’t see the staples so I was happy.

As for arranging color, we both agreed that we should keep the chain color-coordinated this time. But next time, we want to try a random look.

You can find more of Barbara’s art projects at Art Bar Blog or shop her card shop (hello thank you cards) at Late Night Cake.

At the beginning of December we had Jennifer come and take some family photos, which ended up being about six months after she took the first set. Since they were both taken at our home, it’s fun to look at the difference between similar shots. Of course the biggest change is Beck but I like to think we’re looking a little less sleep deprived too.

All photos by Jennifer Little of Sugar Photography

Other posts I wrote this week that you’re sure to like:
Pretty scarves you can make yourself
30 of the best of the best from 2012
Pegboard is my fave
10 party blogs you should be reading
Awesome homemade cleaning supplies

Today’s post is from Joy of Frock Files. At the start of every new year she purchases a new pair of sheets (what a great tradition!). This year she customized them a bit and she’s sharing the how-to today. 

In my life, the new year means new sheets. I’ve been obsessed with all those typographic pillowcases that have been popping up but none of them seemed quite right, so I decided to make my own. And why not combine the typography with some gold polka dots? The combination is a recipe for festive dreams.

Supplies:
- 2 pillow cases
- 1” hole punch
- freezer paper
- gold fabric paint
- sponge brush
- iron transfer paper
- iron

Start by punching holes in your freezer paper. Since real confetti is never perfect, the trick here is to make random patterns. Since my hand held hole punch can only punch at the edges, I cut my freezer paper into small rectangles that were no bigger than three inches on each side. If you have trouble punching into the delicate freezer paper, use a sheet of printer paper behind it to make the punch cleaner.

Iron the shiny side of the freezer paper to the pillowcases, making sure your polka dots are laid out in a fun, scattered pattern. Remember that you’ll want the open sides of the pillowcases to be on opposite ends as you plan your design.

Paint a thin layer of gold over the polka dot holes. Using thick layers can cause the paint to seep, so it’s a good idea to use a light touch. Wait an hour or two and go back for a second (equally thin) layer.

Design your words and then flip them horizontally (I used Photoshop for this step. You can use any image creation program or download my design right here). Since the transfer paper goes face down, you’re creating the mirror image of what you want to see. Print the design according to your transfer paper’s instructions, then use scissors to cut as close to the design as possible.

Check your transfer paper’s instructions and iron as instructed.

Voila! Customized pillowcases. I love the idea of giving these to friends who are getting married (Mr./Mrs) and to those who have just moved in together. These are so simple to make, you may wind up crafting some for everyone you know — after all, everyone needs a place to rest their head.

See more from Joy on Frock Files 

Last month I made a trip to NYC to visit some dear friends and their baby girl Matilda. The thing about this trip was that I barely planned it in advance. It was one of those times where the thought came into my head that I should go and instead of making excuses for why that couldn’t be the case (and trust me, I had a long list), I just booked the ticket and made it work. Maybe that doesn’t sound like that big of a deal to you fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pantsers out there, but for me it was kind of revolutionary and I want to make it happen more often. So I thought back as to why this one happened and came up with three steps:

1. Enlist a travel buddy. I knew Ryan wouldn’t be able to come with me and I didn’t want to make the trip alone so I went out on a limb and asked my friend Kirsten and to my surprise she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Knowing she was on board was the push I needed to actually book the tickets.

2. Find ways to make it affordable. We traveled a couple weeks before the busy season and on weekdays. Instead of staying at a hotel, we found a well priced apartment rental via Enrout. We ate well but stuck with places like Shake Shack that didn’t break the bank. We went to attractions that didn’t cost money.

3. Choose not to complain (or make excuses!), last minute planning means mishaps will occur. This trip came with obstacles (two little obstacles to be exact) that could have made it disastrous but we went in with the attitude that we would laugh the whole way through and that we did.

Vacation success. Now where should I drag Beck to next?

Psst, I’m on Instagram now.

January is (or should be) the month of a thousand thank you notes. If someone gave you tickets to a Neil Diamond concert, follow my instructions on how to make a handmade accordion card. If they gave you the movie Thor, go with the dollar store variety pack.

Click here for the full tutorial on Julep.

I have to admit it’s been hard for me to get into the spirit of the new year. At the beginning of 2012 there was so much to look forward to and it was a rather big year for my family. Now at the arrival of 2013, I look at my now 8 month old and want things to slow quite a bit. And I’m not quite sure what to expect this year, there’s nothing big pending like a birth. I guess I’ll have to create something exciting to look forward to.

I have decided to do something a little different for resolutions this year. Instead of making a massive list that motivates me for a couple days before I get completely overwhelmed by it all and say good riddance, I’ve picked a theme for the year and then I’ve written down one specific goal to focus on each month. This year I’m focusing on being kinder to myself, whether that means eating more vegetables, saying no to taking on too much work or complimenting myself more. Often I feel like I have the self esteem of a teenage girl who just got dumped and I want to change that around. So 2013, let’s do this.

What’s your main resolution for the year?

YAMF Holiday Handmade is sponsored by Kollabora, the community for makers.

Please do have the merriest of merry holidays.

sources: Roost snowflake ornaments from Anthropolgie, ribbon from Sundance, Shanna Murray card, trees and reindeer ornament from West Elm (last year)

YAMF Holiday Handmade is sponsored by Kollabora, the community for makers.

I had so much fun getting the safari animals into the spirit of things, I decided the forest friends needed to be festive too.


To make your own you’ll need:
- toy animals
- craft poms
- wire/pipe cleaners
- knit gloves
- ribbon
- mini wreaths (in the Christmas village section)
- hot glue gun

To make ear muffs: trim wire or pipe cleaner, bend to shape and hot glue to poms. Attach to ears with hot glue (it peels right off when you’re done).

To make a mini hat: cut the tip of the finger off a glove and hot glue a mini pom on top.

These are currently sitting on top of my dresser and I laugh every time I see them.

YAMF Holiday Handmade is sponsored by Kollabora, the community for makers.

These mini stencils were an impulse purchase one day when I was going up and down every aisle of Hobby Lobby.

To make your own gift topper you’ll need:
- mini alphabet stencils (found in the art section of the craft store)
- hole punch
- twine

The process: spell, punch, string, tape.

Impulse purchase turned projects are my fave.

YAMF Holiday Handmade is sponsored by Kollabora, the community for makers.

Today’s project can be completed in just a couple of steps but might be a fun one to do with kids, especially if you’re confined to the indoors with winter weather. Or you can do it yourself while sipping cider and queuing up Mad Men.



Holiday up your house with this paper neighborhood. My friend Kirsten designed this mod take on the traditional Christmas village and it’s free for you to download for your own display. Just click here and here, print, cut and stand up with paper or cardboard stands taped to the back. Simple and festive.