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.

One of the very first posts I wrote on this blog was about how much I loved sneak peeks on Design Sponge and yesterday my home was added to the list of homes featured. Wowee! Seeing it published was definitely a pinch me moment. Here’s a bit of an extended tour plus a few festive bits.











You can see more photos plus read about the sources right here on Design Sponge.

And since it’s only a week until Christmas, here are three quick ways to add some cheer to your home:
1. Repurpose your coat rack as a stocking holder
2. Add earmuffs (mini poms + pipe cleaner) and scarfs (ribbon) to toy animals
3. Use a white paint pen to write a joyful message on your window

stockings and toy animals from Land of Nod, small mountain painting by Paul Ferney, bicycle print by Justin Hackworth

images by Jennifer Little of Sugar Photography

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

Today for the holiday handmade series, Sarah from Two Blue Lemons is sharing a recipe for delicious comfort food that is perfect for a house full of guests.

Creamy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons 
from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust

3 tablespoons good olive oil
3 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
Large pinch saffron threads
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup orzo (for GF use brown rice)
1/2 cup heavy cream (I used half and half because that’s what I had.)
Grilled cheese croutons

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in the stock, tomatoes, saffron, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, fill a medium pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 7 minutes. (It will finish cooking in the soup.) If you want to make this gluten free, cook brown rice 3/4 done and add it in the same way.

Drain the orzo and add it to the soup. Stir in the cream, return the soup to a simmer, and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.

During the last 10 minutes, make your favorite grilled cheese sandwich. I like hearty wheat bread and a sharp cheddar cheese grilled on a griddle pan using our massive sandwich press.  Simply cut the hot sandwich into 1/2″ cubes to top soup.

Serve hot with Grilled Cheese Croutons scattered on top. You can make the soup ahead and reheat it before serving.

See more from Sarah on Two Blue Lemons

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

These honeycomb ornaments will bring an instant party to your tree. Click here for the full tutorial on Julep.

Other posts I wrote this week that you’re sure to like:
Handmade stockings
Pretty packages
Up-dos for holiday parties (I wish my hair was long and lush)
10 kiddo blogs you should be reading
Holiday crafts you’ll actually want to make


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

Today’s project is for those times you really need a treat receptacle but can’t get yourself to use a cheesy store bought tin.

To make your own you’ll need:
- wooden boxes (I found these at Hobby Lobby)
- chipboard alphabet stickers (check the scrapbooking section)
- acrylic paint
- paint brush

Step One: Place the alphabet stickers on the wooden box.
Step Two: Paint over the lid and stickers and let dry.
Step Three: That’s it. Congratulations on being so domestic.

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

This project is so cheap and fast you might want to make a new one for every day of the week.

To make your own you’ll need:
- a plain doormat ($3 at IKEA!)
- masking tape
- spray paint

Step One: Go tape crazy.
Step Two: Cake on the spray paint.
Step Three: Give visitors a warm welcome.

Thanks to Courtney for taping like a champ.

images by Jennifer Little of Sugar Photography

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

You may have guessed this by now but wood veneer is my material of choice for this series. My most recent creation? A wooden gift bow.

To make your own you’ll need
- paper backed wood veneer sheets (like this)
- scissors or a paper cutter
- hot glue gun

Step One: Cut eleven strips of the veneer, about 10″ long and 3/4″ wide.
Step Two: Fold the ends over one another to create a loop, secure with hot glue. You can play with the sizes here. Make six larger ones, four slightly smaller ones and then leave one straight and cut a little triangle out of the end of it.
Step Three: Start layering to create a bow shape and secure with hot glue. If you can’t tell I wasn’t very precise, just played around until it looked good.

Step Four: Top a gift and make someone happy.

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

Today’s project was made by my friend Kirsten.

To make your own little box of cheer you’ll need:
- a shadowbox (this one’s from IKEA)
- white paint pen
- black paper
- bottle brush trees and miniature props

Step One: Use the white paint pen to write phrase on black paper and to make snowflakes on the glass.

Step Two: Open up frame and fit black paper in the opening of the matte then add trees and other props for a festive little scene.

Step Three: Display in your home and bust out in song every time you look at it.

images by Jennifer Little of Sugar Photography

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

Today’s post is from Joy of Frock Files. I asked her to share a handmade gift idea and she delivered with this handmade stationery and paper covered pencils. 

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve found mail to be a magical thing. Even now, I love checking the mail, and there’s nothing quite like finding a handwritten letter or a package from a friend in there. Why not be the bright spot in a loved one’s day? This handmade stationery and pencil project make it simple to send happy mail to all your favorite people — and as a bonus, you’ll have a chance to use all those catalogues and magazines that are sitting around.

Envelope Supplies:
- 1 3 5/8” x 5 1/8” envelope
- Pencil or fine point Sharpie
- Scissors
- Glue
- Address labels
- 3” x 5 “ notecards

The key to making beautiful envelopes is in finding pages that are almost completely filled with images. Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, and the J.Crew and Pottery Barn catalogues are all good places to begin your search. Carefully rip out the pages you want, keeping as much of the page in-tact as possible.

Open up your ready made envelope, which will act as a template. Lay it at an angle on a page and trace around it. Cut out the shape.

Glue the bottom portion of the envelope to the sides. Add some pretty address labels (plain white with stamps are always fun, too).

Pencil Supplies:
- Pencils
- Washi Paper (at least 7.5” x 6” worth)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Mod Podge

Measure and cut washi paper strips to 1 1/2” x 6”.

Brush Mod Podge on the back side of the washi. It’s wise to keep a jar of water handy so you don’t ruin the brush.

Align the pencil with one edge of the washi and begin rolling slowly. Make sure that you’re not getting any air bubbles. If you do, just back up and start again.

Allow the pencils to dry for at least half an hour (longer if you live in a humid climate). Sharpen each one. This is the step that gives the pencils a finished look.

And remember, no great package is complete without a handwritten note, so don’t forget to create an extra piece of stationery for yourself. Packages are lovely surprises, but love notes are the icing on the (fruit) cake.

See more from Joy on Frock Files 

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

I think a few of these cut-out villages would be perfect lined up along a mantle. Maybe in all white? Or with color with some added snow and mini figurines.

To make your own you’ll need:
- thin sheet of wood (like balsa)
- razor blade
- acrylic paint
- double sided tape
- light strip (this one’s from IKEA)

Step One: Create a village pattern out of paper and trace it onto your sheet of wood.
Step Two: Carefully cut it out with razor blade.

Step Three: Paint in colors of your choosing.
Step Four: Adhere to light strip with double sided tape.
Step Five: Plug in for a little festive glow.

images by Jennifer Little of Sugar Photography