new ornament

I always try to add a few new ornaments to our Christmas tree each year that capture a moment from that year. This is a soldered ornament I made from a photo of me, my siblings and my parents taken at my grandfather's funeral this past September. It was so nice to be with them all and I love this photo of us together. Now, I need to make one with a photo of my family from our Disney trip in October.

merry christmas everyone

neighbor gifts

I kept it simple this year and thought I would pass it along. This Christmas I gave out Ikea frothers (thank mom for shipping them!) with hot chocolate. On the tag it says, "We WHIP you a Merry Christmas! Love, the Underwoods." I love these little frothers. They make your hot chocolate and hot caramel milk (my favorite) feel fancy. Sweet and simple!

surrounded by elves

Just in time for Christmas...some new little elves. I have had the idea to make clothespin elves for my tree for quite awhile, but couldn't find the time. So, a few days before Christmas and they finally arrived. I took a few photos of them along the way, so that I could one day create a tutorial. That will have to be for next Christmas. I put thread through each of their hats and hung them on my tree today. Love that they could join us!

hand print snowman tile tutorial

I needed a craft idea for my son's first grade class party and saw these ornaments on the eighteen25 blog. I found out that we couldn't do ornaments for his class, so we thought maybe little tiles that they can take home and put easels.
Here is how we did it:
Supplies -
White, black and orange acrylic paint
1 foam paint brush
1 4"X4" tile (I found a box of these in our garage - it's a mess, but also has a few goodies)
toothpick1 - Generously paint the inside of hand with white paint just down to the knuckles.
2 - Pressed it hard on to the tile and let it dry for about 10-15 minutes.
3 - My seven year old used a toothpick to create the eyes, buttons, nose and brim of the hat with black and orange paint.
4 - He used a flat 1/4" wide brush in a upward sweeping motion to make the rest of the hat.

It's done! Now, let it dry and put it on an easel or attach a ribbon with glue and hang it on the tree!

on my way to a craft show...my first

I have had a few kind friends allow me to use their homes for Open Houses for my jewelry, but I have never been in a craft show. This Saturday will be my first. I am going to be at Christmas in Anchorage here in Louisville, KY. I need to be thinking about how to set up since that's going to go on tonight. Instead, I am on the computer searching for gift ideas. I guess I am nervous, so I am distracting myself. Here are a few new charms I made this morning while I was avoiding other things!