Tuesday, December 19, 2017

A Savior is Born!

It's been a wonderful year of blogging and meeting new friends. So with a grateful heart, I wish you all a Merry Christmas as I take a break from blogging until the New Year.

Friend, you can hear with listening ear,
and heart that responds to His voice.
Years have gone by since baby's first cry,
Still, in Jesus your soul can rejoice.
And the sound of that evening --
the joyful sound --
tells of faith that will save you by grace;
The Saviour will give you the peace that you seek,
as you walk in the light of His face!
Connie Faust



One of my favorite carols (and now one of my favorite artists thanks to sweet Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose who "introduced" him to us in one of her posts!) 

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas day in the morn


All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel" -- which means, "God with us".  Matthew 1:22

Celebrating this season of JOY and wishing you a 
Merry Christmas!


Friday, December 15, 2017

Christmas Countdown Magnets

 I've been so busy, I didn't get to posting this and now, we don't have that many more days to count down TO Christmas! But tuck this idea away (or visit my Etsy shop to purchase one as a hostess gift or stocking stuffer!)
I started out with wood and added paper to them with Mod Podge, sanding and distressing.
I wanted a way for the chalk to be attached so I stitched the ribbon to form a loop to hold it.  The ribbon was first threaded through my one of my favorite crafting supplies (free formica chip samples).  I coated them with chalk paint for the number part.
This shows different ribbon but after stitching, the ribbon was pulled to the back and stapled.
The front then flips over and after adding red-liner tape to the formica chip/chalkboard, that was adhered to the front of the board.
I think these are fun (I'VE been using one!) but would be especially great since you can place these on the refrigerator at kid-eye-level and they can write the numbers themselves.  I hope while you're counting down the days, you're able to enjoy the coming holiday and rejoice in the birth of the Savior!

What kinds of things have you used to 'count down' the days?  

On any given week (depending on how busy I am!) I love to participate in Link Parties.  These gals put a lot of time and effort into hosting these parties so I always want to show my appreciation by directing my readers to these blogs. 

Monday
Farmhouse40

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Vintage Jewelry Tree

Don't you just love seeing how others decorate their Christmas tree? I do! Today on our last day, DAY TWELVE of the Blog Hop, you have the chance to gather lots of ideas and inspiration for your Christmas tree.  At the time of this post, we had not purchased our large tree yet but each year I set up this small tree in our bedroom.  Big, small, themed, no theme, pet-friendly, small child-friendly . . . it's always fun to see what others do!


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!




Here's a fun, unique way to decorate a tree for Christmas . . . use vintage jewelry!  I wear almost all of this jewelry throughout the year but at Christmas, it goes on to this small tree in our bedroom. (And if I want to wear it, I just pull it off!)

The top of the tree is wearing a vintage rhinestone bracelet I purchased on Etsy to wear at my son's wedding. How about those real fur, clip on earrings -- those are one of my favorite pairs!



Some of these are pins I got as a young girl.  My dad used to buy me a new pin every year.  


This brooch was my grandmother's.


These vintage dangle earrings were also purchased to wear at my son's wedding.


I chose to add silver beads and vintage prisms as well but you could add whatever you like . . . ribbon, flowers or anything.  It's a simple way to decorate a tree using what you already have on hand.  

Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com



Monday, December 11, 2017

Interchangeable Panel Door Decor

I love walking around town and seeing how others decorate their porches. Every year I get new ideas.  It's DAY ELEVEN and that means you can sit right at your computer and get ideas for this year's porch or pin them for next year.


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!

This is the last of my vintage cupboard doors :(  I had six of these and have used them in various ways in various parts of the house. I love creating decorations that can be used for multiple holidays and this door fits that bill.  The snowflake panels are removable/changeable!
 Any cupboard door with panels will work.  For the inserts, I used old peel and stick tiles from my old kitchen floor.  Yuck, what else would you use these for??  Using an x-acto knife they were cut to fit and then wrapped in fabric.  Since these are going to be outside, I applied a coat of water sealing Mod Podge.  You can of course skip this step if your door will be inside.
 E6000  glue was used to attach the velcro pieces and the panels can then be popped in and out.  I plan on making other panels for different holidays.  The top panel was turned into a chalk board with spray on chalk paint.  (Don't forget to completely cover it in chalk several times, wipe off and repeat so the chalk will not leave an imprint)
 I had several of these vintage coat hooks so I screwed one in which will allow me to hang wreaths or other decorations on the door panel.
 A simple project that can be used for multiple holidays and seasons.
 This sled was my dad's when he was a boy.  He added the wooden frame when my brother and I were little and he used to pull us around in it.  Then my dad gave it to us when our son was born and we used it to pull our kids around!
 Here's my finished porch. I can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is right around the corner! But don't we say that EVERY year??


Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com


Sunday, December 10, 2017

A Vintage Kitchen Christmas

DAY TEN was probably MY most challenging post because I am not a "table-scaper" like so many others!  My house is small so no big, formal dining room, etc. to feature but I DO love my retro kitchen so that was my focus! Enjoy gathering more inspiration from others who ARE veteran 'scapers'!


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!


I did not want to spend money to do this so I 'shopped' my house.  The vintage tablecloth was a favorite find a few years ago and I added a few strips of cloth, trimmed with pinking shears in a 'cross' pattern over the table (think "package").

These vintage dishes were my SUPER find two years ago at an antique store where everything Christmas-related was 50% off!  I got ten place settings, serving bowls, serving platters, creamer and sugar for . . . 25.00!  They are called Termocrisa Milk Glass made in Mexico.  Recently I saw a set of eight (no serving pieces) going for over 250.00.  Yep, I think I stole these!
The napkin 'rings' are just the same fabric from the table pieces, hot glued together and then I added a Christmas pick.
The centerpiece is an old wooden 'sled' decoration that was headed to the thrift store so it was rescued and enlisted for this table.  
The jars on the sled are recycled.  I brushed on Mod Podge and rolled in Epsom Salts.  A ribbon and some more Christmas pics turn these into lovely, little candle holders.


Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com


Saturday, December 9, 2017

Indescribable Gift "Wreath"

If you're looking for some ideas for decorating your door, DAY NINE is the place for you.  You'll be inspired with so many wreath/door decorations!


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!


Reclaimed fence boards, napkins, Mod Podge and some ribbon are all it took to make this Christmas door piece.  I love working with napkins and am always on the look out for pretty ones to use in projects. 
I've made cards with them:
And most recently, I decorated this piece of fence for my garden this past summer

It's best to use the three-ply napkins (two white ply and then the decorated top ply)

See my garden fence post for details on separating the pieces of napkin.  Once you do, you can apply Mod Podge to the wood and then press the napkin down and apply more Mod Podge.  After this dried, I went over it lightly with my sander to rough up the edges a bit.


The three 'boxes' were put together by using screws.  I then wrapped the ribbon around the boxes and added a hanger at the top.


The extra large 'gift tag' was made from scrap wood and the verse printed on scrap paper which was then applied with Mod Podge and sanded after it was dry.  This was attached with a screw from the back as well.


Here's a close up of the napkins. They're transparent of course so you still see the wood grain through them which I like.  If you want a more 'solid' look, you can just paint the wood first.


The center box is the 'focus' so I added a bow to that. 

I'm not sure that everyone will 'get' that these are gift boxes but that's what was in my brain at 3:00 in the morning one night when I couldn't sleep!  Do you get some of YOUR best ideas in the middle of the night??





Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com




Friday, December 8, 2017

Homemade Buckeye Candy

Put on your elastic waist pants because DAY EIGHT is here with lots of cookie recipes!


Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!


Having grown up in Ohio, I was raised on Buckeyes but you don't have to be from Ohio to enjoy this delicious candy and they're so easy to make.
As kids, we used to collect these by the baskets full, polish them and then . . . they would eventually get moldy and get tossed out.  As pretty as they are, they really aren't good for much although I do see people selling them online for craft projects.  You CAN roast them but they are slightly toxic so even though they say you can eat them roasted, no thank you. Now the Buckeye CANDY -- well, that's another story!
Start with a stick of butter and 2 cups of creamy peanut butter.  Now HOW can you go wrong with that??  Blend those together with a mixer then add 1 1/2 t vanilla and 2 T brown sugar.  Gradually add in 3 1/4 cups of powdered sugar. Initially you can beat with the mixer but as you add more, you'll have to switch to a wooden spoon to combine it all.
I use a small cookie dough scoop so that the size of the buckeyes is uniform.  Once I scoop it out, I drop it into my hand and roll it into a smooth ball, placing on a silicone mat on a cookie sheet.  These go into the freezer for about 1/2 an hour to firm up.  While those are setting, you will get your dipping chocolate ready.
I like to use chocolate chips although a lot of recipes call for semi-sweet.  I just feel these taste more like a Reese's peanut butter cup if you use the milk chocolate but it's totally up to you.  The 'secret' ingredient here is paraffin wax.  Again, a lot of recipes call for shortening.  I've found that the wax works much better in helping the chocolate to 'set' and harden as opposed to shortening.  You can find boxed paraffin in the canning section of your store or at most any hardware store.  Do you see these three pieces?  This is what is left from my first box of paraffin purchased when I got married . . . 33 YEARS AGO!  Don't freak out -- it's just WAX.  I literally only use it once a year to make buckeyes and you only need a 1" piece so . . . it lasts a LONG time haha!
The toothpick will leave a hole in the buckeyes so all you do is use the back of a spoon to smooth it over.
I make these at least a month in advance (you could even make them earlier) and freeze them.
Give them a try -- they are easy and everyone loves them!

Buckeye Candy
1 stick of butter, softened
2 c creamy peanut butter
3 1/4 c powdered sugar
2 T brown sugar
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 large bag milk chocolate chips
1" square of paraffin wax

With a mixer, combine butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add in brown sugar and vanilla.  Gradually begin adding powdered sugar, moving to using a wooden spoon to combine as mixture becomes thicker.  Form into 3/4"-1" balls and place on lined cookie sheet.  Chill in freezer for 1/2 hour or until firm.  In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and paraffin until smooth.  Using a toothpick, dip peanut butter balls 3/4 of the way into the chocolate.  Set back on lined sheet to firm up. Using the back of a spoon, smooth over the hole created by the toothpick. You can speed the hardening process by returning to the freezer or refrigerator until the chocolate is set.




Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com