The gardening bug has hit me earlier than usual this year. Last year I mapped out all the gardening plans in the February Craft Leftovers Monthly. Well, right now it’s too early to start seeds or even purchase them. The compost pile is frozen solid. And it’s too late to start growing things indoors. And I just finished eating the last of the potatoes from the root cellar (aka card board box + layers of newspaper in the basement).

Dormant is a good word for every aspect of gardening in Iowa this time of year.

Or is it?

Just when I thought there was no point in saving my kitchen scraps for the compost pile I remembered that February issue and my worm composting plans. You see, when we moved from the apartment to the house, the worms stood forgotten in a small box on a pile of boxes in the spare bedroom. I felt so bad. I killed all my worms. They dried up and died. That is some sad stuff. Jason consoled me that there were “just worms” but still. I’m the kid that used to collect worms and keep them as pets. My mom actually has pictures of me giving them baths only to stick them into their “clean” dirt homes. I was an odd child but whatever. That story cracks me up.

Anyway, it’s time to give vermicomposting another shot. This time I’m using my friend’s easy to use and manage set up. I’m not sure where he got the tutorial to make it, so I wrote it up for you.

Here’s how you make your own:

::Materials::

• 3 shoe boxed size plastic storage container
• 2 cups shredded newspaper
• Dash of shredded lettuce
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/8″ drill bit + drill
• 1/2lb of red wigglers (I got mine from this ebay seller and then learned they are often sold at bait shops for fishing. I’m not sure if you can get them this time of year in the north. The ebay seller ships them quick and tells you when they are coming so they don’t freeze. And if they do freeze, don’t despair. Let them thaw at room temp and they should be mostly okay. Yes this is a life lesson I learned the hard way.)

::Directions::
Step one: Slowly drill a ton of holes in the bottom of TWO of the plastic storage containers. Use a little oil on the bit to aid progress. Another option would be to cover the whole bottom in masking tape to help it from cracking.

Step two: Place one drilled container into the undrilled container.

Step three: In a mixing bowl, toss water and newspaper together until all the newspaper is damp but not soaked.

Step four: Place the damp newspaper into the two stacked containers. Add in the worms.

Step five: Top off with the second drilled container and a lid. Keep in a cool dark place, like a hall closet, and make sure to leave yourself a note to check on them at least twice a week. Every other day is pretty good.

Note: You can totally scale this system up to huge gallon bins. Drill some smaller (1/16″) vent holes along the sides and in the lid for a bigger set up. Your worms will multiply if they have enough food and space. So scaling up the size of their condo is a good way to go if you have the space. As is, this is a fun little system for your kiddos to do, to feed your houseplants, and supplement your outside compost.

::Maintenance::
This is key since killing these poor little guys is hard, which makes it so easy because you forget they are there.

First, make sure they have semi-moist bedding.

• If you start to notice the bedding is getting dry, mist the whole thing wish some water.
• If it’s too wet (like you went a little mist happy) mix in some fresh shredded newspaper.
• Because of the moisture needed to make this all work, you can sometimes get some, umm, “worm juice” settling to the bottom. A great thing about this set up is that it just collects in the undrilled bottom container. You can remove the bottom tray and dump the worm tea into a house plant, onto your large compost pile, or save it in an old 1/2 gallon milk jug in the frig for use later. That stuff is really nutrient rich, but will really start to stink if you just leave it.

Feeding Your Worms
1/2 lb of worms will eat about 1/4 lb of kitchen waste a day. (I tend to feed them a variety of veg scraps with an occasional crushed egg shell and sprinkling of coffee grounds in the mix.) You could add a 1/4 lb a day or a 1/2 lb every other day. I like to add about 1/2 lb every other day and rotate the placement so I can gauge how much they are eating and adjust more or less. If you have too much food in the bin and they aren’t eating it quickly enough, the eggs in hibernation on the produce will hatch (fruit flies and the like). Here’s what my feeding schedule in the bin looks like over the course of a two week period:

I basically move clockwise around the box, adding in a bit of food every other day. Cover it with bedding/dirt each time you add more. This also helps prevent pests and insects from getting in there.

Getting your compost worm-free.
This is the really awesome part about this triple container set up. When the worms have pretty much composted all the bedding and organic matter in the first drilled tray, you simply fill the top tray with fresh newspaper and start adding their food to that bin. They wiggle their way up through the holes and hang out in the new bedding and munch on the new food. You take the now worm-free compost and use it however you want. Rinse out the tray and put it on top of the now worm filled bedding.

Some great facts on keeping your worm friends happy can be found at Cathy’s Crawly Composters website.

I’ll be posting a book review of the Urban Homestead (my first Kindle book purchase ever!) on Kristinmroach.com later this week or early in the next. I’m sick as I’m writing this, so after I finish this post, I’m going to go hop in a hot bath and relax while reading (carefully) this great book. I can’t wait to get more chickens in a couple of months!

Happy winter composting!
Kristin

Herbalism is a lovely medicine-making tradition that can be done right in my kitchen, using things I collect in my own backyard, and with minimal amounts of equipment. I’ve read about herbs–grown herbs, collected wild herbs “weeds”–and have even played around with making my own green medicines from my finds.

This past fall I signed up for an herbalist apprenticeship that’s starting in just one month’s time. I am, to say the least, very excited about this so I’ve been experimenting a lot more than usual. I’ve quickly learned that if I want to make more than tea, I really need to get some light blocking bottles. While I love the little blue and brown bottles associated with herbalism, I didn’t want to run out and buy a bunch in bulk of them without knowing how many I will need, what size, if what I’m making will even work, and if I’m really going to stick with herbalism.

The main thing is that they block light so the potency of the herbal concoction won’t degrade as quickly–same principle goes for beer. I can do that. I can block light. Look at all these jars from pickles, curry sauce, and spaghetti laying around plus a huge pile of scraps of wrapping and tissue paper. Perfect. I wouldn’t have thought to use those materials if it wasn’t for Card.Paper.Ribbon. Love how it makes me see a pile of trash in a whole new way.

First I’ll show you how to clean and de-smell your jar (pickles and curry can be quite pungent). Second I’ll show you how to block the light.

Cleaning and De-Smell Saved Food Jars

Pickle jars, spaghetti jars, olive and temari jars. All lovely sizes and shapes to use for a variety of things, all smelly. Here are three ways to remove the odor:

Step One is always to wash your jars with hot soapy water. Not only does this get the big food stuff out, it loosens up the label so you can remove that too.

Method 1: Boiling Water + liquid dish soap + baking soda

• Fill up a canning pot (or a pot big enough to accommodate your jars + 1 inch of water) with your clean jars and lids and top off with water.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 25 minutes.
• Once cool, remove from water bath and rinse one last time.

Method 2: Newspaper

• Take crumpled newspaper and stuff it in the jars, then let sit for a few days.
• Remove from the jars, and if they still smell, stuff with newspaper again and let sit a few more days.

I have yet to try this method, in theory it’s supposed to absorb the stray odors like an open box of baking soda. If anything, it’s good to store empty freshly washed jars with newspaper in them so they absorb excess moisture.

Method 3: Boiling Water + liquid dish soap + bleach

This is what I like to use best.

Put a cap full of bleach, a couple drops of liquid dish soap in the jar and then add boiling water. Cover and let sit a few hours. Dump out the solution and rinse really well to remove the bleach and soap residue.

Making Herbalist Jars with Leftover Wrapping Paper

Happily, many gifts were given us this year and they were all wrapped up in delightful papers that were oh so pretty. We had a few wine bottles (saved the corks) and many other jars that I had been saving that were perfect for herb mixtures. Except they didn’t block light. It’s finally time to fix that now that I have a good collection of pretty papers.

::Materials Needed::

• Wrapping paper and tissue paper scraps
• craft glue – modge podge works great
• X-acto knife with a fresh blade
• Masking tape
• Sponge brush
• Yogurt containers – 2 to 3 should do the trick depending on how many colors you are using.
• Water
• Acrylic paint
• Acrylic gloss medium

::Directions::

Step One: Rip up all your wrapping and tissue paper into small pieces.

Step Two: Wrap the masking tape around the threads of the jar and around the very bottom of the jar – like 1/4″ or less up the sides.

Step Three: In the yogurt container, mix one part glue to two parts water.

Step Four: Dip a piece of paper into the glue mixture and press onto the glass with a wiping motion. Repeat until the glass is completely dry. I like to let mine sit over night or for at least 6 hours.

To unify all the mashing colors from the gift paper, we are going to apply a little color. Now one of the jars shown has a two color scheme, another is monochromatic, and the last is all one color.

Step Five: Mix up as many colors as you want to use. Use smaller amounts of paint if you are using more than two colors.

Step Six: Using a sponge or a large round brush, apply the color to the entire jar. Play around with mixing the paint wet on wet as well as letting it dry completely between applying a new color.

Step Seven: Use the x-acto knife to carefully cut away the paper that overlaps the masking tape.

Step Eight: Once the paint is all the way dry–letting it sit a half hour should be enough–use a clean brush to apply a top coat of the gloss medium. Remove the masking tape before the medium dries all the way and dab a little medium along the edge of the paper where it meets the glass. Let dry a few hours. Over night is a good standard.

And that’s it! Because jar is covered in paper, it helps block out light. Because it’s coated in the gel medium, it is water resistant. I’m using mine to store all my dried herbs.

Happy crafting!
Kristin

Hi all!

I just wanted to pop in today and wish every one a very Merry Christmas! I’m sitting at my folks right now, snuggled up in a blanket, sipping coffee and listening to a chorus of sparrows chirping their heads off in my parent’s bushes. I actually thought my mom had one of those bird nature cd’s on, but nope, it’s the real deal right outside the window. Lovely!

Here in Iowa it’s turned out to be a beautiful White Christmas with 6inches of snow being dumped on us. It was so lovely watching snow fly all of yesterday.

(this is from a few year’s back, but I love this picture and it’s a similar amount of snow so you get the idea)

I did some simple hand stitching yesterday to put the finishing touches on a friend’s gift and wove in the last ends on my sister’s hat. I’ll just have to get a picture in it, she looks so pretty. Both were a big hit and I’m so happy I spent the time to finish them up even though it was a bit chaotic in the end there.

Everyone has loved their little crocheted snowflakes that I starched up. Nothing like another issue of clm to get the job done. I wrote an article on what’s the best way to starch a snowflake and compared 4 methods in the Decmeber issue. Which means I had 3 snowflakes to give away and one to keep for Jason and I.

From now on I’m going to make one project in each issue a gift for someone else because it seems like that above every other tip and list and intention is what actually gets my handmade gifts made. It will be a little handmade holiday feature – the first 6 months of the year focusing on patterns and projects for specific people. The last 6 months on mass making to put together baskets for friends and family – like preserving lemons like I did this past year or making a ton of little snowflakes or mitten ornaments and a yummy cookie recipe that travels well both in the car and in the mail.

It’s funny, I’m sitting here, out of the office, really enjoying my time away from work, and I’m getting all excited about getting back to work. I love the new format for craft leftovers monthly and am excited to bring the digital edition to life finally. I’m going to actually start working in color for that. So fun. And this first issue in January? All about pampering yourself, being good to your body, and whipping up some home spa remedies to melt away the stress. Maybe you don’t live up north like I do, but for me, the end of January is the most depressing time of the year and it will be so nice to have a stock of bath salts, nourishing shampoos, soaps, and lip balms. Delicious teas for boosting the immune system, and the tools and techniques for giving myself a foot massage and pedicure.

Anyway, enough shop talk, my daddy-o is calling me to set the table and eat a delicious breakfast.

Have a very Merry Christmas! I’ll see you all on Monday with a fun new tutorial and loads of ideas for using that pile of wrapping paper – so save at least some of it!

Happy Crafting and Holidays!

Kristin

I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of Pay With a Tweet before, but, read on and you will! This great service let’s you set up a tweet, a gift to download, and then generate the code for you (or in this case me). It allows us to swap nice and even steven. :) You tweet (or post on Facebook) about my holiday related eBook Card.Paper.Ribbon. and in exchange, I give you this sweet little tutorial for using greeting cards by making them into sturdy, woven coasters!

Have you seen the banner in the sidebar for Card.Paper.Ribbon, but aren’t really sure what it’s all about? Well, click here to get some preview shots of the inside and full description of tutorials and projects included! There are quite a few I must say. I really love the way this ebook turned out.

I wrote Card.Paper.Ribbon. because I was getting really frustrated with the garbage bags packed full of wrapping paper, that oh so pretty on the package curling ribbon, and all those greeting cards with just a signed name. I made paper, I collaged, I knit and crocheted, I bound books, and I even sewed. I wrote it all up so I could show all of you to as well!

Do you know someone who might like Card.Paper.Ribbon, but want to give them a physical present? Diane Gilleland of CraftyPod, who helped me put this ebook together, did a great collection of tutorials on making ebooks into physical gifts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5!

Enjoy your holiday and have some happy crafting time in the mix! I’m waiting on my 5th batch of tasty baked goods to finish baking as I write this, love this time of year!

Merry Christmas!

Kristin

This past week I received a really nice email from a woman wanting to get her friend a subscription to Craft Leftovers Monthly. She was wondering if that’s something I offered. Well, no and yes at the same time. You see a few months back I made the choice to stop offering them. I just wasn’t selling them that often and it’s more admin work and, well, a pretty long term commitment to make. But, I still have subscriptions to fulfill until June of 2011, so because of this woman’s nice email, I’ve decided to offer subscriptions for Craft Leftovers Monthly Volume 3.

New Zine for Volume Three

Volume Three is quite the exciting change up for Craft Leftovers Monthly. For starters, we are heading back to the smaller format of Volume 1–quarter page size with a center fold out (I really missed the center fold the last year)–and around 24 pages. This will allow me to take more time on each page, make it really special. It will have a little bit more of a handmade feel with little things sneaked into the pages and maybe a pocket or a piece of fabric bound in. Not all this in every issue, each one will have it’s have unique thing.

In Each issue:

• planned on a theme–like knitting, or homemade salon, or weaving, or bookmaking.
• 20 pages plus a center fold out (which is like 4 pages put together so kind of 24 pages really)
• Creatively illustrated and photographed and collaged by me.
• All original projects, articles, and puzzles.
• Little bonus something something for each issue, like a reusable tea bag or a piece of fabric bound into the center

Because it will be so similar in size to Volume 1, it will be a similar price and cost to ship–just $6 per an issue!

Going Digital!

For awhile now I’ve gotten email about a digital edition, I have a lot of overseas readers and shipping can be a bit expensive. I just wasn’t sure how to make that happen. How could I convey all the zine had to offer digitally without essentially making a second zine a month? Well, I compromised with myself and made up an E-to-P plan–Electronic to Print!

What is Electronic to Print? Each month, I send you a pdf of the newest zine and the first page of that pdf is a short tutorial on how to print out and bind the zine just like I do! So for no shipping, you can get your own physical zine.

The Craft Leftovers Monthly E-to-P Zine is discounted from the print version since I don’t have to deal with assembly and paper cost, You can get the E-to-P version for just $3.75 an issue. So, you save on shipping and paper!

And of course you can read it on your screen as well, but that’s just not nearly as fun. :)

Limited Time Subscription Offer

So you want to get your friend a great gift? Why not get them a subscription for Craft Leftovers Monthly! Well you want to give them something physically for their gift, and there’s no way I can send it to you in time right? Nope, for the woman who prompted this whole idea, I opted to draw up a little subscription card she could print out and hand to her friend in person and well, since I already have it made up for her, why not offer it to you too?

Want to get 6 months of Volume Three for your friend? That will be $29 + shipping and handling, please in the shop

Want to get the E-to-P version? That will be $16.95 in the Shop

When you place your order, just select “gift” as the add on option and I’ll send you your gift card to print out and give to your friend come Christmas day.

So now until the February issue goes on sale, you can get 6 month subscriptions for yourself and all your crafty buddies. ;)

Happy crafting and happy holidays!
Kristin

While the ironing board is a great craft room tool, it’s often a bit big and cumbersome. Sometimes I just need to press a little something while sewing–all nice and quick. I keep my cutting mat on my sewing table, so I wanted to make an ironing mat that would fit right over it and protect its rubbery surface.

Ironing Mat

Materials Needed

• 2 – 20×30″ pieces of muslin fabric
• 1 – 20×30″ piece of heavy fabric like a canvas, wool, or denim
• 1 – 20×30″ piece of fleece – not polar, but the thinner stuff
• Loads of straight pins
• A sewing machine

Cut all your pieces and layer them: muslin, muslin, fleece, heavy fabric

Sew around three edges using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Turn right sides out.

Tuck the open edge into itself and pin in place. Press if you need to.

Top stitch 1/2″ from the edge all the way around and that’s it. You’re done!

Happy crafting!
Kristin

Okay family and friends out there reading this post, avert your eyes. This is a complete spoiler alert, so go away, skip to a different post.

Starting last year I opted to make gift baskets up for my family and friends instead of trying to puzzle out individual gifts for each person. It worked out splendidly. In fact, I actually gave everyone the gifts I intended in baskets. The ones that got left with no gifts were the ones with unique handmade items.

Most of my family is in the place in their life where if they want something, they have the means to get it themselves. So I really like the idea of giving them a special treat that won’t add to their general household clutter. Yummy foods and small handmade useful thingies. That’s the way I’m going from now on.

the basket

• a few select handmade things like an ornament,
• a pair of useful handmade things, a nice little bundle of tasty baked items,
• a jar of preserved something-something, and
• a holiday card to spread some cheer.

These are the books I’m pulling from to get my handmade holiday making on.

For preserves:

Williams-Sonoma The Art of Preserving

I actually won this book from a giveaway on Craftzine.com, the only giveaway on the internet I’ve every won. It turned out to be a great one to win. It covers some excellent preserving related topics, contains a nice tasty selection of jams/jellies, preserves/conserves/marmalade, sweet butters/curds, pickled fruits/vegetables, salsa/relishes/chutneys, and condiments/sauces. Loads of yum.

I’ve actually been having a pretty hard time deciding what I want to make. Since it’s not really a growing season around here, I’m looking for something I can pick up at the grocery store in bulk and would be unique as a preserve, something not easily bought off the shelf. So at first I thought about apple sauce, but didn’t really fall into my “unique” and “not cheap at the grocery store” plan. Digging around more in the book I realized it was right on the cover: preserved semons. They have a great little paragraph on ideas for using them, so around each jar I’m going to tie a little tag around it with the “ways to use” tips typed up.

PupSnacks: 35 Delicious and Healthy Recipes to Bark Home About

I got this book a few Christmases back because there’s a great recipe gift mix in the back of it. Like one of those mason jars with dry ingredients and the “how to mix and bake” included. Well, I made them for quite a few people and only about 50% actually made them, ha. So this year I’m going to just bake some tasty little treats for our tailed friends. I’m thinking the Christmas Dog-erations would be great.

Paris Boulangerie-Patisserie: Recipes from Thirteen Outstanding French Bakeries

This is my favorite baking book for fancy pants tasty treats. I haven’t made nearly enough recipes from it, but the ones I have are perfect. Last year I tried these wonderful almond based cookies–Sablés à la Cannelle (the best freaking cinnamon shortbread cookies)–and I’m definitely making those again. But because my mom loves shortbread cookies (You aren’t reading this are you, Mom? You better not be! Merry Christmas if you are.), I’m going to make these with some rice flour and butter substitute, just for her. For my sister (you better not be reading this either) I’m making a nice little batch of croissants. I haven’t tried the recipe before, so let’s hope it lives up to the deliciousness of the Sablés à la Cannelle.

Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies

This is a new one for me, but I’m pretty excited about it. There are literally 101 cookie recipes in here to bake and enjoy. Included are trendy cookies, classic cookies, for little ones, for adults, for health nuts, and nut lovers.

I’m definitely making the little cookies that look like mice. And I’m starting to take a real fancy to the Lemon Wreaths too. Yum. I’m thinking of one other cookie if there’s time, but I’m not sure. Have you baked anything from this delightful cookie collection?

One Last Thing: Bread of the Visit Club

(Mom you really better not be reading this. I sent her an email telling her to stay away from my blog in the lead up to Christmas.)

My mom’s diet is gluten and dairy free and is really missing her toast. So each and every time I visit (about every other month) I’m going to bring her a loaf of bread ranging from homestyle to rye to cinnamon raisin. I’m starting with one loaf and including a series of certificates for her to hold on to.

How do you handle your handmade Christmas? What is your go-to favorite Christmas cookie?

Happy holidays!

Kristin

There is so much holiday cheer and happy crafting going on right now I can hardly stand it. I do love it all so much. Here are a few of my favorites that I’m hoping to make in the next 10 days:

1. Dollhouse Sized Aluminum Christmas Tree on Zakka Life
2. Felted Christmas Trees on the Purl Bee
3. Swedish Dala Horse on AllSorts (via Whipup.net)
4. Flatware pouch on Craftiness is Not Optional (via Craftgossip)
5. Winter Caroler Sewing Pattern (via Craftzine)
6. More Inspiration on Creative Kismet

What’s your favorite holiday crafting project on the internet? Have you tried it yet?

Want to use up some of your leftovers from Christmas? Check out my ebook Card.Paper.Ribbon. that’s all about finding non-christmas uses for Christmas gift packaging supplies!

Happy crafting!
Kristin

With the new addition to our home (kitten Gregory) I got a bug in my bonnet to commemorate our little citizens with their very own ornaments, but how?

Then a memory from long since past hit me: handprints! But in this case: paw prints!

Each little critter gets their own disk. And then I decided that Jason and I get one too. To load up on the cheese, it’s Jason and I’s first Christmas in our house and it seems like something to make note of too.

Paw Print Ornament

materials

• 1 – bakeable play dough, cherry tomato sized ball – see recipe below
• 1 – ribbon or silk cord or yarn, cut 6″ length
• 1 – kitten, dog, baby, ferret, kid, or boyfriend

tools

• plexiglass rod for rolling out the clay
• aluminum foil
• table knife or craft knife
• drinking straw or chop stick
• tooth pick
• oven or toaster oven – preheat to 250 degrees

Step 1: Make the play dough and get it just the right shade of your favorite color – in my case, a nice minty teal green.

Step 2: Roll out the dough into a disk shape on the aluminum foil so it’s about 1/4″ thick.

Step 3: Grab a willing (or not so willing) pet, kiddo, or significant other and gently press their paw/hand into the softened clay. (This is why it’s so important to really work it with your hands until it’s nice and soft.)

Step 4: Use the straw (preferably) or chop stick (if that’s all you have) to make a hole near the top of the disk above the print.

Step 5: Use the tooth pick to gently scratch the names of the prints and the date on the front of the disk.

Step 6 (optional): Use the table knife to clean up the edges and make your disk a circle.

Step 7: Slip the pressed dough (on the aluminum) onto a cookie sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes – the dough will start to lighten up – if it turns golden brown it’s been in too long. Let cool completely before stringing up with silk cord or ribbon and hanging on the tree.

More Options: You can decorate these little guys with glitter, paint, stains, and/or paper. Punch out shapes with the leftover dough and make ornaments with those too. Have even more dough leftover? Add a Tablespoon of vegetable oil to keep it moist and store it in a air tight container to play with later.

Bakeable Play Dough Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups cheap-o flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 15-20 drops food dye (or more if you want a vibrant color)

Directions

• Mix the flour and salt together until well combined.
• With your hands, mix in a little of the water at a time until the dough becomes all the way moist, but not sticky.
• Add a few drops of food dye and knead until the color becomes consistent. Keep adding food dye and kneading until you get the color you want.
• If the dough starts to dry out, add a little splash of water.
• If the dough gets to wet (like if you add say “wave” of water instead of a “splash”, dust the dough with more flour and knead.

Here are some other ornament tutorials I really loved. I really want to make the bird seed ornaments that Craftzine posted about. How cute! I love my little outdoor friends. Now how can I get the birds to walk on my clay ornaments because wouldn’t that be cute? (Just kidding about trying it though because clay + little bird feet sounds like a tragedy.)

On the CraftyPod

• Japanese Inspired Upholstered Ornaments
• Festive Chenille Flower Ornaments

On Craftzine

• Bird Seed Ornaments on Saltwater Kids
• Cones of Joy on Nini Makes

On CraftGossip

• 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments on Stampington
• Whimsical Felt Animal Ornaments on InCircle Interiors
• Holiday Hints Ornaments for the Last Minute Making by Betz White
• Felt Wreath on the Magic Onion

On Whipup.net

• 10 Paper Ornaments to Make

Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!
Kristin Roach

Jason and I are spending our first holiday season in our first house. It’s not terribly different from the apartment but there’s just something different. Maybe I’m a little different. Maybe it’s being able to have a real Christmas tree for the first time that’s actually REAL and over 4 feet tall. It’s got me all holiday spirity.

First I made the winter stars for the kitchen window. Then there was the evergreen sprigs on the table under the tv. Last week we actually got our first real Christmas tree. And this week, oh the holiday crafty goodness is commencing and I’m bringing you on for the ride!

For the tree, since we didn’t already own lights, we sprung for the LED christmas lights, three strands did the trick. And they were happily on sale. Excellent. Well, with the tree all lit up, it was time for ornaments. Last year our little tree was overloaded, but this year, it now looks sparse! So later this week I’ll be sharing some of my favorite ornament tutorials with you along with a new one of my own. We need a few more to round it out, but I don’t want to pack it. I’m kind of looking forward to adding them slowly.

I need to make  a new tree skirt since ours from last year is too small. I want to give the kitties a nice plushy place to sleep under the tree–their new favorite spot in the house.

Garlands will be in order for sure. I’ll be combining some evergreen style garlands with a few handmade touches. And since I’m just now getting around to decorating for the holidays, I’m going to keep it “winter” themed vs. “Christmas,” which works great for us since we like to celebrate the winter solstice at the house since we are always out of town for Christmas. More on that next Monday.

A few other fun handmade touches will be paper snowflakes in the windows, a yule candle set up on the “mantle,” loads of cookie baking starting this weekend, and some festive lighting. On Thursday I’ll be sharing some of the tastiest looking holiday recipes + my baking plan.

I’ve been looking for inspiration around the internet and here are a load of tutorials on holiday decorating that I’ve really enjoyed.

1. Quilted Christmas Tree Skirt with Fur Trim (via Craft Gossip)
2. Holiday Decorating on Posie Gets Cozy
3. Acorn Garland on the Magic Onion (via Craft Gossip)
4. Reuse Holiday Scraps on Lola Nova (via Whipup.net)
5. Snowflake Craft Project Round-up on Craft Gossip
6. Making a Doily Garland on Smile and Wave (via Craftzine)
7. Paper Snowflakes! on How About Orange
8. Paper Globes on Tiny Happy
9. All the Trimmings Stocking from Denyse Schmidt (via Craftzine)

So how do you spruce up your house for the holidays? What’s your winter welcoming tradition?

Happy crafting and happy holidays!
Kristin