Hello! It sure has been awhile. I have just been working away getting my presents made and custom orders done :)
I've been busy putting new items on etsy...still not much luck on there. Facebook continues to be my main source of customers which is just fine by me! Although I haven't gotten much attention on etsy I did manage to catch the attention of the creative editor of Simply Handmade Magazine. She sent me a product request asking that I submit some items for their summer issue. I feel like I'm jinxing it just talking about it but since there is no guarantee that I'll make it in the issue I might as well celebrate this now :)So woo hoo!
I thought I would share two new holiday crafts I did this year.
Advent Calendar
I was inspired by this amazing advent tree from Sunset magazine
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ90w0FNxVO_BjDlC4nKrO_cDb9ean2nWkSz_74Ozjq0-JSvf_6Xyw-xiB-zA6LrtlWbOKc7evlaX6THG89UxvzZp0XZk8HC6O1hYQKC8DCLR5GKbBHNB7eCw7-Wk7M16SkwJ4vKlr0E07/s320/advent-calendar-1110-l.jpg)
I wish mine turned out that great...I decided to only use what I had on hand. I got out my trusty Cricut and cut out my tags and numbers. I decided to write a bible verse on the back of each tag that we could look up together as a family each night. Then I made little "ornaments" for my son to hang up in place of the tag we take down each night. The ornaments are simply asterisk's cut from felt. I wish I would have gotten a picture because they actually are pretty cute.
I had a vase and twigs leftover from these adorable decorations we made for my grandma's 90th birthday last month...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglrx4c1pvP-OoV10hNK7DjsfYpJAhlBYrU3xh-SFXmiCUQrBNeBB10ZvYVEODKSQP_jR8zyQJqc-eSx3z8ItMPXu80JNqp3IsKOFI3o-HEXNfF444fJs0LPoVsfOmKJqHj4q-AQN4-Iil/s320/DSCN0651.JPG)
so I just hung the tags all over that...I looks a lot more crowded and messy then Sunset magazine's version..oh well my 4 year loves it just the same :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn6sAyvuvEdSgAx1zDOVLMavXeFcXQym6IcsXvkOxQmXAWJDMQk1goNcK2bczYRZVnJBCNDlPTWQCmYZ_nRWHA0qJ269krRiD9uH6BiiU16pkfblRlDGMHeo72I9oMHbDXookElIdTAZq/s320/DSCN1269.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg483otIDPT6RyOLpc-uSopkVVJfsXFOwlCJMlDxTOvyfcUIdp5YnZgN41px9kqDS75D0kaOZ3iqOkISxBKLG5yDssPGkmKt2MZtJrr0LqoYgBcOyJDJ0TCm77fBFV_l7sGBBLNOlDscsl/s320/DSCN1271.JPG)
I also made an upcycled wreath...the form is from a wreath I made previously, the yarn is leftover from a project, and the ruffles are made from old tshirts...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHw3sNs5lzrsEodsVRdfUmQbhnFS82KxQaH8TWRi6n0C_Jgu0fOgi2EHIotNxUb1Y4WndsAeeXkij4v7k_DkuCORgjNAAT0Jh_QBFS70ol8AiCg0MxlNB4Ix-9jJ_hqXkO61zjR84hyphenhyphenjJ/s320/DSCN1279.JPG)