Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts - review and giveaway!

It's no secret that I love Martha - everything that comes from her company is pure perfection.  Today she is releasing a new book, Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Projects for Year-Round Celebrations.

 

From Easter eggs, to Father's Day gifts, to Christmas decorations, the book offers dozens of crafts for every holiday.  It feels like a collection of all the best "Good Things" projects and special holiday issues of the magazine, all bundled in one spot.

Of course, there is a fabulous Halloween section (Martha's favorite holiday), which is the perfect jump-start I needed to get started on Oscar's 3rd birthday party, a Halloween extravaganza (at least in his eyes).

I am excited to try the Jar-o'-lanterns, featured in the Halloween section.  (Photos by Eric Piasecki. Reprinted from the book Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts. Copyright © 2011 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.  Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.)

Jar-o'-lanterns

Tools and Materials
Clean glass jars
Paintbrush

Oil-based enamel paint (black and orange or yellow)
Extra-wide masking tape

Jar-o-lantern template (marthastewart.com/holiday-crafts-book-extras)
Marker
Craft knife
Plastic-covered 20-gauge wire
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters

 1. Working in a well-ventilated area, coat the inside of a jar with orange or yellow paint. Apply a square of masking tape to the outside of each jar. Press out any air bubbles. Use a marker to draw face on tape. Cut out features with a craft knife to form a stencil. (Alternatively, download and print jar-o’-lantern templates, cut out features, and secure over the tape; cut around them to form stencil.)

2. Using black paint and a brush, fill in the features of the stencil. Let paint dry completely, then carefully peel off and discard tape.

3. For a handle, loop one end of the wire with pliers. Make a lasso shape to hug the neck of the jar. Bend remaining wire over for a handle. Cut wire; make another loop to hook onto ring. Slip ring over jar's mouth; tighten as necessary.

How cute are those?  All I need is some orange paint and I'm set to start.

Ok, onto the really fun part.  Would you like a copy of the book?  Today I'm giving away 5 copies of Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Projects for Year-Round Celebrations!

I'm going to run this giveaway a little differently, just for fun.  To enter:

• Leave a comment telling me your favorite crafting memory!  It can be anything - a success, a funny failure, just the sweet memory of crafting with someone special.  I'll choose my 5 favorites for the winners.  Make me smile.  :)
• One comment per person please.  If you accidentally leave duplicate comments, please delete the extras.
• Please leave me a way to contact you, either with an email address, or a public profile that leads to your blog.  Thanks!
• This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  So sorry, international friends!

This giveaway is open for 24 hours only!  Get your comment in by 9 a.m. PST, on September 28th.

One of my favorite crafting memories is when I got to meet Ms. Martha herself and talk to her about something I made.  It was October 2008, just 11 days after Oscar was born, and I had submitted a pair of baby booties to the MSLO employee art show.  She loved the shoes (I about passed out on the spot), but even more she loved Oscar, and took his picture.  The shoes and Oscar's little newborn face even flashed briefly on the show the next day.  My tiny celebrity!   It was a thrill.

Good luck!  I'm really looking forward to reading your crafting memories.

Wee Wonderfuls Mermaiden Doll

A (long) while back, I received a copy of the book, Wee Wonderfuls, 24 Dolls to Sew and Love.  It is a very charming book - I immediately bookmarked a bunch of projects.  Somehow, they got knocked down the to-do list, but with many toddler birthday parties in the coming months, I pulled the book out again.

Last night I made the Mermaiden Doll.  Hello, beautiful!

It is a small-sized doll, only about 7 inches tall, perfect for little girls who like to take things on the go.  All of the stitching details add a lot of personality.

If you are planning to make dolls for holiday gifts, this book is a great place to start.  I love how diverse each of the projects is.  There really is something for everyone (even little boys!).

Up next on my dolls to make list are the Hansel and Gretel wooden spoon puppets, doxie necklace, and Little Miss Storybook (pictured below, left to right).

This little mermaid was hard to say goodbye to, but she'll be in good hands.  The birthday girl has such a love of swimming, she is practically a fish.  I'm sure these two will get along nicely.

Have you started thinking about handmade holiday gifts?  What is on your to-do list?

apron in an hour

Next month, the woman's organization at my church is having a retro-homemaking themed evening of activities.  Among the classes, I am leading a sewing class to make an easy apron.  These are my test runs ...

We are using the Apron in an Hour tutorial by Stop Staring and ... Start Sewing.  True to its name, it really only takes about an hour and is so cute (love the long sash for a front bow!). 

These two aprons are made with quilting weight cotton, so they are more for looks than function.  I'm going to look for some heavier fabrics for the real aprons.

Speaking of fabric, I can't tell you how much I love this print.  It is called Spring Street by Carolyn Gavin. 

If you are looking for homemade gift ideas for this Christmas, this apron is a great place to start -   thanks, Jona, for the fun pattern!

valentine cookie bags

Tonight I am having a little Valentine activity with the ladies at church.  We are decorating heart shape cookies and making these little cookie bags to go with them.  Nice and simple.

The bags are just a white lunch sack that is punched along the top using a Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch (decorative scissors would work, too).

I cut the tags on my Silhouette.  It is a two piece tag that I designed myself (although, I'm being liberal with the word "designed" - the software is so easy to use). If you want a copy of the files, just email me!  homemadebyjill@gmail.com

Do you love my background today?  I have a new craft tool.  :)  It is fun, easy to use, and makes beautiful things.  Check back tomorrow and I'll show you more.

In other news, I was diagnosed with shingles yesterday.  Boo hoo for me.  I am accepting all forms of pity.  :)  Pray for me that it will pass quickly?  Thanks.

astronomy club t-shirts

My husband and father-in-law are total astronomy buffs - on a clear night, they haul their giant telescopes into the back yard and search the skies.   Oscar likes to "help" by touching things he shouldn't and shining the flashlight in grandpa's eyes. 

I couldn't resist making the guys some matching t-shirts (using my silhouette, what else?) so I can pretend they have an official club.  Now if I can only convince them to put the shirts on all at the same time for a picture!  :)

Everything is cuter toddler-sized, don't you think?

oven mitts, big and small

I made big girl and little girl oven mitts as Christmas gifts this year.  This cupcake set was for Oscar's BFF, Audrey, who also received a brand-new play kitchen from her grandparents.  Audrey's mom made her an adorable apron with this cupcake fabric, and I contributed matching oven mitts. 

For a pattern, I traced one of Oscar's mini oven-mitts from a Melissa and Doug set.  But I also did a little research and found a kid-sized oven mitt tutorial at Ikat Bag for you to reference if you'd like to make some.  Of course, toddlers should never handle hot pans, but these mitts have a layer of Insul-Bright (a heat-resistant batting) inside.  You know, just in case.

Grown ups love new oven mitts, too.  I made a set for my mother-in-law using the tutorial at The Crafty Cupboard. 

I love this pattern!  It is the kind of oven mitt with the thumb on the front instead of the side.  Easier to use, in my opinion.  I'm also a huge fan of this fabric.  It is a home dec fabric that I found at JoAnn's, and it wants me to buy more and sew it into throw pillows for my living room.

Are you intrigued by the bag?  It is the first mass-produced project that I've made in a long time - tell you more later this week.

2010 Martha's Circle Holiday Gift Guide

Check out the Martha's Circle 2010 Holiday Gift Guide, which includes some Gifts for Crafters picked by yours truly.

There are great gift ideas in every category, but I especially like some of the Family Stocking Stuffer picks.

Komfort Kids Holiday Blanket and Pillowcase Giveaway (CLOSED)

Komfort Kids blankies are a favorite at my house ... partially because they are lovingly handmade by the kids' Aunt Alyssa, but mostly because the blankets are so comfy.   With soft flannel on one side and silky satin on the other, it is sure to be your kid's favorite blankie, too.

Ruby can often be found sucking on the satin binding of her blankie, and Oscar (if I'm not revealing too much) prefers to cuddle up to his "choo-choo" blanket wearing a diaper only.  I can't blame him - who doesn't love the feel of smooth satin on their skin?

The winner of today's giveaway will receive a blanket and pillowcase set from the Komfort Kids Holiday Collection.  It includes a double sided flannel blanket with red satin binding and a soft and cozy flannel pillow case, both made from Michael Miller Yule Trees fabric. The red, green and pink Christmas trees are accented with a fun polka dot print, for just the right holiday touch in your child's bedroom!

 This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for entering!

If you would love to win, browse the Komfort Kids Etsy shop and leave a comment on this post by November 26th telling me your favorite blanket fabric.


The winner will be randomly selected and announce on November 29th.  This giveaway is available to U.S. and International readers!


You know the drill:

1. There is only one entry per person.  If you accidentally enter more than once, please delete your duplicate comment(s).  You may have to scroll to the end of the comment pages to view yours.
2. Make sure I have a way to contact you!  Either your profile must link back to a public blog, or you must leave me an email address.  Anonymous comments (with no contact information) will be deleted. 

Also, Komfort Kids is offering 20% off your total order using the code "homemadebyjill20."  Happy shopping!

hot chocolate gift tins

Last night, the ladies at my church got together for a little holiday kick-off - complete with crafts!  I was in charge of putting together two holiday craft ideas.  The first was hot chocolate gift tins.

I saw these tins last holiday season on the Blonde Design Blog.  Kristin was nice enough to provide labels and a source for the tins, so all I had to do was follow her lead.  :)

The beauty of crafting as a group is you can buy in bulk.  We made well over 100 tins last night, and the cost of each kit (minus the cocoa) came to only about $1.  Each kit included:

• 8 ounce tin - Paper Mart
• Hot Chocolate label - Blonde Designs Blog
• clear cello bag (2 1/2 inches long, 2 inches wide, 6 inches tall) - Paper Mart
• white scallop seal - I used a Martha Stewart Scallop Punch on full-sheet label paper to make stickers to seal the cello bags.  You can find full-sheet label paper at any office supply store.
• length of baker's twine - Supply Owl
• punched gift tag - I glued holiday-print scrapbook paper to white cardstock and punched using a gift tag-shaped punch

You can fill the tins with store-bought or homemade hot chocolate mix.  It is the perfect small gift for teachers, neighbors, or co-workers.  Homemade marshmallows would make a delicious companion to this gift! 

Speaking of marshmallows, last night I had sweet potatoes (topped with marshmallows) that were so delicious, I wasn't even sad that I couldn't eat pie for dessert.  I just had another scoop of potatoes.  mmm ... sweet potatoes.  I love Thanksgiving.

Simple CD Wallet

 

  

Jumping on the Valentine craft bandwagon, I made this little CD wallet for someone special and filled it with my favorite tunes.  

No tutorial for this one, but it is easy to make.  You'll need two pieces of fabric measuring 12 1/2 x 6 inches (the outside and inside of the wallet), and one piece that measures 12 1/2 x 4 inches (for the inside pocket).  Back them all with fusible fleece interfacing for a nice, soft wallet.  I topped my pocket with a strip of double fold bias tape and added a elastic and button closure.

The CD labels are from Chronicle Books.

Happy Valentine's Day!

homemade holidays: stocking stuffers for kids

There's still plenty of time to make homemade gifts for this Christmas.  Here are a few easy (and fast!) ideas for stocking stuffers:

Make a crayon roll using the tutorial over at Skip to My Lou.  It is a quick, easy project, and is the perfect size for a stocking.  I exchanged the tie closure for a button and ribbon (I've found ric rac or stretchy ribbon actually works best), which I think is a easier for the little people who can't tie things yet.

 

Make a ball (or two or three) using the free patterns at Grand Revival Designs (her free patterns are located in the right sidebar.  She also offers a free stocking pattern).  I like to add a jingle bell inside the stuffing of the balls I make - my one year old loves it.

homemade holidays: black apple dolls

 

You know what I love about November?  It still feels like there is plenty of time to make homemade gifts.  Black Apple Dolls are one of my favorite little girl gifts to make.  They are a fast project, easy to customize, and oh so very cute (the free pattern doesn't hurt either).

My favorite in this bunch is the dark-haired twin with the blue flower brooch.  They could all use shoes and winter accessories, but I have to be somewhat realistic about my time.  :)

crafting for Christmas: hostess aprons

I made a bunch of hostess aprons for some of my favorite ladies:

a cardinal Christmas apron for my sister-in-law, Michelle

a snowflakes and stars apron for Jaime

a paisley apron for Stephanie

and a black and white toile apron for Mitzi

Mitz was even kind enough to model hers for your viewing pleasure. Notice how she can effortlessly pull off evening wear with a touch of domesticity - lovely.