Waste Basket Lamp

I've seen some pretty cute waste baskets. I think they are too cute to use as waste baskets. I linke this idea from DIY Showoff. She took an adorable waste basket and turned it into a lamp! This could work for a cute basket too!
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Check out how to make a waste basket lamp!
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Printable January Subway Art

Start the new year out right with some easy and inexpensive (FREE) January Subway Art from Today's Fabulous Finds. You can choose from 8 different colors. Don't you love it when bloggers do all the work for you?
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Get the
January Subway Art.
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Faux Metal Wall Art

I can't believe my eyes! I love metal wall art. I have some on a few of my walls at my home. Can you believe that Suzy's Artsy Crafty Sitcom made these wall art out of TOILET PAPER ROLLS? Yeah, it is faux metal wall art! Very cool.
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Check out how these faux metal wall art were made!
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Magnetic Snowman

Brassy Apple has a neat winter decoration with magnetic snowman.. She made the snowman out of burn covers and magnetic buttons. Make a variety of buttons and accessories so it's interchangeable! (Brassy Apple is the queen of burn covers. She has so many great ideas for these dollar store items!
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Check out the magnetic snowman!
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Christmas Is Over! My Personal Reflection:

A Little Personal Journaling To Reflect:
Christmas is over and I can't say I'm terribly happy about it. This Christmas was as perfect as one could wish for. I'm not looking forward to taking it all way, I mean that in the most literal sense. The end of Christmas and the New Year bring on just as much work. The tree needs to be undecorated and everything put in its place carefully for next year. The decorations stored away, and the food eaten and some recipes not even to be thought of until the years end. I'll miss the glow of the tree's lights, the stockings adorning the fireplace, and the holiday photo cards hanging throughout. But I will find comfort in the unexpected turn of events this Christmas brought. Especially because it may be our last Christmas in California if things go as planned in 2011.

We broke tradition in a big way this year. For the better part of the last 20 years I have always gone to my Aunts on Christmas Day. We enjoy exchanging gifts, and family come and go throughout the day and night feasting on homemade tamales, menudo, pie, cookies, etc. This year one of my aunts and one of my cousins were recovering from surgeries, so there were to be no tamales and visits on Christmas Day were to be short. Other deterring factors including a personal matter with my family and another family member were possibly preventing me from attending at all. After much consideration my family decided to skip the events at my Aunt's house on Christmas Day.

My husband arranged for some family to stop by and see us that day and we decided of course to provide food for our guests. To take us back a day we had entertained my brother's family on Christmas Eve, for it is as close as we could get to celebrating his 40th birthday which was on the 22nd. We knew we weren't going to get a chance to see him on Christmas Day since we had opted out of going to the general meeting place.

However, Christmas morning arrived and with tons of food cooked and cooking, I received a call from my brother asking if they could come over for a bit. That's 5 people. Shortly after, our expected guests, a family of 6 arrived! After brunch, my brothers family left,  and I later served an early dinner to my guests. During dinner my cousin and his fiance entered in a surprise arrival.  I was so pleased that even though we weren't able to spend Christmas with all of my family, that people cared enough to spend it with us. I think everyone left fulfilled and full! My kids got to spend two days with so many of their cousins in their own house. They're always asking for that, so it was a real treat! And my cousin asked Chloe if she would honor them by being a flower girl in their wedding. By doing so she has to wear a pink dress! This is way out of her tomboyish comfort zone. She said she'll think about it. Stay tuned to hear what she decides...

Here is a glimpse at some of the food I cooked over the past week:
Christmas Eve Dinner:
Artichoke Dip
Salad
Manicotti
Chocolate Birthday Cake

Christmas Breakfast:
Cinnamon Rolls
Christmas Sausage Casserole

Christmas Dinner:
Crudites and Veggie Dip
Gnocchi Mac and Cheese (courtesy of Plain Chicken Blog)
Salad
Prime Rib Roast

Post Christmas Feast:
Roast Turkey
Noodle Koogle
Stuffing

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Word Ice Blocks and Toast Spoon

Craftberry Bush made these wintery word ice blocks to decorate the outside of her home. She spelled words by freezing vines and branches in ice. Check out how the ice blocks look going up her entry stairs!
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I also love this idea from Craftberry Bush for New Year's or any other party! Make edible bread/toast spoons for dipping. Isn't that a fun idea?
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Check out the bread dipping spoons!


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Giveaway Directory #38



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Here is your best chance at FREE stuff on the web!!! Join these giveaways!!!!

If you don't know what this is, the giveaway directory is a place to promote a giveaway on your blog of your "goods" (or even someone else's). Link up the giveaway. If you are looking to win free "stuff," visit the other blogs and enter. It's that easy!!!! Some of these giveaways only have a few entries so your chance of winning is great!


I only leave this link open for 24hrs because giveaways are time sensitive. So if you are going to have a giveaway in the future and want to link it up here, please plan it accordingly:)







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Party Highlights

Check out some of the links from today's Whatever Goes Wednesday party!


Girl in Air painted this rockin' world map on her wall. She says it only took her $10 and 2 hours. See her secret.
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Every boy/man wants a rubberband gun! Be glad that Potholes and Pantyhose shows you how to make one!


I'm loving this recipe card holder by Life Is Sweeter Than Chocolate! I need one!!!


Add a little class and sophistication to some plain knee-highs with some lace. Read this tip from Yellow Black Bird.

Check out more links to the Whatever Goes Wednesday show!


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2011 New Year's Subway Art Printable

2010 was definitely the year of subway art, so it's only fitting to end the year with one last fun printable. Place it in a simple frame and it'll make a great addition to your New Year's table decor. Download the FREE print from Custom Printables HERE

Whatever Goes Wednesday #46

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Welcome to this crazy day of linky love and blog exploration! I love to see what is new out there in blog land. Get started clicking away to view everyone's creations!

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NEW SPONSOR .




Check out Well Good for AFFORDABLE and darling wood craft kits. There is a word a month (or more). Pick up some decorations for next Christmas, New Years, Winter and Valentines! You will be glad you visited this etsy shop!

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MOST VIEWED LINK LAST WEEK!

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The most viewed link last week was this adorable fuzzy sock cupcakes made by 733 at Creativity for Kids. What a great way to package a small gift. Perfect for teachers, kids, friends or anyone!









Don't forget to check out the Giveaway Directory tomorrow! It amazes me how few people enter giveaways. This is your chance at free stuff! FYI, this link is only open for one day. If you are going to do a giveaway and want to feature it here, make sure you link it up sometime on Thursday.



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There will be NO Categorically Crafting Show the next two weeks! Enjoy your holidays!







You know what to do. Enter your project (up to 4 links), tip, idea, recipe, whatever. Visit others. Leave comments. PLEASE NO ETSY SHOPS! Come back again in the next few days more projects are added throughout the week. Let the fun begin! (Because blogging is not my full-time job, I will not be able to visit every link. I apologize.)





















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Snowman Bread Tags

Crafts By Amanda always has such fun, unique ideas. I loved her monster bread tags at Halloween and I think these snowman bread tags are just as cute! What a darling thing to add when packaging some treats.
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Check out the snowman bread tags.
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Sewing Photos To Canvas

Here's a fun technique I never knew about. The Quick Unpick shows us how to sew photographs onto canvas! What a cute idea! I love the sewed finish!
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New Years Printable Subway Art

Hurry over to Custom Printables to print out this fun New Years subway art. I never decorate for New Years because it comes so soon after Christmas, but this would be the perfect little thing to add to a wall. Quick, FREE and easy!
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Print out the New Years Subway Art.
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(Found via One Pretty Thing.)
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Free New Year's Disco Ball Party Printables

This fun & sassy New Year's disco ball party collection includes an invitation, cupcake toppers, banner, party labels and food tents!

Everything you need to throw a fabulous party to ring in 2011! Just download, print & decorate!

I'm loving the Tiffany Blue (and can't wait to pair it up with lots of silver accessories)! Get the free printables designed by Piggy Bank Parties at Catch My Party HERE

Framing A Window

House of Smiths is at that "home improvement" thing again. This time, they are framing their windows. My mom's handyman just framed some of her basement windows and it looks SO GOOD!!! Makes it look much more classy and expensive!!! Will this be a New Year's Resolution for you?
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Check out how to frame your windows!!!
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Familylicious giveway

Another Silhouette is up for grabs over at the Familylicious giveaway and review blog here.

I have been trying and trying to win a Silhouette and would love to get my craft on in the New Year with a Silhouette.

I would love to win a Silhouette to take my crafting to the next level. I also would love to try some subway art and maybe even the temp tattoo sheets for fun.

New Years Party Hats!

Felt So Cute has such a fun idea for making silly party hats for kids (and adults) to celebrate the New Year! These could be used for birthdays and other ocassions too. Made out of felt, these would be inexpensive and quite easy to make up!!!
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Beadboard Growth Chart

My daughter has been asking in the last couple of days to "mark me on the wall." I've finally figured out she wants a growth chart to see how she grows. I like this one made from beadboard at Lemon Tree Creations. I wish I would have made one when she was a baby! What a fun baby gift this would be.
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Merry Christmas!

So this is a day late, but I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. I will be taking a day or two off. (Ok, I've already taken almost two days off.) So I will be back soon. I'm definitely enjoying this short break with my family to celebrate the birth of Christ.
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We had a great Christmas and my kids are loving the presents they received! I hope you had an amazing day with the ones you love.
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(I would load a picture of my family in front of our tree with some of the presents, but I'm not in a place where I can load a picture!)
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Merry Christmas!
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Warmest Wishes!

From our family to yours...

Wishing you a joyous holiday season
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Happy New Year!

Cheers to 2011!
~Brandy

Flat Iron/ Curling Iron Cozy!

After you open presents tomorrow, you may want to consider making a flat iron/cutling iron cozy for the new gadgets you received (or gave.) Scissors and a Whisk has an easy tutorial for one.
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Table Top Play Kitchen

Make a inexpensive side table into a play kitchen. I love this simple idea by Land of the Misfit Toyz. My kids would love it! I would love for them to have it!
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Tie On Dish Towels

Trey and Lucy has one more last minute gift idea for you. Make some tie-on dish towels to alleviate the headache of dish towels always falling to the ground.
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Coffee Mug Gingerbread House

Simply adorable! Surprise your family Christmas morning with a cup of hot chocolate adorned with a gingerbread house cookie! Get all the details from Not Martha