Clove Oranges – A Crafty Christmas

This Christmas is becoming a crafty one…as in cool crafts.

 I have decided to ditch the lame foam crafts that have made Oriental Trading what is today and focus on crafts that are actually homemade and attractive. I have never been a huge fan of the foam frames, sleighs, Crosses or almost anything made out of popsicle sticks. I don’t put them out for display and I DON’T hang them on my tree.  You may call me a Grinch, uncaring, or even a bad word but if it takes my children a millisecond to create it then it wasn’t worth the time and there was no creative process involved.

 And it probably looks like crap.

Crap = No Tree

I bring you the first of our homemade crafts:

Orange Clove Christmas Balls

Notice the robot. Courtesy of my five year old.

Finished!

They really smell great.  I was actually wondering how they would smell and I was pleasantly surprised.

Not overpowering

Just right.

Our next endeavor is Cranberry Garland.

Holiday Decor for Dopes

This holiday season I have spent countless hours blog hopping and taking notes from the Decor inclined. I have been determined to have a tree that didn’t look like a reject from the Home Shopping Network (heavy with ornaments that others thought I should like) and have a house that oozes Christmas charm.

I basically want Home and Gardens- Vintage style on a dime budget. And between you and me it is possible.  I am not saying that my house oozing Christmas charm and I don’t think Pottery Barn will be calling any time soon but I think I am slowly getting there.

Today I will be showing you my Kitchen cabinet decor and telling you my non-advanced Decor tips:

Look all year round.

I am huge into antiques. I try to find the best buy whenever I have money in the budget. A year ago I found a woman that was remodeling her home and was selling all her antiques. I bought them without knowing where exactly to put them but I knew they would look great ALL year round.
Christmas Antiques

Antiques and Christmas decoration

Never exclude the Dollar Store.

I found some great tin signs with a series of Holiday messages printed on them; Merry Christmas, Let is Snow, the highly contraversal Happy Holidays etc, and bought every one of them for a whopping 6 dollars. Again, no exact place to put them but I knew they were a great deal.

Christmas decoration from the Dollar Tree

Christmas sign from Dollar Tree

Keep items that are still in good condition.

I decided to start fresh with our ornaments this year and was about to toss all our previous colors.  We ranged from red, shiny red, blue, white, and silver.  Instead I kept them in hopes that I would find a different purpose.  I did.  The balls are now in the kitchen.

Christmas ornament balls in the kitchen

So, there you have it. I am not expert but I am slowly (hopefully) learning how to decorate… I still have a lot to learn but I want to encourage those of you that have no idea what you are doing, Don’t worry, most of us don’t.  We all check out other websites and then fake it.

The beautiful Gingerbread house that never was….Oh and a winner!

The other day I invited some good friends to come over with their boys and decorate Gingerbread houses with us.  I had wonderful visions of Christmas carols playing in the background, fresh cookies coming out of the oven, the boys playing nicely, and all our Gingerbread houses looking like something from the store.

That isn’t exactly what happened.  They boys did play nicely and cookies were coming out of the oven but the mommies were more interested in “backin our thang up” to Dance Central on the Kinect and chatting!  When we did get down to the important business of decorating the houses I came to a startling revelation. I am not a huge fan and neither are my kids.  It is sticky, gooey, and never comes out looking like the picture….

 This is my masterpiece…Do you like the satanic snowman?!
This is my good friends.  Hers actually looks like it is a little cottage from the Swiss Alps.
All of them together. Wow – We are good.

Now on to the winner of the Hat Giveaway………
Number 30 : Jessie from Raggedy Baby Love !!!  Jessie said on that one comment

“I am an email subscriber! I LOVE the frog hat!! Your hats are soooo cute!!!! On your etsy shop’s page it said available for 3-6 months–I would want a size 18-24 months if possible :)

I will be contacting you within the next 24 hours! If you don’t hear from me please drop me a line!!

Alright all, Thank you for playing!  I will be doing another giveaway soon and I have some fantastic new additions coming up!

Giveaway! Christmas present for you guys!!

I am holding a giveaway!!  And it is sponsored by…ME!  Here is the deal, I am giving away one hat on my Becoming Homegrown Store.  ANY ONE!   What you need to do is leave me a comment telling me which one you want and what size you need it.  The lucky winner will get the hat of their choice.  Now, I am going to announce the winner on Christmas Eve!  A little late but it can be a present after the holiday.

Do you want to play?  Here are the rules.  Starting today -

1. Leave a comment and tell me if you are a follower AND which hat you would like (don’t forget sizing)
2. If you are not a follower become one
3. Check out the Facebook page – (you don’t have to follow it but it highly encouraged)
4. Blog about the giveaway and leave a link here

Each step is considered an entry and the winner will be chosen on Random.org……Is that enough crazy info?! Good luck! 
Remember the winner will be announced on Christmas Eve!

Check out the Inner Hookeron Facebook for more fun crochet tips!!

Can I pack any more into the schedule?!

Are you like me?  Do you procrastinate? Do you pack as much stuff you can into a small amount of time and then collapse in a heap of exhaustion?  If you said yes to these questions, then GREAT, you are in good company.  If not, then you can laugh at me.  Keep track of the insanity!

As you all know, we are moving.  We are moving NEXT Wednesday.  Soon after I posted about our home, I went on an extreme search for a rental.  It is Christmas, I want to decorate and I want to do that in a home that is not filled with boxes.   Well, I found a home and within three days we signed the lease and scheduled a move in day.  Yup, I am that good….Actually, God is that good.  He gave us an AWESOME place.  Seriously, it’s amazing. I will post pictures as soon as we are in.

I am co-hospitality for our Mops group and because my partner in crime did an fantastic job on a busy meeting earlier in the year I took over decoration for the Christmas meeting.  I had to come up with a couple of ideas of decor…Check out the inspiration…

Cranberry centerpieces are beautiful, simple and perfect.

Now – Please note that this needs to be prepared by Tuesday of this upcoming week.  I am leaning towards a combo of all three….However the first photo will take more time that I have available.

Finally, I have a waiting list for hats! I still am working on hats from a hugely successful boutique in November.  I believe I have about 10 more to finish!  My goal is to have them done in the next week and a half!

The question I have for you is, Do you work well under pressure?  Because for some reason, I do.

Don’t rain on my holiday parade….

The holidays are here and I am pumped.  I adore this time of year.  I look forward to it ALL summer.  I even keep my holiday glow for at least a month or two after Christmas, and by “glow” I mean “fat.”

This year however I am going to rant and rave on my little “soapbox” also known as my blog.  So many people are complaining about the holidays. Some are complaining about the money (understandable- Trust me), others about how busy they are, and still others are upset that their kids are out of school on break.  Now, I am not trying to down play other peoples misery, but come on, don’t try to take me down with you!

Here are my reasons for loving the holidays:  (yup- you guessed it- a list)

1. Our Savior’s birth.  What an amazing gift and we get to celebrate it!!!!
2. Food and GOOD food.  Women really pull out all the stops at holiday time.  Yummo. (This also leads to the “glow”)
3. Awesome themed holiday shows…like this classic…Ah Friends, How do I miss you, let me count the ways

4. DECORATIONS THAT SPARKLE

5. Parties!  I actually got invited to a couple last year…
6. Okay – Lets admit it… Presents

7. Cold weather.. I love bundling up.  I really really really do.
8. The ambiance of everything. Stores, inside homes, outside of homes…seriously everything.

I would like to continue but nothing else is coming to mind…

Now, I am truly sorry if you do hate the holidays and have reasons that are completely legitimate. But as for the folks that just like to complain, keep it at home, please.  Don’t rain on my holiday lovin’ parade!

Homemade Glass Ornaments

Fooled you huh?! You thought I MADE glass…. don’t lie, I know you did.  ANYWAYS, here is a fun, fast, simple, and pretty fantastic looking craft.

Supplies needed:
Glass ornaments from Michaels – This box of six cost 2.50
Craft paint

All you need to do is squirt some craft paint in and let the kiddos swirl it around.  My eldest son made one that looks a lot like the planet Earth.  How very “green” of him. 

Ornaments – 2.50  Craft paint – approximately .33 each   Finally having a holiday gift that my mother in law will enjoy – PRICELESS.
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