children's artwork ornaments...

Here is a super easy way to turn your kiddo's artwork into a Christmas ornament that you can treasure for years to come!

First, I picked up some balsa wood ornament shapes from Hobby Lobby. Then, I had my toddler sponge paint on some sturdy paper.

(Since I knew I wanted to use it for an ornament, I gave him paints in Christmas-y colors. However, you could easily use any random artwork your child has already done.)

Next, I painted my wood ornaments...

...and cut circles out of my little guy's painting.

Finally, I mod podged the paper circles to my ornaments. I brushed the podge on the back of the paper & the surface of the ornament, pressed the paper until it held, then podged over the entire surface to seal it all down.

Let it dry and then you are good to go!

This project is SO fast. We made one for our tree and one for each set of grandparents, but you could easily crank out a bunch of these to give to lots of family members. It makes for a great little holiday keepsake.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas printables...

We got our first snow of the winter season last week. Even though we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, I caved and turned on the Christmas music while drawing with my son as the snowflakes fell outside.

And I also made some Christmas-y printables for my Etsy shop.

I couldn't help myself!

(Don't worry - I adore Thanksgiving and will celebrate it properly despite my premature Christmas carol enjoyment.)

I looooooove the movie Elf. It's delightfully quotable.

And words from a classic carol seemed perfect for this simple design.

Has it been wintery where you live?

If so, I hope you are all warm & cozy and excited for the holidays!

(If you're from upstate NY--bless your heart!)

white chocolate peppermint cookies...

I've been doing some holiday baking and thought I'd share...

If you love peppermint treats, these are the cookies for you.

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
adapted from closetcooking.com

Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup Andes peppermint crunch chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand mixer, cream together butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla on medium speed.  Switch to slow speed and add flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix until ingredients are just blended--do not over stir.  Stir in white chocolate chips and Andes peppermint pieces.  Refrigerate 30-60 minutes.  Roll into 1.5 inch balls (I use a cookie scoop.) and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake 8-10 minutes and enjoy!

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

"merry & bright" free christmas printables...

Christmas always gives me a creative itch.  

{Who doesn't love to make jolly, Christmas-y goodies??}

I was feeling like something bright and whimsical, so this is what I came up with...

There is a lovely printable for framing or displaying on a magnet board--and it's available in TWO sizes this time around.

Snag the 8x10 HERE.

Get yourself a 5x7 HERE.

(The pdfs are watermark free.  For personal use only, please!)

And I made some fun gift tags, too.

Perfect for adding a little Christmas cheer to a treat bag, cookie plate, or holiday present.

Download the tags HERE.

(For personal use only, please!)

Thanks for stopping by the ol' blog, friends...

May YOUR days be merry & bright!

DIY photo keychain...

Sometimes it's hard to come up with gifts for people who have everything they could want or need, so this Mother's Day I gave the grandmas a little version of their grandson...a cute photo keychain.  (Don't worry - I made one for myself, too!)  This would be a fun, simple gift that you can easily customize for anyone.

You'll need:

a small wooden shape

a drill

craft paint

scrapbook paper

xacto knife

a photo (small enough to fit on your shape)

mod podge & mod podge dimensional magic

jump ring, chain, and split ring

Start by drilling a small hole at the top of your shape and painting the edges the color of your choice.  (My shape is 1 1/4" x 1" rectangle, but you could use any shape--circle, star, heart--whatever.)

Next, cut a little piece of scrapbook paper slightly larger than your shape.  This will serve as the back of your keychain.  (You could also put names, dates, etc. on the back if you want.)  Spread a thin layer of mod podge on the wood surface and on the back of the paper.  Smooth paper in place and let dry.

Turn wood shape over and trim off excess paper...

then spread another thin coat of mod podge on top and allow to dry.  Use a pin or toothpick to poke out the hole you drilled.

Now finish off the back with a coat of dimensional magic and let it set up according to package directions.  (If you've never worked with it before see this past tutorial of mine for some tips!)  This will create a shiny finished look.

Once the back is dry, you can just repeat the process for the photo on the front.  I just printed mine on photo paper on my home printer so I could get it exactly the size I wanted.

Mod podge it on and trim it up...

Add another coat of podge, poke your hole... 

...and do a layer of dimensional magic.

When it's dry, add your jump ring, chain, and a split ring (all found in the craft store jewelry making section) and that's a wrap!

You could use any kind of image--a favorite vacation pic, your kiddos or grandkids or significant other, pets, a little collage.  Endless possibilites.

happy (belated) holidays!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I spent my time before the holidays sending out Christmas cards...

Photo by Mary Clark of DMC Studios

Stitching up new stockings for the three of us...

And sewing a stuffed toy for our little guy...

We're big Despicable Me fans, so obviously our son NEEDED a minion! :)

We had a lovely time eating Christmas treats, playing games, watching Christmas movies, and spending time with family.  The holidays sure are a lot more fun with a kiddo around.  The grandparents definitely spoiled him a bit, but that's what grandparents are for, right?

It was fun to take a break from blogging during our little vacation, but now I'm excited for another creative year here on Stay-at-Home Artist...

Bring on 2013!

baby keepsake handprint ornament...

With a little newborn in our family, I've been trying to find ways to make my son's first Christmas special and also enjoy his tiny baby-ness while it lasts.  He's already grown so much in a month!

I really wanted to make some kind of handprint ornament and this simple clay version is what I came up with...

I don't have step-by-step pictures, but the process is quite simple.

I started with a package of Sculpey Bake Shop clay.  The Bake Shop line is supposed to be geared towards kids...but it seems exactly the same as Sculpey III to me.  (At my craft store, the Bake Shop line was a dollar cheaper for the same amount of clay.)  It comes in a variety of colors.  I went for a basic white.

If you are unfamiliar with Sculpey, it's an oven-bake polymer clay popular among crafters.  It's inexpensive and an easy product to use...so don't be afraid to try it!  I used one 2 oz. package for a one-month old baby handprint.  If you are going to make a handprint for an older kid, you'll need to get additional packages.

I kneaded the clay in my hands for a couple of minutes to soften it up, rolled it into a ball, and flattened it into a round disc shape.  Then I smooshed my sleepy baby's hand into the clay--this is the trickiest part!  If your handprint doesn't turn out, just roll it back up, flatten it out, and try again. :)  After I got a good print, I poked a ribbon hole.  I used a bamboo skewer but just use whatever you have handy--a toothpick, straw, etc.  Finally, bake according to package directions and thread your ribbon through when your ornament has cooled off.

This darling ornament is now my favorite one on the tree!

I'm sure I will tear up over it as we decorate each year at Christmas time.  

Motherhood has made me extra sentimental! :)

guest post: DIY stacked bows {by Sunny Tuesday}

Hey there!  My name is Jessica and I blog at Sunny Tuesday.  I am thrilled to be here today, sharing a great tip with you on expanding your daughter's BOW-drobe!

If you have a little girl, you know it is essential to have a hair accessory for every outfit!  All those different clips & headbands can add up to a lot of space and money.  Why not work with what you have to create fun, new combinations?

Any bow with a straight ribbon (not knotted) center will work as your base bow.  Then you want to find a smaller bow or clip to put in the center.  In the above example, I clipped a simple boutique bow to a fancier bow.  Two clips, three ways to wear them!

My daughter can wear this orange & white bow alone, or with a felt clip or ribbon sculpture (which can also be worn alone).  These 3 clips can be worn 5 different ways!

A couple of different sized coordinating bows and clips would make a wonderful & thrifty Christmas present!  The perceived value will almost certainly be more than the price tag. :)  

Don't forget to pin this idea - you'll want it for later!

guest post: peppermint hot cocoa cookies {by Budget Gourmet Mom}

Today's guest post is written by my friend Krista of Budget Gourmet Mom...

and, oh boy, do these cookies look GOOD!

 

 As a young child my favorite holiday was, hands down, Christmas. Is that really so much of a surprise!? Probably not. And as much as I enjoyed Christmas as a little girl I think I enjoy it even more now with four boys of my own. Watching their faces light up as they race down the stairs to see what lies beneath the glow of our Christmas tree is priceless. Inevitably, one of them breaks away from the trance of neatly wrapped gifts and checks to see if Santa has eaten his cookies or if the reindeer nibbled their carrots.  

 They always do and I have a feeling these Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies will be on Santa's plate this Christmas Eve. I figure if I can bribe him with baked goods and the idea that he is getting hot cocoa all in one bite he may leave me something special under my tree. It's worth a shot!

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies

Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 - 5.1 oz box instant chocolate fudge flavored pudding
• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup Jet Puffed Peppermint Mallow Bits

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Cream together the butter and both sugars.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Then mix in the peppermint extract.
4. In a separate bowl combine the box of pudding, flour, and baking soda.
5. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until fully incorporated.
6. Fold in the marshmallows.
7. Scoop tablespoon size balls of dough onto baking sheets, 1" apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Thanks for sharing, Krista!

Be sure to check out her blog Budget Gourmet Mom for more great recipes.

guest post: glitterblast typography christmas tree {by Sumo's Sweet Stuff}

Hello everyone!

I’m Sumo, or Summer if you wanna get formal.

I blog over at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff.

It’s my little place in the blogging world where you can come to find sewing and crafting inspiration. Sewing is my favorite creative outlet, but I’m not afraid to bust out the Mod Podge and paint when the mood strikes. You might also catch me professing my love of Target (or the popcorn store as we call it), talking about my relationships with Lucy (Cameo) and Veronica (sewing machine), or bragging about my three beautiful girls. I have an extreme fondness for Diet Coke, my minivan, historical fiction, and most sweets.

Here is a fun little Christmas craft to get you in the holiday spirit: glitterblast typography Christmas tree!

I'd seen this image on Pinterest (come follow me!) and I had been wanting to re-create it for my house for this holiday season.

Here's what you need:

- wood (mine was cut to 12x12)

- Krylon Glitterblast paint

- Krylon Glitterblast sealer

- paint

- paint brush

- vinyl

- transfer tape

- Silhouette or other digital cutter (Lucy!)

Start off by sanding your wood piece and painting one side whatever you want for your base color. Mine was just a metallic white. (I originally tried to do this using a canvas, but my vinyl wouldn't stick to it!) Set this aside to dry.

Create your design in your digital cutter's software. The font I used is called Antelope.

I used Lucy to cut it out on vinyl. It doesn't matter what color; you are only using it as a stencil. Peel up the negative space.

Cut a piece of transfer tape and adhere it down over your vinyl.

Peel up the transfer tape and position your vinyl where you want it on your wood piece. Use a pan scraper or popsicle stick to rub the vinyl down.

Carefully peel up your transfer tape, making sure none of the vinyl is peeling up with it.

Use your glitterblast paint to coat that baby! Let it dry.

Peel up your vinyl.

Spray your decoration with the sealer to help keep the glitter on there.

Done!

Now display your project with pride!

To be honest, I kind of wish that I had done something with more contrast, like red.

But I still think this will look really pretty, shimmering by the glow of the Christmas tree lights, don't you?

Aren't you getting excited for Christmas? It's my favorite! (Just like smiling).

Come visit me over at Sumo's Sweet Stuff! Thanks for having me!