WOW!  Aren’t these luminaries beautiful?  They are made with water balloons as the form!  Follow the tutorial on Candletech.com and make a few for yourself or for an extra special gift.

Evie S. has a super simple tutorial on how to make these fab paper-clip earrings!  Any girl would love to find these in her Christmas stocking!

33 Shades of Green has designed a wine bottle sleeve that you have to see!  Wouldn’t you love to give this to your favorite holiday party hostess?

f you need more inspiration take a look at my handmade gift guide below….

Everyone loves a homemade gift – especially when it’s edible! There is plenty of time before the holidays to package up one of these tasty treats. Your friends and family will love you!

Red Velvet Cake in a jar – are you kidding?!  Wow, who would not love this treat from My Cakies? So pretty too.

drooling. 

For the chocolate lover on your list, here is a great little cocoa mix from MyRecipes.com.

Real Simple shares a BBQ Rub. It’s a perfect idea for your favorite grill-master.

Look at this beautiful Chocolate/Orange Shortbread Cookie to share.  Oprah.com has easy directions for this fun gift.

If you need more inspiration take a look at some of my favorite edible gifts or check out my handmade gift guide below….

Fabric Flower Supplies

Scraps of fabric (I used a heavier weight cotton), scrap of felt,  3/4 inch covered button kit, hair clip

How to make a fabric flower

Download template and cut out fabric pieces. Cover one button for center of flower.

Fabric Flower Template

Gather straight edge of petal piece and hot glue to felt piece.

Continue gluing petals to felt circle until all five petals are attached.

Clip slits all the way around the edge of the center circle piece. Hot glue center circle on top of petals. Next, hot glue covered button to center of flower.

Glue the fabric flower to a hair clip, head band or pin back.

Finished!

You might also enjoy these beautiful fabric flower tutorials.

I have linked this post to TidyMom

How to make a silk flower clip

Supplies: metal clips, 1 large silk flower, plastic gem (or covered button) for center embellishment, hot glue

Remove the plastic piece that holds the flower together from the center of the flower.

Then you will have a stack of petals.

Glue petals back together with a drop of hot glue between each layer.

Sandwich petals until you have a flower you are happy with.

Add a gem or covered button to the center.

Cover hair clip with a piece of grosgrain ribbon and hot glue.

Hot glue a piece of the leaf to the bottom on the flower,

leaving a space for the clip to fit in.

Crochet a little hat. I used this Granny Skull Hat Pattern  designed by Chelle Grissam

Clip onto the hat and you have a darling hat!

This year I bought the new Crayola Washable Window Crayons to give a try.  When he got up this morning he was greeted with a birthday wish on the mirror.

Just a side note: I do like the way the window crayons make a smooth easy mark. They  give a more opaque effect than the window markers. I also like how you can color back over the image and it is not removed –unlike the window markers. There are less colors than the markers and the red is more pink than red.  However, my daughter has been playing with them and doesn’t seem to mind only having a few colors.  I was really concerned after reading the reviews that they would be difficult to clean.  I allowed a picture to dry about an hour and then cleaned the window.  I did not have any trouble (I use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean my windows and mirrors).  I don’t know if allowed to stay on the windows for days if it would then become more difficult to remove.

Crayola will help us celebrate by giving FIVE lucky readers a chance to give the Crayola Washable Window Crayons a try.  For a chance to win, please leave a comment on this post by Monday 7:00 a.m. CST.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKE!

I have been loving the suggestions for the “Yes, You Can Make It” posts! Thank you! So up first is a request for a tutorial on how to make a reversible tote. If you have something you are interested in making please fill out the form in the left sidebar.

You will need:

2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (outside)

2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (lining)

1 piece 4” X  about 44″ long

1. Cut a piece of fabric 4″X 44″ long. Press fabric in half lengthwise.

2. Open fabric up and press each outside edge to the center.

3. Fold fabric in half and press.

4. Top-stitch down each side of strap close to the edge. Cut fabric in half so you have two straps about 22 inches long each.

Cut four pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches.

Sew lining fabric right sides together on three sides and also outer fabric right sides together on three sides. For this bag the bottom is 13 1/2 inches wide and the sides 14 inches long.  The bag can be made any size.

3. Pinch bottom corner together and stitch across 1 1/2 inches from corner.

4. Repeat until all four corners have been sewn.

5. Place lining fabric inside the outside fabric right sides together.

6. Place straps in between right sides of fabric on each side about two to  three  inches from the side edge.

7. Pins straps and top edge of bag well. Stitch around top of bag 1/2 inch from edge. Leave a 2-3 inch opening for turning bag (I usually leave this on the side).

8. Turn bag inside out.

9. Push lining inside the bag and top stitch all the way around the top of bag. This will close up the opening used for turning.

Finished!

You might be interested in making a matching pocket tissue holder and zippered pouch to go with your tote!

The fabric is from Heather Bailey. I used Pineapple Brocade in green and Zag Stripe in gold (I think).

If your little girl needs a bit o’ green tomorrow it is not too late to make this little hair clip. It is based on this crochet pattern by Suzie—-so I am hoping it works for you if you give it a go. It only takes a few minutes.

I used a size 4 crochet needle and embroidery floss (all 6 threads).

Chain 6, dc in 2nd chain from hook and then slip-stitch in remaining 4 chains (this makes the stem), chain 3 and join with a slip-stitch in the 3rd chain from hook to form a ring. For petal *chain 3 turn (only turn the first time), trc , dc , trc , chain 3 and slip-stitch in ring*. Repeat between * two more times so you have 3 petals. Fasten off and weave in the ends. Sew your lucky shamrock to a bobby pin or hair clip.

Now this little girl can tell her big brothers NO PINCHING!