Homemade Holidays

I'm doing it, - I'm having a Homemade Holiday!
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I'm a big fan of homemade gifts. If it's a gift that the giver actually put work into, I tend to cherish it more than anything else. The value doesn't matter - knowing what went into it (usually oddles and oddles of LOVE) makes it all the more special. And I like giving homemade gifts, too. They're usually cheaper than buying some pre-packaged gift basket, and show a lot more thought than a gift card.

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So what kinds of gifts can you make at home? It depends on the personality of your recipients, and on your own talents. Now, don't start saying you have no talents - we're all good at something. Here are some of the gifts I've made for Christmas in past years.

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No Sew Blankets

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This no-sew project is so simple you can get the kids involved. Both Emily and Matthew have a few of these blankets. One for their bed, a smaller one for the car, and at least one more they got as gifts when they were babies.

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1.Buy two large pieces of fleece, cut to the length you want for the blanket or throw.

2. Lay one piece on top of the other so that all four sides line up.

3. For each side, cut fringe that is two inches wide and four inches deep.

4. Once the fringe is cut on all four sides, tie each strip on the top piece of fabric to the matching strip on the bottom with two knots each. This joins the two fabric pieces together, and creates a pretty blanket or throw.

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Chocolate

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OMG - Who doesn't LOVE chocolate (well, actually I know a few weird-o's who don't, but really how can you not love chocolate??) Here's an easy and YUMMY recipe for chocolate peppermint bark that was a huge hit last year:

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1. Buy some good dark chocolate, either in bars or chips. Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate, and add in roughly 1 tsp of peppermint extract per bar of chocolate.

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2. Stir well, and then pour it out onto a cookie sheet lined in parchment paper. You want it to be about 1/4" thick.

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3. At this point, you can do one of two things - either add crushed peppermint candies sprinkled on top, or melt a small amount of white chocolate (the microwave works fine) and drizzle over the top.

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4. Let the chocolate cool and harden overnight, and then break into chunks. Put it in pretty tins, add a ribbon, and you have a tasty gift!

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For those Chocolate Haters, use white chocolate instead of the dark chocolate!! I think this is my favorite variation!

Photo Books/Scrapbook

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These are great grandparent gifts. Get a pretty scrapbook and fill it with pictures of your kids from the last year. Every so often in the album, in place of a picture, insert a drawing from the kids, a poem about being a grandparent, or if your children are older, have them write a letter to their grandparents. Younger kids can add stickers to pictures, too. Your recipients will love looking at the pictures and showing them off to friends. (And if you're like me, you won't have to deal with the nagging about how you never give them pictures of the kids.)

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These are just a few of the quick and easy homemade gifts I've made in the past. Each gift was very well received, and I enjoyed putting the work into each of them. If I can make gifts like these, anyone can. This year, my to-do list just keeps growing. I am saying it here and now - you all are my witnesses! I am giving EVERY person on my gift list a HOMEMADE gift! (Luckily CarlaC finally published her easy fits for adults so the guys on my list will actually like their homemade gifts too!!)

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This year I am following a scarf along. And am giving at least one of the 3 scarves as a gift. The 2ND I am keeping for myself (I rarely sew for ME!!) and the third will be part of a GIVEAWAY I am having as part of my Cyber Monday Fun Day (check back for more info on this!!)

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So, who's with me?? What will you be making and giving for Christmas this year?

Winter Wonderland Belle

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I think Belle is my favorite of the Disney Princesses. She's smart, confident, brave, and a little quirky. Not to mention a brunette. The brunette's have a soft spot in my heart ;) So needless to say I had a lot of fun creating this set.
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Th fabric is Michael Miller's ginger blossom , but there's a twist - it's CORDUROY! I love the print and the fabric is sooooo soft! It's a light weight too. Emily actually loves this and was snuggling with the top after pictures. LOL! I had a little fun with the back and put varying shades of pink ruffles down the back. This set is so feminine and girly, without being too frilly.

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Check out the listing HERE.

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Sneak Peek

It's almost time!! Winter is in the air already, the Holidays are around the corner, and The*Fairy*Godmothers are celebrating a Winter Wonderland Launch starting on Tuesday, Novemer 10th.

Here's a sneaky peeky at a set I'll be listing. The set is done, I'll be taking pictures tomorrow, and Emily actually loves this one ("photo shoots" always go better when she actually likes the set she's wearing!!)
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One down, one to go...

Pumpkin Patch 2009

So we finally made it to the pumpkin patch. Just a few miles from our house a family has a pumpkin patch that has been in their family for generations. We've gone there for our pumpkins ever since we had Emily.

Matthew's first trip in 2006

This year 2009

The Hunt begins!!

Searching for the Perfect Pumpkin...

It's Soooo Good to be BAD!

I'm so excited to be a part of this very Magical launch!!

I've had the images for this set drawn out for months just waiting for the perfect time to list it. A Magic Kingdom seemed like the perfect time, after all, no Magic Kingdom is complete without a few Villains!!

Click HERE to be taken to the listing!!

Search Boutique AMK to see all the Macical listings in the "A Magic Kingdom" launch!

It's Almost time!!

It's almost time for the "Magic Kingdom" ebay launch!!

Not only will there be over 100 fabulous auctions to bid on, there's also the chance to win a weekend (2 days, 1 night) for 5 (2 adults, 2 kids, 1 baby under 2) at Disney!! Transportation and meals are NOT included.

The contest is easy, and so much fun!! The Highest Bidders on any and all of the Magic Kingdom listings will be entered into the contest. The Highest Bidder - bidder that has won the most Magic Kingdom listings - wins the weekend at Disney!! That's not all! The 2nd Highest Bidder - Bidder with the 2nd highest number of winning bids - gets a prize too!! A $75 Spa gift Certificate in the winners home town.

Only the high bidders (winners) of each auction will be entered into the drawings! There will be over 100 chances at an entry! So, starting October 1 search Boutique BMK and bid often, and bid to win!!

I'm Still Here!!

I feel a bit neglectful of my blog. I've been busy (and blessed) with a few big orders and hard at work on a few new designs for 2 upcoming launches!! The launches are running the first week of October, and I plan to have a few listings up.

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Servane (of THE MonaLisaBoutique) is hosting A Magic Kingdom launch from October 1-10. I and sooooo excited for this launch and have the perfect set for it!! Let's just say, no Magic Kingdom is complete without a few Villains!!

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The BowFairies are hosting a Christmas launch the same week (2 weeks actually!!) and I jumped at the chance to join them. I'm working on a set fit for a Winter Princess to list for a "Fairy Merry Christmas".