• baby grand piano with origami trees christmas decor a touch of christmas in our music room
    holidays

    Christmas In Our Music Room

    Music is an integral part of our lives. I, alone, listened to 47,000 minutes of music on Spotify last year. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there’s a touch of Christmas in our music room this holiday season. And I don’t mean from the holiday carols being played at the piano. Although, you can bet your holly jolly that’s happening regularly too. When I say there’s a “touch” of Christmas in our music room, that’s code for “I got carried away folding origami trees and they needed a place to go.” Do you know how many origami trees you can fold while watching a movie? Since this is…

  • 10 handmade gifts you still have time to make this christmas
    Crafts,  gift and learning

    10 Handmade Gifts You Still Have Time To Make This Christmas

    Unless you’re reading this five minutes before gifts will be opened, I assure you, there is still time to make handmade gifts this Christmas. I’m not talking about a handmade gift that is so involved that you have to shear the sheep in order to make your own yarn so you can knit something scratchy no one wants to wear. No, no, no. Heaven forbid. How about some sentimental gift ideas or semi-handmade gift ideas instead? Those are right up my alley and yours too, I’m sure. Here are 10 handmade gifts you still have time to make this Christmas that will actually be used and enjoyed by their intended…

  • white christmas stockings hanging over a mantel with a small christmas tree farmhouse christmas on the happy list
    happy list

    Happy List: #325

    Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I am thrilled that you’ve joined us. Also, happy first day of Hanukkah for those celebrating! This week on the blog was all about the Christmas reveals. I showed how I decorated our dining room fireplace using origami trees. That’s my favorite one to decorate. I also shared how I decorated our Christmas tree this year using ornaments that I made. I love how it turned out. As always, thank you for reading this blog. It makes us so happy to share this space on the internet with you. If you want to share the blog or an idea we post on social…

  • pink and navy christmas tree with handmade origami ornaments, paper snowflakes, and mini wood trees set against stained glass window doors
    holidays

    Pink and Navy Christmas Tree With Handmade Ornaments

    Nothing says Christmas like pink and blue, right? Ha! It might not be traditional, but my pink and navy Christmas tree is certainly making our home feel festive this Christmas season. The best part, to me, is that other than the ribbon, every single ornament on the tree is handmade by yours truly. I’m the only elf in this workshop and I’ve been busy. I painted the mini wood trees. I cut the paper snowflakes. I folded the origami trees. Tis the season to be crafty! If it isn’t abundantly clear by now, let me lay it out very plainly. I really just like to make things – all different…

  • origami tree christmas mantel origami trees made from brown kraft paper used to decorate a mantel for christmas
    holidays

    Origami Trees Christmas Mantel Decor

    A forest of origami trees has sprung up on my Christmas mantel. Teach me how to fold paper into origami trees and I won’t stop until I run out of paper or my mantel is all decorated for Christmas. I’m not even exaggerating. What else does one do with an ever-growing collection of origami trees besides decorate a Christmas mantel? Was there any other choice? I suppose… I know this might sound far out there but hear me out. I suppose I could have learned how to fold something other than trees. Nah. That’s crazy talk! I’m content to be the one hit wonder of origami. While I may only…

  • cat under the christmas tree on the happy list
    happy list

    Happy List: #324

    Hello! Welcome to the Happy List. I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t want to alarm you if you haven’t checked the date but it is December 1. Finally! It’s actually felt like December for a few weeks now. I’ve been checking the calendar for days now thinking it’s already December since the internet seems to have moved on to the Christmas but I was wrong every time. This week was all about ornaments on the blog. It’s the best time of year to be crafty! I shared my origami tree ornaments with the cutest wood star topper. I also shared the mini wood tree ornaments that I customized with…

  • the cutest painted wood tree ornaments made from mini unfinished wood trees
    Crafts,  holidays

    The Cutest Painted Wood Tree Ornaments

    No matter if you’ve been naughty or nice, I have tree-t for you today: painted wood tree ornaments made from mini unfinished wood trees. These are so satisfying to paint and customize. Without a doubt, the craftspeople who made these mini wood trees on their wood lathes so you and I could turn them into ornaments are on Santa’s nice list. No coal for them! Like all of my best crafty ideas, this one is quick, easy, and completely customizable to your color scheme. Let’s get started. Supplies needed to make these painted wood tree ornaments: mini wood trees (comes in a 30-pack) paint (craft paint or house paint works)…

  • paper tree ornaments with wood star toppers fold paper tree ornaments using a wood star bead as the tree topper
    Crafts,  holidays

    Paper Tree Ornaments With Wood Star Topper

    I love making Christmas ornaments and today I have a fun one for you – paper tree ornaments with a wood star topper. It is amazing what you can make from a humble piece of paper. Plus, it’s pretty satisfying to create one or fifty of these. Not that I got carried away or anything. The thing that really sets these ornaments over the top is the wood star topper. Every Christmas tree needs a topper and I found the perfect wood star beads for this task. What I really like about this craft is that it is completely customizable to your Christmas decor colors. You’ll notice from the pictures…

  • colonial farmhouse mantel with wheat and pumpkin decor thanksgiving 2023
    holidays

    Grateful This Thanksgiving Week

    Hello! This Thanksgiving week, as I reflect on the world around me, I realize I have so much to be grateful for. At a very basic level, all of my needs are truly met. I’m warm, safe, fed, and surrounded by the people dearest to me. Not everyone can say that right now and it reminds me to not take my present state for granted. I’m also thankful to every one of you. Your most precious resource is your time and the fact that you spend 2 minutes of your day here does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. I’m hoping I didn’t just make you reconsider how you spend your…

  • roaring rock park nj in the fall lake surrounded by fall leaves
    happy list

    Happy List: #323

    Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I’m so glad you could join me here. This week on the blog I shared gift ideas for anyone who loves to play chess. Chess is, for whatever reason, really popular with the middle school crowd right now. I also shared a blog post from the archive about a crafting fail of mine. I think this story is more of a comedy than a tragedy though and if you need a laugh, I hope you’ll read it. I say it every week and mean it. Thank you for reading this blog. It makes our day. If you want to share the blog or…