Thanksgiving craft / Teepee tutorial

I shared this post in the spring originally, but thought it was a good one to bring back for the fall. I am hosting a cousin craft day this morning, and we are making these fun families and teepee's. I thought you might like to give it a shot as well.

Have you ever thought to yourself... "It would be so cute to make a teepee out of a doily."? These are the kinds of thoughts that go through my mind. So, this morning I decided to do it. I got 8" paper doilies from Hobby Lobby.

After I got the teepee's made, I decided they need a family to inhabit them! So, I got my blank peg dolls out, and started painting...

This is the result!!! I am crazy about it!

 I have two tutorials below. One for the tall teepee, and one for a shorter version. Picture them at a party, as a place setting. They are so feminine and darling.

TALL TEEPEE

Fold the bottom over.

Glue it into a cone, leaving a hole on top, and the fold in back.

Fold the top flaps out.

Put sticks in the top.

 Couldn't be any easier!

 Now for the short teepee. I was picturing this super feminine,  with Indians wearing only pastel pink feathers, but it evolved to this....

SHORT TEEPEE

Fold doily over.

Cut an elongated triangle out of the middle, by slightly folding the white part in half.

Make into a cone and staple the back.

Cut a straight line up the front, and fold the doors out.

Place sticks in the opening.

Here's a closer look at the family. I love them!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Christmas Teacher Gift with free printable!

My kids are on year round school. Tomorrow is their last day at school until January!!! It just dawned on me today, that I need to give their teachers a holiday gift. They each have two teachers, so I have to come up with 4 gifts.

Teaches gifts are always so hard for me to figure out. I found this cute holiday pasta at World Market today, and thought it was perfect! I created this cute little label, and hooked it on over the original packaging. You are welcome to download it to your computer and print your own.

I think it turned out so darling!!! Hopefully this helps if you are also looking for something to give your kids teachers this holiday season.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Holiday Card Packaging Ideas!

I love getting Christmas cards in the mail, and I love it even more when the envelopes are fun! Today, I am sharing some super fabulous ideas for packaging your holiday cards. The first idea is SO easy!

PAPER BAGS!!!

Paper bags are so popular. My favorite place to get them is

PICK YOUR PLUM

The thing that is awesome is that if you get your cards at Costco, they will fit perfectly into a large paper bag made envelope!

I shared all these ideas on Studio 5. Watch the clip here:

To see a clip of the packaging ideas, visit Studio 5. It wouldn't allow me to paste the code here for some reason...

There are so many fun patterns, and even sizes now days. I also like the idea of designing a smaller version of your holiday card using an app like Rhonna Designs, and putting a small square card in a small envelope.

The best ever life saver for a busy mom, is a personalized stamp. I also got this from

PICK YOUR PLUM

Makes the address job so easy!

If you are still looking to add more interest, get out your washi tape! Washi tape is sure to dress up any envelope! And… you guessed it… the washi tape came from PICK YOUR PLUM as well! Thanks Pick Your Plum!!!

This might be my favorite idea yet! Take your favorite picture of your family, and use the program PIC MONKEY to add your address. You can use different colors and fonts. It really is so fun.

Then, when it's time to print the label, tell the printer that you want to print 16 per page. Make sure you tell it to include the entire image, or you might lose some of it.

You can print it on sticker paper, and simply peel and stick, or print is on regular paper, and glue it to the envelope. More work, and less money… Here are some more pictures of other fun cards I will be sending out this year.

You can cut with a paper cutter, scissors, and even use a punch! Get creative! Go nuts! Have fun! You have my permission!

Thanks for stopping by. Tune into Studio 5 today at 1pm mst. I will be sharing all these ideas, as well as the customized family portraits I have been sharing all week.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Custom GNOME Family Digital Portrait

Do you remember when I had a gnome party for my son's first birthday? Well, I have had my eye on the Etsy shop, 

Luvin Every Minute 

since then. They have the most adorable customizable gnome family portraits ever!

This is the sweet-as-can-be custom portrait I received from them. So darling!!!

If you have been with me long, you know that it is no secret, I love gnomes! This is a pic from my son's birthday party. I think the custom portrait a great replication!

I thought it would be cute adhered to a piece of wood. So, I got some, and painted it grey, then mod podged the photo to the front. I like the earthy feel of the wood, and the warm grey tones.

My awesome sister-in-law informed my of an iPhone app called, Red Stamp, where you can pop your photos into their templates and create custom holiday cards. She created the cards for me! Thanks Lindy! 

I love the simplicity of the templates, and could not believe how well it matched the cute paper bag envelopes and washi tape I already had! 

I didn't want to take away from the sweetness of the portrait. I think it is showcased so well!

I even made a few small prints, and they fit perfectly into a small paper bag.

I made custom mailing labels, by adding our address below the text, and printing a bunch at a time on sticker paper. It adds such a fun touch.

I have shared the darling gnomes with you, but you really must visit  

Luvin Every Minute

and see what else they have to offer. They have custom nesting doll portraits, and custom silhouettes. They offer so many darling things! Thanks Lovin Every Minute!

This is part of the fun Custom Portrait Segment I will be sharing on Studio 5 on Thursday at 1pm mst. I hope you will tune in. I will be sharing even more fun and clever ideas for custom family portraits, and ideas for making your holiday cards stand out.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Have a Happy and Creative day!

Risa

Custom Digital Portrait with a coupon code!

I have admired the Etsy shop 

JORDYLUXE 

for a couple years now, and I am so thrilled to share with you the digital portrait and Christmas cards I received form them last week. 

This is what I got back. I could die!

I sent a family photo in to her, and asked that I be wearing yellow. I wanted it to match my family room. 

photo credit: Megan Hauze Photography

I can't believe what a fantastic job she did. Well, actually, I can. You should visit her shop. You will be amazed at all the fun things she has to offer, like custom wedding invitations, and save the date cards. She has so many fresh and fun ideas!

Here is another angle. It's just too darling! 

She also has really bright and hip holiday templates that she can slip your photo into, for a small fee, so your entire Christmas card is fresh and unexpected.

I put mine in a cute envelope from a party supply store. It fit like a glove! I finished it off with washi tape and a custom address label I made by adding our address to the photo she sent, and printing a bunch of them on sticker paper.

This is part of the Studio 5 custom family photos segment I will be sharing on Thursday. I am crazy about this custom art work, and so SUPER excited to announce that… She will be offering a 20% discount for purchases of $20 or more to my readers and Studio 5 viewers, by entering the discount code: STUDIOFIVE at her store JORDYLUXE during checkout. Woot woot! Thanks jordyluxe!

These are so fun if you just want another fun picture of your family. They are also great if you are wanting to send out a Christmas card, and you have a family member that you are not able to have in the photograph, because they are serving overseas, or on a religious mission, or away at school, or in another state or country. This shop is amazing, and can combine photos. The possibilities are endless.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

CUSTOM cross stitch / pixel people!

Have you ever wondered what your family would look like cross stitched? I have. And now I know!!!

I have had my eye on

WEE LITTLE STITCHES

an Etsy shop, for a long time! I am thrilled to be able to share with you the most DARLING cross stitched pixelated family I have ever seen… mine! I have my completed cross stitch framed and sitting in my family room.

They charge $20 for families of three to five people. So affordable! These are the family pictures I sent to weelittlestitches.

photo credit: Megan Hauze Photography

photo credit: Megan Hauze Photography

One week later, she sent me back a pattern with floss recommendations, and directions. I could not believe the detail!!! Look at my necklace, and my daughter's scarf! I still can't believe it!

I have NEVER done counted cross stitch in my life before this. I cross stitched on gingham when I was young.  This is my finished product. I'm in love!

I framed it without the glass, so you can see the awesome texture.

They sent me a few examples, and when my son saw them, he got SO excited, and asked if he could have our pixel family framed in his room. How could I say, "no?"

                           

It is a perfect fit!

This is just an enlargement I had made at a copy center. It looks GREAT!

I mentioned in my last post, that I will be sharing fun custom art from the BEST Etsy has to offer this week on Studio 5. The show aires on Thursday at 1pm mst. I have THE BEST news! The fabulous, weelittlestitches is offering a coupon code for my readers and Studio 5 viewers! The code is: STUDIOFIVE. If you place an order with them, you will get a 15% discount at checkout!!!

In addition to offering custom pixel people cross stitch patterns, they have all sorts of pop culture patterns ready for instant download. They have everything from Star Wars and Super Heros to Princesses, and shows like, The Big Bang Theory. I have already bought two, and am planning on gifting handmade cross stitches for a few lucky people in my life for Christmas. There is something therapeutic about stitching. I am addicted.

Yesterday, my son asked if he could make our family out of pearler beads. It turned out SO darling!!! Using the pattern weelittlestitches sent was easy.

Thanks for stopping by! Now, go check out weelittlestitches!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa

Custom Fabric Doll Family

Thanks to all of you who entered the Studio 5 ticket giveaway. I drew the names out of a bowl, and the winner has been notified. I believe there are still a few tickets left, so email studio5@ksl.com, and ask!

Over the next week, I will be sharing creative ideas for holiday cards. The finale will be a fun segment on Studio 5, where I share all of the ideas at once! This one was just too fun not to include on the list!

I was home sick a few Sunday's ago, and was in the mood to sew. So, I started on these cute little dolls! 6 hours later… They are complete! The most time consuming part, was deciding how to dress them. Really, it was. Other than turning the arms and legs for 5 dolls right side out, they were rather easy to make. I found the pattern HERE. Don't you love it when people offer their patterns for free? Makes my day! Head over to her site, and check it out. That site has so much cuteness to be seen!

Once I finished the dolls, I decided to have a little Christmas photo shoot.

The tree, tree skirt, ornaments, and sign were from the Target dollar spot.

I like to think about sitting near the Christmas tree with my hunky blue eyed husband!

The day I took these photos was overcast and dark!

I was going for a, "The children were nestled all snug in their beds," in these shots.

I love them, and my kids LOVE them. My baby takes his wherever he goes, and my tween daughter wants hers in her room. There is something fun about owning a personalized gift. They will be living in our under-the-stairs-playhouse... if I can get them away from my kids!

Happy Holidays! - from The Baker family

Be sure and come back for more nontraditional family photo and Christmas card ideas!

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Risa