Martha Stewart December 2010 Issue Giveaway

By now you probably know that I really like Martha Stewart, I like her T.V. show, her craft line, her cookbooks, I don't like that she spent some time in jail but that is a story for another time... In honor of Christmas fast approaching I am giving away a brand new issue of her December 2010 magazine. That's right, brand new December 2010, I wound up with two copies last year and I decided to save one for a giveaway this year. 

Inside this wonderful issue you can find out how to make these cuties:

These candles:

And so much more:

To enter the giveaway just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on November 28th. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only (sorry international peeps!)

Thrift Shop Finds

D. and I walked over to the local church thrift shop to drop off some stuff and I found these:

Several back issues of Martha Stewart Living in perfect condition. You do know I like Martha, right? (See here, here, here, here okay you get the idea.) Best part, they were only a quarter each. Yesssssssssss.

I really need to do what this articles says and organize our very messy desk. Uggh.

Craft Kits and Christmas Table

A couple of weeks ago my mom sent me an early Christmas package and lo and behold there were Martha Stewart craft kits in there! I've been having such fun scouring TJ Maxx and Marshalls for Martha craft products, which for some reason have been quite abundant in those two retailers. My mom has been on the lookout for me too and this is the one she sent.

This kit makes 20 circular Christmas ornnaments in various sizes, it includes such cute patterened papers.

The contents: pre-cut paper disks, a little glue bottle, and gold metallic thread. Of course I am going to replace the thread with my baker's twine. The best thing about finding these kits at TJ Maxx and Marshalls is how inexpensive they are, I've seen kits at Michael's for three times the price!

Assembling the ornaments.

I decided to put some of the ornaments on top of my milk glass vases on the table, but D. and I keep knocking them off when we hit the table legs.

I caved and finally bought this milk maid butter dish from Anthropologie. It's a good thing that I waited so long to buy it, I went into the store and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was half off! Good things do come to those who wait...

The current Christmas table display.

Blasted Blizzard

I just survived my first blizzard, the Baltimore area received a record snowfall of 30 inches! Whoa, that is wayyyyyy too much snow. I spent my day off shoveling the snow only to turn around and see that the freshly shoveled walk was once again covered in snow. Oh, how irritating. I then decided to go inside and spend some time crafting Valentines but that didn't last long since I was experiencing throbbing pain in my neck and back from shoveling all of that snow. I had to retire to my bed to rest but I was sure to take pictures of my crafting supplies. As you can see I am a big fan of Martha Stewart crafts. My sister gave me this Martha Stewart flocking kit for Christmas, and I'm going to try it out on my little Valentines.

Christmas Crafts Continued

Shocking I know, another post! I have been so terrible about blogging this year but I am making up for it a bit with all of these crafty posts. Well, these little guys were another craft from this month's Martha Stewart Living and they've been a big hit with all of their recipients; my boyfriend's parents, my mom, my boyfriend and myself. They are so easy to make and the result is darling, I tied strings around them to make them into Christmas ornaments and put tinsel pipe cleaner trim on their hats for a vintage feel. My crafting supplies are a bit limited (since I am visiting family) but all this project took was scraps of felt and a couple of pipe cleaners. I found the toppers for their hats while looking around my mom's house, I snipped a couple of red and white "berries" off of her Christmas garland. It's not noticeable that they're missing and the elves appreciate their berry toppers.
Here's the tutorial to make these jolly elves.

Christmas Crafting Extravaganza

I know I have been terrible in updating this blog but due to the copious amounts of crafting I have been doing, I have decided to create a mega-post. It has been a long time since I've made so many crafts and I thrilled that I have found myself making all of these cute projects in between working and going to school. The latest issue of Martha Stewart Living has been the source of inspiration for many of these projects. Martha Stewart carries a whole line of craft supplies at Michaels, her glitter is one of my favorites! Here my sister and I bought some clear ornaments from Michaels and covered them in glitter and hung them up with solid colored balls from her candle holder in the kitchen. The sparkle mixed with the solid is a nice mix. Here is another from the study, we added a wreath around the light fixture. This is starting to sound like a post about Michael's but since they accept competitor's coupons I was able to get this $$$ paper punch for 1/2 price! Christmas cards to add with all of our Christmas cookies that my sister and I give away. One of my favorite crafts from two years ago is this little ginger boy, I made him out of felt, used rick rack as icing and gave him little buttons with glittery pom poms. Another favorite of mine is this vintage inspired holly brooch out of the latest Martha Stewart Living (here's the simple how-to), they are easy to make and very cute. I've been having so much fun crafting this Christmas season and I'm not done yet, I plan on making these little elves too when my boyfriend comes down this weekend.

Wasted Time

I thought it would be fun to make homemade marshmallows, I heard wonderful things about how delicious they are, and how they are so much better than store bought. Well, I used a popular domestic homemaker's (*cough*cough* Martha Stewart) recipe, and all I got was a sick-o gelatinous mess. I tried to eat one, but it was so bad I spit it in the rubbish bin. I was very disappointed. I will try making them again some day in the future, but I will NOT use that horrid recipe.



I found this sad little marshmallow on etsy.

Baking Delectables

I realized that I enjoy making sugary treats in the kitchen, but that is all I ever seem to make. Well, that and biriyani. I think I need to graduate into making entrees. Here is a wonderful crepe recipe that I discovered over the weekend. They were surprisingly easy to make. Of course, I had to make it into desert by topping it off with homemade strawberry ice cream and powdered sugar.