I’m so excited to be participating in this year’s Holly Bloggy Christmas Event!!  Thanks to Jerri from Simply Sweet Home for putting this all together!!

I’m very excited to announce this year’s
Holly Bloggy Christmas!

5 Days of Fun Christmas-themed Linky Parties!

With 5 Fabulous Hostesses!

And Great Giveaways!

Monday, Dec. 12 – Homemade Gift Party

Hosted by Jen at tater tots and jello.

Giveaway: 6 Pack of Twine from Twisted Sugar Twine

Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Christmas Recipe Party

Hosted by Nikki at Chef in Training.

Giveaway: Beanie of the winner’s choice from Sweet Kiwi Crochet

Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Christmas Craft Party

Hosted by Staci at Just Sew Sassy

Giveaway: $25 Gift Certificate from AliLilly

Thursday, Dec. 15 – Christmas Decor Party

Hosted by Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage.

Giveaway: Hot Chocolate Candle Set from Good Neighbors Candle Co.

Friday, Dec. 16 - Friday Favorites Christmas Party

Hosted by Jerri at Simply Sweet Home.

Giveaway: $25 Gift Certificate from Amy Cornwell

Grab a button and join us for a Cup of Good Cheer!!

<a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/JHRivers/Simply%20Sweet%20Home%20Graphics/hollybloggybutton.png” border=”0″ alt=”hbcbutton” /></a>

I’m so sorry this post is up sooo late!!  Darn computer issues!!  Anyway, happy Tuesday:)  I’m hosting my first ever Cookie Exchange Party this Thursday, and I’m sooo excited!!  For the party favors I’m sending home this little holiday treat!

Holiday tea towels are super easy, and a fun little gift for neighbors and friends.  Wrap them around some bread, tie them to a spoon or spatula, or just attach a cute tag.  I’ll take you through the simple steps to make your very own:)  Grab your supplies, and let’s get started!

My towel was 15 inches, so I made my strips 30 inches long.  (I cut 6 strips b/c I was making 6 tea towels:)

The coordinating strips are 30 inches long as well

This is the longest stitch setting for a regular straight stitch on your sewing machine

The bobbin thread is the bottom thread

Follow the same steps as before

and you’re done!!

I wrapped my towels around a cookie platter, tied it up cute, and you can even add a cute tag!!

Easy Peasy right!!!

Have a great week!!

Linking up HERE this week!

Including:

Happy December!!  How’s your countdown going:)  I LIVE for this month!!  My Christmas shopping is done, my decorating is finished, and most of my gifts are created!!  Time to relax and party!!  (do those two even go together??)

This week I’ll be preparing for my first ever Cookie Exchange Party!!  I saw this fabulous post from Funky Polkadot Giraffe, and was sold!!

I knew I wanted to host my own party this year!!

If you have any holiday parties planned this month, you gotta check out some of these darling ideas!!  I’m feeling sooo inspired!!!  Love you Pinterest:)

I’m totally loving this modern Christmas display!  This would be darling for any holiday party…

And then for a more traditional look, here’s another gorgeous display for ya!!

-K- two more pins for you:)  I can’t decide which cookies to make, maybe you can help me out??

These delicious white chocolate cherry shortbread cookies…

or…

these Cinnamon Sugar Roll cookies…

I’m drooling right now.  Anyway, hope these pins gave you some holiday inspiration!!  Hope your week is fabulous!!

Ok. I apologize for my obsession with burlap.  I think that after this project it will come to an end.  Maybe.

Ever since I saw the candy cane wreath from Whipperberry, I knew I wanted to make a striped wreath.  I followed my tutorial from the holiday bubble wreath, and just alternated colors this time.

I had an old frame (I have a collection of old frames for occasions such as this:), that I spray painted white.  I sanded it a bit, added some burlap rosettes, and looped it at the top!

Oh, and I forgot about the glittery stars:)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

So while perusing pinterest, I saw this darling monster shirt!!  I knew I could make it, but was curious where I could buy it. Guess what!!  It wasn’t for sale anymore… So my decision was made.  These would be perfect Christmas gifts for my monster lovin boys!!

This is basically an applique tutorial, super simple, so grab your supplies and let’s go!!

I’m making two shirts at a time here, so forgive me for switching in and out of pictures…

I decided to iron both my big monster felt pieces at once to save on heat-n-bond.

I actually ironed my scrap pieces of felt to the heat-n-bond before cutting the shapes out.  It just makes them easier to cut.  Just have an idea of how much of your scrap piece you will need, for whatever add-ons you decide to give your monster.

I left a bit of an opening at the bottom for the teeth to slide into.

This will secure everything and keep it nice through all your washes.

So I made my 3 yr-old try his Christmas present on.  I know, lame.

I didn’t tell him what it was for, I just told him if he put the shirt on and let me take his picture, I would give him chocolate.  He will do anything for chocolate.  He takes after his mama:)

and then he looked at his shirt…

and thought it was pretty cool…

So we had to take it off quick before he could ask any questions…

You could totally customize this for a girl as well, I may just do that for my 6 yr-old!!  Have fun creating!

Linking up HERE this week!

How was your weekend????

I feel absolutely blessed beyond measure for the wonderful family and friends that surround us.  It was a lovely weekend, (even if I gained 5 lbs)…  I pinned A LOT of stuff this week.  There is just sooo much inspiration out there!!

I’m excited to share my moster shirt tutorial with you tomorrow, from last week.  That’s all I have to show for:)  I’ll just blame it on the holiday weekend:)

So, this week I’ll share a few of my pins…

I’m running out of hiding places for Christmas presents, so it’s time to get wrapping!  Love these ideas for wrapping gifts…

And I’m realizing how much more there is to actually do in my new craft room… I’m trying to take it a little at a time… but I LOVED this stencil from Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous so much I went our and bought a stencil of my own, and I’m going to attempt it for the first time this week!!  Eek!!!

Wish me luck!!

How about you!!  Did you pin any fun projects this week?  Need an invite?  As always, shoot me an email and I’ll get ya one:)

My kids are sooo excited for the countdown for Christmas to start!!  Who are we kidding, they already ask me everyday, “How many more days until Christmas??”

A couple more weeks in November, then let the countdown begin!!!

Just decorate some cute little chinese takeout boxes (found at your local party store).  As you can see, my decorations are SUPER simple, then thread a ribbon through the top.  Pin with mini clothespins to some hanging twine!!

This little advent garland just follows the boughs of our lighted pine garland…

And a shot during the daytime…

Can’t wait to fill these little cuties with some fun ideas, traditions, and treats of course!!!  Hope you are all having an excellent weekend!!

I did it.  My house is decorated for Christmas .  I’m still adding a few things here and there, but for the most part we have Christmas cheer all around us!!

I saw this darling idea on Pinterest, and knew I had to add it to my Holiday decor this year!!!

Sorry it looks a little green, this pic was taken at night…

Super simple idea, just thread some tulle through the tops of the ornaments, tie the tulle in a knot, hang from ceilings, rails, curtain rods, you name it!!  Sooo festive!!

These ones are on my curtain rods…

I have to say, they’re my new favorite decoration:)  Thank you Pinterest!!!

Ok… time to announce the winner of the Pattern Pack of Superhero Costumes from Kirsti Koo!!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8

Timestamp: 2011-11-18 01:58:09 UTC

Congratulations to Jennifer Hutchinson!!!

You will have 48 hours to respond to your email and claim your prize!!   Thanks again to everyone for participating in the fabulous giveaway!!  And thanks to Kirsti for donating a super prize!!

Happy Monday!!  How was your pinning week?  How was your creating week?

Guess what??  I’m happy to report that I FINISHED painting my front door and metal rails!!  That was a HUGE pinterest project to check off!!  I haven’t started on the coat or socks from last week, but I have been searching like a madwoman for the right kind of wool to add that ruffle to my coat!!

So moving on.  This weekend we put up our tree, and lots of Christmas decorations.  Yep, I know, it’s a bit early.  But I LOVE having the festive spirit of joy and love that the Christmas season brings.  Why wait for that!!

I saw these hanging ornament balls, and knew I needed to use up the oodles of tulle I always seem to accumulate…

This was a fun decoration to make… (I’ll show ya that post pretty soon:)

And I LOVED this hanging advent garland!!

I made another similar version using little takeout boxes and twine, but the idea of a garland is so fun!!  (Post coming soon:)

And trying to come up with a useful handmade gift for my kids is always a challenge, but I think I found it!!  Look how darling these little “movie mats” are!

So hopefully I’ll have a finished coat to share with you next week, and maybe more!!  Happy Crafting and Pinning!!

Happy Holidays!!

HaHa, I love saying that!! I’ve got my Christmas tunes blasting, a few Christmas wreaths under my belt, new decorations purchased (thank you Hobby Lobby 50% off sale:), and I even made some Christmas Candy this last weekend!

I kinda got the hook-up from a good friend of mine who happens to be the marketing director for Thermoworks. He sent me the coolest cooking thermometer ever to try out!! Just in time for all of my Holiday cooking and baking!!

My mother-in-law has the best toffee recipe EVER.  I make it every year for Christmas to give as gifts.  I’m going to share the recipe with you all:)  And show ya how to use this fabulous thermometer:)

Shirley’s Chocolate Chip Toffee

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter

• 2 cups sugar

• 3 T water

• 3/4 c milk chocolate chips

• 3/4 c semi sweet chocolate chips

• 1/3 c white chocolate chips

• 1 cup almonds chopped and sautéed in oil

• 3 T malted milk powder

Directions:

Combine chocolate chips and almonds together in a bowl, pour half of the mixture into a 9X13 pan lined with foil extending over the edges.  Sprinkle malted powder evenly over first layer.

Combine butter, sugar, and water in a saucepan, and heat until it begins to boil.

Stir frequently, measuring the temperature every so often.

You want an even boil right at the surface, for 15-20 minutes.

You want the candy to get to the hard crack stage, about 300 degrees.

As you can see from the picture, it happens really fast!!

As soon as it reaches this temperature, pour the boiling mixture evenly over the chocolate nut mixture.  Immediately pour remaining chocolate nut mixture evenly over the top of toffee.  Allow to cool for an hour, and refrigerate if the chocolate is still not firm.  Break into pieces and enjoy!!

For a festive treat, wrap a bundle of toffee up in some colorful tulle, and tie with a ribbon!

(Yeah, my pictures were taken at night, and therefore look yellow!!!)

Enjoy your toffee and share with your friends:)