See ya, 2014!

Hello! I hope your holiday was relaxing! I've been taking a bit of a break from the computer since Christmas; working on a few projects around the house, reading books (just started Julia Child's My Life in France and I'm loving it), reorganizing my workspace, and thinking about my goals for 2015. I love this time of year because it feels like I have a chance to take a breath and regroup. This past year has been a crazy one! Thanksgiving marked the 1 year anniversary of when I quit my day job to pursue my dreams of self employment, so I pretty much started 2014 with a blank slate. My life has changed so much in the past 12 months and many of the transitions weren't easy. Things didn't always turn out as I'd hoped and I spent quite a bit of this year being hard on myself, thinking things like, "I should be further along by now." But looking back, I can see that I really have come a long way, even if I didn't end up where I thought I should be. I jumped head-first into lots of new (and sometimes scary) situations and put myself out there more than before. I've stepped out of my comfort zone too many times to count and some really good things have come of it.

I'm not writing this to give myself a public pat on the back, but more to encourage you to appreciate how far you've come this past year, too. Maybe you, like me, haven't quite reached all of the lofty goals you made for yourself this time last year, but if you've taken steps in the right direction that's something to be proud of, too.

Happy New Year, friends! I'm excited to start in on a whole new batch of challenges in 2015 and approach my small business and blog goals with new enthusiasm. I'm not going to stop setting big goals, but I will work on being a little nicer to myself in the process.

*Photo of Ann Miller via Valentino Vamp

DIY Mod Light-Up Trees

Christmas is just days away but I still have a bunch of crafts projects on my to-do list! In hopes that you're still feeling the crafty spirit, here's one more diy for you to try, and my last of the year!

You know those tabletop ceramic trees that practically all of our grandmothers had? They were green or white and had little multi-colored plastic beads that would light up when you turned them on? These mod light-up trees were inspired by those ceramic trees. I made them in hopes that they would be just as pretty, and turns out they are! They're sleek and simple, a modern take on the classic original. They'd look great in a mid-century home, on a minimalist tablescape, or a modern mantel.

Here's what you'll need:

• Paper mache cones
• Gold spray paint
• Permanent marker
• E6000 glue
• X-acto knife with new blades, Z Series are my favorites
• Clear marbles, I used two sizes
• Battery operated lights, I used these

Spray paint the cones with a few coats of gold spray paint and let dry. Mark out randomly placed dots on the cones for each marble. I tried a couple different methods for cutting the openings in the cones and this way worked the best: carefully cut into the cone around the dot marking in a rough circle. Slowly widen the circle with the knife, cutting back and forth, testing the size with the marble. Cut the opening big enough for the marble to rest halfway through. Cut the top off of the cone.



Add some E6000 to the edges of the openings and push the marbles into place. Glue a marble to the top, too.



Put a battery light underneath and enjoy your new light-up creation!



Try mixing up the marble sizes and adding variation to the depth of the openings for different looks.


Now that's my cue to sign off for a few days and enjoy the season! I still have to wrap all of my gifts and sew a Christmas stocking for my puppy. I also have lots of cookies I need to eat and movies I need to watch. Serious business! Have a wonderful holiday!

*P.S.: Little Farm Media interviewed me last week about how I use social media for my business. Check it out and learn about my favorite hashtags and best practices!

6 Paper Holiday DIYs to Try

Now that the holiday shipping deadline in the shop is looming near (place your orders today for delivery in time for Christmas!) I have the luxury of planning the crafts I'll do in all my free time. It's no secret that I love paper projects, so I've collected a few paper DIYs that would look great hanging on a Christmas tree or on a spicing up a winter-themed party table.



1. Pretty snowflake garland (in a can!) by Art Bar
2. Sleek black and white ornaments by MiniEco
3. Colorful modular origami ornaments by How About Orange
4. Dress up a plain string of lights with these pretty glittered cones by Sinnen Rausch
5. Simple, modern ornaments by Curbly. I'd like to try this with metallic papers.
6. How cool is this doily forest? Project by Oui Oui Oui Studio

DIY Retro Ranch Holiday Houses

When I was a kid I remember wishing with all my might that it would snow for Christmas. Well, living in California, less than 10 miles from the beach meant that it would never happen, but I still thought there was room for a miracle. Now that I'm older, wiser, and more knowledgeable of weather patterns, I know a white Christmas just isn't in the cards, but us West-coasters can still show our holiday cheer sans snow!

Print, cut, and fold up these cute little paper mid-century ranch houses and add a little California cool to your Christmas decor. We may not have snow-covered conifers, but cacti and palm trees can be festive, too!

Here's what you'll need:

• Cardstocks in pink, light blue, and turquoise
• House Template #1 and #2
• Craft Knife
• Cutting mat
• Tacky glue
• Bone folder and ruler (or scoring tray. I have this one and I love it)
• Mini bottle brush trees - learn how to dip dye them with my tutorial from last year
• Metallic dragees or small metallic beads

Extra decorations:

• Kraft paper
• Green paper
• Floral wire
• Gold string
• Silver pipe cleaners 

Print out the template directly on the colored cardstock. Cut out with a craft knife. Score the dotted lines with the bone folder and fold inwards, all in the same direction (if any of the printed lines remain, fold them so they're on the inside of the house). Glue the side tab to the adjacent wall to make a rectangle and form the walls.


Glue the bottom tabs to the base piece. Glue a few dragees to the bottle brush tree. Trim off the base of the tree to make it fit inside the house. Glue the tree to the base, right inside the front window.

Add glue to the top tabs and attach the roof. Let dry. Glue more dragees to the roofline.


Make some palm trees for the yard! Cut leaf shapes out of green paper. Notch the edges and fold down the middle.
 
Glue to the wire. Cut a triangle of kraft paper, overlap the straight edge around the wire, then wrap and glue the end. Trim the bottom of the wire, arrange the palm fronds.


Twist a metallic chenille around the trunk and glue a few more dragees to the fronds. Glue to the base around the house. Add some more California-esque embellishments to the yard - tiny cacti, spiky shrubbery. Cut some stepping stones from kraft paper and glue to the front yard. Tie some tiny bows with the gold string and glue to houses if you'd like. Have fun with it!


These little houses make a super sweet retro scene when set up together. You can also add a ribbon tie to the roof and turn them into hanging ornaments.

Gift Guide for the Cool Girl

We all have that friend - she always wears the most stylish clothes, has the coolest apartment, knows the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants and thrift shops. She knows when the good art exhibits are coming to town and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and change her own bicycle tires. I put this gift guide together for her. It's full of unique handmade products (she loves supporting small businesses) and neat vintage pieces.


1. Yellow Eichler photograph by Lucy Snowe Photography
2. Paper beetle sculpture art by Ariadine
3. Vintage modernist earrings from Mascara Jones
4. Pebble Pillow Cover in Pollen by Skinnylaminx
5. Beautiful black vase by Ross Lab
6. Half Circle photo holder by The Crafted Life
7. Vintage Kobenstyle Pot from WunderFun
8. Two-Tone Clutch by Casey D. Sibley Art & Design

Have a great weekend! 

DIY Brushstroke Ornaments

If you're looking for an ornament that's a little bit out of the ordinary but still really easy to make yourself, you're in the right place! If you can paint even a somewhat straight line with a brush, these brushstroke ornaments are for you. The bright pink crosshatching will add a mod touch to your Christmas tree and the glitter will provide a bit of sparkle.

Here's what you'll need:

• White Ceramic Ornaments. I got these at Michaels.
• Glass Paint. I used Martha Stewart Opaque Gloss in Raspberry Ice
• Mod Podge
• Fine Glitter. I used my favorite, Martha Stewart Smoky Quartz
• Liner Paint Brush
• Ribbon

Clean the ornament with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Once dry, paint fine vertical lines of varying lengths and thicknesses on one side of the ornament. Follow up with randomly placed horizontal lines, overlapping the vertical ones here and there. Let dry before turning over and painting the other side. Follow the instructions on the paint bottle for curing: either let air dry or let dry in the oven.


Afterwards, paint vertical and horizontal strokes with the Mod Podge and sprinkle with glitter. Let dry. Tie up with the ribbon and hang on your tree!

Holiday DIYs (from the archives)

Yay, December! We're right in the thick of holiday crafting time. I've got a few new projects up my sleeve for this month, but before I jump into those I wanted to share a few from the archives over the years.


Learn how to Dip-Dye Bottle Brush Trees with this tutorial! It's the perfect way to get the trees that perfect shade to match your decor. Or make a bunch in lots of colors! 


I like to line up my trees and just stare at them, but if you're looking to give away some of the joy, make these Bottle Brush Tree Gift Toppers. Hint: they're super easy to make and I'm sure everyone will love them.



These Vintage Style Glittered Ornaments are quick and easy to make and will add a sparkly, vintage style touch to any tree.



Make one of these Retro Holiday Corsages to wear to your holiday parties and dinners. They're so cute, you're guaranteed to get compliments!



Use the time you spend watching Christmas movies (Love, Actually, anyone?) to make a bunch of pompoms for this Holiday Pompom Wreath. This one uses alternative colors: bright magenta, light blue, and heather gray and has a touch of sparkle with metallic silver pipe cleaners.

I hope some of these ideas inspired you to get crafting! 

Holiday Sale and Mini Gift Swap!

It's December! Can you believe it?! I'm just popping in to let you know that I'm having a sale in the shop! Use the code MINIHOLIDAY14 for free US shipping on orders over $40. Don't fret, international shoppers, I have something for you, too! Get a free greeting card of your choice with orders over $40, no code needed!



Additionally, I have some special prices in the shop, through Monday, 12/1 only! Tea towels, necklaces, cutting boards, and t-shirts are marked down 25%+ percent! Take advantage - quantities are limited!



MINI fans: Did you hear MINI USA is hosting their holiday gift swap again this year? Sign up to get on the list to swap gifts with another MINIac. I participated last year and it was so much fun! If you're shopping for your special person, hit up the shop! I'm happy to gift wrap and send directly to your person for you.