JCasa BLOG

2011 [autumn highlights]

: O K T O B E R :

the girls and i came up with really fun + supercute halloween dog tags for all their friends to make at their fall parties in school.  a huge hit here, there, and once again, all over the internet.  thank you for your support!

: N O V E M B E R :

i finally got back into the swing of making pretty things again, even updated my shop with new designs + handmade goods for the first time in ages.  it is exhilirating to create each day, and i am blessed to have the opportunity to do and pursue what i love.

: D E Z E M B E R :

here we are at the end of this most celebratory month, and as i look back on the past 12 months i am floored, to be quite honest.

it has been an incredibly creative and magical year for me and my family:  writing, crafting with my kids, making music with my husband, sewing, knitting and oh so much cooking.  there have been awesome ups and plenty of downs, as well. but if you ask me, as long as there are more ups than downs, we're good.  really really good.  xoxo

2011 [spring highlights]

: A P R I L :

my first book was published this month, bringing with it 75 projects readers can craft with their kids.  it was a whirlwind of an experience to create and write with my daughters, and is filled with memories we'll treasure for a lifetime.  my hope is that it brings about similar joyful experiences and memories for those who read it. 

: M A I :

the sun was shining, so i made a springy wreath.
what can i say, making wreaths is our thing.

: J U N I :

i participated in an online painting class.  and really enjoyed it.  i had no clue what i was doing, so i really tried to focus on the prompts and techniques being introduced, and found great inspiration in the words and experiences of the teachers.  i lost myself in the paintings for a few weeks, and truly enjoyed learning - "just because."

if you've ever been afraid to try something new / creative because you thought you would be a colossol flop, do it anyway.  seriously, what are you waiting for?  this is not a contest.  this is your life.  if you want to try something new, then i say GO FOR IT !

xoxo

2011 [winter highlights]

: J A N U A R :

i absolutely loved working on this little cardi/vest for my girls last january.  i fully intended on self-publishing the pattern for this little number, too - but like so many things, it got away from me.  knitting it provided a brief distraction from working on my 2nd book (a knitting + sewing book that, as it turns out, was not meant to be).  fast forward to the present to find me very much looking forward to leisurely knitting another one of these in january 2012 - already have the yarn and everything.  i will cast on... just as soon as i finish my next book proposal, full of pretty + lovely things, and knock it out of the park.

: F E B R U A R :

i baked a very special eat-your-heart-out cake for my very special people.  the baking and construction of this little number was one part math, one part patchwork, one part obsession, and lots of love.  and ganache.  let's not forget the ganache.

: M Ä R Z :

the girls and i created rainbows filled with gold for all their teachers at school.  a hit here, there and all over the internet apparently - that post has received a bazillion (or something like that) hits.  imagine that.

xoxo 

advent 2011 [23] : simple as can be felt garland

i found a package of really cute vintage-holiday-lightbulb-looking felt stickers last year after the holidays and stashed them away for just the perfect project.  color me impressed that i remembered them this year and was actually able to find them when inspiration struck.

simple as can be + easy as 1-2-3.  just sandwich 2 stitckers around baker's twine every 6" or so until you run out.  and just like that you have a strand of happy.

here's hoping your home is shiny and bright and filled with joy this season.  xoxo

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

advent 2011 [20] : felted wool marbles

join me over on Wiley Craft today and we'll make felted wool marbles together - it's a fun (and addictive) project you can do with your kids using a few simple materials.  use them to make garlands, ornaments, jewelry, and enjoy them as playthings.

happy crafting!  xoxo

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

advent 2011 [16] : seasons greetings (with yarn)

pipe cleaners + yarn + love.  as soon as i saw this sweet quicky craft, i knew it would be among our crafty advent projects this year.  i love incorporating text here and there throughout the house, and it's especially fun with holiday cheer.  ho ho ho, indeed.  xoxo

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

advent 2011 [15] : washi tape kids' cards

 

washi tape + plain paper + sharpie pens + kids = a perfect card-making combination.
pair it with a glassine bag filled with peppermint bark popcorn and you have this year's go-to special person gift.  xoxo

washi tape.  oh, the possibilities...

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

advent 2011 [08] : ruffles

the holidays seemed like a perfect time to try out this ruffled streamer tutorial (by dana of MADE) which has been patiently waiting on my to-do list for months.  enter my trip to the market wednesday morning when i happened upon the streamers and here we have 'em.

some of you may know i love all things peppermint... red + white ruffles it is!

super simple to make (and fun!) - you'll be finding new uses for them everywhere you look.  and they have a magical way of turning a frown upside down.  xoxo

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

advent 2011 [03] : fuse bead ornaments

the girls + i are really into perler beads lately, having been inspired by kids crafternoon to rethink our use of the little boards/templates to make cute holiday ornaments.
so.  much.  fun.  

my favorite found a home right over my desk...

- - -

advent is a happy time when we celebrate, give and share with the ones we love.
join us here for simple + handmade daily projects to celebrate the season.
pass it on.  xoxo

- - -

grab a button to display on your site | blog.
click over each morning to see our project of the day.

happy holidays!  xoxo

kids' crafternoon blog party

i was so delighted when the lovely and talented kathreen ricketson from WhipUp dropped me an email inviting JCasa *Handmade to the blog party celebrating two new releases in her fabulous Kids Crafternoon series for Hardie Grant Books.  kathreen assembled an ace group of artists and crafters from around the world to create these two great new books and i am thrilled to be able to share a few sneak peeks with you.

the construction of these books is perfection:  hardcover with a really well-done internal spiral binding so that the pages lie flat while everybody is merrily crafting away.  the pages are smooth, thick, and will stand up to all the wear and tear that kids will give 'em.  and there is a pack of templates included, attached to the inside of the front cover.  the book designers really put a lot of thought into this series, and they are really pretty.
(what can i say, i love me a pretty book.)

i have a serious crush on these illustrations.  they are a perfect blend of whimsy + function.  they give you + the kids helpful visuals you will need to do the projects and make you smile at the same time.

our favorite projects from Kids Crafternoon Beading are the ones using fuse beads.  my daughters have been into these for a while, and we are all really inspired by the projects in this book.  they have us thinking outside the box, beyond the templates that typically come with fuse beads, and imagining them in so many new forms.

* be sure to come back here tomorrow to see what we've come up with for the holiday!

and i know our girls will absolutely love the process of making these watchband bracelets from Kids Crafternoon Felting.  a bit of felting, some sewing, and even some needle felting.  nothing too involved or overly complicated, but interesting enough to keep them engaged and excited to create.  isn't that the best?

either (or both!) of these titles would make a terrific holiday gift for kids of all ages.  you could even put together a kit with the book + some materials so your kiddo can get started right away.  (and i would be willing to bet you'll enjoy them, too!)

my thanks to Kathreen + Hardie Grant Books for inviting JCasa *Handmade readers to the blog party.  and be sure to check out all the entire Kids Crafternoon blog party for other peeks inside these great books:

14-Nov:  Lisa Tilse from The Red Thread
15-Nov:  Suzie Fry from soozs
16-Nov:  Larissa Holland from mmmcrafts
17 Nov:  Pascale Mestdagh from Between the Lines
18 Nov:  Christine Chitnis from Christine Chitnis
19 Nov:  Holly Keller from Chez Beeper Bebe
20 Nov:  Monica Solorio-Snow from Happy Zombie
21 Nov:  Cate Holst from Go Make Me
22 Nov:  Shannon Cook from Luvinthemommyhood
23 Nov:  Jennifer Casa from JCasa *Handmade - you are here!
24 Nov:  Kate from Picklebums
25 Nov:  Steph Morgan from Modern Parents Messy Kids
26 Nov:  Kara Fleck from Simple Kids
27 Nov:  Maddie from Li’l Magoolie
28 Nov:  Jackie Boucher from Oh Dee Doh
29 Nov:  Bianca from Sadie and Lance
30 Nov:  Tricia Hogbin from Little Eco Footprints
01 Dec:  Lisa Siebert guest posting at Poppytalk

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* disclosure *  Hardie Grant Books sent me the two review copies, but otherwise i was not compensated in any form.  all opinions are my own and i am happy to shout them from my perch on the mountaintop. xo