Here’s a Valentine’s Day giveaway just because I love you. How does a $50 Gift Card to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores sound? Yep, I thought so. It’s been a totally brutal January here in the city of Chicago. We’re talking -20 degree temperatures, closed stores and schools, winter hats on inside, dripping faucets so …

Make my super cute DIY Valentine’s Day cards from recycled magazines and catalogs. Just rip out red colors and glue them onto paper. It’s an easy recycled magazine craft that looks really unique and cool when it’s finished. And I’ll tell you: Ripping paper is really satisfying.

Recycle a security envelope into a heartfelt Valentine’s Day card with just a few punches and pastes. Years ago I saw a design*sponge post from derek & lauren that turned security envelopes inside out that got me seeing junk mail a little bit differently. The packrat in me started collecting some security envelopes and I got …

I’m terrible at drinking water. Really awful. And with the Chicago deep freeze winter I’m even more dehydrated than usual. Enter my new DIY water drinking tracking ‘system’ …refrigerator magnets! Simply place the long one marked 1 through 8 on your fridge above the water dispenser. Layer the square tally marker on top. Start each …

Yes, we individually glued Perler beads to clear glass ball ornaments to make these fabulously festive DIY Christmas ornaments. It takes way less time than you’d think. In fact, this handmade glass ball Christmas ornament DIY is so easy that I made it together with my four-year-old daughter, Elise. Kids love Perler Beads, and this …

I’m not really sure how a Swedish Tea Ring recipe became a holiday tradition in a German/Irish/English household but my mom has been making tea rings for Christmas morning breakfast since I was a kid. Swedish Tea Rings tastes sort of like cinnamon rolls but even better. Like many breads, it’s a make-ahead project that …

Thanks to Tesco for sponsoring this post. This DIY project and all opinions are mine. Although many Christmas cards are produced from sustainable sources, nothing beats making your own! Handmade cards are highly personal – both in terms of the uniqueness of the card maker and because they can be tailored to the intended recipient. …

This post is sponsored by Martha Stewart Crafts. All opinions are mine. I appreciate a good DIY shortcut especially at holiday time when decorating/baking/gifting/wrapping is so hectic. Martha Stewart Crafts has a couple new festive DIY kickstarters that I’d like to share. I prefer to decorate for winter rather than just Christmas where I can …

Recycling sweaters into winter hats is an oldie but a goodie because it’s cheap and useful and makes a great DIY gift. Check out this cute recycled sweater hat that Elise and I made from a recycled sweater! Making a hat out of a recycled wool sweater is such a quick project! I think this …

This post is sponsored by Minted but all opinions are my own. I love wrapping gifts. There’s something about cutting just the right amount of paper, creasing those crisp edges, playing with sticky tape, then all those lovely wrapped boxes under the tree. So when I found out that Minted now offers exclusive personalized wrapping …

Thanks to Uncommon Goods for sponsoring this post and giveaway! Every time I open an Uncommon Goods catalog I see something unique and fun and totally gift-able. Like these bottle openers made from recycled baseball bats: And this Italian cheese making kit. Here’s your chance to win a $50 gift certificate at Uncommon Goods for …

No more mixed up mugs! Here’s a quick and adorable way to personalize cocoa and coffee mugs for the holidays by hacking VELCRO® Brand fasteners. My DIY personalized holiday mugs craft uses VELCRO® Brand One-Wrap and a bit of paper to easily personalize your whole family’s coffee and cocoa mugs. And it’s totally removable! You …

Warm-up your holiday gifts with these printable mitten tags and labels that YOU personalize and print at home! These cute mitten gift tags are festive and also non-denominational so they’re perfect for teacher gifts and hostess gifts as well as gifts for friends and family, whether they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or the Winter Solstice. Just …

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores sponsored this #turkeytablescapes project; all opinions are my own. It can be hard for kids to wait for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready. Stave off grumbling tummies (and “I’m hungry!” moans) with tepee and Mayflower snack cups filled with pre-dinner munchies. These kids Thanksgiving pre-dinner snack cups are simple to …

Here’s a treat: free printable Halloween party decorations to spook up your Halloween dinner table! These free printable Halloween dinner party decorations include fancy skeleton doilies, Halloween banner, cup wraps, and personalized Halloween food labels to name the food on your Halloween menu. Print and cut these Halloween table decorations for an elegant Halloween party. …