My passion for decorative papers has gotten a bit out of hand lately, and I realized that my stack of patterned sheets needed to make a debut somewhere besides giftboxes this holiday. So, I whipped up these paper bulb ornaments with just a few supplies. It's a great last-minute project. You can hang them on your tree, drizzle them around your tabletop, or pile a bunch of them in a hurricane Read more

Since I didn't want to forget our feathered friends this holiday season, I thought I'd make a pretty, edible bird feeder as part of my 12 DIYs of Christmas series. This orange-and-cranberry feeder will attract birds such as orioles, red-bellied woodpeckers, finches, thrashers, mockingbirds, and tanagers. It also makes a pretty holiday table chandelier, too. This is a fun project for crafty Read more

When it comes to holiday crafting, unless you started back in August, it's always best to stick with easy, less time-consuming projects — especially when you're in the homestretch of Christmas crafting! I made two of these pillows in less than an hour. They are easy for even beginning seamstresses, and the small, calla lily floral detail on the pillows adds a fun visual element that helps to Read more

Welcome to the ninth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! When I spotted these beautiful gold-trimmed antique tea cups at a flea market, I knew that I had to take them home. But how to use them? Instead of using them for a tea party, I decided to transform them into eco-friendly soy wax candles. These teacup candles make inexpensive, pretty holiday gifts. You can give someone a set of Read more

Welcome to the eighth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! My cranberry candle wraps are kind of a no-brainer. But they're also a great way to add a little Christmas color to your décor without going over the top or spending too much money. This project uses fresh cranberries, which may go bad in a week or two, so this weekend is a great time to make them. Supplies: Pillar Read more

Welcome to the seventh project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! I decided to make hand-painted monogrammed tea towels as a gift for a friend that has everything this year. I think taking the extra step to hand-paint this everyday item gives it a personal touch, and shows more effort than any store-bought item. I decided to paint the monogram in my own handwriting and made my own stencil, so it Read more

Welcome to the sixth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! We all go through that mental checklist (keys, wallet, phone?) before we set foot out of the door each morning. Thus, having a place to stash your must haves is a big help in the tardiness (and sanity!) department. So I made this découpage key bowl as a gift for a friend. With patience and a few supplies, it's an easy project that Read more

Welcome to the fifth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! I'm a staunch candle enthusiast; no light bulb can ever re-create that ambient atmosphere. From tealights to tapers and pillars to Diptyques, I've got 'em all and I don't discriminate. I also own plenty of candlesticks and votives, but sometimes they just need an extra something something to dress them up. So for the holidays, I Read more

  Welcome to the fourth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! You know me: I love DIY projects. But I'm such a homebody that I try to avoid driving to the crafts store at all costs. So I decided to be eco-friendly and make my Christmas wreath this year from things I already own — one of them primarily being the wire numbers from a dartboard. In secret, I'm a bit of a dart shark and I Read more

  If you have a friend or family member whose hardworking hands are often put through the wringer thanks to tough gardening, woodworking, or crafting projects, chances are those digits could use some TLC. I've been making salve for the past three years, and my friends and family members always flip for it, saying that it's the only thing that gets their hands safely through the cold Winter Read more