BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve, Creative Peeps!

I hope you've all had a good week. Thank you for your sweet comments about Mom, who's doing GREAT! Insisted I bring her lipstick to the PT rehab place (and as friends and Mr. Chocolate will tell you, I'm no different). I continue to be very pleased with them. I'm a person who, if you tell me what you're going to do, I expect it to be done. When I come unglued is when I have to push, and they've been on top of everything, and I've had to follow up on NOTHING! We're hoping she can be discharged by the end of next week. 

My first "creation" of 2026 is a portable little kit I made using supplies from Dollar Tree. They've got some containers that are great for craft supplies!

Portable Beading/Art Caddy

And now, let's take a look at some of the fun ideas shared at last week's party! 

Crazy Little Lovebirds shared this beautiful Heart Decor Piece, refreshed for Winter. I love repurposing things I already have on hand. 

My French Twist shared these lovely Macrame Heart Coasters. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Sonata Home Design shared this BRILLIANT Wireless Wall Sconce that can go so many places and is perfect for homeowners or renters! No wiring or electrician required. 

Finally, with Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year approaching (or just because!) Press Print Party shared how to make your own Fortune Cookies with Customized Messages!

Thanks to all who linked up and as always, can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 

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Organizing: Portable Beading or Art Caddy

 

Thank you to everyone who left a comment about my Mom on my BFF Open House post. She's a trooper, and she's doing really well. FINALLY got her moved to the PT Rehab she was discharged to, and very pleased so far with the facility and care she's getting. They are on top of everything, and she's busy with over 3 hours of rehab per day and already asking, "When can I leave?" Good sign. 

On the way home yesterday, I popped into Dollar Tree for a little therapy of my own. And what to my wondering eyes did appear? These great storage bins with handles provide me with a solution to something I've been thinking about. I do most of my crafting in my craft room. But there are times when I want to be able to do something while watching TV at night or even while traveling. Couple that with wanting to get back into some bead embroidery and being able to keep things neat.

With the start of the year and organizing season, Dollar Tree has these great portable containers that gave me my solution! They're deep enough yet shallow enough if that makes sense. I created a Portable Beading Kit, which includes another Dollar Tree storage container to hold nine sets of beads. The great thing about the smaller container? Each container within the container comes with a lid, so beads won't spill everywhere! I have a couple of these in which I store glitter. The handles on the bigger containers come in three different colors. I chose this grey-taupe. The others are  green and  gold.

Here's my kit, complete with felt, embroidery floss, needles, and beads (I added scissors after taking the picture). Easy to carry between my TV chair and my craft room. Easy to swap out other colors. Easy to store when not using. 

The beads are secure in their containers within the smaller container. Lids secure, so even if it gets dropped or turned at a weird angle...no spills. This would also work for sequins, rhinestones, literally anything small that you want to create a collection for. Paints, papers, pencils and pens too!

Now, I just need to work on making things with my organized supplies!

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BFF Open House

 

I hope everyone's start to the New Year has been a good one. Mine's been a mix. THRILLED to have my adult son here for a visit. We extended Christmas (or observed the Orthodox calendar!) and have enjoyed time together as a family. On the down side, my Mom suffered a minor stroke a couple of days before he arrived. Overall, the prognosis is good and the only damage is some weakness in her left hand. Waiting for her to be discharged to a PT Rehab facility for a short stay, and then she'll get to go home which she is very eager to do. 

Not gonna lie, I'm tired and haven't worked on anything for the New Year besides starting a serious clean of my craft room!

Times like this are when I appreciate seeing others' creativity at my weekly party so let's do that!

My French Twist has embarked on one of my loves, jewelry making. Check out her tutorial for Beginner Jewelry Making here and see how she made these lovely earrings. No time like the New Year to start a new hobby, right? 

I've passed on similar ones before but will rethink that when I next see them. Petticoat Junktion shared how to incorporate Vintage Doorknobs into home decor!

If you're looking for ways to Decorate Your Home Through the Winter Months, check out this post from Master Pieces of My Life, which does exactly that! 

New year, more chocolate! Like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies from Cindy's Online Recipe Box. Yes, please! 

Thanks to all who linked up and can't wait to see what you have to share this week!

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BFF Open House Happy New Year!

 

I hope everyone who celebrated had a joyous Christmas and is starting off 2026 with a peaceful heart. I'm not a big resolution maker. For me, continuing on paths started, growing, learning, and taking life in stride is what I focus on. Our Christmas celebration continues, and we will get our best possible gift on Monday when our son comes to visit. 

As much as I understand seasonality and how we, as Makers, love to get a jump start on the next holiday, it feels like Valentine's decor sprang up overnight and I confess, I'm not ready. I've been focused on doing a real clean out of my craft room...reorganizing and getting things together to donate to a local art based thrift store before I bring in anything else! I'm also excited to play with some new tools Mr. Chocolate got me for Christmas!

But let's wrap up the last party of 2025 with some features you can Pin for...um...THIS year! Eek. 364 days til Christmas! 

Steph Creates shared this awesome idea that would make a great gift and can be adapted to year round or seasonal use with these DIY Stacked Wood Books! Endless possibilities. 

January is prime thrifting month and a great opportunity to look for supplies to make a gorgeous Stacked Glass Bowl Christmas Tree like this one from The Apple Street Cottage. I meant to try to make one and got distracted. 

Is it ever too early to get started on gifts? I always plan to do them throughout the year and...This is a fabulous idea from Building Our Hive with this Vintage Image Tall Candle Gift. 

If you're out thrifting, look for things to make this gorgeous Vintage Ornament Upcycle shared by Artsy Va Va. 

Thank you all for the wonderful shares and inspiration in 2025, and I hope you'll continue to join each week in 2026. 

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BFF Open House Two Week Edition

 

EEEK! (Wrong holiday, I know). It's CRUNCH time, and I'm not talking about Nestle's. We have one week until Christmas! Insert Buddy the Elf scream here. Everyone ready? HA!

To simplify, since Christmas falls on the day of the week my weekly party starts, I'm leaving this party open for two weeks, and we'll start 2026 with a new party. Sound good? 

For my last projects of 2025, this week I shared: 

Cardmaking: Hanukkah Cards

Winter Decor: Woodland Wall Hanging

Elfing Around Town: Local Gifts

Now, let's take a look at some of the wonderful ideas shared at last week's party with a focus on those there's still time to do! 

Pettikoat Junction is back with thoughtful and festive Nursing Home Staff Gifts. My mom spent 10 days in a physical therapy rehab facility that also has a nursing home wing and these are the hardest working people. #kindness

Darcy and Brian shared these Coffee Filter Angel Ornaments. If you've got littles at home for break, these could be a great way to keep them occupied. Likewise they make great package toppers, or to set at place settings, a garland... So many possibilities! 

Save those wrapping paper scraps! Steph Creates shared a great use for them with this beautiful Mini Wooden House Upgrade. 

And wouldn't these Gingerbread Pancakes make a wonderful Christmas Breakfast? YUM! From Mommy Hates Cooking (but does a great job, clearly!)

THANK YOU ALL who've shared your talents here this year. Here's looking forward to a peaceful holiday and making 2026 a year of Creativity and Joy! Wishing all celebrating a very Merry Christmas. 

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Holiday Elfing Gifts

 

We live in a small enough town where we interact regularly with the same people. Our mail carrier, our go to checker at the grocery, our local Friday takeout restaurant, etc. Sharing some things I made to drop off this week, along with treats I made and sent to our son's office.

DIY Tumbler:

Every week, we get takeout from our local Mexican restuarant, owned by neighbors in our development. The young woman who takes the orders is always so sweet and knows ours by heart so my weekly call is simply confirming "The usual?". I love that. I made a couple of these glass tumblers which were so much fun, using DTF stickers and cup wraps I found online. This is one I made for her. Kinda hooked!

I fell in love with these whimsical reindeer that I cut apart and applied at different heights on the tumbler. 

I also appreciate the ladies behind the scenes who make our yummy food. Last year I made a bunch of gift tags they loved, so I made some more for them. 

Great way to use up paper scraps too! 

For the owners, I painted this frame from DT, and mounted an ornament. My never-ending paper stash had the background paper that brought it all together! 

Our favorite checker at the grocery store, whom we've gotten to know a bit, gets an LED candle wrapped with a festive tumbler wrap and a wood-slice ornament. I painted the background, added a reindeer sticker and sequins. 

I forgot to take a pic before I packaged but you can peek through here. 

We'll celebrate Christmas with our son in January. He and his office have had a crazy, busy year, so I thought they needed some treats. I did tins of dipped Oreos and chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, and each gets a treat bag with a hot chocolate packet, candy cane spoon, chocolate snowman, candy cane and a bottle of toasted marshmallow syrup. Just waiting on the text that it's been delivered!

These are the kinds of things that fill my heart. I think it does that for many of us Creative types. I bought a big bottle of the Toasted Marshmallow Syrup and filled these smaller ones I found online. 

UPDATE: These arrived yesterday and were a hit! 

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Sundays on Silverado #280