{Crafty Year in Review} Part 2

It's time for Part 2 of our Year in Review. See yesterday's post for projects #10-#6!

We're counting down the crafty posts most viewed by YOU this year at Grits & Giggles. Let's get back to business at number 5!

#5

Christmas Tree Tee

Oh, how I love this little shirt. Like most kids holiday shirts, Gray only got to wear it a couple of times before Christmas, but it was cute when she did! I hate the idea of paying lots of money (I'm pretty cheap) on a shirt or dress that she can wear once...so I used some scrap fabric and a plain white tee to make her this little number.

#4

Anthropologie Knock-Off

This is another one of my absolute favorites...my Seersucker Anthropologie Knock-Off. This is The. Most. Comfortable. dress on the planet. The sheering in the back with the ties on top make it super easy to wear and the seersucker means it is weightless. I made another one for the tutorial, but this is still my favorite.

#3

Game Day Dress

I was on a real dress kick this summer. I made this dress as part of a sew-along at KojoDesigns. I wore it to several events this year including a football game and a wedding rehearsal...talk about multi-functional! AND...it's super comfortable too.

#2

Halloween Wreath Tutorial

What can I say...I love this wreath. The bows, tulle, ornaments...it all makes me happy and it really dressed up our door during October!

And the Number One, most viewed project this year was......

(Drumroll Please.....)

#1

Scrapbook Coasters

The Scrapbook Coasters Tutorial!!!!

This post alone received more than TWICE the number of hits of any other post on the entire blog. That's HUGE for one little project!

I think I have pinterest to thank for this one. SOOOOO many of you and others have pinned this to your DIY boards.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for visiting with me each day, reading, commenting and most of all, crafting!

I'll see you Next Year

{Crafty Year in Review} Part 1

This has been such a WONDERFUL year! There has been so much crafting, sewing, cooking, glitter, fabric, hot glue, and ribbon that I've barely been able to keep up with it all. Luckally for me...YOU have been helping me keep up!

I started this little blog back in April, wanting to keep an online diary of life with a husband, little girl and a few crafts along the way. Little did I know that I would have ALL of you amazing readers coming every day to join me in my Mommy and Crafting journey.

Today and tomorrow I will be doing a little countdown of the 10 most popular posts at Grits & Giggles this year. Most of these are tutorials that YOU, the readers have given me great feedback on, and even shared the things you've made using them with me! I love to see what you do, so send me a link so I can share what you've been doing too.

Let's get started!!

#10

Painted Pumpkin Trio

This was one of my favorite projects this year because it incorporated three things I adore...dots, argyle, and monograms! Fall is my favorite season, so I got to enjoys these sweet pumpkins for several months on my front porch.

#9

No Sew Stadium Blanket

Gooooo Tigers! I made this blanket at Hubby's request, because he needed a Clemson blanket that was "Man-sized"...meaning...long enough to cover him from head to toe. As much as I love sewing, I love making these kinds of blankets because they can be made anywhere and are quick to finish with beautiful results!

#8

The Polo Skirt

This skirt was made for the "Summer of NO Pants" series at Hideous, Dreadful, Stinky. I challenged myself to make 4 skirts, and it looks like ya'll loved this as much as I did! Thsi was one of my first tutorials too. I've learned a lot since then, but it's still easy to follow I think.

#7

Robin's Egg Bib Necklace

I love this necklace...but I've never worn it. I made it to go with a certain dress to an event this summer...then I changed my mind on the dress. I'm sure I'll come up with something. Until then, it just sits looking pretty on my jewelry box.

#6

Boys Shirt Refashion

This shirt-to-dress refashion was inspired by the tutorial at MADE. I saw this shirt at Goodwill and knew it would make an adorable little dress.

Come back tomorrow for project #5 down to the #1 most-viewed Grits & Giggles project of the year!!

Party Time

I Love, Love, Love visiting and contributing to Linky Parties each and every week. It's a great way to see what others have been making, get SERIOUSLY inspired, and show of YOUR work for others to see! I have a few that I visit each and every week, but I love stumbling upon new ones.

I've always had a few under my Favorite Links tab, but they aren't well organized. Here is my new compiled list of craft link parties that I visit and participate in.

If you have one and I have left it out...let me know! I will add it to the list so I can visit, and my readers can find it as well.

Monday

C.R.A.F.T.- Making Monday Marvelous

Craftomaniac- Craftomaniac Monday

Canoe Ridge Creations- Sew Modern Monday

Sew Chatty- Made with Love Mondays

Rebecca Cooper- The Simple Things

Sew Can Do- Kids Can Craft

Keeping It Simple

Making the World Cuter

Sumos Sweet Stuff- Market Yourself Monday

Life Made Lovely

Tuesday

Domestically Speaking- Power of Paint Party

Funky Polka Dot Giraffe- Too Cute Tuesday

Sugar Bee Crafts- Take a Look Tuesday

Tip Junkie- Tip Me Tuesday

Todays Creative Blog- Get Your Craft On

Wednesday

Sew Woodsy- Whats Up Wednesday

Sew Much Ado- We Did It Wednesday

Fabric Bows and More- Will See It Wednesday

Blue Cricket Designs- Show and Tell

Someday Crafts-Whatever Goes Wednesday

Gingersnap Crafts- Wow Me Wednesday

Thursday

Yesterday on Tuesday- A Crafty Soiree

Somewhat Simple- Strutt Your Stuff

Fireflies and Jellybeans- Show of Your Stuff

House of Hepworths- Hooking Up with HoH

Beyond the Picket Fence

What Allie's Making Now

Friday

Kojo Designs- Friday Fun Finds

Fingerprints on the Fridge- Feature Yourself Friday

Naptime Crafters- Friday Favs

Tatertots and Jello- Weekend Wrap Up Party

Whipperberry- Friday Flair

Finding Fabulous

Saturday/Sunday

Six Sisters's Stuff- Strut Your Stuff Saturday

Ladybird Ln.- Weekend Showoff Party

Thirty Handmade Days- Pity Party

Enjoy visiting these sites for their weekly parties and dial up your creativity! If you're on Pinterest....these are just as addicting. Think of all of the pinning you could do!!!

A New Quilt

The quilting bug has bitten again..... and I've finished my second quilt!

Some of you may remember my First Quilt that I made for Grayson for her birthday.

This new quilt too, is special. It was made for a college sister of mine, for her new baby. She will be having a little girl in just a few weeks! Her nursery will be blues, greens, and yellows (very much like Grayson's) so I wanted her to have something warm and soft to match her nursery.

The fabric for this quilt was from a jelly roll that I fell in love with at Hobby Lobby. I'm a sucker for blues and greens, so I bought it with no project in mind, and then HAD to use it for this quilt. I love how it turned out!

I threw in some white strips to lighten it up a bit.

The patterns have a few flowers and butterflies, but it doesn't scream GIRL. She will share a room with her brother (Grayson's age) for a while, so it won't be too girly for him too.

The backing is a solid teal cotton, and the binding is the same. I didn't want anything to compete with the pretty patterns on the top.

I'm not a quilting purist, so I machine quilted everything. The construction was simple, just sewing the jelly roll strips together for a clean line look. I straight-line quilted it, one line on either side of each seam.

This quilt would look PERFECT in Gray's room, but I am thrilled that it will be living with my friend and her new bundle of joy. I hope it keeps her toasty warm for a long time!

I have a plan for some mini-quilts coming up, but more on that later. It is going to be a very special project for me.

Christmas Time....

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS....

Everywhere you go.....

Especially at my house. Having a 16 month old has made decorating sooo much more interesting. The tree is only decorated from 3 feet up...the Nativity scene needs a security fence...you get the picture.

Gray has been spending time under the tree reading her favorite book.

Oh if she was always that precious....

The tree is decked out with ribbons, bows and funky ornaments.

Note to self...the tree needs more stuff! I love a good, full tree.

The mantle is decorated with stockings, candles, and lights.

A chubby snowman welcomes us at the front door....

Some gifts are wrapped up and under the tree....

Waiting for curious little hands to rip them open on Christmas Morning!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Family, food, and good times make for the best holidays, and we certainly aren't lacking in ANY of those around our house!

Remembering

It's hard to believe that this time last year...my little girl was only 4 months old. Still a squishy infant with nothing to say and nothing to do, except be cuddled and loved on. While she's still cuddled and loved on MOST of the day...now she has an agenda! She's learning new words and discovering new things as she runs around the house.

I was looking through last years Christmas pictures and couldn't believe how much difference a year makes.

 Here is a little trip down memory lane...

Christmas 2010

Now she's 16 months and such a BIG girl! She's turning into her own little person more and more every day.

Christmas 2011

Photos by Captured Memories Photography

I'm looking forward to taking LOTS of pictures this weekend of Gray and our family. Unfortunately I have to work on Christmas Night (Hospitals don't tend to observe holidays...people still get sick), so I'm going to soak up as much as I can while I'm at home!

What I Love Wednesday- Flattery Addition

For this edition of What I Love Wednesday, I want to show of some of the crafty things that YOU have been doing that have been inspired in some way by something you saw at Grits & Giggles.

It is soooo flattering to see a craft that someone else made using YOUR tutorials Linked Up to parties for others to see. That's why we blog and share ideas....to help out each other's creative itch and make our homes and lives a little more crafty and beautiful!

Here are three projects that three very talented ladies put together, as well as the Grits & Giggles version. I found these through friend's blogs and through link parties....

I was blown away by the cuteness of this wreath made for....a GUY! (Doesn't that "S" look like stitched leather???) I was thrilled to see that she had used our Funky Christmas Wreath tutorial. See Kimberly's post over at Simply Living.

 

Here is our Funky Christmas Wreath Tutorial

My BFF and "Lil Sis" from college, Morgan, who blogs over at Monogram Addict,  made this adorable Halloween wreath. I love her "Trick or Treat" sign! Why didn't I think of Candy Corn? Such a cute touch.

Here is our Spooky Halloween Wreath Tutorial

 My college friend Kristen made a beautiful SC map out of scrapbook paper over at B.A. In Housewifery

 

The scrapbook map was Inspired by The I {Heart} South Carolina Patchwork

Thanks for Reading, and Sharing your craftiness with others!

Here's your featured button Crafty Friends!

 

 
 
<br/><a href=><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62482431@N08/6333113711/" title="Featured Button by GritsandGiggles, on Flickr"><img alt="Featured Button" height="150px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6333113711_d7d9f7c0d5_m.jpg" width="150px" /></a><br /> "< /></a>

*Updates*

I have been Busy, Busy, Busy updating things around the good 'ol blog. I have added TONS of DIY's to the TUTORIALS page. I didn't realize how behind I had gotten! You can now find all of the Christmas tutorials there, including the

Christmas Carol Art

Christmas Tree Tee

And

Funky Christmas Wreath, as well as many others.

I'm also busy in my sewing room (Or disaster room, as Hubby calls it) working on some new things for the SHOP. Once the New Year rolls around all too soon, I'll be adding some colorful and fun new items.

Natural Goodness Ornaments {Tutorial}

Here is my original post over at The Crafty Nest for Vanessa's 12 Days of Christmas. There were some seriously cute decor/gift ideas so if you missed it, go check it out!

Hey Ya'll! I'm Jenilyn and write all about my adventures in Mommyhood and crafting over at Grits & Giggles. I'm a southern girl who loves to cook, craft, and love on my Husband and 16 month old baby girl.

I love to collect ornaments. I have TONS of ornaments at home from special occassions, vacations, or unique finds at shops. We have a very ecclectic Christmas. Each ornaments has a story or an inspiration.

On a recent trip to Tennessee, I saw some adorable "natural" Christmas ornaments in a mountain shop, and I knew I had to have them on my tree this year. I want to share with you how to make your own "Natural Goodness" ornaments for your tree, or for your home! Throw them in a basket for a fun earthy decoration year-round. Materials


Plain Christmas Ornaments
Jute
3-4 sticks (1/2"-1" in diameter)
Saw or Drimmel Tool
Hot glue

Directions

Step 1: Begin with the Jute ornament. Take the end of your jute and tie a knot (leave it on the spool, don't cut it!)

Step 2: Place some hot glue on the bottom center of your ornament and glue the knot down

Step 3: Begin wrapping your jute around the ornament, gluing a little as you go

Step 4: Continue wrapping, pressing each round of jute into the previous one to get good coverage on the ornament.

Step 5: When you get to the top of the ornament, cut off the and of your jute, tie a knot and glue it down.

 To make the "Woodsy" ornament, begin by carefully cutting your sticks. Cut discs 1/4" to 1/2" thick using a saw or drimmel tool.You will need around 50 disks to cover your ornament. Don't worry if they're a little misshapen, or have rough edges, that's what makes them beautiful!

 Begin gluing your disks around your ornament. Try to fill in gaps and holes with smaller or broken pieces.

Step 9: Continue gluing until your ornament is covered with woodsy goodness.

Tie a ribbon or jute tie on the top of each ornament, hang and enjoy!

Or place them in a basket and enjoy year round. Just remove the "ornament hanger" and cover with wood or jute.

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