That Martha Stewart is one crafty broad

In case you need a little inspiration for the upcoming ornament swap I've compiled a list of my favorite tutorials from the Martha Stewart website. I kind of want to make them all.

Clockwise from upper left: Three-Dimensional Doily, Button Wreath, Floating Ornament, Holiday Rickrack Craft, Ribbon and Bow Accessory

Button Ornaments, Ribbon Star, Holiday Card, Tinsel Snowflakes, Recycled Ornaments

Tomorrow I will post some ornament finds from Etsy so you'll be covered even if you'd rather buy than make. Meaning no more excuses. Send me that email so you can participate in the swap. You know you want to.

O Christmas Tree!

This past weekend we had a big family Thanksgiving Day feast, nearly avoided the 'Black Friday' crowds and took a trip to a tree farm on the outskirts of town. Visiting Sleighbells is such a fun holiday tradition. We were lucky the rain stayed away - we were able to find just the right tree. Maneuvering the crowded gift shop was a little trickier feat. Little Gemma-grabby-hands was very interested in the thousands of ornaments lining the walls. Fearing a "you break it, you bought it" policy we kept our shopping time brief and I walked away without a single ornament. Sad, but not really because I have an idea...

Let's have an ornament swap!!!

Please, please, please join me in this fun (and possibly first annual?) ornament swap! Don't be shy, I want it to be a big and diverse group from all over the place. Here's how it works:

1) You send me an email: carrie@rascalpantsart.com by this Friday the 3rd and include the following info:

*Your name and email address

*Your mailing address

*Your blog (if you have one)

2) I will match you up with 3 other swappers by Monday the 6th and you will mail one ornament to each of them by Monday December 13th.

3) You receive 3 ornaments from 3 different people (Yay!)

Fun, right? So I want to say the ornaments have to be handmade but I will just strongly recommend that they are. (By you, or someone else). Let the Christmas crafting commence!

Let It Snow

Snow in the forecast tonight. I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow I will be able to make a few more photos like these...

Mid November

I can't believe November is half over and Thanksgiving is next week! The holidays are here and I have some fun plans for my bloggy friends... If only I could spend all my time having fun! I suppose when your job is photographing it's hard to have any room for complaints. I have been busy busy though and just finished retouching the lovely gal pictured above's senior portraits. Great idea to wait for fall to shoot them, the colors were beautiful!

Thrifty Loot

Behold my loot from today's thrifty adventure. I had a job up the street from my best thrift store today and I couldn't possibly be that close without going in. Sadly it profited me nothing. All was not lost however, the thrift store next to it was filled with treasure! Thrift store #1 is on probation lest I choose a new bestie. My purchases as pictured clockwise:

* The first globe in what I hope becomes a very large collection

* The perfect shade of fabric to go with the mustard yellow paint I'm using to refurbish my work space chair (Will post soon)

* Very wrinkled but in otherwise perfect condition pillow shams from West Elm in a silvery faux bois

* A doily (go granny chic)

* A choker made of what appears to be brass mesh that I intend to wear as a bracelet

* A wooden hanger to be used in Gemma's room makeover (Will post about that real soon too)

* Awesome melamine mugs

This Weekend

My plans include:

*Watching Stranger Than Fiction. I've been in the mood to for weeks- I absolutely LOVE that movie.

*Crossing my fingers my photo shoot doesn't get rained out AGAIN tomorrow.

*Going to the fabulous ACE Hotel to attend Little Winter with friends.

*Cheering for the OR Ducks

*Editing lots and lots of photos.... I'm way behind!

What are you doing?